The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1920-09-30
PIONEER TIMES IN
HOOD RIVER VALLEY

(Note-The writer is not pioneer of
this valley, as according to the date
ilXed by the Pioneer Association, yet |
date farther back, coming to Hood Riv-
er first, than anyone else now living,
probably. ] came in 1864, but did not
settle permanntly. / knew all the ex-
treme early settlers and got their story
of perils and adventure direct from
them, so | have it first hand. G.W.K.)
Hood River. natures most wonderful
+, product of valley, mountains, lakes and
river painted by the Divine Artist and
set in this most beautiful frame work
Of alpine grandeur and scenic glory.
One of Oregon's great natural assets
The river, and valley, has had four
distinct historic names. The Indians
called it Waucoma their name for the
groves of cotton wood trees so great,
/ growing at the mouth of the river.
Lewis and Clark camped on the beach
IN 1905 and they named it Labieshe's
/ River, after one of their expedition,
noted French name. Then the emf
grants came and many of them, raft
ing down the Columbia river, camped
here. Then came the dog incident. "
famous dog was killed at the mouth
I'll changed TO its present most euphonic
title by the Coe family some time in
the Cos, or about 1870.
The "Dannel Boon" of the Hood
River country was w. c. Laughlin. He /
made a settlement in 1852, built cabin /
at the big spring, now owned by MIR. /
Batchelder, up on State street. He /
lost all his cattle that winter and 4
moved back to The Dalles. We old pi- /
oneers often heard him tell the story of
the awful winter of go. Dr. Farms
worth and family were with him.
The first permanent settlement was
made by the Coe family in 1856. Ma
thaniel Coe had a large family. He
was known as Captain Coe all along
the river and several Of his sons wore
the same title. This family was fol-
lowed closely by William jenkins, MS.
Benson, James Benson, A. c. Phelps.
Amos Underwood, John Marden. In
1860 came Peter Neal, William Moss
and Dave Turner and VIM. Odell in o. /
The population was very light up TO I
1875, when DIR. Parkhurst iourneyed TO
Pennsylvania and brought out quite Z
colony, must of which settled in Hood Z
River valley.
The first postofiice was opened in
1882 as stated by II. c. Coe. Mrs.
Martha Benson first postmistress, Chas.
Coe, W. Z Watson, Mrs. Stranahan s
and Geo. T. Prather following in order. a
The first school taught in Hood River a
valley was on Indian creek, two miles T
south of present town of Hood River. I
Pioneer teacher was b. A. Lille. and b
in 1868. There were l6 pupils present. &
The first mercantile business was n
opened in 1877 by +. L. Smith. the man e
whom Hood River honors as the Grand n
Did Man, ''Our r L. Smith. " and q
whose pioneer life work here will go u
Town in history as a record Of honor
md fame. His store was first al
-rankton. then moved TO the town
where il was laid of in lSS2.
The town Of Hood River was plated K
n lSS2 by the Gees. being a part Of "
heir original homestead. At first town ai
ots were given 10 persons who would N
'uild on them. There was alwavs a az
rohibition clause in the deed. The d
own was started dry. Something hap
ened afterward. I cannot explain.
We are certainly fortunate in the stall
rart character Of our pioneers. Such ot
ben as W. /. Adams Uncle Billyl. +. n