USA > Oregon > The Oregon native son, 1900-1901 > Part 36
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"Wonderland, 1900," is the title of a work issued by the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, that is so replete with historical data it should be made a text-book in our public schools. This number of "Wonderland" gives in particular the story of Lewis and Clarke's great exploration of the Northwest in 1804-1806. It is the most exhaustive ex-
plication of the grand work of that ex- pedition heretofore published, illustrated with plates that do full justice to the magnificent scenery which in richness and grandeur rivals any in the world. Again we say, in all seriousness, that the work is deserving of a prominent place in everyone's library.
It is the endeavor of the Oregon Native Son not only to record history of past events, but to secure from the pens of the most eminent writers of the day, opinions on pass- ing events, that those who write hereafter may have before them the reasons that actu- ated thinking men to the different courses which they pursued. To say that we have no interest in political matters, would be a con- fession that the safety of the free institutions of our government, which vouchsafes the liberty of the press and makes it possible to lay before our readers the opinions and theses of political students of standing and merit, is a matter of indifference. When we say students, we would discriminate between the penny-a-liner, with an augmentation of salary when a telling thrust of personality is given, and one who writes his honest con- viction without regard to consequences, per- sonal or otherwise.
In this issue of the magazine the manage- ment is able to present the two sides of the questions upon which the present presiden- tial campaign is being fought, each from the standing point of a man who enjoys a na- tional reputation for honesty and integrity in his writings, whose researches are intend- ed for the good, not of his own generation, alone, but of those who come after him, a man of broad intellectual calibre and endow- ment grasping for enlightenment as to the conditions which will prevail an hundred years hence. Each is a man whom executive ability and business sagacity has placed at the head of a great monied institution. It is said of one: "A deserving poor man never appealed to him for help in vain," while the employes over whose fate he presides says of the other: "Take your grievance to the president and you will get justice." Greater encomiums than these can be conferred on no man. Yet their deductions are as oppo- site, one's from the other as the antipodes. Anomolous as it may seem, so far as the in- dividual is concerned, the reins of govern- ment could be safely trusted in the hands of either. The men of whom we speak are Hon- H. W. Corbett and Mr. John J. Valentine. Let them now speak for themselves.
OREGON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
ITEMS OF HISTORY CULLED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES.
BREAD ON THE WATERS.
Colonel N. B. Sinnott, of The Dalles. was one of the best known men in un- official life in the Pacific Northwest. For more than a quarter of a century and up to the date of his death he was the host of that widely known hostelry, the Uma- tilla house, of that city, and in that ca- pacity he became acquainted with a great many people who otherwise might never have known him. Colonel Sin- nott's generosity was proverbial. No man ever left his hotel home with the pangs of hunger gnawing at his vitals; and as the snows of winter silvered his hair and time furrowed lines on his kind- ly face, it was with the keenest pleasure . that he at frequent intervals came to know that his generosity had not been forgotten. In this connecton the follow- ing story is told:
In the early days a Hebrew peddler arrived in The Dalles with his pack. He was exhausted from his long tramp, and failure to dispose of his goods soon left him penniless and hungry. He appealed to Colonel Sinnott, who took him in. When he was ready to depart he offered the colonel all the money he had, about $6, in part payment of his account of about $20; but Colonel Sinnott refused it and sent him away. A few weeks later the peddler, having been more fortunate, remitted the amount in full, and he pass- ed out of the colonel's recollection.
Two days after the fire that almost wiped The Dalles out of existence, Col- Onel Sinnott received a message from New York stating, "Wait for my letter," and signed "Bloomenthal." With sur- prise he awaited the arrival of the epistle. It came in due time, and it stated that the writer had read in the press dispatch- es of The Dalles fire, and presumed that the hotel burned was Colonel Sinnott's. If so, the writer desired the colonel to apply to him for what money was need- ed and use six figures if necessary. The letter went on to state that the writer
was the Hebrew peddler whom the colonel had assisted, who had worked himself up to the head of an extensive manufacturing enterprise. The colonel replied that his hotel had not been burned, and he was not financially dis- tressed. Mr. Bloomenthal replied that he stood ready to assist him at any time and for any sum he might need.
CLATSOP'S FIRST TAXES.
An interesting relic of the early his- tory of Clatsop county was turned over to County Judge Gray recently by T. B. Morrison, of Clatsop. It was the first delinquent tax-roll of the county, and was found by Mr. Morrison while look- ing over some papers belonging to his father, the late R. W. Morrison, who was one of the commissioners in 1848, the year the instrument is dated. The paper was partially burned many years ago. and some of the figures were unintelligi- ble, but the misisng ones were supplied by Robert S. MacEwan, who was county clerk at the time. The roll is especially valuable as a relic, as it was issued the first year after the Clatsop county gov- ernment was organized, and when nearly all of what is now Columbia county was included in its limits. It shows the total amount of taxes to have been $101.09, and of this amount $47.97 was on the de- linquent roll. The heaviest taxpayers were J. M. Shively and the Hunt Mill, each of whom was assessed $25. Mr. MacEwan, as county clerk, received the munificent sum of $7.58 for making the asessment, and $3.97 for tax collections. and he turned over to the treasurer $47.57. The county judge at the time was the late W. H. Gray, father of the present judge, and the commissioners were R. W. Morrison and G. W. Coffen- bury, the latter of whom is still living in Astoria. Mr. MacEwan is now 86 years of age, but he wrote the missing data in the roll in a very legible hand, and was not obliged to use glasses.
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PACIFIC NORTHWEST CHRONOLOGY.
1791 .- Capt. Robert Gray, who had returned, after making a voyage to Can- ton and Boston, wintered in the harbor oi Clayoquot, Queen Charlotte's Island. Hle there erected buildings and mounted guns, the first thing of such a nature to be done by an Ameri- can. During his stay there he built the first American vessel to be built on the Pacific Coast. This was the sloop Adventurer. Robert Haswell, formerly mate with Capt. Gray, was the first mas- ter of this vessel. She was sold to Capt. Quadra, the Spanish commander in the Pacific Northwest, in 1792, when she was taken south.
During this year Lieut. Francisco Elisa, a Mexican commanding a Span- ish expedition, arrived. He explored the Straits of Georgia and those of San Juan De Fuca, bestowing names upon different points that have since adhered to them, such as, San Juan Archipelago, Port Angeles, Canal de Haro, Tejada, (Texada) Islands and Fidalgo. The lat- ter was named in honor of his lieutenant who wintered at Neah Bay and construc- ted buildings and fortifications. This was the first Spanish occupancy of the original Oregon.
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1792-In the spring of this year Capt. Robert Gray left Queen Charlotte's Is- land, where he had wintered and coasted south. On May 7th he entered Bull- finch harbor, (now known as Gray's har- bor) naming it in honor of one of the owners of his vessel. On the 11th he arrived off the bar and successfully crossed it, anchoring near Tongue Point. lle was the first to be certain that it was 1 river. Upon this discovery rested nearly all of the claim of the United States to the Pacific Northwest. He named it after his vessel, the Columbia. He also bestowed the name of Cape Hancock upon the high promontory at the north of the river's mouth, which had previously been called Cabo de San Roque by Heceta and Cape Disappoint-
ment by Meares. To the low point on the south, called Cabo de Frondoso by Heceta, he gave the name of Point Adams. He had hardly left the river before another American, Capt. James Baker, entered in the Jenny, of Bristol, Rhode Island. Quickly following him (the 19th) came Lieut. Broughton, in the English vessel, Chatham. Coming to an anchor, Lieut. Broughton busied himself with discovery. Gray's bay he named in honor of Capt. Gray and Bak- er's bay in honor of Capt. Baker.
He came up the river as far as the site of the city of Vancouver. He also named Mt. Coffin and Oak Point. The former was so designated because he found it to be an Indian burial ground (by them called Yee-eh-mas-te), and the latter through finding oak trees there. This was the original Oak Point on the Ore- gon side of the river. He named Young's river in honor of Sir George Young; Point George, the present site of Astoria, in honor of the British King, and Mt. Hood in honor of Lord Hood. This snow peak was afterward called Mt. Washington by the Americans. It was known by various names among the In- dians, among them being Wi-ye-ast and Mat-sum-hi-hi. On his leaving the river he found Capt. Vancouver awaiting him off the bar. The latter had observed Mt. St. Helens from his vessel's deck and gave it the name it bears in honor of Lord St. Helen. The Americans called it Mt. John Adams. It was known by several names among the Indians. such as Loo-wit, Loo-walla-clough. etc.
The Columbia bar has not been free from disaster among shipping, out and inward bound. The names of two or three of them are closely linked with our earlier history, they being the William and Ann, the Peacock, and the Shark.
The first was the property of the Hud- son's Bay company, and was wrecked in 1829. She was pillaged by the Indians
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and her crew are said to have been mur- dered by them.
The second was a government vessel and wrecked inward bound in July, 1841, on the sand spit at the north entrance of the river's mouth, known as Peacock's spit; the third was also a government craft, and was wrecked outward bound in September, 1846. Her colors were afterwards presented to the provisional government, the first to belong to it.
The launch of the Peacock was pre- sented to Dr. McLoughlin for use as a pilot boat on the bar, and, after being sloop-rigged, did yoeman service there for years thereafter.
Capt. George Vancouver entered the Straits of Fuca in April of this year, mak- ing careful examination as he progress- ed. Among the names bestowed upon places the following well known ones : still are retained. Puget Sound, in hon- or of Lieut. Puget; Whidby's Island, in honor of Lieut. Whidby, and Mt. Baker in honor of Lieut. Baker. All of these officers were his lieutenants. Mt. Baker was named Montana del Carmelo by the Spanish navigators; Mt. Polk by the Americans and Kul-shan and Ko-mo by the Indians. Puget Sound was called by the Indians, Whulge, by some of the Indians, and K'uk'luts by others.
He named Hood's Canal, for Lord Hood; Port Townshend, (the 'h' has since been dropped) for Marquis Town- shend, and Mt. Ranier. for Admiral Ra- nier. The latter was called Mt. Harri- son by the Americans, and Ta-ho-ma by the Indians. Port Orchard, for the offi- cer who discovered it; Vashon. Island, for Capt. Vashon: Possession Sound: De- ception Pass; Port Discovery; Belling- ham's Bay; Dungeness; Admiralty In- let and others.
1793-Alexander Mackenzie, a Scotch- man, was the first white man to make the trip across the continent to the Paci- fic ocean. He discovered the Frazier river while enroute, which he believed to be the Columbia. The Frazier river was so called in later years for Simon Frazier, who established a trading post upon its banks in 1807.
1805-Lewis and Clarke expedition came across the plains. Followed down the Columbia river and wintered at Fort Clatsop, a fort built by them at the mouth of the river, the winter of 1805-6. They bestowed names upon many of the trib- utaries of the Columbia, gave the In- dian names of otliers and named promi- nent points along the route.
Castle rock they called Beacon rock; Hood river, Labiesche river; Klickitat river, Cateract river; John Day river, Lepage river; Touchet river, White Stat- tion river. This was subsequently named John Day for a Kentucky hunter coming with the Hunt party in 1811. Sandy river, Quicksand river; Washou- gal river, Seal river; White Salmon river, Canoe river; Sauvie's island was Wapato island; the Willamette was Multnomah river; Tillamook was named oy Clarke, Killamuck head. It had been called Cape Falcon by the Spanish and Cape Lookout by Mears.
With this party came York, the first negro to come to the Pacific coast.
1807-Frazier river named for Simon Frazier, who established a trading post on Frazier lake adjacent to it.
1808-American Fur Company organ- ized. Fort Henry established on Snake river. The first American trading post.
1810-Capt. Johnathan Winship es- tablished a settlement at Oak Point, Ore- gon, opposite the present place of that name in Washington. The floods wash- ing away his houses, and learning off Astor's plans, he deemed it unadvisable to try to compete with Astor, and aban- doned the undertaking.
1811-Astoria founded by American Fur Company. Fort built on a point called Point George, by Lieut, Brough- ton, in 1792. The first of this company to arrive, came on the Tonquin. She anchored in Baker's bay, March 22. 1811. This was the first vessel to he blown up on the coast. her ship's clerk doing so to kill a host of Indians on board who had murdered the crew two days before. Alexander McKay. a part- ner of Astor, the first husband of the wife of Dr. McLoughlin, was among
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
those whom the savages massacred. Oc- tober 2, 1811, was launched the first ves- .cl. the Dolly, built here. She was after- wards called the Columbia. Here the first marriages in the Pacific Northwest were celebrated, and the first children born. one of whose parents were white; the first river steamer. the Columbia, 1850, was built; the first custom house erected on the coast, and one of the two Oregon City) postoffices west of the Rockies.
Wm. Canning was probably the first American to come to the Pacific North- west and permanently reside here. He. came in 1811 with the Hunt party, and after years of employ as a trapper for the fur companies, finally settled in the Wil- lamette valley. He was a native of Vir- ginia. His death took place at French Prairie, August 29, 1854. He was 99 years of age at that time.
1812-January 12th. Hunt party arriv- ed at Astoria.
In November Robert Stewart, of the Astor expedition, discovered the South
pass. This became the main gateway through the Rockies used by the pio- neers.
John Clark, of the Astor expedition, hanged an Indian for stealing. The first "neck-tie" party on the Pacific coast.
1813-Astoria rechristened Fort George by Capt. Black, a British naval officer, and the Northwest Fur Company succeeding the American Fur Company through the treachery of some of the Scotch partners.
1814-Ship Isaac Todd arrives at As- toria. On her came Jane Barnes, the first white woman to set foot on the Pa- cific Northwest. On this vessel also came the pioneer physician, Dr. Swan, to the Pacific Northwest.
1818-Fort George again becomes, on August 18, Astoria.
1820-Dr. John Floyd. of Virginia, in- troduced an Oregon bill in congress. This was the first bill introduced pro- viding for the occupation of the Pacific Northwest by the government.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
WILLIAM SYLVESTER KINNEY.
William Sylvester Kinney. born in Che- halem Valley, Oregon. June 24. 1854. was the youngest son of the late Robert Crouch Kinney, who, in 1867, removed with his fam- fly to Salem, Oregon, and engaged in the four milling business. After leaving school William Kinney spent a year or so in East- ·rn Oregon and then engaged in the fruit and salmon canning business in Astoria. Later on, for several years, he acted as trav- "ling representative for the Salem Flouring Mills. in which he was a stockholder. While living in Salem ne married Miss Mary Strong of that place. Upon the death of the eldest brother. Albert W. Kinney, with whom he was associated in business. the Kinneys disposed of their interests in the flouring mills, and In 1881 William Kinney moved to Dayton, Wash., and. associating himself with Mossrs. Morris and Sarjeant, built a flour mill at that place. Later on. disposing of his Interests In Dayton. __ r. Kinney came to Astorla. since which time his name has been jurmanently identified with the history of
that place. In 1883 a company was formed with Mr. Kinney at its head, and purchased the Terrel saw mill, then owned by George Hume, which stood near the present corner of Fourteenth and Commercial streets. With- in a few weeks after its purchase this mill was destroyed in the great fire of 1883. Soon afterwards the company erected che Clatsop mill, and Mr. Kinney, up to the time of his death, November 5, 1898, serverd as president and general manager. Mr. Kinney was a member of the Baptist church. and leaves behind a record of a well-spent and useful life. He was sympathetic and chari- table, and, though never ostentatious in his giving, want and suffering never appealed to him in vain when he had power to aid.
In announcing his untimely death. the Daily Astorian. of November 8. 1898, said:
The death of William S. Kinney was a shock to almost every citizen of Astoria. While he has long been identified with this city as one of the most prominent and useful business men, his reputation for rugged hon- esty and perseverance in the line of duty was coextensive with the state. Others have
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talked Astoria's advantages and still others deplored the lack of enterprise and develop- ment in the city, but Mr. Kinney went quiet- ly ahead, built up, and for years successfully managed, the most important industrial es- tablishment far in Astoria's history. While general gloom and despondency pre- vailed over an outlook that seemed at times almost hopeless, Mr. Kinney maintained and discharged to the last farthing a pay-roll which constituted the steady dependence of a larger number of white working people than any other single establishment in the city. Mr. Kinney made no parade of his business, nor asked a favor or claimed a public obliga- tion by reason of its benefit and importance to the community. No man was more unob- trusive in his ways or less seen in public places, but his pluck and persistency, under adverse circumstances, will serve as a max- im. In Astoria's prosperity his communica- tion was at all times yea, yea, or nay, nay, an dthere was never any room for uncertain- ty as to his standing on any proposition. His absolute frankness impresed all men who came in contact with him, and none de- parted from his presence without feeling his ability and recognizing his integrity. In his dealings he never asked for more than was his due, and never accepted less than was his right, and those who came in habitual con- tact with him soon learned to know and ap- preciate this side of his character. The wholeof Astoria's people and many others throughout the Northwest will sincerely mourn the passing of this worthy and gener- ous business man."
WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON DUFUR.
The subject of this biography was born February 22, 1854, at Williamstown, Vt. His parents, with their family, moved to Wisconsin in 1856 and to Oregon in 1859. settling in Multnomah county east of the Willamette river, where they resided until 1876. They then moved to Wasco county, where they have since lived. The family, while residing here, is remembered by many old timers as one wherein the strictest in-
tegrity and honesty was maintained, where every member was respected and acquaint- ance with them sought and cherisned.
In 1876 young Mr. Dufur, shortly after his removal with his parents to Wasco county, was married to Miss Mary Alexander. who was born in Topson, Maine. To the union has been born two children, Blanche B. and Anna B.
Mr. Dufur, as an exception to the rest of his father's family, is a staunch republican, and on that ticket was elected as a member of the legislature in 1882. and had the honor of casting the deciding vote that elected the late Hon. Jos. N. Dolph as U. S. senator. He was appointed commissioner and disbursing agent of the Warm Spring and Colville In- dian commission by President Harrison; and August 1st, 1898, he received from Pres- ident Mckinley the appointment of forest supervisor of the northern division of the Cascade and Rull Run forest reserves, which position he holds at the present time. This year, under his supervision, for the first time in the history of Oregon, not one dol- lar's worth of timber has been destroyed by forest fires.
Mr. Dufur's father was born in the state of New Hampshire in 1815 and married Lois Burnham, who was born in Vermont. The fruits of the marriage were five children: Lucy Ann, who died at the age of 14 years; Hon. E. B. Dufur, who has been honored with seats in the state senate and legisla- ture from Wasco county; A. J. Dufur, W. H. H. Dufur, the subject of this article, and Arabel H. Dufur. Mr. Dufur is one of the leading stock raisers in Eastern Oregon, owning and farming over 1600 acres of the finest lands in Wasco county. This land is located about 15 miles back of The Dalles.
To write a full sketch of the Dufur family is to write the history of Wasco county for the last 24 years. No family in that county is more prominent, no family more highly respected. and no official wears tne honors that have been bestowed upon him more becomingly and looks closer into, or works harder for, the good of the public service than the gentleman Whose name is the heading of this brief sketch.
IN MEMORIAM.
(Lines written on the death of Captain W. W. Chapman, Company I, Second Regiment of O. M. Volunteers, afterwards Lieutenant- Colonel, commanding the regiment in Rogue River war of 1855 and '56.)
Death came at last to end thy paln, And all thy earthly toil is done;
In Heaven is heard the sweet refrain, "Thy path to glory was nobly won."
When war's tumultuous strife was rife, Thou wert the first at duty's call.
And freely offered thy own life, That peace might soon prevail o'er all.
In snows of winter on mountain's side. Thou firmly stood'st against the blast, And crossed the river's raging tide,
And made the foe seek peace at last. Soldier, statesman, farewell awhile,
In memory thou are held most dear --
While Heaven greet'st thee with a smile; Thy comrades shed. "The silent tear." H. H. Woodward, Sergeant of the Company.
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THE BIVOUAC OF THE BUILDERS.
This modest tribute to the Oregon pioneers was written by one who was himself in martial array, being a babe in arms, on the journey across the historic
plains in 1846. It was tendered on the occasion of the twenty-first annual re- union of the association held in Portland in June 1897:
From Hood's red, sunset coronal Lo, one by one, the roses fall, And soft winds sweep the sombre vale As shadows from the mountain wall Along a dim encampment trail.
Your day is dying, noble souls, Around these high, heroic goals The lingering and proud refrain Of olden triumphs weirdly rolls O'er many a famous battle plain.
Stir up the failing camp fires ?0W, Recall once more each cherished vow You kept through all the weary fight Till yet again the wrinkled brow Is kindled with a magic light!
The pensive heroes of the field Where once you bore the sword and shield, 'Tis yours to lift your eyes and see Your sculptured conquests here revealed With honor's golden blazonry.
Within their tents of twilight they Who died at old Thermopylae ' Their sable locks for glory drest, But you, at close of battle's day, By living laurels are caressed. With trophies worthy of your fame !
You see the goal for which you toiled When feet were worn and hands were soiled-
The harvest, wet with blood and tears, Hard-stricken oft, but not despoiled In all the storms of troubled years !
Beneath white dome and minaret The solid basement rocks are set, And you, oh, hearts of sterling gold ! With your past deeds will grandly yet The gleaming walls of state uphold.
To many on the storied track This is the last glad bivouac :- So bravely stir the smouldering fire The while to you come trooping back Past victories and labors dire.
Strange signals in the twilight flit,- Your last camp fire will soon. be lit To fade along the silent shore, But in their ashes will be writ Poems and poems evermore.
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