Told by the Pioneers - Washington Secretary of State
Told by the Pioneers - Washington Secretary of State
Told by the Pioneers - Washington Secretary of State
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<strong>Told</strong><br />
<strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Pioneers</strong><br />
The Abernathy sawmill at Oak Point did a big business in <strong>the</strong> '50s<br />
shipping timber to San Francisco, and was one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> few on <strong>the</strong> Columbia.<br />
There was one steamer a month, <strong>the</strong> Columbia, in 1853, between<br />
Portland and San Francisco, carrying mail and passengers. Rates:<br />
$90 first cabin, $45 steerage. Flour was $15 a barrel, ham 40 cents a<br />
pound, pork $40 a barrel, butter 75 cents a pound; good cattle $200 a<br />
yoke, and cows $50 a head. All kinds <strong>of</strong> goods were high, as <strong>the</strong>y "'ere<br />
shipped around <strong>the</strong> horn as a rule.<br />
In 1853 what 'was known as <strong>the</strong> military road was opened) an appropriation<br />
having been made <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> government, and contributions from<br />
people <strong>of</strong> Pierce and Thurston Counties.<br />
In <strong>the</strong> fall <strong>of</strong> 1854 a portion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> immigration passed over it though<br />
it was not much more than a trail. This was <strong>the</strong> main thoroughfare<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> territory, over which <strong>the</strong> mail was carried.<br />
The earliest settlers <strong>of</strong> Cowlitz settled in and around Monticello as<br />
early as 1848, coming from Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Missouri.<br />
The Huntingtons, Smiths, Catlins, Fowlers, Barlows, "\Vallaces and<br />
Ostranders were names well and favorably known throughout <strong>the</strong> territory<br />
in <strong>the</strong> early 'fifties.<br />
"\Ve had to go to Milwaukie, Oregon, to mill, about 70 miles, in a<br />
small boat. "\Ve had to live on ra<strong>the</strong>r coarse fare now and <strong>the</strong>n, as for<br />
instance, two weeks on bran bread. <strong>Pioneers</strong> traded and bartered<br />
with each o<strong>the</strong>r for food.<br />
Many times, being short <strong>of</strong> tools, we could not get <strong>of</strong>f big cottonwoods,<br />
and so dug trenches and tumbled <strong>the</strong>m in and buried <strong>the</strong>m.<br />
A WALLA WALLA PIONEER<br />
Ransom Clark crossed <strong>the</strong> plains in 1843 with <strong>the</strong> exploration party<br />
led <strong>by</strong> Lieutenant .rohn C. Fremont, <strong>the</strong> pathfinder. During <strong>the</strong> same<br />
year Lettice Mellican made <strong>the</strong> crossing with her parents in <strong>the</strong> vVhitman<br />
train. This train entered <strong>the</strong> WaUa "\Valla valley and camped<br />
four miles below <strong>the</strong> "\Vhitman mission for a few days, <strong>the</strong>n moved<br />
down to <strong>the</strong> old Fort Nez Perce or "\Valla Walla, at "1allula, where<br />
<strong>the</strong> emigrants spent several days building boats and preparing for<br />
<strong>the</strong> trip down <strong>the</strong> river.<br />
Mr. McKinley, <strong>the</strong> agent for <strong>the</strong> Hudson's Bay Company, suggested<br />
that <strong>the</strong>v leave <strong>the</strong>ir cattle and horses for <strong>the</strong> winter in care <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
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