Oregon Historical Quarterly/Volume 19/Notes and Comments number 2

NOTES AND COMMENTS

Rainier–Tacoma Dispute Again.

Revival of the Rainier-Tacoma controversy may be recorded among the topics of current historical gossip. An Indian of the Nisqually tribe, Henry Sicade, appeared before the mountain-climbing Mazamas at Portland, June 5, 1918, speaking in behalf of Tacoma as the name of the lofty snowpeak, and relating "legends" of his people to support his argument. Sicade represented the Chamber of Commerce of Tacoma and was accompanied by S. W. Wall, newspaper man, and A. H. Denman, a photographer, both of that city.

The Indian word, Tacoma, was preserved by Theodore Winthrop in his The Canoe and the Saddle, a narrative of his travels in 1853. Winthrop said the word was "a generic term applied to all snowpeaks" (p. 36, John H. Williams' edition), and speaks of Mount Adams as "Tacoma the Second" (p 39). The word apparently designated any very lofty place or peak and not any one in particular. The present writer is indebted to Mr. George H. Himes for the following episode: About the year 1905, Mr. Himes was conversing near Rochester, Washington, with Jim Sanders, a Nisqually Indian. Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens were both in clear view. Suddenly the Indian, without previous allusion to the subject, exclaimed (pointing at Mount St. Helens) "Ten-as Tuh-ko-bud" in guttural accents, meaning "Little Tacoma." This Indian had been reared a Nisqually. His father was of that tribe, his mother, a Chehalis.

Mount Rainier was sighted and named May 7, 1792, by the British explorer, George Vancouver. Peter Rainier was then a rear-admiral of the British navy. Bestowal of his name upon the snowpeak was made by Vancouver in honor of a superior officer, although Rainier was not a party to the exploration.

The name has remained fixed to the mountain for 126 years and has been accepted by the United State Government. Mount Rainier National Park and Rainier National Forest are government titles. The mountain is known by the name Rainier all over the world. Usage, during a century and a quarter, has established the title.

It may be conceded that Tacoma is a native and euphonious word and would fitly designate the greatest of Pacific Northwest mountains. But Rainier is old and world-wide and fixed, and, moreover, is but one of many alien names in the Puget Sound region. Puget Sound is an example, and Mount Baker and Mount Saint Helens, and here in Oregon is Mount Hood.

Why Cascade Mountains?

If we were to reject Rainier for reasons of national pride or historical precedence or any other, the substitute choice would set up a troublesome debate. Mount Rainier was named Mount Harrison by Hall J. Kelley about 1838, Mount Baker was by him called Mount Tyler, and Cascade Mountains were by him designated Presidents' Range.

The name, Cascade Mountains, appears to have been an afterthought of Cascades of the Columbia River. The rapids are in the heart of the great range, and the river was the one passable route of travel and traffic from the days of Lewis and Clark. Cascades, as the name of the Columbia River narrows, is used by writers as far back as the Astor expedition. In early maps the name appears as either Cascade Range or Presidents' Range or both. Greenhow's History of Oregon and California contains a map, compiled in 1838, which gives the name Far West Mountains. Cascade Range appears in Wilkes' Narrative of Oregon in 1841. Good reasons could be adduced for changing to Presidents' Range. The name, Cascade Mountains is not a distinguishing one nor especially appropriate.

But the task of choosing "better" names in the Pacific Northwest would be endless. It may be better to bear with the ills we have than to take on others.

Portland's Canyon Road.

Portland received its most important stimulus of growth about 1850, from the farm trade of Tualatin Valley. The highway of that trade was the Canyon Road. Pioneers have pointed out that this road was the avenue that brought to Portland the leading market of the pioneers by enabling them to haul their goods to and from Portland easier than to and from Linnton, Saint Helens, Linn City (opposite Oregon City), Springville (near Linnton), Milton (near Saint Helens) or Willamette (below Clackamas Rapids.) As that period preceded railroad transportation some two decades, river transportation was highly valuable. The easiest route to navigation for the Tualatin farmers was the Canyon Road, and Portland, which had been founded in 1843–45, made good use of that route in the ensuing five years. A missionary settlement had started near Forest Grove in 1840 and a farm community was growing there.

The Canyon Road, along its present route through the hills, appears to have been opened in 1849. Joseph S. Smith, pioneer of 1847, and well known in early Oregon affairs, wrote in The Oregonian of July 13, 1884, that the road was first opened in the Autumn of 1849. Ed. C. Ross, also a pioneer of 1847, still living at Portland, says that this road was first surveyed by his stepfather, Israel Mitchell, in 1848. Mr. Ross adverted to the earlier and more difficult road, which was built by Francis W. Pettygrove, ascending the hills, and dating probably from 1845, afterwards called the Mountain Road, and then the Mount Zion or Carter Hill Road. This latter road is described in the diary of Elizabeth Dixon, wife of Cornelius Smith, and, afterwards, of Joseph C. Geer, all pioneers of 1847, printed by the Oregon Pioneer Association in its Transactions of 1907. The description is of February 24, 1848, and shows the road to have been very hilly and difficult of travel.

The first big public enterprise at Portland was the improvement of the Canyon Road, so that farmers would come to this village, in preference to its rivals, for trade. This enterprise started in 1850 and resulted next year in organization of the Portland and Valley Plank Road Company, whose directors were Thomas Carter (president), A. J. Hembree,, W. W. Chapman, George H. Flanders and J. W. Chambers. William M. King succeeded Carter as president, and afterwards D. H. Lownsdale was president. The first plank was laid amid ceremonies near the present Ladd School September 21, 1851. The improvement of this road was always inadequate and several revivals of the work took place in the ensuing twenty years. The road recently has been highly improved. A history of this road, written by George H. Himes, appears in The Oregonian, August 14, 1902, page 12.

A Proposed History of Methodism

A history of Methodism in the Pacific Northwest is to be written by the Rev. Dr. John Parsons, who will be assisted in compilation and publication by the Rev. C. E. Cline, J. K. Gill, C. B. Moores, of Portland; the Rev. E. S. Hammond of Salem, and L. M. Belknap. These men were delegated a committee on the work at the Oregon annual conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Springfield, Oregon, last year, except that Mr. Moores has since been named to succeed the late J. C. Moreland.

Ministers and laymen of the church in Portland conferred on the matter at a meeting held June 17 last, in First Methodist church, the Rev. Alexander McLean presiding. Many pioneer narratives of Methodism and its followers were recited at the meeting. Among the well known persons present were the Rev. Joseph Hoberg, of McMinnville, who was a pioneer circuit rider; the Rev. Henry Mays, a pioneer preacher; Dr. John Parsons, the Rev. C. E. Cline, T. T. Geer, ex-Governor of Oregon, Charles B. Moores and J. K. Gill. Historical retrospect gives Methodism a proud place in the settlement and progress of Oregon and the Quarterly hopes that this book may be made an authoritative and concise historical record. The patient work of research and verification has been very inadequate in the many books of Oregon history. This history of NOTE AND COMMENT 171 Methodism should be a volume commensurate with its noble subject matter. The chairman of the compilation and publica- tion committee is the Rev. C. E. Cline. J. C. Moreland was chosen as the chief historian until death intervened. MULLAN ROAD MONUMENTS IN IDAHO Four monuments to the Mullan Road in Idaho are under contract, under supervision of the pioneer society of Montana. The situes for the monuments are at Wallace, Mullan, Kellogg and Coeur d'Alene. The Governor of Idaho will name a day for the dedication. The road in Montana has been marked by eight monuments. VISTA HOUSE DEDICATION This monument to the early pioneers of Oregon was dedi- cated Sunday, May 5, 1918. The site of the costly and im- posing structure is Crown Point, overlooking the Columbia River from one of the most sightly elevations of the Columbia Highway. The cost of the Vista House and its appurtenances has been about $100,000. Its hexagonal walls inside are in- scribed with the names of McLoughlin, Lee, Whitman, Apple- gate, Lane, Nesmith, Deady and Bush. These names were recommended by Frederick V. Holman, president of the Ore- gon Historical Society, and George H. Himes, curator of that organization and secretary of the Oregon Pioneer Association. Frank Branch Riley, of Portland, delivered the dedicatory address, and Frederick V. Holman, the response. John B. Yeon, of Portland, county roadmaster, under whose direction the highway and the Vista House were built, spoke of the difficulties that had to be overcome in the progress of the project. Others presented were Simon Benson, who had agreed to pay the cost of the structure should Multnomah County fail to do so; Philo Holbrook and A. A. Muck, county commis- sioners, under whose administration the structure was built; Henry L. Pittock, publisher of The Oregonian, founded in 1850, pioneer of 1853, and president of the Vista House Asso- ciation which promoted the pioneer memorial plan. George 172 NOTES AND COMMENTS L. Baker, mayor of Portland, made the presentations. A spectacular pageant of raising the flag, led by the Royal Rosari- ans, concluded the ceremonies. The initial fund for the Vista House, $3,812.35, was raised by public contribution. The additional moneys have come from county taxation. Among the items detailed in the Portland Journal of May 5, 1918, were the following: Building, $70,787.74; rock wall, $9,297.71; grading and paving, $7,395.69; architect, $6,264.47; various, $2,976.96; total of foregoing items, $96,722.57. The architect is Edgar M. Lazarus. SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF CHAMPOEG This year's celebration, May 2, included the dedication of a $5,000 memorial building, the money for which the Oregon Legislature appropriated at its last session. The attendance was the largest that has yet gathered at the historic spot. The speakers were Peter H. D'Arcy, past president of the Oregon Pioneer Association and chief promotor of the memorial build- ing plan ; George H. Himes ; James Withy combe, Governor of Oregon; T. T. Geer, ex-Governor; Edmond S. Meany, pro- fessor of history, University of Washington, Seattle; J. D. Lee, W. C. Hembree, Edyth Tozier Weatherred, E. B. Mc- Farland, Miles C. Moore, Rufus Holman, Fred V. Holman, Milton A. Miller and Robert A. Miller. The new building stands in the park of twelve acres which is owned by the state. The structure occupies a ground area of 25 by 41 feet, with an additional width of 12 feet covered by a porch 41 feet long on the east side. For further details see the Quarterly, vol- ume XVIII, number 4, page 297. OREGON AS THE SOURCE OF THE MONROE DOCTRINE We read now of a Monroe Doctrine of Australia. Fre- quently we have heard that it will be Japan's policy to apply the policy in the Orient. We learn that Germany has been, of European nations, the most cordially hostile toward that doc- trine as upheld by the United States in the Americas. NOTE AND COMMENT 173 It may be pertinent to point out that the Monroe Doctrine, now nearly a century old, was a by-product of the Oregon boundary question. It was a declaration made by John Quincy Adams, then Secretary of State, against encroachments of Russia upon the west coast of America. The negotiations culminated in the famous Fifty-four Forty treaty of April 5, 1824 with Russia, whereby the latitude of fifty-four degrees and forty minutes became the dividing line between the claims of Russia and the United States in North America. The later political cry of "Fifty-four Forty or Fight" almost led to war between the United States and Britain. Remote as Oregon has been in the world's affairs, its im- portance has had large bearing upon the destiny of nations. ANNUAL REUNION OF PIONEERS The Oregon Pioneer Association, in forty-sixth annual re- union, Portland Auditorium, Wednesday, June 20, 1918, elected the following officers: President, E. B. McFarland, to succeed W. H. H. Duf ur ; vice president, Nathan H. Bird ; secretary, George H. Himes; treasurer, William M. Ladd; directors, William Galloway, of McMinnville; C. H. Caufield, of Oregon City; Bruce Wolverton, of Portland. Judge Fred W. Wilson, of The Dalles, delivered the annual address. A banquet followed the day session, served by the woman's aux- iliary of the Oregon Pioneer Association. The reunion con- cluded with a "camp fire" presided over by T. T. Geer. Robert A. Miller acted as timekeeper. This was a pleasant finale to the day's activities, enlivened by fiddling and singing of old tunes and recitals of early times. REUNION OF INDIAN WAR VETERANS Indian war veterans of the Pacific Northwest met in an- nual reunion at Portland June 19, 1918, Masonic Temple. They were banqueted at noon at tables prepared by the Sons and Daughters of Indian War Veterans, directed by Mrs. L. A. Bailey. Officers were re-elected as follows : Grand Com- mander, Edwin C. Ross; vice-grand commander, Cyrus H. Walker; junior grand commander, John W. Cullen; grand adjutant, Otto Kleeman; assistant grand adjutant, Frank L. Benedict; grand paymaster, Charles Chambreau. The session adopted a resolution asking Congress to increase the pensions of widows of Indian war veterans to $25 a month, and to fix the pensions of the veterans at a minimum of $20 a month for all who served 30 days or more.

Officers of the Sons and Daughters

Sons and Daughters of the Oregon Pioneers elected the following officers at their annual business meeting June 19, 1918, in the Portland Auditorium: President, Frederick V. Holman; vice president, Mrs. Benton Killin; secretary and treasurer, Miss Lillian M. Hackleman.

Yamhill Pioneer Matters

The Yamhill County Pioneer Association met in McMinnville June 5th. Mrs. M. L. Bardon, president; Mrs. N. J. Ungerman, secretary. A good representation of pioneers, sons and daughters of pioneers were present. Mayor Toney gave the address of welcome, J. M. Kelty, of Portland, the response. A number of brief addresses were given; but the one that excited the most interest was that by Mr. Abraham Hudson, from Grand Ronde Reservation, who extended greetings on behalf of the Indians. Officers for coming year: William Merchant, Carlton, president; Charles Berry, McMinnville, vice-president; Mrs. M. M. High, Carlton, secretary; Mrs. Mora Hendricks, McMinnville, treasurer; executive board, Mrs. M. L. Bardon, McMinnville, Miss Jennie Hembree, Lafayette; Mrs. Rhodfc, McCoy, Yamhill.

On June 25th, a woman's organization in McMinnville, Yamhill county, known as the "Self-Improvement Club," as the guests of Mr. John Wortman, president of the First National Bank, went in six automobiles to the site of the Methodist Mission opposite Wheatland, founded by Rev. Jason Lee in 1834. Then after lunch the party visited the brick house built by George Gay in 1842—the first in Oregon—on the line between Yamhill and Polk counties. Leaflets relating to the founding of the first civil government at Champoeg were distributed by George H. Himes of the Oregon Historical Society, and a sketch of the visit by Capt. Charles Wilkes, U. S. Navy, to the Gay premises in 1841, was given.

DEATH LIST OF OREGON PIONEERS, APRIL 1–MAY 31, 1918.

By GEORGE H. HIMES

Bell, Mrs. John Colgate, b. Ky.; Or. 1854; d. N. Y., Sept. 4, 1917.
Blanchard, Dean, b. Me.; Or. 1854; d. May 9, 1918.
Brown, Thomas, b. 1841; Or. 1852; d. Dec. 16, 1917.
Brown, Mrs. Minerva Burt, b. Ifl.; Or. 1852; d. April 28,
1018*
Conger, Clairborn, b. ;' Or. 1853; d.'Cec. 23, "1917."'
Davidson, Mrs. Sarah Montgomery,, b. Ohio, 1824; Or. 1852; d. May 17, 1918.
DeHuff, Mrs. Emily Stryker, b. 1844; Or. 1852; d. May 25, 1918.
DeVol, Mrs. Anna E. Hedges, b. Ohio, 1845; Or. 1851; d. April 4, 1918.
Eppingef, Mr. Charlotte, b. 1835; Or. 1852; d. May 5, 1918.
Falkner, Mrs. Mary, b. Ohio, 1815; Or. 1851: d. May 21, 1918.
Fernald, Walter, b. Me., 1841; Or. 1853; d. May 6, 1918.
Harlow, Anderson J., b. ; Or. 1851; d. April 18, 1918.
Heilborn, Mrs. Anna, b. : Or. 1844; d. April 4, 1918.
Hold, Mrs. Harriet Hall, b. III., : Or. 1847; d. Feb. 14, 1918.
Kelty, Mrs. Jane Harvey, b. 1847; d. April , 1918.

• Mann 2 Mrs. Anna M. Lewis, b. Ind., 1842; Or. 1854; d. May 27, 1918.
  

Manning, Mrs. Caroline Abert, b. 111., 1834; &* 1849; d. May 16, 1918.
Meredith, Dr. J. W., b. 1831; Or. 1853; d. Dec. 31, 1917.
Miller, Wm. Cottington, b. Ind., 1833; Or. 1848; d. May 18, 1918.

• Morgan, Mrs. Melissa Boon, b. plains, 1845; d. Dec. 28, 1917.
  

Moore, Alfred William, b. 111., 1849; Or. 1853; d. Nov. 23, 1917.
McPherson, P. M., b. ; Or. 1852; d. May 5, 1918.

• Newhard, S. F., b. Pa., 1830; Or. 1853; d. May 24, 1918.
  

Perkins, Myron, b. Or. 1854; d. May 5, 1918.
Prather, Thomas, b. Mo., 1832; Or. 1852; d. May 8, 1918.

• Rivears, Charles, b. Me., 1835; Or. 1859; d. June 4, 1918.
  

Steinbach, Mrs. Hannah Stauffer, b. Mo.; Or. 1855; d. May 17, 1918.
St. George, Mrs. Martha J. Trimble, b. ; Or. 1846; d. April 22, 1918.
Syron, Daniel, b. Ohio, 1832; Or. 1852; d. Dec. 3, 1917.

• Terwilliger, Hiram, b. Ohio, 1840; Or. 1845; d. April 16, 1918.
  

Tracy, Mrs. Martha Bidwell, b. ; Or. 1847; d. April 23, 1918.

• Underwood, Amos, b. Ohio, Dec. 10, 1834; Or. 1852; d. Dec. 16, 1917.
  

Walbridge, William, b. N. Y. 1855; Or. 1857; d. April , 1918.
Weinhard, Mrs. Louisa, b. Ger. 1832; Or. 1855; <". May 23, 1918.
Yates, Mrs. Martha, b. Mo., 1837; Or. 1847; d. April 12, 1918.

Only those marked * were ever members of the Oregon Pioneer Association.