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The Klickitat County News, Goldendale, WA., June 7, 1934, page 6

INTERESTING PIONEER INTERVIEWS

"If you expect to find anything out from me, you're in the wrong place for I am a poor hand to remember dates and incidents. My wife cares for all of my 'secretarial' duties and I do not bother myself much about these little things concerning dates and those things you want to know for an interview. I read all of them that you've printed, but I don't think that I will be able to give you enough to bother with."
Thus was the disheartening introduction, A.E. Coley, veteran resident of this county, gave to The News correspondent as he visited Mr. Coley at his residence on Columbus Avenue last Thursday afternoon.
However during the course of an hour's conversation with the genial pioneer, the following facts and incidents were noted:
"I was born in Washington county, Ohio, near Marietta, on December 8, 1852.
"I attended school in the community for several years. In those days, a young person going to school did not have the opportunity to attend a school so many months of the year. I remember that I went to school for three months out of the year until, I believe, I was about 18 years old. That was considered a fair schooling. So many of the young persons could not attend the schools as they were needed on the multiple farms in the farming section.
"After I finished the schooling to be obtained in the earlier grades, I went to Stockport where I attended the academy for one year. Later I went to Oberlin. Oberlin was and still is quite a school town. It was here that I completed my schooling.
"I studied business and railroad work. Later I was able to use this training to a good advantage in Oregon.
"I was married to Mary Beckett in Washington County, Ohio. The date, let's see, I would have to see my wife. The date would not make any material difference in the story, anyway, if you can find a story in what I say. I think it was in 1878.
"I had a cousin in the Washington territory who had written me consistently about the country out here and he had asked me to come out and see the country, perhaps stay here.
"I brought my wife and two children, a great lot of our personal belongings and went to San Francisco via the trans-continental railroad.
"At San Francisco, we took a steamer and went up the coast to Portland. As far as the steamer trip is concerned, I do not remember any particular incident on that part of the trip.
"At Portland we stayed a few days and then came on up to The Dalles. I do not remember just how the trip from Portland was made. Part of the way we traveled by rail and part of the way by steam boat. I believe after we got to The Dalles, we went by the old Portage railroad to a piont above the rapids near where Celilo is now located.
"Here we took a steamer and went on up the Columbia river. My cousin was residing in Milton, or near Milton, and he met us in Walla Walla after an arduous trip to this point.
"As we went from Walla Walla to Milton, I was certainly a disappointed man. I told my cousin that if I had not been so financially disabled, I should turn tables and returned to Ohio at once. He remarked that that was the only reason he had remained there so long. Evidently he did not have money enough to obtain a return ticket.
"As we bounced along over a dirt road to Milton, I noticed the bushes along side of the road covered with dust. The dust seems so thick to me that it just clung to the leaves and twigs as we traveled along. It was certainly a desolate site as far as I was concerned.
"After a while I became interested in my business and railroad training and I obtained work at the Blue Mountain station as agent and operator.
"I was able to keep this job for two years but I saw that my health was failing. There was a large flume near where I worked and there was a steady mist and light fog of spray in the air at all times. This seems to affect me and I had to quit.
"To regain my health, I went on a farm near this location. I was feeling much better and soon I was in correspondence with a man residing in this county near Klickitat. He convinced me that I should come over here.
"I made up my mind to try out Washington. I came over with my friend first and filed on a homestead a few miles east of Rock Creek. At that time, I constructed a foundation for a few houses that I expected to build on the place. Then I returned to my family. I took what wages I had, bought a team and a wagon, and a cow and calf.
"The cow had just had the calf and it was not very strong yet. I built a little cage on the back of the wagon and I remembered that the cow followed the wagon, without being tied, all the way over. I had to be back on my filing within six weeks of the first filing, so it rushed us considerably.
"In the evening, we would allow the calf to get its meal, and then we would milk the cow. We had plenty of butter milk and butter on the trip. The steady shake of the wagon made the pail of milk into butter milk and there were large chunks of butter in the containers after short trips with our team.
"Soon after we established ourselves on the farm, I needed money. I went to work for a sheep man in the community and through his generosity, I was able to get a 'grub stake.' He took me to Arlington, and told one of the merchants there that I should have anything that I needed.
"Soon I leased a band of sheep. I was able, after the first year, to purchase this band and from then on, I was able to provide fairly well for my family.
"I remember one year that it was pretty tough in the sheep business. I took six cents a pound for wool and sold some excellent lambs for as low as $1.50.
"I suppose I stayed on the farm for 12 or 15 years. The feed for the sheep was fine in those days. I remember the bunch grass was as high as your knees and there was little fear for lack of forage for the animals.
"I believe it was in the year 1897 that I was elected county commissioner from the east district.
"You say, where was I located, exactly? I had about 450 acres at the head of Chapman Creek. I had plenty of water, yes. In those days, my sheep usually were bought on the place and the buyer drove them into Arlington where they were shipped into Portland and other markets centers.
"Well, I was successful in the commissioner campaign. I served two years as commissioner. During the latter part of my term, I moved into Goldendale.
"Then I was asked by my friends to run for county clerk. I did follow this crazy idea and was successful again. I served two two-year terms as the county clerk.
"Then I decided to get into the banking business. The name of the bank was the Klickitat County Bank, it was a private bank. I was given the position as cashier. N.B. Brooks was president and C.F. Kayser and T.B. Montgomery were also officials.
"For several years I was cashier in the bank and during that time I acquired friends that have made my life worth while since.
"Later, I was elected president.
"When the Klickitat County Bank merged with the State Bank of Goldendale to be known as the Pioneer State Bank, I decided to retire from active business.
"Since that time I have been residing here in Goldendale. I took this house, a sort of a shacky affair, and completely remodeled and renovated it. It has been here for quite a while.
"I have felt pretty good, despite the fact that I am more or less like 'the old gray mare.' I am not as young as I used to be.
"Oh, yes, I want to say one thing. When I was in the sheep business, I prided myself in one of the best bands in the country. I purchased fine bucks for as high as $75. I had, what was termed at that time, the premium band of this section. I was certainly proud of those animals. In those days, of course, there seemed to be more market for better animals than there is now.
"Well, I guess you've got me from start to finish. Oh, I feel pretty well. I can't get around quite as spry as I used to, but one cannot expect to stay young always."
Mr. Coley is a true pioneer. He has seen this country grow from comparative infancy. He has seen various crops grown here that, in his time, were not known to this section.
His mind is keen. His memory not nearly so faint as he would lead one to believe, and his sense of humor is not ruffled despite the hardships he must have endured in his climb to recognition in this community as one of its builders.