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History of Early Pioneer Families of Hood River, Oregon.
Compiled by Mrs. D.M. Coon

EARLY STEAMBOATS
From the writings of H.C. Coe

In the summer of 1851 a small steamer was built above the Cascades and ran to The Dalles. It was the "James P. Flint", Captain Vanburgen, master. She was a funny little thing. She was the first steamer on the middle Columbia, and was built by the Bradfords and Vanburgen. She was so small that they soon decided to take her below to be rebuilt. In 1852, I think, she was rebuilt and enlarged and renamed the "Fashion." The steamer "Allen", built by the Hudson Bay Company in 1852, was commanded by Captain Thomas Gladwell.
She was wrecked in 1854 near Mitchell's point.
The steamer "Mary", built by Bradford's and L.W. Coe, in 1854, commanded by Captain Dan Baughman. She was a side wheel boat of about fifty tons capacity. The steamer "Wasco" was built by Captain I. McFarland in 1855. McFarland was Captain and Cornelius, his son, was engineer. The steamer "Hassalo" was built in 1857 by the O.S.N. Co. She was a side wheeler. I think Capt. Eph. Baughman was captain, as he had been captain on the Columbia River steamers from a very early day.
The steamer "Idaho" was built in 1860 by Colonel Ruckels, and was afterwards sold to the O.S.N. Co.
The "Oneonta" was built by the O.S.N. Co. in 1863. Captain McNulty was commander.