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

EUGENE FRANCIS COE

     Eugene Francis Coe was born in Nunda, New York, in 1836. At the age of 15 years he accompanied his father to the Pacific Coast and was his constant companion and helper in the arduous duties he had undertaken as Postal agent for the Northwest.
     There were no railroads, and few steamboats, while the few wagon roads that had been opened up were little better than Indian trails, Much of his traveling had to be done on horseback or in the Indian canoe, and was laborious to the father but was probably enjoyed by the son. Eugene was a good penman and before the family had reached Oregon he was employed as agent or clerk at the dock of a steamship company in Portland.
     When the family located in Hood River he became the main dependence, and to him fell the work of overseeing the farm and marketing the produce, as the entries to the Coe Diary attest, As the health of his brother Charles improved and he was relieved from farm work, he followed his natural inclinations and found work on the river. He became a captain and spent the best years of his life in that occupation on the Upper Columbia. There was a great deal of travel on the steamboats in those days and Captain Coe was favorably known throughout the Northwest for the faithful performance of his work. He was married in the fall of 1868 and in the spring of 1869 he and his brother Henry, with their wives, moved to Yakima and engaged in the stock business. After the death of their brother Charles they returned to Hood River to take care of the farm but Eugene soon went back to his river work. He, with Henry, platted Hood River townsite. About the year 1890 his health began to fail and he died in Portland January 17, 1893, four days before his mother's death. He left no children. His wife became Mrs. Shackleford of The Dalles. She is also dead.

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