george.html

The Klickitat County News, Goldendale, WA., May 24, 1934, page 4

INTERESTING PIONEER INTERVIEWS

"Every cat and dog and Goldendale and between here and Lyle on the Klickitat knows me." Such was the introduction of the conversation with the George Robert "Dad" Mitchell, 82-year -old Klickitat county pioneer, held recently in The News office.
"Dad" was casually passing the shop and decided to stop in. After a short talk, the following information was released:
"I was born on a farm near Oskaloosa, Iowa on October 28, 1852. I resided in that section of the country for 40 years, farming most of the time. However, I was a carpenter in those days and spent my winters working at that trade and then returning to the farm for the spring and summer work.
"I was married the last day of February (28th) in 1878. We had nine children, six of whom are still living. They were: George, Emma Jane, Orville, Robert Allen, William S., Lois, Glenn, Faye and Ralph, Lois whose name is now Trotman, resides at Bremerton. Faye, whose name is Divers resides at a Blockhouse and Glenn resides at Ellensburg.
"All but three are still living.
"After living in Iowa for 40 years, my wife and myself with our family moved to Hartville, Mo. Here we farmed for some time. Later we moved to a place in Joplin, Mo.
"About that time, I decided to make a trip to the Washington country to visit my sister, Mrs. Emma Munden. She had lived in Goldendale, Centerville and at times in Portland. I came out here and managed to get a job or two.
"My wife had given me just a year to see this part of the country and had said that Joplin was good enough for her.
"I sent several letters home and told her of the country out here. Incidentally, I was making more money here than I was able to make in Missouri and gradually she managed to make up her mind that this might be a better place in which to live.
"I was sending a goodly share of my money back home for the family and my wife was impressed with the earnings possible out here.
"Finally she wrote back to me and said that she didn't care to live in a place where she had to fan herself to get some sleep, so she came out to Goldendale to be with me.
"My wife died eight years ago at the age of 68. We had lived together (missing text)… that she should be wearing a jeweled crown in Heaven for living with a man like me for such a long time.
"It was back in the Hayes-Tilden campaign that I decided to change my politics. I had been much interested in questions of a political nature and had taken an active part in other campaigns in Iowa and Missouri.
"I had been born and raised a republican and was a good one, too. But when Tilden beat Hayes fair and square for the presidency and then was later robbed of the office, I began to look around for a new affiliation.
"While always a staunch supporter of the republican policies, I couldn't stand to see such a raw deal pulled. The presidency, you will remember was actually decided by a group of 15 congressmen. Eight were republicans and seven were democrats. The eighth man, a judge from Delaware, was a shrewd politician was the deciding factor in the final placing of the presidency and the regularly elected Tilden was not allowed to take office.
"I looked around for a while. I studied the policies of both parties fairly and finally decided that the tariff policy of the democrats more suited my opinion than that of the republicans.
"From then on I voted a strictly independent ticket and it has meant mostly democratic.
"I was 'tickled to death' at the last presidential election when Roosevelt was elected, but I have been disappointed in some of the policies advocated.
"For instance, the NRA. My definition of that alphabetical designation now is "Nothing Regulated at All." I can't see where the NRA has done much good for the country. Maybe everything it will come out all right but I am certainly disappointed.
"In connection with politics, I was eight years county assessor and road supervisor in Mahaska county, in Iowa during my residence there.
"Since my residence in Klickitat county, I have always taken an active interest in the political battles here.
"I have resided on the Klickitat river much of the time I have spent in this county. In 1910 I went to Pitt station, three miles below the town of Klickitat and put in an orchard.
"I had a nice apple orchard in a short time and managed to raise some nice crops. But soon after I began to get some good returns from the fruit on my farm there, the market collapsed and it was several seasons before the product came back sufficient enough to make money.
"It was then that that I went into hog raising. I did very well raising the animals for market and situated as I was, the market was fairly close and I shipped many hogs into Portland markets as well as disposing of many locally. At that time, of course, there was a marked demand for pork and I believe that the market was much better than now.
"While I was in the hog business there, I purchased a few lots in the town of Klickitat and built some nice homes. I still own these homes and rent them to Klickitat residents.
"I also own several homes here in Goldendale. As a matter of fact, however, I hadn't expected to be in the need of doctor's services and nurses services, and it has begun to look like I might have to turn over a lot of this property to those who have brought me through the stroke I recently had. However, I seem to be feeling a lot better, and I might not have to do this thing.
"You know I have been in fine health all of my life up until February of this year. I suffered a stroke in that month and for some reason I was unable to get around. However, within the last few weeks I have shown a remarkable recovery and I am feeling as well as they did before the illness.
"I was not sick, I didn't suffer an hour but I just couldn't get around and I sure was handicapped for I have always been active and been able to get around when I wanted to.
"Even though I am carrying the burden of nearly 82 years on my shoulders, I feel like I am good for plenty more and I plan to enjoy myself to the utmost."
"Dad" Mitchell boasts of 26 grandchildren, 25 of whom are living and 12 great grandchildren, 10 still living.