The Oregonian, Portland, OR., January 14, 1918, page 4
INDIAN DAYS RECALLED
News Item Revives Memories For H.R. Lewis
Death of Amos Underwood, Friend of Reds, Brings Back Scenes of Pioneer Days
How valuable is the grist of daily news, and with what
pungency it pecks at the memory of the old-timers, is vouched for by H. R.
Lewis, long-time resident of Portland, who yesterday read in The Oregonian
the story from Hood river of the death and burial of Amos Underwood, pioneer
Indian fighter, founder of the town of Underwood, and unshaken friends of
the Indians.
Mr. Underwood's wife, an Indian maiden, daughter of Chief
Chenowith, figured into the recollections of Mr. Miller. Mrs. Underwood as
an Indian girl was turned over to Mr. Underwood by Chief Chenowith himself,
when the latter went to his death by hanging, on being convicted by court-martial
and sentenced to death. Mr. Underwood was one of the guards and in the moment
preceding his death Chief Chenowith said to him: "I have observed this sturdy
young paleface for years. My son, to you I give my daughter. In your care
I have no fear for her." He then walked to his death.
The Indian maiden eventually became Mr. Underwood's wife,
although it was five years from that time before Mr. Underwood saw her again,
as she had been "given in marriage," according to custom, to Lieutenant W.K.
Lear, a young officer, at the post.
"I remember," said Mr. Lewis yesterday, "of being in
the store of E.L. Smith, Hood River pioneer, in 1889 when two Indian women
entered and made a large purchase of goods. They took their purchases and
left. No money passed. I said to Mr. Smith, 'Do you trust these Indian women?'
Mr. Smith looked at me and said, 'Yes, these two. One is the wife of Amos
Underwood, Commissioner of Skamania County, and the other is her daughter
and the wife of his brother.' The daughter was a child by marriage to Lieutenant
Lear.
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© Jeffrey L. Elmer