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The Klickitat County News, Goldendale, WA., June 14, 1934, page 6

INTERESTING PIONEER INTERVIEWS

Mrs. Mary Rankin - 79 years old - crossed the plains at the age of 8 - remarkable memory -- many interesting episodes in her lifetime, thus far - and an interesting pioneer personality.
Such was our impression and a portion of the information gleaned in a recent interview with one of Klickitat County's covered wagon pioneers.
Mrs. Rankin, mother of seven children, six of them girls, was interviewed by The News staff correspondent at her home on East Main Street last weekend. Life has been replete with interesting experiences and as they unfolded, Mrs. Rankin could be quoted something like this:
"Born, you say. In Corning, Iowa on December 2, 1854. Naturally, there is little I remember of the first few years of my life in the Iowa town. I do recall, however, that my parents told me when I was seven years old. I can just remember this incident. It must have been important to have remained in my memory for such a long time.
"I was just short of nine years old when our family decided to start that long trek, by wagon train across the plains and eventually into the Oregon country.
"We had a relative in Douglas County, Oregon who had consistently written to us about the opportunities in this great western frontier. When I say we of, of course, I mean my parents, for I probably had little to do with their decisions. I was merely a victim of circumstances.
"There were 36 wagons, covered wagons, in our train as we started that memorable ride across a great expense of unknowing mountains, prairies and deserts. There were no roads, for the greatest part, to guide the direction of our party, and we depended upon guides for our directions and safe keeping.
"It was in the month of April, 1863, that our family, together with many more started on our trip which eventually was to terminate at Goldendale.
"I have such a vivid memory of the stop at the Missouri river. At this point, I saw the first Indians. Yes, they were peaceful. They were encamped on the banks of the river. Other Indians, yes. But we met up with others that weren't so peaceful. Indians caused us no little worry and at times I remember that my parents and other adult members of the party were quite concerned over the activities of the Redskins near, or in the path of our train.
"Another episode on that trip I recall is one time when we were warned, after starting across a short-cut, that Indians were on the war path. We went quite a long distance, I can't recall just how far, before we were forced to come back.
"One little thing, not so much now, but as a child I remembered that it bothered considerably. During that trip from which we turned back, the train ran very short of water. I can remember that all we had to drink was very poor alkali water. To me as a child, it was 'awful.' I couldn't understand why good water was not obtainable. Where we came from, water was abundant, and I had never thought that the beverage could become scarce.
"The men folks of the wagon train had to dig on several different occasions for any sign of water. It did not run on the surface as I had seen it back home, as a matter of fact, the water shortage was very acute.
"The animals, at times, where nearly famished for something to drink. Naturally, this problem was very seriour. However, as soon as we returned to Virginia City, Montana we were able to obtain a great sufficiency.
"I certainly remember the then little city of Virginia City, Montana. I was there when the gold rush was on in 1863. After turning back, due to the hostility of the Indians, we decided to winter in this little town.
"You will certainly be surprised when I tell you how we lived there that winter. My father purchased a typical 1863 'bungalow.' It was constructed of logs. The roof was made of pine or fir bows with a coating of dirt to keep out the storm elements. The floor, no there were no boards in it. The soil made our flooring. It contained but one room and it cost my father $150. We ate, cooked and slept in it all that winter.
"The bedsteads were made from stakes driven into the dirt floor and timbers were laid across the stakes and our beds on top. It was comfort, at least as much as we expected or needed, for the times.
"During that winter, my father, who was a blacksmith, made the treks into the canyons which surrounded Virginia City with the hordes of miners in that territory. He was specializing, at that time, in sharpening the miners' tools for which they used in their mining operations.
"Following the winter, we again set out for the Oregon country. We followed the Old Oregon trail for the most part in our trip up from Iowa.
"I do remember that our guide, in Mr. Bozeman, was honored later, in having the Montana city named for him.
"It was in July, 1864 that we finally left Virginia City. By this time our wagon train did not number so many. Some had turned back and others had been broken or demolished in accidents which always occurred on such trips.
There was not so much trouble on the trip to the Oregon country, outside of the hardships one would naturally encounter on such an expedition. As a child, perhaps I did not have the worries and problems that the parents had. I certainly do remember, though, that the trip was not all comfort.
"We stayed in Douglas County, Oregon from 1865 to 1887. Due to the fact that many of my relatives resided in Goldendale, I decided to move up here. I have lived here since that time and have done a great many little things while here. Of course, I haven't had the severe hardships to endure that a trip across the continent forces upon an individual, but I do say that I worked hard to raise my family.
"I don't know what I would have done, if times had been like they are today. I had seven children, six of them girls and you may have some idea of the work that might entail.
"I was married in 1871 to L. Hall. Following his death, I was forced to see that my children were amply provided for, so I established a boarding and rooming house. The first building our family housed in this venture was located right where your shop now stands. The fire of 1888 burned down our building so we moved to a home in another part of the city. The house, known now as the Mrs. Maggie Hill home, is still standing. Here the girls and myself cooked many a meal and housed many people during the years that we ran a boarding house.
"Included in the list of those who ate and stayed at our house more or less as steady borders were Sam VanVactor, George Eddy, Dr. R.D. McCully, Jim Benson, Charley Johnson and Fay Fenton. Oh, yes, there were many others, but many have passed away, and others were not known in this section. The ones mentioned are a few of those who bounce back into my memory, now that you ask me.
"In the winters of 1900 and 1901, I was the custodian or manager, call it what you will, of the dormitory which was attached to the academy which has been started here. It was located just next door to my home here. To be more exact, the E.C. Ward home is now located on the same ground on which the dormitory stood.
"You ask who some of those were who went to school there? Well, let me see, there were certainly many. I recall George Coffield, Walter Norris, Jess Wherry, Ed Cahill, Claude Purvine and others, whom I just can't recall on such short notice.
"One very pleasant memory to me is Mrs. Mr. and of Mrs. Charles Timblin. We always called Mr. Timblin, Professor Timblin. He was certainly a wonderful personality and I believe that all of the students who went to school under the professor's guidance, would bear me out in this statement.
"Mr. and Mrs. Timblin would come, often, to the dormitory and eat and chat with us there. Both were a very fine influence in the community.
"In 1893, I was married to J.R. Rankin. He has been dead for 15 years and since that time, I have not always stayed as close to Goldendale as I might have. My family has married and moved to many points.
"Several of the girls are in California and I have made the trip south to see them six times during the past few years.
"Mrs. Helen Collins, Mrs. Grace Schutse, Mrs. Clara Teft, and Mrs. Bertha VanHook, all my daughters, live in San Francisco. Mrs. Louise Ahola, my oldest child and sixth daughters, resides here in Goldendale. A.L. Hall, the only son, is owner of the Hall Hotel in this city.
"I am sort of glad, sometimes, that the family is so divided. I can make a trip and see them all and, home real satisfied. Incidentally, I expect some of them here soon to see me and naturally, I am happy at the thought of having them home again.
"Well, if you want any more information, you'll have to ask me some more questions because I have given you about all of the ideas, episodes and information that I have at hand without any previous warning."
The News reporter thanked Mrs. Rankin for her time, hesitated a bit, and before he was aware of what was happening, had engaged her in a political discussion which gave promise of a spirited debate. Fearing that the interview might be canceled or that the debate might be lost, the correspondent quietly excused himself with an invitation for Mrs. Rankin to visit the News office frequently.