mckillip.html

The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., October 28, 1937, page 5

HISTORY OF KLICKITAT IS GIVEN BY MRS. McKILLIP
Pioneer Program Presented Last Thursday Reveals Wealth of Highly Interesting Data;
Settling of County and Valley Described by Lady Before Association Meet

The following short history was prepared by Mrs. William McKillip for presentation last Thursday afternoon at the pioneer program which was sponsored by the Goldendale Woman's Association. It's interesting data and references were deemed valuable enough to publish and preserve for future years. Mrs. McKillip's paper follows:
Most of the early settlers came from the Willamette valley where they had come across the plains earlier. They were suited to the hardships of pioneer life as their fathers and grandfathers had been pioneers.
The year 1859 is given by all the first settlers of Klickitat county as the date of settlement.
Erastus J. Joslyn settled on a place one and one-half miles east of White Salmon, built a cabin, set out an orchard, bought some stock. When Indian war broke out friendly Indians warned him that he would be attacked. He fled across the river with his family and from a concealed place watched the Indians burn his dwelling, destroy his orchard and drive off the stock. At the close of the war he returned and lived on this place until 1874. The Joslyn place is the oldest ranch in Klickitat county and is now known as the Byrkett place.
In the spring of 1859 Amos Stark came and built a log house. There were no settlers in all the county then save soldiers at Blockhouse and roving Indians. He was obliged to build his cabin alone as there was no one to ask for aid. He managed to raise the logs by pulling one end with a rope and fastening it and then the other end. This process was tediously slow; when completed he went to California for his family. He reported Klickitat as being the stockmans's paradise.
Lewis Parrott and his son of-in-law, John J. Golden came July 9th, 1859. The first ferry ever to cross the river had Mr. Golden as a passenger. He brought a large herd of cattle with him. A little later John W. Burgen came with cattle and horses and settled on the Columbus road about four miles south of Goldendale which was about 75 years ago he purchased the prior rights of a young man for a $20.00 greenback. This is now known as the Ed Pike place and considered one of the most valuable ranches in the county. One year later his son, Newton, was born and was generally conceded to be the first white child born in Klickitat county. There was a matter of minutes between the birth of the oldest Golden child (Mrs. Barnett) and the Burgen child, and was a disputed fact among people.
The 1861 and 1862 was the coldest and longest winter ever experienced. Snow was many feet deep and sleet began falling on this. Cattle were dying everywhere; animals would break through this cutting their legs. In desperation they finally bound the legs of the horses with tops of boots and hides and drove them to break away to the hills along the river where they could dig away the snow and get at grass.
Ben Snipes lost practically all he had about 200 head elsewhere which he drove to British Columbia. Beef sold at mines as high as $1.50 a pound. He retrieved his fortune.
The first school was by private subscription. There was no uniform system, each child bringing any books they had. Yet it was surprising how much they learned.
Later a public school was established. Mrs. Jennie Chamberlain, now Mrs. Whitney, was the first public school teacher.