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The Hood River News, Hood River, OR., May 20, 1938, page 5

MARY V. LANE TELLS OF TIMES BEFORE AUTOS AND RADIOS

Mrs. Mary V. Lane, of Underwood, whose father "was the first settler in the East end of Skamania county," recalls in vivid language, the days when there were no newspapers, telephones, radios, picture shows, automobiles or highways in the Northwest.
And, she says in the Pioneer, I like to remind the old-timers of the days long ago, and the new-comers as well, that we do not regret our experience.
"I am an old-timer, born and reared in the County in the early days when there were only wagon roads and trails, cattle and horses, guns and dogs, boats and sails to use and miles to walk, acres in crops and fields of grain and hay," she says. "Father was the first settler of this end of Skamania County. He and his men built their own roads and bridges.
"My father, Amos Underwood, was commissioner for many years and my uncle, Edward Underwood, was school clerk for many years.
"When a neighbor moved into the settlement, my uncle provided them with the first year's seed, led one of his cows into their yard for their use until such time that they could buy one. He loaned his team, plow and harrows that they might get the first year's start. The Dalles and Portland where our nearest cities. My father built scows and made one of side issues of buying and hauling cord wood to The Dalles, on his return bringing groceries and clothes for everyone who ordered what they wanted. Powder and lead to mold bullets was one of the common needs for game was plentiful. My father had sailboats and skiffs.
"Saturday was his day to go to Hood River for the mail and any small needs for there was no town nor roads. All the supplies and mail came by boat. The boat, 'Hassalo" left The Dalles at 6 a.m., arrived at the Upper Cascades about noon where the portage train hauled between the Upper and Lower Cascades, a six-mile haul.
"In those days crews worked all day and nearly all night loading and unloading. The firemen had no snap of a job for they had to handle cords of wood. The Weekly Oregonian, The Dalles Mountaineer, the San Francisco Examiner were our newspapers. We were satisfied, happy and well. If any of our neighbors were sick we went and offered our assistance for there were no doctors. If anybody died the neighbors made the coffin and did all that could be done.
"No one went hungry for the neighbors could always help. When one brought a bear or deer in, all the neighbors would be remembered. Those were the days when "live and let live" was practiced, when men were men and women were women. Children were brought up to honor father and mother and to be true to our trust. For a time my father hired his own teacher for three months in the year. We kept the teacher and our front room was used for the school room. Our friends sent their children to us and went to our school. In our simple life we lived on plenty of wholesome food and had clothes to wear, for in those times, modesty was taught. We were taught to be brave and to do our part in the home. We were crack shots and could lassoo our own horse and ride anywhere."