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History of Early Pioneer Families of Hood River, Oregon.
Compiled by Mrs. D.M. Coon

PIONEER REUNION SEPTEMBER 17 -- 1915

Hardships of the days when the Apple Valley was a forest and Hood River was known as Dog River were forgotten last Friday by members of the Hood River Pioneer Association in their annual reunion, when they sat down to the sumptuous dinner provided by the wives, daughters and granddaughters of the first settlers. It was a feast for an epicure. By actual count seventeen different kinds of pies were served. Chicken by the score from the valley farms of the pioneers settlers appeared on the table in platters, rounded with drumsticks and succulent tasty pieces of browned beast meat. It was not only the annual reunion dinner of the pioneers but the birthday dinner of the Valley's beloved and honored citizens and pioneer, E.L. Smith, who was tendered the congratulations of his old comrades and business men of the city. Next year the association will hold its meeting on the birthday of another of its oldest members, D.A. Turner, a pioneer of 1861 whose birthday will come on September 21st., when he will be 80 years old. Mr. Smith was 78 Friday. He settled in the valley in 1876 having come from Olympia, Wash. where he was secretary of the territory and for a time, acting governor. The Honor Roll of the Hood River Pioneer Association contained a list of the members who had passed the mark of three, score and ten years and is as follows: D.A. Turner; E.L. Smith; Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Boorman; Mrs. M.A. Cram; Robert Rand; Mr. and Mrs. M.V. Rand, Mr. and Mrs. M.B. Potter, John A. Wilson; Mrs. P.G. Barrett; S.F. Blythe; Dr. and Mrs. T.L. Eliot; Mr. and Mrs. S.R. Husbands; James Sanders; Samuel T. Howe; Mrs. Anna R. Middleton; Wm. Ellis; M.H. Nickelsen, Hos. Frazier, Sr., Nathan Hackett, Mrs. S.A. Hutton; Mrs. C.W. Phelps, Mrs. Caroline Morton, Mrs. Nancy Monroe, Peter Mohr, Mrs. Maria McGuire, Elisha Rogers, Lyman Smith, F.C. Sherrieb, Mrs. John W. Hinrichs, W.H. Robertson, J.L. Carter.
A feature of the day's meeting was the song and violin music of Mr. Tuner. During the annual address by Mr. Carter, the latter mentioned the fount of eternal youth, sought by Ponce Do Leon, stating that he thought it was never found. "I think it is up on Dave Turner's old farm," remarked Mr. Smith.
Nine Hood River pioneers have passed away since the reunion of last year: A.B. Jones passed away here last year a week after the reunion. Mrs. Adelia Stranahan, who served Hood River for seven years as postmistress, died at the age of 75 years. Rev. Thomas Ramsdell passed away at the age of 94 years in the Willamette Valley. Rev. Ramsdell visited the valley in 18__. He moved his family here in 1862 and they remained four years. During these years Mr. Ramsdell worked on the O.S.N. Co.'s boats as ship carpenter, preaching at Hood River on Sundays. Indian Joe Aleck, reputed to be 100 years old, died early in the year. For many years he was mail carrier between Hood River and White Salmon. Mrs. Camilla Donnell died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. C.J. Crandall of The Dalles. She was a pioneer of 1852 and died at the age of 87. J.W. Wallace, a pioneer of the Parkhurst colony, died last spring at the age of 75. Mrs. Henness, wife of Capt. B.L. Henness, died in Portland during the year, They owned the place homesteaded by Nathan Benson in 1854, where they developed a fine peach orchard. Mr. and Mrs. Henness and children moved to Portland in 1876. Harry Brown and H.A. Hammond and J.W. Hinrichs completes the list of those who have passed on since our last meeting; all are missed.
Those present this year are: E.L. Smith, J.L. Carter, Wm. Ellis, E.C. Rogers, Mrs. H.O. Sieverkropp, Mr. and Mrs. J.P. Lucas, Howard Pealer, Mrs. H.C. Van Allen. Mrs. E.O. Gifford, O.H. Ehrock, J.H. Eggert, Mr. and Mrs. D.A. Turner, W.W. Foss, Mr. and Mrs. D.M. Jackson, Mrs. Wm. Davidson, Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Bullard, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Mohr, W.G. Mich, Mrs. Wm. Stewart, Mrs. Ida Crapper, J.W. Morton, Mrs. and Mrs. George T. Prather, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wall-ace, Mrs. May A. Gilbert, Mr. and Mrs. George I. Slocum, Mrs. M.A. Cram, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Frazier Sr., A.J. Graham, W.H. Robertson, R.E. Robertson, Mrs. J.H. Shoemaker, C.A. Ross, Mrs. Therese Castner, Peter Mohr, Mrs. Fred Shoemaker, Mrs. Jessie Palmer, Mrs. H. Jewell, Sarah Fuller, Mrs. Burton Hayes, Mrs. W.H. Mayes, Mrs. Wm. Shackleford, Mrs. H.J. Kneeper, Mrs. E.C. Price, Mrs. Thomas McKay, Mrs. Kitty Coe, Frank McFarland, Mr. and Mrs. S.E. Bartmess and Mr. and Mrs. McCurdy.
The following resolutions were adopted: Resolved, that the thanks of this society are extended to the Board of Directors of the Library for the privilege of again meeting in the spacious hall of the building, and to the librarian, Miss See, and the janitor, W.T. King for their kindness in looking after the comfort of the assembly of pioneers. Resolved, that the thanks of the society are tendered to Mr. and Mrs. Peter Mohr for the array of handsome flowers that decorated the dining table. Resolved, that George Howe be thanked for the artistic design on the card of invitation showing Mitchells Point. Resolved, that Hon. J.L. Carter for his masterly and eloquent address, historical and interesting through out, deserves our heartiest thanks, Resolved that thanks be extended to the members of The Dalles Historical Society for their presence and interest in our association. Resolved, that the society thank our historian, Mrs. T.R. Coon, for the very excellent paper on the family life of Nathaniel Coe and the early history of Hood River. Troy Shelley, S.F. Blythe, George T. Prather, Committee on Resolutions. Names omitted below.
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Boorman, Mr. and Mrs. W.S. Crapper, Mr. and Mrs. F.C. Sherrieb, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Davenport, Mr. and Mrs. T.R. Coon, Mr. and Mrs. M.D. Odell, Mr. and Mrs. J.O. Eastman, Mr. and Mrs. Harry M. Hackett, Mr. and Mrs. Warren Miller, Dr. and Mrs. J.F. Watt, Miss Marie Bartmess, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Bartmess, Mr. and Mrs. G.A. McCurdy, Miss Alice McCurdy, Charles E. Stillwell, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Davidson, Mr. and Mrs. M.H. Nickelsen, Mr. and Mrs. R.B. Lindsey, Mr. and Mrs. Jasper Wickham, Mr. and Mrs. Henry L. Howe, Mrs. Henrietta McKay, Miss Aldine Bartmess, Carson C. Massiker, Mrs. James Ingalls, Mrs. B. Warren, Rev. Troy Shelley.