sadiecb.html

The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA.
Diamond Anniversary Edition, July 1, 1954

SADIE CHAPPELL BAKER, PIONEER, TELLS HER STORY
As Told To Mrs. Grace Bratton

Sadie Chappell was born October 12, 1862 near Centralia, Mo., her father being a farmer. When she was one and a half years old the family, accompanied by her grandparents, started across the plains. Her grandfather was captain of the wagon train which consisted of 20 wagons. She was the only baby in the train. One man was buried along the way. There were no roads to follow, so they took the easiest routes they could find. They crossed the Platte River at Omaha, having made a raft on which they took the women and children across. The men and the horses and cattle swam the river. The Indians would catch up with the train and want to trade beads for sugar and occasionally gave them trouble. They landed in Salem, Oregon, on the 1st of October, 1864, having been 6 months on the way. Two weeks later her brother Jim was born, she herself being exactly two years old at that time.
In October, 1878, the family came to Goldendale, Mr. Chappell buying the Palace Hotel. The rooms were partitioned off by boards standing erect with cracks between. The county seat was located at Rockland, later known as Grand Dalles, North Dalles and now as Dallesport. The Methodist Church was at its present location. A Primitive Baptist was located where the Goldendale Lumber Co. was recently located.
In February of 1879 there was 4 feet of snow. The government was moving Indians to different reservations and they were snowed in here. Princess Winnemucca was one of them. A Major and a Lieutenant were in charge of the Indians; they stayed at the Hotel. The Indians were camped along a creek at what was later C.O. Barnes place. As soon as the weather permitted they went on towards Yakima. They had two vehicles with long beds, each drawn by 6 mules. The Indians had no shoes.
On the 4th of July of that year, 1879, Sadie had been selected as the Goddess of Liberty.
Funds had to be solicited to build a school. In order to help along the cause she and another girl drove in a sleigh throughout the Spring Creek country to solicit food, such as hams, potatoes, cabbage,butter. This was later cooked and meals were served for 25 cents to raise funds to build the school. This was erected where the Elementary School now is. Capt. Wash was the first teacher. There were four rooms in the building. Hattie Gunn Tebbs, Sottie Goodnoe Chappell, (Sadie Baker's sister-in-law), Emma Clanton and Mary Hutton were among the early teachers.
On October 12, 1881, her 19th birthday, she was married to Almon Baker and they went to Ellensburg to live, where Mr. Baker was in business. She was so afraid of the Indians that they only lived there one year.
In May of 1888 Goldendale's big fire swept through the town. The Palace Hotel was among the casualties. After the fire her father bought the Hotel, where the Central, now Hotel Hall stands and served meals for 25 cents.
The Golden family, founders of Goldendale, had their home where Ledbetter's now is and it also burned. They had only the organ in the country and on Sunday afternoons the young folks of the community would gather there to sing. There were nine girls in this family.
Mrs. Baker now lives in Seattle.