sapoti.html

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

SAPOTIWELL
Also known as Johnson D .M.C.

Data furnished by Mrs. Camilla Donnell, mother of Lulu D. Crandall of The Dalles.

In 1856 the Joslyn family was the only white family living east of the Cascades, on the Washington side of the Columbia river.
The town of Bingen is located on land owned by them and the home of Judge Byrkett is not far from the site of their cabin.
The Yakima and Klickitat Indians plotted to destroy their property and murder the members of their household, but Sapotiwell, a friendly Indian, disclosed the plot to Mrs. Joslyn and he and his wife went to the Cascades where Mrs. Joslyn remained to visit with Mrs. Atwell, whose home was on the Oregon side, while Mr. Joslyn attended to some business at The Dalles. Mr. Gallentine, an experienced frontiersman, remained on the Joslyn farm to care for the stock, with Samuel Woodburn Hawkes, a fourteen year old orphan boy, as companion and helper. The Indians were greatly incensed at the escape of Mr. and Mrs. Joslyn and planned to take vengeance on Sapotiwell, who fled to the Oregon shore, taking every boat with him. A few days later, at milking time in the evening, Mr. Galentine heard the voice of an Indian woman calling softly to hint from the willows nearby; driving the cow near the willows he continued his milking while she revealed to him that the Indians were then on their way to murder him and his companion.
Quietly he turned the cows and calves together, called Sammy and taking his gun made his way to the river's edge where the willows were the thickest.
A night of terror followed, a band of blood thirsty Indians scoured the thicket but the white man and boy eluded them although the Indians came very near them on several occasions. When morning dawned The Dalles boat came down the river and was hailed by the refugees at a point of land nearly apposite Mosier. Mr. Galentine and Sammy were taken aboard and landed at the Coe farm.
The Indians regarded Sapotiwell as a traitor and only waited their time to wreck vengeance upon him, so Sapotiwell remained with the whites, helping them on all occasions. He changed his name to Johnson and became a welcome guest in the homes of the pioneers who appreciated his sacrifice.
In 1863 he acted as guide to a party who wished to climb Mt. Adams, but no amount of persuasion could induce him to ascend its slopes, fearing the wrath of the "Great Spirit".
He remained in camp and cared for it and on the second day when a light fail of snow came and covered their tracks, he said with great solemnity, "See, the Great Spirit is angry and has blotted out your footprints."