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The Klickitat County News, Goldendale, WA., August 2, 1934, page 4

INTERESTING PIONEER INTERVIEWS

To those readers of this paper who enjoy perusing those pioneer stories merely for the sake of gaining an authentic report on the edge of the various persons interviewed by The News correspondent, a search elsewhere will have to be conducted for Mrs. Daniel F. Tebbs, long-time resident of Goldendale refuses to divulge this information. If the reader can decipher her age by connecting a series of dates and incidents, then he can do better than the writer.
However, this information does make dependent the success or failure of this article. Mrs. Tebbs (nee Harriet "Hattie" Gunn) has resided in Klickitat County for many years. In fact she came here in November 1878 when this part of Washington was being settled by those dauntless pioneers who were coming up from California and other western points to establish of homes and communities.
What is probably Mrs. Tebbs' private pride and joy, is her son. She has kept an accurate picture and printed record of his activities over his life, thus far. Her son, has, indeed, been very successful and at the age of 28 is editor of a prominent farmer's periodical in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Mrs. Tebbs devotes much of her time to reading and is probably one of the best informed women in this portion of the county as regards to history of county and incidental features.
But Mrs. Tebbs' interesting style of conversation and her many unique experiences mingled within the interview, makes her own words much more interesting. Let her tell the story:
"I was born in Wine Harbor, Nova Scotia. The date, well, it would not make your story any better and I know that it would be better for me if you just eliminated that one feature.
"The reason we moved to California was my father's health. My father had been ailing for some time and it was decided that a change of climate would be necessary. When the family decided to move, it decided to move a long way.
"We crossed the comment by train and landed in California. We resided for a time at Dixon, Salano county, just 20 miles south of Sacramento. After living there for a while and watching the country gradually filled, the family decided to go to the Washington Territory.
"There were many other residents in California at that time that had preceded us to the north. Washington Territory was considered more of a frontier and it was only natural for the pioneers to want to settle in the more remote sections. At that time, this section of the territory was certainly more remote than it is now.
"We then came up north. My father had a letter of introduction to a Mr. Trenner who then resided in the Pine Forest district out of Goldendale. There are, by the way, some Trenner boys living in the Bickleton section now.
"We settled then in the Pine Forest district. My father bought one claim and homesteaded another 320 acres. Of course, we started farming at once. Farming in those days was a little different than now but we raised about the same things then as are raised here now. We raised hay and grain and pastured quite a bit of stock.
"My father was the first Patron of and Eastern Star order in this territory of Washington. You may not know it, but Goldendale may proudly boast of the first O.E.S. in this state.
"This fact has long been a source of jealousy among the larger orders and cities of the state and the honor has remained despite efforts to strip us of the honor. Twice, our temple and records has been consumed by fire. When the charter was burned each time, there were concerted efforts made to take our No. 1 designation away but we have been able to keep it through thick and thin.
"I feel that this is a very signal honor. Of course, you appreciate the fact, that I have always tried to take an active and beneficial part in the Eastern Star and due to this fact, I may feel the organization a little bit more important than others might.
"I recall when we first came to this country, that the scenery, more especially the mountains were awe inspiring. Even the most insignificant knoll was termed mountain by us. As we would gaze out over the horizon and view the range of mountains, it seemed such a contrast to what we had been accustomed.
"In California, we could look for miles in any direction and see level fields of waving grain and the hills and mountains were scarce in our particular locality. This fact made the Goldendale country the more impressive.
"I went to school here in Goldendale and just as I as soon as I 'knew enough,' I was hired to teach.
"Many persons probably do not know it, but in those days in a girl, in order to teach, did not have any particular degree or any particular knowledge to teach. The individual must have shown an aptitude for learning, and must have convinced the school directors that she was capable.
"Before I get too far in this little story, I should like to say that I went to school to N.B. Brooks, Zola's father, now dead. I can honestly say that, in my opinion, I learned more real, honest to goodness knowledge then under other instructors. Mr. Brooks had a way, peculiar to himself, of placing his points before his pupils, and we certainly benefited fast from his efforts as a teacher here.
"As I started to say, as soon as I was old enough, and the directors felt that I 'knew enough,' I was hired to teach school. This profession I followed until 1903.
"I gained a part of my education at Willamette University in Salem. There are several persons residing in Goldendale at the present time who went to the college at the same time I did. However, Mr. Byars, I understand, covered this angle in his interview which you recently printed.
"I taught school, as I said, until 1903, when I married one of the directors, E.E. Hinshaw.
"We resided on what is now the Hamilton Dairy farm south of Goldendale. We still own a part of that land. Yes, I have some other holdings. There is a piece of land at Blockhouse that we own. But, land, just like a lot of other things, is a sort of a drag on the market. However, I believe things will be alright soon, as the market seems to be a bit more brisk than it was.
"Many remember my son, Kenneth Hinshaw. Yes, I am proud of him for I believe that he accomplished quite a bit for a young man. He won the Moses trophy in 1926 for leadership in 4-H Club work.
"As far as I know, he is the only winner of this trophy who was given employment directly through the donor of the prize and the Chicago trip. In 1925, Kenneth was successful in winning the second prize. I think he is the only boy in the nation who won both the first and second prizes for leadership in the club work.
"His knowledge along this line was gained through his own interests in the stock and farm work. I cannot help but say, in this connection, that Kenneth completed in 1926 for his honors against a combined entry list of 610,000 boys and girls. He organized the first 4-H Club activity here as a young boy:
"He is now editor of an important Farm Journal in Springfield, Massachusetts.
"Another thing I should like to tell you before the story is ended is that while residing in the Pine Forest community, our family lived as neighbors to Frederick Homer Balch. Mr. Balch is the author of 'The Bridge of the Gods' and 'Genevieve.' Few persons realize the importance that this locality played in the inspiration for the two literary efforts.
"In the foreword of 'Genevieve' the word Goldendale is mentioned six times.
"Of course, I knew Mr. Balch very well and have read his books several times. I know that N.B. Brooks assisted Mr. Balch very materially in the gathering of data and in the information of the book 'The Bridge of the Gods.' This is quite another story and we may have space and time to tell of it in a future issue.
"You know, I have always felt that they large butte north of Goldendale has been terribly abused as far as a proper name for it is concerned. When Mr. Balch resided here, the butte was always known as Balch Butte. In view of the fact that Mr. Balch did bring a decided amount of favorable publicity and historical comment to this section, I believe that an effort should be made to commemorate his name by retaining the original title.
"Perhaps you might agitate a little bit in your paper and see if such a plan could be worked out. At least, you know how I feel about it, anyway.
"It was in 1920 that Mr. Tebbs and I were married.
"We have lived in Goldendale all of the time, right here in our home on Columbus Avenue."
At this point the writer asked Mr. Tebbs if he preferred being called Dan or Daniel and he spoke up and said:
Then Mrs. Tebbs said:
"I much prefer the Dan, but in order to be more precise and correct, I suppose that you should say Daniel F. Tebbs. However, my friends all know me as just playing Dan.
"My sister, Millie, and myself walked three miles to school over the unbroken prairie, when there were no roads or paths. This was during the time that the family resided in Pine Forest. Then for a time, we attended a private school taught by Ed Adams and Mrs. Clara Bowers. Then there was a school built at Pine Forest and we attended there.
"Teachers at the latter were Robert Miller, John Bullock, Minnie Young and Inez Crooks. It was later that I attended school in Goldendale and was taught by Mr. Brooks. I also went to school and I tell you the truth when I say that at times it kept me busy keeping ahead of the school pupils.
"After I earned enough money, it was then that I went to Willamette. I went one year and then had to drop out to earn more money. I then taught in Goldendale six years and in King County. I also taught in Pine Forest, No. 16, No. 21, No. 12, Centerville, Hartland, Oak Grove, Dot near Cleveland and my Waterloo was No. 2, when I finally married Mr. Hinshaw.
"Samuel Wilkins came to this territory with us from California. As soon as my father settled his family in the Pine Forest locality, he returned to California and sold his property and belongings there and then returned.
"You might say that I have lived here all of my life. At least, there has been little break in my residence. I have been across the continent six times to visit friends and relatives in and near our former home, and those trips are always enjoyable, but I always like to get back."
With this information at hand, the correspondent thanked Mrs. Tebbs and went back to the office. One of the most important findings, however, during the conversation, was the promise to give the writer some very valuable data concerning other historical happenings and places near Goldendale. This will be cared for at an early date.