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

WILLIAM JENKINS AND FAMILY                             1854

Hood River News, June 1947

     William Jenkins came with Nathaniel Coe to this valley in June 1854. He claimed the land abandoned by Dr. Farnsworth, on which a good house had been built in 1852.
     Mrs. Jenkins, accompanied by her brother, James Benson, reached her new home in November; they were both warmly welcomed in the little community, and Mrs. Coe rejoiced in the fact that she was not the only woman in the country. Early in its existence the pioneer community made provision for a school, land was donated by Mr. Jenkins and a building about fourteen by twenty feet in size, erected thereon. This building was located on the Southwest corner of the Jenkins claim and was used for school purposes as late as 1879. Mrs. Jenkins could not make deed to the land until his own title was perfect and that part of the transaction was postponed indefinitely, and as it transpired, entirely overlooked.
     In 1881 Dr. Adams, who then owned the land, sold the old school building to Dave Parmenter for twenty bushels of wheat; Mr. Parmenter moved the building to his own land and converted it into a dwelling house. Mrs. Alma Howe became the next owner and when she had the Cottage Farm buildings erected this room was incorporated in the back part of the plan and is still doing duty.
     Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins had two children, a boy and a girl.
     A.C. Phelps lived on the West side of the valley and made oak kegs, which he shipped to The Dalles where they were used to hold, whiskey, and then carried on the backs of mules to the mines.
     On the morning of May 14, 1864 Mr. Phelps requested Mr. Jenkins to help him transfer his load of kegs to the river steamer. The river boat would not land and the transfer was made by using a small sloop belonging to Henry Coe, James Laughlin, of The Dalles, who was visiting Henry Coe, went with Mr. Phelps.
     Walter Jenkins accompanied his father. He had been told to sit down several times but persisted in standing up. A sudden shift of the boom knocked him into the river, his father sprang after him and caught him as he came up, and called for help. James Laughlin threw off his coat, seized a keg and went to the rescue. He was a strong swimmer but was probably seized with cramps, for before reaching Mr. Jenkins, he abandoned the keg and turned towards the shore and soon afterwards sank. Mr. Jenkins, with his child in his arms was still struggling in the water; before Mr. Phelps could bring his boat around the icy waters had closed over them.
     The body of James Laughlin was recovered about ten days later, that of Walter Jenkins was found lodged in the willows when the water had receded, Mr. Jenkins body was never found.
     This sad tragedy caused the deepest sorrow both in Hood River and The Dalles. James Laughlin was the eldest son of W.C. Laughlin, a prominent citizen of The Dalles. The family had spent the winter of 1852-53 in Hood River and suffered un-told hardships. The mother was prostrated and bedfast many weeks, the father gradually failed and died the following September. Mrs. Jenkins was doubly bereft, a little daughter only, remaining to claim her love and protection. She remained on her farm for several years, receiving necessary assistance from her brothers. She later married an engineer by the name of Burt. They sold the farm to "Mitchell and Nye" and moved to Colorado whore she died.

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