A T-R Feature
Dateline July 1946

It was June 9—day for the realization of several weeks of planning when five McMinnville high school boys set off on the first lap of a proposed 105-mile hike down the Oregon coast. The five, Malcolm March, Jim Hart, Dick Bennette, Joe Jensen and Dick Muhle, planned stops all along the stretch of sand, trees, rain and ocean between Ocean Lake and Reedsport and they intended to make the trek within 10 days.

The trip from McMinnville to Ocean Lake was made by bus and after checking last minute supplies and eating lunch, they started south at about 2:30 p. m. Each boy’s pack weighed about 45 pounds but they grew lighter as supplies were used up and unwanted articles—including shoes and frying pans—–were discarded.

In spite of the rain that started about the time they reached Kernvile, the hikers managed to make 13 miles the first day and stopped at Lincoln beach to sleep. They spread their sleeping bags in a cave, hoping to be out of the rain without having to pitch their tent. During the night, however, they discovered that the cave was not all they had expected as moisture continually dripped from the ceiling.

Routed by Tide

In the morning another surprise was in store and, as they beat a hasty retreat from the approaching tide, Malcolm remonstrated: “I kept asking Joe if the waves were coming close and all he’d say was, “Naw, they’re way out there.” (It turned out that Joe had a facility for talking in his sleep). After the grueling first night, the boys weren’t in very good shape and only made eight miles the second day. On the way they found a navy life raft that had washed high up on the beach.

In contrast to the first camp, their second night was perfect. They located a state park where the water was fresh and they were able to cook on a camp stove. A store across the highway was a source of provisions for continuing the trip.

When it wasn’t raining, studious Jim Hart took advantage of the situation to read a book he had brought along. There were miles of coast line that he missed entirely as he became engrossed in the story. When he completed the book, Dick Muhle started to read it but he never got it finished for Joe, in a moment of ire, threw the book to the fishes and Dick’s frantic efforts to save it were unsuccessful.

Weather Turns “Wet”

Tuesday night found the hikers 15 and a half miles farther down the coast where they made camp on a beautiful slope. But the campsite choice was dubious for, as Jim Hart tells it, “I woke up about four a.m. wrapped around a tree and found it raining again; this didn’t bother me much until I reached up to pull the flap of the sleeping bag over my head and was nearly drowned by the stored-up water in it.”

The five were now just south of Newport. Slogging through the rain, Malcolm said he thought they must have missed the trail and were walking in the ocean, it was so wet.

The next two days brought two experiences which, in looking back, were frightening. The first occurred when they stopped outside the coast guard station at Waldport and “made friends” with a coast guard patrol dog. According to the description, the dog wasn’t the type of pet one likes to have around the house—unless it is on the end of a good, strong chain. Then the five nonchalantly walked across the firing range of the 163rd bombardment group and became aware of the danger only when they had safely reached the other side where a sign saying “Danger, do not enter” greeted them.

Florentine Amazed

One of the big disappointments of the trip was felt by Dick Bennette when he discovered there was no fishing in Cummins creek. For a long time, Dick had heard fisherman’s tales of the fabulous fish in Cummins creek and when he spied the name on the map, plans were laid to do some angling. He carried a fishing pole all the way down the coast but imagine his dismay when lie found Cummins creek to be about three inches wide and three inches deep. Dick has since decided it is some other Cummins creek which has so many fish you calm walk across on their backs.

Alter passing through the sand dune gardens—none of them had cameras—and exploring sea lion caves, the quintet headed for Florence where they planned to spend the night. The town was a good deal farther than expected but they hiked until reaching a good spot to camp. They estimated their stopping place to be just outside of town but in the morning they found, to their horror, that they had stopped in the city park and were surrounded by homes of bewildered Florentines. Of course all of Florence was gazing at them, so they hurriedly broke camp and moved on. It was here that Dick Bennette discarded the frying pan which had been poking his buddies in the ribs and eyes with its handle.

Big “Deer” Seen

On the sixth day, they arrived at Woahink Lake reservation and rested on the plush cushions of the resort there. They noticed that the inhabitants of the pleasure spot were a little cool and distant but didn’t understand until they went outside and found a very dead fish in Dick Bennette’s pack. That night they fought for every inch of their camp with huge mosquitoes. Because of the constant aerial strafing, they could not sleep so they got up at 8 and headed for Gardiner, arriving at midnight. But they continued on to Winchester bay where Dick Bennette’s feet gave out. While they were resting, a cow dashed across the road and was soon followed by three definitely inebriated gentlemen who lurched out of the underbrush, fixed blurry eyes on the boys and declared they had just shot a big deer, huge deer, never seen nothin’ like it!

They camped on the outskirts of Reedsport the last night and ate breakfast in a restaurant—their second restaurant meal on the trip. They covered the entire distance in seven days Instead of 10 and averaged 20 miles a day on the last three days.

Since returning, they have organized a senior scout patrol with a 105-mile hike as one of the requirements for membership. So far there are only five members.

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When I was about ten years old – 1853 – there was no school near where we lived in Salem, Oregon. So I went to stay with my married sister, Mary, or Mollie, as we called her. She was living somewhere near the Santiam River.

There I went to school in a log house with a mud chimney. I had to cross a creek, sometimes on stepping stones, and go by a path through the pasture. But when the stones were under water, we crossed on a foot log. My mother said that I must not cross the log by myself, for fear I would fall in, so I always waited for the other children that crossed.

One evening, my sister and her husband went to a neighbor’s, but I stayed at home with Ellen, the cat. When it began to get dark, I got lonesome and thought I would go to meet them. I crossed the log all right, and was picking flowers by the path, when Sister Mollie and her husband saw me. Mollie said she was going to scold me for crossing the log by myself. But her husband said to look closer and she would see something worse than falling in the water.

So she looked, and saw a big gray wolf who was looking at me so hard that he did not see or hear them.

Mollie’s husband ran toward the wolf, shouting and throwing stones, and the wolf ran. I never even saw him. Sister Mollie ran to me, and picked me up, but she did not scold me that time. As they had never seen a wolf before, they thought hunters with their dogs had run this one out of the hills.

When my Grandmother, Sally Newbill, was preparing for her wedding in 1828, the most of her outfit was made, spun and woven by her own hands.
One day her father told her that he was going to town and would bring her goods from the store for her wedding dress. Store bought goods did not come to Sally very often, so she was quite happy to know her father’s intention. All the time he was away she could think of nothing but that promised piece of goods. She knew if a ship from Europe had come lately there would be plenty of pretty goods to choose from. Ships came but seldom and between times the store shelves grew bare, so what would her father bring.

It took Great Grandfather three days to ride on horseback to town. Then he had business to attend to, friends to visit, and three days again to ride home. When he came he took the saddle bags stuffed with packages from behind his saddle, threw them into a chair, greeted his family, washed and rested from his long hours in the saddle and then supper was ready. Sally sat at the table, but not one bite could she swallow. What was in those saddle bags? Great Grandfather ate his supper without haste, visited with his wife about his trip, told her whom he had seen. She told him all that had been done on the plantation during his absence. Then when all this was done he unbuckled the flaps of those bags and gave Sally her dress goods, two lovely pieces of silk, a brown flowered for the wedding dress, and a very dark purple, almost stiff enough to stand alone, for a second day dress. Sally was the happiest girl in Virginia that evening.

Why did she wait so long for her father to open those bags? In those days no well brought up daughter hurried her parents. She waited calmly till they were ready.

I wonder how Peggy or Mary or Johanne would like to have her wedding dress chosen in that way.

September 13, 1975 – Saturday: McMinnville 3:30 P.M. This is mountain weather – Hot and sunny. School has started and hunting season hasn’t. Paul invested in a fishing license, packed his gear while I hurridly gathered together the necessities for the camper. Don’t know where we’ll go or how long we’ll stay except that I must be home before September 25th for a lip-reading work shop with Sylvia Tweedle. I really didn’t expect to leave until tomorrow, but both of us have itchy feet. Dunlap lake hasn’t been “skinny dipped” by us all summer. We can neglect that no longer. Pete and Linda weren’t home. We left a note in their front door and swiped a near-ripe tomato from their patch. Stopped for salmon eggs at K-Mart. Drove directly to Dunlap and found lots of dust but no people. Just one little black dog. Wonder if he is lost. Seemed scared and ran away as we drove in. Looks as though lots of people have used the area this summer. I fixed soup while Paul made a campfire. We enjoyed both. Have a moon. Water is placid, mirroring trees and sky.

September 14, 1975 – Sunday – Dunlap Lake: Visitors this morning but none stay long. Fixed toast and eggs and applesauce, then hike for huckleberries. Found about 1/2 cup full, but that didn’t matter. Our climb was worth the effort. We saw a Coney in the rocks, and, as always, the lovely woods and lake. Back in camp, cold watermelon really tasted good. we let it settle, then peeled off and went for a swim. Water is cold, but with my poor sense of balance I usually go in pretty fast. I played around with the air mattress until Paul got his goosepimples under control, then headed out across the lake. How wonderful to feel the cool water glide around us as we move along! Oh, we really don’t “skinny-dip” – might get caught. Paul even had his tennis shoes on. Over to the logs, rest awhile, then back. Paul pushed the air mattress and I swam. He had the most work. No salamanders (water-dogs) this year, just crawdada. Chipmunks seem to be surviving very well. Noticed a missile-shaped installation placed by “State Engineer” – seems to be some sort of guage – maybe for snow depth. Near the summit a few clouds moved in and there was some heat lightening. Paul could hear thunder. The forest ranger stopped by, asked if we planned to stay long. Said a few lightning fires had been reported, one about ten miles from here. Warned us to be careful with fire. So we keep our campfire burning low. Someone who knew how built a good fireplace up on the hill above our old camp spot. e appreciate it.

September 15, 1975 – Monday: Leaving Dunlap early. Breakfast at Detroit. Not the best we ever had, but we are hungry enough to enjoy it. No clouds. Just sun. I couldn’t resist one brief dip in Dunlap before we left – a skinny one this morning. No one saw me. I thought the water would seem warm, but it wasn’t and Paul didn’t get anything wet but his finger-tips. Beautiful drive through the mountains. Lots of log trucks on the move. Patches of cut timber checker the mountains, but we believe it is a healthy way to harvest an important crop. We found our favorite camp site on the lower Metolius river unoccupied. Paul can see fish swimming by and is frustrated because they ignore his bait. We hiked to a meadow and caught grass-hoppers hoping the fish would like them. they didn’t, but he finally snagged two German Browns on worms and I fried them for supper. I was too tired to want to sit by the campfire tonight. We went early to bed. I can’t hear the river and trees talking to me like once I did, but I do hear enough to bring back memories. It is a better sound than the freeway.

September 16, 1975 – Tuesday – Lower Metolius: Yesterday was a fly- swatting still day. this morning there is a little breeze and it is cooler, but still sunny-warm. Some one in the woods fired three rifle shots. Seemed to come from the Warm Springs Indian side of the river. After breakfast we hiked about three miles down stream, much of the time on the road, but saw no one at all. Lots of animal tracks in the dusty places. chipmunk, deer, and even bear in one spot. Also people and dog tracks but not many. Road is in pretty good shape and looks much traveled. Tired when we get back. Cold beer sure good. Yesterday Paul had to overhaul the water pump. Everything working well today. He fished while I tempted a chipmunk onto my knees with bread crumbs. Took several pictures with my instamatic camera. Sure hope they are good. He posed so nicely for me. Didn’t even get alarmed by the camera click. Oh, and Paul caught two more fish, a German Brown and a White fish. the Brown would barely fit in the skillet and made a tasty meal for us, but the White fish wasn’t much. We ate it anyhow. I baked a “huckleberry surprise” with our hand full of Dunlap huckleberries. After dishes were done we sat long and late beside a toasty campfire until the moon found the water and we were very sleepy. the clouds at sunset made unusual and interesting patterns. But they melted before the moon was high. We are only a step from the cold rushing water. Paul says it doesn’t seem to have a deep belly rumble here. I wonder if he hates to reming me of what I miss by not hearing it all. I do hear the swish as it washes over rocks.

September 17, 1975 - Wednesday – 8:00 A.M.- Temperature 38 degrees: We need a bath and this water makes Dunlap seem like a hot spring. At 9:00 A.M. we head for Bend KOA. Felt great to shower and shampoo. Always in our camper we have noticed an unpleasant odor. Paul suspects a gas leak. And so this day was gone by the time Paul took the stove apart and – we think – found the leak, a goofed up connection. with improvised tools he reworked it and put the stove back together in time for us to head for town for a late supper at Elmer’s. I had scallops – just so-so. And Paul ate German food which he liked. Had a different set of waitresses here this time. Not what we had expected, but adequate. I guess. Drove to the top of Pilot Butte and watched the moon light the mountains. this weather is the answer to our prayers. Saw the new St. Charles hospital below.

September 18, 1975 – thursday – Bend-KOA: Well, the refrig didn’t freeze for awhile – probably parked unlevel on the Metolius – the stove had a leak. The water pump had to be overhauled, and this morning the water tank bulged. Wonder what brand of scotch tape they used on this camper. We ate Oregon Blentz at Elmer’s – bought a few groceries at Safeway, then headed south. Stopped at Lava Lands museum, saw the diaramas, then walked the nature trails. Interesting. Drove to the top of Lava Butte and looked around. Perfect weather for it. Decided to go to Paulina and East Lake just for the scenery. Was well worth it. Walked the obsidian nature trail nearby. Not many people around. Water on both lakes calm. Ate lunch here. this is a day when you can “see forever” and wish the day could last that long. We had planned to camp on Wickiup where Joe told Paul the fishing was good and how to “bank fish.” We followed pavement all the way, but, boy! the campgrounds! Ankle deep in dust. We stopped at several places including Twin Lakes but couldn’t abide the dirt. The view across Crane Prairie was almost worth staying for but Paul said he’d rather have a clean camp than a mess of fish. We remembered a good camp spot at Deschutes Bridge and headed for it. got there in late afternoon. No dust, no fish, and ponly two other campers. Really enjoyed our tucked away campsite. Not much fire wood. Small trees, lodgepole. Lots of Canada Jays willing to take bread our of your hand – or mouth, I guess. Anyhow I hand fed them while Paul searched for wood. We wound up burning newspaper “logs” and watching the moon creep through the pines. No wind.

September 19, 1975 – Friday – Deschutes Bridge: Last night was our coldest so far. At 7:00 A.M. the outside temperature registered 26 degrees. We slept snug enough and our heater kept us comfortable through breakfast. Paul felt more like “toast and Eggs” than cold corn flakes this morning. About 10:00 o’clock we headed north on what we still call Century Drive but is officially Cascade Lakes Highway, I guess. Anyhow, by any name it is one of the most beautiful spots on earth and we love it. We prowled Lava Lake where the dock reaches out into the water and Paul can look for fish but not drop a line. Saw lots of little ones. At the south end of Elk Lake we walked around the beach where picnickers and swimmers have it to themselves. But none are here today. Campgrounds were also deserted. We could have had our pick at $2.00 further toward the resort area. Good roads and clean grounds. We paused at Fall Creek, tossed a few pumice stones to see them float, then went to Sparks Lake. At the boat launch area we found three travel trailers which were in the parking lot, and only one good camp spot which we promptly took. A lava flow dammed the lake here. From the highway one would never guess the rugged beauty and wierd formations around this part of Sparks. Paul could see a whole school of fish in the clear water. Fly fishing only and he brought just one fly! He got no attention from the fish. I explored the rocks, then came back and got him to go with me. We found the going rough – big cracks in the rock flow – hidden coves that just begged you to “skinny- dip” in the beautiful clear water. Would have been a bit cold today but on a sunny August day it might be really perfect. Anyhow we didn’t “Eve-dip” a toe. Saw lots of spots where soneone had camped. Mostly clean, but one had an old bed spring. Guess that one must have stayed awhile. Geese were on the lake and flew over honking their way from here to somewhere. We beat our way through the brush and over the rocks for awhile, then decided the only way to explore this lake is by boat. Several are doing that, and one – “Henry” – brought in a fine string of fish. He has a trailer, a dog, and a young friend here. An “Easy Hensen” type of guy. Some young folks in canoes left the boat ramp about dark and we envied them. Bit they occupied one of those coves tonight. And what a night it must be with the full moon on the water! A young couple from Bend fished for the same school of fish Paul tried to lure and with the same luck. Girl was recently from Coos Bay – a very nice pair of kids. Boy gave Paul two or three of his flies and wished him luck. We fed the chipmunks and Jays which are unafraid here, had our campfire, each other, and a huge moon. Life is wonderful. Washed away the afternoon sweat and grime and crawled into bed.

September 20, 1975 – Sunday – Sparks Lake: Paul tried his flies but no action from the fish. Wonder what a spinner would do? At 10:30 we gave up fishing and headed for Green Lakes. I had a lunch packed and off we went. An exhileration and almost unreal quality to this day. Air so crisp it almost lifts you out of yourself. The trail seems effortless as we walk beside this tumbling, roaring, beautiful stream. We knew we would make it all the way to the lakes this time. The sky was cloudless. The temperature perfect. Of course that last mile was long and uphill and we rested often. No fires allowed one mile from the lake. Extreme fire danger now. Also need a permit to enter the Sisters Wilderness area – a form to fill out as you start up the trail. Not a lot of people were traveling the trail today and the trail is in pretty good shape. No trash or litter at all. On the last lap before we reached the lake the wind told us we were almost there. It felt good but it was cool. Too cool at night, perhaps. A few young people werfe camped, some we saw on he mountain. Two young girls overtook us on the trail – just hiking in and out as we were only faster. At the lake we took pictures but the wind was too raw for us to sit and eat our lunch. We looked around, visited with a couple who came in from Ditch Cabin and were going to climb tomorrow, then headed down the trail. Took us about an hour to get to a good “babbly-brook” lunch stop and were we ready for it! Feet hurting and stomachs empty. But we feel great after a few minutes rest and once more head down the trail. At 3:45 we climbed into our truck and welcomed a ride to KOA. Bathed and went to Sambo’s where we got a really good steak dinner, then ice cream cones at Dairy Queen, looked at that big old moon and thought how glorius it must look reflected on Green Lakes tonight! Oh to be young and strong enough to be there, to climb that mountain, but also, isn’t it a blessing to live sixty-odd years and still have such foolish dreams?

Septemvber 21, 1975- Sunday – Bend: Slept well and feel fine except a few squalling muscles in my ankles and feert. Paul has none, he says. Tried Sambo’s for breakfast but the waiting line was long. went to Elmers – not as long a line. Got good blintz. Wanted to see new St. Charles Hospital and found ourselves in a line of ambulances transferring patients from the old to the new. Didn’t drive into the grounds as we didn’t want to get in the way. Sure a pretty structure with a view from every room, they say. Got a few groceries then headed homeward. Bridge between Sisters and Indian Ford is being replaced so we didn’t go by the “ranch” this time. Sisters is sure changing – making new fronts on old buildings – rather artificial looking but at least it is more tidy than it used to be. Trying to be a “Western” town. Still beautiful as we drive through the mountains. Little snow on the peaks now and the foliage hasn’t turned color. Stopped at Hoover Camp on Blow out Road. Paul fished the Santiam, got a small one and shared it with a scroungy old yellow tom-cat who tried to adopt us. Lots of drift-wood to feed evening campfire. Paul remembered marsh- mallows in Bend so tonight we toast them. Paul whittled me out a walking stick. Helps me keep my balance.

Setember 22, 1975 – Monday: More fishing, no fish – home about 4:00 P.M. via Wheatland Ferry.

1976

November 6, 1976 – McMinnville: This morning we drove to Salem to get a firedoor for Joe’s parts room. Paul said. “I feel like I’d like to just keep on going.” But our errand done, he headed back to Sheridan and I settled down to sew on shirts for Greg’s kids – I’m using the outing flannel lining to our old sleeping bag for the shirts. Within two hours Paul was back. “We’re going to bend,” he said. It took me a couple of minutes to finish the seam I was sewing and maybe 15 minutes to throw together the few things we might need for our trip, slip a note to Margaret under her door, and climb into the 4-wheel drive rig. Over the ferry and thru the mountains. Smoke hangs low beneath an upper layer of warm air that has held the valley under a pollution alert for days. Water behind Detroit Dam is about as low as we’ve ever seen it. Little snow in the mountains, but lots of color in the trees. No glow to them today. Need sun for that. Saw a deer that had been hit by a car just beyond Suttle Lake. Paul has been driving on the edge of his seat for fear of hitting one. Fog pretty bad at the pass, too. thought about stopping at the Emporium, in Tumalo, for dinner but the Hostess told us we’d have at least a two-hour wait. Glad we were turned away. Had a wonderful steak dinner at Sambo’s – twice now. the guy that runs this Sambo must be on the ball. Good food, good service. No vacancy signs all over give us a moment of wonder until we check in at Maverick Motel and see on TV – WELCOME ELKS CONVENTION. No wind and the temperature is 39 degrees so it seems quite warm. It is for this time of year, and skiers are unhappy. In the valley we’ve had no frost at all.

November 7, 1976 – Sunday – Bend: Blintz at Elmers wasn’t up to snuff. After breakfast we drove to Lava Lands and walked the lave trail. Frost from last night had melted but the wind didn’t kknow it. It still carried a bite of ice. Back in Bend we found the high school where Swine-Flu shots were being given and we got ours. Decided to take the back road to Sisters. Had forgotten which road went to the town of Tumalo, and instead got on road to Tumalo Falls. Soon ran out of pavement, but cinders were good and we kept going. Bunch of 4-wheelers had congregated and soon were coming upon us from behind. We’d been paking along, looking out from the ridge above Tumalo Falls. road to Tumalo Falls itself was closed. Soon came to intersection where one road took off – a narrow dirt road – to Sisters. After following it awhile we meet a pick-up at a spot too narrow to cross paths. We backed to a better spot and asked where this road went. “To a ski area, – not Sisters,” they said. We couldn’t imagine such a road jto a ski area, never dreaming until later they meant Bachelor Butte. We decided to turn back. Had thought the 4- wheelers went on the cinder-top road at the forks, but, No! They had gone our way and now 3 cars were trying to go one way and about 6 4- wheelers the other. Finally managed to get off the road and unscramble the traffic jam in the wilderness. Drove back to cinder-top and followed it a little over 3 miles to its end. Found where cinders were being taken from a butte for road work about where the road stops. May explain its reason for being the good road it is. Looking over the deep valley below we could see a body of water, a resevoir we remembered from a trip we once took over the road we should have been on today. Decided to go back and try once more that road we turned back from with the sign which said “SISTERS” on it. We knew we were trailing the 4-wheelers by the litter and the skid marks as well as the off-road tire marks in this area where driving off the road is forbidden, according to posted signs along the way. Finally dawned on us we’d end up at Three Creeks and that the couple we talked to had come by Todd Lake. We enjoyed the beauty of the moment all day, not really caring one bit just where we were or where we’d wind up. The road got rougher and the country more beautiful as we climbed toward the high country of the Sisters – Broken Top – Tam MacArthur Rim. We finally reached beautiful Three Creeks Lake, took a couple of pictures just as the fleet of 4- wheelers buzzed by. Then we drove the very good road to Sisters, got a hamburger at the Gallery Cafe where one of Ray Eyerly’s new pictures now hangs among others. Originals, we’re told by the waitress, now sell for $17,000.00 on up. the new one is a lovely view of the Sisters (mountains) with spring flowers and a lake – Three Creeks maybe, though not realistic. the mountains, though, are unmistakable. He’s a realist. Took some pictures of Llama’s which were grazing in the meadow west of Sisters, then out past the air strip where we watched gliders towed, then released to land on their own. Talked to a fellow who was getting ready to load a glider in a trailer. This answered a riddle we’d puzzled since our trip with Henryetta and George where we saw in Texas a similar trailer and couldn’t figure out what it was. Drove by our property. It looks fine – no paths this time. Lots of for sale signs on lots and lots of new houses going up. Believe our doctor friend has sold his place. Got in line and drove home with the traffic.

1977

Central Oregon Trip with Carol

June 7. 1977 – McMinnville: We loaded the camper with what we hoped was needed. Yesterday, Carol bought hiking boots and her heart is set on breaking them in on the Green Lakes Trail. The sun is smiling but the weatherman says “Thunderstorms in the Cascades.” So our fingers are crossed. We headed out in mid-morning, had a short delay for roadwork on the North Santiam highway, found our favorite ice cream and hamburger Gingerbread House closed on Tuesday, got our lunch at Swiss Village. Food was good. Couldn’t see more than a handkershief of Mt. Jefferson, but the lake was almost full and the river running high with snow melt. Not nearly enough snow left to keep it that way all summer, though. Rhododendrons are beautiful along the highway. Couldn’t see any of the sentinel peaks in their entirety but can catch a glimpse now and then. In Sisters we had an ice cream cone and got maps from the forest service. Rain began to come down and the smell of Juniper was heavy in the air. At Bend we stopped at KOA, got our No. 48 spot which we like, then went to town to buy tennis shoes for Carol. She also got Sylvia Porter’s “Money Book” to send to Rick along with a sample of the subject matter for his wedding gift. Had fried chicken (home cooked before we left) for supper and listened to the rain patter on the roof. We’re not too hopeful now for hiking weather tomorrow.

June 8, 1977 – Wednesday – Bend: A few clouds hung around the mountains, but after breakfast we could see the Three Sisters. We drove to the Green Lakes trail head. A ranger there told us he had not been over the trail but it was at least partially clear of snow. We parked on the east side of Fall creek – no camping in this area – and walked across a foot bridge – new since our last visit. I packed sandwiches and Carol put on her new boots. Weather was perfect. Lots of water tumbled over the falls. Soon we came to snow drifts on the trail, melted and re-thawed to a glace around the edges. I promptly took a spill which did no real damage burt which was painful. By the time we reached the turn-off to Moraine Lake we were mostly trudging through snow which often gave way and we sank knee deep. My shoes had no tread and with my poor balance I was down more than up, it seemed. But the brilliant blue of sky, green trees and white snow lured us on. Snow had partly melted from the first bridge which we crossed. Not many people have been up here as trails are hard to follow. Blaze marks are few and mostly we follow the creek and our memory, both of which are fickle. After the second bridge, which we easily found, snow was deeper, the trail more obscure. One yound man was traveling the trail as we were and we sometime passed him as he rested and we were sometimes resting when he overtook us. We followed one another’s tracks, never knowing where the trail actually was. We rested often, of necessity in the deep snow. We must have been less than a mile – maybe less than half a mile of Green Lakes – when we stopped for lunch, glad we packed an extra sandwich. I was pretty tired and muscles were getting some for all of us. We decided to turn back here. Going out we met four people, making five in all we saw on the trail today. the mountains are not nearly as snowy as they should be. Streams seem full now, but for how long? We rested briefly, changed our snow-soaked shoes and socks, then headed for the campground at Elk Lake. Road work is underway here. Hope we never see a pumice truck using it. But who knows? We had our pick of camp spots – everything clean and inviting, but only a couple or so of campers in the entire area. Water in the lake is extremely low. Saw a few saail boars but not much activity. Early to bed – tired and sunburned.

June 9, 1977 – Thursday – Elk Lake: Sunburn radiantly painful this morning. All of us got it but I got it worst. Chipmunks soon came to call and it was a three-ring circus watching them scamper and chase one another, competing for bread crumbs. Carol sat on a boulder and tempted them to come near her while Paul snapped pictures. Birds, too, wanted a share. We went to the Osprey sanctuary and breeding grounds on Crane Prairie where we saw many birds including the nesting Osprey. Lunch time found us at La Pine. We had lunch in a cafe there, then drove to Paulina Falls, then to the obsidian flow where we hiked obsidian trail. Carol has been picking up pieces of Oregon ever since we left McMinnville. She’s so loaded down with pumice, lave, obsidian, and just plain “rock-rocks!” I tell her she can’t come to Oregon as often as she wants so she is taking Oregon home with her. We stopped briefly at East Lake – lots of people, lots of boats, and too much wind. Campground full, the sign says. We came back to Land of Lakes Campground where the lake road meets highway 97. Beautiful view of the Three Sisters, Broken Top, and Bachelor. (And sounds of traffid, too). Saw a mountain Blue bird and a barn swallow here. Have also seen many other birds today. Nesting time and they are making their presence known.

June 10, 1977 – Friday – Land of Lakes Campground – on Highway 97: Another beautiful day has dawned. Early this morning Paul poked me and pointed to a waning moon in the eastern sky. Soon the sky paled and we knew it was almost dawn. Carol says she slept warm – all but her nose. Now accustomed to warm air day and night whe cann’t get used to cold mornings. She turned on the heater to warm her nose! We had breakfast in the camper, then drove a short way to the turn-off – Sun River one way – which we toured very briefly, then toward Lava Cast Forest to the east. the road was being graded and was dusty. the visitor’s parking area had also been enlarged and re- arranged, and a black-top trail winds for nearly a mile through the lava fields. It took us into areas we had not seen before, very beautiful and well marked with a self-guided tour. We’ve learned quite a bit this trip about the source of this lava (Newberry Crater) and the formation of these tree casts. Had rare view of the Cascades. Sure lucky to have ideal weather, too early for most of the `skeeters – though we’ve seen a few – and not yet time for the summer crowds. Drove next to Lava Lands Museum. Ate too many hot dogs and too much cheese. Had a bit of trouble pushing lunch around the short trail hike into the aa and pa-hoe-hoe lava flow from Lava Butte. Chipmuncs really busy today. On the parking lot the little thieves were trying to get into cars and campers. they are so fat they must spread their legs and fly their tail high as they scamper for safety. Even on the lava they seem to occupy ever nook. One stationed himself atop a high, wierdly-shaped dead snag, claiming for himself, no doubt, all this territory for himself, no doubt, all the territory he surveyed. Even on top of Lava Butte the chipmunks begged. But here the Oregon (Canada?) jays, or, as we call then, “Camp Robbers,” competed with them for crumbs and peanuts tossed by tourists. Clouds, now, were gathering over the Cascades. But it stayed warm, and when we got to Bend we sat outside the camper at KOA, sipping beer in tune with Highway 97 symphony. We had good steak at Sambos’ then a refreshing shower at KOA, and to bed.

1978

KING TUT EXHIBIT

October 10, 1978 – Early this morning we headed for Seattle to the King Tut exhibit. Hit the 7-8 A.M. traffic in Portland. Stopped at Elmers’ in Vancouver for Blintz. The building is being remodeled but the blintz are as always – good. Sunshine was blessing Oregon as we left, but before we reached Seattle it was raining. Stopped and made a reservation for tonight at Rodeway Inn near Tacoma. About noon we found a parking place near Seattle Center, bought our ticket for the exhibit and learned we could enter at about 4:30. Saw several movies while we waited but sound track and acoustics made it impossible for me to follow. Paul didn’t expecially enjoy them either. Ate at foor fair and enjoyed looking at displays, watching people. Rented tapes which I found I could hear as we went through the exhibit. Thought it was exceptionally well done though it would have been more enjoyable if there had been fewer people. Just the realization of what these treasures are and who may have fashioned them is most impressive. But, they are incredibly beautiful even if nothing else. Ate at Denny’s then went to see Gerri and the kids. Really enjoyed our visit with them. Gerri will go to Hawaii next week with her friend from L.A., a salesman who calls on Stan. She seems elated and happy.

October 11, 1978 - Tacoma: Breakfast at the inn, then toward Mr. Rainier Nat. Park. Some sun this morning but sneaky clouds hang around to obscure the high mountains. Thought of Rick and Cathy as we went through Spanaway but didn’t have our address book along. In the park we passed up the only place open at this time of year where we could have eaten. Just not hungry enough to stop. Later we were sorry. We hiked a mile or so up the trail where a mud slide ame down the mountain in 1947 destroying a great segment of forested slopes. New trees are now established but evidence of the slide is abundant. Saw and heard lots of birds. Visited the lovely visitor’s center. Saw a good film, then out of the park via Steven’s Canyon. Fall colors were spotty. Where sun caught hillsides they were fairly good but nothing like some years. Finally out of the park, very hungry, we went over White Pass. Stopped to look into the awesome canyon where waterfalls disappear at depths below. Had a chili-burger – not very good – at Lakeside Cafe – first eating place we came to. Rim Rock Lake. Reached Yakima aabout 5:00 o’clock – went on hoping to find accommodations in Goldendale. Too late, we drove in darkness to Biggs Junction.

October 12, 1978 – Beautiful day and delightful trip home down the Columbia River.

Chemeketa Geology trip

October 18, 1978 – Left McMinnville 7:00 A.M. thinking we had plenty of time to reach Chemeketa by 8:00 A.M. – crossed ferry after long, exasperating wait and arrived at college 15 minutes late. Bus still there because a nearvby fire had caused traffic congestion and bus waited until it cleaned out. We were met by an anxious lady who was over-joyed to see us. “I have two extra box lunches,” she said. “Now we’ll come out just right!” She wrote our name on her tally sheet and as soon as Paul had parked the car halfway ocross campus and jogged back to the bus stop we were off. Never saw such perfect weather. We were21 “students,” the professor, Hook, and bus driver, a wooly-faced, genial young man. Out highway 22 before we reached the intersection with 99W. We stopped while Prof Hook told us that the Eola Hills, which we could see, were part of a lava flow which poured out of the “Dayton, Stayton Crack” which opened up about the same time that the Columbia River basalts (corridor) (?) were pouring out. the Willamette Valley is a large syncline which dips down. the coast range is a geo-anticline which raised up. All was under the sea before deformation changed the land. Near the spot where highway 99W crosses the railroad track oil well drilled over the years show traces of gas and oil, evidence of the old sea bed, but not in commercial amounts. Called Homes Gap, I think he said, Spokane flood filled Willamette Valley with 400 foot-deep lake when ice jam blocked water temporarily near Woodland Washington. This is when the glacial erratics came to the valley – like the one between here and Sheridan on Highway 18. Next stop was near Hebo on highway 22, then through Three Creeks Park. Beautiful little spot but so damp it isn’t used much. Hook has pointed out that steep mountain of the Coast Range are basaltic with little talus due to “drowned(with sand and silt) valleys” formed during melt from last ice age. More gentle hills of the range, he says, are uplifted, sedimentarly rocks. Coast Range is rising at rate of 2 inches every 100 years. Is on American Plate moving WNW – opposite direction from San Andres. Light soil is decomposed from sedimentary rocks, dark soils from magma or volcanics. Much reverse topography is found in Coast Range where valleys filled with lava are now mountains, and hills made up of softer material, eroded to valleys of today. More than 80 percent of Oregon topography is reverse. At Bay Ocean we walked out on the cobbled seaside while Hook explained how the plush resort which had been here washed away in a storm in the 1930’s (exact date ?). Cause was damming of Columbia which altered sand spit at its mouth, and the building of the Tillamook jetty which held back norman pattern of wave action. Lunch stop at Cape Meares State Park and Light House. Here we learned that we were three lunches short. Not before Paul and I had hiked down to the lighthouse, sat on a grassy spot and eaten our bos lunch! Others shared, so I guess no one suffered. Never saw such perfect weather ! Warm, sunny, gentle breeze – sea like glass. Hiked up to look at “Octopus Tree” – a huge spruce with massive limbs growing in every direction. Said to be from winds, but archaeologists say it could have been shaped by early Indian tribes for busial. I find the Indian story most logical and also most interesting. Brief stop at Ocean city (or is it Oceanside?) and Three Arch Rocks – wave cut lava plug. Cape Lookout is a miocene lava flow, so resistant there is less erosion here. Before we came to Haystack Rock – an old volcanic plug – we passed sand dunes which have smothered trees – Sands effect on trees as a turnquit on our arm or leg. Cuts off circulation of vital sap. So much change since Paul and I have been here. Hardly recognize our land marks. Hiked to hold chiseled through jutting cape and walked to other side. Very high tide is in now so volcanic dike we wanted to see is submerged. It fed the volcanic plug in miocene time. Returning to the bus from our beach hike we were tired and thirsty. Just about everyone wound up at the restaurant having a “snack.” Several fellows in this bunch are rock hounds. They shared their “finds” but none had the bits of jade said to be in the lava. Paul says they got that hole dug through the point by telling everyone they could find jade by digging there! 6:00 P.M. Drove to Woodburn and had hamburgers with Pete.

1979

July 10, 1979 – Tuesday: What a day! Had planned to meet Pete, Linda, Scott and David on the lower Metolius tonight. They left this morning, but Paul and I had a class in sign language from 4 to 6 in the afternoon. Paul brought the camper some, as we had planned, but from there until we left tonight plans went haywire. We got up to a stopped up drain. Water from the kitchen bubbled into the bath tub – not exactly the kind of bubble bath we enjoy. Paul went to work to try to correct he problem – liquid plumber, snake, etc. – but it proved to be a stubborn job. Meanwhile I did the best I could with no water to wash clothes or dishes – to pack the camper. I had told Jessie Tiderington I’d pick her up at 3:30 P.M., so we rushed the clock. We wanted to leave in our camper from our class at Linfield College, but we didn’t manage to get everything in the camper in time. after class we hurried home, finished packing, and at last got headed toward the mountains, very tense and very tired. Stopped at the truck stop on the freeway for a final fill-up of gas, and got in a short line with a big travel home that took 65 slow gallons of gas. Thought we’d never get ours. Supper was a salomi sandwich hastily assemled while we waited five minutes for the wheatland ferry. We got into the heavily forested area – Deer country – about dusk and had to slow down for fear of hitting one. We saw two but they didn’t leap out on the highway as they sometimes do. We were about an hour late getting to the lower Metolius. No trouble finding our family. They were beginning to worry about us and Pete and David had started walking down the road to meet us. when they saw us coming they stopped behind a big boulder and waited until we were almost on them, then flagged us down and rode to camp with us. Scott had two wisdon teeth pulled today, but even so he had energy enough to construct a big arrow pointing toward the turn off to our camp. He made the arrow out of pine cones of which he found plenty. He had gone to bed soon after we got in (about l0:15 pm) A big bonfire had welcomed us and Linda fed us fried chicken. Wow! was it good! Knowing the need of it in the morning, Paul and Pete dug a “John” before we went to bed – finally hit the sack about 1:00 am – really tired.

July 11, 1979 – Wednesday – Lower Metolius: David wanted our alarm clock so he could get up early and go fishing. It didn’t work so he had to wake up on his own. Don’t know what time he got up but whan I got up Scott was sitting alone looking miserable beside the fire and David had gone down river to fish. Soon after I started talking to Scott eyeballs began to appear here and there and by the time I scrambled eggs and made toast there were plenty of takers. Scott wasn’t hungry at first, but when I brought out the Cantalope his appetite improved considerable. (Before noon he was asking for a salomi sandwish!). David came sailing in shortly after breakfast with a nice trout he had caught. Linda cooked it for him in foil over the camp-fire and he ate it with great gusto. About noon we all piled into Pete’s car. We’d packed a lunch in preparation for an afternoon’s hike down the river. Pete drove to the end of the road. A sign marks the site here of “Smith’s Cabin”. I don’t know who Smith was but he sure lived a long way from nowhere. Our camp is two or three miles downstream from Lower Bridge and Smith’s Cabin is another 8 1/2 miles. We found a family camped here but they were folding their tent and moving out. ” No fish”, they said, and they’d been here several days. We ate lunch off the tailgate. Scott and David took their fish poles but we “Old Folks” just took flower and bird books. We found a lovely Cascade lilly, lots of Spreading Dog-bane, Desert Trumpet pland and numerous other flowere in bloom. Linda is our flower expert. She also had the quickest eye for spotting new ones on the trail. I suspect that Paul and I have forgotten the little we once knew about the wild plants, but we love them and they give us a good excuse to stop and rest when we are hiking. There was no one on the trail, but we saw a V.W. A real weird one, much modified with screwed up pipes and lopped off fenders. Further alone – where no vehicle could have gone – we found a sort of “Hogan” constructed from black vinyl, gunny sacks and branches. Even had an oven or fireplace made of goil. Apparently some one camped here quite awhile, then left their structure and a lot of litter behind. The trail was easy for awhile, but as it edges around the spur of Green Ridge it becomes rugged with steep slopes down to the very edge of the river, then precipitous climbs. David and Scott disappeared periodically when they inviting gishing spots, then overtook us on the trail. It was probably two and a half miles from where we hit the walking trail to the point where we again found a road. This road is from the Lake Billy Chinook area, and we hope the two roads never meet. Much engineering and a lot of money would be required to build the road through this gorge where the river has cut through the mountains. We found ripe rasberries, stopped to pick and eat them. They grew at the level area where the road from Billy Chinook ends and it was a steep climb to get to them. It never occured to me to carry a handfull back to the boys at the bottom of the canyon. But Linda did. How she got herself and those berries down without smashing either, Ill never know. David dissappeared and we passed with seeing him. However he eventually caught up with us. Back at the car we finished off the lunch we had brought. The hike was tiring but well worth it in beauty. We rested in camp. David was chief wood gatherer and fire builder. Scott did well to nurse his sore jaw through the somewhat strenuous day. Weather is cool enough to be comfortable for hiking and for fire sitting. We have really enjoyed our campfire. Linda brought barbecue beef and beans, I brought several salads and even after all we’ve eaten we are more than ready for a good meal tonight. After supper we watched the Night-hawks swoop up and down the river for insects. About nine o’clock I bathed in the camper then went to bed. Paul and the rest sat up and talked until late. I remember a big cold guy crawling in bed with me sometime in the night but I never opened my eyes to see what time it was or who HE was. (I knew who.)

July 12,1979 – Friday – Lower Metolius: Well, Skylab was t have fallen yesterday. It missed us, but here in the woods we’ve heard no news so don’t know where it fell to earth. Scott was sitting by a crackling fire when I got up but the rest of the crowd at 8:30 am was still in the sack. Soon Linda was up and frying bacon, eggs and pancakes. That brought the gang to life pretty quick. Paul, the pancake-eater of the crowd, was first in line for his servinfg. Linda showed him the place to get his butter and syrup. The syrup, he thought, looked a bit strange and after taking a big bight of pancake he Knew it was. Linda had given him salad oil instead of syrup. The bottles looked almost alike. So the campfire got the first stack of pancakes. Linda just mixed a little more batter and kept on frying pancakes until everyone was full. We didn’t hike today, just sat around the fire in camp because Pete and Linda and boys go home today. David decided he would swim in the river, and by golly he did! That is, he dived in and crawled out twice. The temperature of that stream can’t be more than a few degrees warmer than ice. Shortly after noon the kids were gone and the camp seemed terribly empty. Paul fished awhile but didnt even get a bite. We walked around the camp area, saw more flowers, enjoyed the beauty and solitude. Our campfire tonight seems lonely. David left us lots of wood to burn.

July 13, 1979 – Friday: This is the brightest day we have had. No clouds at all. After breakfast Paul got to whittling on a piece of wood he found, and I read the newspaper I brought from home – Tuesday’s paper. Finally, about noon, we headed for civilization. At Lower Bridge we stopped to watch people who were fishing. Campgrounds here are nowhere full, and below the bridge they are deserted – most unusual in July. Gas shortage and cloudy weather? We saw one fellow pull in a nice fish. We stopped at Wizard Falls fish hatchery, ate our lunch, then walked around. One of the workers here told us they dumped 6000 fish each Friday into the river near the bridge. They don’t stock the lower river but fish, he said, will travel down stream. The reason for the poor fishing in the lower river is that more people are fishing the area where the fish are dumped. We stopped again near the bridge that leads to the Allingham Guard Station. When we looked down from the bridge here we did see a couple of fish. This area is for fly fishing only and a lot of people were fishing. However, we didn’t see them catch any. Our next stop was at Lake Creek Resort where we talked to the manager and looked at the facilities as a possible site for our 50th anniversary celebration. We were impressed and may consider it. We got brochures to send Carol and Pete. Stopped at Sisters for gas. Then to KOA where a shampoo and shower felt pretty good. Took a walk after supper. Mountains are still shiny with snow, and the Bend Bulletin says high lakes and trails still are snowed in. Guess we won’t be hiking to Green Lakes this trip.

July 14, 1979 – Saturday – Sisters: Stopped to see Donna Gill. She’s as full of life as ever. A truly remarkable woman. Discussed plans for our 50th anniversary “retreat.” Read in the Bend Bulletin last night that the high lakes are snowed in so we head for Clear Lake. Stopped for lunch, on the way, at our Indian Ford property. Ali Rierson came over and asked if we were “lost.” She lives in the old Block place and works at the bank in Sisters. We introduced ourselves and shortly her mother came over. Very friendly folks and it made us feel good to know some one was keeping on eye on the place. We found no place to camp on the lake – nor anywhere else until we pulled in at the old Brietenbush Hot Springs resort, near Detroit. Not very well kept and full of people. A teenage boy took us to a rather primitive camp spot with a delapidated one-holer “John”. We were desperate enough to pay $4.00 for it with no hoop-ups. They told us that a multi-million dollar resort is on the board for this aarea. We see beautiful old trees with bright ribbons around them – ribbons of doom for each tree that wears one. But that’s progress! Also, we’re told, a “Commune” has taken over the old Brockman resort and have it posted to keep everyone out. Apparently they bought the property and plan to prevent geo-thermal development. Maybe they have the right idea. Down at the bridge, that leads to the hot springs bath houses, we saw fish and fisher-persons (Both genders, please) but the two didn’t seem to be getting together very well. Now the sight of fish over-came Paul. He got his pole and headed down stream. No fish biting. Can see them, but no biting.

July 15, 1979 – Sunday Morning: I thought of my mother today. It was one hundred years ago that she was born. A different world, indeed, from this. This morning we felt the need to rest. We watched two couples on motorcycles who camped near us as they crawled out of tenes, drank soda-pop and smoked cigarettes for “breakfast.” Lots of people stayed here last night, many Tenters in this campground. Guess the woods was really full. We read the Sunday paper until afternoon, then decided to try to find a better campground. We’ve been hearing airplanes flyying low overhead all morning. Even a helicopter. Paul, at first thought a plane might have gone down and searchers were flying out to find it. But, when the helicopter came over I said, “must be a fire”, and sure enough there was one. When we checked in yesterday the hostess told us they were burning slash and not to get excited if we heard there was a fire. But then we stopped at the office going out we were told the fire got out of control and everyone was advised to stay out of the woods. The fire was located somewhere between here and Brietenbush Lake. We had borrowed a map (Forestry type) from a girl who was working here because we thought we might take a hike today. She was much relieved to learn we hadn’t gone into the woods. We drove down to Brietenbush campground and at mid afternoon found it almost deserted. We chose a comfortable spot and then hiked down the river past Cleator Bend, another campground. Saw fishermen and sun bathers but no fish. We crossed the bridge at Cleater Bend and Pussy-catted out a trail hoping to hike the other side of the river. The trail played out and the going was too rough to continue. By the time we reached camp we were hot and sweaty and needed a bath. We started back to Hot Springs but saw that we wouldn’t make it before the 6:00 pm closing time. Paul jogged back and got the camper and we drove. When we reached the bath house, abaout 5:30, some young fellows were in the ladies side hammering on something. At first they indicated I might go on in while they worked – nudity is required in the hop pool – but my facial expression must have conveyed my responce to their suggestion because they said, “It won’t take us buit a minute or two.” I said, “But you close at six.” He said, “No ten o’clock.” I said, “What is this `Community bath’ from six to 10:00 o’clock?” “Oh.” he said, “It’s mostly couples, you know, men and women together. I’ve gone at the time-nothing to it. It’s OK.” I turned to Paul and he said, “Ill meet you back here at six o’clock. And he went into the men’s bath house. It took the guys about ten minutes to finish which left me about 20 minutes to soak in the hot pool before “Community bath” began. No one else was there and I quickly undressed and got into the pool. It felt heavenly on my tired muscles and joints. But very soon I felt weak and had to sit on the top of the rim for awhile. Finally, at about five minutes to six I got out, took a cool shower and got dressed. I was afraid Paul would worry if I was late. At 6:05 when I emerged, no Paul! I rested awhile, wandered down the trail and back, watched a couple of kids jump feet first from the bridge into the river, and finally went to the door of the mens bath (6:25) and called, “Are you OK, Paul?” “I’m OK he said. About five minutes later he came out. You know, I’m not sure whether he had a gal in there with him, or whether he spent 30 minutes hoping one would come! Anyhow, we got some marshmallows, went back to camp and had supper. Then as it was getting dark and a little cooler we toasted marshmallows before we fell into bed and instant sleep.

July 16, 1979 – Monday – Brietenbush Forest Camp: How much better this free campground is than the $4.00 one where we stayed last night. Only a couple of other campers are here in this 36 camp area. Only sad thing, it is very close to the highway and Paul can hear a lot of log trucks going by. We learned last night that the forest fire has been contained. We woke to a still morning, not a breath of air stirring. Temperature cool but not cold. We took our cups of coffee cups, stirred up and fed the campfire. It felt good. We found familiar flowere – Trillium, Vanilla-leaf, Bunch berry, Rhododendron, Saxifrage (Which sent me to our book to hunt for their identity). We are still not sure but think we identified Mitre wart. Along the road the Fire weed and Scouler’s St.John’s Wart make a lovely red and yellow contrast. Paul said “lets fo to Dunlap Lake.” It took me, maybe, two minutes to batten down the hatches and hop into the cab of the pick-up! We stopped at Humbug campground and put some water into our tank which was getting low. We measured the sistance from the turn-off to Dunlap and it is almost six miles. We met one pick-up and there was a car ahead of us. Paul stopped to let the other car get far enough ahead so we wouldn’t have to eat his dust, and, lo & behold, here came another car. But, that was all the traffic we saw in our six mile climb. The road is in good shape until you reach the turn-off to the lake. Then every rock that was in the road 30 years ago when we started coming to the lake is still there. We hope they stay there. It at lease discourages the faint hearted. We feel a personal ownership for Dunlap. It is Our lake and we dobn’t want it ruined by over-use. We found no one at the campground. When we got parked and began to look around, Paul said, “I’d forgotten how beautiful it was.” The picnickers had left litter which we picked up. there is no garbage can here. Last time we came here there was. Probably someone stole it and it hasn’t been replaced. Most of the litter I found was snoose (sp ?) cans, cigarette packages, fish line packages, beer and coke bottles (broken), potato chip and other junk food containers. Are litterers a breed that starves their brains znd poisons their bodies to the point that they have no intelligence? We couldn’t resist the charm of the water. The sun was almost directly over-head and it was hot. We peeled off and eased our sweaty bodies into the clear cool water of the lake. Even Paul, who hates cold water, said “This is wonderful!” We found the old delapidated raft which has been on the lake for more years than I care to remember. We eased it out into the deep water and swam around it, taking care never to get too far from a safe landing. We’ve lost our fool- heardiness of youth. We respect the infirmities of our aging badies, and what would life be to one of us without the other? We swam and pushed the raft across the lake, sat on the logs there for awhile and rested, what a little jewel this lake is! Trees all around it, mountains looking at themselves in it”s mirror-like surface. After our swim we ate soup and sandwiches, then rested under the shade of two big fir trees. There are many kinds of trees here – Sugar Pine, Mountain Hemlock, Douglas Fir, Cedar and several others. We gathered dead wood so we could have a campfire tonight. I tell Paul he is a pyromaniac because he dearly loves to saw up wood and watch it burn. When he got enough wood to satisfy his need – or rather, until I began to nag him for dragging up so much – he was hot and sweaty and ready for another swim. No one ever has to ask me twice to go swimming and soon we were once more gliding through the cool water of the lake. Well, tonight is our last night out. Tomorrow we go home, and it is just as well. We have about finished off the fresh fruit, vegetables and eggs. At lunch I made sandwiches from the heels of our bread loaf. Tonight I put dumplings in a can of soup to give it filling qualities. Of course the tuna salad and Hi Ho crackers would have been a complete meal. But, as Paul says, “We’re spoiled.” Around the campfire tonight when the sun had gone and the air grew cool we toasted marshmallows and watched the Nighthawks swoop for insects. Not until ten o’clock were there many stars to see. The sun leaves it’s mark on the mountains long after it has left the horizon, an afterglow seen only in the mountains. We have a little glow from the sun tonight, too. It is called “sunburn.”

July 17, 1979 – Tuesday – Dunlap Lake: Warm last night. Woke at 4:00 am with moon shining so bright it looked like day. By daylight we had visitors – a pick-up with board and a car. Many Deer tracks around camp that weren’t here last evening.

John Glenn Newbill of Virginia was a slave owner but his slaves were well treated. When his daughter, Sarah, and her husband, Riley Kemp, moved to Pettis County, Missouri, he gave her a couple. The man’s name was Tom, and the woman, name forgotten, was his wife. They had two little girls about the same age of Anne, and they always played together. Tom was a blacksmith, and when not needed at home, was hired to the neighbors. The woman was a weaver, and did all the weaving for the big family. From the wool of the family sheep, she wove blue and white coverlets for the beds.

When Anne was married, her mother gave her one of the coverlets. When it was too worn out to be of use, the good pieces were saved, and years later they were placed in trays, to be kept as keepsakes.

Riley Kemp did not believe in slavery, so before he started for Oregon, he gave Tom and his family their freedom, and they remained in Missouri.

Riley Kemp was sheriff of Pettis County, Missouri, for eight years. Once before an election he and the other candidate made a friendly bet that the one who lost would give the other one an overcoat. Riley Kemp got the coat. A tailor made a heavy blue coat with twelve big white buttons. His son, John, wore the coat on the trail to Oregon, when he was away from the train hunting for wild game – sometimes away over night with the coat as the only cover. He also wore it while away during the Indian uprising. When he came home, the coat was so worn out, it could never be worn again, and only six buttons remained.

Sarah Kemp saved them and years later gave them to her grand daughter, Hattie Gowdy, who later had them linked together for a bracelet. Some years after she gave it to her great niece, Margaret Paxson Strom.

Among the early pioneers of Kentucky were your great, great, great grandparents, Lawrence and Mary Roelofson who were married in 1796. They were the maternal grandparents of your great grandfather, John T. Gowdy.

One sunny spring morning, Mary [Smith] Roelofson carried her big feather bed out of the log cabin, and laid it on the grass in the yard to sun and air. Toward sundown, she rolled it up, carried it in, and made it up for the night.

When bedtime came, the fire in the big fireplace was carefully covered to hold the coals for morning, and they went to bed.

As they were settling themselves, they heard the hiss of a snake, and soon they knew that somewhere about the bed was a rattlesnake. What to do they did not know, for the cabin was absolutely dark. They may have had a tallow dip, but there were no matches in those days. The only way to get a light was to go to the fireplace, uncover the coals, stick in a splinter, and blow it to a flame. And while they were doing that, in the dark, what might the snake be doing?

They decided that the only thing to do was to lie still and wait for daylight. It was a long, long night. They dared not go to sleep, for every time either one moved the snake hissed. At last the sun came up, the cabin grew light enough for them to creep very carefully out of bed.

They each got a club, and then carefully pulled the bed apart. There in the folds they found a big rattlesnake. It had evidently crawled onto the bed during the day, and found it a soft warm place to sleep. But how she could have carried in the bed, and made it, without finding the snake, Grandmother never could understand.

Rewritten by Elizabeth Gowdy for Elsie Odell Bennette
May 2, 1932

Source: North Carolina State Archives
109 E. Jones St. – Raleigh, N.C. 27601
Transcribed from Photocopied Document Received December 2003

(Duplicates may have arisen from the process of alphabetizing. Spelling is as it was in the original, which was extremely difficult to read)

Robert (?)…………
Patrick (faded)
Thomas (faded)
George (faded)
David (faded).
Wm ..belk
John ….ol (?)
James …….
James ……..
John ……..d
John ………
James ……….
William ……….
Humphrey ……….
Jeff …………
Andw …………
Vallentin …………..
Alexander (?) …………ey
Jacob ……mann
Zachria …erll
Robert (?) …menely
Georg Adams
Danl Adams
Wm Adams
Jas Adams
Peter Addam
Wm Addom
Samuel Addom
Olin/Alin Alexander
John Alexander
Oliver Alexander
John Alexander
Ebn Alexander
Oliver Alexander
John Alexander
Ebenezer Alexander
El…..Alexander
Benjamin Allen
Wm Allen
Wm Allston (?)
James Ander
James Anderson Junr
James Anderson Senr
Thos Anderson
Alexr Anderson
Alexander Anderson(?)
Cornelies Archer
John Ash(?)
Moses Ashbrook
Peter Avery?
Nicholas Bartlet
Nicholas Bartlet
Samuel Barton
James Bauvens(?)
James Bauvers Joner(Jun?)
John Bayle
James Beard
James Beard
James Beard
Wm Beard
John Beauvers(?)
Joseph Beavers
John Beavers
James Beavers
Thomas Beavers
John Beavers
James Beavors senr
Joseph Beavours
Wm Bell
Mathew Bell
George Berry
James Bevers
Sam Bird
James Bird
Jas Black
Jos. Black
Jos Black
Jas/Jos Black
John Blane
Jos Bogle
Jas Bogle Snr
Jos? Bogle Junr
Andw Bogle
Saml? Bogle
Joseph Bogle Junr
Jacob Boughman
Enos Bowman
E……. Bowman
John Briar/Brian
John Brickey
Peter Brickey
Thos Brown
Thos Brown
H.C. Brown(?)
Antony Buley
Jno Burden
Benjamin Burden
William Burden
John Burden
Geor Bush
Joseph Byrd
Jesse Byrd
John Byrd
John Byre
Stephen Byre
Amos Byre Senr
Amos Byre Junr
S. Cabarr
David Caldwell
Thomas Caldwell
John Caldwell
George Caldwell
John Caldwell
David Caldwell
Thomas Caldwell
David Caldwell
David Caldwell
Thomas Caldwell
George Caldwell
David Caldwell Sen
John Caldwell
Thos Caldwell
David Caldwell
David Caldwell
John Caldwell
David Caldwell
John Calfee
James Cameron
James Cameron Senr
Jos? Carlock
Abrm Carlock
Isaac Carlock
Robert Carr
John Carson Senr
John Carson Junr
Micajah Carter
Michal Carter
Francies Casteel
John Casteel
John Casteel
Edmond Casteel(?)
Wm Cathey
John Cato
Wm Cavenieug(?)
William Cher(?)
David Cimmons(?)
John Clack
Spencer Clack
Roland Clack
Spenser Clack
Rolley Clack
John Clack
John Clack
John Clack
Obadiah(?) Clack(?)
Jno Clark
John Clark
John Clark
Thos Clerk
John Cloid
William Clopton
Ezekiel Cloyd
John Cloyd
Ezekiel Cloyd
David Cloyd
John Cloyd
Ezel Cloyd
John Coats
John Coats
John Coats
John Coats(?)
William Coleman
Soloman Coleman
John Coleman
Hugh Con/Coor(?)
Firvins Conner
Siles(?) Coor (?)
Hugh Coor/Con
Jos. Copeland
Rickets Copland
Zacceas Coplin
John Cord(?)
William Cowan
David Craig
John Craig
Jas Craig Senr
Jas Craig Junr
David Craig
James Craig Senr
James Craig Jun
John Craig
Jas Creton
John Culick (?)
William Cumpton
Paul Cuningham
Moses Cuningham
James Cuningham
Jonothan Cunnanham
James Cunningham
Jas Cunningham
Wm Cunningham
Joseph Cusick
John Cussick
Jno Cussick
John Cussick(?)
James Davis
Jos Davis
John Dearmond Senr
John Dearmond Juner
Samuel Dearmond
James Dearmond
David Dearmond
Jno Dekson
John Dendin (?)
Charles Denney
John Devil
Thomas Dickison
Thomas Dickison
Joseph Dickson
Hugh Dickson
(faded) Dickson (?)
Jacob Dicson
Esmand Dirge (?)
Thos Dixon
Jacob Dobkins
Thos Doget
Hugh Doogan
John Dorker
R. Douglass
Peter Douser
John Doyl
Jams Drimen
William Dun
John Duncan
Craven Duncan
John Dunkin
John Dunkin
Adam Dunlap
James Dunlap
John Dunlap
Adam Dunlap
John Dunlap
James Dunlop
James Dunlop
Adam Dunlop
John Dunlop
James Dunlop
Edward Eagins
David Eagleton
David Egleton
David Emmens
George Erving
George Ervng
Peter Every
John Evins
Alexander Ewing
George Ewing
Alex Ewing
Jas Ewing
Wm Ewing
John Ewing
George Ewing
Benjamin Fanshire
Richard Fanshire
David Fanshire
Hugh Fergeson
Robert Fergeson
Henry Fergeson
Robert Fergison
Henry Fergison
Henry Fergison
Henry Ferguson
John Finley
John Fonsher
Richard Fonsher
John Fonsher
J….. Ford?
Arcel Fox
Joseph Freeney/Henry/Keeney
Richard Fry (?)
Jn Fulfer?
William Galther?.
William Garet
……… Gas……ce
Wm Gering/Ewing
Andrew Giffin(?)
James Gillespe
James Gillespie
Wm Gillespie
William Gillespie
James Gillespie
Jas Gillespie
Jas Gillespie(?) Jnr(?)
Jas Gillespy
James Gillespy
William Gillespy
James Gillespy
John Gillespy Junr
Alexander Gillespy
Jas. Gillespy Jur
Jas Gillespy
Jas Gillespy
Robert Gillespy
John Gillespy Senr
John Gillespy Junr
James Gillespy Senr
John Gillespy(?) Senr
John Gilliland
Saml Glass
Saml Glass
Thomas Going
Coorad(?) Good
John Gowan
Wm. Grahom
Stephen Graves
Tobias Grimmit
Zac (?) Gross
Georg Gross jr
Georg Gross Snr
James Guing/Ewing
William Guinn
Nicholas H…l(?)
John Haley
George Hallmark
Jorge Halmark
Robert Hamble
Saml Hamelton
Pat Hamelton
Isaiah Hamilton
…on Hamilton
Patrick Hamilton
Robert Hammel
Robert Hanah
James Handy
Thos Haney
James? Haney
Robert Hanna
Robert Hanna
John Hanna
John Hanna Junr
Robert Hanna (?)
Joshuah Hanna
Joshea Hannah
Joshua Hannah(?)
Thos Hardon
Nicholas Haril(?)
Joseph Hart
Joseph Hart
J. Haywood
William Heanderson Jur
Robert Heanderson
John Heanderson
James Heanderson
Thomas Heanderson
William Heckton
Saml Hendarson
Wm Henderson Senr
John Henderson
Thomas Henderson
Wm Henderson Jnr
Robert Henderson
William Henderson Senr
Samuel Henery (?)
Samuel Henery
Samuell Henery
William Heney (?)
Georg Heney
Wm Henry
Saml Henry
Wm Henry
John Hicklin
Philaman Higgan
William Hinks
John Hiser
John Hitchcock
William Hitchcock
James Hollins/Willis(?)
John Hook
John Hookes
John Hooks
Alaxr Hooks
Robt Hooks
Alexander Hooks(?)
Andrew Horn
Samuel Horn
David Horton
Ibram? Horton(?)
Joseph Hough
John Houston
James Houston
Matt Houston
James Houston
Samuel Houston
Wm Houston
Mathew Houston
Mathew Houston
Wm Houston
James Houston
Matt Houston
Samuel Houston
John Houston
James Houston
Wm Houston
John Houston
Jas Houston
Saml Houston
Matthew Houston
John Houston
Jas Houston
Saml Houston
Wm Houston
James Houston
Saml Houston Snr
Cunrode Hugson?
J Hunt
Matthew Huston
William Hutton
John Hyne(?)
Archabald Ilsan(?)
Jesse Isbel
Jesse Isbell
William Isbell
Ambros J/Geare
Zacariah Ja (faded)
Samuel Jack
John Jackson
……..w Jackson
Samuel Jackson
Andrew Jackson
John Jackson
Samuel Jackson
John Jackson
Andw Jackson
Saml Jackson
Jno Jamison
John Jamison
Fredreck Jee/Ice
David Job
Daniel Job
Wm Johns(?)
Hugh Johnson
Calvin Johnson
Calven Johnson
Chas Johnson
Chas Johnson
Calvin Johnston
Francis Johnston
John Johnston
Henery Jones
Nichodemus Keeth
John Kelley
John Kelley
John Kelley
Alexr Kelley
John Kelley
John Kerr
John Kerr
Saml Kerr
John Kinney?
William Lacker?
Daniel Laittrel (?)
John Lashly
Anthony Lawson
Will…. Lee
Ambros Legg
Wm Lenoir
John Lesley
Evens Lewis
Amos Lewis
Geo Lewis
Jno Lewis
Jacob Lewis
David Linsey
Benjaman Litle
Samul Litterl
Charles Logan
Charles Logan
David Loveless
Anthoney Lovon (?)
John Lowrey
Adam Lowrey
Jas Lowrey
Saml Lowrey
John Lowry
William Lowry
Laml Mackissac
Larken Mackissac
Barkley Magee
James Magers
Rott Magill
James Maginly
James Maginly
James Magonis (?)
John Mahan
John Mahon
John Main
Elaxr Mangamery
(faded) Mann (?)
Abram Manning
Bejamin Marland
Warner Martin
Warren Martins
William Massey
Fredereck Mayberry
John Maybery
John Maybery
Jas Mc………
John Mcain
James McAlister (?)
James McAlister
John McAlister
John McCain
John McCain
Soleman McCampbell
Sal McCarter
Jerimiah McCarter
Jerimiah McCarter
Lammas McCarty
Lammis(?) McCarty
Daniel McCinsey
William McCissick
Samuel Mcclalan
John McClellan
Thos McCollack
Thos McColloch
John McColloch
Jas McColoch
Samuel McColoch
John McComb
Joseph McConnel(?)
Alaxeander McCormick
John McCuleth
Alexander McEwen
Alexander McEwen
John McFarland
George Mcfarland
Bartley McGee
Barclay McGhee
Barclay McGhee
Jas McGinley
Alexr Mcglalin Senr
Daniel Mcglalin
Moses Mckay
James Mckenney
James McKenney
James McKenny
Dunken McKessick
Daniel Mckinzey
John McLain
Andrew Mclain/McCain
Clareancnce McLaughon(?)
John McMahan
John McMahon
Samuel Mcmurrey Jr
Wm Mcmurrey
Samuel Mcmurrey Sn
William McMurrey
Samuel McMurrey Snr
Samuel McMurrey Jnr
Robert McMurrey
Robert Mcmurry
William McMurry
Robert McMurry
Samuel McMurry
….. McMurry(?)
Geo McNutt
Joseph McReynold
Joseph McReynold
Joseph McReynolds
Joseph McReynolds
John McRoberts
Samuel McRoberts
Jacob Meek
Alexr Meglalin Juner
William Meller
Wm Melton
Wm Melton/Mellor Jun
John Menis
John Menis
Thos Millar Senr
Jas Millar
Thos Millar
..r..in Millar
Wm Millor
Morriss Mitchel
James Mitchel
Humphrey Montgom(rest cut
Alexr Montgomery
John Moon
Abram Moon
William Moon
Jesse Moon
Thomas Moon
William Moon
Jesse Moon
Jos Moon
John More
Evin Morgan
Wm Morgan
Alex Morrow
George Moss
George Mouts (?)
Lenoard Mouts(?)
Leonard Mouts/Moriss
Jossaway (?) Movels(?)
Henry Nave
Jno Nave
Jesse Nelson
Henry Netherton
Saml Newell
Saml Newell (?)
Saml Newell
Saml Newell Senr
Saml Newell Snr
Saml Newell
Samuel Newell Jnr
Flayl Nichols
David Nichols
James Nickels
John Nicols
David Nicols
Danl Nicols
Jacob Niman
Jamiah Odaul
Isaac Odell(?)
Calep Odle
Toms Odle
James Oldam
John Ominit (?)
Wm Overstreet
John Parker
John Parks
James Paul
Samuel Paxton
Adam Peck
Adam Peck
John Peery
Robert Perl
James Perl
John Perll(?)
John Philips
James pierce
Robert Pierce
James Pierce
Burton Prid
Woolsey Pride
Wm Pride?
Joseph Prossor(?)
William Pryor
Joseph Pryor
Henry Ragan(?)
Elexander Ramey
Charls Ramey
I Rawleigh
James Ray
Ezekel Ray
William Reagan
Charles Reagan
John Reagan
Charles Reagan
John Reagan
Henry Reagan
William Reagan
Charles Reagan Snd
William Reagan
John Reagan
Alexander Reed (faded)
Charles Regin
Henry Regin
Wm Regin
John Regin
Charles Regin
Roger(?) Renfro(?) Jun
Tom Richeson
Able Richison Senr
Able Richison Junr
Jas/Jos Roddey(?)
Eliz (?) Rodgers
James Rodgers
Henery Rodgers
Alexr Rodgers
Josiah Rodgers
James Rodgers
Larken Rogers
(faded) Rogers
Thos Rogers (?)
Seth Rogers
Isaac Rogers
Heanrey Rogers
Eligha Rogers
Jas. Ruddell
Barefoot Runyon
Daniel(?) Rusel(?)
Wm Rusell
Matthew Russell
William Russell
Matthew Russell
Matthew Russell
Mathew Russell
Sam S……….
James Scott
Jos Scott
James Scott
James Seduscus
Jacob Seduscus
Jno Sehorn
Joseph Shadon
Jno Sharkey(?)
John Shaver
John Shields
Jacob(?) Shul(?)
Littlepage Sims
Page Sims
Page Sims
William Sims
Jas Sims
Stephen Sims
John Singeleton
John Singeleton
John Singleton
John Singleton
Isaac Skilman
James Slater
Archibd Sloan
John Sloan
Alexr Sloan
Jas Sloan
Alexander Sloan
William Smallwod
John Smith
Jas Smith
Thomas Smith
William Sneed
Wm Sneed
James Snodgrass
William Sproul
William St…….
Patrick Statry?
Mrs Thomas Stepens
William Stockden
James Stockn
Davis Stockton
Samuel Stockton
Jas Sturns
Robt Syfares
Henry Tarewater
Lewis Tarewater
Joseph Tayeler
Joseph Tayler
Robt Taylor
……m…..Taylor
……… Tedford
John Tedford
Joseph Tedford
George Tedford
Joseph Tedford
John Tedford
Jas Tedford
Joseph Tedford
John Tedford
George Tedford
James Telford
John Telford
George Telford
Stephan Tence (?)
John Thirmon(?)
Jacob Thomas
Henry Thomas
Jacob Thomas
Henry Thomas
John Thomas
Charles Thomas
Jacob Thomas ………..(?)
Phelly(?) Thomas
Wm (?) Thompson
John Thompson
Robert Thompson
James Thompson
Saml Thompson
John Thompson
And. Thompson
Robert Thompson
James Thompson
John Thompson
Samuel Thomson
William Thrift
James Thurman (?)
James Tilford
Mack Tipon
Benjamin Tipton
Meshick Tipton
Benjamin Tipton
William Tipton
Benjamin Tipton
Benjamin Tipton
Mordecai Tipton
Saml Tomkins
James Tomson/Samson
Thos Topson(?) ………..
………. Tulley
Jos Turner (?)
John Turnley
Wm Upton
James Upton
William Upton
Daniel Vancil
Edmund Vancil
Philip Vanrll(?)
Oklayle(?) Vekele (?)
Richard Vernal Senr
Richard Vernal Junr
Gorge Vinens (?)
David Walden
Thos Waler
Jas Walker
John Walker
T. Wallace Senr
Wm Wallace
Thomas Wallace J
Joel Wallace
Jesee Wallace
Ollipher Wallace
John Wallace
Thomas Wallace
Jesse Wallace
Joel Wallas
Oliver Wallass
Thomas Waller
Thomas Waller
John Wallice
Mathew Wallis
He…. Ward
Jas Weeks
Samuel Weir
Hugh Weir
Samuel Weir
Hugh Weir
James Wetherspoon
John Wheeler
John Whetherspoon
David White
Joseph White
Wesley White
James White
Isaac White
William Whitson
Tobius Wilhelms (?)
John Wiliam
Richard Wiliams
John Wiliams
Duson Wilkins
John Williams
Joseph Williams
Thos Williams
James Williams
Zekal Willimes
James Williss
Joseph Willson
Adam Willson
James Willson
Robt Wilson
Robt Wilson
Robert Wilson
Saml Wilson
James Wilson
Joseph Wilson
Adam Wilson
Jno Wilson
John Wintin
Jas Wintin
William Winton
James Witherspoon
John Witherspoon
Jos Witherspoon
Jos Witherspoon
John Wollece
Jonathan Wood
John Wood
Elijah Wood
Niklas (?) Woodfin
Nicholas Woodfin
Thomas Woodfin
Joseph Woods
James Woods
John Woods
Pat Woods
Thomas Wray
William Wray
John Wray
Mical yockim (?)
Patrick Young
Patrick Young
…………..
…………
…………
…………….
John

James Adam
Macajah Adams
John Adkins
William Adkins
Adword Adword
Antony Agee
Daniel Agee
Archibel Alexander
Joseph Alexander
Robert Allison
John Anderson
James Arbutton (?)
John Armstrong
Lanry Armstrong
David Arwin
Owen Atkin
Benjamen Aze
Charles Bacon
Thomas Bailey his X mark
William Baily
Thomas Baits
Walker Barren
Hugh Beard
Samuel Beard
Aaron Been
James W. Begses (?)
John Bell
Thomas Bell
Allen Bellew
Thomas Benet X his mark
Wm. Berry
Robert Bettey
John Bilensy
Geo. Birdwell
Joseph Birdwell
Geo. Black
John Black
Joseph Blair
Joseph Blair
Samuel Bofman
Mikill Borders
Searling Bowman
Wm. Boyd
John Bradford
Thos. Bromley
David Brown
William Brown
Benn Brumbly
John Brumley
Henry Brumly
Haley Bucknell
Preley Bucknell
William Bucknell
Benj. Burdwell
John A. Caft
W. Cage
H. Call
Thomas Call
Alexander Carith
Mattw. Carithers
David Carr
William Carson
Franses Castel
Allexander Cavitt
Moses Cavitt
Jno. Chester
William Childress
John Chisolm
Green Chote
George Christian
Gilbert Christian
Robert Christian
Oton Clack
Wm. Cocke
John Comay
Henery Combs
William Combs
William Combs, Jr.
John Comin
James Cooper
William Cooper
William Copeland
John Cosson
John Cottrell
Adam Coumb
Jacob Cox
Samuel Cox
Wm. Craige
Simeon Crains
Donnell Cremor
Christurpher Cross
Edward Crunt (?)
James Crunt
Wm. Daves
William Davidson
Thomas Davie
George Davies
Nathaniel Davies
Samuel Davies
Isaac Davis
James Davis
John Dean
Thomas Dicson
Miller Doget
John Duncan
Craven Dunear
Joseph Dunn
Rich’d Dunn
Wm. Dunn
Daniel Dunny Jr.
Henry Earnest
Peter Easley
Robert Easley
Stephen Easley
Thomas Easley
Henry Easter
Thos. Easterlin
William Eats
Andrew English
James English
Josiah Epperson
Adam Fergoson
William Fergoson
Peter Fin
John Fout
Peter Fout
Wm. Francis his X mark
John French
Thos. Fryar
Geo. Gabriel (black)
Martha Gahee
Patrick Gahee
John Galbreath
Ric’d Garnon
Joseph Garrison
Joseph Geest
David Gemel
Hugh Gentry
Carmach George
Jos. Gest
William Gest
William Gewil
John Gibson
Reuben Gibson
Roger Gibson
Samuel Gilbertson
William Gillehan
Benja. Gist
Benja. Gist
Gabriel Goad
John Goad Jun.
William Gode
Wm. Goings
Shiffell Goodlop
Absolom Greer
John Greer
Adam Guthery
Shadrach Haile
Shadrack Hale Jr. his X mark
Joshway Hameton
Joseph Hamilton
Henry H. Hammer
William Hannah
James Hays
James Hays
Robert Hays
George Hayes
Nathaniel Hayes
Nicholas Hayes
Robert Hayes
Sam’l Hayes
Henry Heckey
Jas. Henney
William Hennidge
Benjamin Henslee
Timothy Heuff
Oystan Hewtower
William Hill
Ralph Hogan
William Hogan
Henry Hokimer
Jesey Holland
William Holland
Robert Hood
Leonard Hopkins
Wm. Howard
Francis Hughes
Baset Hunt
John Hunt
John Hunt, Jr.
Jonathan Hunt
Lewis Hunt
Reuben Hunt
Reuben Hunt
Joseph Huson
William Hust. his X mark
Js. Huston his X mark
John Huston his X mark
James Jack
Andrew Jackson
Wm. Jackson
John Jameson
Samuel Jameson
John Jarrott
William Jinkins
Ephraim Joab
Jacob Joab
Jacob Jobe
Nathan Jobe
Francis Johnson
Thomas Johnson
John Johnston
Thomas Jones
William Jones
John Keller
Moses Keller
Anthony Kelly
Harman Kenedy
Moses Kennedy
Moses Kelsay
Moses Kelsay
Rd. Kerr
Robert Kerr
Charles Kidwell
John Kidwell
Joshua Kidwell
Joshua Kidwell
Hermon King
Thos. King
George Kirkpatrick
Patrick Kirkpatrick his X mark
William La*** (?)
Joseph Lachlen, Jur.
Joseph Lachlen, Sen.
John Lee
Daniel Leming
Jackal Light
John Light
William Light
William Light Sen.
Moses Long
Moses Looney
John Lowe
Alexr. Lowrey
Alex. Lowry
Joseph Lusk
Joseph Lusk
John Lyon
Wm. Magill
Geo. Martin
William Masengill
Robert McCall
Robert McCall
Adam McCammis
James McCammis
Thomas McCammis
William McCammis
Jno. McClelland
Uriah McClellennon
Redman McDanel
Arch’d McHaughan
Thomas McKee
James McLean
Thos. McMackin
Nath. McMeno
Samuel McMinn
Peter McNamee
James McPherson
Samuel McPherson
William McPick
John Mears
Jacob Meek
William Mehallm
Edward Mercer
Forrester Mercer
Nicholas Mercer
Richard Mercer, Sr.
David Merryon
Christy Miers
Coonnas Miller
Robert Miller his X mark
Thomas Miller
James Millikan
Thomas Millikan
James Millikin
Jno. Mitchel
James Mitchell
Auborn Mon*** (?)
Humph’y Montgomery
Joseph Moor
Anthony Moore
David Moore
Moses Moore
Wm. Moore
Ellecander More
Richard Morell
Abel Morgan
Patrick Morrison
James Morroson
John Morroson
William Morroson
Wm. Morow
Henry Mosely
Thomas Mosely
Deness Murfee
Jos. Newberry
Henry W. Newby
Whaley Newby
Joseph N. Newport
Wm. W. Newport
John Noman (?)
John Noris
Aaron Norton
John Norton
Harmon Nowel
Peter Nowels
Peter Nuless
Botholmu Oderneal
Robert Orr
Thomas Owins
William Owins
Joshuaway Padfield
Robert Pain
Charles Parker
James Patterson
James Patton
Robert Patton
Phl. Grafford Pearce
Wm. Peck
James Peterson
Alx. Pethrow
James Pickens
James Pickens
Thomas Pinckny
Alexr Potter
Gordon Potter
Nuness Potter
Rows Potter
John Prim
John Prior
David Rankin
John R. *** (?)
Charles Ramsey
James Ranner
Asahel Rawlings
Dan’l Rawlings
Michael Rawlings
Joseph Ray
Solomon Reed
David Reynolds
William Reynolds
Henry Richardson
James Richardson
Aaron Rider
Dalton Ridgs
Simon Ridgs
Reuben Riggs
Anson Rit
Archibald Roan
David Robinson
Moses Robinson
Thomas Rodgers
Martin Roller
Martin Roller, Jr.
Vallentine Rose
Phillip Rudolf
Matthew Rue
Bryce Russell, Jr.
Bryce Russell, Sr.
Moses Russel
Dudly Rutherford
Robert Sample
John Sawyer
Joseph Screat
John Sellars
John Sham
James Shanks
Conrad Shelply
Wm. Shewmaker
Eli Shipley
Richard Shipley
Thomis Shipley
Reuben Simmon
Wm. Sippard
James Smart
Jacob Smelser
George Smith
James Smith
Jas. Smith
Jeremiah Smith
Joseph Smith
Robert Smith
Levy Springer
Thomas Springer
John Spurgin
Phillip Squibb
William Stacey
Adam Stake
James Stinson
James Stinson
Adam Stoaks
Alexander Street
Stephen Strorge
Wm. Stublefield
James Stump
Henry Styers
Henry Sullivan
John Tadlock
Joshua Tadlock
Lewis Tadlock
Thomas Tadlock
Thomas Tadlock his X mark
David Taylor
Isaac Taylor
Jeremiah Taylor
Joseph Taylor
Stephen Taylor
Thos. Taylor
Isaac Thomas
Thos. Thompson
Thomas Tinton
Abraham Titsworth
Edward Tule
Nathaniel Tule
John Tulley
Sam’l Vance
George Vincent
Thomas Vincent
Benjamin Walb *** (?)
James Walb???
Joseph Waldrap
Isaiah Waldrew
James Watson
John Wear
Richard Webb
Mary Webster (?)
James Wheeler
Isaac White
John Williams
Thomas Williams
Joseph Willson
Charles Wilson
William Wilson
William Wilson
Henry Winterberger
Jos. Winterberger
Sam’l Winterberger
Elias Witt
Nathaniel Witt
Thomas Witt
Conrad Wolf
Thomas Wolf
Thos. Wood
Wm. Wood
Rich’d Wood
Rich’d Woods
John Woolsey
And. Wray
Benj. Wray
D. Wright
John Yancey
John Yokley
The Unknowns
William *** (?)
(illegible) (?)
(illegible) (?)
(illegible) (?)
(illegible) (?)
(illegible) (?)

• Click here to view all petition names in alphabetical order
• Click here to see an alphabetical list of inhabitants of the area in 1789.

The Lost State of Franklin

Petition of the Inhabitants of the Western Country

The Honourable, The General Assembly of North Carolina now sitting:

The Inhabitants of the Western Country humbly sheweth:

That it is with sincere concern we lament the unhappy disputes that have long subsisted between us and our brethren on the Eastern side of the Mountains, respecting the erecting of a new Government. We beg leave to represent to your Honourable body, that from Acts passed in June 1784, ceding to Congress your Western territory, with reservations and conditions therein contained; also from a clause in your wise and mild Constitution, setting forth that there might be a State or States, erected in the West whenever your Legislature should give consent for same; and from our local situation, there are numberless advantages, bountifully given to us by nature to propagate and promote a Government with us. Being influenced by your Acts and Constitution and at the same time considering that it is our undeniable right to obtain for ourselves and posterity a proportionable and adequate share of the blessings, rights, privileges, and immunities allotted with the rest of mankind, have thought that the erecting of a new Government would greatly contribute to our welfare and convenience and that the same could not militate against your interest and future welfare as a Government.

Hoping that mutual and reciprocal advantages would attend each party, and that cordiality and unanimity would permanently subsist between us ever after, we earnestly request that an impartial view of our remoteness be taken into consideration; that great inconveniency attending your seat of Government, and also the great difficulty in ruling well and giving protection to so remote a people, to say nothing of the almost impassable mountains Nature has placed between, which renders it impracticable for us to furnish ourselves with a bare load of the necessaries of life, except we in the first instance travel from one to two hundred and more miles through another State ere we can reach your Government.

Every tax paid you from this country would render us that sum the poorer, as it is impossible from the nature of our situation, that any part could return into circulation, having nothing that could bear the carriage, or encourage purchasers to come so great a distance; for which reasons were we to continue under your Government a few years, the people here must pay a greater sum than the whole of the medium now in circulation for the exigencies and support of your Government which would be a sum impossible for us to secure, would we be willing to give you our all; and or course we must be beholden to other States for any part we could raise; and by these means our property would gradually diminish, and we at last be reduced to mere poverty and want by not being able equally to participate with the benefits and advantages of your Government.

We hope that having settled West of the Appalachian mountains ought not to deprive us of the natural advantages designed by the bountiful Providence for the convenience and comfort of all those who have spirit and sagacity enough to seek after them. When we reflect on our past and indefatigable struggles, both with savages and our other enemies during our late war, and the great difficulty we had to obtain and with-hold this Country from those enemies at the expense of the lives and fortunes of many of our dearest friends and relations; and the happy conclusion of peace having arrived, North Carolina has derived great advantages from our alertness in taking and securing a County, from which she has been able to draw into her Treasury, immense sums of money, and thereby become enabled to pay off, if not wholly, yet a great part, and sink her national debt. We therefore humbly conceive you will liberally think that it will be nothing more than paying a debt in full to us for only to grant what God, Nature, and our locality entitles us to receive. Trusting that your magnanimity will not consider it a crime in any people to pray their rights and privileges, we call the world to testify our conduct and exertion in behalf or American independence; and the same to judge whether we ask more than free people ought to claim, agreeable to Republican principles, the great foundation whereon our American fabric now stands. Impressed with the hope of your great goodness and benevolent disposition that you will utterly abhor and disclaim all ideas of involving into innumerable, disagreeable and irksome contentions, a people who have so faithfully aided and supported in the time of imminent and perilous dangers; that you will be graciously pleased to consent to a separation; that from you paternal tenderness and greatness of mind, you will let your stipulations and conditions be consistent with honour, equity and reason, all of which will be cheerfully submitted to; and we, your petitioners, shall always feel an interest in whatsoever may concern your honour and prosperity. Lastly, we hope to be enabled by the concurrence of your State to participate in the fruits of the Revolution; and to enjoy the essential benefits of Civil Society under a form of Government which ourselves alone can only calculate for such a purpose. It will be a subject of regret that so much blood and treasure have been lavished away for no purpose to us; that so many sufferings have been encountered without compensation, we hope what hath been mentioned will be sufficient for our purpose, adding only that Congress hath, from time to time, explained their ideas so fully and with so much dignity and energy that if their arguments and requisitions will not produce conviction, we know of nothing that will have a greater influence, especially when we recollect that the system referred to is the result of the collected wisdom of the United States, and, should it not be considered as perfect, must be esteemed at the least objectionable.

Related Links

Petition Sundry Inhabitants South of French Broad (PDF File)

Internet Resources for the State of Franklin

The Mystery of the Lost State of Franklin (PDF File)

History of the State of Franklin

North Carolina History Project