Page 8 Blue Mountain Heritage Society • Spring 2021 Newsletter PO Box 163 Spring • 2021 An Update: Dayton, WA 99328 Blue Mountain Heritage Society

It’s been a year since we began dealing with board conducted business. In-person gatherings the river limit what can be built. However, behind 2021 BMHS Officers the impact of Covid-19 on Blue Mountain were replaced with virtual meetings. Scheduled the school an outdoor display honoring the President: About 14 miles northeast of Dayton—and bordered on two sides by the Heritage Society operations. While our mission fundraisers were put on hold, moved back, and evolution of farming in Columbia County is being Paula Moisio near 90-degree bend in Thronson Road—is Covello Cemetery. It is situated of preserving the history of Southeastern eventually canceled. The BMHS annual meeting Vice-President: considered. To showcase schoolhouse bells, plans Roslyn Edwards a mile northeast of what use to be the town of Covello. A once thriving Washington remains intact, the past twelve and the election of officers were reduced to a are to make a small area near the south side of Secretary: community, all that remains of Covello today are the tombstones and grave months have been a challenging time for our lackluster, via-the-internet ZOOM event. Greatly the school into a “bell garden.” Mary Harri markers of previous inhabitants. board, our museums, our volunteers, and our missed were the wonderful soups, comradery, Covid-19 may have slowed us down, but our Treasurer: Dallas Dickinson In 1882, Mr. Wulzen and Mr. Schroder, two prosperous businessmen from community. and entertainment we’ve grown accustomed to. commitment remains focused on the future! Directors: For most of 2020, museums throughout Despite the pandemic challenges we’ve Barbara Carlton San Francisco came north and opened a store in what was originally known BREAKING NEWS: Duane Dunlap as Pioneer. When a post office opened there in 1883, the name changed to the state were closed as part of the Governor’s faced, the generosity of our loyal supporters has Beginning in April, our museums will now be open, Rose Engelbrite efforts to control the pandemic’s spread. When enabled us to meet the costs of maintaining our but with shortened hours—due to limited availability John Hutchens Covello—reportedly after a town in the Mother Lode District of California. state restrictions eased a bit, we hosted a museums. Also, we have been able to meet our Karen Thronson of docents. (New volunteers are most welcome!) Newsletter Team - Diane Longanecker, The townsite of few by-appointment-only tours at the Smith annual obligations to increase our Smith Hollow Smith Hollow County Schoolhouse Paula Moisio, Dallas Dickinson, Covello was surveyed and Roslyn Edwards Hollow Country Schoolhouse, the Palus Museum Country Schoolhouse Endowment fund. & Dodge Quarantine Cabin: in 1884. John M. (featuring the Columbia County Veterans Looking ahead, we are in the planning stages Open: Saturdays 12:00-2:00 PM Putman platted the display), and the Dodge Quarantine Cabin. for more fully utilizing the Smith Hollow Country Palus Museum (veterans display/other exhibits): nine-block area where Pandemic regulations also changed how our Schoolhouse property. Zoning regulations near Museum Open: Saturdays 2:00-4:00 PM Saturdays 2 pm to 4 pm Covello between 35 to 40 town lots soon sold. Many Presented by Miss Edwards, our wonderful special-occasion familiar names from schoolmarm at Smith Hollow Country Schoolhouse today were represented ¢ ¢ (a.k.a. Roz Edwards, BMHS Vice-President) Cemetery on the list of purchasers, 426 East Main Street including Dickinson, Good morning students. Now that we have Many folks joined wagon trains and headed what you saw and learned on today's field Dayton, Washington Turner, Ward, Ankeny, said the Pledge of Allegiance and sung our west. So, the headstones you will be looking trip. And younger students, you will write a Visit Both BMHS Museums! Davis, and Grupe. morning song, "America the Beautiful," I have for in the Starbuck cemetery today are ones sentence or two on your butcher paper below April – November Covello steadily grew. a surprise! Please turn in your homework, you believe are of those early settlers—those your stone rubbing. Or Year Round By Appointment Email: By 1891, in addition [email protected] then clear your desks, and be ready to listen. who homesteaded our area. Then, using a Since this is a rather brisk, windy day, I to the store, there This afternoon we are going on a Field Trip! wax crayon on your butcher paper, you'll make promise hot cocoa and biscuits upon our Smith Hollow were two blacksmith shops, a shoe shop, Leading our group will be Paul and Roy Eslick. stone rubbings of their grave markers. return back here to the school. Country Schoolhouse Saturdays 12 pm to 2 pm a steam planer and They are not only the youngest students If you pay attention to dates and names as chop mill, a school, and twins, but they were also born on the well as any epitaph on the headstones, I think several residences plus 4th of July! Yes, Darlene. That's our country's you will learn a great deal. prospects for a church. "birthday," too. That's why I cannot think of a What's an epitaph? Well, yes. That's correct, The continual hope was more patriotic job for these two boys! Bruce. The letters R.I.P. or "Rest In Peace" would that a railroad would Notice the rolled-up sheets of butcher be an example. An epitaph is an inscription on 113 North Front Street connect Covello with Dayton, Washington Dayton. A railway bed paper and box of wax crayons on the corner a grave marker or headstone in memory of the was graded, yet the shelf? They are for making stone rubbings. person buried there. Blue Mountain iron rails were never You see at 1 o'clock, Roy's and Paul's father, Oh, and the first student to find the Greek Heritage Society laid. Instead, the rail Mr. Eslick, will arrive in his hay truck to take headstone with Greek letters will get to sit — Board Meets Monthly — line ended miles away us to the Starbuck Cemetery! Oh, my. From all up front with Mr. Eslick on the way home. 2nd Thursday – 9:00 am at Turner. Delany Building By 1900 the those cheers, you certainly are up for the task. By the time we return to our school, each of Starbuck Cemetery 111 South Third Street In our history lessons, we have been you will have a stone rubbing to accompany Headstone for John Sveland, 1882-1915. Dayton, Washington population of Covello "I.X.B.I. A native of Greece" Everyone is was over 100. But studying how the United States was settled. tomorrow's essay. You will be writing about Shown here is the Greek inscription on back. Obelisk in the Thronson Family Burial Plot Welcome! Continued on Page 2 Page 2 Blue Mountain Heritage Society • Spring 2021 Newsletter Blue Mountain Heritage Society • Spring 2021 Newsletter Page 7

Covello - Continued from Page 1 beautiful silent film • How did Mack know about President’s Message without a railroad, the number of star. Despite their Huntsville? Did he give an oratory residents dwindled. In 1918, the post at the school/seminary college that Covid-19: History in the Making 36 years of marriage, office closed. Today, the cemetery they had no use to be there? We do know that During the past twelve months, it's been a on the hill, with its tombstones and children. They did he performed weeks at a time at the rare conversation that does not revolve around grave markers of previous inhabitants, have a stock theater Weinhard Theater in Dayton. Covid-19. When the pandemic started out last is all that remains of the once-active and often traveled Dayton winter, we were unaware of how widespread community. Huntsville Cemetery together putting • Mack Swain’s obituary in the the ramifications to our lives, our economy, In Ward Rinehart’s book Covello: A on shows across the Chronicle reads more like a story. Since it contains few facts, Moroni and our way of living would be. Every person Pioneer Remembers, the author shares Moroni became Mack, a strapping western United States. On August 25, “Mack” Swain remains a mystery— in Columbia County, in the United States, and the view he took in from the cemetery. six-foot-two-inch vaudeville comedian 1935, while the couple was in Tacoma, throughout the world has now felt its impact. at least for now. The wild roses I thought so beautiful and orator, who starred in many silent Washington, Mack was felled by a As of mid-February 2021, Columbia the day I followed my grandfather’s films. While working for Keystone heart attack and died. He was 59. His Sources: Dayton Chronicle. Liz Carson County Public Health reports four active interviews. Websites: Ancestry.com. Findagrave. hearse up the hill fifty years ago were Studios, he appeared in the Keystone wife, Cora, lived another 21 years. She cases, 102 recovered cases, and four deaths. com. Fanpop.com. Wikipedia.org. US Census. still there today. I had forgotten that Cops series of films. At one point, died in 1956 at the age of 84 and was The Washington State Covid-19 website lists from the hallowed retirement home Mack was more popular than 333,794 total cases and 4,822 deaths for one could look north a hundred miles his friend, Charlie Chaplin. our state. In the United States, the virus has Readers, do any of you to Steptoe Butte and west the same By 1921, however, Mack’s infected some 28 million individuals and Charles John Thronson - Youngest of Willis know more than what I have distance to the Columbia River Bluffs career began to slide. Chaplin caused nearly 500,000 deaths. Worldwide and Anna Thronson’s children. Born April 12, found? If so, please submit at the south of the Yakima. And across stepped in and saved him. Then Covid-19 cases number at least 112 million and 1865 in California. Died at age 72 on December the rear of the backyard was the hedge in 1925, they both starred in the information via email nearly 2.5 million deaths. 14, 1937 in Dayton, Washington. Buried in the to bluemountainheritage@ of the beautiful Blue Mountains. Thronson family plot at Covello Cemetery. Chaplin’s masterpiece, The Gold By comparison, the influenza pandemic of Rush. In this film, Mack filled gmail.com. Ward Rinehart’s writings also Looking back some 75 years, here is what a 1918-1919 infected about 500 million people. a major supporting role as the If you don't know, then paid homage to the neighborhood then young, friend-of-the-family who knew Deaths worldwide are estimated to be at character of Big Jim McKay. finding the answers to of families clustered there in the him wrote: “A heart of gold” the folks used to say. least 50 million, with some 675,000 of those All his life he worked on projects to benefit the In 1932 Mack Swain received Covello Cemetery. He noted that this mystery offers a great occurring in the United States. The U.S. Census Covello community, the cemetery, the church, the an academy award nomination several prominent family names were challenge to tackle during Bureau's 1918 Mortality Statistics table shows railroad extension, and grain storage facilities. for Stout Hearts and Willing well represented, including Thronson, our Covid-19 quarantine! "4,879 flu fatalities in Washington in calendar Hands, a 20-minute film that English, Prater, Cyrus, Rockhill, year 1918.” 1860s, gold beckoned the brothers was nominated for an Academy McGee, and Boldman. Currently, much of the Covid-19's impact west to California, where Willis’ two Award for Best Short Subject The cemetery’s most easily seen remains to be seen, even within our local youngest sons Joel Albert (1864) and (Comedy). For some unknown monument is a stone column community. How long will masks be worn? Charles John (1865) were born. reason, the film was disqualified standing 14-feet tall. With its four How will the remaining businesses survive In 1871, Thronson brought his wife before the awards took place. tapered sides and pyramidal top, the economic consequences? What will and four children north via riverboat, His final film role was an the black granite obelisk glistens in change with people working from home? How arriving at Wallula. In search of uncredited appearance as a the sunlight, like a proud beacon in will students make up for their lost time in available land to homestead, the man on In 1925, Charlie Chaplin and Mack Swain honor of the Thronson family. The starred in Chaplin's masterpiece, The Gold Rush. school? How will social distancing affect our family traveled up the Touchet Valley a rowing story behind the obelisk’s existence relationships in the future? How many lives will to Dayton, settling near Covello on machine in the laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial speaks to the tenacity and persistence have been lost before the final count tally? land close to the Fort Walla Walla to 1935 film, Bad Park in Glendale, California, where that made Willis Thronson, an early Fortunately, as vaccinations increase, new Lewiston stage line. They named their Boy. He then many famous actors are buried. settler to the area, such a success. coronavirus cases are on the decline. Let's hope we place, “Keystone Farm.” retired from Consequently, here are some of the Born in Helleland, Norway, on are seeing a light at the end of this long tunnel. Like many pioneers, Willis started movies. For his questions we are left with: April 4, 1825, Willis Thronson I think we are all anticipating looking back at with very little. With no time to build contributions (Villas Trondsen) and his brother Covid-19 from a historical perspective­–instead a cabin before winter set in, he dug a to more than • If Mack died in Tacoma and was came to the United States in the of having it be part of our daily lives. hole in a dirt bank, fashioned a roof 40 pictures supposedly cremated, why is he 1840s. Their first stop was New York. Mack Swain Paula Moisio, President over it, and installed a stove. While in the film thought to be buried in Huntsville? The 1850s found Willis married and [email protected] the rest of the family spent the winter industry, Mack Swain received a star in Minnesota, where his three oldest • As a famous actor, why wouldn’t in the hovel, Willis, in search of work on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Blue Mountain Heritage Society children were born, Julia (1855), Mack’s grave be at Forest Lawn, near at the mines, left for Kellogg, Idaho. Sometime shortly after 1899, Mack https://bluemountainheritage.org Caroline (1856, apparently dying as a where his widow continued to live He walked the entire way. had married Cora Claire King, a Mack Swain child), and Thron (1858). But by the As he aquired some money, Willis and where she was eventually buried? Page 6 Blue Mountain Heritage Society • Spring 2021 Newsletter Blue Mountain Heritage Society • Spring 2021 Newsletter Page 3

began raising sheep, like his father by Roz Edwards, BMHS Vice-President had done in Norway. Later, Willis switched to growing grain. It all required much hard work and a great new neighbor recently texted wives. Moroni ran away and joined a She relented, and he eventually found deal of perseverance. A me a picture and statistics of a minstrel show at age 15. But after just himself in Hollywood. Perhaps she Over time the family thrived. Along man who, according to records found one performance, his mother found remembered her own earlier years in the way, Willis became known for a on Findagrave.com, was buried at the him and brought him home. He Norway, where she sang with an opera reminder about the family’s success Huntsville Cemetery: Moroni “Mack” begged her to let him join the troupe. company. that he often repeated to his three sons. Swain. “Don’t forget,” he would tell them, “we I live in Huntsville. bought this place with horseflesh and It’s an unincorporated the price of woman-kind.” rural community just It’s an austere statement. But it outside of Waitsburg. realistically sums up life during the The Huntsville post early years of homesteading in an area office was established that became Columbia County. The in 1880 and remained statement also made an impact: It was in operation until known to be passed on through four 1968. I have visited the generations of Thronsons. Photographed in the early 1900s, this is the fine home of the Charles J. Thronson family at Keystone Farm near Covello, Washington. It’s a grand step up from the “dug out hole in a dirt bank” that the Willis Thronson family, Huntsville cemetery on Before Willis Thronson retired, he of which Charles was a son, had spent their first winter in upon arriving to the area four decades earlier. the hill, but I do not ordered a large obelisk from his native recall seeing the name, country of Norway. The black granite From Turner, two wagons and of the Willis Thronson family and Swain. I wanted to stone was shipped around Cape Horn. several oxen were used to transport the their steadfast pioneering spirit. The make sure. So I climbed However, before it arrived, a storm at stone the final three miles to Covello’s monument also reminds us of the the hill and let myself in sea caused the stone to break loose, cemetery. It is said that mud and a many others who came this way. through the old gate of damage the ship, and sink the vessel. deeply rutted road made the task a Sources: Early Columbia County by Wilda F. the very tiny cemetery. Fletcher. Covello: A Pioneer Remembers by Ward Willis promptly ordered a second stone. “struggle for man and beast.” Rhinehart. An Illustrated History of Southeastern Sadly, although I read It arrived safely on the west coast, was Today, the obelisk remains beautiful Washington compiled by Western Historical every marker, I was Publishing Company, 1906. “Family Histories put on a train, and traveled to Turner, and in excellent shape. It stands, as Collection,” bluemountainheritage.org Interviews unable to locate one which was the end of the railway line. it has for over 120 years, in honor with Karen Thronson in 2020 and 2021. for Mr. Swain. There were some broken ones, as well as some blank A Selection of Columbia County Gravestone Inscriptions rocks and a wooden Cemetery Name on Stone Birthdate (if listed) Death Epitaph one. Thus, for me the "There is a bright region above we hope to reach its shore. To meet the mystery began. Covello Jessie Cyrus Oct 4, 1835 Nov 15, 1909 dear ones we love who has gone before." I sent everything I had Covello Melvina Fulle 1828 1908 "Gone but not forgotten" found on this delightful Hartsock Ralph Galloway May 16, 1894 Age 24 days "Our little darling has gone to dwell among the angels" man to our local Huntsville Margaret Dennis Died Nov 25, 1888 Age 33 "She lived and died in hope of eternal happiness" genealogy expert, Liz Marengo Huldah Hutchens Aug 15, 1891 Age 5 years "Little time on earth she spent, till God for her, his angel sent" Carson, who thanked Mt. Pleasant Martha Haddock 12/12/1883 5 months, 24 days "Budded on Earth to Bloom in Heaven" me for giving her a local Mt. Pleasant Brytle McCauley 5/7/1885 2 years, 1 month, 17 days "Weep not for us Oh Parents dear, we are not dead but sleeping" mystery to delve into "Founders of Dayton" on a dreary, rainy day. Pioneer Elizabeth Forrest Day 1838 1888 (same as on the headstone for her husband, Jesse Day) Between us, this is Pioneer John C. Gilbreath July 17, 1873 "Farewell" what we found: He Starbuck John Sveland 1882 1915 "I.X.B.I A native of Greece" was born February Starbuck Phoebe Ruth Turner 1908 "The river was our life. Operators of Lyons Ferry 1945-1968" 16, 1876, in Salt Lake Turner T.E. Davidson May 24, 1902, Age 70 "In my father's house are many mansions" City, Utah, and had Turner James H. McCall April 13, 1903, Age 60 "Our brother has departed while we tarry broken hearted" 23 siblings, most of them half—as his father Turner Rosa Sept 10, 1884 "Rest in peace, little angel" had several concurrent Page 4 Blue Mountain Heritage Society • Spring 2021 Newsletter Blue Mountain Heritage Society • Spring 2021 Newsletter Page 5

It was a beautiful day for the trick. Amos Short died in 1920 and a drive out the Whetstone, is buried in the Marengo Cemetery. Others buried in the cemetery include down Marengo Grade, across John Alexander Campbell (1849- the Tucannon River, and 1898), Amos Clark Short’s son-in- onto the main road passing law, who returned from the Klondike through the heart of the small Marengo Cemetery disheartened and committed suicide community of Marengo. Just by taking laudanum, leaving behind a wife and many children. Also buried west of there, on the north side there: Sarah A Clayton (1858-1883); of the road, a lone standing Mrs. Swede Nillson; David Bingham gravestone helped us locate the (1861-1928); Floyd Biddeson (1896- Marengo Cemetery. It will be 1899); Susanah Wolf Patrick (1832- Headstone reads: HULDAH Dau. of TYRA & SARAH 1897); and Huldah Hutchens (1891, much harder to find when HUTCHENS Died Aug. 15, 1891. Aged 5 Y’s 11M’s & 4D’s. aged 5 yrs. 11 months and 4 days). Little time on earth she spent. Till God for her his angle sent. that stone meets the fate of In one corner of the cemetery is a all the others. The cemetery is widow of Henry Delany. section in which Native Americans are In 1885, the year Silcott died, reportedly buried. fenced and there are remnants For this photo, the toppled headstone was excavated, Marengo was flourishing, with a flour The last burial in the Marengo of a fancy gate that once led righted, and propped up. It reads: James E. Silcott, Born in mill, furniture factory, boarding Cemetery appears to have taken place Loudon Co. Va. Dec. 22, 1822, Died Nov. 19, 1885. into the hallowed grounds. house, school, blacksmith shop, livery sometime in 1928. To start the town of Marengo, Silcott donated 20 acres of The one easily-visible stone stables, and a post office. Central to land, as well as an additional 10 acres for a flour mill site. commemorates G. D. Harlan, the community was the General Store, Lots were given to whoever built on them. (1833-1905) and is perched on a built in 1876 by Amos Clark Short, good-sized knoll that overlooks whose mother Esther Lucy Clark Short June 22, 1912:Columbia Chronicle flat land running down to the filed the plat for the town of Vancouver. river. From what can be gleaned Amos Short was said to be a very large — An Invitation — from oral and written history, a man who wore brown corduroy pants. Say all you boys and girls, papa and cabin belonging to Louis Raboin In idle hours, he could be found sitting mamma, come over to Marengo about July stood on that flat until the flood in front of the General Store with a 1st and stay with of 1864. The land was part of 640 Gravestone of flap of leather nailed to a stick which us about four days, acres he acquired through the 1850 G.D. Harlan was his fly swatter. He would swat and help us have a Oregon-Donation Act. 1833-1905 flies on his pants and shoes while his big time. Say, we Raboin settled near the Tucannon "Only Sleeping" pet chicken, a little black hen, reaped are going to have River before the Cayuse Wars, the benefits. Amos did big business all kinds of races the first white man to live in the in Darter’s Bitters, which promised from a pony race area, but left during the conflicts. to cure any complaint. Cherry bark, Headstone reads: Susanah Wolf Patrick, born Sept. to the big fat man’s race. Big fireworks night He later returned and lived in a little flavoring, and 95% alcohol did 13, 1832, Died June 11, 1897 of July 3 and 4. Big band concerts every day. the vicinity with his wife Coletta Dancing afternoons and evenings, music by Pomeroy. Curious to see how the plant worked, Christiana (who was of the Flathead a five-piece orchestra.Now don’t miss a day the group began crossing the river on a tribe) and their seven children. He for we are going to have a lot of things to do. was prosperous, with horses, cattle, transferred to his wife, the remainder that of William Wright, Alexander In May of 1921, two children died in an swinging footbridge. However, with so many accident near Marengo on the Tucannon River. children on the bridge at one time, it collapsed, crops, poultry, and land. Raboin’s was divided among his children. Smart, Otto Gowen, Edward Halgedahl, (A dance floor was built on the flat for this annual event.) nick name was Moragne, which It is not clear which of the Raboin Allen McKibben, and the King family. To decorate their school for graduation, dropping most of them into the swift-flowing was derived from the French word children inherited the ground that later Most recently, the cemetery land was three or four students from Pomeroy had come river below. Sources: F. A. Shaver’s An Illustrated History of for mosquito. In time, the area in became the cemetery, but it soon ended passed down through the Howard family. to Marengo to gather foliage from along the Hattie Howard (Don and Gerald Howard’s Southeast Washington. Kevin Carson’s A Concise Tucannon River. Since they knew Miss Lesie great aunt) and Ivan Hovrud (Janet Howard’s History of the Columbia Plateau Indians and which he lived came to be known up in the hands of James E. Silcott. Born Warren Howard was Don Howard and Columbia County, Washington. U.S. Department of as Marengo. in 1822, Silcott died in 1885 and was Gerald Howard’s grandfather. He settled Adams who was teaching the lower grades great uncle) were drowned. Hattie Howard was the Interior, BLM, General Land Office Records, at the Marengo school, the Pomeroy students buried in the Dayton Cemetery. Ivan Hovrud land records. W.F. Fletcher’s Early Columbia County. In 1864 while hoeing in his buried on the land. His grave marker in the Marengo area in about 1893 and asked her and her class to help gather ferns. was buried in Pomeroy. The Nadine Dieringer Newsletters, Dayton’s Main field, Louis “Morange” Raboin has tumbled over but is still visible and sometime after that, possibly in the early Street and More. Charlotte O. Hutchens’ Early Across the river was a power plant. It (Interesting note: Delbert Howard rescued was murdered. The probate record readable. After Silcott, the land passed 1930s, purchased the land that included Columbia County Schools. Websites: HistoryLink. provided electricity to both Marengo and Emma McFall. She later became his wife.) org. BlueMountainHeritage.org. Ancestry.com. indicates that half the estate through family after family, including the cemetery from Alice King Delany, Interviews with Liz Carson and the Howard family.