EARLY FAMILIES IN THE WOODLAND COMMUNITY a 1958 Report of The Woodland History Committee 1999 REVISED EDITION BY JUDY CARD Revised Edition Copyright 2000 by Judy Card http://www.lewisriver.com/pt2-page2.html http://www.lewisriver.com/pt2-page3.html http://www.lewisriver.com/pt2-page4.html HOUGHTON, CHARLES by cousin Curtis Gardner Charles, son of Henry and Sarah Houghton, was born July 27, 1875 at Hayes, Lewis River, Washington Territory. He grew up on his father's farm and worked out with his team in logging camps and contracted getting out trap poles for the Bakers Bay trap fisherman-mainly for his cousins the Gerow boys at Chinook, Washington. Charley boasted that nobody could peel a trap pole faster than he. February 21, 1897, Charley married Joella Matthews in Gardner Chapel at Hayes. The newly weds first lived on the old Littler place, originally the D. W. Gardner homestead - not to be confused with the D. W. Gardner Donation Land Claim which adjoined. After a year, in the meantime working his farm and driving team in his Uncle Tom Wilson's logging camp near La Center, wanting a farm of his own, in 1899 he rented the D. W. Gardner farm, living there until 1904, when he bought the David Kenyon and Orlando C. Miller farms in what is now the Clover Valley District. He moved into the Kenyon home and lived there eight years, when it burned to the ground, February 1913. It was then that Orlando Miller, a Lewis River character who everyone knew as a wit and punster, showed his true character by coming over to Charley telling him that he would move out so that Charley could move into his house while Charley built his new home. This Charley did, building a fine new house and barn. By this time Charley had established a reputation for thrift and honesty and was able to secure loans for immediate improvements when needed. Charley built up his beef and dairy cattle herd and acquired a reputation of being a shrewd trader in horses and cattle. Charles and Joella Houghton's children are: Elmer, who died at age 26; Luella, who married Will Beebe and later married J. W. Breedlove; Clara Ruth, who married Bob Kouvo, later married Lawrence Englert, later married Nick Keisala; Cecil, who married Dapel Workman; Sara Ann, who married Bernard Beagle and later married Goldie Baird; Rita May, who married Roy Sellers. The Houghton family lived on the farm, sending their children to the Woodland and Clover Valley Schools, until, renting their farm in 1922, they moved to Woodland. They lived there until 1925 when they moved back to the farm where they remained until 1937, when they again moved to Woodland, buying a new home and settling down in retirement. While living on the Gardner place, Mr. Houghton operated a ferry for public and private use. In 1929 he secured a contract from the Ariel Dam builders to furnish them with milk for their camps. The price was seven cents per quart in 10 gallon cans and ten cents per quart in quart bottles. He kept the camps supplied until the dam was completed. Mr. Houghton was a religious man. He sometimes filled the pulpit in the preacher's absence. He was proud of his physique and had quite a reputation as a wrestler. Mr. and Mrs. Houghton died a half year apart. She died June 20, 1955 and he January 10, 1956. HOUGHTON, HENRY by nephew Curtis Gardner Henry Houghton was born in Detroit, Michigan, January 21, 1840. He crossed the plains with his parents to California in 1852, arriving in 1853. The family moved to Oregon in 1865 and lived in Astoria until 1869. Henry and Sarah set up housekeeping on a place joining the Gardner Donation Land Claim on the west where their three children were born. About 1878 or 80, they moved across the river to a place formerly a part of the William Powell Donation Land Claim where they lived until Mrs. Houghton's death in 1908. Mr. Houghton then moved to Portland where he died in 1922. They were both Charter Members of the Sylvan Rebecca Lodge of Woodland, organized July 20, 1899. Their children were: Jesse L. born April 8, 1870 who married Laura Eggars March 17, 1895; Charles H. born July 27, 1875 who married Joella Matthews on February 21, 1897 and Minnie Grace, born December 23, 1877, who married Wilford Gross on October 21, 1903. Charles H. died January 10, 1956 in Woodland. Henry Houghton was a prosperous farmer and alert to the necessities of the times. The Lewis River farmers depended on the steamboats to market their products and in 1891 when the farmers had become dissatisfied with the rates charged by Jacob Kamm's Steamer MASCOT, Mr. Houghton joined a group of seven to form the Woodland Navigation Company. They bought the Steamer TOLEDO and ran it as an opposition boat. Their group included James Copeland, John Robinson, Charley Specht, Henry Houghton, George Bratton, C.A. Soney and Barney, all prominent in early Lewis River History. But after one year's operation, this venture failed. Mr. Houghton spent his last years at the Mizpah Home in Portland. FINNISH SETTLERS Robert Kuovo was born in Finland in 1893, and came here in 1912 or 1913. He married Ruth Houghton, daughter of Charles and Joella Houghton, who were son and daughter of early Lewis River pioneers. Robert died in 1925 and his son, Robert still lives on the old place. TUCKER, SILAS AND MATTHEWS, JIM The Silas Tucker and Jim Matthews families moved up from Puget Island to Lewis River and built their homes along the river on the D. Wells Gardner place about 1890. About 1895 the Matthews moved away and in 1897 or '98 the Tuckers moved their house and belongings including a cow on to a log float and floated down the river to the mouth and on up Lake River on a flood tide to Felida. They lived there on the float a few years then moved to a house in Felida. Columbia River fishing was the main activity of Silas Tucker and Jim Matthews. Jim spent his last years living on a boat house at the mouth of Lewis River. (see Powell family.) Silas Tucker married Mrs. Remington and their children were Randolph (Remington), America, Esther, Emmet, Ernie and three younger ones. Stepson Randolph Remington, age 80, now living at the Faith Foundation Home in Vancouver, relates a long experience on Columbia and Lewis River steamers. He worked up from deck hand to mate to pilot on the Strs. Oklahoma, George Burton and Robert Young and to Captain on the Str. Catherine, formerly called the Maria, and the Robert. He had been mate on all of these boats. Randolph proudly shows his Master's License. He also served a time in Africa in 1917 as foreman getting out mahogany timbers for shipment. America is married and lives in California. Esther died years ago. Emmet lives alone in Felida. Ernie is married and lives in St. Helens, Oregon. POWELL, LEWIS Shedrick and Elizabeth Powell started across the Plains with their daughters Rebecca and Pollyanna, and five sons, William, Lewis, Willis, Tom and Jackson in 1849. Shedrick died on the way, and Lewis, being the oldest son, was put in charge. William took up a DLC at the present Maynard place in 1853. No more is known of his activities except that he was there and helped the Daniel W. Gardner family across the river when they came in 1853 to settle on their DLC. Lewis first married Miss Matthews, Lee Matthews' sister. Then later married Marry Miller in 1866. Gus Greve, Justice of the Peace officiated. Their children were: James, by his former marriage, Tom, Wesley, Henry, Newton, Perry, George, Andrew, William, Mark and Robert. James married Susie Allen. They had one child, Lewis. Tom married Florence Hunter and lived on the Little Kalama. Their children were Ruben, Mabel, Lawrence and Sadie. Wesley married Linda McGovern and their children were Jennie, Maude and Charles. Henry married Susie Beebe and their children were Nora, William and Glenn. (Nora married John Zyback.) Newton died young. Perry married Ethel Harper. George married Clara Fisher and their children were Eva and George. Andrew married Mabel Mill and had one boy, Earl. William was drowned at age twenty one while logging on Lewis River. Mark married Cora Oliver (daughter of Hod and Ann Oliver) and their children were Harold and Lola. The Lew Powell farm was in the bend of the river where the Finn Hall now stands. The large two story picturesque house with upstairs veranda stoop, until a few years ago, by the roadside and was a welcome sight to weary passersby. Mr. and Mrs. Powell traded the farm for Kerns property where they lived out their allotted time. Willis Powell married Naomi Spencer (George's sister). They lived on Lewis River. Jackson Powell married Amanda Miller and took a homestead on Green Mountain. Their children were Preston, Shedrick, John, Frank, and Ben. There they lived for many years. Tom married Noma Russell (Jim's sister) and their children were Pearl, Bessie and Ruth. Rebecca married a Mr. Reinlaub, their children were Conrad, Anna and Carrie. Pollyanna married Lee Matthews and their children were Lew, Clara, John, Ada, Jim, May, and Joella. Lew married Lucy Wright, Lish Wright's niece, and had one daughter Stella who married Tom Littler. Lew had five sons by a second marriage. Clara married Ed Martin. John never married. Ada married Albert Chase and they had three sons, Eddie, Paul and Glen. Jim married Susie Tucker (Silas Tucker's sister) and they had two boys and two girls: Howard, James, Rose and Ada. May married Jim Sabin and their children were Len, Lee and Marie. Joella married Charles Houghton. (See Houghton family.) BUTTS, MAY Mrs. May Butts age 78, now living at the junction of the Whalen road and the dike tells of her long residence in the vicinity of where she now lives. She is the daughter of W.L. Ogden and was first married to William Vanover with whom she had five children, William, Pearl, Albert (Buss), Viola, Alice and Lena. Mrs. Butts tells of the 1907 fire in Woodland which destroyed the Hopf (later Martin) hotel, livery barn and buildings across the street. She was then Mrs. Vanover and they were living across the street near the fire. Mrs. Butts later married Jim Matthews and they lived where she still lives until his death. Mr. Butts whom Mrs. Vanover later married was a descendant of S. Butts who in 1855 took up the D.L. C. on which she now lives.