History of the Pacific States of North America, Volume 25 by Hubert Howe Bancroft, page 189
The postal agent appointed in 1851 was Nathaniel Coe, a man of high character and scholarly attainments, as well as religious habits. He was a native of Morristown, New Jersey, born September 11, 1788, a Whig, and a member of the Baptist church. In his earlier years he represented Alleghany county, New York, in the state legislature. When his term of office in Oregon expired he remained in the country, settling on the Columbia River near the mouth of Hood River, on the eastern slope of the Cascade Mountains. His mental energy was such, that neither the rapid progress of the sciences of our time, nor his own great age of eighty, could check his habits of study. The ripened fruits of scholarship that resulted appeared as bright as ever even in the last weeks of his life. He died at Hood River, his residence, October 17, 1868, Vancouver Register, Nov. 7, 1868; Dalles Mountaineer, Oct. 23, 1868.

History of Early Pioneer Families of Hood River, Oregon. Compiled by Mrs. D.M. Coon
STORY OF NATHANIEL AND MARY COE D.M.C. 1854
Read at the Hood River Pioneer Reunion Sept. 17, 1915.
By The Historian
In compiling this sketch I am indebted for information to the writings of H.C. Coe, Lawrence Coe, Mrs. Elizabeth Lord, Mrs. Camilla Donnell and Mrs. E.S. Joslyn, also to the kindness of Mrs. Kittie Coe.
Nathaniel Coe, a native of Morris County, New Jersey, was born September 12, 1788. His father, Joel Coe, was a native of England, his mother, Hulda Horton, was a native of New York City and traced her ancestry in America back five generations. Barnabas Horton built the first frame building erected on the east end of Long Island. It was built in 1660 and in June 1873, was still in a good state of preservation. It has always been owned and occupied by a descendant of Barnabas Horton, of the Horton name.
In 1795, when Nathaniel was seven years old, his parents moved to Scipio, New York, going by sloop to Albany in four days; from there they went with an ox team, by way of Cayuga, Wood Creek and Auburn to their destination. The entire trip required one month. We find no record of how his youthful days were passed, but we learn that early in life he was an accomplished penman and traveled through the southern states teaching penmanship, and studying the resources and conditions of the south. Later he studied law. In the war of 1812 he was captain of a company of soldiers from New York.
He was married in Auburn, N.Y., October 5, 1827, to Mary Taylor White, daughter of Lawrence Emory White and Cyria Charge. Mary White was born on Pearl Street near Broadway, New York, March 11, 1801. Of her early life we know little, but as the wife of Nathaniel Coe we find her an educated, refined, Christian woman, an able writer of both prose and poetry, and a fitting companion to her husband. A lover's poem, by Nathaniel Coe, to "Miss Mary White", is still in existence; the sentiments are of the loftiest, while the penmanship, of Spencerian style, is as perfect as though made by a modern printing press.
In 1829 they moved to Nunda, N.Y., remaining there until they came west. There their children were born and spent their childhood; there their two little girls were both laid to rest; Cornelia at the age of ten; and Susan Amelia in infancy. For the death of Cornelia the mother never ceased to grieve. Of Susan Amelia she wrote:
"To whom, like a dewdrop kissed off by the sun's morning beam,
A beauteous existence was given,
Whose soul seemed to come down to earth in a dream,
Only to wake up when it ascended to Heaven."
Nathaniel Coe possessed a thorough education and a vigorous mind. Besides his law practice he engaged in the mercantile business and in horticulture; of the latter he was passionately fond.
A writer in "Horton's Genealogy," says, "He was an honest lawyer and an upright politician and always commanded the respect and esteem of his fellow men.
He was long a magistrate and for four years in succession represented Livingston and Alleghany counties in the legislature of New York. He was often an arbitrator, both in the church and out of it. In religion he was, what was then called by way of reproach, a Radical. He was a thoroughly anti-slavery man, and while the liberty party was in existence, he was its firm and warm supporter. In his autograph album these names are found: Silas Wright, Martin Van Buren, Hamilton Fish, J.C. Calhoun, Samuel Tilden, Horatio Seymour, speaker of Assembly, Millard Fillmore, Levi Chase and Horace Greely, friends and co-workers with him.
In 1851, when he was 63 years of age, he received the appointment of postal agent for Oregon (Oregon then included everything north of the California line and west of the Rocky Mountains). To accept this trust was to plunge into the wilderness where the rights of the savage were unquestioned and civilization a dream of the future. Nathaniel Coe did not hesitate, accompanied by his son Eugene, 15 years of age, he came to Oregon by way of the Isthmus. He established his headquarters above the Willamette Falls on a boat named Canemah. The town of Canemah just above Oregon City, marks the location. From his headquarters postal routes were planned to meet the needs of the early settlers.
Before this time "Getting letters from the States" was a very uncertain matter. Old routes were improved and new ones established. Wherever the pioneer blazed the way the postman was made to follow with letters and papers from home. In examining these routes he traveled in canoe, on horseback and on foot, enduring hardships that would have disheartened the majority of younger men. After two years of this work he was so well pleased with the country that he sent for his family to join him. On December 12, 1853, Mrs. Coe and her three sons, Lawrence, Charles and Henry, embarked on the side wheel steamer Georgia. Eight days later they reached the city of Aspinwall, now known as the city of Colon. The town then consisted of a few small houses, with a sea beach in front and a tropical forest behind.
In crossing the isthmus they had several very thrilling experiences. Mrs. Coe rode a mule and Henry, nine years of age, was carried on the back of the native guide. Lawrence and Charles walked. Five days were consumed in going from Aspinwall to Panama, where Mrs. Coe and Henry took passage on the steamer California for San Francisco. Lawrence and Charles were detained to look after the baggage until next steamer day. Henry was very ill with Panama fever on the trip up the coast and Mrs. Coe waited in San Francisco with him, until the arrival of the other sons, when they all took passage on the steamer Fremont for Portland, which they reached after a tempestuous voyage. Mr. Coe and Eugene were there to welcome them to the "Land of Promise". They were entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Thos. J. Dryer at their residence in Portland. Mr. Dryer was founder and editor of the Oregonian. The reunited family remained in Portland some months looking for a location.
At one time they decided to secure land on the east side of the Willamette River, just across from the village of Portland, and an option was taken on 800 acres. Then the grandeur and wild beauty of eastern Oregon, the glorious climate, the advantages of a location in the gorge of the great river of the west was considered, and the option was given up in favor of Eastern Oregon. A bill of lumber was ordered from Bradford's Mill at the Cascades, the lumber to be shipped to The Dalles for the purpose of erecting a store building in that little hamlet. Mr. Coe had heard of the disastrous venture of W.C. Laughlin and Dr. Farnsworth on Dog River in the winter of 1852 and '53 but was nevertheless interested in that locality and foresaw future possibilities.
In the spring of l854 Mr. and Mrs. Coe and Henry made an excursion to The Dalles. They left Portland in the morning on the side wheel steamer Fashion, Van Bergan, master, and reached the Lower Cascades at night, where they were entertained, at the home of B.B. Bishop, a brother-in-law of the Bradfords.
The portage was six miles in length. At the Upper Cascades the Bradfords had just completed a schooner of 40 tons burden which made trips to The Dalles when the wind was favorable. On this schooner they took passage and being favored with a good breeze reached Dog River at noon. They landed for a brief survey and were delighted with what they saw. Re-embarking they reached The Dalles that night. They remained over one day, returning on the little propeller Allen, Toni Gladwell captain. This was the only steamer on the river at that time.
Their trip down stream against the wind was a rough one, and after battling all day with the elements a landing was made on the north bank at White Salmon. E.S. Joslyn, the only settler between The Dalles and Cascades, was there to meet them and with true pioneer hospitality, invited everybody, captain, crew and passengers to his home for the night. The remainder of the trip was uneventful but the Coe's agreed that Dog River was the fairest spot on earth. In June a second party composed of Nathaniel Coe, Eugene Coe, Wm. Jenkins and Nathan Benson came to Dog River and made a careful examination of the country with the result that Wm. Jenkins sent for his wife and brother-in-law, James Benson; Mr. Coe had his lumber, which had been ordered from the Bradford Mill at the Cascades, shipped to Dog River and all went to work in earnest on their respective claims. A house twenty by forty feet was erected near the abandoned Laughlin cabin which henceforth was known as the Coe home. Mr. Jenkins took the Farnsworth place, which already had a good house on it. Nathan Benson homesteaded and built on land across Dog River east of the Coe claim.
Mrs. Coe and Henry came to their new home in September. At this time Mr. Coe was 66 years of age. After a long and influential life, passed in the very heart of civilization, he came to the wilds of Oregon and began life over again, laying here the foundation of a home and farm where peace and plenty and good cheer soon abounded, a home which became a beacon of civilization, and an example to those who came later.
Mrs. Jenkins arrived in November and with her came her brother James Benson who located on Indian Creek.
Already the autumn leaves were falling and a hint of winter was in the air. All were busy preparing for the cold weather, none working harder than the 9 year old boy, the only child in the community.
Last of the provisions such as flour, beans and cured meat had been brought from Portland, but vegetables, butter and eggs were obtained from E.S. Joslyn across the Columbia. The latter part of November brought a light fall of snow, with a little thin ice; and then the winter was gone. The grass was green and abundant, while purple flowers and buttercups covered valley and mountain. On New Year's day the Coe family ate chicken dinner with the Joslyn's. "Such a glorious day and such a glorious dinner," was the exclamation of Henry. The open winter was spent in clearing land.
About the 1st of February one half acre was spaded up and put in garden, and no frosts came to destroy. There was but one horse on the place that winter, but when spring came a trip to Portland was made by Nathaniel Coe, and cows, work oxen, horses, farm implements and seeds for planting were secured. Pears, apples, peaches, cherries, plums, grapes, apricots, strawberries, gooseberries, currants, rose bushes and many choice flowering shrubs were ordered.
Some were obtained from the Lewellyn nursery at Milwaukie, Oregon, and, some from Rochester, N.Y. Apple seeds were planted for nursery stock. While at the Lower Cascades with Mrs. Bishop, Mrs. Coe had peeled a bushel of apples for the seeds they contained; this was the beginning of their nursery. Lawrence Coe located at the Cascades, first as an employee, then as a partner of the Bradfords. Charles was not a rugged man and very little hard work was left to him, so that hired help from the first was a necessity at the Coe farm. The second winter, which proved to be a mild one, found them with root-house and cellars well filled with roots and vegetables of various kinds while the barn was filled with hay, grain, and corn fodder, and corn for fattening hogs. Food was provided for both man and beast and farm improvements were progressing rapidly, but another trouble, far more serious than lack of food, was approaching. From the north, the south, and the east, the savage Indians rose en masse to drive the white man from the country.
The Weekly Oregonian was filled with accounts of outrages perpetrated on the whites and the isolated pioneers became terror-stricken as they read. The Yakima Indians were among the most warlike of the tribes; the Klickitats, closely related to them were friendly but an unwarranted arrest of three of the Klickitat's chief men, by the military authorities, caused this tribe to join the war party. A friendly Klickitat Indian, by the name of Sapotiwell, but later known as Johnson, warned the Josyln's of impending trouble. While out riding alone one day Mrs. Josyln was intercepted by Indians. She was not alarmed but her horse was, and ran away with her taking her safely home. Later she went on a visit to Mrs. Atwell at the Cascades while Mr. Joslyn attended to some business matters at Fort Dalles. Mr. Galentine, an experienced frontiersman, cared for their stock. Samuel Woodburn Hawks, a fourteen year old boy, whose mother had died on the plains was spending the winter with the Joslyns and remained as helper for Mr. Galentine.
One evening late in February as Mr. Galentine was milking the cows, an Indian woman hid in the bushes and told him that the Indians were coming that night to kill him. She also begged him not to tell that she had told as she would be killed if they knew. Galentine had time to reach the house, secure his gun and call Samuel to follow. They escaped to the shelter of the willows near the shore, when the Indians arrived. The savages hunted for them all that night, but when morning dawned the refugees stood on a point of land opposite Mosier and hailed the boat coming down from Fort Dalles, and were landed at the Coe home. Mrs. Joslyn heard of the flight and came up from the Cascades to the Coe home to get the boy. Soldiers were also sent from Fort Dalles to protect the Coe settlement. On the arrival of the soldiers, the Indians at the Joslyn home set fire to the buildings. Mrs. Joslyn was at the Coe home and saw them burn. A steamer passing up was hail-ed by the lieutenant in charge, and all the soldiers and every able bodied man in the settlement including Amos Underwood who was only passing through, took passage intending to punish the Indians. As the boat neared the shore the whites discovered they were outnumbered by the Indians ten to one. Every tree and rock sheltered armed Indians. The order was given to return to the Coe settlement. Sapotiwel and other friendly Indians had taken all the small boats from the north bank and secreted them on the south shore of the river, but the hostile Indians found a boat and some of them came over that night and attacked the friendly Indians camp near the river, but were driven off by the soldiers, also a skulking Indian was fired at by a sentry above the Coe home, but when morning came all was quiet. The Indians had vanished.
The Joslyn's went down the river to the Cascades and so did Amos Underwood; the soldiers returned to The Dalles and farm work was resumed. Mrs. Coe, looking down from the Coe farm, on the morning of March 25, saw what appeared to be Indians riding single file along the trail above the white Salmon river. All day they were passing and the anxious watchers wondered what it could mean. The next morning, March 26th, a faint halloo was heard, repeated again and again. Looking across the Columbia two figures were seen waving their blankets.
The friendly Indians whose camp was below the Coe house, near where the freight depot now stands, saw and heard the calls but were afraid of a trap so came to Nathaniel Coe for advice. Encouraged by him they ventured over to investigate, and returned bringing an Indian and his squaw. These Indians belonged at The Dalles, and had gone with passports to Simcoe to hunt. A brother of Chief Kamiakin had taken a fancy to the rifle owned by the Indian, and because he would not give it up, had him imprisoned. While there he learned of the plot of the hostile Indians to attack both The Dalles and Cascades on March 26th. Escaping from his captors, he and his squaw hastened to warn the white people at the Cascades. They did not dare use the trail and there was much snow in the mountains, so they came too late, for already the battle was raging, and Lawrence Coe was in the midst. This news caused the wildest excitement and distress. A council was at once called of both whites and Indians, and an Indian runner was dispatched to the Cascades to bring the latest news. Then another meeting was held by the whites alone and it was decided to seek safety in flight. The Dalles was the only place to go, and the river was the only route.
Henry and Charles were at Rail Gulch for the day's work, and Eugene went to call them in. On his return he saw the steamer Mary coming from the Cascades, and rode to the river and hailed her. The answer came back, "We have just escaped with our lives; every officer on board except the engineer is wounded."
The Indian courier returning from the Cascades, confirmed their worst fears, and hasty preparations were made for their departure. A large canoe belonging to an old Indian by the name of Waucusha was secured and hid in the underbrush near what is now the foot of State street. This canoe was large enough to hold thirty or forty people, but the entire white settlement comprised only ten souls; Nathan and James Benson, Wm. Jenkins and wife, Nathaniel Coe and wife with their three sons, Charles, Eugene and Henry and the man Galentine, from the Joslyn farm. Paddles were used to propel the canoe and a blanket was raised for a sail, but as the wind was from the east, their progress was extremely slow and laborious and long before daylight came they heard the Indians on shore signaling back and forth, and knew their flight had been discovered. A little before noon, when near the mouth of the Klickitat river, they met the steamers Mary and Wasco with a barge in tow, all loaded with soldiers and cannon and horses, going to the relief of the Cascades. The blue coated soldiers with their glistening bayonets reflected in the bright sunshine was a welcome sight to the fleeing refugees, and with lighter hearts they pushed on and reached The Dalles about three in the afternoon.
Two days later the return of the steamer to The Dalles brought full particulars of the battle at the Cascades and the flight of the savages, also the welcome news that Lawrence Coe was unharmed.
To enable the settlers to plant their crops, Lieutenant Davidson with a guard of soldiers accompanied them to their homes. The Lieutenant also took with him a band of horses, belonging to the government, to fatten on the abundant bunch grass found in the valley. Mrs. Coe and Mrs. Joslyn remained some weeks in The Dalles and while there organized the first Sabbath School ever held at that place. As fear from the Indians subsided the farm work was resumed but not until June 1858 was any record kept of the farm work.
For the information of the Hood River farmer of today we will quote from these records: June 1, 1858 - finished planting potatoes. June 3 - Eugene took 19 bushels potatoes to The Dalles which sold at $2.50 per bushel, $47.50. In October 50 bushels were shipped. In November they had 2270 bushels stored; this did not include small potatoes which were later picked up and fed to the stock. Fruit was scarce in those days and always sold for a high price. From the records we learn that more than a thousand pounds of peaches were sold that fall; also melons, apricots and plums in small lots. In November three hogs were killed whose weight aggregated 500 pounds. Two of these were sold at 14 cts. per lb. Two hired men were kept during the busy season at $30 per month. Indians were employed on special jobs and a woman or girl to help in the kitchen, This was not an unusual year. In the cold weather of 1860 they sold thirteen dozen eggs for $13, and butter at $1 per pound. A later entry reads: Salted down 300 hams and shoulders. A list of the apple trees in the orchard shows 38 known varieties of trees with 31 unknown. Among the known varieties we find both the Newtown and Spitzenberg of today. Mr. Coe also had a large assortment of peaches, plums, pears and other fruit. From the sale of these nursery trees a large income was derived. These quotations could be continued indefinitely.
The farm was made to pay dividends from the beginning. Nathaniel Coe was the master mind, overseeing and directing. Eugene attended to most of the marketing. Henry came in for the lion's share of hardship herding and handling the stock.
In September 1858 Dr. Lausdale, Mr. Taucher, and Lieutenant Mallory, accompanied by Nathaniel Coe, made a trip to the ice caves of Mt. Adams. In 1859 Alfred Townsend, Indian Agent, Captain Eugene F. Coe, and some others made a trip to Mt. Adams. In August 1863 an expedition was made to the Mountain. Hon. N. Coe, A.C. Phelps, H.C. Coe, Mrs. E.S. Joslyn, and Miss Josephine Fisher made up the party. The guide was the Indian Johnson, the same who warned the Joslyn's in 1858. Nathaniel Coe, then 75 years of age, did not attempt the climb. Mrs. Joslyn only went part way. Those who reached the summit were A.C. Phelps, H.C. Coe and Miss Josephine Fisher.
The winter of '61 and '62 has never had its record equaled for long continued cold and deep snows. The river was closed with ice and all eastern Oregon was buried under a blanket of snow. Stock on the ranges perished in large numbers. The Coes were well provisioned, but lost heavily in both horses and cattle. Charles Coe was taken sick and medicine, which could not be obtained nearer than Portland, was needed. The river was closed with ice and no boats could get through, the trail down the Columbia was the only way, and Henry was chosen for the perilous task. He passed on foot over the highway we talk so much about today, but it was a very different highway then. Snow on the trail was four feet deep and Shell mountain was a veritable death trap. On their return trip one man died on the way, others gave up until only one man remained who came through with Henry, reaching Hood River on January 9th.
The clothing Henry wore was nothing but shreds from scraping against the frozen snow, but on Feb. 19th, in company with Indian Charley he took a hand sled and went to The Dalles on the ice, returning two days later with two sacks of flours. On February 6th, he made another trip to The Dalles over the ice, bringing provisions on his sled to the snow bound pioneers, and incidentally furnishing an example of endurance not often found in a youth of sixteen years.
On May 15, 1863, a flagstaff was erected in front of the Coe home by Henry. On May 27, 1868, telegraph poles were set up and wired and messages sent from their front door.
At the Coe farm the Sabbath was strictly observed. A chapter in the Bible or a sermon was read. If there was a minister in the neighborhood services were held there until the time came that a school house was built.
Letters written from the Coe home as early as 1856, bore the words "Hood Vale" and as justice of the peace Mr. Coe made out his papers with the same heading, Hood Vale. To Mrs. Coe belongs the credit of changing the name of Dog River to Hood River. The first court held in Hood River was on January 2, 1859, and was a case of arbitration.
In June 1868 Mr. Coe made a trip to San Francisco. There is nothing in the record to show why he went, yet I am told that his mission was to consult a doctor and that he returned knowing that his earthly race was almost finished. His writing does not appear again in the books, but the farm work moved on with the same precision and vigor.
On October 17, 1868, we read, "Nathaniel Coe has gone to his long home, aged 80 years." The words were few and simple, but full of sadness to those who had for many years looked to him for guidance and love. He was buried on the 20th, in a little plot of land set apart for that purpose on the Coe farm. Many friends from Portland and The Dalles came to pay their last tribute of love to their departed friend.
In the spring Eugene and Henry, with their wives, moved to Yakima, where they engaged in stock raising. Charles took up the work of the father and became manager of the farm. Seed time brought its work and harvest its rewards. Mrs. Coe continued to dispense hospitality and kindness as of old.
In December 1872, Charles was taken sick and in spite of all that could be done, he passed away on his birthday, December 24, aged 38 years. His mother wrote to her friends in the east: "My heart's beloved has left me; nothing can fill the void. He not only filled his father's place on the farm, but also at the family altar, and notwithstanding his youth, older men came to him for advice on matters temporal as well as religious."
Henry and Eugene came back to Hood River and formed a partnership with the mother to carry on the farm, but the attractions of river work soon took all of Eugene's time and interest and Henry, though caring for the farm, spent much of his time on the river. The building of the railroad brought new possibilities. The building of the railroad brought new possibilities. The town of Hood River was platted by H.C. Coe in l88l. It consisted of four blocks, but has been added to from time to time until now it covers the entire Coe homestead, a portion of land claimed by William Jenkins, O.L. Stranahan and James Benson on the south and west. On the east side of Hood River it is built on the Nathan Benson homestead.
All her life Mrs. Coe took great pleasure in writing poetry and has left many poems of merit. Her grandchildren were a source of great happiness to her and many of her poems are addressed to, or refer to them. She lived to be nearly 92 years old, dying in Hood River January 21, 1893. Eugene died in Portland four days earlier.
The bodies of Nathaniel Coe, his wife, Mary Coe, Charles and Eugene Coe now rest in the family plot in the K. of P. Cemetery in Hood River. They have "Fought the good fight and finished the course," but to us who reap of the benefits of their labors, belongs a debt of gratitude. Their graves should be kept with loving care.
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