Bringing Goldendale back to its roots

From The Sentinel, July 2, 1959 – “Drizzle Fails to Halt Picnic: 165 Persons

Attend Reunion of John Golden Descendants”:

A centennial date of significance to Goldendale was observed at Brooks Memorial Park Sunday, with the reunion of the descendants of the Golden and Parrott families, early pioneers.

The picnic and reunion specifically marked the 100th anniversary of the marriage of John J. and Jane Parrott Golden in Polk County, Oregon Territory on May 17, 1859.

On July 9 that year, the newlyweds, and the bride’s parents, Lewis and Amy Long Parrott and their six children, and two other families came to Klickitat county to settle.

In 1872, to establish a settlement on the old wagon train road from The Dalles to the Yakima valley, Golden platted the townsite of Goldendale.

At the Sunday gathering, five generations of descendants were present, including 17 of the 19 surviving grandchildren of the Goldens. The oldest and “Queen of the Picnic” was Louella Ponting, 82, of Portland, sole surviving daughter of the Goldens. The youngest were babes in arms. Others came from all over the Northwest, 165 in all.

A cake commemorating the wedding of the Goldens graced the head table. Other tables fanned out from the central setting, as the family sat down to

Points to ponder:

The nice thing about living in a small town is that when I don’t know what I’m doing, someone else does.

“How late does the band play?”

“About half a beat behind the drummer.”

Optometrist: “Read the bottom line.”

Patient: “Copyright 2007. Made in China.” lunch. A light rain failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the celebrants, as happy reunions and visiting extended into the late afternoon. Large portraits of John and Jane Golden fl anked the main table.

To err is human. To arrh is pirate.

There is no rest for the wary.

Booklets Distributed

Copies of a 60-page mimeographed booklet, detailing the history of the Golden and Parrott families, were distributed to the family members at the picnic. The study, drawn from historical records, was written by Jessie Barnes McClure of Portland, the daughter of C. O. and Mary E Barnes. She is one of the Goldens’ grandchildren. Mrs. McClure arranged the reunion, along with DeWitt Barnes of Portland, another of the grandchildren.

John Golden passed away in October, 1906, with Attorney Nelson Brooks giving the funeral oration at the Methodist church in Goldendale. Mrs. Golden, who shared her husband’s tasks and hardships in the early days in the county, died in 1922 at the age of 76. Both are interred in the Odd Fellows cemetery, Goldendale.

In the afternoon, the party had a singspiration, led by Dorothy Blakney and Clay Barnes, with organ accompaniment. The singers took refuge under the trees to escape the rain.

Queen Louella was crowned by Joan Shelton, granddaughter of Howard Barnes, and Ormand

Hildebrand, grandson of Lois Barnett Miller.

A collection was taken up for a monument to John and Jane Golden in a park in Olympia.

An earlier Sentinel story, from the week prior to the story above, noted Mr. Golden’s gift of lots to, not only schools and churches, but to individuals and businesses as well.

“When Goldendale was platted, citizens were so few Mr. Golden was obligated to hire the service of a surveyor of The Dalles.

Mr. Golden gave to all who would build on them the most valuable lots in the original plat. He was the backbone of Goldendale. Churches and schools were started by his generosity. He not only donated land, but lumber from his mill and his own labor for both churches and schools. He gave property for the first jail and contributed cash and helped build it. He was Goldendale’s first postmaster and served on the first town council.”

When John Golden died in 1906 Mayor Allen C. Bonebrake issued a proclamation that all places of business be closed during the funeral service. Nelson Brooks, an attorney, and close friend of the Goldens stated in his eulogy

“John Golden was from the beginning the backbone of this active city, always extending a friendly hand to everything that would add to the welfare of the community. Goldendale has been exceedingly fortunate in possessing a liberal, farsighted founder.”