This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: CRADLEBAUGH, DOWNING Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/nZB.2ACE/297 Message Board Post: The Hood River Glacier, Hood River, OR., December 26, 1918, page 1 GLACIER’S FIRST EDITOR PASSES J.H. Cradlebaugh Dies At Salem S.F. Blythe, Who Purchased the Pioneer Paper from Mr. Cradlebaugh, pays Fine Tribute to the Veteran (The following sketch of the life of John H. Cradlebaugh, first editor of the Glacier, is written by S.F. Blythe, who succeeded him as a local publisher.) With deep regret and sorrow pioneers of the Hood River learned last week of the death of John H. Cradlebaugh. He died at Salem, Ore., December 17, aged 70 years. He leaves a widow, a son, Rudy Cradlebaugh, and a step-daughter. He was born in Springfield, Ohio, but spent his early boyhood with relatives at Dover, Tenn. Dover is a small town on the Cumberland river, where Fort Donnelson is situated. The wooded hills, the valleys and creeks about Dover, where the Union and Confederate armies maneuvered and fought during the battle, were familiar scenes to the youth who in after years was to become the first editor in Hood River and a writer of renown throughout the Pacific coast. His father was a colonel in the Union army. In some of his campaigns in the west his son, John Cradlebaugh, accompanied him. The boy got to see a good deal of the war though he was too young to enlist. At the close of the war Col. Cradlebaugh was appointed by President Johnson United States ju! dge for Nevada. His son, John, accompanied him to that famous mining section where at that date rich strikes were daily made. In the “wild and woolly” atmosphere of the mining camps John Cradlebaugh grew to manhood. It was here he gained his knowledge of metallurgy. After a varied career as prospector and mining expert he drifted to San Francisco and later to the state of Washington. At Goldendale was his first venture into journalism. At The Dalles for several years he published the Wasco County Sun. In June, 1889, Geo. T. Prather started the Hood River Glacier and John Cradlebaugh was made its first editor. The type for the embryo venture was set up in the office of the Wasco Sun and the paper printed there for three months. Mr. Prather had taken subscriptions for only three months and at the expiration of that time gave the goodwill of the paper over to John Cradlebaugh. The latter bought a press and type, moved to Hood River and built a house on the southwest corner of Oak and Third streets, the front room of the house being used for the printing office while the balance! was occupied as a residence. The same house now stands on the south of the same block, fronting on State street. Two stately oak trees stood in front of his door in Third street. Here, under his own “vine and fig tree,” as he termed it, John Cradlebaugh had a home he cherished, and here he spent the happiest days of his life. The little Glacier, with the aid of a light law practice, made a living for the family. For three or four years the Glacier made its weekly visits replete with witticisms by its editor as well as profound editorials. John Cradlebaugh had a great faith in the resources and possibilities of Hood River valley. He took a leading part in the affairs of the community. This was before the days of big apple orchards. Strawberries were the main crop. Hard times came to Hood River. With no organized shipping agency, returns on the berries shipped did not pan out as they should. Then came the disastrous year of 1894, when the big flood in the Columbia washed out our railroad for 60 miles and berries could not be shipped, they rotted on the vine. John Cradlebaugh, like the rest of the pioneers, had no income. There was nothing doing, nothing to hold a man of his genius. He went to The Dalles and assumed editorial charge of the Daily Chronicle. After a year or two he went to Portland and for a time was on the editorial staff of the Oregon Journal there. Fifteen years ago he went to Salem and was employed as editorial writer on the Capital Journal up to the time of his death. John Cradlebaugh was a man of rare talent. His book of poems, published several years ago, is cherished by his old-time friends of Hood River. He was a genial, all-souled fellow, with a fund of humor delightful to his associates. ------------------------------------ (From Portland Spectator) Many a man in the northwest country will regret that Colonel John H. Cradlebaugh, of Salem, is dead. Newspapermen -- those who in past years have touched elbows with him, here or other where, will be sorry that he has at last laid down his pencil. The day was never dark or somber where Colonel Cradlebaugh was. He dealt in sunshine and smiles, not in shadows and tears. Yet he had his full share of sorrow and disappointment. Wealth came to him in his young manhood, and, fickle as the gold that comes from the mine often is, again left him poor. But though his flitting competence robbed him of luxury and of ease, it did not take from him the treasure of his optimism or his ability to see the good in others and in life. Colonel Cradlebaugh was an optimist. He smiled as he went his way, and others, touched with his contagion, smiled with him. In delightful verse and prose, he wove the sunshine into the things of which he wrote throughout his long service in the newspaper field, and left the imprint of his own cheer upon the minds and hearts of those he touched. The world needs men such as John Cradlebaugh was in life. It misses such men when death calls them. ------------------------------------- The Daily Capitol Journal, Salem, OR., December 17, 1918, page 1 Includes portrait COL. CRADELBAUGH HAS “GONE WEST” Colonel John H. Cradlebaugh, pioneer miner, journalist and poet died at his home, 1705 Saginaw street, this afternoon at 2:30 o’clock after an illness of several months. Besides his wife, he is survived by a son, R.B. Cradlebaugh, now with the San Francisco Chronicle, and a step daughter, Miss Minnie Downing. As a journalist in the early mining days of Nevada, he was associated with Mark Twain. His mining associates were the Floods and Sharons, famous in later years in the bonanza of mining history of Nevada. He was born in Ohio, son of a veteran of the Civil war. A longing for the west in his early days brought him to the exciting scenes of Virginia City and other early mining camps of the west. In his newspaper work he spent several years at The Dalles and at Hood River, later becoming associated with several Portland papers. Coming to Salem about 15 years ago, he became associated with E. Hofer in the management and editorial work of the Capital Journal. With this paper he was active until stricken a few months ago by the illness that proved fatal. His poems known best in the city were collected and published under the title of “Illihee, or Songs of the Good Country.” Besides his acquaintanceship with Mark Twain in the early mining days of Nevada, at one time he was associated with Bret Harte in newspaper work. His friends numbered almost all of the man who made the early history of Nevada famous. His friends numbered in Salem and throughout the state were legion. Always ready with the ready hand of comradeship, “the Colonel” as he was affectionately termed by those who knew him best, filled a unique and tender place in the hearts of a host of admirers. A brilliant mind, a keen wit, a ready smile, and marked loyalty to his friends were only a few of the characteristics that made him a man outstanding among his fellowmen and the events of his day. ------------------------------------- The Oregon Statesman, Salem, OR., December 18, 1918, page 1 LAST MAN OF NOTED SCHOOL PASSES AWAY Colonel John H. Cradelbaugh, Well Known Journalist, Writer and Frontiersman Answers Call CARIED CAREER LED IN FAR WESTERN STATES Published Volume of Poems Shows Wit and Humor of Versatile Mind John H. Cradlebaugh, considered by those who know him best as the last of the school of journalists and writers that produced Mark Twain, Bret Harte and Bill Nye, died at his home in Salem, 1705 Saginaw street, at 2:30 o’clock yesterday afternoon. He was 70 years old. Colonel Cradlebaugh was compelled by illness to leave his work on the telegraphic desk of the Daily Capital Journal several months ago. Sunday he was feeling better than for some time but late Sunday night he was attacked by a hemorrhage of the stomach and his death was not unexpected. Colonel Cradlebaugh was of versatile ability and had a varied career. He was a native of Ohio, but when a lad came to Nevada where his father was a federal judge under appointment by President Buchanan, and it was he who tried the perpetrators of the famous Mountain Meadows massacred in Utah. The son also became a lawyer and at one time served as district attorney at Carson City. As a newspaperman in the early days of Nevada he was associated with Mark Twain and Bret Harte, and as a miner with the Sharons and the Floods who were famous in the mining history of that state. Virginia City and other points where gold miners thronged attracted Mr. Cradlebaugh and he himself amassed a number of fortunes. At one time he is reputed to have been a millionaire, but subsequent speculations were unfortunate. His wealth was gathered mainly in the best days of the famous Comstock lode. Colonel Cradlebaugh was among the first, if not the first, of the prospectors, who searched Alask! a for gold. His prospecting was well distributed over the west and in Oregon he prospected in most of the important mining regions. Colonel Cradlebaugh followed the newspaper occupation in Oregon for many years. He founded the Hood River Glacier, ran a newspaper at The Dalles, was connected with Portland newspapers and 15 years ago took a position on the Daily Capital Journal of Salem when the paper was published by Col. E. Hofer. He had been connected with that newspaper almost continuously since, until he became ill. As an editorial writer Colonel Cradlebaugh showed clean wit and a delightful humor. He had a wide knowledge of literature, particularly of the poetic, and was himself a verse writer of much ability. The one volume that he published carries an Indian title which translated is “Songs of the Good Country.” Many of the poems are humorous or are clothed with the atmosphere of the mining days. Colonel Cradlebaugh was a kindly man who never withheld a helping hand from any person in need. In a newspaper offices he was highly esteemed by his associates and his best friends knew him as a neighbor of genuine worth. He leaves a wife, a stepdaughter, Miss Minnie Downing, and a son, R.B. Cradlebaugh, who holds a desk position on the San Francisco Chronicle. The funeral will be conducted by the Masons and will probably be held from the home Thursday. The arrangements are being made by N.D. Elliott and Charles H. Fisher. This was posted for reference only. I am not related to, nor am I researching this family. If you have additional information about the person or event listed above, please post it as reply to this message.