Evening Herald April 14, 1936 TELLING THE EDITOR (Column) Klamath Agency, Ore. - (To the Editor): I have just read an article in your paper published March 19, 1936 by Ross Ferguson, former pastor of the Williamson River Church, which was very ridiculous because most of it was far from the truth. Rev. Ferguson was not the pioneer minister - Rev. Starns, Rev. Beatty, Rev. Sweeney, Rev. Grafious and others were there long before Ross Ferguson came. Major Emery was the pioneer minister. I heard him preach in 1888. Mr. Ferguson says he built the Williamson River Church in 1908. The very same church was built in 1878. In 1909, the present flue was built by Stonewall Jackson, an Indian of this reservation, in two days, and paid $6.00 by the Indians. Pelican Man married a widow of a few years and not after 40 years of cohabitation as stated by Rev. Ferguson. The railroad celebration was held in May of 1909 and not on the Fourth of July. The issuances of passes were discontinued prior to 1905 by Capt. O.C. Applegate, who is still alive and living in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Therefore no passes were needed by the Indians. Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Peffley were not our chaperones. The writer was one of the participants of the parade during the Railroad Day Celebration. The Klamath Indians were very prosperous at the time Mr. Ferguson came. A number of the Indians owned more than 200 head of cattle each. Henry Jackson owned over 1300 head of stock. The Indians did not live in wickiups at that time. Few of the old Indians lived in wickiups in the summer months. The Indians owned and operated three sawmills and manufactured the necessary lumber to construct their homes and barns. I have lived on the Klamath Reservation all my life and during that time I have been very active in tribal affairs. At the present time I am the president of the Klamath Indian Business Committee and secretary-treasurer of the Klamath Indian Livestock Association. During the time I have been active in tribal matters I became familiar with the various events and history of the Klamath Indians, as a representative, interpreter and member of the Klamath Tribe. Hence I feel confident and qualified to relate the various events in the history of the Klamath Indians. Please publish this in "Telling the Editor" column. Very respectfull, Clayton Kirk, Box 284 Chiloquin, Oregon. Editors Note: What constitutes a "pioneer" has always been subject to argument, but in view of the general use of the term, it would seem that Rev. Ross Ferguson, who came to the Klamath Reservation in 1908, could well qualify as a pioneer minister. The history in The Herald-News was not published as written by Rev. Ferguson. _________________________________________________________________ Watch the online reality show Mixed Messages with a friend and enter to win a trip to NY http://www.msnmessenger-download.click-url.com/go/onm00200497ave/direct/01/