P a g e s F rom Our P a st
By Kenneth L. Holmes, writer historian
NORTHWEST’S FIRST
PRINTING PRESS
books were printed in Nez Perce
and one in the language of the
Set down May 16, 1839, as a Spokane Indians.
On March 15, 1838, Spalding
most important date in the history
of printing and publishing on the wrote his mission board, “I have
Pacific slope. It was on that day comlpsted an alphabet in the Nez-
the pioneer missionary, the Rev. Perces language, & a spelling book
Henry Spalding, and a printer, Ed­ with some 60 or 70 scripture &
win Hall, set up the first print animal cuts explained, which I
shop west of the Rockies. The shall send to the Islands to be
press occupied one corner of a printed, by the first opportunity.”
tiny cabin at the Lapwai mission By the “Islands” he meant Ha­
near present Lewiston, Idaho. It waii. The Presbyterian missionar­
was used from 1839 to 1846 by ies in Hawaii, however, on learn­
Spalding. During those years eight ing of Spalding’s needs, sent over
a small Ramage press, and with it
came Edwin Hall, an experienced
printer, and his wife. The press
was carried up the Columbia by
boat andp ortage. At Ft. Walla
Walla on April 30, 1839, the Halls
met Spalding & Dr. Marcus Whit­
MIST — Bernard Dowling of man. It must have been a rugged
Vancouver spent a few days here trip for the Halls. Mrs. Hall was
at the home of his father assisting pregnant, was to give birth to a
him with some repair work cn baby at the Whitman mission the
his water line.
following November.
H e n ry
Visitors at the Charles Hansens Spalding wrote in October telling
Saturday were Mr. and Mrs. How­ about the trip from Fort Walla
ard Thompson of Clatskanie, Mr. Walla to Lapwai: "We had a pleas­
and Mrs. Charles Isakson of Mid­ ant journey up the (Snake) river.
land and Mr. and Mrs. Abe Wusa- Mrs. Hall alone in the canoe poll­
nen of Marshland.
ed by 3 men—the remainder of us
Mr. and Mrs. Shalmon Libel on horses, obliged frequently to
were in Fairview Sunday where cut high points which presented
they visited Mr. and Mrs. Floyd impassable bluffs by the waters
Libel.
edge. We reached home in 7 days
Mr. and Mrs. John Crawford travel. . .Mr. Hall arranged our
were in Portland Friday and at­ little printing establishment &
tended the PI show that evening. printed for us the first book in the
A lady from Honduras, Central Nez Perces language.”
By August 15, 1839, 500 copies
America is spending a few days
at the heme of Alma and Mary of a primer had been printed en­
Garlock.
titled
“NEZ-PERCES
FIRST
The M. H. Club meets Thursday, BOOK: DESIGNED FOR CHILD­
October 25 at the home of Alma REN AND NEW BEGINNERS.”
and Mary Garlock.
There were 'tw o editions of this
Mr. and Mrs. A1 Kivar spent first book. Spalding was experi­
the week end at the Webber cot­ menting with different alphabets
tage. Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Rey­ for the Nez-Perce tongue. There
nolds called on them Sunday.
was no written language for the
Among the hunters in Eastern Indian tribes, and the missionary
Oregon over the week end were was compelled to make his new
Ray, Willard and Lloyd Garlock alphabet fit the font of type
and Mr. Goodwin. They brought which had come with the press.
a couple of deer back.
On the journey from Walla Walla
Mr. and Mrs. Norman Hansen to Lapwai a mule carrying the
left last Tuesday for the Blue press had fallen down a cliff and
mountain on a hunting trip. They been killed. The men recovered
were joined there by Mr. and the press and most of the hope­
Mrs. Ted Kulju of Portland.
lessly pied type. Most of the capi­
Mr. and Mrs. Lawton Waddell tal B’s had been lost and a quan­
were in Gearhart recently where tity of several other letters.
they were guests of Mr. and Mrs.
The two above-mentioned pri­
Ralph Waddell. Mrs. Waddell and
mers
,the very first books pub­
Ralph celebrated their birthdays
lished in the Pacific Northwest,
which were just a few days apart.
are now rare collector’s items, es­
pecially the first one. One schol­
No excuse in the world is good
ar says that Spalding’s endeavor
enough to excuse the man who
was “bibliographically speaking,
accomplishes nothing.
the most important event in the
annals of the Northwest.” How
can we today conceive of the diffi­
culties surmounted by Spalding
and Hall in rendering a written
language for the Nez Perces and
in setting up the press, printing
copy and binding the little books?
The best description of the
printing operation was written by
another Presbyterian missionary,
the Rev. Elkanah Walker, who
visited Spalding, in the winter of
1842-43. Walker and Spalding
printed a primer for the Spokane
tribe. Walker wrote: “A small
book has been printed in the na­
tive language. The type was most­
ly set by myself. . .You will read­
ily suppose that it was slow work
as it was wholly new business both
to Mr. Spalding and myself. Mr. S.
understood working the press. It
required no little time to arrange
Oregon Laws place the responsi­ the press as it had been taken
bility of collecting taxes, both down and laid aside since Mr. Hall
real and personal in the lap of left the country. Among the most
the Sheriff. These duties and difficult things to be done was the
responsibilities are clearly defined making of a new roller which we
and are purely routine in nature. succeeded in after three or four
Their proper administration de­
pend on 3 things: impartiality, attempts. We not only succeeded
courtesy and punctuality. This in making one, but we made a
important phase of the Sheriff's GOOD ONE.”
duties will receive my personal at
After the Whitman massacre,
tention and a courteous and effi­ the press was taken to the Willa­
cient staff will at all times be at
your service. Your every contact mette valley settlements. Now it
with the Sheriffs office will be may be seen on display at the Ore­
met with courteous and prompt gon Historical Society in Portland.
service.
VERNONIA LOGGER
Couple Attends
PI Exposition
DO YOU PAY TAXES?
ROY S. WILBURN
VOTE (X)
ROY S. WILBURN
For Sheriff
Pd
Adv. by Roy Wilburn, St. Helen», Ore.
Demonia Eagle
THURSDAY, OCT. 25, 1962
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vs.
FR ID A Y, OCTOBER 26
GREENMAN F IE L D -8 P.M.
THE LOGGER BOOSTERS LISTED BELOW URGE YOU TO ATTEND THE GAME
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Mill Market and
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