[or-roots] Chief Joseph and the new baby

[Cecil Houk]

This story was related to my mother by her father, Cecil Clark Rulaford, 50 years ago.
          In 1859, Nineveh Ford had a [second] fire which completely destroyed his tannery [near Oregon City].  So he gathered his cattle and horses and migrated to the Walla Walla Valley.  He took a 160 acre homestead on the Walla Walla River, close to Freewater, Oregon.  [Note that Milton and Freewater were separate towns at this time.] 
          Shortly after he got his family settled in a log cabin, the Indians began to make trouble not far away.  Nineveh Ford saddled his horse and volunteered to help the soldiers quell the Indians.  About the same time little Martha (my mother) was born.  September 8, 1859.  Three days later Chief Joseph, Chief of the Nez Perce tribe, came to the log cabin with sixteen of his warriors, all decked out in their war paint.  The chief entered first, and said, "We want see white papoose".  So they all came in single file, took a look, gave a grunt and walked out.  Grandmother settled back in her bed with a sigh of relief. 
  [Note: Martha Jane Ford was the first white girl born in the Walla Walla Valley.]
It is my understanding that Nineveh went "hunting" as soon as he learned of this!

Family legend has Nineveh Ford in the group that chased Chief Joseph to Canada.

Cecil

Cecil Houk, ET1 USN Ret.
PO Box 530833
San Diego CA 92153
FAX 619-428-6434
mailto:cchouk at cox.net
ANDERSON - BLAKELY - FORD - HOUK - KIMSEY - MOE - RULAFORD - SIMPSON
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