Historic Hood River
George Chinidere
7-30-2020
Notes
Here’s a nice informal portrait of George Tomileck Chinidere, long time Hood River Resident, who was know at the time as “Indian George.” He was a friend of many of the city founders like D.A. Turner and E.L. Smith.
Charlott
A very long time ago there was posted another photo of "Indian George." If I recall correctly he, in his old age, was blind, or nearly so.
He was of the same little tribe as Chenowith and made his home where they lived down at the bottom of Ruthton. I know exactly where their little village was located. He had a wife named T-MowE-Ne, a Yakima, who had left him some 30 years before her death over the affection shown him by another woman. Don’t know what Cinidere’s reaction or involvment, if any with the woman. Susan, as she was known by in the white man’s world died in 1911 and is buried in Chris-Zada where the Chenowith-Underwood’s are buried.
Chinidere mountain is named after Indian George’s father. Probably a great story about this man and his life. Since he was born in about 1828 he probably was around the same area as Chenowith, when they troopers hung those of the little tribe.
Jeffrey W Bryant
The Hood River Glacier, June 28, 1917, page 1
Old Indian George Killed By Train
Hood River grieves the loss of Indian George, aboriginal patriarch and last survivor of Indian men born in the mid-Columbia before the coming of the white man, who met death alone at some hour Saturday night under the wheels of an O. W. R. & N. train. His body, severed in twain, was found Sunday morning in the freight yards at a crossing within a few hundred feet of where for the last dozen years George and several other Indian families have lived.
News of the old man’s death spread with rapidity and hundreds of his white friends followed the hearse to the Knights of Pythias cemetery, where at six o’clock Sunday evening, according to the old man’s wish, the service was conducted by his white friends, Rev. Longbrake, pastor of the Asbury Methodist church, officiating.
Among those at the graveside were E. L. Smith, whose friendship for the old Indian has lasted for 41 years, and Mrs. Alma Howe, of the Cottage Farm resort, who for 25 years has been George’s closest friend and advisor. When the simple service was ended the body of the patriarch was deposited in its last resting place in a little plot of ground that George purchased several years ago on advice of Mrs. Howe. The little burial plot was marked by its neatness, for George summer in and summer out had visited the place and kept it free of weeds. Today it is heaped with flowers of his white friends, who will see that it is kept green and not forgotten.
Accompanying the local mourners were several Indians here from the Warm Springs reservation to engage in the strawberry harvest. They were garbed in the bright colors that strike an appeal to their primitive natures, and their copper hued faces were streaked with mourning paints.
George Shinidink Chinidere is the full name of the departed relic of early days when the redskin warrior hunted at will over the ranges of the Cascades or fished for the hordes of salmon that swarmed in the Columbia and its tributaries. But he was commonly known as Indian George. Because of his accurate predictions of the heavy snowstorm of the winter of 1915-16, the old man had won repute throughout the Northwest as a weather prophet. His last words of prophecy were uttered Saturday afternoon, when the Glacier man, greeting him as he returned down the railroad tracks from his customary daily visit to the city and asking what he thought of the high water of the Columbia, George replied, "Maybe so water come some more before July come."
Lingering to talk, for George dearly loved a friendly conversation, the old man pointed to a burlap bag on his back and said:
"Man give George cow bone. He going home and cook. Peter, squaw and papooses all gone to pick strawberries. old Indian by himself. He get lonely."
The correct age of Indian George is not known. From his talk it is estimated that he has passed the 90 year mark. He was said to have been born at an Indian village just west of Hood River.
The theory is advanced that Indian George was crawling under freight cars when the train began to move. Other Indians of the colony of which George was a member say that the old man had been warned repeatedly of the danger of such a practice. The position in which the remains were found lead to correctness of the theory.
Brief talks were given at the graveside by Mr. Smith and Rev. Frank Spaulding, the first Methodist minister of the community. Poem written by S. E. Bartmess was read.
—
History of Early Pioneer Families of Hood River, Oregon.
Compiled by Mrs. D.M. Coon
GEORGE TOMILECK CHINIDERE
A pathetic but familiar figure, old Indian George, has traveled our streets for many years. Almost blind, he manages, with the aid of his cane, to reach the homes of the white people who have befriended him.
His appreciation of their friendship is very marked and he is happy to have them talk with him. At the pioneer Reunion, in 1915, he was the guest of Hon. E.L. Smith and was literally swamped with good things to eat, but he came off more than conqueror, saying, "Heap good dinner, but no pie". Mt. Chinidere of Hood River county was named for the father of Indian George, our weather prophet.
D.MC.
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From the Portland Journal:
Hood River, Oregon, June 25, 1917
Indian George Tomileck Chinidere, reputed to be the oldest Indian of the Columbia River tribe and said to be near 100 years old, was found dead near this city Sunday morning beside the railroad track of the O.W.R.N. where the body had been cut in twain by a train.
George had a bank account and signed cheeks by thumb print. The funeral services were attended by several hundred whites and Indians front the reservation who are here picking strawberries. Rev. E.H. Strongbrake, pastor of the U.E. church preached the funeral sermon."
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Long article in The Sunday Oregonian, February 4, 1917
Jeffrey W Bryant
It is unclear where he is buried, either in the Knights of Pythias Cemetery or Idlewilde, as newspaper articles indicate both cemeteries. I find no record of his grave in the Idlewilde cemetery records, so I believe he was buried in the K of P cemetery, where other local Indians were interred.
L.E.
Can you imagine at over 90 years old, getting down and crawling over tracks and under a train?
Nellie
I am inclined to think he was buried out there by the Catholic Cemetery as that is also known as the County Cemetery. I would think there should be records of that cemetery just like all the others.
Jeffrey W Bryant
The County Cemetery is east of the Catholic Cemetery, close to Tucker Road. The K of P Cemetery is to the south of it. Then the Mountain View Cemetery is further south. I have been unable to locate records for either the County Cemetery or K of P cemetery, other than those mentioned in obituaries.
Arlen L Sheldrake
not a pleasant way to end ones life, then or now…..certainly a temptation and something that Operation Lifesaver, the train safety folk, work on daily. Roger and I remember our father telling of his doing the same in Parkdale and getting HELL from John H. when he got safely home.
the news of the day was certainly descriptive