“Governor Joseph Gale and His IndianFirst Lady,” by Lillian Cummings Dens-ley and Aaron G. Densley. © 2010,self-published. Hardcover, 184 pages. Re-tail: $35.

Oregon history aficionados willfind plenty toplease them inthis book, which

documents the early daysof the territory and thefounding of its first provi-sional government. Amajor player at that timewas Joseph Gale, a formertrapper and explorer whoquietly furthered the set-tlement of present-dayOregon.

Gale was born in Wash-ington, D.C., in 1807 andearly on was enamored of adventure.

Soon he was caught up in the rush to dis-cover new territory out West, andbecame a fur trapper and explorer withthe Rocky Mountain Fur Company, work-ing with the likes of Jim Bridger, KitCarson and others. It was while explor-ing in Nez Perce territory that hebecame friends with Chief Joseph (theelder), and fell in love with and marriedthe chief’s daughter, Bear Claws, who al-so was the niece of Chief Peo Peo MoxMox; her mother was a member of theWalla Walla tribe.

The Gale family moved to theWillamette Valley in 1839, where they be-came farmers. But the Oregon Countryalso was home to Britain’s Hudson’s BayCompany, which wanted the area forEngland. When a provisional govern-ment was established July 5, 1843, Galewas selected as one of three governorsacting as a team. In that tumultuous first

year, the governors raised a militia to de-fend the Oregon Territory’s borders in adispute with HBC, ousting the Britishfrom the area. Gale also defended his de-cision to marry an Indian woman, whichwas discouraged at the time.

Following his stint as governor, and in-creasingly dissatisfied with life insettled country and government intru-sions, Gale and his family returned totheir wandering ways. Joseph and Elizaspent time in the gold fields of Califor-nia before moving to Eliza’s hometerritory, the Valley of the Eagles inpresent-day Baker County, Ore., wherehe died in 1881.

This book serves two functions. It is ahistorical narrative of the settling of theWest, including the early days of Ore-gon’s statehood, from the perspective ofone man’s life. It also is an exhaustiverecord of the life of Joseph Gale, his fam-

ily and descendants. The Densleys(mother and son) compiled a hugeamount of information on Gale’s life, andalso set the story in the context of 1840sNorthwest history, including firsthandaccounts from the last battle of youngChief Joseph against the removal of hispeople to the reservation. Illustrationsby Doc Christensen and historical photosadd punch to the text.

The book is available at Betty’s Booksin Baker City, and also may be orderedby local bookstores or online atwww.josephgalebook.com.

�Renee Struthers-Hogge is the editorial as-

sistant for the East Oregonian. While sheprefers to focus on authors, publishers andsubject matter relevant to the Pacific North-west, she enjoys a wide variety of genresand welcomes suggestions for new reviewmaterial.

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Green thumbs

Genealogy, history combine in story of Oregon’s first governorBOOK REVIEW

Fostering growth is a way of lifefor Pendleton Master Gardeners

By KATE WHITTLEEast Oregonian

On a hill overlooking Pendleton, trucks rumbling by on I-84 can be seen through the waving stalks of sunflowersbordering the Tower Hill community garden. But be-hind the wooden fence atop southwest Pendleton hill is a

hidden, lush world of bounty. The Tower Hill garden, named forthe water tower nearby, is one of three community gardens inPendleton overseen completely by the volunteer group MasterGardeners. The gardens serve as a teaching tool for the MasterGardeners and way to supply good food to Pendletonians in need.

On the sunny, breezy early fallafternoon, a few volunteers arehere helping pick tomatoes.They’ll stop occasionally to sam-ple one of the luscious, jewel-liketomatoes glinting on the vines.“Try this yellow lollipop,” saysTracy Childress, clad in denimoveralls and green clogs. An offi-cial Master Gardener, she’sretired from full-time teachingand now cruises Pendleton in ared Prius, going to gardens in the summer and substitute teachinggigs in the winter. You don’t have to ask why she gardens.

“The smell of these tomatoes is just intoxicating,” she says, in-haling the spicy, earthy scent of tomato vines.

For many people who have to pay the bills by other means, get-ting their hands dirty in a garden occasionally keeps them sane.Cindy Criswell works at the InterMountain Education Service Dis-trict nearby. She’s been coming over to help at the garden for aboutsix years now. The garden’s just a few yards from her office, but amillion miles away from her job sitting in front of a computer screenin the IT department.

Master Gardener Annette Frye designed the Tower Hill gardenand picked out the dozens of heirloom seeds.

Master Gardeners is a nationwide group, and Frye helped foundPendleton’s chapter in 2004. Its mission, says Frye, is to teach peo-ple how to garden sustainably. The Oregon State Universityagriculture program extension office, based at Blue Mountain Com-munity College, takes questions and directs people to a MasterGardener who can help. Gardeners are expected to put in at least50 hours of volunteer time each year, but Frye guesses she put inmore than 500 during her year as president.

During harvest season, Cindy Criswell spends her Wednesday af-ternoon loading up her trunk with produce and delivering it to peoplein need around Pendleton. The community gardens produced a com-bined 5,000 pounds of food last year, and most of it gets divviedbetween the senior center, Salvation Army, local charities and anyfamily the garden volunteers personally know could use a little help.

Cindy Criswell knew some people with empty cupboards. “Lastweek, I stopped by their house, opened my trunk and said, ‘Takewhatever you want,’” she said with satisfaction.

Most of the produce ends up at Salvation Army, where head cookRalph McCall is thrilled to have it. Monday through Saturday, heand a team of volunteers feed lunch to as many as 70 people eachday. With food donations, fresh produce can be the hardest to get,so the community gardens help make up the difference. “With themaster gardens harvest right now, it’s amazing all I get,” McCall said.

Anyone can come to Salvation Army and pick up raw food to takehome and cook themselves, and sometimes McCall gets to help peo-ple learn what to do with less-common fare such as Chineseeggplants and lemon cucumbers. “Every day we get people excit-ed about unusual vegetables,” he said, “It’s kind of gotten to bealmost a joke among my clientele, ‘What is Ralph gonna throw atus today?’”

For those in Pendleton who’d like to till their own patch of earth,but doesn’t have the space, Master Gardeners offer a resource forthem, too. A few miles away from the Tower Garden in the south-east part of Pendleton, the Hill Garden has plots available forfamilies to garden. Frye said this year’s families signed up in ear-ly spring for their space at Washington Elementary. MasterGardeners won’t do the work for anyone, but they’ll share theirknowledge. “You know what they say about you give a person a fish?”said Childress.

Frye agrees. “We don’t want to be judging anyone, we want toteach,” she said.

Staff photo by Kate WhittleVolunteer Cindy Criswell prepares to delivera load of fresh produce donations.

Staff photo by Kate WhittleMaster Gardeners 2011 president FredHollibaugh holds out a variety of heirloomtomato called the “orange-fleshed purplesmudge.”

Staff photo by Kate WhittleFresh-picked tomatoes await distribution to places including the Pendleton Senior Centerand Salvation Army.

ContactInterested in learning more?Contact the Umatilla CountyMaster Gardeners by callingthe Oregon State UniversityExtension Office at 541-278-5403.