Xander was a 10 year old boy living in Hood River in 1805 when Lewis and Clark first came to the area. He was the son of an Indian woman and a white man. His father had been a fur trapper, but had died the year previously, and since his mother had been ostracized by her tribe she was having a difficult time raising her son on her own. William Clark discovered he had a soft spot in his heart for the boy and during his time in the area he allowed the boy to tag along with him as he explored throughout the winter. He found the boy to be knowledgeable about the land and a boon companion.
When it came time for the explorers to move on, Xander asked to go with them. However, his mother was not willing to let him go, despite the difficulties of raising him herself; she needed him to be with her, especially as he was getting old enough to be a help to her. Before leaving, William Clark took him aside and told him to learn as much about the land as possible because he will do great things with the knowledge.
As an adult, Xander married a woman named Isabelle McKenner and they had many children together, one of which they named Zachary. It was Zachary that had a penchant for learning about land and a desire for higher education like his father. In 1843, when Zachary was 22, he moved west with his wife, Irene and their infant son, Joseph, where he attended a fledgling school named Corvallis College (which later became Oregon State University). It was during this time that settlers were pouring in along the Oregon Trail looking for gold. Zachary took as many classes as possible in geology while working at the assay office to support his family.
As Joseph grew up he also had a strong interest in the land. Following in his father’s footsteps, he, too, sought higher learning. He started at Corvallis College but then transferred to Albany Collegiate Institute (which, ironically, later became known as Lewis and Clark College). Joseph was 28 years old in 1873 as he finished in the top of the first graduation class of the college.
Hearing stories of his grandfather Xander and his father Zachary’s love of the land and how Xander had spent time with Lewis and Clark, Joseph decided to explore his roots and moved to Hood River. He spent many years in the area examining the rocks and structures of land, filling many journals with his observations and supporting himself by submitting his writings to any publications that would accept them. There was a particular place he liked that had fantastic views of Mitchell Point, and across the river on the Washington side, he could see Underwood Mountain. He felt at peace there and when, in 1880 at age 35, he fell in love with a widow named Eleanor Ruth Murray, he took her out to the point to propose. She accepted.
In 1883, Eleanor died giving birth to their daughter, whom Joseph named Ruth. He doted on the girl and when she was three, he bought a farm just west of Hood River and supported his small family by farming and writing more articles about the land. His observations about the east-dipping bright-yellow palagonite tuff and breccias on the point gave him good standing in the world of geology and he became a sought-after speaker. He named the point Ruthton Point after his daughter, as well as Ruthton Cove, both of which are at 79 feet elevation.
There are a total of 4 features that carry Ruth’s name, Ruthton Point, Ruthton Park, Ruthton, which is a historical locale at 121 feet elevation, and of course, this park at 371 feet. Also, once upon a time, there was a Ruthton Station on the Union Pacific Railroad line.
Thanks to Xander Morton, each generation of his family learned more and more about the land and came to love the land you’re now caching on. Enjoy your visit to this little park and stop to admire the views while searching for the cache. Please make sure cache is replaced exactly as it needs to be, as it’s a long drop if it falls.
Congratulations to Bikerfun on a very speedy FTF!
Logbook is made of waterproof toughpaper. Pencils work great on it, and most pens can also write on it. Gel pens do not work. Plan accordingly to get your mark in the logbook.
Beware of poison oak!