Molalla Union High School - Arrow Yearbook (Molalla, OR)

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ADMINISTRAT A W V, X.

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STORY OF THE MOLALLAS .ln the long ago there was civil strife among the Cayuses. and after bitter fighting a band of seceders, with their families and possessions, took the way westward, from the bunch grass region of the Upper Columbia, prospecting for a new home. They found all the territory east of the Cascade Mountains occupied by warlike tribes that would stand no interference, but allowed them to pass on and enter the Cascade Range on their way westward. So they left the fierce XVascos, the fiercer Warm Springs, and the Teninos, for the promised land they had heard of as the VVah-lam-ut. The Western tribes showed them a trail that led across the Cascades and the seceding Cayuses followed it one summer time until they found themselves in the beautiful Vtfah-lam-ut Valley. But they found this valley inhabited by the Calipooias. These Cayuses were hunters, and the Cascades were then full of game of all kinds. So this heroic band made a treaty of eternal peace with the Calipooias that never was violated. and peaceably occupied the mountain foothills region where they found game in plenty and all sorts of berries and roots to supply their needs. Thus they had pleasant homes and grew and prospered until they occupied all the mountain sides that bordered the VVah-lam-ut Valley. They were Cayuses no longer, but took the name of Molallas. These Indians lived and died with terrible vengeance in their hearts toward their Cayuse relatives, who had driven them into the wilderness. They transmitted this hate to their descendants. Une day they sent a challenge to the Cayuses to come and fight it out. The challenge was accepted. There was a fierce fight but the Cayuses went home in triumph. Many years later there was another battle. but again the Molallas were defeated. However this time there were so few fighting men left. that they. as a nation, never could afford to again take the war-path. 1n 1849 it was estimated to number 100. About 1880 several families were living at Grande Ronde and about 20 individuals were found west of Klamath Lake. The last chief of the Molalla tribe, Henry Yelkis, had his home on the Molalla river and died in 1913. His son. Henry Yelkis, is the only known remaining Molalla Indian. The town of Molalla took its name from the Molalla river. which was named after the Molalla Indians. In Their Country's Service l l, at -. . l Carl Deriler Errol 0'Gieblyn

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