|
Bill was writing family history when he died at 75
Skamani County Pioneer, Friday, January 16,
1981
(Note: e. B. "Bill" Iman was the son of Lewis F. Iman,
1869-1947)
E. B. "Bill" Iman of Stevenson, grandson of early
settlers, was working on a history of Skamania County and
his family's contribution to the growth of the area when he
died last week at the age of 75. Mr. Iman had written
extensive notes and had tape recorded many of his
recollections. Although his project was not finished, family
members hope to complete the records.
Mr. Iman was born here and had spent his entire life in
the area. His grandfather Felix Iman had settled here with
his family in 1852 and had survived the Indian uprising of
1856, known as the Fort Rains Massacre. Felix and Margaret
Iman had come here from the Midwest and had built a home
near the present Stevenson Co-Ply location. When the Indians
attacked Fort Rains, the Bradford store and homes in the
area, the Iman' home was put to the torch. Felix and
Margaret Iman. their small son Theodore and baby Florence,
only three days old, escaped by boat .
 Theodore
had been born on the Oregon side of the Columbia and
Florence, familiarly known as Flo, on the Washington side.
Both were alive when the Bridge of the Gods was built in1927
and they were chosen for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Theodore crossed the bridge from the Oregon side and Flo
from the Washington side, ceremoniously meeting in the
middle of the span.
Felix Iman operated a water-powered sawmill near the
present Eran Howell shop on Hegewald Pond. He had built a
dam on Rock Creek above the present Iman property north of
town and water to power the mill came down the hill in a
ditch, traces of which remain.,
Bill Iman's father was F. L. "Lew" Iman, born after the
Fort Rains incident. He was married to Emily May Eyman, in
later years known as "Grannie May."
Lew and May Iman had eight children. With the death of
Bill Iman, only Edith Iman McCafferty (Mrs. F. R. "Mickey"
McCafferty) survives.
Lew and May Iman's first child, Frank, died in infancy
and a daughter Nellie died at the age of4. Daughter Frae
married Conrad Lundy Sr. and is survived by son Conrad
"Tonnie" Lundv and daughter Elva Stewart, both of Stevenson.
Frae and Conrad Lundy were divorced and Frae was married to
the late Jack Reno at the time of her death.
Another Iman daughter, Elma, married George Ainsworth.
She is survived by a son George Ainsworth now of Califomia,
and a daughter Edith Holien (nicknamed Petay), now living in
Mead
Washington.
Daughter Edith McCafferty was the next child. followed by
Bill Iman the late Robert Hahn "Pinky" Iman and Lewis Felix
Iman, who was known as Mike and who died at the age of 20.
Lew Iman worked on the locks at Cascade Locks, now a
national historic site, during its construction. He and May
and their family lived in a house near the 'present
McCafferty home above Stevenson and Lew walked down to the
river each day. He rowed across to Cascade Locks, put in 10
hours of work and then returned home. He was paid 10 cents
per hour, or $1 per day.
Lew operated the old Headquarters Saloon on Whiskey Row
near the river in Stevenson, from 190l to 1916. The family
made its home near the saloon for many years. Bill Iman was
born there June 26, 1905. He attended school in Stevenson
and later worked as a logger and with the Skamania County
road department. He purchased the Club Tavern (now Ship
Captain & Crew) from his brother-in-law Mickey
McCafferty and ran it for many years before his retirement.
When Skamania County celebrated the nation's Bicentennial in
1976, Bill Iman was chosen to head the 4th of July parade in
Stevenson as its Grand Marshall. He is survived by two sons,
Duane Iman of Hood River and Gary Iman of The Dalles; two
daughters, Shirley Ferguson of Carson and Sherrie
Ellenberger of Kelso; a sister Edith McCafferty of
Stevenson; 20 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Home
About this site
German/Swiss
Beginnings
To the Americas
Family Connections
Columbia River Gorge
|