“An Organic Childhood”

DAYTON - Wesley Hoskins grew up on a farm on Whetstone creek in the 1920s and 30s. During those years he witnessed some amazing changes.

In 1930, there was no electricity on the farm. By 1940, the REA co-op had brought electricity to farm- ers on the Whetstone, and throughout Columbia County.

In 1930, Hoskins' fam- ily - and all their neighbors - plowed, harrowed and harvested wheat using draft horses or mules. By 1940, many farmers in Columbia County were using Caterpillar tractors.

Hoskins, who turned 90 in March, was in Dayton this week with copies of his new book, "An Organic Child- hood." In it, he chronicles his years growing up on the Whetstone farm and attend- ing the one-room Whetstone School. He describes, in wonderful detail, wheat farming practices in the 1930s, and in almost as much detail, he recounts Saturday nights in downtown Dayton and his years attending Dayton High School, where he graduated in 1940.

Hoskins talks about many of the farming families he knew on the Whetstone, including the Knox's, the Rennewanzes, the McH- argues, the Meads and his cousins the Smiths. His aunt and uncle, Ward and Vera Hoskins, also lived nearby. He attended high school with long-time Dayton residents Chuck Mead, Wally Payne, Alvin Ashley and Merle Rogg.

In an interview with The Times, Hoskins described how the book came about: "I got involved in help- ing with the Smith Hollow School project a few years ago," Hoskins said. "That inspired me to recount my years growing up on the Whetstone."

Hoskins said that he took a writing course about 20 years ago and has done considerable writing since. "I've had a lot to learn in pro- ducing this book," he said, saying he received lots of help from friends and family members.

Hoskins says his was the first generation of farm boys who had to move off the farm when they grew up. "There was no new ground to be settled," he said. "So my dad told me I was going to be a doctor."

After graduation, Hoskins moved to southern Califor- nia, where an uncle lived, and took pre-med courses at a junior college. He was later accepted to the University of Oregon medical school in Portland. He joined the Army after WWII broke out, and finished medical school while in the service. He also served in a MASH hospital unit during the Korean War.

"The school in Portland was the only medical school north of San Francisco," Hoskins said. "They trained doctors to serve in small rural towns. We learned to do everything, including sur- gery and obstetrics."

After leaving the army, Hoskins set up a family med- ical practice in Watsonville, Calif., south of San Francisco. He raised his family there and then, in 1971, moved to Eugene, Ore., where he set up another practice. Hoskins retired from medicine in 1993 at age 70.

Hoskins and his current wife, Joanna, have been married 41 years. According to his bio on his website, he learned to scuba dive when he was sixty. He and Joanna work out regularly and enjoy ballroom dancing and writing.

"An Organic Childhood" is available for sale - for $10 - at several locations in Dayton, including the Historic Depot gift shop, Vil- lage Shoppes, the Weinhard Hotel and Dingles. The book can also be purchased on Hoskins' website at www.wesleyhoskins.com.

Hoskins still lives in Eu- gene, but says he visits Co- lumbia County at least twice a year. His cousin, former Columbia County Prosecutor Conrad Hoskins, recently passed away, and Wes and Joanna will return to Dayton in early July for Conrad's memorial service.

Hopefully he will bring more books.