Much has been written about how our local village of Welches got its name, but Welches isn’t the only town that is identified by the family that established it.
Just east of Welches and just past the historic Zigzag Ranger Station you will find Faubion Loop Road. Although a sleepy little residential area now, it once was the settlement of the William J. Faubion family.
William Faubion moved his family to the area in 1907 from the Lents District of Portland. He and his wife Anna settled along the old Barlow Road, which was soon to become the Mount Hood Loop Highway. Just past Zigzag and at the base of Hunchback Mountain they built a home, which they later converted into a roadhouse, similar to our modern day bed and breakfasts. They named it “La Casa Monte”, Spanish for “The Mountain House”.
William harvested the huge old cedar on his land, cut shake bolts and hunted to support his family. Several large stumps with springboard notches can still be seen from Highway 26 as you pass by the area. La Casa Monte was completely built from standard dimension hand split cedar boards, with no milled lumber. It was two story with cedar shingle siding, gabled roof and wide eaves. The recessed front porch had arched openings, the center one was reached by a short set of stairs leading to the front door. The interior was rustic with handmade furniture and many animals mounted and displayed, indicating Mr. Faubion’s hunting prowess and the abundance of game in the area. Mrs. Faubion was known for her cooking, particularly her huckleberry pies, making La Casa Monte an ideal destination.
In time, the addition of a store with a post office made Faubion a spot on the map. The post office was established in 1924, and was discontinued in 1932. The store and post office was operated by one of William and Anna’s daughters and son in law, Aneita (Faubion) and Thomas Brown. Many of the early motor car tourists travelling along the old Mount Hood road made La Casa Monte their first stop on their way to adventure on Mount Hood.
The Faubion’s had seven children, three boys and four girls. The oldest, a girl born in Gladstone, Oregon in 1890, was named Wilhelmina Jane (Jennie) Faubion. At twenty years old, Jennie married William “Billy” Welch, the son of Barlow Trail pioneers, and homesteaders of the area that would later become the village of Welches, Oregon. Jennie lived in Welches until she died in 1985 at 95 years old. Most of the other Faubion children lived in the area, and were well known and an important part of the history of the Mount Hood area.
Today, the Faubion Area is bypassed by the modern Mount Hood Highway 26, and is known now as Faubion Loop Road. La Casa Monte is gone, the store is still there, but is a private residence now. The residents that live there still know the history of their neighborhood, and identify themselves as living “At Faubion”.
Thanks so much for writing this important History for the Mount Hood Country. With photos of the old house that my Grandfather made from the cedar trees that grew on the property.
Hello William. Thank you for leaving a comment. This is Gary Randall. We met at the Welches Centennial back in 2005.
Hi Gary and William – I live above Faubion Loop on Jennie Lane. The neighbors on Faubion that live in the beautiful stone house (built by the late George Pinner) passed out a loose leaf booklet a few years back loaded with pictures, detailing the Faubion family’s settlement in the area. There are handwritten letters along with journal entries documenting their experiences living on the mountain. They may have extra copies. If you are interested, I have their email address and can put you in touch with them.
Hi Susan. I used to live in Arlie Mitchell’s home on Pinner Rd – The big white one on the way up the hill. I know Ed and Lavonne and will ask if it’s different that one that they gave me prior, although I think that the one that I have addresses George Pinner, the builder of their stone home and many cabin fireplaces around Mount Hood. Thank you for your comment.
really enjoy western history ( Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon Etc. ) that is not in most books, just mainly told by old timers of gone by day, thank you for keeping it alive
Hello, I am Anzimee Faubion, youngest daughter of David Phillip Faubion and Berit Faubion, Cousin to William Faubion (Above)
Granddaughter of William Jacob and Auna Faubion (I believe that that is the correct spelling of her name) Unfortunately, my Grandparents had already passed by the tine I was born) We lived in the Wemme area for most of the time I recall. My Father was a logger and Mother participated in rug weaving groups and the local PTA. Aunt Jennie Welch lived a mile away and owned the Doll museum, golf course and the most lovely Antique shop. She lived to be 101 and was well loved and respected on Mt Hood.
I loved my childhood on the mountain and miss it always.
I used to live in Faubion. I appreciate that you shared your story Anzimee.
Hi Anzimee Faubion!
I am Daniel Brown, the grandson of:
Aneita Faubion and Thomas Brown.
This is submitted from my beloved uncle David K. Brown.
https://civilwar.illinoisgenweb.org/scrapbk/brownletters.html
My father is Donald J. Brown
I am proud to be a Faubion & Brown!
Good to meet you Anzimee Faubion;
From: Daniel Brown
William Harrison Faubion & Lydia J. Hess Faubion
are the parents of: William Jacob Faubion
William Harrison Faubion was a Union Army Civil War Veteran.
William Harrison Faubion, my great-great-grandfather, was a Union Army Civil War Veteran.
William Jacob Faubion & his wife Anna Christine Lang Faubion
& children being:
David P. Faubion = Your father, & Wilhelmina Jane Faubion Welch & Aunald J. Faubion & Naomi Catherine Faubion Andrews & Mildred L. Faubion Simmons &
Aneita Evlyn Faubion Brown = My grandmother
PLUS her husband
Thomas Reeves Brown Jr = My grandfather
Thomas Reeves Brown = My great-grandfather
Thomas Reeves Brown, my great-grandfather, was a Union Army Civil War Veteran.
Donald J. Faubion Brown = My father
And that is how you and I are related!
I was able to get to know many from the Welch, Faubion and Brown family during the Welches Centennial celebration. I have some photos that I was allowed to copy.
Thanks Gary!
For keeping Mount Hood, Oregon history alive!
Love to see the photos!
Feel free to email me!
Here is a link on: William Jacob Faubion
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38605908/william-jacob-faubion
Here is a link on: William Edward Welch
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38572889/william-edward-welch
Thanks again!
Thank you Daniel. I’ll get to work and try to get some Brown family history posted. Most likely centered around the vacation cabins that they had off of Truman Road.
Here are two links on:
Ernest Henry Wemme / Ernest Heinrich Wemme
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6625489/e-henry-wemme
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._Henry_Wemme
Ernest Henry Wemme died on 17 Dec 1914 (aged 53)
Thanks again Gary!
RE: Thank you Daniel. I’ll get to work and try to get some Brown family history posted. Most likely centered around the vacation cabins that they had off of Truman Road.
That’s super sweet of you!
And very unexpected!
You are super amazing Gary Randall!
THANKS!
Don’t you think it’s funny how Ed and Betty ferraris are not mentioned at all in the story about the old house they only owned it foryrs starting in the1950,s unttill2002 how convenient that is hunh
Hi Tony. I didn’t leave them out maliciously. The article is only of the early days of Faubion. Ed was a friend and neighbor of mine and he saved La Casa Monte from ruin. It was a crime, in my opinion, that it was lost and destroyed by someone who doesn’t care at all about our local history.
This is so cool!
My name is Auna Christine Faubion, Great granddaughter of Anna Christine Lang Faubion and William Jacob. Great uncle Aunald Faubion. Great Aunt is Jenni Welch, Anzimee is my Aunt. Grandparents are David Phillip Faubion and Berit Faubion. So it looks like I was named after both Anna Christine and Great uncle Aunald.
Good Day.
This is Very Amazing Information.
I am a Great Grandson to the Youngest Daughter of Thomas Henry Reed ( Son of William); Julia Alice Reed Gregg ( My Great Nana), who passed away when I was 6 1/2. Her Daughter Lois Beaman Jeffcott is my Grandmother.
My own side of the Family is along the Reed-Beaman-Croswell Bloodline that still has Strong Roots in the Camas-Vancouver/Clark County Region.
It is Very Nice to Learn about the Strong Ties Ancestrally to that Region of Oregon.
It is also Really Nice to Learn more of our Dutch Ancestry.
Thank you again for all of this Information!