USA > Idaho > A history of Indian missions on the Pacific coast : Oregon, Washington and Idaho > Part 2
USA > Oregon > A history of Indian missions on the Pacific coast : Oregon, Washington and Idaho > Part 2
USA > Washington > A history of Indian missions on the Pacific coast : Oregon, Washington and Idaho > Part 2
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Early in 1836 Dr. Whitman (having married), Rev. H. H. Spalding and wife, and Mr. W. H. Gray, proceeded across the continent, a dis- tance then estimated to be twenty-three hun- dred miles from the western bounds of Missouri. They were greatly assisted in the journey by the American Fur Company and the Hudson's Bay Company, the latter of which promised them aid after they should reach Oregon.
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On the Pacific Coast.
Some Nez Perces Indians also, whom Mr. Parker had encouraged to expect missionaries about that time, traveled several days to meet them.
Some facts respecting Mrs. Spalding, as given by her husband, indicate her force of character:
After Dr. Whitman's return from Green River the previous year, his betrothed was ready to go, but a companion, and he a mar- ried man, must also be procured for the mis- sion. Many persons were asked, but in vain. He heard of Mr. Spalding, and with the per- mission of the Board determined to see if he could be obtained. Dr. Whitman found him and his wife in a sleigh, in the deep snows of Western New York, on their way to the mis- sion among the Osage Indians, under commis- sion from the A. B. C. F. M. Mrs. Spalding was recovering from a lingering illness, and unable to walk a quarter of a mile. Dr. Whit- man overtaking them, hailed them with:
" We want you for the Oregon Mission."
Mr. Spalding. "How long will the journey take ? "
Dr. W. "The summer of two years." Mr. S. " What convoy shall we have ? "
Dr. W. "The American Fur Company to the divide."
Mr. S. "What shall we have to live on ?"
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History of Indian Missions
Dr. W. " Buffalo meat till we raise our own grain."
Mr. S. " How shall we journey ? "
Dr. W. " On horseback."
Mr. S. " How cross the rivers ? "
Dr. W. "Swim them."
After this brief dialogue, Mr. Spalding turned to his wife and said: "My dear, my mind is made up; it is not your duty to go, but we will leave it to you after we have prayed."
By this time they had reached a tavern in the town of Howard, N. Y. Taking a private room, they each prayed in turn, and then Mrs. Spalding was left to herself. In about ten minutes she appeared with a beaming face and said:
" I have made up my mind to go."
" But your health, my dear ?"
"I like the command just as it stands-' Go ye into all the world,' with no exceptions for poor health."
"But the perils in your weak condition. You don't begin to think how weak you are."
" The dangers in the way and my weak con- dition are His. Duty is mine."
"But the Indians will take you prisoner. They are frantic for such captives. You will never see your friends again." And the strong man broke down and began to cry.
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On the Pacific Coast.
Was it the wife that answered, or was it a voice from the old time ? "What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart ? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jeru- salem" or in the Rocky Mountains "for the name of the Lord Jesus."
The way was perilous. The Hudson's Bay Company had said: "Neither wagons nor women can ever cross the terrible rock barriers that wall out Oregon from the United States." Trappers, traders, travelers, everybody echoed the words, "No white woman can cross the mountains and live." Catlin, famous for his travels among the Indians, said at Pittsburgh: "They could never take the women through. One woman tried, but the company was mas- sacred, and never heard of again." Similar tales were repeated by others, but said Mr: Spalding, in regard to his wife, " It didn't move her a hair."
When they reached Council Bluffs, Missouri, they found that they were five and a-half days journey behind the American Fur Company, and it was only after a hard race that they overtook the company at Loup Fork; the com- pany apparently resolved to keep ahead and not allow the missionary band to go with them, . as Mr. Spalding believed, although arrange- ments had been previously made to journey with them.
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History of Indian Missions
Mrs. Spalding was by no means strong, and on the morning of July fourth, owing to the severity of the journey, she fainted, and thought she was about to die. As they laid her upon the ground she said, "Don't put me on that horse again; leave me and save yourselves. Tell mother I am glad I came." But she re- vived and passed on.
As the Methodist missionaries had at first intended to locate east of the Cascade Moun- tains, but owing to the advice of Dr. McLaugh- lin, had changed to Western Oregon, so these had originally intended to work in Western Oregon, but on finding that the Methodists were already there, under advice of the same company, they located in Eastern Oregon.
Mr. Spalding began work among the Nez "Perces, at Lapwai, the last of November, 1837, and Dr. Whitman among the Cayuses at Waii- latpu, six miles west of the present city of Walla Walla, on the tenth of December. Mr. Gray aided these brethren in preparing homes -a labor in which some of the Indians, the Nez Perces, especially, assisted. He also visited other tribes.
The Indians seemed so desirous of religious . instruction that the next year Mr. Gray was sent East by the mission to ask the Board for more missionaries. Four of the Nez Perces ac-
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On the Pacific Coast.
companied him, taking with them a large num- ber of horses and other property, from the sale of which they expected to obtain means to aid in the expense of conducting the missionaries to their country. But when they reached the Platte River they were attacked by a party of Sioux, who killed the Nez Perces, and took all the property, Mr. Gray alone escaping.
Such seemed to be the demand for teachers that the Board sent to Oregon, Rev. E. Walker and Rev. C. Eells, who, with their wives, had been previously assigned to the Zulus of South- eastern Africa, and Rev. A. B. Smith, with Mr. Gray and wife. These started in March, and reached Walla Walla, Aug. 29th, 1838.
The following incidents indicate their hard- ships. Mrs. Walker was usually cheerful, even when others were down-hearted, but one day when they were camped on the north fork of the Platte, it rained very heavily, and worse still, the water was rising over the "bottom."
Mrs. Smith entered the tent of Mrs. Walker, found her things piled up, and everything some- what wet, while she, in rather an odd position, was shedding tears.
"Why, Mrs. Walker," she exclaimed, " what is the matter ?"
"I am thinking how comfortable my father's hogs are," she replied.
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History of Indian Missions
Another time they made a journey of about forty miles before breakfast, which they did not get until about three o'clock in the afternoon. A great portion of the way they had so little flour that they were obliged to make buffalo meat and other game the staff of life, which proved quite unhealthy to some. When they were within 500 miles of Fort Hall, and learned that Dr. Whitman and Mr. Spalding had sent corn meal and other provisions to that fort, they were at first almost overcome, and felt that the God of missions had foreseen their wants and seasonably supplied them.
At a rendezvous of the fur companies and Indians, when half way across, and 1,100 miles from the western boundary of Missouri, they found flour two dollars a pound, coffee and sugar three dollars a pint, salt, of which their supply was about exhausted, was not to be had for any price; they bought a pint of tea for three dollars; tobacco was from three to five dollars a pound, and whisky thirty dollars a gallon, yet most of the traders and trappers were so drunk some days as to be unfit for business.
Mrs. Eells graphically writes of their adven- tures: "On the fifteenth of June we crossed the Sweetwater. I rode along the bank, saw the carts cross the water and thought it was about three feet deep, though many of the loose
On the Pacific Coast.“ 35
horses were swimming. I felt a little afraid and said to Mr. Gray, 'We will stop until our husbands have taken the mules across, and re- turn for us,' as Mr. Eells had gone to lead the way for the pack animals, the other gentlemen to drive them. Mr. Gray, the last after the mules, said, 'The ladies come directly after us.' Mrs. Gray went first and I followed her. My horse mired, entering the river. I some- how managed to dismount and wade through the water and mud on to the bank again, but saw no one coming to my assistance. As soon as I could I went back and tried to help my horse out, but he struggled so that I could not reach his bridle, when Mr. Smith came to my help. As soon as we were both out, I saw Mr. Eells and myself covered with mud, and found my strength nearly all gone. Mr. E. asked if I was hurt. I said, 'I thought only frightened.' By this time the company were all over and gone, and we must not stop. Mr. E. had a tin cup fastened to his belt, and he rinsed the mud off my cloak, and then set me on my horse again, and we went safely across. We then rode four and a-half hours without getting off our horses. By this time the upper side of my clothes were nearly dry, while the underside were wet as when we came from the river. At noon I changed my shoes and stockings, dried
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History of Indian Missions
my other clothes on me as well as I could, and in the afternoon rode three and a-half hours again. This to me was a pretty sorrowful day, though I had great reason to be thankful that I was not hurt, neither did I take cold. * *
" There is much more danger attending the journey than we had supposed. Since we left the States we have found that horseback rid- ing in imagination, and in reality, are two dif- ferent things. We rise at half-past three in the morning. During considerable part of the way we are liable to be met by war parties of wild Indians, and if we are not sufficiently strong, our animals may all be stolen, and we left to wander in the wilderness with savages and wild beasts. The first week after we left Inde- pendence, Mo., three of our best horses, which cost two hundred dollars, were stolen. In four or five weeks another became lame, so that we were obliged to sell him at half price. I believe we agree that no pen can paint the re- alities of this journey so that any one who has not tried will understand it.
"Now, although it costs me tears every time I write home, when I think how neat and nice we used to go to church together, and my tears are never suppressed; yet I do not wish to re- turn, nor have I once regretted that I left all my dear friends, and all that my soul holds dearest
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On the Pacific Coast.
on earth. No, we rather count it a privilege if we may take our place among the heathen and be the means of doing them any good. I only regret that I am not better qualified for my work."
One great cause of trouble with them was that they were obliged to travel on the Sabbath, as the fur companies did so, yet it seemed about as necessary thus to do, as on an ocean steamer on the same day. Indeed, when they were at Cincinnati, the advice of Dr. Lyman Beecher was asked, and he said, substantially, that if he was in a ship on the ocean, when Saturday night came he would not jump into the ocean. Still some could hardly make up their minds that it was right to break one of God's com- mands in order to fulfill another, although they often spoke of the journey " as going to sea on the dry land."
When they reached Walla Walla the settle- ments were described: " The country is large and with comparatively few inhabitants. The Hudson's Bay Company has a number of trad- ing posts, which are generally about three hun- dred miles apart. Dr. Whitman and Mr. Spald- ing each has a station. They are 125 miles apart; the Methodist mission two stations, one 150 miles, and the other 400 miles from here. Besides these, there are no others in this great Territory."
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History of Indian Missions
Mails usually came once in six months, yet a letter dated September 10th, 1841, was received at the Spokane mission July, 1843, and seven or eight donation boxes to the mission, from friends in the East, were lost in the Columbia River about the same time.
On the arrival of this mission reinforcement, Mr. Gray was associated with Mr. Spalding. Mr. Smith was first stationed with Dr. Whit- man, but the next year he opened a new sta- tion at Kamiah, 60 miles from Lapwai, among the Nez Perces, and Messrs. Walker and Eells likewise began another station among the Spokanes, at Tshimakain, six miles north of the Spokane River, in the spring of 1839.
The first few years of the mission were quite encouraging. Owing partly to the novelty, the Indians seemed very anxious to labor, to learn at school, and to receive religious instruction. In 1837, as soon as a school was opened at Lap- wai, Mr. Spalding wrote that a hundred, both old and young, were in attendance. As soon as one had learned something more than the others, they would gather around him, while he would become their teacher. In 1839 one hun- dred and fifty children, and as many more adults, were in school. Similar interest was shown in religious instruction. They sometimes spent whole nights in repeating over and over what
·
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On the Pacific Coast.
they had but partly learned at a religious serv- ice. Two years later 1,000 to 2,000 gathered for religious instruction. Then 2,000 made a public confession of sin, and promised to serve God. Many of them evidently did so with im- perfect ideas of what they were doing, yet not a few were believed to give evidence of conver- sion.
Among the Cayuses, also, more were ready to attend school than the mission family could supply with books, or had ability to teach. Morning and evening worship was maintained in all the principal lodges, and a confession of sin was made somewhat similar to that among the Nez Perces. For a time, when Dr. Whit- man or Mr. Spalding traveled through the country, they were followed by hundreds of In- dians, eager to see them and hear Bible truths at night. They had a strong desire for hoes and other agricultural implements, and were willing to part with any property they had, in order to obtain them, even bringing their rifles to be manufactured into such articles. From 80 to 100 families planted fields near Mr. Spald- ing, and many near Dr. Whitman raised enough provisions for a comfortable supply for their families.
In 1838 Mr. Spalding reported that his field produced 2,000 bushels of potatoes, besides wheat and other articles.
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History of Indian Missions
In the year 1841 a saw and grist mill were erected among the Nez Perces, and a grist mill among the Cayuses.
At Kamiah a large part of the Indians gave up their roving habits for a time, and remained most of the year at home, and the Spokanes received Messrs. Walker and Eells with glad- ness.
In 1837 a church was organized, and in Sep- tember, 1838, the first Indian was received into it; though, in July previous, two Indian girls, who afterwards died in Mr. Spalding's family, gave evidence of conversion, and were baptized as the first fruits of the work.
In November, 1839, Joseph and Timothy, Nez Perces Indians, were admitted to the church. In 1840 Mr. Eells reported a school of eighty scholars.
In 1839 the mission received a donation from Rev. H. Bingham's church, at Honolulu, Sand- wich Islands, of a small printing press, with types, furniture, paper, and other things, of the value of $450. The same church had, the year before, sent eighty dollars in money and ten bushels of salt to the Oregon mission. Mr. E. O. Hall, a printer at the Sandwich Islands, on account of the health of his wife, came with the press, and the first book printed west of the Rocky Mountains, so far as known,
١
History of Undian Missions.
Mrs. M. F. Eells.
Rev. A. F. Waller.
Rev. D. Leslie.
Rev. E. Walker.
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On the Pacific Coast.
was issued that fall in the Nez Perces language. This added new interest to the school, and other books in the same language, and one in that of the Spokanes, followed. Mr. and Mrs. Hall remained until the spring of 1840, when they returned to the Sandwich Islands.
Not many years after the arrival of the mis- sionaries, a traveler gave the following account of his experience with a Nez Perces guide, Creekie by name: After encamping at night, " the wife presented a dish of meat to her hus- band and one to myself. There was a pause. The woman seated herself between her chil- dren. The Indian then bowed his head and prayed to God. A wandering savage in Oregon calling on Jehovah in the name of Jesus Christ ! After the prayer he gave meat to his children and passed the dish to his wife. While eating, the frequent repetition of the words Jehovah and Jesus Christ, in the most reverential manner, led me to suppose that they were conversing on religious topics, and thus they passed an hour. Meanwhile the exceeding weariness of the long day's travel admonished me to seek rest. I had slumbered, I know not how long, when a strain of music awoke me. The Indian family was engaged in its evening devotions. They were singing a hymn in the Nez Perces language. Having finished, they all knelt and
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History of Indian Missions
bowed their faces on the buffalo robe, and Creekie prayed long and fervently. Afterward they sung another hymn and retired. To hos- pitality, family affection and devotion, Creekie added cleanliness and honesty to a great de- gree, manifesting by these fruits, so contrary to the nature and habits of his race, the beautiful influence of the work of grace on the heart."*
But the novelty gradually wore off, and dis- couragements began. The natural heart nat- urally resisted the truths of the Bible, and some of the Spokane chiefs led in the opposition. In 1838 two Roman Catholic priests arrived, spoke against the missionaries, and persuaded some of the Cayuses to be baptized by them. Others afterwards came, established a mission among them, and one of the Roman Catholic Indians instigated some others of the tribe to treat Dr. Whitman and Mr. Gray with much insolence and abuse, to destroy some property, and to demand payment for the land, timber, fuel and water which had been used. But by modera- tion and firmness, and with the aid of the Hudson's Bay Company, the Indians after- wards admitted their guilt, and peace was ap- parently restored.
In 1841, Mr. Smith, after suffering no little annoyance from the savage manners of the Nez
* Century of Dishonour, pp. 106-7.
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On the Pacific Coast.
Perces, on account of the failure of his own and his wife's health, left that mission and Ore- gon, and joined the mission at the Sandwich Islands. He subsequently returned to the East- ern States. In his opinion the Indians were pharisaical, and desired to make money out of the missionaries.
About this time, the mission was visited by Captain Wilkes, of the United States Exploring Squadron, who spoke of Mr. Spalding as untir- ing in industry and perseverance, and succeed- ing as well as his fellows, but that the success among the Cayuses was very small.
By February, 1842, affairs seemed so discour- aging that the Board of Missions concluded to give up the stations among the Cayuses and Nez Perces, and Rev. J. D. Paris and Mr. W. H. Rice, who had been sent to the mission by way of Cape Horn and the Sandwich Islands, having reached the latter place, were induced to remain there temporarily, an arrangement which was afterwards made permanent by the Board at Boston.
The roving habits of the Indians, and the de- crease in the attendance on the schools, in- creased the trials. Hence, Messrs. Spalding and Gray were to return East, and Dr. Whitman was to join the Spokane mission.
In the fall of 1842, however, affairs took a
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History of Indian Missions
more favorable turn : the Spokane Indians showed more thoughtfulness and conscientious- ness ; the school at Lapwai increased to an average of eighty, and afterwards to over 200; 1,000 Nez Perces attended a series of meetings for nine or ten days, seven of whom were ex- amined for admission to the church; the Cay- use Sabbath congregations varied in the spring from 200 to 400, in the fall from 50 to 200, and less during the rest of the year. The two Nez Perces received into the church four years pre- vious, and some others of whom hope was en- tertained, stood well as Christian workers; and there was abundant evidence that the truth was exerting a restraining influence over most of the Indians. Some of them were becoming more settled, so that 50 Cayuse and 150 Nez Perces families cultivated from a quarter of an acre to five acres each; one Nez Perces chief raised 176 bushels of peas, 100 of corn, and 300 of potatoes. Mrs. Spalding had taught a few of the Nez Perces women to knit, card, spin, and weave, and a large number to sew.
The Nez Perces, aided by Dr. E. White, first U. S. Indian Sub-Agent for Oregon, in 1843, organized a simple form of government, elected chiefs, and adopted a few laws. With this as a precedent, and by the aid of some of the Nez Perces, the Cayuses accomplished similar re- forms.
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On the Pacific Coast.
Dr. White regarded the Nez Perces mission as the most promising in Oregon. "I was greatly surprised," he wrote, "in traveling through the Indian country, to find the outward forms of Christianity, prayer and singing, ob- served in nearly every lodge." And again, "Too much cannot be said in praise of the Presbyterian missions, for their efforts in be- half of the Indians, which are indefatigable."
It was also becoming evident that more Americans were soon to come into the terri- tory, and they would need something other than Roman Catholic preaching.
All these things determined the missionaries, in the fall of 1842, to continue all the stations, notwithstanding the instructions received from the Board at Boston, until the matter could again be reconsidered.
These, and other considerations relating to the possession of the country, to which refer- ence will afterwards be made, rendered it ex- pedient, in the opinion of the mission, for Dr. Whitman to return East. He did so, leaving Walla Walla October 3rd, 1842, and reaching Boston, March 30th, 1843. He made such rep- resentations that the Board ratified the action of the mission, in continuing all the stations. After transacting important business at Wash- ington, and visiting his friends, he returned
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History of Indian Missions
to Oregon. He left the western frontiers of Missouri, May 31st, and after a short time overtook a company of about 875 emigrants, some of whom, when he was in the East, he had promised to aid, should they determine to go to Oregon. This journey was successfully made, and the first train of emigrant wagons rolled through to the Columbia River.
Mr. and Mrs. Gray were, at their own request, dismissed from the mission in the spring of 1843, that he might become General Superin- tendent and secular agent of the Oregon Insti- tute at Salem. A teacher was employed at Lapwai, and the congregation continued much as before. The novelty, however, of working for themselves was gone, while at the same time the Roman Catholic teachers, and others opposed to the mission, told the Indians that the missionaries ought to furnish them with food and clothing ; so that while more was done to assist the Indians, there was more jeal- ousy and fault-finding in 1844 than there had previously been. The increasing number of emigrants also awakened fears among the In- dians of finally losing their country, and caused additional dissatisfaction.
But yet the work of the missionaries was not without its beneficent effects upon the hearts of the Indians, so that at least some of them ap-
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On the Pacific Coast.
preciated their labors; for in February, 1843, when Mrs. Spalding was so sick that it was feared she would die, a Nez Perces chief said : " If it could be, I would gladly die in her stead that she might live to teach the people."
In May, 1843, nine Nez Perces were received into the church-four men and five women; and twenty-five or thirty others, it was expected, would be received in a few weeks thereafter, but there is no record to show that this was done. Two prayer-meetings were then sus- tained, and 200 were in the Sabbath-school.
In June, 1844, ten more were approved for church fellowship. During these years the work at the other stations went on much as before, with comparatively little of unusual inter- est. The Spokanes did not engage in agricul- ture with as much zeal as the other tribes, owing mainly to the poorness of the soil, and the coldness of the climate.
From this time until near the close of the mission there was but little change. It was re- ported as slow, up-hill work, yet the Indians seemed to be slowly advancing in the knowledge of christian truth, and manifested growing con- fidence in their teachers.
In June, 1847, the Methodist Episcopal church, which had given up all their other Indian work in Oregon, transferred their station at the
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History of Indian Missions
Dalles to the American Board of Commission- !
ers for Foreign Missions, and Messrs. Perrin Whitman and A. Hinman were appointed by the mission to take temporary charge of it. In the spring of 1847, some of the Nez Perces In- dians annoyed Mr. Spalding in such a way as to prove fatal to his usefulness for a time, but as the season advanced a more friendly feeling was shown, the chiefs professing to deplore the conduct of the "infidel party, " and earnestly desiring Mr. Spalding to remain with them. Dr. Whitman had some misgivings as to his safety, in regard to which he consulted with Dr. John McLaughlin, and in the spring of 1847 urged Hon. J. Q. Thornton to go to Washington to urge the establishment of a territorial gov- ernment, as the only means of saving his mis- sion from the murderous hands of the savages : yet on the whole he thought that affairs were favorable, and gave promise of continued pros- perity, so that he was preparing to erect a church and other buildings. He also wrote letters earnestly requesting the American Home Missionary Society and the American Tract Society to occupy the field, without delay; and in April, 1847, Mrs. Eells wrote: "We feel that as a mission our prospects were never more encouraging."
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