A History of Oregon, 1792-1849: Drawn From Personal Observation and Authentic InformationGray, W. H. (William Henry)
History
A History of Oregon, 1792-1849: Drawn From Personal Observation and Authentic Information
Gray, W. H. (William Henry)
Frontier and pioneer life -- Oregon; Oregon Territory -- History
Dr. Whitman, it will be remembered, was associated with Mr. Parker,
under the direction of the American Board. They had arrived at the
rendezvous in the Rocky Mountains; most of the Nez Percés were at the
American rendezvous. Ish-hol-hol-hoats-hoats, a young Nez Percé Indian
(named by the American trappers, _Lawyer_, on account of his shrewdness
in argument, and his unflinching defense of American against British and
foreign influences), having learned of their arrival, came to them and
settled matters quite satisfactorily to both, by requesting Mr. Parker
to go with them to their country, they having heard of Rev. Mr. Lee and
party going to settle near the _husus-hai-hai_ (White Head), as the
natives called Dr. John McLaughlin, in the Wallamet Valley. They
consented to let the Doctor take two of their boys. To Ites he gave the
name of John; Tuetakas he called Richard. Dr. Whitman was to go to the
States, report to the American Board, and procure associates and the
material to establish a mission in the Nez Percé country.
The Nez Percés were to take charge of Mr. Parker, and carry him forward
in his explorations, and meet Dr. W., on his return next year, at the
place of rendezvous in the mountains, to conduct him and his party to
the place Mr. Parker might select for a mission establishment. Rev. S.
Parker, in company with the Indians, went on, and Dr. Whitman, with his
two Indian boys, with the American Fur Company, Capts. Fitzpatrick,
Bridger, and others, started on their way to the States, or "home from
the Rocky Mountains." Dr. Whitman, by his off-hand, easy manner of
accommodating himself to circumstances, and by his kind-heartedness and
promptness to relieve all who needed his professional skill, had won the
esteem of all with whom he traveled, so that the gentlemen of the
American Fur Company cheerfully supplied his wants on his return trip to
the States, where he arrived in due time, made his report to the
American Board, who decided to establish the mission, as per arrangement
with Parker and Whitman, on separating in the Rocky Mountains.
Mrs. Whitman, formerly Miss Narcissa Prentiss, of Prattsburg, Steuben
County, New York, was a lady of refined feelings and commanding
appearance. She had very light hair, light, fresh complexion, and light
blue eyes. Her features were large, her form full and round. At the time
she arrived in the country, in the prime of life, she was considered a
fine, noble-looking woman, affable and free to converse with all she
met. Her conversation was animated and cheerful. Firmness in her was
natural, and to some, especially the Indians, it was repulsive. She had
been brought up in comparative comfort, and moved in the best of
religious society in the place of her residence. She was a good singer,
and one of her amusements, as well as that of her traveling companions,
was to teach the Doctor to sing, which she did with considerable
success,--that is, he could sing the native songs without much
difficulty.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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