[Illustration: EZRA MEEKER WASHINGTON, D. C., JAN. 23, 1916. BORN DEC. 29, 1830] THE BUSY LIFE OF EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS OF EZRA MEEKER VENTURES AND ADVENTURES Sixty-three years of Pioneer Life in the Old Oregon Country; An Account of the Author's Trip Across the Plains with an Ox Team, 1852; Return Trip, 1906-7; His Cruise on Puget Sound, 1853; Trip Through the Natchess Pass, 1854; Over the Chilcoot Pass; Flat-boating on the Yukon, 1898. THE OREGON TRAIL AUTHOR OF PIONEER "REMINISCENCES OF PUGET SOUND"—"THE TRAGEDY OF LESCHI"—"HOP CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES"—"WASHINGTON TERRITORY WEST OF THE CASCADE MOUNTAINS"—"THE OX TEAM"—"UNCLE EZRA'S SHORT STORIES FOR THE CHILDREN." PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR $1.50 Postpaid SEATTLE, WASHINGTON COPYRIGHT 1916 BY EZRA MEEKER PRESS WM. B. BURFORD [Illustration] INDIANAPOLIS CONTENTS CHAPTER I. Autobiography. Birth and Parentage—Boyhood Days—Aversion to School—Early Ambitions—Farm Training—Life in a Printing Office—At Tippecanoe as a Songster 7 CHAPTER II. Time of My Youth. Our Ohio Home—A Period of Invention—The Printing Press—Our Removal to Indiana—Habits Acquired on the Trip 15 CHAPTER III. Early Days in Indiana. I'm Going to Be a Farmer—Off for Iowa—An Iowa Winter 18 CHAPTER IV. Off for Oregon. Preparation—Getting a Partner—First Day Out 23 CHAPTER V. The Ferry Across the Missouri 26 CHAPTER VI. Out on the Plains. Indian Country—The Cholera—Extent of Emigration—The Casualties 29 CHAPTER VII. Buffalo Chase and Stampede. Buffalo Trails—Chase on the Missouri—Stampede on the Platte 37 CHAPTER VIII. Out on the Plains. The Law of Self-Preservation—Crossing the Snake River—Wagon Beds as Boats—Down Snake River in Wagon Boxes—On to Portland 39 CHAPTER IX. Floating Down the River 51 CHAPTER X. The Arrival. At Work—Moving to St. Helens—Building a Home 57 CHAPTER XI. The First Cabin. Home Life—A Trip to Puget Sound 63 CHAPTER XII. Cruise on Puget Sound. Building a Boat—Afloat on Puget Sound—A Visit to the Indians 69 CHAPTER XIII. Cruise on Puget Sound. At Steilacoom 77 CHAPTER XIV. Cruise on Puget Sound. At Tacoma—On Puyallup Bay 84 CHAPTER XV. Cruise on Puget Sound. At Alki Point—A Fish Story 91 CHAPTER XVI. Cruise on Puget Sound. Port Townsend—Building the City—Colonel Ebey 96 CHAPTER XVII. From Columbia River to Puget Sound.