The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-23
MARY r. WALKER.
Death Of The Oldest American Settler
of Oregon.

of Oregon.
she was Sorn in Baldwin and Went West
as Missionary. r
(F'rom the Washington County Ratchet
Forest Grove, Oregon
Mrs. Mary r. Walker, the Oldest re-
naming American settler of Oregon. died
peacefully of old age at the home of her
son, L. G. Walker, Sunday morning at
II O'Clock.
Mrs. Walkers parents Joseph and
Charlotte (Thompson) Richardson. came
of old American families, and for severa,
generations had been prominent mem.
bers of the Congregational church. Her
great grandfathers We're Revolutionary
soldiers, Danieli Thompson falling in the
second days skirmish at Lexington. The
family residence had for years been at
Baldwin, Me-, and there, April l, 1911
Mary Richardson was born, the second
of IL children. Although eyincfng un-
usual brightness of mind in youth, she
was siokly, and made VOW that should
the Lord give her strength, she would
devote her life to the missionary cause.
AT about 20 she joined the Congrega-
tional church, and shortly after the
American board of missions accepted her
rendered sevices, intending that she
should go with a mission then preparing
for Central Africa. While awaiting the
close of the war in that region, however,
W. H. Gray came to Oregon for mission
airy achievements, and the party was
ordered there instead. The board desired
its missionaries to be married before go
ing to their field of labor and sent to
Miss Richardson home, with letter OF
introduction expressing the hope she and
her family might look with favor upon
him, Elkanah Walker, resident graduate
of the Bangor Theological school, six
years her senior, who had been lately Or
dained as foreign missionary. After a
few days consideration the plan of the
| board was assented to, and they were
married March 5, 1888, the same day
starting on their trip across the oonti-
nent. Across the Alleghanies they jour
neyed in coaches, at Westport, Mo-, they
joined MIR. Gray and the wife for whom
he had come East and thence set out ON
muleback. With them were Mr.. and Mrs.
Eells In a train Of the American Fur
Company they crossed the plains, and
after the usual hardships of pioneer travel
reached Waiilatpu, where they spent the
first winter. There December z, 1888,
was born their eldest son, Cyrus Hamlin,
the firstswhite male child born in the ter
near Albany With the spring they
| went to their missio field at Walker s
prairie, swhere they remained teaching the
Indians until the news came of the Whit.
man massacre in November 1877, when
they came to Fort Colvile for the winter.
Thence, under the protection of soldiers,
they travelled to the Willamette Valley
and spent the winter at Oregon City.
The following fall Mr.. and Mrs. Walker
bought of Peter Hatch the donation claim,
where Forest Grove now is, and removed
here to make it their homo until their
death. Mr.. Walker was actively con-
cerned in gbuilding the Congregational
church, of which he was pastor for nine
years, and also in the establishment of
81. 1877, Mrs. Walkers mind had been
olouded for several years past, but about
fortnight ago her reason returned Mr..
and Mrs. Walker had seven sons and one
daughter all married, six having been
born in the mission field and two in the
Willamette valley. The eldest has all
ready been spoken of, Marcus Whitman
!
residing in Washington; Joseph .Ekanah
for more than 20 years has been mission
airy in China; jeremiah died at the age
of "a; John r. diedEMay 10, 1895 at Forest
Grove; Abigail, the second child, is the
wife OF Hon. James Kari, capitalist of
Hoquiam, Washington; Levi c. sur
vey or, resides here as does Samuel Z. a
florist, who lives on the home farm,
There are 25 grandchildren and six great
grandchildren
The funeral, whichEoccurred Wednesday
forenoon in the Congregational church.
was attended by large gathering nota-
BILE for the many pioneers and old people,
Rev. Myron Eells. in accordance with a
promise to Mrs. Walker. made years ago,
conducted the services and was assisted
by Rev. @. f. Clapp. The pail bearers
were Mayor Human, Hon. David Smith,
DIR. Crang, Rev. G. f. Clapp. Alvin
Brown, and VIM. Mcleod. The burial
was at the Buxton cemetery, beside the
grave OF her husband.