The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1936-08-27

UNInODUCAAOI,. Iiiis .ie eisnIL.
Of q series Of eight articles cover
ing the lives Of Narcissa Prentiss
Whitman and her husband, Dr..
Marcus Whitman. The Centennial
celebration of the 1886 overland
journey of the Misunderstanding
band Of missionaries is being held
in Walla Walla. August 1916. 1896.
CHAPTER III
Desolate and neglected, the great
grave at Waiilatpu lay for a few
years in an empty land. Northwest
history was being written with a
pen dipped in blood. On August IA,
1848, Oregon Territory was orga-
nized, including the present states
of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.
In 1853 settlers who had gone north
Of the Columbia as far as Puget
Sound succeeded in winning Con-
gressional approval Of the Terri
tory of Washington.
Soon after the massacre, the Ore
gon Volunteers encamped at Wal
ilatpu. They repaired the grist mill,
raised grain, and took up land
claims. Their patrolling of the inn
migranttrail was invaluable service
to the immigration Of 1848. So the
spirits of martyred NarciSSa and
Marcus Whitman watched over the
road they had helped to make
broad and clear for the Americans
in the Northwest.
Six miles away, new Fort Walla
Walla was built when the Volun-
teers withdrew from Waiilatpu. The
old Fort Walla Walla had been
burned. The American government
had bought out the Hudson's Bay
Company. AS soon as the land was
proclaimed again open for settle
ment, a community quickly grew
up near the fort. Today that com
munity is the city Of Walla Walla.
During the Indian wars. Rev.
Cushing Eells had been teaching
at Taulatin Academy in Forest
Grove, Oregon. At the first safe
opportunity, he visited Waiilatpu
and located the unmarked grave.
Tradition has it that there the idea
came to him that he wanted to
found a college that would perpetu-
ate the memories Of DIR. Marcus
Whitman and his cultured charming
wife, Narcissa Prentiss Whitman.
Though Eells may not have
known Il, the Whitmans had often
spoken Of the possibility Of es-
tablishing q higher co-educational
school. In 1916, Mrs. Whitman wrote
to her brother and sister In New
York: do not be tnxious for your
children: here is q good place for
them to do well for themselves.
both as to education and getting
a living. We have a good English
school here every winter and event
uelly intend to have an academy
and college.
The charter for whitman Semi
nary" was granted in 1859. the first
charter to be granted to an ed
ucational institution in washington
Territory. Eells staked of the mis-
sion claim for the American Board
during his visit in 1859. In 1850 and
1851 he spent the season farming
and preaching In order to earn
enough money to pay the Board
for the place. thousand dollars:
The first meeting Of the Board OF
Trustees was held December IL.
1850. Actual instructions began In
a rough board hut at Waiilatpu On
December 4, 1858. with thirteen
pupils In attendance for q three
months term. The growth Of the
town ok miles to the east obliged
Whitman Seminary to move TO more
suitable quarters there In 1o06. 70
land donated BY DR.. D. s. Baker.
Thebeautiful outdoor amphithe-
atre at Whitman College, which has
grown up from that small begin
vices In honor Of the Whitmans
ming. d the ate for memorial -.
during the Whitman Centennial
Celebration, August 1915. 1888.
National oe0anixAtions have
charge q Tie services, ne Amefi-
en- Medical Association handling
nfaneements for tAe flfst dag,
when Dr.. Whitman's services - tie
mt American physlelaA - pCoe-
tee n TIE NorthWost VI Be n
mombeeed. Tie second day'S ovene
W1n hoaor IRA Wh1lnaa - tAe
ploooef 1k0oheR, w - program
q ehAHe q 1le Americas Assoc
lkl3on q University Wo9oa, -
nasVOffov~ - 49, A-~av3cAn Rem.