Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-01-13

ished in l847 in the Cayuse massacre
in which DIR. and Mrs Whitman were
slain. Here persisted also the half
breed daughter of James Bridger, who
was also at school with the Whitmans,
Meek's third wife was a Nez Perez
woman named by him Virginia, "
whom he married in oregon accord
ing TO the Christian rites. She bore
him seven children and their descend
ants now own lands and live on farms
on the Nez Perez reservation near
Fort Lapui. Idaho. His grandchildren
are three-fourthS Nez Perez and one
fourth white
Joseph L. Meek hunted trapped and
fought Indians in the Wind river
mountains. on the upper Yellowstone,
in the Gallatin valley and on the
headwaters of the Missouri river from
1929 to 1910.
After the decline Of the fur business
in the early fortieS Meek joined the
emigration to Oregon, where he settled
with his Indian wife and children.
Meek Is Elected Marshal
Upon the organization Of a provi-
Sional government Meek was elected
marshal, his principal duty being to
collect the taxes, which were paid In
wheat at so cents bushel. He re-
signed this office and was elected to
the Legislature about 1886, and was re-
elected the following year. About this
time the northwest boundary dispute
was settled and Oregon became part
of the United States.
In 1847 occurred an Indian uprising,
known as the Cayuse war, during
which DR.. Marcus Whitman with his
family and others about the mission
at Waiilatpu, were maSsacred. 1t was
necessary to inform the United States
government of the condition of affairs
in Oregon and to ask for assistance in
subduing the hostile Indians.
Meek was chosen as the messenger
to proceed to Washington, in view of
his knowledge of the country and ex-
perience in the mountains and among
the Indians. He resigned his seat in
the legislature and on Jan. 4, 1S48, set
out overland, having for his compan-
ions John Owens and George EbbartS.
At The Dalles they found the first
regiment of Oregon riflemen, consist
ing of about 500 men, with whom they
proceeded to Waiilatpu late in January.
Arriving at Waiilatpu they were
shocked to find that the bodies of the
victims of the massacre had not been
buried, although a little earth had
been thrown over them. To Meek, who
had been a great friend and admirer
of Whitman and Mrs. Whitman, de-
volved the task of locating their bodies
and having them properly inferred.
Not only had Meek to discover and
bury the remains of the WhitmanS,
the daughter Of his former leader,
James Bridger, who had likewise been
slain during the massacre.
Meets Bridger Again
After being accompanied to the foot
If TQIgYn mountains fNxy q 10 my
of 100 men, Meek and his two COM
panionS, with the addition of four men
who were returning east, proceeded on
their journey. They travelled by way
Of Fort Hall and Fort Bridger, where
Bridger, overjoyed at meeting his old
friend, presented him with four mules,
two of which were lost in the deep
snow of the South pass. Travelling via
Fort Laramie and the Platte they
reached st. Joseph, MO, after an over
land trip of more than two months.
When Meek reached Washington he
was pennileSS and dressed in the gar
ments in which he crossed the plains,
an old blanket suit and fur cap. He
declined to obtain other clothing but
insisted upon being taken before
President Polk, who was his cousin,
and delivered his documents and gave
the president information as to condi-
b4OAAo LII O1CSO1. 1ln0l8 AlAo quay III
washington he was ltonized and spent
like water all the money he could
obtain, even to the extent Of giving
champagne suppers.
on Aug. IA, 1848, congress passed
the bill creating the territory of Ore
gon, and President Polk appointed
Meek the first United States marshal
for the territory, and he was given a
commission TO be delivered by him to
Gen. Joseph Lane Of Indiana. as gov
eTnor of Oregon. He accompanied Lane
to Oregon, making the trip over the
Santa Fe trail to San Pedro bay, Cali
fornia, where they afterwards took
ship for Oregon, and on March 2, 1919,
reached their destination and the ter
ritorial government was put IN oper-
alton the following day, one day be-
fore the expiration Of President Folks
term of office. Meek died in Oregon.
Seed ShOIO Entries
y Ne