GEORGE H. HIMES

168

the close of the day 16 of these made a public profession, among- them Joseph L. Meek, so well known in the early annals of Oregon. fessing Christians.

At

I now return to Dr. Parker. By the spring of 1835 he had been commissioned by the American Board, and had chosen Dr. Whitman to be his companion in undertaking "an exploring mission to ascertain by personal observation the condition of the country, the character of the Indian tribes, and the facilities

them."

for introducing the Gospel and civilization among Dr. Parker started on March 14, from Ithaca, New

York, and arrived at

St.

Louis on April

4, finding

Dr.

Whitman

They proceeded on their journey and arrived Here they met a large number at Green River on August 12. of Indians, and it became apparent at once that they were not prepared to do the work that they saw would be needed already there.

the Indians, consequently Dr. Whitman returned east, him two Ne Perce boys, whose presence in the with taking East greatly assisted him in arousing the Christian public

among

to activity in missionary effort.

The

effect of this

was

to

secure an adequate equipment, and in March, 1836, Dr. and

Mrs. Whitman, Rev. and Mrs. H. H. Spalding, and Mr. W. H. Gray started on the trip overland to Oregon. They arrived at Vancouver September 12. Mrs. Whitman and Mrs. Spalding were the first white women to cross the continent, and for the first time a wagon was brought to waters flowing into the Columbia.

Dr.

Whitman

at

once selected his mission station

west of the present city of Walla he and Mrs. Whitman went thither and in October and Walla, the work their Cayuses. In November Mr. and among began at Wai-il-et-pu, six miles

Mrs. Spalding went to Lapwai on the Clearwater, thirteen miles from the present city of Lewiston, a tributary of the Snake, and raised their standard among the Nez Perces. The mission church at Wai-il-et-pu

was formally organized August

That 18, 1838, with seven members. rived in the persons of Rev. Elkanah

fall

reinforcements ar-

Walker and wife, Rev. and Rev. A. B. Smith Eells and wife, W. H. wife, Cushing and all Andrew sent and wife, Rogers by the American Gray