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Introduction
Even though Marcus may not have wanted to pursue doctoring, his skill in the medical field added with his religous beliefs helped a lot of people during the Whitman Mission. -
Period: to
1800-1850
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Marcus Whitman and Narcissa Prentiss Birthday and Young Life
September 4th, 1802, Marcus Whitman was born in Federal Hollow, New York (Later named Rushville). He grew up in a cabin with his family. When his father, Beza Whitman, died on April 7th, 1810, Marcus was sent to live with his uncle in Massachusetts. Although this was a very sad event, Marcus may have never pursued his mission if his father hadn't died. Narcissa Prentiss was born on March 14, 1808. She too grew up with a church life and at a young age was accepted into a congregational church. -
Marcus Whitman: Religous and Medical Interests
Marcus grew up living a religous lifestyle. He attended Church and befriended the pastor of his presbyterian church. There is no exact date known, but In 1820, 18 year old Marcus returned home to Federal Hollow and told his family he wanted to pursue ministry and become a priest. His family did not approve and his brothers told him he should study medicine instead. -
Going to College
In 1825 Marcus went to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the Western District of New York, Farfield. He still was not very interested in medicine and quit college after two years. Then he became more serious about Ministry. He headed to Canada-The Niagra District- for 2 1/2 years to study ministry. Then he returned home, unsure of what to do. In 1831, he decided to go back to Farfield and get his Medical Doctor Degree. -
Applying to the ABCFM
Marcus had been writing letters to the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions (ABCFM) trying to get into the system. Narcissa was doing the same thing. Marcus was accepted on January 6th 1835 as a missionary doctor. This started his journet of creating the Whitman Mission. Narcissa was not accepted, Unwed women were not entered as missionary doctors. -
We're going on an Adventure!
After Marcus was accepted into the ABCFM program he went on his first mission trip. He travled to the Rocky Mountains with a man named Samuel Parker in 1835. During the trip, the men were not to fond of Marcus. It wasn't until Marcus operated on a man named Jim Bridger to remove an arrowhead from his back, that he was truly accepted as the medical doctor. -
Marcus gets married!
Marcus was seeking a partner to travel on his missions with. It just so happens that Narcissa needed a husband in order to even be accepted into the ABCFM. Marcus and Narcissa decided to get married and on February 18, 1836, they did just that. Narcissa was accepted into ABCFM and her and Marcus were now a Missionary couple. -
Founding the Whitman Mission
In 1836, Marcus and Narcissa headed west with another couple named Henry and Elize Spalding. During this journey, Elize and Narcissa became the first two women to go on a mission that far into the west. After traveling with the Spalding couple, they decided to stop future in southern Washington while the Spalding continued to future Idaho. There, the Whitmans founded the Whitman Mission fot the Cayuse Indians at Waiilaptu, Walla Walla Valley. -
The birth of Alice Clarissa Whitman
On March 14, 1837 Narcissa gave birth to their only child. March 14 is also Narcissa Whitman's birthday. Narcissa was often very distant though. LIfe on this mission was dull for her, and she became depressed. It wan't until she gave birth to Alice, that she really came out of her shell. Alice became the shining star to Narcissa's life. Alice improved the work Narcissa was doing. -
The Death of Alice Clarissa Whitman
Alice was the light in Narcissa's life. Unfortunatley on June 23, 1839, Alice drowned in the Walla Walla River. Narcissa sunk back into depression, living her life with the Cayuse Tribe. Alice adopted many children in the future, both Cayuse and pioneer children. Those include the Sager Orphans she adopted in 1844 whose parents died on the Oregon trail. None of them were the same as Alice. -
The Oregon Trail Waystop
The Whitman Mission took part in helping people on the Oregon trail. Many people heard about the Whitman Mission and stopeed there for rest, food, and medical attention. Pretty soon, white settlers were flooding in from the trail, seeking help. Narcissa and Marcus were then helping more white people than Cayuse. This made the Cayuse suspicious. -
The Measle Epidemic
Throughout the year of 1847 the Measles swept through the Whitman's mission. White and Cayuse people alike caught the disease. Marcus was known as the Medicine Man, and was ordered to treat them. The medicines did not work on the Cayuse, only the white settlers. 1/2 of the Cayuse tribe was killed by these Measles. The Cayuse were already suspicous with so many white people coming to their land, but now they though that the Whitmans gave them disease ridden blankets and poisoned them on purpose. -
The Whitman Massacre
It is custom in the Cayuse tribe, that if a doctor treats a patient and that patient dies, then the family has the right to kill the doctor. The Cayuse did not trust Marcus and Narcissa anyway after the high amounts of white people and the Measle Epidemic. On November 29, 1847, eleven Cayuse took part in killing the Whitmans. -
The Trial of the Whitman's KIllers
Since the killings in 1847, the whole Cayuse tribe was blamed for the death of the Whitmans. Attacks were made on the Cayuse tribe. To try and stop the bloodshed, 5 Cayuse indians turned themselves in. One of them was the leader, Cheif Tiloukaikt. In 1850 All of them were proven guilty and hung. This did not save the Cayuse people from destruction though. Since they were so worn from the Measles and battles, the remaining indians joined other tribes. The Cayuse were no longer independent people. -
BIBLIOGRAPHY
"New Perspectives on the West." PBS. PBS, 2001. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/s_z/whitman.htm. United States. National Park Service. "Biography of Marcus Whitman."National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, 26 Apr. 2015. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. http://www.nps.gov/whmi/learn/historyculture/marcus-biography.htm. -
BIBLIOGRAPHY
United States. National Park Service. "Biography of Narcissa Whitman."National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, 26 Apr. 2015. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. http://www.nps.gov/whmi/learn/historyculture/narcissa-biography.htm. United States. National Park Service. "Whitman Mission National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)." National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, 26 Apr. 2015. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. http://www.nps.gov/whmi/index.htm. -
PICTURE CREDITS
Narcissa Whitman picture credit to Wikipedia Marcus Whitman picture credit to Wikipedia Physician College picture credit to Austin Newsam Bilbo Baggins Hobbit picture credit to Peter Jackson Wedding Couple picture credit to Amplify Churches Alice Whitman Tombstone picture credit to aschenbrodel Entrance to Whitman Mission picture credit to Fort Wiki Oregon Trail Wagon picture credit to thinglink Whitman Massacre picture credit to Legends of America
