Dr. Marcus Whitman – Missionary to the Cayuse
Dr. Marcus Whitman, a physician and missionary, stands as a pivotal figure in the history of the American West. He, along with his wife Narcissa, were among the vanguard of American settlers to venture into the Oregon Country. Their establishment of a mission in 1836 among the Cayuse Indians in southeastern Washington state marked a significant chapter in the westward expansion of the United States. This mission not only aimed to convert the Cayuse to Christianity but also evolved into a crucial trading post and a vital rest stop along the burgeoning Oregon Trail, offering succor to countless pioneers braving the arduous journey west. Dr. Marcus Whitman’s story is one of faith, ambition, and ultimately, tragedy, intertwined with the complex interactions between settlers and Native American tribes during a period of profound transformation.
Born on September 4, 1802, in Federal Hollow, New York (later renamed Rushville), Dr. Marcus Whitman was the son of Beza and Alice Whitman. His lineage traced back seven generations to John Whitman, who arrived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony before December 1638. The early loss of his father at the age of seven led to Marcus being raised by an uncle in Massachusetts for five years. This period shaped his education and instilled in him a strong moral compass.
His formative teenage years were spent in Plainfield, Massachusetts, under the tutelage of Reverend Moses Hallock. At the age of 17, Dr. Marcus Whitman experienced the powerful influence of religious revivals sweeping through New England, a phenomenon known as the Second Great Awakening. This awakening ignited a desire within him to dedicate his life to ministry. However, his family initially resisted his aspirations, as becoming a minister required a significant commitment of seven years of study. Instead, he spent three years working in his stepfather’s tannery and shoe business. At 21, he embarked on a new path, apprenticing himself to a local physician to pursue a career in medicine.
In 1825, he enrolled in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the Western District of New York in Fairfield. After only sixteen weeks of study, he obtained a license to practice medicine. He then practiced medicine in Canada, spending approximately two and a half years in the Niagara District before returning to Rushville. His thoughts once again turned to the ministry, and he began preparatory studies. Unfortunately, illness interrupted his studies, and he never completed them. He re-entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Fairfield in October 1831, ultimately earning his Medical Doctor (M.D.) degree.
Following his graduation, Dr. Marcus Whitman established himself in Wheeler, New York, where he became an active and respected member of the community. He was elected as a trustee of the Wheeler Presbyterian Church in 1832 and 1833 and ordained as an elder in 1834. It was also in 1834 that he came to the attention of the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions (ABCFM) in Boston, Massachusetts, an organization that supported Presbyterian and Congregational missions worldwide. Reverend H.P. Strong of Rushville wrote to the ABCFM on April 25, 1834, highlighting Dr. Whitman’s qualities and expressing his belief that he would be well-suited to serve as a missionary physician. Strong emphasized Whitman’s sound judgment, piety, perseverance, and successful medical practice, suggesting that he might even be ordained in time.
The ABCFM’s response to Reverend Strong led to further communication with Dr. Marcus Whitman, who subsequently wrote to the Board in June 1834, articulating his understanding of the missionary cause as rooted in the Atonement and the commands of Jesus Christ. He expressed his belief in the importance of seeking the advancement of Christ’s cause above personal interests and declared his readiness to serve in any capacity, whether as a physician, teacher, or agriculturalist. He also noted his unmarried status but expressed a desire to marry if the Board’s service allowed.
Despite the positive testimonials, the ABCFM initially hesitated to appoint Marcus Whitman as a missionary due to his previous health issues. However, after receiving further assurances about his improved health, the Board convened on January 6, 1835, and formally appointed Dr. Whitman as a medical missionary. His first assignment was to accompany Samuel Parker to the Rocky Mountains that summer to scout potential mission sites. Before embarking on this journey, Marcus sought to complete the one missing aspect of his life – marriage.
In February 1835, Marcus visited the home of Narcissa Prentiss, whom he may have known previously, and proposed marriage. In that era, missionary couples were often introduced through mutual acquaintances, resulting in unions based on shared values and goals rather than deep personal familiarity. Narcissa Prentiss, from Amity, New York, had also applied to the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions but had been rejected because she was unmarried. Marcus Whitman’s proposal was the answer to her prayers. Narcissa accepted, and they had a year to prepare for their marriage while Marcus made his first journey west with Samuel Parker.
The westward journey with Parker proved to be challenging. Parker was difficult and treated Whitman more like a servant than an associate. They traveled with a caravan bound for the annual Rendezvous of mountain men and trappers held on the Green River in present-day Wyoming. Whitman and Parker’s Christian beliefs and temperance advocacy were initially met with hostility by the others in the caravan. However, Whitman’s medical skills earned him respect when he treated a cholera outbreak among the group. He also successfully operated on mountain man James Bridger, removing a three-inch iron arrowhead that had been lodged in his back for three years following a battle with Blackfeet Indians. This successful operation established Whitman’s reputation as a skilled medicine man even before he founded the mission among the Cayuse in 1836. After meeting with Nez Perce and Salish chiefs, Parker and Whitman parted ways. Samuel Parker continued to explore Walla Walla with the Indians, while Marcus returned east to marry Narcissa and prepare for their next journey, including recruiting additional missionaries.
On his return trip east, Dr. Whitman was accompanied by two Nez Perce boys, whom he renamed Richard and John. He also submitted a report to the ABCFM, asserting his belief that women could successfully traverse the cross-country journey, a notion previously unproven by European descent women. Marcus hoped to find another couple to join them in their Oregon venture. He learned of Henry and Eliza Spalding, who were en route to serve as missionaries among the Osage people. Marcus caught up with them and persuaded them to join the Oregon missions. With the Spaldings’ agreement secured, Marcus returned to New York, where he married Narcissa Prentiss on February 18, 1836. Their marriage marked the beginning of their shared journey west, embarking on a new life as missionaries among the Cayuse people, with whom they would spend the remainder of their lives.
Between 1836 and 1847, the lives of the Whitmans and the Cayuse underwent significant transformations. The Cayuse, a semi-nomadic people, followed a seasonal cycle of hunting, gathering, and fishing. Dr. Whitman introduced agriculture to encourage the Cayuse to remain at the mission, and he also introduced Christianity. By the mid-1840s, the mission had become a crucial stop along the Oregon Trail. Emigrants heading to the Willamette Valley knew they could find food, medicine, and shelter at Whitman’s Mission during the winter. However, the Cayuse grew increasingly suspicious of the influx of settlers, and tensions between the Indians and the missionaries began to escalate. The situation reached a critical point in 1847 with a measles epidemic that decimated half the Cayuse tribe within months. Despite being regarded as a "te-wat" or medicine man by the Cayuse, Marcus’s treatments proved ineffective against the measles.
According to Cayuse tradition, if a patient died after being treated by a medicine man, the patient’s family had the right to kill him. On November 29, 1847, eleven Cayuse participated in what became known as the "Whitman Massacre." Although the majority of the tribe was not involved in the deaths of the Whitmans and eleven emigrants, the entire tribe was held accountable until 1850. In that year, five Cayuse were surrendered to authorities in Oregon City and hanged for the murder of the Whitmans.
In 1859, Cushing Eells, an associate of Dr. Marcus Whitman, established the Whitman Seminary on the former mission grounds. Later, the seminary was relocated to Walla Walla and renamed Whitman College. The site of Whitman’s death and their mission is now the Whitman Mission National Historic Site, managed by the National Park Service. The Historic Site preserves the foundation ruins of the mission buildings, the restored irrigation ditch, millpond, and orchard. The Great Grave contains the remains of the victims of the 1847 massacre.
The visitor center houses artifacts uncovered by archaeologists and interprets the history of the mission and missionary efforts in Oregon. The mission is located approximately seven miles west of Walla Walla, Washington, on a short connecting road leading south from U.S. 12.