PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH THE OREGON TRAIL

by: Shane Kelso

The trail was first traveled backwards by the man with the name of Robert Stewart following the fur trade. Narcissa Whitman and her husband, a medical doctor and pioneer missionary worked in association with the Presbyterian church, after a preliminary tour of the great west in 1835 to select mission sites. Marcous returned to the oregon country in 1836 with his wife in 1843. Mr. & Mrs. Whitman returned east to persuade the board not to abandon the project. On his journey back Marcous helped guide the the first large party of settlers to Oregon; thereafter, his mission became an important stopping place for westward-bound settlers. Unfortunately the settlers brought dedly disease such as measles that coused many deathes.