Narcissa Prentiss was born in Prattsburgh, New York back in 1808 to Stephen and Clarissa. Early on she got caught up in the Second Great Awakening deciding her true calling was to become a missionary. She was accepted for missionary service in 1835. Educated at the Franklin Academy she married Marcus in 1836.
Shortly after they married, they set off headed west for the Oregon Country. They settled near Walla Walla, Washington where they began their missionary work. She was responsible for cooking, washing and ironing clothes, churning butter, making candles and soap plus baking. In her spare time, she became a mother giving birth to a baby girl in 1837. Two years later the baby died in a drowning accident.
In 1847, a measles epidemic broke out, the Native Americans blamed Narcissa and Marcus for the outbreak and subsequent lack (in their minds) as to the care given to their families. So, they killed everyone involved including Narcissa and Marcus
What you may not know about Narcissa Prentiss Whitman is that she and Elizabeth Hart Spalding were the first documented European-American women to cross the Rocky Mountains. Her baby Alice Clarissa Whitman was the first white American born in Oregon Country.
Until tomorrow leave someone with a free gift, it’s called a smile.
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