The Mountains We Have Crossed: Diaries and Letters of the Oregon Mission, 1838 –ed: Clifford Merrill Drury, Intro: Bonnie Sue Lewis

Nonfiction / History Oregon Country

332 pages (trade paper)

5 Stars

I bought this book primarily to read the diaries of the women who made the trip overland in 1838 from the East to the Oregon Country and the missions established by the Whitmans and Spaldings.

Drury has done an excellent job combining diary entries and letters in chronological order to give us a good understanding of the hardships these intrepid pioneers endured. They also give us a valuable picture as to the people who made this trip to bring the light of Jesus to the 'heathen' Indians. These people were not angels, they were, well, people. Humans, actually, with all the frailties involved, both physical and psychological. Petty squabbles and shifting friendships made for an interesting trip, I'm sure.

This is the first of three books, and dealt primarily with Asa and Sarah Smith. Although the book is about the early missionaries, it is not a book that will try to convert you, it is the reporting of their lives, their journey, their hopes, and their dreams. Trust me when I say their lives did not live up to their dreams! They thought they were coming out to preach to the Indians, not to have to build their homes, till the land, do all the work required merely to survive. I think the men were the most disappointed. The women just carried on as women did and do.

Highly recommend this book if History appeals to you. Very well written and extremely well edited.

Henry Harmon Spalding --by CM Drury

Henry Harmon Spalding: Pioneer of Old Oregon – by Clifford M. Drury

History / Old Oregon

438 pages

4 Stars

I did not find this book as engaging as the two volumes by Drury about the Whitmans. Possibly because much of the same territory was covered; possibly because I had hoped to find more about Eliza Hart Spalding, his first wife, and her thoughts and contributions, and possibly; because I don't think I liked old Henry all that much. Still as a history of the opening of the Oregon Country, as a history of the early pioneers, this book was fascinating, and worth the time to read.

Drury was both an historian and a minister, so he brings a special insight into what these early pioneers had to up with put. This well-written book was published before the two volumes on the Whitmans, and during the intervening time, Drury uncovered new information. In this book, he states the idea that Spalding proposed to Narcissa before Marcus, and was refused, was false. In the later books, he found information to verify that. (I would love to find a copy of Eliza's diary of the overland journey the Spaldings and Whitmans made together. How did she feel, what did she think, every time Spalding looked at Narcissa? She knew about the prior proposal, what did she think of being 'second choice'?)

There are many illustrations and photos in this book that were not available during the time of the Whitmans. This book contains information somewhat different from the other one about the massacre. Whereas the Whitmans spent their time with the Cayuse, the Spaldings were with the Nes Perce. Spalding was fiercely loyal to 'his' Nez Perce, and resented interlopers. And he had the right idea, apparently, of teaching them in their language, of teaching them to farm rather than follow the game trails all year, of "civilizing" them. He and Eliza are well thought of by the Nez Perce this day. While I don't think we would have ever been fast friends, I hold a great deal of respect for both Henry, and Eliza, and his second wife, Rachel.

If you're a history buff interested in the Oregon Country and how it was opened to the emigrants, I recommend this book. This book, like the ones on the Whitmans, uses footnotes not end notes. A big plus in my mind!

Marcus and Narcissa Whitman and the Opening of Old Oregon Volumes I & II --by CM Drury

History / Old Oregon

476 pages, Vol I

435 pages, Vol II, including Appendices & Index

5 Stars

If you are a fan of history, especially that of the opening of the Oregon Country to pioneers, I think these books (there are two Volumes) should be at the top of your "must read" list. Drury is the undisputed authority on the Whitmans and the early members of the Oregon Mission Board who came here (the Spaldings, Eells, Walkers). The Rangers at the Whitman Mission National Historic Site use Drury as their authority and bible. I now understand why.

When I picked Volume I up, and began to read, my eyes began to quickly glaze over. It began as a very dense history book. However, by page 3 or so, I was hooked. Yes, it is dense, yes, it is packed with facts and tidbits and many items of interest, and yes I found myself resenting the times I had to put the books down. When I finished Volume I, I immediately picked up Volume II and began reading.

Volume I contains more information about Narcissa, which is what I was after, but Volume II contains more information about the mission in general and Marcus. The primary focus of these two volumes is, of course, Narcissa and Marcus; however, due to the nature of history, many other people entered the narrative from the Rev. Henry H. Spalding, a rejected suitor of Narcissa, the Indians who invited the Missionaries to come and teach them, to the metis, Joe Lewis the primary instigator of the uprising in which the Whitmans and others were killed.

The only complaint I have about the books, and believe me I had to dig to find one, is the quality of the maps and drawings. I know they were copies of the originals, which weren't all that great to begin with, but they were small. It would have been nice had they at least been full page instead of 80% or whatever. Keep a magnifier handy when reading.

Drury was not only an Historian of merit, but also a minister, a terrific author, and he was able to bring the characters not just to life on the page, but to give us insights into their actions, and thinking.

Highly recommend these two books! Also, there are footnotes. Real footnotes. Not those stupid end notes publishers so love ;-)