Mary Richardson Walker facts for kids
Mary Richardson Walker (born April 1, 1811 – died December 5, 1897) was an American missionary. She helped people and shared her beliefs in the early days of the American West. Mary grew up in West Baldwin, Maine. Her parents, Joseph and Charlotte Richardson, were both school teachers. They believed that education was very important for all their children.
Mary went to the Maine Wesleyan Seminary. She really wanted to be a missionary. She applied to the American Board of Missionaries. However, they said no because she was not married. A friend named William Thayer knew that both Mary and Elkanah Walker wanted to be missionaries. So, he helped them meet. After knowing each other for just two days, Elkanah asked Mary to marry him! A year later, on March 5, 1838, they quickly got married. They wanted to leave right away for the Oregon Country as missionaries.
Contents
Journey to Oregon Country
The Walkers left their home in North Yarmouth, Maine, on March 7, 1838. They traveled to Boston, Massachusetts. From there, they went to Independence, Missouri. This was the starting point for their long journey across the continent. Three other couples joined them: Cushing and Myra Eells, Asa and Sarah Smith, and William and Mary Gray.
Mary Walker became pregnant during this trip. She rode a horse side-saddle for most of the 1900 miles. That's a very long way! The missionaries finally arrived at the Whitman Mission on August 29, 1838.
Tshimakain Mission Established
On September 20, 1839, the Walker and Eells families reached Tshimakain. They began building their new homes there. They lived among the Spokane people, a Native American tribe. The Walkers stayed at the Tshimakain Mission for ten years.
About six months after a sad event known as the Whitman Massacre, 60 members of the Oregon Volunteers came to the mission. They brought the Walker and Eells families to the Willamette Valley in the Oregon Country for safety.
Life in Forest Grove, Oregon
The Walkers moved to Forest Grove, Oregon, in October 1849. While living there, they helped start Tualatin Academy. This school later became Pacific University. When Tualatin Academy changed to Pacific University in 1866, the Walkers gave land for the new campus. Elkanah served as a university trustee until he passed away.
Cushing Eells became the first principal of Tualatin Academy. He later founded Whitman College. He created it to honor the Whitmans, who had died. Elkanah Walker's name is on the official papers for both Whitman Seminary and Whitman College. Mary Richardson Walker died in Forest Grove on December 5, 1897. She passed away at her son Levi's home. She was the last person still alive from the original thirteen members of the Old Oregon Mission.
The Walker Children
Mary and Elkanah Walker had several children. Here are their names and where they were born:
- Cyrus Hamlin Walker, born December 7, 1838, at Waiilatpu. He was the first white male born in the Oregon Territory.
At Tshimakain:
- Abigail Boutwell Walker, born May 24, 1840. She was the mother of Ruth Karr McKee.
- Marcus Whitman Walker, born March 16, 1842.
- Joseph Elkanah Walker, born February 10, 1844.
- Jeremiah Walker, born March 7, 1846.
- John Richardson Walker, born December 31, 1847.
At Forest Grove, Oregon:
- Levi Chamberlain Walker, born February 8, 1850.
- Samuel Thompson Walker, born May 2, 1852.
Mary Walker School
The Mary Walker School District and Mary Walker High School in Springdale, Washington, are named in her honor. This shows how important her work was.
