At last it was time for the Whitmans and Spaldings to leave Eliza’s decaying city of St. Louis. Now it was up the Missouri River somewhat north by west for about 300 miles. Their next major stop would be Liberty, Missouri. Other stops were made before they reached Liberty, however, and at one of them they were joined by another party sent by the American Board to the Indian Frontier. Headed for a stint at the Pawnee Mission was Doctor Benjamin Satterlee and his wife who was considerably ill but continued on under Doctor Whitman’s learned advice that she was able to do so. With the pair was Emeline Palmer on her way to marry Samuel Allis, the head of the Pawnee Mission.
On this river journey by steamer Narcissa noted in her journal her appreciation of God and his beautiful creation--the Missouri River at sunset. But, alas, as she and Dr. Whitman viewed this fluid highway westward Henry Spalding called them to come inside and pray.
In her journal Narcissa wrote, “Surly how admirable are thy works, O Lord of Hosts. I could have dwelt upon the scene still longer with pleasure but Brother Spalding called us to prayers, and we left beholding the works of God for his immediate worship.” Do we get a wee bit of a hint of Mrs. Whitman’s annoyance with dear Henry here?
While the party waited at Liberty for the fur company to arrive, that some of them were to travel with across the plains with, they were surprised by an unexpected arrival. William Gray put in an appearance, announcing that he’d been appointed by the American Board to join the Oregon mission as a mechanic.
The party continued to grow. In addition to the others already mentioned, a young man by the name of Dublin was hired to accompany them as far as the Mountain Man Rendezvous. They also secured the services of a third Nez Perce. Though not previously mentioned, two Nez Perce youths had been traveling with them. Whitman had brought them east with him on his last journey west and the two boys were returning home to the Far West.
While they were still in Liberty, Missouri Samuel Allis arrived from Bellevue. With Spalding performing the ceremony, Emeline Palmer became the newly wed Mrs. Samuel Allis. It surely was a merry time until a week later the tubercular Mrs. Satterlee died in spite of Whitman’s earlier decree that she could travel.
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