COLLAPSE OF THE OREGON MISSION: 1846 LENGTHY LETTER ON NATIVE CONVERTS & SCHOOLS AMID WESTWARD EXPANSION

“...they are scattered… and I do not know that any of them enjoy religion at this time" 

Autograph letter signed by David Carter, to his parents-in-law, Arba Lankton. Salem, 18 July & 6 September 1846. 4 pages, folio, 7¾ x 12¾ in., with integral address panel bearing a “New York Ship” cancel to the verso.

A lengthy and detailed letter written by David Carter (1793–1850) and Orpha Lankton Carter (1806–1873), members of the Methodist Mission in Oregon, which played a significant role in the westward expansion of the United States.

Carter, originally from Vermont, and Lankton, from Connecticut, married during the lengthy journey from the East Coast to Oregon aboard the Lausanne. They arrived at the Columbia River on 21 May 1840, reaching Fort Vancouver on June 1. They were part of the Mission Company led by Reverend Jason Lee. After Carter’s death in 1850, Orpha married Rev. John McKinney (1798–1878), one of the first Methodist circuit riders in Oregon. They were members of the Fourth Methodist Party, also led by Jason Lee, superintendent of the Methodist mission in Oregon, which served as a central site of Methodist Episcopal conversion efforts in the Pacific Northwest.

The Methodists were active participants in the Oregon boundary dispute, with Carter signing his name to the settlers’ petition to Congress in 1843 (Pioneer Index, Oregon Historical Society). Many members of the mission helped found the city of Salem and were closely involved with the Oregon Institute, which would later become Willamette University.

Here, Carter writes to Orpha’s father, Arba Lankton, still residing in Hartford, Connecticut, providing a detailed report on the mission and the closure of several of its schools and buildings. The letter was written in two sessions, on July 18 and September 6. He writes extensively about the relationship between the missionaries and their Native Kalapuya students and neighbors, and discusses fellow missionaries including David Leslie (1797–1869), H.K.W. Perkins, and Rev. George Gary, who had been appointed superintendent in 1843 and chose to close the mission the following year.

Carter writes in part: “You desire to know something about the Mission but alas what can I say? There is still a Mission Station at the Dales but I have been informed that it will probably be broken up before the close of the season, after Brother Gary came here he advised with one or two, who were wiser than their neighbours (and would have had the Mission school broken up soon after our arrival if they could) and concluded it was best to sell out and close up business soon as possible - according by the Mission school was broken up, the girls some of them were married to some of the large boys, and others were placed among families, some of the boys were put in families, the rest Brother Campbell kept, as he had had the charge of them the year before (It cannot be denied that the expenses of thes chool had perhaps more than doubled the last year, but doubtless a change in stewards might have done much to remedy the evil) but the boys did not like to stay with him and left him soon as they could get opportunity. They are scattered and I do not know that any of them enjoy religion at this time. Although most of them appeared to, at the time the school was broken up, Brother Perkins left the country and Brother Gary recalled Brother Waller and sent him to the Dales, but he has not that influence with the Indians that Brother Perkins had, another have I known another in the country that I think so well qualified to benefit the Indians as Brother Perkins. They are become more troublesome, and although some of them are without doubt real Christians, most of them are seemingly worse than they were before so many emigrants passed by them. We have a church and parsonage owned by the Mission at the Falls, there is a church of some description which I think was built by supscription and by Brother Watter at the Qualith Plains as the Mission School building, which was also calculated to be used as a Church, was to be sold, the trustees of the Oregon Institute thought best to sell the building which they had erected and buy the Mission building which was much larger and move convenient, also a parsonage was near it. Brother Leslie is employed as a Missionary and occupies the Parsonage, is preacher in charge of the Circuit which is somewhat extensive, as I think it embraces the Willamette settlement, there has been some method to coming in every year, and the last there were many more than in any former year. Brother Helm who came last year, has been a travelling Elder in the States, but located some time since, but at the Camp meeting 4 weeks ago said he felt that he must go out again.”

Continuing, dated September 6: “I understand that Brother Gary has concluded to stay another year. He lives and preaches at the Falls. Brother Parish was sent to Clatsop at the mouth of the Columbia when Brother Frost went home he bought the Mission claim when it was sold, has sold it again, and bought part of a claim about 3 miles from here. Brother Leslie has lately made out a plan for the Circuit, and it is an 8 weeks circuit with 4 preachers, and preaching once in 2 weeks. Brothers Leslie, Helm, Parish, and Wilson, are the Circuit preachers, beside these, there are some 8 or 10 local preachers now in the country, so that the people may have the gospen preached if they will, I believe there are three or 4 Baptist and some presbyterian Ministers in this country but the people live some distance from each other...On the Rickreall (on the other side of the river Willamette) and I understand that a revival was commenced and I hope much good may be done, I feel happy in striving to recommend religion to lost sinners, in this land, and have expectation or wish to leave it unless I were fully satisfied that it was the will of God.”

A fascinating letter written at a transitional moment in the settlement of the Willamette Valley, documenting significant changes within the Methodist Mission and offering a vivid, firsthand account of missionary life and its evolving relationship with Native communities in the Pacific Northwest.

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