Whitman Massacre

Whitman Massacre Roster

Compiled by Stephenie Flora

Narcissa Prentiss Whitman, 39, KILLED

Catherine Sager , 13; was adopted by Rev. Mr. William M. Roberts, Superintendent of the Methodist Mission, 3 years later on Oct 25, 1851 she married Clark Spencer Pringle and lived near present day Salem, OR

Elizabeth Sager , 10; during the seven years from her arrival at Oregon City until her marriage in 1855 Elizabeth lived in six different homes. She moved from the home of Mrs. William Johnson to Mrs. Howland, then on to the Jacob Robb family where she stayed until they went to California. At the point she went to stay with William H. Willson, Josiah Parrish and finally she moved in with her sister Catherine. On Aug 9, 1855 she married William Fletcher Helm.

Francis "Frank" Sager, 15, KILLED; was in school room and hid in loft; came down to comfort terrified sisters and was shot and killed

Henrietta Sager , 4; was taken in by the Morgan Kees family where she stayed 3 years. She then moved in with Catherine and her new husband. She later joined a troupe of entertainers led by her uncle Solomon Sager. Her life from that point on was one that included several marriages and numerous travels. Her contact with her sisters became far and few. It is rumored that she was killed in California when she received a bullet meant for her husband.

John Sager, 17, KILLED; was recovering from the measles, was in kitchen at time of massacre and was shot when he attempted to defend Dr. Whitman

Louise Sager, 6; ill, died several days after the massacre

Matilda Jane Sager, 8; lived with the Spaldings for a time before being sent to live with Rev. J.A. Cornwall and his new bride. On June 5, 1855 Matilda married Lewis Mackey Hazlitt.

Eliza Spalding, 10; reunited with her family at Fort Walla Walla.

Helen Mar Meek, 10; ill, died several days after Louise Sager from her illness; her father, Joseph Meek never forgave the Cayuse

Joseph Smith, Adult (IL); hired to help operate the sawmill in the foothills of the Blue Mts.; gave his daughter, Mary, to Edward, the son of Tiloukaikt, in order to secure his own safety. It is important to note that reportedly Mary did not rebuff this idea.

Hannah (Shambrook) Smith, Adult

Mary Smith, 15

Edwin Smith, 13

Charles Smith, 11

Nelson Smith, 6

Mortimer Smith, 4

Mrs. Rebecca Hays, Adult

Henry Clay Hays, 4

Hays,child; although a second child is listed for Mrs. Hays in at least one source it is believed that this child is actually the 2 year old grandson of Walter Marsh.

Peter D. Hall, Adult; successfully escaped to Fort Walla Walla where he asked William McBean for help. McBean, choosing to stay neutral, gave him some food and a boat. It was later reported that Hall was killed by Indians after leaving the fort.

Rachel Eliza Hall, Adult; m'd HALL, Peter

Gertrude J. Hall, 10

Mary Catherine Hall, 8; (1839-1874): m'd 1854 SMITH, William X.; spent most of life in Marion County

Ann E. Hall, 6

Rebecca Hall, 3

Rachel Hall, 1

Judge L.W. Saunders, Adult, KILLED; was hired as teacher to replace Andrew Rodgers; was stabbed to death as he ran from the school room toward the emigrant house to save his wife.

Mrs. Mary Saunders, Adult

Helen M. Saunders, 14

Phebe Saunders, 10

Alfred W. Saunders, 6

Nancy J. Saunders, 4

Mary A. Saunders, 2

Nathan S. Kimball, Adult, KILLED; helping Hoffman butcher the beef, was wounded and ran to mission house, later, he disguished himself as an Indian and went to the river to get water for the children. On his way back he was discovered and killed.

Mrs. Harriet Kimball, Adult

Susan M. Kimball, 16

Nathan M. Kimball 13

Byron E. Kimball, 8

Sarah S. Kimball, 6

Mina A. Kimball, 1

Elam Young, Adult (MO); hired to help operate the sawmill set up in the foothills of the Blue Mts.

Mrs. Irene Young, Adult

Daniel Young, 21

John Quincy Adams Young, 19

James Young, 24 KILLED; was killed the second day as he drove a wagon load of lumber toward the mission

Josiah Osborne, Adult; originally emigrants of 1845, had worked for Dr. Whitman before and had recently returned from the Willamette Valley with his family to help build a gristmill; hid with his family in a shallow space beneath the boards of the floor. After darkness, escaped with family on foot for Fort Walla Walla. After it became obvious that his wife and children could not make the distance he hid them and hurried to the fort where he obtained a horse and some food. He returned for them and took them to the fort where they stayed until they were rescued.

Mrs. Marguerite Osborne, Adult; pregnant with fourth child that was born 14 Nov 1847. The baby died after a few hours and was buried in the mission cemetery.

Nancy A. Osborne, 9

Salvijane Osborne ; ill with measles, died 24 Nov, 1847 just prior to massacre.

John L. Osborne

Alexander A. Osborne, 2

William D. Canfield, Adult; hid in blacksmith shop until darkness and escaped on foot to Spalding's Mission 110 miles away

Mrs. Sally Ann Canfield, Adult

Ellen Canfield, 16

Oscar Canfield, 9

Clarissa Canfield, 7

Sylvia Canfield, 5

Albert Canfield, 3

Esther Lorinda Bewley, 22; ill, d/o John W. and Catherine [Ellis] Bewley; after her release she stayed in Oregon City for a time, m'd CHAPMAN, William and moved to Yamhill County, where she lived with her family until her death

Crockett Bewley, 18, KILLED; ill with measles, s/o John W. and Catherine [Ellis] Bewley; beat to death with slats from his bed several days after the massacre.

Walter Marsh, Adult, KILLED; hired to operate the gristmill; shot as he ran from the gristmill where he had been working.

Marsh grandchild, 2; believed to have accompanied grandparents to Mission. This may or maynot be factual (see Hays child above).

Mary E. Marsh, 11; d/o Walter and Lavisa Marsh, mother had died at Soda Springs during emigration of 1847 and was wrapped in her bed and buried along the trail. By 1848 Mary was living with Mrs. Asa Lovejoy. Mary married James Pulliam Cason on 25 Dec 1853 near Oregon City. Mary and James had 10 children. James Cason died 06 Sep 1887 in Gilliam Co, OR. Mary died at Spray, Wheeler Co, OR on 06 Apr 1907. Cason Canyon in Morrow County was named for them.[per Jon Ridgeway at JNCRIDGE@aol.com]

Isaac Gilliland, Adult, KILLED; bachelor, had been driver for Judge Saunders, was also a tailor and had been hired to make the doctor a Sunday suit; was killed as he sat sewing.

Amos Sales, Adult, KILLED; was ill with measles, was beat to death with slats from his bed several days after massacre.

Jacob Hoffman, Adult, KILLED; bachelor; was butchering a beef and died trying to defend himself with the ax he was holding.

Andrew Rodgers, Adult, KILLED; had been teacher at mission but had quit to continue his ministry studies; wounded while down by river and ran to the mission house, later, after Narcissa was talked into surrendering, he accompanied her downstairs and was shot, he lay outside in the mud for hours mortally wounded before he died.

Mary Ann Bridger, 11; recovering from measles, was in kitchen at time of massacre, died a few months after being rescued and returned to Oregon City; was the half-indian daughter of mountain man, Jim Bridger; Mary had been left at the mission to attend school.

Manson Boy, Half-breed; son of Donald Manson of the Hudson Bay Co., allowed to go to Fort Walla Walla after the massacre.

Joseph Stanfield, Adult Frenchman; bachelor, dug the grave where the bodies of the victims were buried.

Joe Lewis, Adult Canadian Indian; an ex-employee of the Hudson Bay Co., was taken in at the mission when the emigrant train, that he had joined at Fort Hall, would no longer allow him to travel with them. He was highly disliked and was a persistent trouble maker. His spreading of lies lay the groundwork for the resulting massacre.

Nicholas Finley, Adult Half-breed, lived in a lodge near the mission. Was married to a Cayuse woman. Although there is no evidence that he was involved in the actual massacre it has been noted that his lodge served as a headquarters for the ringleaders and their followers; accompanied Manson boys and David Malin Cortez to Fort Walla Walla after the massacre.

David Malin Cortez half-breed; allowed to go to Fort Walla Walla after massacre.

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