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Whitman (MARCUS an American ary among)

MARCUS, an American ary among the Indians of the Upper Columbia. Accompanied by his young wife he crossed the plains by wagon, being the first person to reach the Pacific by this means. wife he crossed the plains by wagon, who settled in what was then known as Oregon, and which now forms the States He was soon folusing every possible means to secure of Or Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. At this territory to the English. When this this time the Hudson's Bay company were plan became evident to Dr. Whitman he decided to take every precaution to forethis territory to the English. When this plan became evident to Dr. Whitman he ed to settle the Oregon question. Knowing formation as to the true state of affairs, Whitman rode over 3,000 miles on horsethat the Government should have full ined to settle the Oregon question. Knowing Western winter in the mountains, and reaching Washington on March 3, 1843, only to find that the treaty had been signed. Fortunately the Oregon ques- Western winter in the mountains, and man at once went to work and taught the Government the value of the land it signed. Fortunately the Oregon questhe people the fertility of the soil of Oregon, and the fact that it could be reached by wagon, and then returned at the head of 1,000 emigrants. By his WHITMAN daring ride and his earnest endeavors Dr. Whitman won this great section for the United States, and the results of his work were secured by the treaty of 1846.

In 1847, with his wife and some others, he was massacred by the Cayuse Indians.

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