Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 9.djvu/142

 124 T. C. Elliott. O'Neill, and interpreter, Mr. Whitman (neither of whom was averse to a continuance of their official duties), and the four Indian chiefs whose presence had been invited at Washington From Portland they went by steamer to San Francisco and Panama, and thence via Aspinwa.ll and New York to Wash- ington, and while there Dr. Newell was nominated by Presi- dent Johnson and confirmed by the Senate as Agent at Lap- wai, and secured his official bond in New York City. The writer has been privileged to read the personal diary kept by Dr. Newell during that journey, and hopes to be allowed at some future time to edit it for publication. It contains many references to public men well known in Oregon history. Al- though for three months in company with rivals for the same official position, there is in it all just one short sentence of very mild personal reflection, which indicates very well a generous disposition. From this diary also we learn Dr. Newell's religious preferences; he attended the Episcopal Church with regularity whenever it was possible. His second wife, Rebecca, died at Lewiston in May, 1867 In June, 1869, when sixty-three years of age, he, after a habit of his, was again married, and his friend Mr. Roberts thus describes his courtship : ' ' During his services as Indian Agent he was in the habit of sending to me at Walla Walla for employees. Among the last sent for was a matron teacher, a lady of middle age, capable of teaching Indian girls tj sew, etc. In this letter he said he would come with his 'Carri- age to Walla Walla and take the lady back to Lapwai. I had a friend and acquaintance by the name of Mrs. Ward, a widow of a M. E. minister who had recently died in Califor- nia, and who was living with her son-in-law, Lon Bean. She engaged for the position and the Doctor came down as pro- posed and stayed two nights at my house and took the lady home with him. She put in just one month under Government service and then she and the doctor were married. How well I remember that while he was still Indian Agent, he and his wife were down at Walla Walla and made me a visit of two days, and joshed me about being a match-maker."