Page:The Souvenir of Western Women.djvu/73

Rh. During his stay there he maintained preaching and Sunday school services, my sister continuing to teach the day school.

In the spring of 1849 my father, feeling hampered in his work by lack of means, joined the number of goldseekers who were flocking to California.. He realized there his modest expectations, and soon returned to his family.

In the fall of 1849 he removed to Oregon City, and with my sister for his assistant for two years taught the school that was being carried on in the little Baptist meeting-house. In 1851 he was appointed exploring agent for the Home Mission Society. My mother was ill able to assume the added responsibilities imposed by her husband's frequent absences from home; but she bore this, as all other trials, with rare Christian fortitude. We hold our mother's memory sacred, not alone because she was our mother, but also on account of her gentle, self-sacrificing life. I cannot remember ever hearing her speak an unkind word. January 20, 1854, she was taken from us.

On June 27, 1854, my father married Mrs. Amelia Millard, a pioneer of 1851. She conscientiously discharged toward his children the duties of a mother, and endeared herself to all.

In 1856, my father, finding his health much affected by exposure, ceased to act as exploring agent. During his four years' service in that capacity, he penetrated almost every sparsely settled section of the Willamette and Rogue River Valleys, preaching and organizing churches and Sunday schools among the pioneer settlers.

From November, 1856, to about 1870, he served weak churches near Sodaville and Washington Butte, Linn County, and at The Dalles, Wasco County, supporting his family mostly upon the proceeds of dairy, nursery and garden, working often sixteen hours on week days and preaching and teaching in schoolhouse or courthouse on Sundays.

When about seventy years old he removed to the neighborhood of San Diego, Cal., hoping to end his days in that equable climate; but a year later was persuaded to return to The Dalles to fill the pastorate of that church, for which he had previously done so much. After returning to Wasco County he was elected superintendent of the public schools, adding this to his other responsibilities. In the discharge of his duties as school superintendent he contracted the disease that proved fatal, November 1, 1874. Throughout his life he had conscientiously striven to perform his whole duty toward his fellow-men and his God. At his death he was honored by all who knew him.