Letter-1834, April 29

While visiting visited the Shawnee mission on his way to Oregon, missionary Jason Lee wrote:

   Dear Brother:— Since I reached St. Louis, l have been constantly employed in making preparation for our departure from the land of civilization. We were rather late in arriving at Independence, hence I have been so much engaged that I have not been able to write one letter since my arrival. Although we exerted ourselves to the utmost after reaching St. Louis, it was not until we were on the eve of departure from Independence that we were successful in getting a man to go with us. I conversed with many traders and friends, and it was the unanimous opinion that we could not succeed in getting our goods up the Columbia without excessive difficulty with less than five men, and men cannot be obtained there without paying an exorbitant price; we have therefore engaged two, so that our company now consists of five. One [Edwards] goes at the same price as a missionary. He is a genteel, well informed young man, and is a valuable acquisition to our company. The other [Walker] is not a professor of religion, but has a desire to do good, and is just such a man as we need to assist us, being acquainted with Indian life, and the mode of travelling we have to pursue. We are all well equipped; and though the captain was very much afraid we should not get prepared, yet we have, himself being judge, a better selection of animals than any other mess in the company, and have paid little more for them. There are some very agreeable men in the company, but most are horribly profane. The company are about eighteen miles ahead of me and Brother Edwards, but we start early in the morning for the camp.

   We are all in good health and spirits. For my own part, I rejoice very much that the time has come for our departure. I do not dread the journey at all. Blessed be God, I am borne above every fear. I have time for no more at present. Give my love to all who inquire. Pray for us.

Yours &c.,
Jason Lee.
Shawnee mission, Apr. 29, 1834