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<DIV>Although the Indian trouble throughout the Northwest seemed to center about
the various Missions, there was a general unrest brewing everywhere. So it was
decided to send someone to Washington to ask the Government to send troops to
us.</DIV>
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<DIV> Joe Meek was finally chosen to go. He was said to be a cousin
of President Polk. He had been in the country a long while even when we came. He
had an Indian wife and a family of half-cast children. He was a typical soldier
of fortune, tall, handsome and well educated. Shortly after his return, he came
to our house. I remember hearing him tell about his trip and his visit to his
cousin, the President. He told of a dinner given in his honor. There were many
distinguished guests present. He told us that they asked him to carve the
turkey. He asked "Will you have a backwoods carve" of course they would. So he
took the big bird in his hands and tore it apart. I listened and laughed with
the rest, I was only a little girl, but it shocked me and I did not think as
well of him. I have a feeling now, that it was probably not altogether true.When
I first saw Mrs. Whitman, she was on her way to the Mission at Walla Walla and
had Joe Meek's little daughter, Helen, with her. Helen was later sent east to be
educated. She was unusually gifted and her Father was always very proud of
her.</DIV>
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<DIV> General Joe Lane was sent to Oregon as a result of Joe Meek's
journey. This was the same General Lane, who captured Santa Anna's wooden leg.
He was a fine, dignified old gentlemen. I remember him very well when he visited
at our house. Father was a democrat and so was General Lane.</DIV>
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<DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"><B>Walt
Davies<BR>Cooper Hollow Farm<BR>Monmouth, OR 97361<BR>503 623-0460 <BR></B><IMG SRC="cid:X.MA1.1085695281@aol.com" height=93 width=72 border=0 DATASIZE="2892" ID="MA1.1085695281" ></FONT></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>