Spalding, Henry Harmon, 1803-1874

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Reverend Henry Harmon Spalding, pioneer Presbyterian missionary in the Oregon Territory, was born on November 26, 1803 in New York. In 1836, after successfully applying for an appointment under the auspices of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, Spalding traveled overland to Oregon with his first wife, Eliza Hart Spalding, and Marcus and Narcissa Whitman. Later that year he founded the Nez Percé Indian mission at Lapwai, where he remained until the Whitman Massacre in 1847. Shortly after the massacre, Spalding moved to Brownsville, Oregon and served as school commissioner, postmaster, and Indian agent. In 1853, after the death of Eliza Hart Spalding (d. 1851), he married Rachel Jane Smith. Henry Spalding returned to the Lapwai mission in 1871 and served the Nez Percé Indians until his death on August 3, 1874.

From the description of Henry Harmon Spalding papers, 1835-1874. (Oregon Historical Society Research Library). WorldCat record id: 32117448

Henry Harmon Spalding and his wife, Eliza Hart Spalding, went to Oregon in 1836 with Elkanah and Mary Walker to join Marcus Whitman and establish a mission at Clearwater among the Nez Percé Indians.

From the description of Letter and narrative, [ca. 1843]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702126671

Henry Harmon Spalding (1803-1874), Protestant missionary among the Nez Percé Indians.

From the description of Selections from the Scriptures translated into the Nez Percé language /by Henry Harmon Spalding, 1839-1846. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702126672

Henry Harmon Spalding , pioneer Presbyterian missionary to the Oregon Territory, was born in New York and graduated from Western Reserve College in 1833. He married Eliza Hart that year and entered Lane Theological Seminary. After his graduation in 1835, he applied for work under the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. In 1836, Henry and Eliza Spalding along with the Whitmans, immigrated to the Columbia River Plateau region. Mrs. Spalding and Mrs. Whitman were the first women to cross the continental divide by the Oregon Trail. The Spaldings set up their mission near today's city of Lewiston, Idaho. Many of the Nez Perce were dissatisfied with Spalding's missionary discipline; the whip was used injudiciously. However, his accomplishments with the Nez Perce were significant. He was mostly successful as a missionary; he developed a written form of the Nez Perce language; he translated the book of Matthew to Nez Perce; he printed and distributed the translation to the Indians; he taught the Indians how to irrigate their land; and he brought potato cultivation to the Indians.

From the description of Spalding Papers, 1833-1891. (Spokane Public Library). WorldCat record id: 740535447

Christian missionary to the Nez Percé Indians of Idaho.

From the description of Notice, 1849. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122497281

Henry H. Spalding was a Presbyterian missionary who arrived in the Oregon Territory in 1836 and was involved in work with Native Americans until his death in 1872. He is best known for his role as a missionary to the the Nez Perce at Lapwai, Idaho. A chronology of some significant events in his life follows:

1803 - Born in Steuben Co., NY 1833 - Graduates from Western Reserve College in Hudson, Ohio 1833 - Marries Eliza Hart 1835 - Graduates from Lane Theological Seminary in Walnut Hills, Ohio; ordained a minister of the Presbyterian Church 1836 - Leaves with Eliza and the Whitman Party to become missionaries in the Oregon Territory. The Spaldings establish a mission at Lapwai, near the present-day Nez Perce Reservation 1847 - Following the massacre of the Whitmans, the Spaldings leave Lapwai for the Willamette Valley of Oregon. 1848 - Spaldings set up a farm near present-day Brownsville; Henry becomes minister of the local church and county school commissioner 1850 - Appointed Indian Agent; negotiates several treaties with native tribes in Oregon during the early 1850s 1851 - Eliza dies 1853 - Marries Rachel Griffin, sister of fellow missionary John Smith Griffin 1859 - Stakes a land claim with his daughter, also named Eliza, near present-day Prescott, WA 1861 - Returns to Lapwai and is appointed teacher 1866 - Leaves Lapwai after disputes over his actions on the Nez Perce reservation; returns to Brownsville 1871 - Secures appointment as Superintendent of Instruction at Lapwai 1872 - Dismissed from appointment at Lapwai after further disputes. Goes to work with the Spokane tribe. 1874 - Dies in Lapwai 1880 - Rachel dies in Hillsboro, Oregon

From the guide to the Henry H. Spalding Notebook, 1850-1870, (Pacific University Archives)

Reverend Henry Harmon Spalding, pioneer Presbyterian missionary to the Oregon Territory, was born on November 26, 1803 in New York. In 1825 he entered Franklin Academy, and in 1831 he enrolled in Western Reserve College, graduating in 1833. On October 13 of that year he married Eliza Hart (born in Connecticut, July 11, 1807) with whom he would have four children, Eliza, Henry Hart, Martha, and Amelia. Also in 1833 he entered Lane Theological Seminary, and following the completion of his studies in 1835 he applied for work under the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. In the summer of 1836, Henry and Eliza Spalding crossed the continent with Marcus and Narcissa Whitman and established a mission to the Nez Percé Indians at Lapwai.

In 1847, following the Whitman massacre, the Spaldings moved to Brownsville, Oregon Territory. There Henry Spalding farmed, taught school, preached at the local Presbyterian church, and served as school commissioner, postmaster, and Indian agent. Eliza Spalding died in Brownsville on 1851 January 7. Her husband remarried in 1853 to Rachel Jane Smith. He returned to the Nez Percé country in 1859, taking up farming on the Touchet. In 1863 he went back to Lapwai, and from then until 1866 he was the local Indian agent. He made an overland trip to the East in 1870, returning to Lapwai in 1871. There he served the Indians until his death on August 3, 1874.

From the guide to the Henry Harmon Spalding Papers, 1829-1874, (Oregon Historical Society)

Henry H. Spalding was an early Presbyterian missionary in the Pacific Northwest who worked from the 1830s to the 1870s. He is best known for his work with the Nez Perce at Lapwai and for being zealously anti-Catholic. After the Whitman massacre in 1847, he moved to Oregon, where he lived in several locations including Forest Grove and Brownsville. He returned to the Nez Perce lands in 1859 and divided his years thereafter between missionary work, travel, and time back in Oregon.

In 1855, Spalding served as the president of the Preble Wigwam, which was a local chapter of the Order of the Star Spangled Banner. This was a secret society for adherents of the American Party, also called the "Know-Nothings." They were an anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant, nativist party that arose in the Northeastern United States in the early 1850s. The Preble Wigwam held its meetings at various locations in the southern part of the Willamette Valley, including at Spalding's house.

In 1873, a Protestant member of the Spokane Tribe known as "Spokane Garry" became concerned about Catholic influence in his area. Garry sent several other Spokane Indians to see Spalding in Lapwai, asking him to visit the Spokanes. Spalding, who was then 70 years old, undertook a 3-week tour of the Spokane lands, baptising more than 100 people (see Ruby & Brown, p.160).

From the guide to the Henry H. Spalding Record Book, 1855-1873, (Pacific University Archives)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Spalding Mission, Lapwai Press collection, circa 1800s. Washington State University, Holland and Terrell Libraries
creatorOf Henry H. Spalding Record Book, 1855-1873 Pacific University Archives
referencedIn Wakeman, Joel, 1809-1898. Wakeman articles, 1898. Spokane Public Library, Downtown Branch
referencedIn Marcus and Narcissa Whitman Papers, 1834-1897, 1834-1847 Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Papers, 1843-1872. Houghton Library
referencedIn Evans, Joseph. Letter, 1936 July 14 : Spalding, Idaho, to E.O. Holland, Pullman, Washington. Washington State University, Holland and Terrell Libraries
referencedIn Clark, Harvey, 1886-1938. Undated note to "Br." Smith, mentioning H.H. Spalding. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Henry Harmon Spalding Papers, 1836-1936 Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
referencedIn American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Records, 1821-1871. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
creatorOf Henry H. Spalding Notebook, 1850-1870 Pacific University Archives
referencedIn Walker, Elkanah, 1805-1877. Oregon Mission Papers, 1837-1872. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Spalding family. [Papers, 1833-1850] / Spalding family. Presbyterian Historical Society, PHS
referencedIn Evans, Elwood, 1828-1898. Elwood Evans papers, 1841-1894. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Samuel J. Parker papers, [ca. 1892]-1895. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
referencedIn Spalding, Eliza Hart, 1807-1851. Diary, 1836-1840. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
creatorOf Spalding, Henry Harmon, 1803-1874. Papers, 1836-1953. Idaho State Archives, Idaho State Historical Society
creatorOf Spalding, Henry Harmon, 1803-1874. Letter, 1850. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Acquisition of Oregon and the long suppressed evidence about Marcus Whitman. Chicago., 1905 University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Kanas Collection
referencedIn Papers, 1843-1872. Houghton Library
referencedIn American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions archives, 1810-1961. Houghton Library
creatorOf Spalding, Henry Harmon, 1803-1874. Letter to Brother Manning, 1872. Idaho State Archives, Idaho State Historical Society
creatorOf Spalding, Henry Harmon, 1803-1874. Notice, 1849. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Cowley, H. T. (Henry Thomas), 1837-1917. Cowley Papers, 1871-1891. Spokane Public Library, Downtown Branch
creatorOf Burnett, Peter H. (Peter Hardeman), 1807-1895. The Whitman massacre; and early history of Oregon, 1839-1848. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Burnett, Peter H. (Peter Hardeman), 1807-1895. The Whitman massacre; and early history of Oregon, 1839-1848. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Marshall, William I. (William Isaac), 1840-1906. William Isaac Marshall papers, [ca. 1900-1905]. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Evans, Pauline. The Old Spalding log cabin mission, and the story of Princess Jane / by Pauline Evans. Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library
referencedIn Munger, Asahel. Munger Correspondence, 1840. Spokane Public Library, Downtown Branch
referencedIn Geary, Edward R., 1811-1886. Report on Spalding Investigation, 1872. Spokane Public Library, Downtown Branch
referencedIn Evans, Pauline. The Old Spalding log cabin mission and Indian Museum, Spalding, Idaho, 1836-1936 / by Pauline Evans. Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library
referencedIn Waller, Alvan F., b. 1808. Alvan F. Waller papers, 1839-1873. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Crawford, Mazie. Letter : to Mr. W.M. Camp, Chicago, Ill., 1916 Feb. 18, 1919 Mar. 6. Newberry Library
referencedIn Zachary, John. Letter : to the Reverend H. H. Spalding / by John Zachary, 1868. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Clifford M. Drury Papers, 1922-1984 Whitman College and Northwest Archives
referencedIn Clifford M. Drury Papers, 1932-1983 Eastern Washington State Historical Society/Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture Joel E. Ferris Research Library and Archives
referencedIn Greene, Fanny B. Manuscripts, [1936] Latah County Historical Society
referencedIn Spalding family. Papers, 1843-1872. Houghton Library
creatorOf Spalding, Henry Harmon, 1803-1874. Letter and narrative, [ca. 1843]. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Chamberlain, Levi. Letters, 1838-1844. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Clifford Merrill Drury Papers, 1932-1958 Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
referencedIn Reimers, Henry L. Papers, 1803-1950, bulk 1806-1900. Eastern Washington University, JFK Library
referencedIn Evans, Pauline. The Old Spalding log cabin mission, and the story of Princess Jane : typescript, 1935 November 26 / by Pauline Evans. Washington State University, Holland and Terrell Libraries
creatorOf Frank, John, 1878-1950. Nez Percé hymns, [ca. 1939]. Washington State University, Holland and Terrell Libraries
referencedIn Drury, Clifford Merrill, 1897-1984. Papers, 1932-1958. Washington State University, Holland and Terrell Libraries
referencedIn Drury, Clifford Merrill, 1897-1984. Papers, 1938-1978. Idaho State Archives, Idaho State Historical Society
referencedIn Thompson Coit Elliott Papers, 1903-1937 Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Parker, Samuel J. Samuel J. Parker papers, [ca. 1892]-1895. Cornell University Library
creatorOf Spalding, Henry Harmon, 1803-1874. Manuscript, [184-]. University of Idaho Library
referencedIn Greene, Fanny B. Papers, 1936. University of Idaho Library
creatorOf Frank, John, 1878-1950. Nez Perce hymns : typescript, [19--] University of Idaho Library
referencedIn Elkanah and Mary Walker papers, 1828-1885 Oregon Historical Society Research Library
creatorOf Spalding, Henry Harmon, 1803-1874. Spalding Papers, 1833-1891. Spokane Public Library, Downtown Branch
referencedIn George Abernethy Papers, 1833-1905 Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions records, 1821-1871 Oregon Historical Society Research Library
creatorOf Spalding, Henry Harmon, 1803-1874. Selections from the Scriptures translated into the Nez Percé language /by Henry Harmon Spalding, 1839-1846. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Spalding, Henry Harmon, 1803-1874. Papers of Henry and Eliza Spalding, 1836-[ca. 1968]. Washington State University, Holland and Terrell Libraries
creatorOf Henry Harmon Spalding Papers, 1829-1874 Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Walker, Elkanah, 1805-1877. Elkanah Walker papers, 1828-1885. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Hines, Gustavus, 1809-1873. Papers, 1839-1872. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
creatorOf Spalding, Henry Harmon, 1803-1874. Record of land claim situated in Tualoty County, Oregon ... Recorded February 23rd 1848 ... Newberry Library
referencedIn Smith, Asa Bowen, 1809-1886. Papers, 1838-1889. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Elliott, T. C. (Thompson Coit), 1862-1943. T.C. Elliott papers, 1903-1937. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Letter to Wallace Howe Lee [[manuscript], 1934 November 19. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
creatorOf Spalding, Henry Harmon, 1803-1874. [Autograph bearer note, signed] Newberry Library
creatorOf Spalding, Henry Harmon, 1803-1874. Henry Harmon Spalding papers, 1835-1874. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Wakeman, Joel. Papers, [ca. 1893]. Washington State University, Holland and Terrell Libraries
referencedIn Whitman, Marcus, 1802-1847. Letters, 1834-1847. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Alvan F. Waller Papers, 1838-1908, 1839-1870 Oregon Historical Society Research Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Abernethy, George, 1807-1877 person
correspondedWith Allen, Dudley person
correspondedWith Allen, Dudley person
associatedWith American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions corporateBody
associatedWith American Party corporateBody
associatedWith Ballard, David W., 1824-1883. person
correspondedWith Chamberlain, Levi. person
associatedWith Clark, Harvey, 1886-1938. person
associatedWith Cowley, H. T. (Henry Thomas), 1837-1917 person
associatedWith Crawford, Mazie. person
associatedWith Drury, Clifford Merrill, 1897-1984. person
associatedWith Elliott, T. C. (Thompson Coit), 1862-1943. person
associatedWith Evans, Elwood, 1828-1898. person
associatedWith Evans, Joseph. person
associatedWith Evans, Pauline. person
associatedWith Everett D. Graff Collection of Western Americana (Newberry Library) corporateBody
associatedWith Everett D. Graff Collection of Western Americana (Newberry Library) corporateBody
correspondedWith Geary, Edward R., 1811-1886. person
correspondedWith Greene, Daivd, fl. 1838-1847 person
correspondedWith Greene, David, fl. 1838-1847 person
associatedWith Greene, Fanny B. person
associatedWith Griffin, Desire C. Smith, d. 1884. person
associatedWith Griffin, John Smith person
associatedWith Griffin, John Smith. person
correspondedWith Hines, Gustavus, 1809-1873. person
associatedWith Marshall, O. F., 1791-1891. person
associatedWith Marshall, William Isaac, 1840-1906 person
associatedWith Marshall, William I. (William Isaac), 1840-1906. person
associatedWith McKinlay, Archibald, 1811-1891. person
associatedWith Munger, Asahel. person
associatedWith Nez Percé Indians corporateBody
associatedWith Order of the Star Spangled Banner. Preble Wigwam corporateBody
associatedWith Parker, Samuel J. person
correspondedWith Prentice family family
correspondedWith Prentice family family
associatedWith Reimers, Henry L. person
associatedWith Smith, Alvin Thompson, 1802-1888. person
associatedWith Smith, Asa Bowen, 1809-1886. person
associatedWith Spalding, Eliza Hart, 1807-1851. person
associatedWith Spalding family. family
associatedWith Spalding family. family
associatedWith Spalding family. family
associatedWith Spalding, Henry Hart, 1839-1898. person
correspondedWith Spalding, Rachel person
correspondedWith Spalding, Rachel person
associatedWith Spalding, Rachel Jahonnet Smith, 1808- person
associatedWith Spokane Garry, 1811?-1892. person
associatedWith Spokane Indians. corporateBody
correspondedWith Thurston, Samuel Royal, 1816-1851 person
associatedWith Wakeman, Joel. person
correspondedWith Walker, Elkanah, 1805-1877. person
correspondedWith Walker, Mary Richardson, 1811-1897 person
correspondedWith Waller, Alvan F., b. 1808. person
correspondedWith Whitman, Marcus, 1802-1847. person
associatedWith Zachary, John. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Idaho
Idaho
West (U.S.)
Northwest, Pacific
Lapwai (Idaho)
Almota (Wash.)
Idaho
Almota (Wash.)
Clearwater (Idaho)
West (U.S.)
Tualoty County (Or.)
Oregon
Northwest, Pacific
Northwest, Pacific
United States
Oregon National Historic Trail.
Subject
Religion
Cayuse Indians
Diaries
Indian agents
Indian agents
Indians of North America
Indians of North America
Indians of North America
Land tenure
Missionaries
Missionaries
Missionaries
Missionaries
Missionaries
Missionaries
Missionaries
Missions
Native Americans
Nez Percé Indians
Nez Percé Indians
Nez Percé Indians
Nez Percé Indians
Nez Percé Indians
Nez Percé language
Oregon
Overland Journeys to the Northwestern United States
Overland journeys to the Pacific
Pacific Coast Indians, Wars with, 1847-1865
Pacific Northwest History
Photographs
Pioneers
Pioneers
Postal service
Spokane
Tututni Indians
Washington (State)
Whitman Massacre, 1847
Women
Women missionaries
Women missionaries
Women missionaries
Women missionaries
Occupation
Missionaries
Missionaries
Missionaries
Activity

Person

Birth 1803-11-26

Death 1874-08-03

English

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