A portrait of Mary Richardson Walker (1811-1897), one of the earliest missionaries in the Oregon Territory. Mary and her husband, Reverend Elkanah Walker, arrived at the Whitman Mission at Waiilatpu in 1838. They attempted to convert Spokane Natives at their own mission, Tshimakain, between 1839-1849. After their friends the Whitmans were killed, they evacuated to the northwest end of the Willamette Valley, at what would later be the town of Forest Grove. They helped to found Tualatin Academy and Pacific University soon thereafter, donating a portion of the land upon which the university lies. Several of the Walkers’ children (Cyrus Hamlin, Abigail Boutwell, Marcus Whitman, Joseph Elkanah, Jeremiah, John Richardson, Levi Chamberlin and Samuel Thompson) became missionaries and Indian Agents.
A portrait of Ralph E. Walker. He is likely a relation to one of the Walker families (Samuel A. T. Walker and Reverend Elkanah Walker both founded two unrelated Walker families in Forest Grove) but it is unsure which one Ralph E. Walker belonged to.
A portrait of Nina Marie Walker. She is likely a relation to one of the Walker families (Samuel A. T. Walker and Reverend Elkanah Walker both founded two unrelated Walker families in Forest Grove) but unable to establish which one.
A portrait of Nellie May Walker (1899-1985), an alumna of Pacific University. She was the granddaughter of early Oregon missionaries Elkanah and Mary Richardson Walker. In Nellie's later life, she became known as one of the oldest living residents of Forest Grove and gave talks on early local history. This photograph was likely taken in the 1970s.
