About 30 minutes away from Prattsburg, there was a small community called Federal Hollow (renamed Rushville) where a certain young boy named Marcus Whitman grew up. He was born on September 4, 1802 to Beza and Alice Whitman. Beza was the descendant of John Whiteman who came to the Massachusetts’s Bay Colony during the Great Migration in the late 1630’s, around the same time Narcissa’s ancestors came to America!

Marcus grew up in a rather poor environment, and learned the basic skills needed on his family’s farm. But unfortunately, at the age of seven Marcus became fatherless. He was then sent to live with his Uncle who lived hours away in Plainfield County, Massachusetts. During this time, Marcus’s mother Alice remarried. He remained in Plainfield for the next 10 years, and received a good education. At the age of 17, Marcus experienced the effects of the “Second Great Awakening”. He then decided to become a minister, but upon returning home his family did not approve of his career choice. This was due to the fact that it took years of study and hard work to become a legal minister.

So, instead Marcus worked for his step-father’s tannery and shoe business for the following three years. He did not settle for this simple career and felt a calling in medical practices. He apprenticed himself to the local doctor and for the next couple years he studied the medical field. In 1825 Marcus enrolled in the College of Physicians and Surgeons and earned his license for practicing medicine. He left for Canada for about 2 1/2 years but returned to Rushville, New York. He remembered his dreams as a youth on ministry work, and began studying to become a minister. Unfortunately his study didn’t go for long, as he became ill. Instead he turned back to his old college in 1831 and enrolled once again. There he earned his Medical Doctor degree.

Marcus finally decided to settle in the small town of Wheeler, New York. He lived less then 20 minutes away from Narcissa’s home. He remained in Wheeler until 1835. Some time after he moved there, news of Rev. Samuel Parker searching for missionaries reaches Marcus’s ears. This was his chance! He and Rev. Strong of Rushville continued to press the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions to allow him to join Rev. Parker. The ABCFM finally came together and appointed Marcus Whitman as a missionary doctor.

There was only one problem standing in Marcus’ way to becoming a full-time missionary; he needed a wife! The ABCFM wanted men to marry before they went out, in order that they wouldn’t marry any of the Native American women out west and lose sight of God.

Around this time, Narcissa and Marcus met. It is unknown how they first met each other, but eventually Marcus was invited to a family dinner. He had learned from the ABCFM that Narcissa had offered herself to serve in missionary work, and saw an opportunity. That night he proposed to her even though he just met her!

In the world of today, marriage proposals are much more complicated then they were 2 hundred years ago. During the 1800’s, many marriages were planned because of convenience, and not love. If two people had the same dreams and hopes, they would come together and learn to get along as husband and wife. So with that in mind, Narcissa figured she could learn to love Marcus and quickly agreed to marry him!
In our next lesson, we’ll learn how Narcissa planned their somber wedding, and the amazing trip Marcus embarked upon before they were married.