LETTER OF CATHERINE SAGER PRINGLE
Catherine Sager was the eldest daughter of Henry and Naomi Sager, who started across the plains to Oregon in 1844. Both parents died before reaching the end of their journey and the seven orphan children found refuge at the Whitman mission and remained there until the massacre in 1847. The two boys, John and Francis, were killed in the massacre and one girl died a few days later. Catherine and her three sisters were brought to Oregon City with the other survivors. They could no longer be together, but were placed with different families. Catherine found a home with the Reverend William Roberts. A son of Mr. Roberts wrote to his grandparents in New Jersey mentioning by name the orphan girl who had become a member of his household. His letter was printed in the Methodist paper, the Christian Advocate. Frederic Sager saw it, and remembering that his brother Henry had a daughter Catherine, addressed a letter to "Catherine Sager, Somewhere in Oregon," and sent it across the plains by an immigrant. It was finally posted at Salem and there she received it. The letter printed below is Catherine's answer, giving her uncle news of herself and sisters and a vivid account of the Whitman massacre as she remembered it.
The original letter, of which this is a copy, is owned by Charles F. Keezer, Ericson, Nebraska, whose mother was a first cousin of Catherine Sager Pringle.
Salem Dec. 21 1854
Dear Uncle:
We received your letter yesterday. You can hardly realize with what pleasure we have made inquiry of everyone we saw from Ohio. You wished in the first place to know how many of us remain. There are four of us, Catherine, Elizabeth Maria, Matilda Jane and Henrietta Naomi. In the second place you asked where we were. I am married and am living on a farm four miles from Salem. I was married to Clark Spencer Pringle on the 25th of October, 1851. We own a full section of land, that is 640 acres. Elizabeth and Henrietta have been living with us ever since we were married. Matilda lives with a gentleman about 30 miles from here by the name of Geiger. She
