| Summary: | Catherine P. Blaine writes to her family to describe the current events of the Yakima War and relate plans for her, her husband, (Reverend David E. Blaine), and her infant son, (John J.), to move to Portland, Oregon Territory. Catherine writes that she has been onboard a ship with John who is only a month old to protect him from a possible Native American attack on Seattle explaining that when he feels ill, she has to go back on shore. She also mentions an expected visit from Mr. Terry and her father's poor experiences with Mr. Chapman in New York. With regards to Native American affairs, recent reports state that a British Columbia Native American tribe of 1200 has allied with the tribes with which the whites in Washington are at war. Catherine writes that a steamship has gone to patrol the waters, but she suspects that they will be able to hide their canoes from the ship. Catherine also mentions a popular belief that the Hudson Bay Company may be giving arms to Native Americans fighting the American settlers of Washington Territory. She thinks that if this idea proves to be true, it will be a cause for war between Great Britain and the U.S. She closes by mentioning that she, her husband and her son will leave Seattle for Portland within a week. On June 11, 1855, Governor Isaac I. Stevens forced representatives from the Yakima, Nez Perce, Walla Walla, Umatilla and Cayuse tribes to sign a treaty in which the various tribes signed away vast amounts of land in return for money, reservations, and other provisions. Though the treaty promised white miners would not be allowed on reservation lands, miners frequently passed through these lands, stealing horses from the tribes and abusing Native American women. Stevens had not fully explained to the tribes that until the treaties were confirmed by Congress, whites would be allowed to settle on reservation lands. Following incidents of abuse from white settlers, the Yakima responded by killing eight white men. When Indian Subagent, Andrew J. Bolon tried to investigate these murders, he was killed by the son of a Yakima chief, Mosheel, on September 22, 1855. This event ultimately led to the Yakima War (1855-56). In January 1856, Native Americans disguised as friendly tribes attacked Seattle. Marines fought the attackers, led by "Decatur's" commander, Guert Gansevoort. The following morning, the attackers were all gone though many of Seattle's residents were quite frightened that they had actually been attacked during the war. This letter indicates the Blaines among those who were so scared that they left Seattle almost immediately after the attack and headed for Portland where they continued their work as missionaries. The letter also indicates the friction between the British agents of the Hudson's Bay Company and the conflict over land they often had with American settlers. Catherine's letter suggests a popular opinion that some Hudson's Bay Company agents may have been supplying weapons to Native Americans fighting the whites during the Yakima War in order to displace American settlers and take over the area. By the end of 1856, the Yakima War had mainly come to an end and in 1858 the Yakima were confined to a reservation. Catherine Paine was born in 1829. She married a Methodist minister and missionary, David Blaine (1824-1900) and the pair lived in Seneca Falls, New York. They were both active in the New England evangelical movement during the 1840s and 1850s. Catherine also promoted women's rights and signed the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions in July 1848 at Seneca Falls. This declaration later led to the formation of the National Woman Suffrage Association in 1869. In the 1850s, the Blaines went as missionaries to Puget Sound by ship, crossing the Isthmus of Panama. They finally landed at Alki in November 1853. Initially, they stayed as guests in the home of early settlers, Arthur A. Denny and his wife, Mary. The Blaines did their best to adapt to pioneer life, though Catherine frequently lamented in letters home how savage and dirty the settlers and the local Native Americans were. The other settlers found the Blaines a little too well-mannered but they eventually warmed to them. Meanwhile, the Blaines went about the business of serving the community and making a life for themselves. David frequently helped clear lots while Catherine did her best to undertake housekeeping. In December 1853, David established a Methodist Episcopal congregation under his ministry. Church meetings were held in a building offered by Guthrie Latimer. Unfortunately, David's sermons usually attracted no more than four people. In January 1854, many of the settlers combined to employ Catherine as a school teacher. She initially taught eight students and earned a salary of $65 a month. School was first held in the Latimer Building and later in the Blaines' new home. Carson Boren and Doc Maynard offered land to the Blaines for a church, parsonage and seminary. In May 1855, a small white church, nicknamed the "Little White Church" was officially dedicated. In January 1856, Catherine gave birth to their son, Jon, just days before the Battle of Seattle took place in the Yakima War. Following the battle, the couple moved to Portland for further missionary work. They returned to Seattle in 1882. Catherine died in 1908, eight years after David's death. The letters they sent home to New York during this period paint a vivid picture of early settler life in Seattle.
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