Ezra Meeker speech about fort hall

How many of you that hear this made known that almost within the threshold of the spot that in one day's travel in 1852, by careful count 121 fresh graves were found; this somewhere between Soda Springs and the site of PocatelloI now believe the estimate of 5000 dead on the Plains for the one year of 1852 is less than the actual number; the suffering was tremendousof a family all buried in one grave; of 41 of one train that died near my camp in one day and two nightsnot all buried when the train moved on; of a spot where 52 fresh graves, none more than three days old. These were the days of trail and heroism. I can truly say that I did not suffer as I saw others so often even unto death. I claim no personal credit for thisbut my friends, we should honor the common soldiers of the dead of this army.

I deem it but just as record of history to not the important part played by Wyeth, who built Fort

Hall. Jason Lee accompanied Wyeth's party from the Missouri river to the spot and it was upon his request the note sermon was preached. Contemporaneous records are extant that had it not been for the aid Wyeth extended to Lee it would have been doubtful that he could have succeeded. Be that as it may, the fact remains the aid was freely given

In the lapse of years, as with the greater part of the Oregon Trail, the land marks pointing to the site of Fort Hall had disappeared, while others were forgotten and passed out of memory, as the pioneers, one by one, passed on to their reward. So, when I drove with my ox team into Pocatello in May 1906, on my way over, the Oregon Trail, searching for suitable spots upon which to erect monuments, I naturally first queried to ascertain the site of Fort Hall, which I then and due now, consider the most important historic point on the great trail. It was here the early pioneers must needs abandon their wagon and proceed on their weary journey as best they could; some on horseback, some afoot, and some with oxen or cows packed, while the unfortunate pioneer trudged along behind covered with dust and in many instances enduring parched lips of thirst. As we have seen, the Fort was built in 1843 and until 1843 this condition continued, with an accumulation of vast numbers of abandoned wagons and other property.

An energetic, patriotic citizen, Mr. George North, since deceased, who volunteered to show me the site, upon arrival on the ground, pointed out a spot as the site. I at once became convinced that, my friend had forgotten the location, as I could not, after making excavations and diligent search, find the least scrap of anything indicating the spot once occupied by the Fort or the abandoned property, so I drove on over the trail and to Washington City, erecting monuments on the way whenever I could secure co-operation.

Four years later, on a second trip over the trail, another attempt was made, under the auspices of W. E. Siders, with the same effort of excavation as on the first visit. No results - and I again drove on over the trail to the Missouri River.

I made a third trip over the Oregon Trail in 1916, this time in an automobile, and on August 29, under the auspices and guidance of Dr. W.F. Howard and Dr. Minnie Howard, with the interpreter Joe Rainey as guide, we unmistakably found the exact spot where the old Fort had once reared its formidable walls. Rainey had taken us straight to the old site. We need not rely on his recollection. Excavations made at once developed numerous relics of the old Fort, which have since been supplemented by further explorations, resulting in a treasured collection of Dr. Minnie Howard of Pocatello. The most contributory and convincing relics consisting of broken, English-decorated china; deeply rusted scrap iron, an old clay pipe stem, a broken knife, an old ox shoe, a broken stove grate, a broken beef bone, a quantity of lime, all two feet, or more under accumulated debris. The site of the old blacksmith shop, within the walls is there. A temporary wooden post was set which, subsequently, was replaced with a stone marker and so, you, my friends, need have no doubt but this assemblage is on the memorable spot where we have met to commemorate the memory of the great event, the preaching of the first sermon west of the Rocky mountains b Jason Lee.

Confusion in the minds of sincere searches after truth exists because of discrepancy of distance by different observers. To such it should be sufficient to say that three other localities bear the name of Fort Hall. Then again, good authority locates the original Fort Hall a mile or more from the bank of the Snake River, whereas, the site I have described is less than three hundred yards from the river. An examination of the surroundings unmistakably discloses a change of the waters nearly half a mile from the old channel of the river, so I can say I haven't the least shadow of doubt about the genuineness of the site as here described

Confusion in the minds of sincere searchers after truth, exists because of discrepancy in the distance by different observers. To such it should be sufficient to say that two forts have been built since the original, all bearing the name Fort Hall; then again, good authority located the orginal fort half a mile or more from the bank of Snake River whereas the site I have described is less than three hundred yards from the river. An examination of the surroundings unmistakably disclose a change of the waters of the river near half a mile from the old channel and so I can say I haven't the least shadow of a doubt about the genuineness of the site as here described

It is an inspiration, and I consider it a high privilege to meet you on this historic spot on the 87^th anniversary of the first sermon preached west of the crest of the Rocky Mountains; the spot where Nathaniel J. Wyeth selected to plant the American flag and challenged the supremacy of Great Britain, who through the instrumentality of the Hudson Bay Company were attempting, by a possessory right, to claim eventual ownership of the Oregon country.

Jason Lee, the missionary, who had accompanied Wyeth this far from Saint Louis, delivered this historic sermon before a motley assemblage of mountaineers, traffickers in furs, trappers, Indians, employees of Wyeth and many other adventurers of the northwest of early days

That he had an attentive audience should go without saying, but we have records of how under a friendly shade of the nearby forest trees the listeners, some sitting on the ground, some reclining, some squatting, each choosing his own posture, yet all intent to drink in the words or catch the notion of the gifted preacher

By Ezra Meeker, Oregon Emigrant of 1852, Speech delivered at Fort Hall, Idaho on the 87^th Anniversary of the Sermon by Jason Lee at Fort Hall in 1834.