Marcus Whitman and Miss Narcissa Prentiss were married on February 18, 1836. They had known each other only a few short months! Now, they were united together to spend their lives far from friends and family on the other side of the continent.

Dr. Whitman was a young medical doctor who had volunteered his services among the tribes of the Pacific Northwest along the opening Oregon Trail. Miss Prentiss had also volunteered to serve as a missionary, but the missionary society had rejected her offer because she was unmarried. That problem was solved by marrying Marcus Whitman.

The morning after their wedding, the young couple set out on an audacious “honeymoon” by starting their journey westward. Narcissa Whitman became the first white woman, along with fellow missionary Mrs. Eliza Spalding, to cross the Continental Divide.

At the onset of their journey, the Whitmans had no idea of the challenges and trials that lay ahead. But the couple firmly believed that the Lord Who brought them together would sustain them by His grace. For their wedding, Narcissa had selected a hymn to be sung that expressed her hope and confidence in the Lord.

In the deserts let me labor, On the mountains let me tell
How he died—the blessed Saviour—To redeem a world from hell!
Let me hasten, Let me hasten, Far in heathen lands to dwell.

The marriage of the Whitmans presents three bonds of union that solidified their life of service together. Let’s take a brief look at each one of these bonds.

The Whitmans were united in ministry

Marcus and Narcissa complemented each other well as a missionary couple. They not only ministered to the spiritual needs of the Cayuse people of eastern Washington, but they also helped the natives of the area learn how to farm the land and garden, how to build and operate a mill, and how to raise quality livestock. Narcissa helped the women learn valuable skills, such as sewing, cooking, and, most importantly, how to be a faithful mother to their children. Although dissension arose among other missionaries that threatened the work of the mission station, the Whitmans never allowed the arguments to divide them as a couple.

The Whitmans were united in sorrow

Marcus and Narcissa were delighted to welcome their baby girl whom they named Alice Clarissa. The child brought a spark of joy to their isolated home in the far West. When little Alice was two years old, she went down to the river with her drinking cup. Marcus thought Narcissa was with her, and Narcissa thought Marcus had her. Tragically, the little girl somehow fell into the water and drowned. The grieving parents yielded their little girl’s lifeless body into the arms of Jesus, burying her at the mission station in the bright hope of the resurrection. The sorrow of losing their young child drew the parents closer together and closer to their Lord.

The Whitmans were united in death

On November 29, 1847, a hostile band of Cayuse warriors slipped into the mission station with concealed weapons. The Indians wrongly suspected Whitman of poisoning their people. There was a measles epidemic, and Dr. Whitman was doing all that he could do to help the people he loved. His kindness, however, was spurned, and the Indians angrily slammed a tomahawk into his skull.

Narcissa was shot in the confusion that ensued, and she died beside her beloved husband. Despite this tragic ending to the lives of this missionary couple, their story inspired many others to come westward and finish the work that they had begun. As a result, many of the Cayuse and Nez Perce people came to know and follow the Lord over the decades to come.

United in life, the Whitmans also were united in death. They were heirs together of the grace of life. Many have followed the worthy example of this couple who loved Christ and were committed to each other and to sharing the Good News with the unreached.