Re: Schuyler Churchman, b. 1839
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In reply to:
Schuyler Churchman, b. 1839
Sandi Jagger Gauthier 6/22/00
I am the great grandson of Mary Caroline Churchman Wahl and Christian Wahl.I wrote following poem about her father, John Churchman, and his family.It is based on some letters by George Churchman and Schuyler Churchman.One was written shortly after the death, in Oregon, of John Churchman's widow, Caroline Churchman.
CHURCHMAN
He has "Gone to see the Elephant!",
Oh yes! he has "Gone West!",
He's "Joined the Church Triumphant!",
Kind ways to speak of Death.
They went west to California,
Before the great rush for gold.
I have copies of some letters
In which their story's told.
But the devil's in the details
Of how they made their way.
Their path might have taken branches,
Which ones I'll try to say.
They buried Mother's tiny baby
In the vale of one-thousand springs.
A century and one-half has passed
With sadness echoing.
Passed through what is now Idaho:
Fort Hall they clearly name.
Three places boast one-thousand springs,
Which one is whence they came?
Southwest along Raft River
Silent City of the Rocks,
Nevada has one-thousand springs.
The trail not yet in use,
When they rode and walked.
Nor on along Snake River'
Where wagons wended west '
The Thousand Springs at Hagerman
Plunge from the rock-strewn crest.
"'Twas northwest on Goodale's Cutoff,
Where many died too soon,
Out where Big Lost River sinks
Near the Craters of the Moon.
They rejoined Snake River
To leave it at Farewell Bend
The Blue Mountain trek
Left wagon wheels to mend.
Columbia River and its Dalles
Both lie in Oregon.
On to the "Bear Republic"
Its independence newly won.
They made a modest "stake"
By mining placer gold,
Then turned their hands to farming,
When their little claim was sold.
There they toiled and prospered
For five-and-twenty years,
Were busy founding school and church,
With far more joy than tears.
Then they heard the Master call
Through the voice of Reverend Wood
To Argentina mission work:
Set-out as quickly as they could.
Their westward trek was long and slow,
Trudging along the trails:
Now eastward they were speeding:
Iron and coal and steam on the singing rails
"All Aboard!" in New York Harbor.
Along the Atlantic shore
To the great Pirana River
Nine thousand miles and more.
The Mission in Rosario of
The Methodist Episcopal Church
Is where pioneer John Churchman
Departed from this earth.
He left his widow and his children
Where he felt obliged to roam.
The U. S. consul lent them money
For their passage home.
Ere long they reached Iowa,
In four years, again out west
Made their home in southern Oregon
The place they loved the best.
Long since, these Faithful Servants
Have gone to Heaven's rest.
For they have "Seen the Elephant",
They've "Gone Away Out West"
But, "Joined the Church Triumphant"
Is the phrase I like the best!
December 7, 2005D. Wahl
More Replies:
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Re: Schuyler Churchman, b. 1839
David Wahl 1/07/06