Kate Mulhall

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

78040

Title

Kate Mulhall

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Written by the sole surviving adult pioneer of the 1852 Oregon Trail migration, this 1926 romance chronicles the perilous journey of Kate Mulhall and her family. Blending historical fact with fictionalized character arcs, the narrative captures the hardships of the frontier, the tragedy of the Whitman Massacre, and the enduring spirit of the pioneers who sought a new life in the Pacific Northwest.

Summary up to 500 words

Published in 1926 by Ezra Meeker, the sole surviving adult from the 1852 Oregon Trail migration, *Kate Mulhall* serves as both a historical record and a romantic tribute to the pioneers who built the American West. The narrative follows Kate Mulhall, a spirited twenty-year-old from Missouri, as she joins her father, David, and others on a perilous overland trek to the Oregon Country. The story details the arduous crossing of the Missouri River, encounters with buffalo herds, and the constant threat of hostile tribes. Along the trail, families are separated, and the journey tests the resilience of the emigrants against starvation, disease, and the harsh wilderness. The plot weaves together the fates of several families, including the Mulhalls, the Peltons, and the tragic Sager orphans. The Sager family's journey is particularly heartbreaking; after losing their father and mother to the hardships of the trail, their six children are taken in by the Whitman Mission. The narrative culminates in the horrific massacre of missionaries Marcus and Narcissa Whitman and their families, including the Sager children, by enraged Native Americans in 1847. Despite these devastating losses, the story highlights the determination of survivors like Kate, who eventually finds safety and a new home in the fertile Willamette Valley. Through Meeker's eyes, the tale preserves the memory of the twenty thousand lives lost on the great highway to the Northwest. It stands as a testament to the courage of men, women, and children who abandoned their homes to seek a future in the Pacific Northwest, transforming a fur-hunting territory into a thriving agricultural region. The book honors the legacy of these pioneers, ensuring their sacrifices and the history of the Oregon Trail are not forgotten by future generations.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/78040.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg78040.epub

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Categories

• Biography
• Historical Fiction
• Western Fiction