"Tacoma Daily News."  Oct. 19, 1891, p. 8.

"A Biography of Rev. Cushing Eells"
 
REV. CUSHING EELLS

     The subject of this sketch was born at Blandsford, Mass., February 16,
1810. His academic studies were pursued at Munson academy, Mass. He was
graduated from Williams' college in the class of '34. His theological studies
were pursued at East Windsor institute, Conn., now known as the Theological
Institute of Connecticut. His ordination to the ministry in the Congregational
church took place at Blandsford, his birthplace, October 25, 1837, immediately
following which he was appointed by the American Board of Commissioners for
Foreign Missions as missionary to the Zulus of Southeastern Africa, but there
being war between the famous chiefs Dingaan and Moselakatse, his departure was
delayed.
     March 6, 1838, he set out from Holden, Mass., for the pacific coast, under
appointment as missionary. The journey to Missouri was made by railroad,
steamboat and stage. April 23d he began his horseback ride across the continent.
A meager recital of the incidents connected with that trip would constitute a
memorable history. Suffice it to say, at the expiration of 129 days, he arrived
at Wai-i-lat-pu, the mission station occupied by Marcus Whitman, M. D., and his
family.
     March 5, 1839, with the Rev. Elkanah and family, he started to establish a
new mission station among the Spokane Indians. The location chosen was on a
prairie eight miles north of Spokane river, now known as Walker's Prairie. With
the assistance of the Indians, human dwellings were erected. Ground was enclosed
by a rudely constructed fence, the sward was broken, grain and vegetables were
produced for human beings and beasts. He soon obtained such knowledge of the
native tongue as to enable him to communicate the Gospel message, and there were
those who believed and led Christian lives. The language was reduced to writing
and children were taught to read. Lessons were prepared with the use of the
entire membership of the church. Later a small book was printed on the mission
press at Lap-wai. Dr. Eells spent nine years at this station.
     Dr. Whitman and wife with others, were massacred November, 1847. That event
was followed by a war waged against the Indians by the government. Sixty citizen
soldiers from the Willamette came to the rescue of the missionaries, and on the
3d of June, 1848, the station was abandoned, and by military order the country
was closed against their return. It remained so closed for 11 years.
In the Willamette valley, with Mrs. Eells and their two sons, he occupied a log
house with a pancheon floor. Its furniture was such camp equipment as had
survived a journey of 400 miles. Here they abode for five weeks.
     There was an institution of learning at Salem, Or., which was deemed to be
of great importance. Teachers were needed. Three of the trustees, viz., Rev. J.
H. Wilbur, Rev. A. F. Waller and Rev. William Roberts, sought the services of
Dr. and Mrs. Eells in such capacity with success. That institution is now known
as the Willamette university.
     About the time gold was discovered in California. The teacher of an orphan
school at West Tualatin Plain had what was termed the "yellow fever" and
departed for the land of gold. It had been determined to establish Tualatin
Academy. The trustees were in earnest deliberation for nearly two days. Late on
the second day, two ladies, Mrs. Tabitha Brown and Mrs. A. T. Smith entered the
meeting. They plead with the eloquence of feeling. Their tears were effective.
The trustees voted to go forward. Dr. Eells accepts the proffered invitation to
take charge of the school, April, 1849, in a log building, 20 feet by 30 feet,
ground floor, the school was opened. Having split a log through the middle, one
half, with legs inserted, served for a seat; the other half attached to the
wall, served as a writing and study table. The mother of W. F. Brown, M. D., of
Tacoma, had practical experience of these accommodations. In 1849, the name of
the place was West Tualatin Plain, but is now known as Forest Grove, and
Tualatin Academy has become Pacific University. From September, 1848 to March,
1860, it is confessed that Dr. Eells performed more consecutive service in the
school room than any other person in the Willamette valley. When other failed
from sheer exhaustion, he was still at his post.
     It is a matter of present regret that the data possessed by the family of
Dr. Eells cannot be examined for the purposes of this sketch. Not till he has
passed from the shores of time will his history be adequately portrayed. But it
will be always difficult, if not impossible, to estimate such lives. Common
measurements cannot be applied to them. Of the many tales he tells of adventure
and hardship, he is the hero of no one of them. Without seeming intent he tells
the story of nearly 54 years of ministerial and missionary life in such a way as
to magnify the goodness and self-sacrifice of others and to minimize or wholly
conceal his own. With a taste for letters which would have allowed him to become
a literature of exceptional merit, he has unreplaingly turned away from --- so
suited to his liking to follow mountain trails and to blaze paths across
wildernesses that he might preach to the poorest and most degraded the Gospel
message.
     Dr. Eells speaks today among the clergy of the Northwest as the man who is
altogether unique. Of course he can leave no successor. He must furnish the data
from which certain of the most valuable chapters in the history of Christian
work in the Pacific Northwest are to be written. This morning he sat in the
meeting of the Ministerial Alliance of this city, brought there by LaBlond, the
faithful horse he has owned for 24 years, and the inseparable companion in all
his journeys for over 20 years. When he consents to be heard in the Alliance,
his tones are ringing, his judgments are just, and his spirit loving. Till very
recently the degree of his diligence as a clergyman has known little abatement.
It does not seem possible that any man cold have labored any more abundantly
than he. Having four regular appointments to preach each month, he has thought
it a small matter to mount LaBlond and ride 70 miles that he might improve the
fifth Sabbath. He has hated idleness. Money, as a means of ministering to his
own comfort, he has despised. In ministrations to others he has loved to use it.
The founder of Whitman college, he has also been its most liberal benefactor,
paying between $30,000 and $40,000 into its treasury. for a period of 24 years,
he has annually constituted, by the payment of $100.00, some person as honorary
member of the American Board of Commissioners for foreign missions.
     His degree of Doctor Divinitatis was conferred by Pacific university in
1883. Mrs. Eells, his worthy wife and the joyful participant of his toil and
sacrifice, passed to her reward some 12 years ago. He has two sons, the Rev.
Myron Eells, D. D., of Skokomish, Wash., and Edwin Eells, agent of Puyallup
Indian reservation, a man so thoroughly honest and competent that for 29 years
he has conducted the affairs of that agency in such a way that his political
enemies and all the hosts of place-seekers have plied their avocation in vain.
     
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Submitted to the Washington Biographies Project in February 2012 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.