Archives West Finding Aid

The Inez Eugenia Adams Parker autobiography and reminiscences is a typed, extensive personal narrative covering almost eighty years of Adam’s life. It begins with the 1848 migration of her family from Illinois to Mamouth [Monmouth], Oregon, when Parker was two and a half years old. Parker provides some details of this overland journey that are impossible for a child of this age to recall. Nevertheless, her narrative is detailed and provides some depth in terms of life in Oregon in the late 19th century. In many ways, the Parker autobiography provides typical details of the lives of homesteaders during this time. She recounts making soap and candles; she describes her father’s professional work away from home (as a school teacher and a miner) and her mother’s work at the home when she had constant interaction with her three children. Indeed, Parker’s observation on the sturdy nature of pioneers (page 6) shows how her narrative fits with other narratives about Oregon “pioneers” produced at this time.

The Parker autobiography is unique in one respect. Her family had close connections with one group of Indians who lived near and passed through Monmouth. Parker was acquainted with one of the Chiefs (Wyano-shott) who headed a band of Indians who attended church with Parker and her family. She and her father (and perhaps other members of the family) learned some of the local language. Parker used an English translation or pidgin form of this language in her autobiography (and provided translations).