Sager orphans

Who is Sager orphans?

The Sager orphans were the children of Henry and Naomi Sager. In April 1844 Henry and his family took part in the great westward migration and started their journey along the Oregon Trail. During their journey both he and Naomi lost their lives and left their seven children orphaned. Later adopted by Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, missionaries in what is now Washington, the children were orphaned a second time, when both their new parents were killed during the Whitman massacre in November 1847. About 1860 Catherine, the oldest of the Sager girls, wrote a first-hand account of their journey across the plains and their life with the Whitmans. This account today is regarded as one of the most authentic accounts of the American westward migration.

The children's names were:

⁕John Carney Sager

⁕Francis "Frank" Sager

⁕Catherine Carney Sager

⁕Elizabeth Marie Sager

⁕Matilda Jane Sager

⁕Hannah Louise "Louisa" Sager