In l985 I started doing my family and my husband's family genealogy. My family took me to Germany and Volga Germans and my husband's to England and Scotland.
I took an interest in writing children's short stories for my family, about growing up in the good old days and other stories of interest.
It all started for me in 1988 when I and family members went to Pendleton, Ore. Red Lion Indian Hills for breakfast.
After breakfast I and my small grandniece Aubrey Eggers walked around before heading back home. Coming down the hall and in front of us on the wall was an Indian riding a pony. Before I knew it, off the top of my head I said, "Oh, there's Peupeumoxmox riding on a pony."
I was surprised to hear myself say "Peupeumoxmox" where did that come from? I looked up and about at the ceiling as if the name had sprung up from midair. Aubie giggled and said, "what a funny name" and then added "who was he?" I said "I didn't rightly remember but I'd look it up and write you a story."
Those 3 little words "who was he" would change my life completely.
I wasn't much interested in alot of writing and at that time wasn't much interested in Indians either.
Much to my surprise I didn't find a book or anything on him and wondered why since he was such a famous important Chief.
I decided to research him. However I had to spend hours, days, months, years looking for everything and anything I could find about him in libraries, manuscripts, journals, writings of Hudson Bay Co., early writers, people who knew him, settlers, soldiers, and all the et ceteras there are. Collecting till I had boxes and boxes of files and research notes about him and the Wallawalla and Cayuse.
I lived him, breathe him, wrote about him nearly every day. My life seemed to be consumed by him in many different ways and something always drove me to find out all I could about him. He became my companion, and mostly my friend, especially when I had many problems in my life I'd go research. It kept my mind off things, and spurred my attention to the extreme. There was little I didn't know about him.
Although I have found much, there's probably much yet to find.
My first story about Peupeumoxmox was put in the Walla Walla Union Bulletin Dec. 8, l989, that brought me to the attention of the present Walla Walla Chief Carl Sampson. He asked if I would supply him with any information I had about The Chief and his people. Not only did I become the biographer of Peupeumoxmox, the research historian of the Wallawalla and Cayuse Indians, but also the representative of the
Wallawalla whenever need be. I have traveled many miles, researched many different places and many different subjects, leaving the Chief and Wallawalla with them all and I've enjoyed every minute of it.
I wrote Letters to the Editor-Union Bulletin, bringing recognition to the Chief and Wallawalla and Cayuse Indians
My family and friends know I am very involved with the history of the Chief and Indians in general. NOW! I like to talk about Indians and events concerning the Chief and it has become the Peu Saga. Much like a soap opera, but true.
It has all been very interesting and rewarding.
I started my web site in Sept. 2003 and it will continue into 2009. My web site is the future and then, WHO KNOWS!
Whatever that may hold.
This story is taken from the writings, letters, journals of the early writers at the beginning of the l800's to 1860 and I have only told the story.
Also from my three manuscripts:
1. Peupeumoxmox, Great Chief of the Wallawalla
2. Walla Walla Indian Council
3. Battle of Wallawalla