First house is dismantled and the bricks are reused in the Blacksmith shop. No further troubles with the Indians.

Annual meeting at Waiilatpu.

Dr. Elijah White arrives at Waiilatpu from the East. He carries the American Board's closure letter dated Feb. 25, 1842. The letter ordered the abandonment of Waiilatpu and Lapwai and asked for the return of the Spaldings, preferably overland.

Situation had changed between the time the orders were written in Boston and the time they arrived in the Oregon Country:

At Fort Hall, Richard Grant advises Dr. Whitman and Asa Lovejoy against use of South Pass due to problems with the Indians. They cross the Green River near the mouth of Black's Fork, following the southern bank for a time. To avoid hills, they cross to north shore, and then re-cross to south shore. They enter the mountains, going southwest to where Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado meet. Coming to either Red Creek or Ewing Creek, they follow the trail southward down into a valley, located on the north and east banks of Green River-Brown's Hole. They cross mountains and endure severe weather including deep snow. From Brown's Hole they go up either Sears Creek or Kettle Creek to the top of Diamond Mountain which was 20 miles across, then drop into Uintah Basin and follow Ashley Creek. Around the mouth of Dry Fork they went southwest to Fort Uintah which they reach about November 1.

They take on a new guide at Uintah. The trail leads down the Uintah River to the Green River, then up White River and to the crest of Book Cliffs to the headwaters of Bitter Creek. The trail then leads southward, they follow the Grand River (Colorado River) upstream to the junction of the Gunnison (Grand Junction, Colorado), then follow the Gunnison to the mouth or the Uncompahgre. (Fort Uncompaghre was located on this river.) They follow the route of the Uncompahgre to Montrose, then go up a branch to where Ouray, Colorado is now. They then go on the west side of the Anahuac Range, La Plata and southward around the southern end of the Rio Grande and then to Taos and Santa Fe. They arrive in Taos about the middle of December.

There were many hazards between Fort Uintah and Taos:

St. Louis, Whitman learns that the Linn Bill had not been passed.
The Linn Bill would have:

The Whitmans are at Fort Walla Walla on their way back to Waiilatpu. Upon their return they find very crowded conditions. Their family now consists of Mary Ann Bridger, Helen Mar Meek, David Malin and Perrin Whitman. Mrs. Whitman's health is very poor.

Note: William Geiger (1816-1901). A New York native, Geiger was contacted by Gray to help at the Whitman Station. All arrangements were made in the Willamette Valley. The Whitmans found Geiger's work at the mission to be satisfactory. In May 1843, Spalding and Geiger sent a pack train of flour (1000 pounds) to the expected emigrants at Fort Hall or Fort Boise. In late summer 1843 Geiger was summoned to Lapwai due to Spalding being ill. He arrived September 14, leaving Indians to look after Waiilatpu. During his absence, someone broke into one of the buildings. On Whitman's arrival to Lapwai, Geiger returned to Waiilatpu to supply the emigrants. His services were terminated in October 1843. He was paid $30.00 per month. In 1844, he was again hired to serve the mission as a schoolmaster. He taught about 20 children during the winter of 1846-1847. After departing Waiilatpu, he settled in the Willamette Valley, and after the Killings he and his wife took in Matilda Sager, who remained in their home until she was married.