The Busy Life of Eighty-Five Years of Ezra Meeker / Ventures and adventures; sixty-three years of pioneer life in the old Oregon country; an account of the author's trip across the plains with an ox team; return trip, 1906-7; his cruise on Puget Sound, 1853; trip through the Natchess pass, 1854; over the Chilcoot pass; flat-boating on the Yukon, 1898. The Oregon trail.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.
Autobiography.
Birth and Parentage—Boyhood Days—Aversion to School—Early Ambitions—Farm Training—Life in a Printing Office—At Tippecanoe as a Songster	7
CHAPTER II.
Time of My Youth.
Our Ohio Home—A Period of Invention—The Printing Press—Our Removal to Indiana—Habits Acquired on the Trip	15
CHAPTER III.
Early Days in Indiana.
I'm Going to Be a Farmer—Off for Iowa—An Iowa Winter	18
CHAPTER IV.
Off for Oregon.
Preparation—Getting a Partner—First Day Out	23
CHAPTER V.
The Ferry Across the Missouri	26
CHAPTER VI.
Out on the Plains.
Indian Country—The Cholera—Extent of Emigration—The Casualties	29
CHAPTER VII.
Buffalo Chase and Stampede.
Buffalo Trails—Chase on the Missouri—Stampede on the Platte	37
CHAPTER VIII.
Out on the Plains.
The Law of Self-Preservation—Crossing the Snake River—Wagon Beds as Boats—Down Snake River in Wagon Boxes—On to Portland	39
CHAPTER IX.
Floating Down the River	51
CHAPTER X.
The Arrival.
At Work—Moving to St. Helens—Building a Home	57
CHAPTER XI.
The First Cabin.
Home Life—A Trip to Puget Sound	63
CHAPTER XII.
Cruise on Puget Sound.
Building a Boat—Afloat on Puget Sound—A Visit to the Indians	69
CHAPTER XIII.
Cruise on Puget Sound.
At Steilacoom	77
CHAPTER XIV.
Cruise on Puget Sound.
At Tacoma—On Puyallup Bay	84
CHAPTER XV.
Cruise on Puget Sound.
At Alki Point—A Fish Story	91
CHAPTER XVI.
Cruise on Puget Sound.
Port Townsend—Building the City—Colonel Ebey	96
CHAPTER XVII.
From Columbia River to Puget Sound.
Arrival Home—Preparations to Move—The Trip	101
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Second Cabin.
The New Home—Brother Oliver Returns to the States	115
CHAPTER XIX.
Trip Through Natchess Pass.
Cross the Streams	122
CHAPTER XX.
Trip Through Natchess Pass—Cont.
Many Obstacles—Killing of Steers to Make Rope—A Brave Boy	128
CHAPTER XXI.
Trip Through Natchess Pass—Cont.
Fun with the Pony—Immigrants	136
CHAPTER XXII.
Trip Through Natchess Pass—Cont.
Desert Lands—Lost—Crossing the River—Reunion	142
CHAPTER XXIII.
Trip Through Natchess Pass—Cont.
Nearly Home—Trouble Over Titles—Parting	148
CHAPTER XXIV.
Trip Through Natchess Pass—Cont.
Home Again—Visitors—Jay Cooke and My Pamphlet	154
CHAPTER XXV.
First Immigrants Through Natchess Pass.
Hard Trip—Letter from Geo. H. Himes	161
CHAPTER XXVI.
Building of the Natc Clyx.com