out of recorded existence. Mr. Frederick W. Skiff never numbered it among the rare finds of his early collecting days in the Aurora community, and apparently Bancroft, whose combings covered a much earlier period, did not secure it or know about it.
We must get our knowledge of it from what sounds at this distant date decidedly like a prejudiced review contributed to the Oregonian of August 5, 1 854, by an anonymous person signing himself "Squills". His notice of the book was long and uncomplimentary.
Margaret Jewett Bailey was the wife of Dr. W. J. Bailey. Her maiden name was Margaret J. Smith and she came out with the early missionaries as a teacher. According to one historical reference, "Mrs. Bailey was the first white woman who made a home in the beautiful plain of the French Prairie." Charles Wilkes told about visiting their home there in June, 1841:
We . . . entered the fine prairies, part of the farm of Dr. Bailey. This was one of the most comfortable I had yet seen, and was certainly in the neatest order. Dr. Bailey had married one of the girls who came out with the missionaries (1837) and the mistress of the establishment was as pleasing as it was well conducted. Dr. Bailey desiring to accompany us to the falls, I gladly concluded to await their dinner, and before it was served had an opportunity of looking about the premises. The locality resembles the prairies I have spoken of, but there was something in the arrangements of the farm that seemed advanced beyond the other settlements of the country. The garden was, in particular, exceedingly well kept, and had in it the best vegetables of our own country. This was entirely the work of Mrs. Bailey, whose activity could not rest content until it was accomplished. She had followed the mission as a teacher, until she found there was no field for labor. She had been in hope that the great missionary field to the north, of which I have before spoken, would be occupied; but this being neglected, she had left them.
Guests at the Bailey home were generally impressed with the happy married life of this couple. Nevertheless, there are some letters in the Oregon Historical Society from her to Judge Deady revealing her wishes for a divorce.
Farnham, even earlier than Wilkes—in November, 1839
