History of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the Dalles area of Oregon. Laura in Seattle http://www.historysavers.com/orwasco/stories4.htm Doctor Whitman was murdered at Waiilatpu, November 29, 1847, and the mission was abandoned because of the indian hostilities, but the American Board retransferred the property to the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The latter subsequently asserted title, made surveys and, after much litigation in the Department, obtained a patent. In the meantime a military reservation had occupied a part of the site, and for this and for mission property destroyed, the Government paid to the Society $24,000 damages. Walter D. Bigelow took up a donation claim of 320 acres and cultivated it until 1860. In 1852 a town was in existence on part of the land formerly claimed by the Methodist Mission, and this town, under directions of Wasco County, was surveyed and laid out in lots, blocks and streets; the town was incorporated as Dalles City in 1857, and subsequently entered at the United States Land Office at Oregon City a townsite claim under the Townsite Act of May 23, 1844, in trust for the occupants. Suits brought by various plaintiffs resulted ultimately in holding that the Missionary Society had no title, and the title of various claimants was settled, whereupon the Missionary Society refunded some $23,000 to persons who had made payments in the settlement of titles to lots. The name Dalles City was afterward changed to The Dalles.