Eli Newman and Karena Talley standing near interpretive sign, detailing Pomp's 66 years of life
{photo by Joy Newman}
As we Pause today, we are straying slightly from the usual tips and sharing a SLOCA family’s moment with you instead. Jill and Todd Talley are a Track A family with children Karena (Intermediate), Violet (Primary) and Daniel (Primary), who will be entering their 5th year at SLOCA this fall. Jill sent in this account of a delightful discovery their family made while traveling this summer. Connecting with another family's experience can often refresh our own excitement for life and education. So sit back, relax, and share a moment with the Talleys:
Our family along with another SLO Classical Academy family recently had the chance to visit several western states together. On our drive home to the Central Coast we took a slight detour on a 3 mile long gravel road in southeastern Oregon. The lonely road led us to a fascinating find: the burial place of Sacajawea’s son, Baby Pomp.
Pomp’s grave is about 20 miles southwest of the small community of Jordan Valley, Oregon. We were so glad we took the time to stop as we learned a lot about the amazing life of this infant whom we studied this past year as the youngest person accompanying the Lewis and Clark expedition.
Jean Baptiste “Pomp” Charbonneau began his road of life on the epic journey westward with the Corps of Discovery in 1805. He was carried in a cradle board by his mother Sacajawea, a Lemhi-Shoshone Indian. His father was Toussaint Charbonnneau, also part of the expedition.
Close up of the Bronze plaque on Pomp's stone marker
{photo by Jill Talley}
Several interpretive signs at Pomp’s gravesite told us that following Sacajawea’s death in 1812, young Pomp came under the guardianship of Captain William Clark and was schooled in St. Louis, Missouri. Pomp also spent 6 years in Europe and Africa and learned to speak multiple languages during that time. Following his time abroad, Pomp became a mountain man, guide and gold rusher. The information at his burial site says Pomp was traveling through Oregon on route to Montana when he contracted pneumonia. The marker says he died near this spot in southwestern Oregon on May 16, 1866.
Both of our SLOCA families thoroughly enjoyed the stop. It challenged us keep our eyes looking for other hidden gems on the way home to the Central Coast.
Daniel standing near the decorated grave of Sacagawea's son
{photo by Jill Talley}
Thank you Jill, for sharing this experience with us. What a great find on the road home!
