In 1837 Narcissa Whitman, aged 29, gave birth to a daughter, Alice Clarissa. Two years later, she was distracted for a moment and Alice drowned in the nearby Walla Walla River, having gone there to fill her cup with water. In an attempt to regain some sense of family she began taking care of other children. Soon four were in their custody, including the daughters of mountain men Joseph Meek and Jim Bridger. In early October 1844, the "Independent Colony" reached the Whitman Mission, and the Sager orphans found a new home with the Whitmans. In July 1845 Marcus obtained a court order giving him legal custody of them.