History of Dakota Territory, volume III, Part 135

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1146

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In 1906 there were seven organizations of the Lutheran (General Synod) with 552 members, 7 Sunday Schools and 253 pupils; 29 organizations of Lutherans (General Council) with 23 church buildings, 8 parsonages, 24 Sunday Schools and 750 scholars; 125 organizations of Lutherans (Synodical Conference) with 8,285 members, 76 church buildings, 47 parsonages, 38 Sunday Schools and 860 scholars; 132 organizations of Lutherans (United Norwegian Church) with 15,004 members, 99 church buildings, 23 parsonages, 95 Sunday Schools and 3,793 scholars; 13 organizations of Lutherans (Joint Synod of Ohio and other states) with 838 members, II church buildings, 6 parsonages, 9 Sunday Schools and 270 scholars; 38 societies of Lutherans (Hauge Norwegian Synod) with 3,539 members, 32 church edifices, 6 parsonages, 26 Sunday Schools and 750 scholars; there were also four societies of Lutherans (Eielsen's Synod) with 24I members and 2 church buildings ; 55 societies of Lutherans (Synod of Iowa and other states) with 4,103 members, 40 churches, 19 parsonages, 38 Sunday Schools and 977 scholars; 59 societies of Lutherans (Norwegian Church in America) with 6,489 members, 42 church buildings, 14 parsonages, 13 Sunday Schools and 462 scholars; 6 societies of Lutherans (Danish Church) with 417 members, 3 church edifices and 3 Sunday Schools; 4 societies of Lutherans (Norwegian Free Church) with 230 members, 3 church structures, 2 Sunday Schools and 42 scholars ; 19 societies of Lutherans (United Danish Church) with 1,079 members, 9 church buildings, 7 Sunday Schools and 181 scholars; 4 societies of Lutherans (Finnish National Church) with 1,030 members, 3 church structures, 4 Sunday Schools and 120 scholars; 13 societies of Lutherans (Apostolic Church Finnish) with 292 members and 3 church bulidings. The state census of 1915 gave the Lutherans a membership of 120,949.

Early in September, 1915, the Iowa Synod of the German Evangelical Luth- eran Church held a four days' session at Aberdeen. The synod considered many problems of importance to the church, one of which was whether it was advisable to divide the synod comprising several states of the Northwest into two separate synods instead of leaving all in the one then existing. After a thorough discus-

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sion of the subject it was concluded that the church had grown so rapidly and had become so large that two separate synods were advisable if not necessary, whereupon action was taken at once to organize a new synod. The new officers elected were as follows: President, Rev. W. Baltke, vice president, Rev. A. Heim; secretary, Rev. W. Schroeder; treasurer, Rev. W. Zink. During the session on Sunday the synod celebrated the annual mission festival by an open air meeting in the park. During the convention Rev. Mr. Proehl brought up the matter of raising $300,000 for church purposes which the Iowa Synod had pledged itself to raise by 1917 when the 400th jubilee of the reformation of the Martin Luther would be celebrated.

The earliest religious movement of the Baptists in Dakota Territory was begun in 1852. On that date they established a mission of Walhalla for the evangelization of the Indians. The leaders at the mission from the start were Elijah Terry and James Tanner. The former was connected with the First Baptist Church, St. Paul, and the latter was a half-breed whose father was stolen in childhood by a band of Shawanee Indians back in 1879 and was adopted into that tribe. James Tanner received the best education he could obtain among the Indians and' later became interpreter and assistant in mission work among the Indians of the Upper Mississippi River. He went East and secured the assistance of several wealthy Baptists to help establish churches among the natives. Upon his return Elijah Terry accompanied him. While engaged in cutting timber, Mr. Terry was killed and scalped by the Sioux Indians in June, 1852. James Tanner finally left and went to Manitoba, where he also, in 1864, lost his life. In 1852 Rev. Alonzo Barnard, a Presbyterian, and Rev. D. B. Spencer, a Congregationalist, came with their wives to Walhalla. These people suffered martyrdom among the Indians. Mrs. Barnard died in October, 1853, from exposure and tortures and Mrs. Spencer suffered death at their hands in August, 1854. Their graves are now marked as follows: "The Martyrs of Walhalla." The Baptists were first represented in South Dakota at Yankton, Vermillion, Elk Point, and Bon Homme. The Baptist Church was organized at Yankton by Rev. L. P. Judson early in 1864. Upon his arrival here Mr. Judson succeeded in finding a number of Baptists who formed the nucleus of the First Baptist Society. The governor and other territorial officers assisted him in organizing a church. Mr. Judson was succeeded by Rev. Albert Gore, who came in 1865 to serve as a missionary, but the church was small and, soon after Mr. Gore left for Michigan near the close of 1865, the members became scattered and the church became extinct. In 1866 Rev. J. E. Lockwood, who had served for some time as pastor of a church in Sioux City, visited this portion of South Dakota quite often, making numerous missionary tours up the Missouri River and preaching at Elk Point, Vermillion, Yankton and elsewhere. He was an able minister and succeeded in organizing several churches in what is now South Dakota, owing largely to the rapid settlement of this portion of the state. He succeeded in assembling the scattered Baptists and in uniting them into religious societies. He established a church in Yankton in February, 1867, and one at Vermillion in February, 1868. A similar organization was begun at Elk Point, but was not completed, however. In 1871 the Baptist Church there was established. From 1867 to 1885 Rev. George D. Crocker, the fourth Baptist minister of prominence in South Dakota, labored here for the cause of his

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church. He was chaplain in the Regular Army, and during fifteen years of the above period he remained at Fort Sully, from which point he made numerous itinerary trips over that portion of the state, brought the settlers together, formed small organizations, and prcached to them and to the Indians. He addressed the latter in their own language, although his duties as a military officer prevented him from doing distinctively denominational work. Still he was largely instrumental in organizing the Baptist churches at Pierre, Blunt and elsewhere. The fifth Baptist minister of prominence who came to South Dakota was Rev. George W. Freeman. He came under appointment as superintendent of missions and his term of service began in March, 1871, and continued two and one-half years. During that time ten new Baptist churches were organized. In the meantime Rev. P. A. Ring organized a Swedish Baptist Church in July, 1869, among the Swedes who settled at Big Springs. Mr. Freeman later served as pastor of the Baptist Church at Elk Point and elsewhere, and still later as supply for pastoral churches until his death in 1895. Late in the '6os and early in the 'zos the Baptist churches that were organized became so numerous that the services of many new pastors were demanded. Rev. J. H. Young arrived at Elk Point in 1871. Rev. E. H. Hulburt located at Vermillion in September, 1871. Rev. J. J. McIntire settled where the Swan Lake and Finlay churches were organized after 1871. Later these churches were called Hurley and Parker. Among the missionary pastors were Revs. T. H. Judson, J. L. Coppoc, William T. Hill, V. B. Conklin, J. P. Coffman, A. W. Hilton and others.

Thus, in 1868, there were only two Baptist churches in the state, namely, at Yankton and Vermillion. Within the first ten years after the first was estab- lished there were eighteen Baptist churches in what is now South Dakota. Among the older ones were those located at Big Springs, Elk Point, Bloomingdale, Canton, Lincoln, Lodi, Dell Rapids, Hurley, Parker, Daneville and Sioux Falls. Soon afterwards the Baptist churches were organized at Centerville and Madison in 1878; Goodwin in 1879; Huron, Brookings, Watertown and Big Stone City in 1878; Mitchell and Montrose, 1881 ; Aberdeen, Arlington, Egan and Chamber- lain, 1882; Armor, DeSmet and Estelling, 1883; Ipswich, Parkston and Pierre, 1884; Elkton, 1885.

In February, 1875, Rev. J. N. Webb, D. D., became district secretary of the Baptist Church for Nebraska and Dakota Territory. Much of his work was confined to Nebraska. He occupied this position until October, 1877, but after that date no one of the Baptist Church had personal oversight of missionary work in South Dakota. This fact greatly discouraged the Baptist pastors and not a few of the churches were greatly weakened. However, during the 'Sos the great growth in population and the construction of railroads built up and increased the number of Baptist churches. Among the ministers who arrived in the '8os were the following: E. B. Meredith, S. G. Adams, H. E. Norton, S. J. Wine- gar, J. Edminster, C. N. Patterson, G. A. Cressy, L. M. Newell, M. Barker, C. G. Cressy, Edward Godwin, S. S. Utter, E. M. Bliss, E. M. Horning, C. H. McKee, G. H. Parker, C. W. Finwall, Andrew Johnson, J. B. Sundt, O. Olthoff, B. Matzke, J. Engleman and others.

German settlers in large numbers came to the territory in the '8os. Among them were a number of German Baptists. Rev. J. Wendt came from Minnesota, in 1875, and organized a German Baptist Church the following year on Emanuel

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Creek. A German-Russian colony settled near Yankton, in 1877. A Baptist Church was organized among them soon afterwards. A German church was organized at Big Stone City, in 1880, with Rev. J. Engler as pastor. In 1881-2 Revs. F. Reichle and J. Croeni came as missionaries to Southeast Dakota. They established a station at Plum Creek, where a church was organized in 1883. The Baptist Church at Madison was organized in 1883. Numerous German Baptist churches were organized after this date. At the close of the nineteenth century there were fifteen German and Russianized German Baptist churches in South Dakota, with a total membership of 1,113. Early Baptist churches were estab- lished among the Scandinavians who came to South Dakota. Their first services under this faith were held at Bloomingdale as early as 1868. The following year a Swedish Baptist Church was organized there, and in October, 1871, one was organized at Bloomingdale and another at Big Springs, in 1872. A Danish Baptist Church was organized at Lodi, in 1872, and in 1873, one was organized at Daneville. These four churches are still in existence.

In 1884 Rev. Jacob Olsen became Scandinavian missionary and for fourteen years did faithful and successful work. He organized more than a dozen churches of the Baptist denomination. His successors were Revs. Andrew Swartz, Isaac Hedberg and C. H. Bolvig. In 1886 the various Scandinavian churches estab- lished the Scandinavian Baptist Association of South Dakota. By the close of the century they had twenty-two churches, of which ten were Swedish, six Danish, two Norwegian and four Dano-Norwegian. This is the only state with the three nationalities working harmoniously and successfully in one religious organization. These twenty-two churches had a total membership of 1,118, with sixteen large buildings and six parsonages.

In 1880 Rev. Edward Ellis became superintendent of missions. He served for about four years and did excellent service during that period. Early in the '8os Rev. T. M. Shanafelt, D. D., became superintendent of missions of the Baptist Church, and entered upon his work in April, 1888. At that time there was not a single self-supporting Baptist Church in Dakota Territory. Nothing had been done to establish Baptist churches in the Black Hills. The first one organized there was at Deadwood, in October, 1888. By the close of the cen- tury there were nine Baptist churches in the Black Hills, eight of which had houses of worship. The membership there numbered about four hundred and seventy-five. They formed the Black Hills Baptist Association.

In 1872 the Southern Dakota Baptist Association was organized and at that time had nine churches. Ten years later the number had increased to nearly thirty and several were located 250 miles to the northward. The Sioux Valley Baptist Association was organized at Brookings, June, 1882. In 1884 the James River Baptist Association was established at Columbia. A few years later all these associations were reorganized, and 1893, through the efforts of Mr. Shana- felt, five new associations were organized where before there had existed but three. They were known as the Southern Dakota, Sioux Falls, Central, North- east and Northwest associations. In the state at this time, also, were three others, namely, the Black Hills, the Scandinavian, and the German associations, thus constituting eight within the state limits.

In the 'Sos the Baptists began to hold general rallies or assemblages for the 'purpose of strengthening their organization. One such was held on the shore

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of Lake Madison, in 1881, and there later the Lake Madison Chautauqua Asso- ciation became a useful and prominent auxiliary of church and literary work. In 1881 the South Dakota Baptist Convention was organized, and the constitution and by-laws were adopted later at the meeting held in Sioux Falls. In 1891 there was organized the Baptist Young People's Union. Sunday schools were established almost from the start with every considerable Baptist church organi- zation.

As early as 1872 the Southern Dakota Baptist Association, at a meeting held in Vermillion, took action for the establishment of a Baptist College in South Dakota. The association appointed J. J. McIntire, S. A. Ufford and Martin J. Lewis as a committee on Christian education to set this movement on foot. Reso- lutions recognizing the intimate relations between higher education and evangeli- zation, were passed by the association. At a meeting of the convention, held at Lake Madison in 1881, it was decided to establish the Baptist College at Sioux Falls, in 1883. This institution was first called the Dakota Collegiate Institute. School was commenced in 1885 and at this time the name was changed to Sioux Falls University. Still later the name became Sioux Falls College. The first class graduated in 1886.

During the 'gos the Baptist denomination grew rapidly in South Dakota. Many new churches were established and the membership greatly increased. In 1888 there were seventy-one Baptist organizations in the state, and thirty-one houses of worship. By the close of the century there were seventy-three churches and fifty-six houses of worship with thirty-one parsonages. In 1906 there were in the state eighty-seven Baptist organizations, with a total membership of 6,097. They owned seventy-five houses of worship, five halls, thirty-three parsonages, and conducted seventy-four Sunday schools, with 5,908 pupils. At the same time there were four Free Baptist churches, with a total membership of ninety- six; they owned two church edifices. There was also here one Primitive Bap- tist church, with a membership of five; and one German Baptist Brethren (Con- servative) church, with seventy-five members. In 1915 the Baptists of the state numbered 16,228.

In the summer of 1860, Rev. Joseph C. Talbott and Rev. Melancthon Hoyt, held services among the Sioux Indians, along the Missouri, from Sioux City to Fort Randall. For the first time they used the book of Common Prayer. At this time Joseph C. Talbott had been recently consecrated Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Rev. Melancthon Hoyt resided at Sioux City. The latter con- tinued to minister to the spiritual wants of the Epicopal Church in Southeast Dakota at irregular intervals until 1862, at which time he moved to Yankton and thereafter devoted himself wholly to work in this field. He was rector of the Yankton church for thirteen years and did much to expand the church throughout the Northwest. In 1865 Bishop Clarkson was connected with the missionary work in this portion of the country. Much of his time was spent in the new Dakota field. At this time Doctor Hoyt gave up his parochial work at Yankton, and accepted the position of general missionary of Dakota Terri- tory, which office he held until 1884, when he was appointed honorary dean by Bishop Hare. This position he occupied until his death in 1888. He organized congregations at Vermillion, Elk Point, Yankton, Parker, Canton, Eden, Hurley,

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Watertown, Turner, Pierre and other places. Much of the success and growth of the Protestant Episcopal Church were due to his efforts in early years.

In 1868, at a general convention of the church, Dakota Territory, west of the Missouri River, was erected into a separate missionary district. It included the Yankton and Crow Creek Indian reservations, east of the Missouri River, and the Santee Reservation in Nebraska. It remained under the Episcopal care of Bishop Clarkson. Niobrara was the title conferred upon this district soon after- wards. Rev. S. D. Hinman did useful missionary work for his church at this time among the Indians. William Welsh, a wealthy churchman of Philadelphia, visited the Indian tribes of Dakota, became impressed with their need for religious instruction, and urged this fact upon the church people of the East, with the result that the mission staff was soon largely increased. There came here, Revs. J. W. Cook, H. Swift, H. Burt, W. J. Cleveland and J. O. Dorsey, besides several lay- men and women, all of whom identified themselves with the missionary work in this portion of the country. From this time forward the mission grew rapidly, until in 1872, on All Saint's Day, Rev. William H. Hare, who was then secre- tary of the foreign committee of the board of missions, was appointed bishop by the House of Bishops, was duly consecrated in January, 1873, and the follow- ing April came to Dakota. He at once began a vigorous campaign of missionary work among the Indians and the scattered whites of his jurisdiction. He was so vigorous in action that the Indians called him Swift Bird, owing to the long and rapid journeys he made over his diocese. Nothing stopped him. Hunger, storms, or hardships did not prevent him from carrying out his measures of progress. He greatly increased the missionary force, divided the field into ten large districts, placed a prominent member in charge of each, and soon had in operation four mission Indian boarding schools, which became known as St. Paul School, Yankton Agency; St. Mary's School, Santee Agency (this was afterwards removed to Rosebud Agency) ; St. John's School at Fort Bennett; and St. Elizabeth's school at Standing Rock. He showed so much earnest inter- est in his work that he inspired all connected with him to redoubled operations and efforts, with the result that the church grew rapidly and expanded over a large tract of country. By 1904 he had twenty-five helpers, twenty catechists, six senior catechists, twelve deacons and four priests. The growth of the Indian missions was almost phenomenal. By 1904 there were ninety congregations and 3,775 communicants. There were in all 9,341 baptized persons. During the diffi- culties with the Indians, Bishop Hare exerted a strong influence for the good over them. One of his young men assistants, Rev. Arthur B. Ffennel, was killed by a hostile Sioux in 1876, in trouble over the invasion of the Black Hills by the gold hunters.

This discovery of gold in 1875, in the Black Hills, and the invasion of that field by the whites, so stirred up and maddened the Indians that it required great efforts on the part of Bishop Hare and his assistants, to keep the Chris- tianized Indians under subjection. In 1877 two clergy of the Indian mission, Reverends Cleveland and Ashley, visited the Hills and held religious services. In 1878 Rev. E. K. Lessell, of Connecticut, established a mission in the Hills, with Deadwood as the central point. Bishop Hare first visited the Hills in No- vember, 1878. Upon taking charge of the missionary work of the Hills, Mr. Lessell began extensive operations to widen and strengthen his field of service.

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His labors were so severe that after eighteen months he was forced to withdraw and died soon afterwards. Although missionary work continued in the Hills it was greatly hindered by the peculiar conditions and the attitude of the Indians. Finally, Mr. G. G. Ware, a layman, upon his request, was appointed by Bishop Hare to work at Rapid City and vicinity. He prepared himself for holy orders, was later assigned to Deadwood and Lead, and in the end, became archdeacon of the Black Hills. By 1904 there were six Protestant Episcopal Churches in the Hills Region.

As soon as it became probable that Dakota Territory would be divided into two states, the Episcopal Church took steps to divide the territory accordingly into two missionary districts. At the general convention in 1883, the name of the missionary district of Niobrara became South Dakota District, with Bishop Hare in charge. The work was divided into two distinct divisions, one among the whites and one among the Indians. In 1887 the force in the field was much strengthened by the appearance of Rev. John H. Babcock, who at once became active and prominent in the new state. He became president of the standing committee and a member of the bishop's council of advice and served for many years as rural dean for the eastern part of the state. By 1904 there had been erected thirty-four church buildings of the Episcopal Church in South Dakota. All Saint's School had been established and was under the principalship of Miss Helen S. Peabody. At this time the clergy of the Episcopal Church in South Dakota, contained many men of great ability, among whom Bishop Clarkson, Father Hoyt, Father Himes, and Rural Dean Babcock, were prominent and influ- ential. In a large measure the fame of Bishop Hare is based upon his splendid work done with the Indian tribes. In 1902-3 there were in the Episcopal Church of the state, 44 clergymen; 129 parishes and missions; communicants, 5,985; Sunday school scholars, 2,772; whole number of baptized persons, 13,160; con- firmed persons, 431, and total contributions, $30,179. Rev. J. M. McBride began his work here in 1870. His labors were confined mostly to the vicinity of Can- ton, Sioux Falls and Dell Rapids, Huron, Pierre and Aberdeen. In 1879 Rev. Joseph Himes took charge of the church at Vermillion. In 1886 he removed to Elk Point, and there resided until his death in 1895.

In January, 1890, Bishop Hare, of the Episcopal Church, presented a protest to the Legislafure against the proposed enforcement of the prohibitory clause of the constitution. His opposition, like that of his church, was based upon the restrictions placed upon the use of wine at the sacrament. The bill per- mitted the manufacture of liquor for medicinal and mechanical purposes, but prohibited the use of wine for sacramental purposes, or was silent on the sub- ject. From all parts of the state came exceptions to Bishop Hare's requests. Particularly, Elder Burdick of the Methodist Church opposed the course taken by Bishop Hare. Rev. W. H. Wyatt-Hannath disagreed with Rev. Mr. Bur- dick. Rev. William Fielder who introduced the enforcement bill in the Legisla- ture was a Methodist, and the members of his church could, and did, use unfer- mented wine at the communion table. Other denominations differed from the Methodists in this regard and thus it occurred that wine for sacramental pur- poses had been intentionally omitted from the bill largely upon the dictum of Reverend Mr. Fielder, without consulting Bishop Hare. The Episcopal Church believed that only fermented wine should be so used. Bishop Hare declared

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that the proposed bill would make a criminal of every Episcopal or Catholic in the state who used fermented wine at the communion table. While the Leg- islature was in session, in 1890, the subject was discussed thoroughly throughout the entire state. There arose a general feeling that the bill was too severe and should permit religious organizations to use wine at the communion table if they thought it right. Much concern was manifested over this state of affairs. A bill in the Legislature, to submit to a vote of the people an amendment to the constitution permitting the sale of intoxicating liquors, was defeated by nearly a three-fourths vote. Thus the Legislature decided not to tolerate any inter- ference with the constitutional prohibition clause.

In 1906 there were in the state 126 organizations of the Protestant Episcopal Church, with 7,055 members, 109 houses of worship, 61 parsonages, 86 Sunday schools, and 3,158 scholars.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume III, Part 135

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920 Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1146

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1146