History of South Dakota, Vol. I, Part 78

Author: Robinson, Doane, 1856-1946. cn
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 998

USA > South Dakota > History of South Dakota, Vol. I > Part 78

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The work in Dakota was located chiefly on the Sisseton reservation, though the first organ- ization was not attached to any location, the Indians comprising it living at that time a mi- 3G

grating life, wandering from the James river, Dakota, to Redwood, Minnesota. It was or- ganized in 1865 with fifty-five members and named Washtekicidapi. About the same time the Christian Indians among the Indian scouts at- tached to the United States army, who for some years after the Minnesota massacre patroled the country from Fort Abercrombie on the north to the regions south, were organized as "the Scout Church." This organization grew in numbers from thirty-three to forty-one and had only the occasional ministrations of the mission- aries. Both these churches were later disbanded and organized into five local churches, three of which are near Sisseton and still active. Others have since been added to these both in that region and among the Sioux or Dakotas elsewhere until they number twenty-seven at present with a membership of over fifteen hundred. These are ministered to mostly by native pastors. They have also an industrial school at Good Will and prosecute mission work among their own people with increasing interest.

Two years previous to the coming of the Rev. Stephen Riggs, D. D., to engage in mission work among the Sioux Dakotas, the Rev. Thomas S. Williamson, M. D., had come. The great work of these two men was to translate the Bible into the hitherto unwritten language of the Sioux or Dakotas, which work they completed in 1879 a few weeks before Dr. Williamson's death. The uplifting and far-reaching results of their great work are inestimable. Their children and grandchildren are honored citizens of our state and still engage in disseminating the same gospel. Among them are the Rev. John P. Williamson, D. D., the Rev. Thomas Riggs and Mrs. Martha Riggs Morris and the Rev. Jesse P. Williamson. Others are in the same work just across the line in Nebraska. This move of church work came into Dakota from Minnesota.

The next distinct move of the Presbyterian church work, though again somewhat desultory like that from Nebraska, came from Iowa and oc- curred along the Big Sioux river at Dell Rapids and Canton, in 1872. The Rev. Caleb MI. Allen, colporteur of the Presbyterian Board of Publi-

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cation, was the worker and his visits involved a ' Cook county, was for the purpose of adjusting journey of one hundred miles by team. The Dell Rapids church continues active and is the oldest Presbyterian church in the state save among the Indians. The nearest railroad being sixty miles distant, preachers became fewer and after three years ceased altogether for a time. During this time the Canton church disbanded. though it was later reorganized. They had both been enrolled in Iowa.

In 1877 the Rev. George F. Leclere came from Iowa and located near Dell Rapids. The next year the Rev. W. S. Peterson came from New York state and located at Swan Lake in Turner county. The next year the Rev. James B. Currens came from Kentucky and later the Rev. M. E. Chapin from Ohio: the former lo- cated in Parker. the latter in Mitchell. About the same time Rev. Ludwig Figge. a German Presbyterian minister from Iowa. located near Lennox. Each of these soon had a church or- ganization and then another as the people be- gan to come in large numbers. In response to their appeal for more missionaries the Rev. H. P. Carson came and located at Scotland and a Rev. W. L. Alexander at Volga, early in 1880. Later in the same year others came, two of them fresh from the theological seminary.

In the central part of what is now South Dakota, and along the way of approaching rail- roads, two other young missionaries had located in 1879, one at Volga, effecting organization there. The names of these four young men are H. V. Rice, William Carl. John B. Taylor and John B. Pomeroy. Of all these and those be- fore mentioned, only H. P. Carson continues to labor in the state, though W. S. Peterson and M. E. Chapin both continued to do so for over twenty years, and John B. Pomeroy for more than ten years, most of that time as pastor of the Huron church and synodical missionary. He se- cured the organization of the Black Hills pres- hytery during that time.

Informal presbytery meetings or conventions of the missionaries began to be held as early as July. 1879. The first, held at Cameron in Mc-

ecclesiastical relations; the missionaries at that time, save among the Indians, were connected with the synod of Iowa and naturally took with them the churches they organized, while they were really located within the territory of the synod of Minnesota. The synodical missionary of each synod was present; Revs. A. K. Baird, of Iowa, and D. C. Lyons, of Minnesota, but the former held the sympathy and attachment of both missionaries and churches, since their help came substantially from Iowa. Elder T. M. Sinclair, of Cedar Rapids, had helped both by his pres- ence and his cash contributions, as well as a missionary pony, and he continued to help until he departed this life, having, a year later, one day fallen down one of the elevator shafts of the Sin- clair pork-packing house, of which he was man- ager and one of the proprietors. His wife, for some years after, continued his contribution of the first fifty dollars toward paying for each new house of worship erected by the South Dakota Presbyterian church. Other Iowa people also helped.

The second presbyterial convention was held in Madison the same year, the third in Parker in February, 1880, the fourth in Mitchell in June, 1880, the Rev. A. K. Baird, synodical mission- ary of northern Iowa, being present, for it was under his leadership these conventions were held. After the second convention the question of ecclesiastical relation was dropped and the time devoted to reviewing work and fields and to dis- cussing practical topics of Christian effort and plans for the future. By the time of the fifth and last convention, which was held in Flandreau in the autumn of 1880, the number of ministers and churches had so increased plans were adopted for securing their organization into a presbytery. Accordingly in Dell Rapids, October 19. 1881, by order of the synod of Minnesota, the presbytery of Southern Dakota was constituted. It included all the ministers and churches, save Indians and their missionaries, that were then located in Dakota south of the forty-sixth parallel -- sixteen ministers and twenty-two churches, with a mem-

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bership of three hundred and eighty; besides these, they had associated with them seventeen missions.

The first ordination service occurred at an ad- journed meeting a month later in a claim shanty near Forestburg. The newly ordained minister became the fourth member present and the whole presbytery composed itself for sleep that night in one bed. A furious wind storm raged and some snow fell; for fuel they had only hay. In at- tempting to reach home the next day, the nearest railroad point being twenty-five miles distant, some of the brethren missed their way, but, being well provided with buffalo robes and with over- coats furnished by kind friends in the east, they escaped freezing and later reached their homes safely.

Such advantage was realized from the presby- tery organization and so great was the inrush of immigration during the succeeding years that the synod of Minnesota was, in 1883. pe- titioned to divide the presbytery, making three out of one, the number of ministers by this time having reached thirty-two with fifty-three churches and over one thousand church mem- bers.

The synod of Dakota, later changed to South Dakota, was organized in Huron in October, 1884, and the Dakota (Indian) presbytery in- cluded with the other three, Aberdeen, Central Dakota and Southern Dakota. The territorial bounds of the synod are the same as were those of the Southern Dakota presbytery when first organized. By this time the church membership numbered nearly two thousand in seventy-three church organizations with about sixty ministers. The women of the Presbyterian churches in South Dakota are organized in most cases into aid and missionary societies ; these are gathered into presbyterial or district societies and the latter organized into a synodical missionary society. The last named was organized during the first year of the synod. with Mrs. J. S. Oliver, of Hu- ron, president. After seventeen years of effect- ive training and developing work, she gave place to Miss Anna E. McCauley, of Bridgewater. These women's organizations constitute one of

the most encouraging and effective departments of the church work. During the six years pre- ceding 1887, seventy-two Presbyterian churches were organized and half as many houses of worship were built in the synod.

In that year the Black Hills presbytery was organized, making the fifth in the synod, though the Dakota (Indian) is without geographical bounds, being made up of the Dakota Sioux and their missionaries. The Rev. John P. William- son, D. D., of Greenwood, continues their general missionary. There are now in connection with the Presbyterian synod of South Dakota one hundred and thirty-three churches, having one hundred and three houses of worship, over thirty manses, nearly seven thousand communicants, one hundred and ten ministers and a property valued at a quarter of a million of dollars, ex- clusive of their college property.

Pioneer experiences were common in this development, so that of those engaged in it a New York paper said, "Their genuine missionary spirit was not turned aside by hardships; they surmounted them with a 'heart of controversy' that carried success in its every movement. That handful of brave missionaries away out in Southern Dakota are, to use the words of Lin- coln, 'making history hand over hand.' They are genuine pioneers obviously in advance of all others in their line of things."

Besides the very common experiences of hold- ing preaching services in private houses, new and partially completed store buildings, halls and schoolhouses, long journeys by team were made in attending the early conventions. In one case it took the missionary and his wife and two small children from sunrise on Monday morning till after sundown the following Saturday evening to make the trip and attend the convention, and he lost a ten-dollar wedding fee besides. The trip was made in a single-seated buggy drawn by one horse, the oats as well as the lunch for the family being included.

EDUCATIONAL.

Among the committees appointed as soon as the presbytery was organized was one on edu-

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

cation, and it was instructed to inquire into the desirableness and practicability of establishing an academy under the auspices of the presbytery. This movement was encouraged by the agitation just then beginning in the Presbyterian church

ANOTHER COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

The Presbytery of Southern Dakota having, at its last meeting in,Volga, declared its purpose to found and establish, as soon as practicable, an educational

HURON COLLEGE BUILDINGS.

at large that resulted two years later in the origin of a Board of Aid for Colleges and Academies.

At the second meeting of the presbytery the idea of an academy had grown to that of a col- lege or university and the following was widely published and circulated :

institution, in which shall be taught the higher branches of learning, and appointed the undersigned & special committee to inaugurate and carry forward the movement, we would hereby so inform the inter- Ested public, and earnestly invite hids, proposals and correspondence looking toward the locating, estab- lishing and endowing of such an institution. Any per-

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son willing to donate money or land to a college or university in South Dakota south of the forty-sixth parallel, is most cordially urged to drop us a line. If your town desires an institution of learning located within or adjacent to its limits, please write to either Rev. H. P. Carson, Scotland, Dakota Territory, or Rev. R. B. Farrar, Volga, Dakota Territory, or Rev. W. S. Peterson, Huron, Dakota Territory.

The committee especially encouraged bids from the towns of Mitchell and Huron. In each place, however, both our church ren and real estate dealers and business men were so absorbed with efforts to secure in their bounds the capitol of the territory, at that time being relocated, that the committee were unable to induce them to make as large a bid as came from Pierre: Land well situated and ample for a college campus, some town lots and twenty thousand dollars in cash. They also agreed to do their best to se- cure five thousand dollars more in cash. Though their bid imposed the condition that within eighteen months a building worth at least twenty thousand dollars should be erected on the said campus, the presbytery deemed it wise to accept the offer and so located the school there. It was named the Presbyterian University of Dakota. In due time the first building, a frame, for dormi- tory and school purposes and costing two thou- sand five hundred dollars, was readv. The Rev. T. M. Findley, of Iowa, had been chosen presi- dent and the school was opened September 26. 1883. Thirty students were enrolled the first year and the second building, built of brick and meeting the condition, was completed.

In the meantime the presbytery of Southern Dakota had transferred the school and property to the synod, which changed the name to Pierre University. The Rev. T. M. Findley having re- signed, the Rev. William M. Blackburn, D. D., of Grand Forks, Dakota territory, was secured for president, during the summer of 1885. The following October the svrod formally dedicated the brick building and inaugurated Dr. Black- burn as president. His address was on the theme, "The Moral Element in Education." He was already widely and favorably known as an author and educator. The synod had previously

adopted a resolution to raise fifty thousand dol- lars toward endowing the school.

The spirit of development was strong in the synod in accord with that of the region generally. The Presbyterian Board of Aid for Colleges and Academies had by this time come into existence. The presbytery of Southern Dakota had started an academy at Scotland and the presbytery of Aberdeen a collegiate institute at Groton. The latter, however, aspired to take rank as a college. It was equipped with a fine campus, one large frame building for both dormitory and school purposes and a chapel building.

But, forced by the synod and the Board of Aid to take rank as an academy, and unfavorable conditions, financially and otherwise, overtaking it, the entire enterprise was abandoned three years later.

Scotland Academy continued in operation, doing effective work till 1898, when it was deemed best by the synod to consolidate it with the school at Pierre and locate the combined plant at Huron.

Since September, 1898, the synod's educa- tional institution has, therefore, been known as Huron College. Soon after his resignation as president, Dr. Blackburn passed peacefully to his reward, increasingly appreciated and honored as his excellent qualities come to be better known. The Rev. C. H. French, who had been principal of Scotland Academy, succeeded Dr. Blackburn 's president of Huron College. Under his lead the school was reorganized and enlarged. The enrollment of students has steadily increased from the first and reached nearly the number of three hundred the fourth year of his administra- tion. Huron College is recognized as holding cqual rank with the best in the state, harring equipment, which it is rapidly acquiring.

Under the lead of Hon. John L. Pyle, the Huron people secured and presented to the synod for college purposes a fifty-thousand-dollar hotel building, which was so changed as to serve ef- fectively for both dormitory and school purposes.

By the aid of friends in the east, secured through solicitation of Dr. French, under the auspices of the Presbyterian board, together with

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the earnest rally of support throughout the synod. the endowment fund of Huron College reached its first one hundred thousand dollars before January, 1904. Of this over sixty-five thousand dollars were contributed within the state.

The women of Huron so enlisted interest in a girls' dormitory, Huron College being co-edu- cational, that the other women in the state and in New York state and finally a Mr. Ralph Voor-

hees in New Jersey, that they helped the enter- prise and made it a twenty-thousand-dollar snc- cess. Mrs. John L. Pyle led in the movement, Mrs. French and others ably assisting her in pushing it.

Mr. Ralph Voorhees' contribution amounted to fifteen thousand dollars and the building is named for his wife, "The Elizabeth R. Voorhees Dormitory for Girls."

CHAPTER XCVII

THE BAPTIST CHURCH.

BY REV. TIIOMAS M. SHANAFELT, D. D.

The earliest known religious organization in Dakota territory was a small Roman Catholic church, near the beginning of the last century, among the French Canadian trappers and half- breed Indians employed at the post of the Hudson Bay Company, located at Pembina. A chapel was built there in 1812. In 1845 Father Belcourt built a chapel and also a small convent at St. Joseph, afterwards known as Walhalla.

The earliest Protestant religious movement in Dakota territory was begun by Baptists in 1852. It was a mission established at Walhalla for the evangelization of the Indians. Its leaders were Elijah Terry and James Tanner. The former was a member of the First Baptist church in St. Paul, Minnesota. The latter was a half- breed, whose father was stolen in childhood by a band of Shawnee Indians, in 1779, and adopted into their tribe. His son, James Tanner, re- ceived the best possible education in schools then available for Indians. He served several years as interpreter and assistant in missions among the Indians along the upper Mississippi river. Becoming a Baptist, he went east and enlisted the interest of some wealthy Baptists in his desire to give the gospel to the Indians.

On his return, Elijah Terry accompanied him to Walhalla. It was their purpose to erect a building that would answer the double purpose of a church and school. While entering a belt of timber to cut down some trees for the proposed building, Mr. Terry was killed and scalped by a band of Sioux Indians, June 28, 1852. He was

an educated young man and an earnest Christian worker. He deserved a better fate than to suffer martyrdom at the beginning of a promising ca- reer. On account of the continued hostility of the Indians, James Tanner finally left that station and went to Manitoba, where he lost his life in 1864.

In May, 1853, Rev. Alonzo Barnard ( Pres- byterian) and Rev. D. B. Spencer (Congrega- tionalist), and their wives, came to Walhalla. We have no knowledge of the extent of their work or its results, and can find only a record of martyrdom while engaged in the effort to evan- gelize the Indians. Mrs. Barnard died October 21, 1853, as the result of exposure and suffering, and Mrs. Spencer was killed by the Indians Au- gust 23, 1854. The graves of the three mission- aries who gave their lives in the cause of Indian evangelization are now located together, sur- rounded by an iron fence. Through its open gate many pilgrims have passed to read the inscrip- tions on the monuments erected by those who de- sired to honor the memory of "The Martyrs of Walhalla."

For the first religious movements in the south- ern half of Dakota territory we look to the earli- est settlements, especially those at Yankton, Ver- million, Elk Point and Bon Homme. The re- ligious and secular. history of South Dakota have a common starting point. The missionary came with the pioneers. The hardships and dangers incident to pioneer life were borne alike by all, for the early missionaries were pioneers. They

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risked the dangers of frontier life, and counted not their lives dear unto themselves, in their desire to preach the gospel to those who, with them, were laying the foundations of a new state and endeavoring to wisely shape its character and destiny.

The leading evangelical denominations were close together, in the order of time, in the be- ginning of their missionary movements. The Baptists were the first in the matter of organiza- tion. That the first church organized did not have a permanent existence was due to Indian hostilities and the seriously disturbed condition of the early settlements. There were occasional visits by itinerant missionaries, but the first known religious organization in any of these set- tlements was a Baptist church organized at Yankton by Rev. L. P. Judson, early in 1864 .*

As the result of Mr. Judson's explorations a number of Baptists were found who entered into an organization, with Yankton as a nucleus and center of operations. The governor and other territorial officers co-operated with him in his plans. An encouraging beginning was made in securing subscriptions towards the building of a house of worship, and a preliminary movement for the organization of a Baptist church at Bon Homme was begun, when a widespread "grass- hopper raid" totally destroyed the crops of the settlers, and hostile Indians threatened their peace and safety. Mr. Judson, at the request of the territorial officers, went east to secure assist-, . ance for the now needy and dependent settlers, and Rev. Albert Gore became his successor as missionary. After nearly a year of service he returned to Michigan, and near the end of 1865. the people having become discouraged and scat- tered, the church became extinct.

The first Baptist missionary whose work left a permanent impress was Rev. J. E. Rockwood. The services that he rendered were incidental to his work as the first pastor of the then feeble church at Sioux City, Iowa. From March, 1866, to August, 1869, lie made numerous missionary

tours up the Missouri river, preaching at Elk Point, Vermillion and Yankton. During this pe- riod churches were organized, converts were bap- tized, scattered Baptists were gathered together, and foundations were laid for later laborers. He organized a church at Yankton February 3, 1867. The second organization was effected at Ver- million, February 16, 1868. An organization was begun at Elk Point, April 26, 1868, but on ac- count of local conditions it was not completed. A church was organized there at a later date, March II, 1871.

The fourth Baptist minister who rendered ef- ficient service was Rev. George D. Crocker. From 1867 to 1885 he spent eighteen years in Dakota territory as chaplain in the regular army. During fifteen years of this period he was located at Fort Sully. He did not limit his ministrations to those who were specially under his oversight, but sought to help others, the incoming settlers, and the Indians to whom he could preach the gospel in their own language. As a military officer he could not engage in distinctively de- nominational work, yet, through numerous visits and sermons preached, he was mainly instru- mental in the organization of the Baptist churches at Pierre and Blunt.

In the order of time the fifth Baptist mis- sionary who came to South Dakota was Rev.' George W. Freeman. For about two years there had been no ministerial worker except Chaplain Crocker, at Fort Sully, and Rev. P. A. Ring, who, with a colony of Swedes, had settled at Big Springs, where a Swedish Baptist church was organized early in July, 1869. Mr. Freeman came under appointment as superintendent of missions. During his term of service, which began March I, 1871, and continued two years and a half, ten new churches were organized. For the first time Baptist missionary work had a superintendent who could devote all his time to the field, and minister to its rapidly growing needs. The period of greater missionary activity began under his ad- ministration. He afterward served as pastor at Elk Point and elsewhere, and as supply for pas- torless churches until his deatlı, at Elk Point, March 13, 1895.

*Rev. Charles D. Martin organized a Presbyterian church at Vermillion in April, 1860, which became extinct in 1962 .- DOANE ROBINSON.

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With the organization of new churches came the necessity for pastors. The first settled Bap- tist pastor was Rev. P. A. Ring, at Big Springs, in 1869. The first English-speaking pastor was Rev. J. H. Young, who came to Elk Point in October, 1871. His ordination there, January 7, 1872, was the first service of that kind among Baptists. Rev. E. H. Hulburt settled at Ver- million in September, 1871. Rev. J. J. McIntire came in October, 1871, and settled where, soon after, through his efforts, the Swan Lake and Finlay churches were organized. The names and locations of these two churches were changed in later years to Hurley and Parker. These were followed soon by other missionary pastors : Revs. T. H. Judson, J. L. Coppoc, William T. Hill, V. B. Conklin, J. P. Coffman, A. W. Hilton and others. These men labored under difficulties, and accomplished what they did in the face of obstacles and through personal sacrifices, of which the workers of the present know little or nothing. Knowing that they were laying the foundations of a coming state, with a far-reaching forecast of the future, they wrought so faithfully and so well that their works are fully manifest. All honor to the noble band of pioneer missionaries and their self-sacrificing wives, and their loyal co-workers and helpers in the churches !

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History of South Dakota, Vol. I, Part 78

Author: Robinson, Doane, 1856-1946. cn Publication date: 1904 Publisher: [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen Number of Pages: 998

Author: Robinson, Doane, 1856-1946. cn
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 998