USA > South Dakota > The Baptist history of South Dakota > Part 5
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Old methods of work have in large measure given way to newer and better plans, to meet the changed
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THE BAPTIST HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.
and improved condition of things in the state. In the beginning of 1888 there were four associations, one Scandinavian, one German and two American. the Southern Dakota and the Sioux Vallevassociations. An extinct association in the northern part of the state was resuscitated and reorganized in September, 1888. The Black Hills association was organized in August, 1890. In 1893, to meet the growing needs of the churches, five new American associations were organ- ized east of the Missouri river. It will not be long un- til it will be necessary to organize another association in the northeast corner of the state.
In the state organization of the Baptist Young People's Union, in 1891, a new element of strength and helpfulness came into auxiliary relationship with the state convention. Many good results have already followed the application of the consecrated energy of the young people of the churches to missionary work. Their sympathy has been enlisted, and their practical co-operation assured, in the increasingly important work of evangelizing the state. During this period women's mission circles have been organized in most of the churches. The study of missionary literature and plans of work, has increased the efficiency of the Christain women of the churches, and they have been faithful helpers in promoting the primary object of a state convention, the prosecution of missionary work within the state.
An intelligent and commendable zeal has character- ized the work among the Scandinavians, Germans and Russians of South Dakota. There are still large, and as yet unreached, communities among these nationali- ties, and active measures are being taken to bring them under the unfluence of the Gospel. The popu-
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, PARKER. CHURCH ORGANIZED AT FINLAY, DECEMBER 25, 172. REMOVED TO PARKER IN 1979. HOUSE OF WORSHIP DEDICATED SEPTEMBER O, ISS3.
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THE BAPTIST HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.
lation of South Dakota, according to the national census of 1890, was 328,808. The state census of 1895, not- withstanding the intervening years of drought and crop failures, showed a slight increase, the total being 330,975. The native born inhabitants number 240,000, or about seventy-three per cent of the total population. The foreign-born inhabitants were 91,000 or twenty- seven per cent of the entire population of the state. Of the 240,000 native born inhabitants, over thirty- three per cent, or about 80,000, were born of foreign parents. According to this showing, more than one- half of the present population of the state were born in foreign lands, or of foreign parentage.
Of the foreign-born population, the nationalities most largely represented are the Scandinavians, the Ger- mans and the Russians. Of the Scandinavians there came to us from Norway, 19,257; from Sweden, 7,746; and from Denmark, 4,369-total, 31.373. There came also from Germany, 18,188; from Russia, 12,398; from other Germanic nations, 2,985-total. 33,561. These five leading nationalities, and their children, comprising so large a porportion of our total population, furnish an attractive field for Baptists. Though gratifying results have been accomplished, still greater efforts should be put forth to secure their evanglization. Other denom- inations have accomplished something among the Ger- mans, but Baptists are the only people who have been able to reach the Scandinavians of the state. There are now among the Germans and Russians of South Dakota fifteen Baptist churches, having twenty-four houses of worship, and 1.280 members. Among the Scandinavians there are now nineteen Baptist churches. having twelve houses of worship, and 907 members. The most cordial and friendly relations exist between
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THE BAPTIST HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.
the Baptist of these various nationalities and American Baptists, and representatives are annually sent by them to the state convention, to convey their fraternal greet- ings.
When the author's official relation to the work in South Dakota began, in April, 1888, he found on the rolls of the associations the names of seventy-one churches, having a reported membership of 2,816. There were at that time thirty-one houses of worship and three parsonages. Twenty of these churches were then extinct, leaving fifty-one nominally live organizations. Since then sixty new churches have been organized and forty-seven houses of worship have been built, or secured by purchase, and fifteen parsonages.
The following is a list of new churches organized during the last decade, giving the name of the place and county, and the date of organization or recognition:
NAME
COUNTY
DATE
Orleans (Scandinavian)
Faulk
April
8, 1888
Faulkton
Faulk
) May May
15, 1888
Ilecla
Brown
June -- , ISSS
Bradley
Clark
September
8, 1888
Lake Norden (Scandinavian). Bushnell
Brookings
September 21, 1888
Deadwood
Lawrence
October
31, 1888
Spring Valley (Scandinavian) Bruce
Turner
November
11, 188S
Brookings
January
4, 1889
Gem
Brown
March
24, 1889
Rapid City
Pennington
June
16, ISS9
Berton
Miner
June
16, 1889
Delmont
Douglas
June
19, 1889
Hetland
Kingsbury
June
27, 1889
Onida
Sully
July
12, 1889
St. Lawrence
Hand
July
14. 1889
Huron (Scandinavian)
Beadle
December 19, 1889
Beresford
Union
1
April
8, 1890
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§ April
27, 1888
14, 1896
Pierpont
Day
Hamlin
September 17, 1888
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THE BAPTIST HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.
NAME
COUNTY
DATE
Washington
McPherson
June 26, 1890
Hot Springs
Fall River
August
27, 1890
Custer City
Custer
August 29, 1890
Hill City
Pennington
September
1, 1890
Salem (German)
McCook
December
4, 1890
Avon (German)
Bon Homme
December
15, 1890
Woonsocket
Sanborn
April
26, 1891
Beulah, West Sioux Falls
Minnehaha
June
28, 1891
Lead City
Lawrence
September
3, 1891
Zion, Clear Lake
Minnehaha
October
20, 1891
Lake Preston
Kingsbury
1
March
22, 1892
Groton
Brown
March
26, 1892
Clark
Clark
March
27, 1892
Highland
Brown
May
8, 1892
Chancellor
Lincoln
July
15, 1892
Yankton and Scotland (German)-
Yankton and Bon Homme
November 22, 1892
Turkey Valley (Scandinavian)
Yankton
February
8, 1893
Oelrichs
Fall River
March
5, 1893
Beaver Basin
Custer
March
26, 1893
Salem
McCook
May
12, 1893
Parkston (German)
Hutchinson
January
13, 1894
Warner
Brown
January
28, 1894
Verdon
Brown
February
22, 1894
Blendon
Davison
March
10, 1894
Vernon
Roberts
May
26, 1894
Conde
Spink
June
14, 1894
Fairfax (Cerman).
Gregory
June
30, 1894
Flandreau
Moody
July
1, 1894
Huffton
Brown
July
10, 1894
Rose
Spink
March
17. 1895
Effington
Roberts
November
9, 1895
Freedom
Faulk
May
8, 1896
Napier (German)
December
14, 1896
Windom
Roberts
May
16, 1897
Vernon (Scandinavian) Hayti
Roberts
June
19, 1897
Mound City (German)
Campbell
December
29, 1897
Summit
Roberts
March
13, 1898
Choteau Creek (German)
Douglas
October
9, 1898
Millville
Custer
October
23, 1898
White
Brookings
January
22, 1899
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Six of these churches-St. Lawrence, Beulah (West Sioux Falls), Groton, Salem, Huffton and Freedom -- have become extinct on account of changed local condi- tions and the removal of the members to other localities.
Following is a list of forty-seven houses of worship built or purchased during the last decade, giving the
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Hamlin
September 22, 1897
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68
THE BAPTIST HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.
name and county, the date of dedication, and the value of the property :
1
NAME
COUNTY
Valuation
Dedication
Gettysburg
Potter
$2,000
November IS, ISSS
Oldham
Kingsbury
1,200
November 25, ISSS
White Rock
Roberts
750
November 28, ISSS
Dell Rapids (Scandinavian)
Minnehaha _
7,50
November 29, ISSS
Emanuel's Creek (German).
Bon Homme
2,800
May
26, ISS9
Pierpont
Day
1,300
July
28, 1889
Bryant.
Hamlin
1,200
September
1, 1889
Eureka (German).
McPherson
1,200
October
IO, ISS9
Daneville (Scandinavian)
Turner
1,500
November 10, 1889
Madison
Lake
4,500
December 22, 1889
Vermillion
Clay
10.000
May
IS, IS90
Big Stone City (German)
Grant
2,000
July
6, 1890
Rapid City
Pennington _
5,000
March
15, 1891
Emery (German)
Hansen
1,500
June
20, 1891
Engel (German)
McPherson
400
July
19, 1891
Beulah, West Sioux Falls
Minnehaha
2,000
June
28, 1891
Tyndall (German)
Bon Homme
1,700
July
5, 1891
Deadwood
Lawrence __
7,500
September
6, 1891
Beresford
Union
1,400
September 20, 1891
Avon (German)
Bon Homme
700
November 22, IS91
Menno (German)
Hutchinson_
Soo
November
__ , 1891
Spring Valley
Turner
1,000
March
27, 1892
Bridgewater (German)
McCook
2,000
June
19, 1892
Plum Creek (German)
Hutchinson
800
July
15, 1892
Hot Springs
Fall River
5,000
August
28, 1892
Custer
2,Soo
September 11, 1892
Zion, Clear Lake
Minnehaha _
1,000
October
16, 1892
Parkston
Hutchinson _
1,000
January
15, 1893
Pukwana (Scandinavian)
Brule
700
March
II, IS93
Scotland (German)
Bon Homme
1,000
May
21, 1893
Armour
Douglas
1,000
July
9, 1893
Salem (German).
McCook
1,625
September 10, 1893
Big Springs (Scandinavian)
Union
2,230
September 24, 1893
Clark
Clark
2,500
March
13, 1894
Ipswich
Edmunds
2,500
April
-- , IS94
Akron
2,875
June
10, 1894
Turkey Valley
Yankton
1,000
October
21, 1894
Chancellor (German)
Lincoln
1,500
December
23. 1894
Pierre
Hughes
4,500
June
16, 1895
Lead City
Lawrence
4,000
February
2, IS96
Spirit Mound
Clay
1,500
February
9, 1896
Napier (German).
Soo
June
9, 1897
Berton
Miner
Soo
November 21, 1897
Summit
Roberts
Soo
March
5, 1899
Conde
Spink
1,000
., 1899
Fairfax
Gregory
Soo
1899
Custer City Arlington
Kingsbury
2,500
September 25, 1892
1
69
THE BAPTIST HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.
During this decade of church organization, and building houses of worship, fifteen parsonages have been built or purchased, valued at $11,500. The total valuation of church property secured during the last ten years, including parsonages, is $108,930.00. In ad- dition to the forty-seven new houses of worship erected, a majority of the older church buildings have been ex- tensively repaired and improved. There are now in South Dakota seventy-eight Baptist houses of worship and eighteen parsonages. The total reported valuation of Baptist church property in the state is $201,600.00. There are at this time 106 Baptist churches with a total reported membership of 5,786. A careful and conservative policy has been followed in the matter of church organization. It has not been deemed wise to multiply organizations in localities that give no promise whatever of future growth. The fact of an organiza- tion involves the necessity, during a number of years, of obtaining the funds necessary to aid in the support of a pastor and building a house of worship. The financial conditions that have existed for several vears have placed limitations on our ability to do some of the things that have been desirable. With the prospective coming of better times these restrictions will be in a large measure removed, and there will be greater op- portunity for expansion and growth.
A few pioneer Baptists were engaged in Sunday school work at Yankton in 1864 and 1865, but the first distinctively Baptist Sunday school in Dakota was or- ganized several miles north of Elk Point, by Rev. G. W. Freeman, in a log house on the banks of the Sioux river, March 26, 1871. Its first superintendent was Dr. John Tremaine. This school came into existence a few days after the organization of the Baptist
70
THE BAPTIST HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.
church, which, under the various names of Sioux Val- lav, Leroy and Portlandville, is now known as Akron. Other Sunday schools were organized in 1871 and 1872 at Vermillion, Lodi, Yankton, Swan Lake, Elk Point and Big Springs, but for several years no statistics were given concerning them in the early reports of these churches to the association. In more recent years, and especially since 1881, this department of christian work has been under the' superintendence of earnest and capable leaders, who have done much to encourage and stimulate the workers. B. S. Wales served as Sunday school missionary from December 1, 1881, to May 1, 1887; David P. Ward, from July 1, 1888, to September 1, 1895, and Frank D. Hall since October 1,1895.
When the Southern Dakota association was organized at Vermillion, in June, 1872, a resolution was adopted which emphasizes three important points, especially worthy of the consideration of Baptists-first, that every one who loves Christ ought to be deeply inter- ested in Sunday school work; second, that every church ought to have its own school under its own control; and third, that a union school should be favored only as a last resort. Our churches generally, especially in later years, have been acting according to these ac- cepted maxims. Though every Baptist church should have a Sunday school of its own, and some of our churches have successfully conducted mission schools, yet there has never been a year when the number of Sunday schools exceeded the number of churches. Ten years ago there were 63 schools reported, having 504 officers and teachers, 3,528 scholars, and a total membership of 4,032. There are now in the state, ac- cording to the statistical reports from the Sunday
71
THE BAPTIST HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.
schools to the associations, 86 schools, having 732 officers and teachers, and 6,330 scholars enrolled, with an average attendance of 3,989. During these years the reported number baptized from the schools is 1,378. Amount contributed for benevolence, S3,038.31; for expenses, $19,231.90. Total amount raised for both objects, S22,270.21.
The last decade has been fruitful in results along all lines of work. Taking the number of members re- ported in 1887 as a basis-2,816, there have been added to the churches by baptism, 4,561; by letter, 2,595; by experience, 804; by restoration, 144. Whole number of additions, 8,104. Total diminutions, 4,384. Net gain in membership, 3,720. The total reported contri- butions for expenses and benevolence from the begin- ning of missionary work in South Dakota, in 1864, amount to $570,356.86. Three-fourths of this amount, or $400,955.97, have been contributed during the last ten years.
Previous to 1888 no statistical tables appeared in the records of the convention giving a summary of the work done and results accomplished by missionaries under appointment on mission fields in this state. Since then such tables have been annually compiled from the quarterly reports, and they have been pub- lished in the South Dakota Baptist Annual. From these tables the following summary of missionary statistics covering the last ten years is here given:
72
THE BAPTIST HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.
Number of Missionaries 432
Churches supplied. 533
Out-stations supplied
Weeks of labor 449
16,123
Sermons preached
45,234
Praver meetings attended.
22,378
Persons and families religiously visited
102,883
Bibles and Testaments distributed
2,144
Pages of tracts distributed 237.217
Number of persons baptized on mission fields - 2,518
Number received by letter and experience 1,814
Paid for building houses of worship S 32,729 20
Paid for repairing churches, or parsonages- 11,733 02
Paid on church debts 14,274 90
Contributions for local missions 2,322 58
Contributions for State Missions 3,184 91
Contributions for Home Missions 2,828 08
Contributions for Foreign Missions 4,321 97
Contributions for Publication Society
1,016 73
Contributions for Christian education 1,247 48
Contributions for other benevolent objects-
3,957 61
Church expenses (including building, re- pairs and debts) 293,547 25
Total for benevolence 18,879 36
Total from Sunday schools for expenses 8,655 59
Total from Sunday schools for benevolence- 1,924 24
Total amount raised by Sunday schools 10,559 83
Total amount raised by churches 312,426 61
Total amount raised by churches and Sun- day schools
322,986 44
The first three items given show the aggregate for the time named-ten years. The average number of missionaries annually under appointment has been 43; churches supplied, 53; out-stations supplied, 45.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. HURLEY. CHURCH ORGANIZED AT SWAN LAKE DECEMBER 24, 1972. REMOVED TO HURLEY IN ISTO. HOUSE OF WORSHIP DEDICATED NOVEMBER 15, 1SS3.
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THE BAPTIST HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.
Some of the early pioneers in South Dakota having passed away, they are known to the writer of this re- view only by the records concerning them, and their works that have followed them. Others, who vet sur- vive, he has come to know and appreciate for the work they have done, the sacrifices they have made, and for their personal worth. Of the work and the workers, during the last decade, he has been able to bear record from personal knowledge. Faithful services have been rendered under many difficulties and discouragements. The period of upheavals and booms, and visionary fore- casts of an improbable future for South Dakota, is a thing of the past. Religious work has been conducted along lines that promise permanency and stability. The transition from pioneer experiences, to settled and stable conditions, has rendered necessary a re- casting of methods of work. In adjusting themselves to existing conditions, and helping to mould and shape the destiny of a new state, the spirit that has actuated all classes of the workers has been worthy of the high- est commendation. Harmony has prevailed in all their councils, and unity of feeling and effort has character- ized their work.
In this and the preceding chapters, the author has furnished a general outline of the field, and the work that has been done upon it. In several succeeding chapters will be given interesting sketches of the per- sonal experiences and personal reminiscences of some of the pioneer missionaries. They have been re- quested to freely tell to this, and the generations fol- lowing, the story of hardships endured, and sacrifices made, and results accomplished, as they themselves saw them and shared in them.
CHAPTER VI.
THE FIRST BAPTIST MISSIONARIES. REV. L. P. JUDSON AND REV. ALBERT GORE.
The first missionary sent to Dakota by the American Baptist Home Mission Society was Rev. L. P. Judson, who came from New York in May, 1864. He was suc- ceeded in 1865 by Rev. Albert Gore. The unsettled condition of the territory during that period, and the removal of many of the early settlers, rendered futile the first efforts along the line of missionary work. Settlements were still few in number, and the popula- tion of each was small and constantly changing. In- dian raids and grasshopper visitations discouraged some of the pioneers, who returned to their former eastern homes. Under such circumstances the fruits of even well directed missionary operations could not be gathered, and nothing permanent could be estab- lished. Even the facts relating to these early begin- nings of missionary work were soon forgotten, since none remained permanently who were familiar with them.
Until recently it has been difficult to learn anything concerning the services rendered by the first and second Baptist ministers in Dakota Territory. The oldest of the present surviving pioneers came after their terms of service had ended. Nearly all of the members of the preliminary Baptist organization of
75
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THE BAPTIST HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.
1864 had removed from the territory. There was no continuous organization to preserve the records or per- petuate the memory of our earliest denominational movements. Such as they were, however. whether per- manent or temporary, they should have a place in our denominational history.
Repeated efforts to ascertain the facts relating to that period having failed, the author secured the co- operation of Rev. H. L. Morehouse, D. D., Field Secre- tary of the American Baptist Home Mission Society. Through his kindness the old files of papers, quarterly reports, and correspondence preserved at headquar- ters, in New York, for the years 1864 and 1865, were carefully examined. All the letters and reports from L. P. Judson and Albert Gore covering that period were copied. They are herewith placed on record that the details concerning their work may be known, as they themselves reported it to the society.
The appointment of Rev. L. P. Judson dates from May 1. 1864. It was for "Yankton and vicinity." The "vicinity" embraced a larger territory than has been common in later years, as it included a missionary oversight of all the early settlements.
Under date of July 2, 1864. he writes from Yankton: -- "I date my labors as commencing the first of May, because when I was with you in April, that was the understanding. The draft was not sent with the com- mission, and I had to send for it, and thus I was hindered. When I arrived at St. Joseph. Mo., the Missouri river had fallen so as to make it difficult for boats to ascend, and hence I was again delaved. I went on shore at Council Bluffs, Ia., to spend the Sab- bath. I spent several hours in making such inquiries as I could. I found several who had once been Bap-
76
THE BAPTIST HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.
tists, but they had joined other churches, most of them the Congregationalists. From there I made the best of my way up the river, and arrived in Dakota Terri- tory, May 27. We are in the midst of an Indian war here, but I am not discouraged. I have found nineteen Baptist communicants in the territory, whom we hope soon to organize into a church."
August 1, 1864, he writes :-- "I statedly supply two stations, with two out-stations. My place of residence and postoffice address is, Yankton, Dakota Territory. I have labored nine weeks during the past quarter. I have preached twenty-three sermons and given two lectures. Have attended six religious meetings not of my own appointment; have made ninety-three pastoral visits; I have traveled 2,560 miles. I have received from my people on account of salary, fifty-seven dol- lars. Connected with my labors are two Sabbath schools, five teachers and seventeen scholars. We shall have, when all is arranged, some fourteen mem- bers in our church. We have not yet organized, but intend to do so as soon as letters can be obtained from the east, and some other matters can be arranged. We have a very pleasant outside influence in our be- half. Of the colonists who stopped in Iowa were some of our best Baptist families. By correspondence I learn that some of them intend moving into the terri- tory this fall. I found in this place one Episcopal clergyman, and one Baptist, (Rev. Albert Gore) who is not preaching now but I hope he will be within twelve months. About forty miles from here is a Methodist preacher, who came to this country to obtain relief from a pulmonary complaint. He preaches occasion- ally. Otherwise, I am the only minister of the gospel in the territory.
77
THE BAPTIST HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.
"My principal station for preaching is in this place. I also have stated appointments at Bon Homme. That is the county seat of Bon Homme county, and is twenty miles west of here. They intend to have a church there ultimately. The principal reasons why I have not preached more sermons during the quarter are these: It has been an unfavorable season of the year for holding evening meetings, and also for the want of a suitable place in which to hold meetings. There is but one building at all suitable in the place, and that is the one used as the capitol. This the Episcopalians occupy three Sabbaths in each month. We cannot well have our meetings, Sabbath schools, etc., separate, at our pleasure, until we get a house of worship of some kind.
"On Monday last, about 9 o'clock A. M., a cloud of grasshoppers came and lighted upon this region, and they have devoured everything. Our territory is en- tirely stripped of everything in the line of vegetables, that was growing on farm or garden. Everything of the kind that is eaten in the territory for the year to come must be drawn in from the states, and mostly by ox teams. Many of our colonists only made provisions until the harvest of the present season. Now they have everything to purchase until after the harvest of 1865. It is known that we now have an Indian war, and the soldiers have now gone above to fight the tribes at war with us. But there are many thousands of In- dians this side of the soldiers. A cry raised that the Indians are starving and coming down to rob us, would cause a commotion not easily described. We have about two thousand white inhabitants, besides about twenty thousand Indians, who must have provisions brought to them from the states, or more or less' of them will perish with hunger.
78
THE BAPTIST HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.
"These are the facts in the case. A famine is cor- tainly upon us if we do not get provisions from the states. The masses of the people are not excited about the matter as vet, because they are supplied for the present. But observing men see what is inevitably in the future, and are quietly planning to meet the emergency that will arise. I have decided not to bring my family here this fall, but to leave them in the state of New York where they are now, until spring. As to my own labors, I am not discouraged. We have only to trust in God. I expected obstacles when I came, but did not expect them in exactly this form, nor to this extent. But still I am willing to labor on, and pa- tiently toil and endure. It may be possible that very little will be realized from the people toward my sup- port. Indeed, I have already been named as one, with two or three others, to go east and obtain provisions to feed the people. We very much need a house of worship in this place. There is not a house of worship in the territory. Such as we want would cost about two thou- sand dollars. One-half of the amount could have been raised here before the destructive grasshoppers. What can be done now I am not certain.
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