Winifred Williamson Barton
Published: 2013-09
Total Pages: 60
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1919 edition. Excerpt: ... VII LATER YEARS AT YANKTON AGENCY "That which coraeth upon me daily, the care of all the churches."--Paul. IN 1870 Mr. Williamson wrote: "We shall be satisfied only when the Dakota nation becomes a Christian and a civilized people." Animated by this sentiment, it was natural that he should be reaching out towards the wild western Sioux. In 1874 he made a trip to Montana and was much impressed by the needs of the Indians at Fort Peck Agency, now Poplar. There were Work in Montana over 9, ooo Indians accredited to this agency, Assiniboines, Yanktonais and Tetons, who had yet to "plant their first field and chop logs for their first cabin." They were all ignorant of Christianity and the way of salvation. At his recommendation and that of his father, the Foreign Board appropriated a small amount for work in this field, and two native missionaries were sent there for the winter. In 1880 a permanent mission was established in charge of Rev. G. W. Wood, with two ladies, Miss Dickson and Miss McCreight, as pioneer teachers. Mr. Williamson accompanied Mr. Wood to the field and helped him to get started, and from that time a trip to Montana was a regular part of Mr. Williamson's summer work. Before the Great Northern line was put through, there was a buckboard trip of 100 miles from the end of the railroad, unless he was so fortunate as to secure passage on one of the "regular packet line of steamers" which ran from Bismarck up the river at uncertain intervals, by leave of wind and sand-bars. Miss Dickson wrote in 1881: "I can hardly picture to you the wildness of this people, and yet Jesus died for them as well as for us, and their souls are just as precious to Him as ours are. One of our neighbours lost a boy a few weeks ago. His brother walked...