Daily globe., 1879-06-26
REY. THOS. s. WILLIAMSON.
Death of the Veteran Missionary at st
Peter Yesterday.

Death of the Veteran Missionary at st.
Peter Yesterday.
The sad intelligence was received in this city
yesterday of the death of Rev. Thomas g. Will
hanson at st. Peter his home. at the ripe old
age of 80 years. Mr.. Williamson was one of
the eldest of our old citizens, was q skillful
physician, and has devoted his life as mis-
sionary among the Sioux tribe of Indians.
coming among them, we believe, In 1888, and
has continued to labor among and for them
zealously, lovingly and without fear, up to the
very hour of his taking off" his last labors
heing the completion of the translation of the
Bible into the Sioux language.
From Williams history of st. Paul we learn
that in 1S46 he was prevailed upon
to come from Lac qui Parle. where
he was laboring among the Indians,
to Kaposia and established school at Little
Croin village for the welfare of the red chill
dren. DR.. Williamson, while thus laboring
felt that something must be done for the white
people of st. Paul, who were without much
educational and religious advantages. He ac-
cordingly wrote to Vermont, givinga written
description of ST. Paul, and to send hither .
GOOD teacher, describing the wants and adding
the qualifications requisite and necessary,
should one be sent, saying "a teacher for
this place should love the Saviour. and for His
sake should be willing to forego, not only many
of the privileges and elegancies of New Eng
land towns, but some Of the neatness also.
She should be entirely free from prejudice
ON account of color, for among
her scholars she might find not only English,
French and Swiss, but Sioux and Chippewas,
with some claiming kindred with the African
stock.
ga teacher coming. should bring books s1.h
her sufficient to begin school, as there ia no
bookstore within 500 miles,
Miss Harriet E. Bishop was sent, the school
started, and it may be we'll said that DR.. Will
liameon Was the founder of the present schools
of st. Paul DR.. Williamson seemed to have
made religious devotion of the services of his
whole life for the Indian tribes among whom
he labored, was revered aud adored BY those
with whom he came in contact, and his name
was as household word among all Sioux IN
the Northwest, caused by his untiring and
unceasiag devotion and his affectionate,
kind and loving manner, in sick
ness and in health, wherever and
whenever he went among them. He was
escaping with those saved, we believe, and was
through the General Sibley campaign of 1862,
present previous to aud st the execution at
Mankato in December, 1862, and followed tt;e
Indians to the new territory assigned to them
West of the Missouri in 1862 where be has
continued his labors as long as health and care
would permit.
Among the whites DR.. Williamson was al
ways warmly welcomed, his kind, soothing
words always cheering the gloomy and de.
spondent. To the sick he was . faithful physi
clan and nurse, and to everybody friend
Though dead, his memory will live fresh in the
hearts of the old settlers yet left among us and
| many an unbidden tear will start ct this an
nouncement, not only among them but those
untutored ones among whom he has spent %
well his life. tgs..