The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-01-20
Martyrs Of Walhalla.

LIE village OF Waihalla lies hear the
northern boundary of Dakota, uron the
western rim of the Red River valley
1t occupies a location Of much natur.
al beauty upon the undulating border of
the great plain which stretches toward the
east, with it's wall of sentinel hills upon
the west. Northward along tho Manito-
ba boundary are the farms and villages
OF the Mennonites; while on the soutl,
The we'll wooded Pembina river inter.
cepts the views and provides an unfsi..
my supply Of fuel and water. Itslso marks
the site where formerly existed trad
lng-post and village of considerable i'm.
portance. Nearly forty years ago it vas
the central emporium OF an extensive
trade Of furs and skins with the Indian
tribes OF the surrounding region, as far
hack as the Turtle mountains and the
head waters of tho Missouri river. But
the ancient village. st. Joseph, now
scant,ly marked by II few crumbliny
structures and old cellar excavations.
possesses a sad AMI tcnder interest for
the friends of missions, Us having been
the scene of some of the earliest
labors and sutferinYs Of Protestant mis-.
slonarics on this once wild frontier.
Some also suffered martyrdom here.
And along the long neglected spots il.
the Vicinity, unmarked and over grown
with native weeds and grasses, at least
two of these faithful ones, the wives and
mothers of missionaries, lie buried side
by side.
10 the stranger passing bv these un-
known graves and the spot whore the
humble dwelling Of tho missionaries
once stood, little indeed is known of tho
story of toll and tears and bloodshed,
the prayers and pleadings, the painful
bcreavements and burials, witnessed
only by the plying angels Of God, and
concealed in tile shadow of by.gcne
years. After long period Of forgetful-
ness. noble friend Omissions Glanced
to visit the locality, and gathering some
of the traditions Of the place, she rev.
erently impaired them to friends. Then
inquiries were made, aud information
gathered, until at last the outlines of a
story which only the Master will ever
fully know, are soon. we hope, to he
given to the world. The following facts
the writer has obtained from parties who
| were themselves conyersant Will, those
early scenes:
In the year 1919, one James Tanner, a
iialt-breed, whose father had been stolen
when child from his home in Ken.
lucky by the Indians. having been pre-
vionsly employed as all Interpreter by
our missionaries in Minnesota, came 10
Pcmhina to vista brother who WAS re.
siding in the vicinity. While there lie
became deeply interested in the spiritu.
al condition Of his brethren in that re.
sion; and after time started out for II
tour through some of the eastern states,
lie proceeded as faras Washington city,
where. by his novel appearance, earnes.
manner cnd native elequcnce, he is said
to have created a considerable sensation,
While in the east. he connected himself
with wealthy Baptist society; and on
his return lie WAS accompanied by q
young man from St Paul, named Ben.
jamin Terry. purposins TO open mission
among the l,alf.breeds and Chippewa In.
dams in the Penbina region, under the
auspices Of the Baptist Missionary So.
ciety. They proceeded to Walhalla
curly iii the spring of 1852, AMI having
taken up land in the vicinity. began the
erection Of their house. But before the
close Of the summer. and while engaged
i'll procuring timber for the buildings,
young Terry was waylaid by q party
Of hostile Sioux, shot with ar.
rows, and scalped. With much, difficult
ty his associate obtained permission
from the local priest TO place the remains
in the Roman Catholic cemetery in tile
center of the village. And thus unhap.
PLY ended this first attempt to organize
Protestant mission among the natives
OF this region.
The following spring, June l. 1853, was
signalized by the arrival at Walhalla of
another little band Of III ;ssiollaries, con.
sisting OF Revs. Alonzo Barnard, David
Brainarl Spencer, and their families,
and an old gentleman named John
Smith. from Ohio. They came l,!ther
in cats from the vicinity Of Cass and Red