The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-07-13
49, -
COMMUNICATIONS.
Editor Of i'lnSifr ExrEmss.
Memorial Services at Walhalla.

Memorial Services at Walhalla.
On Thursday. the 2lst of June, one of
the most interesting incidents in the
history of Northern Dakota took place
at the new cemetery, picturcsqucly situ-
ated on the brow of the mountain over
looking the village Of Walhalla. 1t was
the day appointed by the Ladies' synod
zeal Missionary Society of the Synod of
North Dakota for the unvciliny of the
monuments erected to perpetuatc the
history of the life labors and tragical
death Of Sarah Philena Barnard and
Cornclia Spencer, the wives respectively
of Revs. Alonzo Barnard and David
Brainerd Spencer, pioneer missionaries
TO the Indians in Northern Dakota.
In tie early history of this now civiliz-
ed, fertile and thrifty county, when inn
mense herds of buffalo roamctl at large
over the unbrokcn prairie, and the rcd
man was lord of mountain, wood and
plain, of lake and stream. old st. Joseph
WAS the emporium Of the North Western
Fur Trading Company, and the rendez-
vous of the Chippewa, Cree and Sioux
Indians inlabtins this region.
There Messrs. kittson and Cayilcer
had established Il fort and general trad
Ing post. There, too, the French half
breeds had congregated in large num-
bers and built their substantial log
houses; and here also the Catholic
church had Il strong mission with large
church and convent buildings. by the
request, and even urgent appeal Of kit
son and Cavicer, Messrs. Barnard and
Spencer were induced to come to this
point and open up mission to the In.
dians and hali-brceds III the interest of
the Protestant church. These nlission-
aries had been engaged for many years:
in the Indian work at Red and Cuss
lakes in Minnesota with very signal sue
cess.
Mr.. kittson, i'll the course of his fro
quent trips between st. Joe and st. Paul.
by means Of the ancient mode of travel,
viz, OK train and bark canoe, observed
the wonderful progress Of the Indians of
Red and Cass lakes missions in civiliZa.
ton and thrift, and earnestly desired
Mr.. Barnard TO leave the already estab-
lishcd work there TO other hands, and
come and open up Il similar mission at
st. Joseph. Mr.. Barnard consented, and
/ 10, l,tr 1,n nj tir
Piled 10 the general government ut
Washington and obtained from the
Civilization Fund grant of $500 with
which to begin operations. Accordingly,
this first work OF preaching and teaching
the Gospel i'll the wild region of North
Dakota VAS undertaken and commcnc.
ed
The venerable Barnard. row nearly
eighty years Of age, accompanied by his
daughter, was present at the imposing
ceremony Of unwilling the monuments TO
his wife and Mrs. Spencer, and after Il
pathetic and instructive address by Mrs,
C. o. Van Clcve, of Minneapolis, re-
hearscd the story Of his early pioneer
mission work anon. The Indians of the
American Northwest.
When the old man stood upon the
graves Of his martyrcd wife and Mrs.
Spencer, and with trcmulous voice and
moistcncd eyes, began to give TO the as
se,mbled multitude some OF the details
of the leading facts in their hard cxpcri-
cnce Of the past in their Northwestern
abodes of savascry. When he came 10
tell Of the bark hut in which lie and his
devoted wife passed their first dreadful
winter, and Of the s;lvaycs lying around
Oh the tiovr waiting To- levo,lr the last
moisel OF food prepared by his wife, and
III the meantime picking and eating the
vcrmln OIL their OWN bodies. When he
detailed the manner in which he and his
fellow laborcr chopped and sawed ,h,.
lumber ont OF which 10 build the sr,ws
10 transport their effects down the Red
river to l'cmbina. When he told of the
hangers Of the jnarnty: of the sriilr.inr-
'nd!ircd from hunger and cxppsuir: Of
MS heroic wife gradually sinking under
he lnc'lrab!c destroyer, pulmonary CON
umption, yet refusing to be conveyed
'ack TO the home OF comforts aud civil. I;