The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1890-05-16

Pioneer Missionary Work along the b.
& NJ. Founding IF the Church
at Burton.
EuRros. South Oak, Mar. 10, 1880.
Mr. l.. II. Truman. Sec. Board of Trus-
teees Presbyterian CHI, Burton, S. ID.
Dear Sir:-I enclose you my report
Of the money received for the church
and b } it was expended. l wish you
wcui copy it into your trustees book
for it will lie OF interest in future
years to know the small beginnings
and the names of those who lived here
and took part in them.
came from Chicago to the Black
Hills about the middle of January, !
1889; spent the first month looking up
the most useful work for myself in this
region. At Whitewood, OAK, I heard
that this line of railroad had been con-
tractea to be built. I thought, here
is a field of great usefulness. Popula-
tion will certainly come in .long the
railroad. Towns and possibly cities
will soon be built. Besides, this is an
entirely unoccupicd field. will here
not infringe upon anyone clsc's terri
tory or work, but will furnish the gos-
pei to those who are and will he with
out il if do not go TO them. So [ got
on the train at Whitcwood and went to
Crawford, Nch., where | found MI.
VIM. fitzpatrick, the contractor, who
marked out on my map the survey Of
tho railroad and designated tho points
where he Thought there would he towns
located. The next question with me
was, How can best occupy this field
1863 miles long, and what kind of work
is most needed and most practical?
In considering the new and unsettled
state of the country, the vast field to be
opened up, and the other fact that it
extended into the state of Nebraska
and the two territories Of Dakota and
Wyoming. and was also under the SUI
/; pcrv:sion of three different pre>bv-
%terics, decided me to take my commits
SION under the Sabbath School Board.
wrote the facts tn Dr. Worden, Supt.
n of the Board. and received my commits.
i, son in return, and started at once from
!, Hill City, where received my commits.
sion. for the coal camp ill Wyoming
was detained for a week at Caster by
snow. Arrived at the Fitzpatrick head.
quarters. then az their farm near the
~ coal mines, about the Goth of February
1889. preached the first sermon Oh
the field in the dining room at theil
farm. | then started down the rail
u road survey Oil IL "trip of investigation
Snow was on the ground, the track ant
road We're very dim TO u stranger, am.
ii was q long and lonesome ride.
~ followed the single wagon track of
q company of surveyors from the l.. a. X
y ranch to the Cheyenne crossing. ! di,
4 not see IL single house or man from TIN
is l.. a. X. to the s. & q. ranches.
ps staid all night with Mclaughlin 1
NJ Davis, railroad graders: slept in a ten
and helped TO take care of a sick MAJ
The next day ! rode to Cheyenne cross
ing. Here ! found no body, thcug'
Mr.. Lalrds railroad camp was locate'
-, about IA mile above the crossing. it wa
10 under the bank and | passed 1T withou
seeing it. There was IA new log cahil
=, at the river crossing, anG ! understood
from MIR. Fitzpatrick that there wer
only three settlers in TIE country, an,
re. they were all bachelors. found no
one living person at the Cheyenne. an
he could get nothing to eat for either my
nd self OF horse, 50 | kept on down til
III railroad track. trying to make Ha
:" Greek settlement by night. where | III
.s dcrstcod there were some settlers. |
he was a long and lonesome ride of ?
he miles without seeing a house or a ma
Mo or 8 sign of any settlement. arrive
ats at Hat Greek late and staid all nigl
III III at Mr.. Clark's. the first house I saw o
ms Hat Greek. The next morning l rod
lay up to Mr.. Lows. visited families an
!. held service i'll the little log sc'lo1
house that evening and the next. o
Saturday ! rode to Crawford, Ncb.,an
staid over Sunday. Found that til
Congregational missionary had take
up services there and thought it NJ
wise 10 push i'll the P~resbyteria
4 church i'll so small a town. o
Wednesday | rode to Corhin, on I'll
Running Water river. stopped at IL
po>toiiice, went to meet John Snllel
NJ burger, at w!,o<e house hcl
II service N evening. The next ola
started for Alliance, where | attendt
service in Presbyterian church, an
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