Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-04-23

country, and experienced some OFF
fculties. In this year, however, steps
were taken by President Brigham
Young 10 extend the Goepc, among the
Inhabitants, and for that purpose nine
Elders, five nom Utah aud four from
q branch Of the Church nj 1t. Louis,
were sent. These Elders, no doubt,
were surprised nj the evidences Of
thrift often 10 be found, considering
the conditions the people had expert.
encei, and labored zcalously. until two
small branches were organized In the
Greek and Cherokee Nations.
One OF the vumber, Elder John A.
Richards, married. nh Indian woman,
and gave permanent resting place for
the Others. All, save the one men.
TONED, were released In from three 10
four years; but during their stay had
penetrated Into the Choctaw country.
Their success Ia this direction wHssoon
prohibited by the United 5tatee agent
ordering them away, which order they
were required 10 obey, even while hay'
Ing the necessary permission from the
Territorial government.
The fair prospects Of both inhabl-
tants and missionaries abruptly termi.
mated when the war Of the Rebellion
broke forth IN fury over the land.
Tho Indians hal no particular
part In the issues nj stake, though q
few were slave owners. The strife was
on all Sides OF them, and insurrectl0n-
ists OF their own race soon produced n
division, and the land became over
spread once more with war and blood.
shed. The end VI the strife In other
"A "A
the Indians home, for many Of the
worst characters and individuals whom
the war had brought forth and devel.
opcd, took refuge In this frontier land;
and the nature Of the Indian II not 10
lay aside revenge because Of n coven-
ant Of peace entered iuto by others.
Dlsagrceablc aud bloody scenes there
fore continued for several yenrs after
peace was declared, and life and hap
piness were not among tho cortainties.
Naturally the few Saints were scat.
TERED by these circumstances. And
Elders were no, safe in travelling and
preaching among people whose natures
were thus trained. Elder Richards
had taken part In the war, and subse.
qucntly turned his whole attention 10
farming.
April, 1877, Elders NJ. w. Dalton,
John Hubbard Of Willard City, and
Robert Lake tpart Indian), who,
later ON deserted his companions,
and Anthony Navarr, also part Indian,
arrived In the Territory. They again
opened the mission. Elder Hubbard
died and was buried there; Elder
Navarr returned 10 his tribe aud Elder
Dalton reached his home In Utah Ia
November OF the same year, leaving.
the mission abandoned uutil April 10,
1853, when Apostle George Teasdale
aud Elder Dalton rc-opcned the field.
The former came home October, 1859,
aud Elder Joseph II. Felt, Of Salt
Lake City. became tho companion Of
Elder Dalton, and the labor was con.
tinued until April, 1854, whom both
returned home.
In May, the same year, Elders J.
Bale and Frank Te,sdale, both Of Ne
phi, resumed efforts 10 establish n
permanent field, Tut they We're forced
TO return In September, 1854, much Inn
paired In health.
From tho experiences these Elders
encountered, nnd the disadvantages
they had 10 contend with, the principal
among which were chllls and fever,
long Journeys because Of the scattered
condition of the residents and the great
amount Of Indifference aud CONTEMPT
generally accorded them, when Elders
Andrew Kimbaliand Jas. q. west, both
Of this city, Journeyed thither Ia the
beginning Of 1888. The past record Of
the country they were going 10 did
not present very encouraging picturr.
However, they went 10 work confident
~ and were making some headway
until the summer season advanced, and
the dread annual epidcmic--chills and
fever--overtook them M II had the
previous Elders. Elder Vests sick:
ness was the cause Of his release IN
september, 1850, and Elder kimball
unnamed alone Tor few months and
finally recovered from his illness.
While waiting for more Elders from
Utah, Andrew Travelled somewhat
with Elder Richards, who had been
found shortly after Elder Kimball had |
arrived In tho Cherokee Nation. In
1886, the mission was Increased u four
Elders, and In 1855 TO six, and eight IA
1890, though there are but ak there at
present.
Elder Kimball remained laborlng for
some twenty-scven months, and A.
may be said that from the date OF going
OF those who went there In the winter
OF 1855, the mission commenced M
permanent. One year 10 twenty.thre,
months has been the average period OF
the individual labors there. Since then
n few have reached two years.
The Indian Territory Mission has
had TO cope with many disadvantages. I
Some ~ Elders have been Their,
since 1888, most Of whom have had 10 |
contend with sickness each year, the
climate and country being NO thorough |
ly filled with malaria, which readily |
attacks and prostrates persons going |
from colder and healthier climate.
But each succeeding year has been
productive Of more encouraging re-
suits; tho work In enlarging ami In.
rreasing. by tho experience OF tho
past the present missionaries are bene.
htted and are escaping the Ills OF the
country.
Labor was frst commenced In the
Cherokee Nation. At present this ma.
tion Ia well traversed, nfiording a fair
field and kind and hospitable enter.
tainment generally. Tho Choctaw
and Creek nntions-the Choclaw es.
are visited. The Chlcka.
saws and Seminoles have extended the |
Of mission work In their
midst, and an encouraging commence.
inent has been made tins winter among |
the former.
The emi-civillzed osagos would |