Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1892-12-08
Experience ola Pioneer Presby-
terian Minister in South
Dakota.
He Recalls His Numerous
Thoughts On Entering the
New Country.

. | /.
More so if local and always so if of
ones country. state, county or town.
Kew. j. Il. Currens, founder Of the
Presbyterian church of Woonsockct
writes to the Church Bulletin. the
official organ Of the Prcsbytcrians.
the following "reminiscences of
Dakota:
The history ofthc early days in
eastern Dakota is wondcrous story.
No country was ever settled so
quickly, except perhaps Oklahoma.
The railroads were built and people
came pouring in all at once. Whole
counties were settled in single
season. Sanborn county had forty
school houses built in one year and
Woonsockct grew to 1000 people in
twelve months. When | came to
Dakota in MAY, 1879, she had but one
railroad-the one from Sioux City to
Iankton. There was no Parker.
Mitchell, Plankinton or Chamber
lain: no Woon>ocket. Howard or
Madison: no Brookings, Pierre.
Huron. Redticld or Aberdeen. Yank-
ton, the territorial capital, was a
place Of perhaps 1000, and Sioux
Falls Il village of 800. There was
not state institution located, or a
college in the country. except small
normal school III Springfield.
We held our first territorial Sun
day school convention that summer
al sioux Falls. bit there was neither
conference, prcsbytcry or association
for perhaps two years after that
There were perhaps not a half dozen
ministers ofall denominations in the
state Two Presbyterian churches
had been organized. one at Swan
Luke, and one at Dell Rapids. Only
two Presbyterian ministers we're in
| tle territory Roy. Ticiare of Del!
/ n1ntd> AM; W, :, Peterson OF Beioit.
The population was confined to Il
narrow strip along the Missouri and
! Sioux rivers. ! felt as if could
/ stand on the Iowa hills and throw a
stone almost Ia the last settler on
the Dakota side. well remember
my impression when landed at the
end Of the track at Beloit, To-. on the
railroad then building from Sioux
City TO Sioux Falls. After supper |
walked across the bridge on the
Sioux river, and as | set foot on
Dakota soil, the field of my future
laborS, / said to myself Now YOU
are out OF the United States. YOU
are on the verge Of civilization, on
the very ragged edge.
Il climbed the Hills To get good
1 view and looked with Straining eyes
over the trcclcss waste toward the
setting sun, and wondered what there
could be out there for Il missionary to
do: and then when came 10 Swan
Lake and Cameron, county seats Of
Turner and McCook counties which
two counties composed ny parish
with less than dozen houses. said
to myself. Well the board OF home
missions has made Il mistake this
time. Here is a man wasted and all
that will be paid him. There are no
people here, what did they send me
here for: had been very Jealous for
home missions. and rs to a choice OF q
field out in Iowa or Dakota. had
chosen the front. | was going for Il
missionary for all there was in it. but
this was too much for me, and
was greatly cast down when | saw my
field.
1T was Observation-Disclosures
dream to think Of being useful here:
but | could not 90 lack for had not
money enough. ! suppose | would
have been on the first train if had.
/ However. ii was well had not. for
soon got into the spirit of the country
and imbibcd that wonderful faith in
the future which brought the
thousands Of settlers and built the
cities the railroads and the colleges
Of a great state. The Northwestern
and Milwaukee railroads were just
building and the people came pour
ing in everywhere. became SO
enthusiastic that wanted to speak
all over the country had seven
appointments in as many different
ncighborhoods and frequently rode
forty miles and preached three times
on the Sabbath to reach the people
with the gospel.
After four years at Parker, and
starting the work where there are
now six churches. came to Woon-
socket. Two other Presbyterian
ministers had occupied f'orcstburg
and organized churches there and at
Denton or Diana or Artesian City, as