Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-10-13

OF the everlasting Gospel.
During their short stay OF only several
days the interest became intense. aud
spread TO the whole tribe. When de.
nominatonal ministers and Indian agents
heard OF the excitement. the Elders
were declared peace disturbers and
ordered out.
In the spring OF 1859 the Cherokecs,
the leading nation OF the five civilized
tribes, moved west from Georgia,
crossed the Mississippi and settled In
Indian Territory. II was not until the
year is4S that the Choclaws were settled
permanently In their new home. Rep
ftscntatives OF the tribe, however, were
IN the territory at an early date. The
ChickasaWs, like their neighbors, the
ChoctaWs, and formerly part OF them.
also came from Mississippi about the
same time. The Muskogees, or Creeks,
the most powerful OF the tribes living
east OF the Mississippi. were first heard
VI about the time OF the Spanish inva.
sion, but being unwilling to submit TO
Spanish tyranny they moved east. The
Muskogces area great confederation,
comprised of several small tribes which
they subiugaied and adopted az an early
day, among these being the Alaba-
mas, Uchcrs. Tuckobaches, Tuskogces,
Ozeills and Natchrz. Spnnging out OF
the Creeks are the Seminoles, small
band which ran away from the original
tube, aud thus obtained that name
which means dcsericrs. Besides the five
civilized tribes aud the Others already
named, there are great many nations
aud remnants OF Indian tribes living m
the western part OF the Indian Territory,
Twenty-Five years elapsed from the
time OF the visit OF Elders Cowdery and
Pratt before the Lamanites Of the Indian
Territory again heard the Gospel
preached, save when the seeds OF
truth were dropped by cmigrating Saints
en- route Tor the West across their
country. In the spring OF 1855 the mes.
sengefs Of salvation were again sent to
them. shortly alter the April confer
encc 10 that year, two wagons might
have been seen vending their way
towards the Indian Territory, both
loaded with missionaries, one from a
branch Of the Church IN ST. Louis, Mo-,
and the other from Utah. Earlier in
the season Elders Ofson Spencer and
ing a potion OF the Mississippi valley
conference, over which Elder Spencer
presided. The sending Of more mis-
sionarics into the field was the result OF
their investigation.
On arriving In the Cherokee nation, the
two companies named, eight Elders IN
ALL found little band Of Saints already
situated on the Spovino, a tributary to
4
ceiyed a revelation through the Prophet
Joseph Smith, Lyman Wight had led
away a company OF Saints and settled
In Texas. Alter deserving him they
stopped to recruit In the Cherokee nation
on their return to Missouri. Al but one
family were re-bapliEed and joined the
little company OF workers IN the Indian
Mission, Elder Jacob Crolt, In company
with the Saints, built prosperous town.
The old mill erected nearly forty years
ago stands there today as a monument
Of Mormon industry.
II was during this sojoun Of the
Elders and Saints In Indian Territory
that Elder Farley P. Pratt was assassina.
ted near Van Buren,, Arkansas, Elder
George Higginson, who recently
died at his home Ia Santaquin, Utah
county, acted as body guard llr the be-
loved Apostle, and when Elder Pratt
was arrested at Fort Gibson and tax IN
TO the state for trial, Brother Higginson
was handcuhed with him and diagge
across the country. He was with him
until his death. and amidst mob OF
wicked men buried his companion.
During the year 1860 all the surviving
Elders except John A. Richards re-
turned to their homes. Elders Cook
and Petty were buried in Indian soil,
laying down their lives for the Gospels
sake.
The Indifference OF the little flock, len
without sheph erds, together with the
devastating effects OF the war broke up
our branches and scattered the Saints to
the Jour winds. Elder John A, Rich.
ards, who had by this time abandoned
the ministry, enlisted in the conlcderacyi
and alter the war settled down as a
citizen in the quiet life OF husbandry
In the year 1877 Robert Lake, purport'
ing 10 be a Klowa Indian, called upon
President brigham Young, and rep
resented that he had been sent by his
tibe to the Mormon chief Mr.
s...f.I.tr