Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-11-26
Meet to Give Thanks.

Meet to Give Thanks.
1t was n memorable occasion that called
these sturdy settlers together in Caring
ton. \. d., on the 9th of September, 1896.
Scarce half a year had elapsed since I
hundred or more families, comprising
about 80 souls, left their old homes in
Eastern States TO settle on the fertile
lands which lie contiguous to the North
ern Pacific Railway in the counties OF
Foster, Eddy and Wells. But they had
been six months of progress. Homes
had been built broad fields placed under
cultivation, and, side by side with these
evidences of material prosperity was the
prompt construction of church-whereln
they might assemble to return humble
but devout thanksgiving to the God they
worshiped. Beautiful in its simplicity,
the little church about which they gath
cred and in which they reverently assem-
bled, stood as a sign before heaven and
unto men. 1t was token of faith-of
| faith out there on the great Dakota prai-
ries-the faith of a people who desired
nothing better than to earn their bread
| by the sweat of their brows and to live AT
peace with the whole world.
In one respect at least Dunkards re-
| semble bees, viz: They coloniZe together
| and stay together as long as the country
can afford them all a good living, and
then, when it becomes too narrow for
| them. they swarm, and the younger gen.
Grafton makes new beginning in some
| less thckly populated locality. This
swarming process is now in full blast in
| many parts of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and
| other States even further East, and of
| the lands of promise selected for future
operations, none seems to be meeting
with greater favor than North Dakota,
as is witnessed by the steady stream that
| has been filtering through ST. Paul in that
| direction for some time past. This is not
| an evidence that North Dakota is a bet
| ter State than those to- the immediate
east of its borders, but it has more avail
able land open for settlement under such
conditions as render it a desirable place
| for n new colony.
| At first the stream went north to the
| free Government land around Devils
| Lake and that region. but latterly the tide
has turned further to the south, and the
| country where the Northern Pacific and
| the 500 intersect has been receiving q
| considerable impetus owing to the fact
| that it has the additional boon of rail
road competition, while in no other re-
spect does it come behind the most ia.
yored portions of the State. The soil OF
| course is practically the same, and what.
ever difference there may be in climate
is naturally in favor of the more southern
location, while in the matter of land avail
able for settlement it is easily in the lead
having as much Government land open
for settlement, and as many farms await
Ing tenants on the crop-payment plan as
any other part of North Dakota, while
the recent placing on the market of q
large tract of railroad land in the North.
ern Pacific indemnity belt, afforded tina.
company the opportunity for which il
was looking, to take hand i'm this bust
ness. and it at once embraced this chance
by setting aside three townships of land
for the exclusive use of the brethren, and
further than this the offer was made that
when certain number of families settled
in "a given locality, a donation of $500
wHlld be made towards the erection of 4
church of their own belief. The soil has
sroved more fertile than anything they
had ever dreamed of. the ease with which
farming is carried on has almost taken
their breath away. and the climate. SO
absolutely pure and free from all traces
Of malaria, has given a new zest TO living
Origin of tn. Sect.
The term "Dunkard" is applied to 4
sect of German-American Baptists said
to have been founded at Schwarzenau
in Westphalia, by Alexander Mack IN
iiTOS. The name is derived from theiI
manner of baptism-by trine immersion
They were driven from Germany IN
ll119-20. and crossed the ocean and set
lied in Pennsylvania-subse in
Ohio. Indiana, Maryland, Virginia and
other States. Properly speaking. they
ought always TO be referred to as Ger
man Baptists; but owing to their meth
Cd Of baptism they have been called
hDunkers." "Dunkards" and Thinkers
from the German tupken, Ito Dip
They have been called "Dunkarjs" q
long and 30 universally, however. that Il