The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1917-10-11
aGED MISSIONARY
+, TO final. REWARD
Rev. John p. Williamson Had
Worked Among South Dako.
ia Indians Since 1868.

Wheeler, S. d. Oct. s.-Rev. John
Of 50 is reported from Yankton Indian
agency, was one OF the last of the IA
nous missionaries who during the early
and turbulent days took up missionary
work among the then warlike Sioux In
dams and devoted practically all Of his
life to work in behalf Of the redmen and
for their advancement in civilization.
1t was in 1863 that the American
board of commissioners for foreign
missions sent Mr.. Williamson to Crow
Creek agency for permanent work as
missionary among the Indians of Da-
kota. He was a Presbyterian and con-
Quoted his labors under that faith.
Prior to this time the Catholics and
Protestants had sent missionaries tenn
porarily or permanently to this field.
the most noted of these missionaries
prior to the advent of Mr.. Williamson
being Father DeSmet, a Catholic, who
came up the Missouri river nearly every
summer and held services at the diff
ferent trading posts and even in the
indian encaInpments.
Took Up Work in 1868.
Nj. Williamson arrived or May 81,
1853, on board a river Gamer AT that
time all he Indians of South Dakota
were at war with the United States.
Mr.. Williamson commenced his work
at once and devoted the most of his
time to the instruction of the Santee
Sioux Indians. The Winnebagos ap-
peared stubborn and opposed to any
instruction ne might offer, but the
Sioux listened to him-perhaps because
he could talk their language. The sue
ceedlng winter was one of great suffer-
ing among the Indians. They ran entire
~ out of food and for a time we'd on
cottonwood soup" because the steam
ers failed to bring the expected sup
plies from ST. Louis. bou one-fourth
of the Santees died that winter and
also many Of the Winnebagos. However,
the school and mission work was kept
up all winter amid the distressing SURF
r%oundings.
] In 1856 the government moved tho
Santees and Winnebagos to the vicin-
tty of N~iobrara, Neb. Mr.. Williamson.
who had returned to Minnesota, came
back to Dakota in 1868 and resumed
kota. In 1869 he took up his perma-
nent residence at Yankton, Indian
agency, which vas the scene of his
most effective n prolonged work as
p missionary among the Dakota m
dams. The house he erected was con-
In this he resided during practically
all of the remainder OF his life.
Established First Church.
Mr.. Williamson on March is, g871,
the first regular church
among the Yankton Sioux Indians. The
original church organization consisted
of but Is Indians. Mr.. Williamson
soon began to extend his work beyond
the agency, mt finally reached out to
other branches of the Sioux tribe. AS
his work progressed he organized other
churches with Indian members, until
church organizations were numerous
among the tribeSmen.
During the early years OF his work
as a missionary among the then wild
Indian tribes of Dakota Mr.. William
son, in addition to his missionary
work, performed an important work in
translating considerable portions of
the bible to the unwritten language of
the Sioux Indians. The far reaching
results of this work would be difficult
to estimate.
In 1887 the Black Hills Presbytery
was organized, making the fifth in
this synod. Rev. Mr.. Williamson con-
tinued to be the chief missionary of
the Dakota Sioux. Mr.. Williamson.
during good weather and bad, made
frequent Journeys to the Indians liv-
ing in camps al distant points for
the purpose of carrying the gospel to
them. The hardships suffered on some
OF these Journeys would beggar de-
scription n cannot be imagined by
the people OF the present generation.
On numberless occasions he took his
lie IN his hands When he entered
camps containing many hostile In
dians for the purpose of holding reli-
slous services or minfstering to the
sick and aged Indians.
gEHNH 8