Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 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.-l3ev. John
p. Williamson, whose death at the age
OF 81 is reported from Yankton Indian
agency. was one of the last OF the ia
nous missionaries who during the early
n bul days tool up missionary
work among the her warlikc Sioux In
dians and devoted practically all of his
life to work In behalf of the redmen and
for their advancement in civilization.
1t WIS in 1863 that the American
board of commissioners for foreign
missions sent Mr.. Williamson to Grow
Creek agency for permanent work as
missionary among the Indians of pa
kota. He was a Presbyterian and con-
Quoted his labors under that faith.
Prior to his 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, Il Catholic, who
came up the Missouri river nearly every
summer and held services at h diff
ferent trading posts and even in the
indian cncampmentS.
Took Up Work in 1868.
Mr.. Williamson arrived on May 81.
1853, on board Il river steamer. At that
time all the Indians of South Dakota
were at war with the United States.
MI. W1llldiIlSOH CORtliIle1CSu MS Woih
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 n
instruction he might offer, but the
Sioux listened to h~jm-perhaps because
he could talk their language. The u
ceeding winter was one Of great suffer-
ing among the Indians. They al entire
ly out of foo and for a time lived on
cottonwood SOUP because the steam
ers failed to bring the expected sup
plies from ST. Louis. About 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 sur
roundings.
In 1866 the government moved the
Santees and Winnebagos to the vfcin-
lty of Niobrara, Neb. Mr.. Williamson,
who a returned to Minnesota, came
back to Dakota in 1868 and resumed
his labors among the indian of Da-
kota- In 1869 he took up his perma-
nent residence at Yankton. Indian
agency. which was tho scene of his
most effective and prolonged work as
q missionary among the Dakota In
dians. The house he erected was con-
structed of hewed cottonwood logs and
In this he resided during practically
all of the remainder of his life.
Established First Church.
Mr.. Williamson on March is, 1871,
, established the first regular church
NOM the Yanlfton Sioux Indians The
original church organization consisted
of but Is Indians. Mr.. Williamson
soon began to extend his work beyond
the agency, and finally reached out TIC
other branches of the Sioux tribe. AS
his work progressed he organized other
churches with Indian members, unit
church organizations were numerous
amon the tribesmen.
During the early years Of his work
as a missionary among the then wilG
indian tribes of Dakota Mr.. William.
o in addition to his missionar,
work, performed an important work il
t~ranslating considerable portions O
the bible to the unwritten language o
the Sioux Indians. The far reaching
results of this work would be difficult
| to estimate.
! In 1887 the Black Hills Presbyter,
J was organized, making the fifth il
this synod. Rev. Mr.. Williamson con,
tinued to be the chief missionary o
the Dakota Sioux. MI. Williamson
during good weather and bad, mad,
frequent Journeys to the Indians liv,
ing in camps at distant points fo,
the purpose of carrying the gospel t,
them. The h%ardships suffered on som
of these journeys would beggar de
scription and cannot be imagined b,
the people of The present generation
On numberless occasions he tool hi
life in his hands when he entere,
camps containing many hostile In
dams for the purpose OF holding reli
gious services or ministering to tn
, sick and aged Indians.
20 ctueA