Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1922-10-19
TO Wisconsin there were about AIS.
Became Presbyterians

In the mission church near Ores
ham is a record which states that
Rev. Stephen Hopkins of West Spring
field, Massachusetts,, first went
among t?;em and the first meeting
was held on July 10, 1874. John Ser
geant, a tutor at Yale college, was
really the first missionary, beginning
his work on October, II 1874
and dedicated the first church on
November 90, 1879. Rev. Jonathan Ed
wards became their pastor in July,
1851, and according to the record in
the Wisconsin Mission church, wept
when he was elected president Of
Princeton and had to leave his Indian
friends in Massachusetts.
Few Massachusetts Relics
But few relics remain of all the
articles carried out of the Berkshire
hills. They include:
Bible in two volumes.
Tomahawk pipe.
Part of a communion set, the part
remaining consisting of two chalices
or cups, a tankard, and salver or
bread tray.
The bible was sent to the Indians
by the Prince of Wales, the inscrip-
ton on one of the blank leaves read
ing:
This, with another volume, con-
tanning the Holy Bible. is the
PiOus Gift of the Revernd Doc
t'r Francis Ayscough, CLERK of
the Closet to His Royal Highness
Frederick Prince of Wales,) To
the use, of the Congregation, of
Indians, at or near Housatonoc,
in a vast Wilderness part, of
New England; Who are, at pres
ent, under the Voluntary Care
and Instruction, of the Learned
and Religious Mr.. John Sergeant,
And is to remain, to the use, of
the Successors, of these Indians,
from Generation to Generation
as a Testimony, of the said Doc
tors Great Reward for the Sal
walton, of their Souls And is,
over and above Other Benefits,
which he must obtain for the
Encouragement, - the said Mr..
Sergeant, in favour, of the said
Indians. At the Request, of their
hearty Friend.
and Well Wisbev
TTomas Coram
London,
the 31st Day of December, 1745
The two big volumes, % by Is in
ches in size, are kept in an iron safe
in the church and Mr. Quincy is the
only one who knows the combination.
He keeps the two volumes with guard
ed care. The books were printed at
Oxford England, in 1717, and given
to the Indians in 1745. Through all
their travels and vicissitudes they
have treasured the precious tones.
The communion pieces are of Brit
ANNA ware and are used regularly
in the church. The pipe is the personal
possession of Mr.. Quincy anu is
shown with pride to all visitors.
Memorial Church
The church near Gresham is known
as the John Sergeant Memorial
church and most of the Indians be-
long there. A few have no church aft
liations. All were pagans at one time
but this idea, with that of their clan
in no g
of time.
Most of their language is gone, the
older Indians being able to speak a
few words of their native tongue but
not able to carry on a conversation.
Near the church they have a CO.
operative cheese factory which is
successful and each year a fair is
held at Keshana.
Religiously the Indians are divided
into two groups, those who belong TO
some church and those who DO not;
politically they belong to Two camps,
those who are citizeus and those anti
citizens. The citizens have embraced
the opportunity to vote, these includ-
ing six SquaWS at the lasI eIeCIIOh'
The anti-citizens would like to be
Lack under the old forms of Indian
life. They do not care for the white
mans politics or political advantages,
refusing to vote.
A very few, not many, intermarry
with the Menomonies who reside
few miles away. The Menomonies are
mostly Catholic or pagan, many speak
ing the Indian language and retaining
the Indian traditions.
Sterling Peters is the oldest Stock
bridge, having been born 81 years
ago.
Pitifui Cemetery
The minister, the Stockbridge, and
the visitors went into the Indian
cemetery near the church. But few
stones are there and but few Of the
nora Tho GRASS and