The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-04-27
EARLY NORTH DAKOTA MISSIONARIES
BY Bertha r. Palmer
State Supt. of Public instruction

Editors Note--This is the
third of a series Of five articles
written by Miss Bertha r. Pal
mer. state superintendent Of pub
lie instruction, in connection with
the memorial service and mis-
sionary rally to be conducted Mt
Walhalla June 26 in CONNIE NOR
alton of the 18TH anniversary of
the death of the first Protestant
missionary in North Dakota.)
This is the story Of the second of
the early Protestant martyrs for
whom memorial services will be held
ut Walhalla, North Dakota, on June
26, 1927. Mijah Terry, the first Of
the martyrs, 90 years old, full of life
and energy, just from "the East" was
killed by Indians June Is, 1852, while
at work upon log building which
was to have been used as school
during the coming year. Mrs. Sarah
Philena Bernard, wife of Reverend
Alopzo Bernard, was the second to
give her life in the cause Of bringing
the message of Christianity to the
Indians Of the Red river valley.
For nearly ten years the Bernards
and the Spencers had been doing mis-
sionary work together in northern
Minnesota; but in the spring Of 1853
they decided to leave the lakes and
woods Of this civilized country for
the wild and lawless scenes OF re-
mote and turbulent frontier trading
post and looked toward the Pembina
country.
They had nearly 800 miles to COW
cr.-with little children, one q tiny
baby. About two-thirds Of this dis
lance, they travelled in canoes on
lakes and rivers, till they reached
the crossing Of the old "Pcmbina
Trail" not far from the present site
Of Crookston. Here they exchanged
canoe travel for that Of the two
wheeled OK Garland late in May the
little party arrived ut st. Joseph
(now Waihalla) not to trade, not to
hunt: but to raise again the fallen
standard OF the cross.
Scenery 1t Its Best
Picture anywhere in the Red River
valley late in May! Just to be out
of-doors makes one glad to be alive.
Everything is taking on its new dress
of glorious green trimmed with the
latest variety of spring flowers. The
air Is heavy with the perfume OF
blossoms and full Of the jubilant
music of lark and bob-0-link and
noises that are just the happy noises
which come with the spring. In those
days there were gophers. whistling
and running or standing on tip-toe to
greet neighbors or at sight of a
stranger to dive into a safety hole
with flip Of the tail and shrill
whistle of warning only to bob up
again the next instant full Of curios-
ity.--also. l doubt not that prairie
wolves. coyotes or foxes were often
in sight, while a startled but curious
fawn would be no unusual visitor, and
seldom out of view in the distance
were great dark moving herds of buff
falo grazing leisurely. When eve
ming came. the heart would ache with
the wonders and the beauty Of it
all; "And the glory of the sun and
sky and sod made one bare the head
in reverence and in gratitude to God =
Since st. Joseph was on the "old
trail" from TT. Garry (now Winni-
peg) to st. Paul 1t is just possible
that the beauty of the evening quiet
would be broken by distant or nearer
sounds of discord--the ceaseless
grooming and squeaking OF unoiled
wooden cart wheels.
Since the "Red River cart" exists
now only rs a museum piece, this
description, taken from Rev. J. P
| Schelrs I'm the Ojibway Country
will be interesting. 1T was o pecu-
liar structure built after the pattern
Of the Normandy peasant carts and