Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-06-01
Pioneer Preacher
By ELMO


little frontier parsonage beside the
great enigrant trail that led
across the plains, over the Rockies
and TO the great lands beyond.
There was work to do, and where
there was work there was content
ment. There was wistfui longing,
too, after q new caravan mad
started on the long trek. Marcus
whitman. who was destined 20 be-
come a power in the Oregon coun-
try for both his God and for the
government of the United States,
fingered In this parsonage, as did
other men Of God enrOute to the
wilderness lands beyond the last
frontier.
be sent forth, Rev. Learner BlacgTnan
StateIer was denied the privilege. For
more than three decades he waited,
and then his chance came. Destiny
made him a beloved character on the
Montana frontier. 80.
rev. Stateler was born IN 1871 on
the Ohio frontier, Of frontier parents,
and at an early age ne entereo I1s
Methodist ministry, and In the early
IR3Os he found himself on the Bowling
Green. MO, circuit. Surging pioneer
blood coursed his veins, and an ABIDING
will to serve his Master and 70 spread
Iris gospel dwelt In his heart.
In 1883 the Christian Advocate pup
lished the story Of the four Flarnead
indians who visited St. Louis 70 Iinq
tne white mans Book Of Life that
they might carry It back to their
people. The story told how the Fiat
heads had been disappointed; how
thew had been shown the wonders ana
the pleasures Of civilized communities,
two of their number dying, and how
the others were returning empty
handed.
StateIers Plea Unheeded
'I am a thousand miles on the
wayl" Stateler wrote his superlors IN
the church. Send me"
R,1t his plea was denied. Trained
To the discipline of religion and OF
ORGANIZATION. the good minister settled
down. swallowing his ppointmenC,
and continued to serve the white people
and the Indians of his circuit. he
satisfied his longing for far frontiers,
in part, by raising funds that others
might go, and n ENGRAVING 1Ss1i,1n +,s s1se
who tarried at his hearthstone on their
way TO the far west. -
As the years passed he moved %
Kansas, and as years were aooeo W
his life he more or less gave up tne
idea of the long journey for nlnlSen.
BE acquired farm and comforGaDle
nome near 4OUCkhy 1AeAAS esAAN 49,
tinued to serve his church.
Came the Civil war and the dlSSen-
sions 1t bred on the midwest IrontlsI.
It brought schism in the Metnodlsg
church. Brother was aTrayed against
brother. It was impossible to refraln
from taking sides, and Rev. SCatelers
life was threatened. To escape from
the strife he secured an appointment
to Denver IN 1852.
Making everything as comfortable as
possible for his wife and his Adopted
daughter, Eliza, he loaded one or more
wagons with cornmeal, homemade
soaD and other products from his own
farm that he believed would IIn0
ready sale In the isolated mining camp |
Of Denver. This was characteristic OF
the man and of his time. The pioneer
preacher had to make his own living
Ia addition to his ministry, Tor ms |
were poor people, and
their contributions 10 the cause were
small.
In August, 1852. after an uneventfm
Journey, he disposed Of his goods IN
Denver and sent a part OF the pro-
ceeds to his family. Turning to the
church, he found that the little
Methodist group had gotten into IL
nancial difficulties and had sold tnen
little building, so recently erected. 70
EfJlSLOket1AnlAof WIN WNA0 @~kSSe@ 40
10 dedicate the church.
No church home and no charge TO
serve. His life in danger back IN KAN
Sas Nevertheless, he set about prepara-
lions for the return. Then came the
etter announcing that his home had
been burned by incendiaries and that
Mrs. Stateler and Eliza had been IN
Hanger.
Mrs. StateIer Heads West
Mrs. Stateler after a time found
nan to drive an OK team, another TO
handle loose stock. Late in the year,
irving her own team, which later
,ame to Montana, she started for
Denver by way of Fort Kearney. Stern
winter clamped down upon the little
1arty. Some of the stock was lost in
/ blizzard. Severe hardships were en-
iured. But they were met at Kearney
Jy Rev. Stateler. They reached Denver
n winter weather and without a soil
airy penny Of money. With less than
dozen knives and forks, meager fur !
liture, but with lots of faith, they
itarted boarding house. A. @. (China) !