Among the Sioux | Page 6

scholar and a
linguist; courageous, energetic, firm, diplomatic; she was cultured,
gentle, tactful, and withal, both were intensely spiritual and deeply
devoted to the glorious work of soul-winning. Both had been trained as
missionaries, with China as a prospective field of service. Step by step
in the Providence of God, they were drawn together as life companions
and then turned from the Orient to the Western plains.
During these years of beginnings, Dr. Williamson formed the
acquaintance of Stephen R. Riggs, then a young man, which
culminated in a life-long alliance of love and service. During his
seminary course, Mr. Riggs received a letter from his missionary friend,
to which he afterwards referred thus: "It seems to me now, strange that
he should have indicated in that letter the possible line of work open to
me, which has been so closely followed. I remember especially the
prominence he gave to the thought that the Bible should be translated
into the language of the Dakotas. Men do sometimes yet write as they
were moved by the Holy Ghost. That letter decided my going westward
rather than to China." It was a lovely day, the first of June, when this
young bride and groom arrived at Fort Snelling. Though it was their
honeymoon, they did not linger long in the romantic haunts of
Minnehaha and the Lakes; but pressed on to Lac-qui-Parle and joined

hands with the toilers there in their mighty work of laying foundations
broad and deep in the wilderness, like the coral workers in the ocean
depths, out of sight of man.
What a glorious trio of mission family bands were then gathered on
Minnesota's lovely plains, on the shores of those beautiful lakes! Pond,
Williamson, Riggs. Names that will never be forgotten while a Sioux
Christian exists in earth or glory.
[Illustration: A PARK DRIVE, LAKE CALHOUN.]
[Illustration: SOLDIERS' HOME.]
When the American Mission Hall of Fame shall be erected these three
names will shine out high upon the dome like "apples of gold in
pictures of silver," Pond, Williamson, Riggs. "And a book of
remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and
that thought upon his name. * * * And they shall be mine, saith the
Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels."
Chapter II.
In 1836, within one year from the arrival of Dr. Williamson and his
missionary party at Lac-qui-Parle, a church was organized, with six
native members, which in 1837, consisted of seven Dakotas, besides
half-breeds and whites, and, within five years, had enrolled forty-nine
native communicants. Of this congregation Alexander G. Huggins and
Joseph Renville were the ruling elders.
An adobe church edifice was erected in 1841, which for eighteen years
met the wants of this people. In its belfry was hung the first church bell
that ever rang out over the prairies of Minnesota, the sweet call to the
worship of the Savior of the human race. The services of the church
were usually held in the native language. The hymns were sung to
French tunes, which were then the most popular. At the beginning,
translations from the French of a portion of Scripture were read and
some explanatory remarks were made by Joseph Renville.

The first school for teaching Indians to read and write in the Dakota
language, was opened in December, 1835, at Lac-qui-Parle, in a conical
Dakota tent, twenty feet in height and the same in diameter. At first the
men objected to being taught for various frivolous reasons, but they
were persuaded to make the effort. The school apparatus was primitive
and mainly extemporized on the spot. Progress was slow; the
attendance small and irregular, but in the course of three months, they
were able to write to each other on birch bark. Those who learned to
read and write the language properly, soon became interested in the
gospel. The first five men, who were gathered into the church, were
pupils of this first school. Of the next twenty, three were pupils and
fourteen were the kindred of its pupils. Among their descendants were
three Dakota pastors and many of the most faithful and fruitful
communicants.
[Illustration: MINNEAPOLIS IN 1857.]
One large log-house of five rooms, within the Renville stockade,
furnished a home for the three mission families of Dr. Williamson, Rev.
Stephen R. Riggs and Gideon H. Pond. One room was both church and
school room for years. Under this roof the missionaries met frequently
for conference, study and translation of the word of God. Here,
September 30, 1844, the original Dakota Presbytery was organized.
For several years most of the members of this congregation were
women. Once in the new and then unfinished church edifice, more than
one hundred Indian men were gathered. When urged to accept Christ