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 DUKE 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 DIVINITY SCHOOL 
 LIBRARY 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2022 with funding from 
 Duke University Libraries 
 
 https://archive.org/details/baptisthistoryof01 shan 
 
REV. G. W. HUNTLEY 
 General Missionary and Corresponding Secretary 
 July 1, 1881, to July J, 1892 
 
BapTistT HisTorRY 
 
 WV 
 
 ——On = 
 
 NortTH DAKOTA 
 
 18791904 
 
 By T. M. SHANAFELT, DD. 
 
 State Superintendent of Missions 
 
{t= author has been requested by the Board of the 
 
 North Dakota Baptist Cou vention to prepare a Bap- 
 tist history of North Dakota. The meagerness of statis- 
 tical records and the failure of pioneer ministers and lay- 
 men to respond to requests to furnish information and 
 reminiscences of the early years of missionary service, has 
 greatly increased the labor and difficulty of the writer. 
 He has, however, availed himself of every possible source 
 of information and used the material available with a dili- 
 gent effort to insure historical accuracy. A history of each 
 Baptist church in the state was not contemplated in the re- 
 quest of the Board of the Convention, and was rende:ed 
 impossible by the failure of pastors and church clerks to 
 furnish needed material for sketches of local history. The 
 aim has been to present a general outline of our denomina- 
 tional history in the state to the present time. The statis- 
 tical tables have been compiled with the greatest possible 
 care, from every available source. They are full and com- 
 plete. 
 
 This brief historical record is presented to the Baptists 
 cf North Dakota in hearty recognition of many valued 
 friendships formed during five years of service as state 
 superintendent of missions. T. M. SHANAFELT. 
 
 July 1, 1904. 
 
Baptist History of 
 North Dakota 
 
 an HE object of this historical sketch is to find the origin 
 and trace the progress and growth of Baptists in 
 North Dakota. A correct understanding of the work that 
 has been done renders necessary a description of tbe field 
 of missionary operations. Within the memory of most of 
 the present generation it was Dakota Territory. Since 
 November 2, 1899, it has been the state of North Dakota. 
 The country included in the ‘‘Louisiana Purchase,” by 
 President Jefferson, in 1803, extended from the Gulf of 
 Mexico northward to the British possessions, and west- 
 ward to the Rocky Mountains. From this vast territory, 
 which was long thought to be of little value, have been 
 constructed thirteen of the most promising and productive 
 states in the west and the northwest. Among these is 
 North Dakota. It became a part of Missouri Territory 
 June 23, 1834. Passing through several changes of names, 
 it was attached to Wisconsin Territory July 3, 1836, and 
 to Iowa Territory June 12, 1838. That portion of Dakota 
 Territory east of the Missouri river and White Earth river 
 became part of Minnesota Territory March 13, 1849, and 
 all west of the Missouri river was included in Nebraska 
 Territory May 30, 1854. 
 When Minnesota became a state, May 11, 1858, all of the 
 country west of its boundary line, to the Missouri river, 
 
+ Baptist History of North Dakota 
 
 was without a legal existence ora name. This continued 
 until Dakota Territory was created, by act of Congress, 
 March 2, 1861. It remained a territory over twenty-eight 
 years, when it was divided into two states, and statehood 
 was officially proclaimed, by President Harrison, Novem- 
 ber 2, 1899. It is an interesting fact that during the last 
 one hundred and fifty years it belonged to four nationali- 
 ties: England, Spain, France and the United States. 
 
 After the Louisiana Purchase, in 1803, it was deemed 
 necessary by the government to know something of the 
 character and value of its new possessions in the norih- 
 west. The Lewis and Clark expedition, which was sent 
 across the continent by President Jefferson. in 1804-5-6, on 
 their way up the Missouri river, held several conferences 
 with Dakota Indian tribes, and thus obtained the first gen- 
 eral information concerning their number and condition. 
 During the first winter, 1804-5, the expedition camped at 
 Fort Mandan, a few miles north of Washburn, in McLean 
 county. . 
 
 The first settlements in Dakota Territory, having in 
 view the establishment of permanent homes, were mainly 
 in the southeastern portion, along the valleys of the Mis- 
 souri and Sioux rivers. These began in 1856 and succeed- 
 ing years, at Sioux Falls, Yankton, Elk Point, Vermillion 
 and Bon Homme: But there was an older settlement in 
 the northeast, in what early became known as the ‘‘Pem- 
 bina Region.”’ The first known white settler was a F'rench- 
 Canadian trader, who established a trading post at Pembina, 
 in 1780. <A later date has been claimed, but thorough in-~ 
 vestigation seems to confirm the correctness of the date 
 given. This first settler was still there at the time of the 
 visit of Major Long’s exploring expedition in August, 
 1823. 
 
 The first known place of residence was a log cabin, 
 built at Pembina, in 1797, by C. J. B. Chebollier, agent o 
 
Baptist History of North Dakota 5 
 
 the Northwestern Fur Company. Peter Grant built the 
 first fort there in 1792 or 1798. Lord Selkirk built a fort 
 at Pembina in 1812. After ten or twelve years, on ascer- 
 taining the fact that it was on the American side of the 
 international boundary line, he tore it down and rebuilt it 
 further north, where his flag had a better right to wave. 
 In 1794, David Thompson, the astronomer and scientific 
 representative of the Hudson Bay Company, visited the 
 valley of the Red River of the North, and other rivers, and 
 ascertained the latitude and longitude of Pembina, and 
 opened the way for that company to establish a trading 
 post. There were occasional attempts, by hardy pioneers, 
 and representatives of various fur companies, to settle 
 further south, along the Red River. A fort was built, and 
 a trading post was established, by John Cameron, at Grand 
 Forks, in 1801. 
 
 Karly in the last century Pembina, and the country 
 further north and east were so little known to the outside 
 world, that it -was referred to in the early editions 
 of Morse’s Geography as ‘‘An unknown country.” In 
 1805, when Lieutenant Zebulon Pike was on his way up 
 the headwaters of the Mississippi river, to explore its . 
 source, on arriving at Red Lake, he found a trading post, 
 which had been established in i778, from whose flag staff 
 the British flag was still floating. The ignorance of acen- _ 
 tury ago has long since passed away. The world now 
 knows of the existence of the fertile Dakota prairies, and 
 the wonderful Red River Valley. Unlike Lord Selkirk, 
 the present and more recent subjects of the King, whoxe 
 homes are south of the international boundary line, are here 
 from choice and not by mistake. 
 
 The area of North Dakota is 70,195 square miles. The 
 population in 1870 was estimated at 2,405. During the 
 following decade the immigration from eastern states and 
 foreign countries was rapid. Many young cities and vil- 
 lages were created, and for several years they had a rapid 
 
6 Baptist History of North Dakota 
 
 / 
 growth. Railroads were constructed, and signs of pros- 
 
 perity were becoming abundant. 
 
 The population in 1880 was 36,909; in 1890 it was 189, 
 719; and in 1900 it was 319,146. The increase from 1890 
 to 1900 was 136,427, or sixty-seven and one-tenth per cent. 
 This was a marvelous growth. The percentage of increase 
 was excelled only by Oklahoma, Indian Territory, Idaho 
 and Nevada. The present ratio of inhabitants to the 
 square mile is four and four-tenths. 
 
 The first known religious organization in what became 
 Dakota Territory, was a small Roman Catholic church at 
 Pembina, near the beginning of the last century. A sod 
 chapel was built there in 1812. At the time of Major 
 Long’s expedition to that region in 1823, the chapel was 
 falling into decay. In 1845 Father Belcourt built a chapel 
 and a small convent at St. Joseph, afterward changed to 
 Walhalla. The following year he built a new chapel at 
 Pembina, and for several years he had charge of both dis- 
 tricts. In 1846 he secured for the chapel at Walhalla the 
 first church bell ever brought into the territory. The first 
 Baptist church bell was placed in the tower of the Baptist 
 church at Vermillion, South Dakota, in 1872. 
 
 The earliest religious movement begun by Protestants 
 was at Walhalla, in 1852. Its leaders, Elijah Terry and 
 James Tanner, were Baptists. They came to Walhalla to 
 establish a mission among the Indians. EHlijah Terry was 
 a member of the First Baptist church in St. Paul, Minne- 
 sota. He was a young man full of missionary zeal and de- 
 votion. While engaged in secular business he was anxious 
 for an opportunity to do missionary work. Mr. Tanner 
 was a half-breed Indian. His father, in early childhood, 
 was stolen by a band of Indians, in 1799. He was adopted 
 by them, married an Indian, and spent his life among 
 them. His son, James ‘l'anner, possessed unusual natural 
 ability, which was developed by the best education avail- 
 
Baptist History of North Dakota 7 
 
 able for Indians. Having served several years as inter- 
 preter and assistant in Methodist missions among the In- 
 dians along the upper Mississippi river. he became a 
 Baptist. 
 
 Traveling several hundred miles in mid-winter, mainly 
 on snow shoes, he reached St. Paul and was baptized there, 
 and became a member of the church. He then went east 
 and enlisted the sympathy and interest of some wealthy 
 Baptists in New York, Philadelphia, and other cities, in 
 his desire to give the gospel to the Indians. While on that 
 journey Rev. G. W. Huntley became acquainted with him, 
 and heard him ‘speak, in New York, at the ordination of 
 Rey. Andreas Wieberg, who was going as missionary to 
 Sweden. On his return from the east James Tanner stop- 
 ped at St. Paul. where he met Elijah Terry, and together 
 they came to Walhalla in March, 1552. 
 
 It was their plan to erect a log building in which they 
 could both teach the Indians and half-breeds, and conduct 
 religious services. But their intention to evangelize the 
 wild and uncivilized inhabitants of the prairie was not to 
 be realized. On the morning of June 27, 1852, while Mr. 
 Terry was entering a belt of timber to cut down some trees 
 for the p:oposed building, he was killed and scalped by a 
 band of hostile Indians. His associate secured permission 
 of Father Belcourt, the Catholic priest, to bury his body 
 in the only cemetery then in the settlement. A few years 
 ago they were removed by the citizens and representatives 
 of Baptist churches, and a suitable monument was placed 
 on his grave, in the cemetery on the hill-side, over looking 
 Walhalla and the valley of the Pembina river. 
 
 In May, 1858, a year later than the coming of Terry and 
 Tanner, Rev. Alonzo Barnard, (P.esbyterian) and Rev. D. 
 B. Spencer, (Congregationalist), and their wives, came to 
 Walhalla. They had been doing missionary work among 
 the Indians at Cass Lake and elsewhere in Minnesota. 
 
8 Baptist History of North Dakota 
 
 When missionary operations there were abandoned they 
 came to engage in similar work at Walhalla. We have no 
 knowledge that any practical results were accomplished. 
 All that is known is a record of suffering and martyrdom. 
 Mrs. Barnard died October 21, 1853, as the result of expos- 
 ure and suffering incident to her misssionary labors, and 
 Mrs. Spencer was killed August 23, 1854, by the Indians 
 whom she was trying to lead to a higher moral and spirit- 
 ual life. 
 
 The graves of these three missionaries, who gave their 
 lives to the cause of Indian evangelization, are now located 
 together, and surrounded by an iron fence, with a gate 
 throvgh which many pilgrims have passed to visit their 
 last resting place, and read the inscriptions on their mon- 
 uments, erected by those who desired to honor them for 
 their personal worth, and for the sacrifices that they made 
 for the good of others. Since the removal of their remains 
 to the hillside cemetery, considerable interest has been 
 awakened, and it is proposed to have the 28th day of June, 
 the anniversary of Elijah 'lerry’s death, annually observed 
 by historical addresses, and suitable memorial services. 
 
 It is the desire of the citizens of Walhalla that arrange- 
 ments shall be made to permanently mark the places where 
 Elijah Terry and Mrs. Spencer were murdered by the In- 
 dians. The place where Terry was first buried is now at 
 the intersection of two streets. It is the desire of many 
 that a suitable shaft shall be erected there to commemorate 
 the event, and that one of the lots fronting this proposed 
 shaft shall be secured on which to build a Baptist house of 
 worship, as suon as there are enough Baptists in Wal- 
 halla, and it becomes financially possible. There seems to 
 be historical fitness and appropriateness in raising the 
 Baptist standard where the first Baptist martyr fell. 
 
 For nearly fifty years the name of the first missionary in 
 Dakota has been published incorrectly. In the first pub- 
 
pivuirg ‘sayy asouadg -sapy Amoy yebya 
 VTIVHIVA HO SAALAVW AHL 
 
Baptist History of North Dakota 9 
 
 lished report of his untimely death he was referred to as 
 Benjamin Terry, and for want of correct information the 
 error was repeated. Recently the facts have been ascer- 
 tained concerning it. Benjamin Terry was killed by 
 Chippewa Indians at the battle of Birch Coulee, in Minne- 
 sota, September 2, 1852, about two months after his 
 missionary brother, Elijah Terry, was murdered by Sioux 
 Indians at Walhalla. 
 
 The sad ending of the lives of Elijah Terry, Mrs. Bar- 
 nard and Mrs Spencer, had a depressing effect on their as- 
 sociates. They soon after left a locality so full of sorrow- 
 ful memories, and went to labor elsewhere. On account 
 of the continued hostility of the Indians James Tanner left 
 the station at Walhalla. The cruel taking off of his co-. 
 worker disheartened him. He went from place to place, 
 trying to accomplish good, but with discouraging results. 
 In 1864, while in Manitoba, his horses were frightened by 
 some drunken Canadian soldiers, and he was thrown vio- 
 lently against a rock by the road side, and instantly 
 killed. 
 
 This first attempt at missionary work, in what is now the 
 state of North Dakota, is deemed worthy of a place in our 
 denominational records. It was not permanently success- 
 ful, but it furnished a striking illustration of self-sacrifice 
 and missionary devotion. It was the first effort at mission- 
 ary work undertaken by Protestants. It was begun by 
 Baptists. Further attempts to evangelize the Indians were 
 abandoned. There was an interval of nearly a quarter 
 of a century, and then missionary activity was directed to 
 meet the religious needs of the on-coming tide of pioneers, 
 who were ready to cover with permanent homes the land 
 that had so long been covered with tepees. 
 
 Reference has been made elsewhere to the increase in 
 population from 2,405, in 1870, to 86,909 in 1880, and the 
 remarkable increase in each of the following decades. 
 
10 Baptist History of North Dakota 
 
 During the tirst decade Presbyterians and Congregational- 
 istS were conspicuously prominent, not so much in the 
 work of organization, as in surveying the field, and holding 
 out inducements concerning localities to be later held and 
 cultivated. The first church established was a Presbyter- 
 ian church, organized at Bismarck, June 16, 1873. 
 Another one was organized at Pembina, in 1876. The 
 first Methodist church was organized at Fargo, July 20, 
 1874. Baptists rank third in the matter of organization, 
 the First Baptist church at Fargo having been established 
 January 27, 1879. A Congregational church was located 
 at Mandan, August 29, 1880. It afterward became ex- 
 tinct. The oldest existing Congregational church is at 
 Wahpeton. It was organized‘in April, 1881. 
 
 During the first decade, from 1870 to 1880, in was im- 
 possible, for financial reasons, for the American Baptist 
 Home Mission Society to have a representative on the field, 
 to serve as an advance agent, and ascertain strategic 
 points. It was more than two years after the organization 
 of the first church at Fargo, before so desi-able a result 
 became possible. When the Northern Pacific Railroad was 
 being extended westward toward the Pacific Coast, the 
 Society, in 1581, appointed Rev. G. W. Huntley general 
 missionary. his field being, at first, along the line of that 
 road from Brainard, Minnesota, to Miles City, Montana. 
 Soon after, on account of the wonderful immigration to 
 Dakota Territory, his field was changed July 1, 1881, to the 
 northern half of the Territory. With untiring devotion, 
 and exposed to all kinds of hardships and privations, he 
 cultivated this important field. He organized about forty 
 Baptist churches and many Sunday schools These 
 churches he grouped into associations. He also led in the - 
 organization of the North Dakota Baptist Convention. 
 
 After eleven years of faithful service, on account of fail- 
 ing health, he was compelled, July 1, 1892, to relinquish 
 his work. 
 
Baptist History of North Dakota 11 
 
 The period of greatest missionary activity began in 1881. 
 The church at Fargo, organized January 27, 1879, served as 
 a solitary light house until another appeared at Tcwer City, 
 August 1, 1880. The third was at Tongue River, May 29, 
 1881, and a few days later June 10, 1881, the fourth was 
 established at Bathgate. Nine churches were organized in 
 1881: Tongue River, Fuller (now Bathgate), Jamestown, 
 Richland (now Fairmount), Grand Forks, Lisbon, Bis- 
 marck, Mandanand Pembina. These churches, with those 
 at Fargo and Tower City, were gathered, November 5, 
 1881, into an association known as the North Dakota Bap- 
 tist Association. Three churches, Grafton, Wahpeton and 
 Sanborn, were organized in 1882. In 1883 there were 
 eleven additional churches: Page, St. Thomas, Minto, 
 Dickenson, Beaulieu, Eckelson, Mapes, Devils Lake, Ni- 
 agara, Fargo Scandinavian and Bismarck Swedish. In 
 1884 the new churches were those at Crystal, Cooperstown, 
 Steele and Wheatland. In 1885, five churches were added 
 to the list, Bottineau, Park River, La Moure, Immanuel 
 and Grand Forks Scandinavian. 
 
 The first missionary pastor was Rev. EH. B. Haskell, at 
 Fargo, in 1879. Following the coming of General Mission- 
 _ary Huntley, there were three others, Revs. John Stewart, 
 A. M. Allyn, and J. R. Deckard, making, in 1881, five 
 ministers and eleven churches. Within three years twen- 
 ty-one other pastors were secured, including Revs. J. H. 
 Hartman, E. E. Tyson, John Curry, A. McDonald, O. D. 
 Purinton, J. A. H. Johnson, Geo. H. Davies, E. F. Jordan, 
 Peter Grant and J. Crawford, D. D. Some of these men 
 remained a number of years and left a permanent impress 
 for good upon the future state. Four of them, Revs. John 
 Stewart, O. D. Purinton, Geo. H. Davies and J, A. H. John- 
 son are still in the state. Associated with these in many 
 years of service was Rev. Peter Mitchell, who was one of 
 the constituent members of the church at Grafton. Other 
 
12 Baptist History ot North Dakota 
 
 pastors having ability and fidelity equal with those that 
 have been named, came later, and have performed faithful 
 service. 
 
 It was natural that the first decade should be the period 
 of church organization. The rapidly increasing tide of 
 immigration brought with it many Baptists. Young cities 
 and villages were growing, Churches and schools were 
 needed, and it was easier then than in later years, to find 
 the assistance necessary in developing material conditions. 
 Each of the new churches needed a home and shelter. 
 The second meeting of the Association was held at Fargo, 
 June 30, 1882, in the only house of wor hip then completed. 
 Others, however, were in process of erection, and nearly a 
 dozen were dedicated in 1882 and 1883. The years 1883 
 and 1889 seem to have been marked by unusually favorable ~ 
 results, in the number of churches organized and converts 
 baptized. The year 1890 was one of drouth and general 
 crop failure, but it was also a year of spiritual refreshing. 
 The total number of additions to the churches in 1891 was 
 461. Of these 313 were received by baptism. 
 
 Almost immediately after the organization of the North 
 Dakota Association, in 1881, it was found to cover too large 
 a field to meet the needs of the churches. It extended 
 from Bathgate southward to Fairmount, and westward to 
 Bismarck. It became necessary to organize another, which 
 was done in July, 1885. It is known as the Red River 
 Valley Association. It includes the English speaking 
 churches in the northern portion of the state, and extends 
 westward as far as Minot. Several years later, on account 
 of the long distances, and heavy expense of travel to the 
 localities where the annual meetings were usually held, 
 some of the churches in the western part of the state felt 
 the necessity for an association nearer home. As a result 
 the Southwestern Association was organized at Bismarck, 
 July 21, 1893. Only two meetings were held when the or 
 
ELIJAH TERRY 
 
 Elgah Terry, the First Baptist Missionary, was the First Protestant Missionary In Dakota 
 Territory. He was Killed by Indians at Walhalla, June 28, 1852. The Original Daguer- 
 reotype From Which Above Zinc Etching was Made, was Taken Nearly 60 Years Ago. 
 
Baptist History of North Dakota Rok 
 
 ganization was given up, and the churches returned to 
 their former allegiance. At a meeting of the Red River 
 Valley Association, held at Cavalier in 1894, a plan was 
 proposed to organize a new association consisting of the 
 churches at Bottineau, Rolla, Minot, and eight or nine 
 other western churches, but nothing permanent resulted 
 from the agitation of the subject. Several new churches 
 having been organized in the northwestern part of the 
 state the matter is now once more under consideration, A 
 new association is needed and probably will be organized 
 in 1905. 
 
 Among the first things to which the early churches gave 
 serious attention was the need of a denominational school. 
 The subject was frequently considered, and conferences 
 were held to devise ways and means for the promotion of 
 christian education. At a meeting of the North Dakota 
 Association, in 1883, a session was devoted to educational 
 interests, and addresses were delivered and propositions 
 were presented from different localities. Rev. J. T. Davis, 
 on behalf of Grand Forks, offered a gift of nine acres of 
 land and $5,000 in cash. Rev. J. H. Hartman, speaking 
 for Jamestown, announced, by authority of the board of 
 trade of that city, an offer of twenty acres of land and 
 $25,000. Rev. G. W. Huntley read a proposition from 
 Oriska open to any denomination, to give thirty acres of 
 landand $5,000. The association appointed an ‘‘education- 
 al committee” consisting of Revs. G. W. Huntley. J. T. 
 Davis, A. M. Allyn, J. H. Hartman and J. R. Deckard, to 
 consider the propositions made, and others that might be 
 made, and report at the next meeting. 
 
 The annual meeting in 1884 was held at Tower City. 
 Mr. G. H. Ellesburg, of Tower City, business manager and 
 representative of Mr. Charlemagne Tower, of Philadelphia, 
 had informed the committee that Mr. Tower would give to 
 the Baptists $100,000 for a university in North Dakota, on 
 
14 Baptist History of North Dakota 
 
 condition that it should be located at Tower City. Mr. 
 EWesburg also announced that citizens of Tower City and 
 vicinity would give desirable real estate valued at $20,000 
 and a cash gift of $5,000, Assuming that Mr. Ellesburg 
 was duly authorized to announce the pledge that he had 
 made, the committee reported recommending that these- 
 offered gifts be accepted, and that a Baptist school of 
 higher learning be established at Tower City. The Associ- 
 ation approved the recommendations and adopted the fol- 
 lowing resolutions: 
 
 Resolved, That we heartily approve the action of our 
 educational committee, and commend their wisdom in the 
 selection of Tower City as the seat of the Baptist Univers- 
 ity of Northern Dakota, and that we pledge to this enter- 
 prise our prayers and our support. 
 
 Resolved, That we recognize with profound gratitude to 
 God, the munificent gift of $100,000 from Charlemagne 
 Tower to this University, and that as an association we 
 invoke the blessing of God on this great christian philan- 
 thropist. 
 
 A building was secured and the school was started in 
 town, pending the erection of a $20,000 building on the 
 site of the proposed university. A charter was obtained. 
 The board of trustees elected Rev. C. F. Dame principal, 
 and he had able assistant teachers. Meanwhile ‘‘the 
 munificent gift of $100,000” was not forthcoming. When 
 Mr. Tower was called upon for money to erect the needed 
 buildings he declined to give anything, and disclaimed 
 having made or authorized any pledge, for any amount, 
 for such an institution. He finally consented, however, to 
 make a donation of the building in which the schoo] was 
 started. 
 
 Under these discouraging conditions the friends of the 
 school made an appeal to the American Baptist Education 
 Society for assistance. The official correspondence 
 relating to this request, and announcing that the applica- 
 
Baptist History of North Dakota 15 
 
 tion for aid was declined, based the decision on the ground 
 that the territory was not sutticiently developed and set- 
 tled, that the Baptist cause was too new, that the number 
 of Baptists was too small, and that they were not suffi- 
 ciently united in the enterprise, to justify, at that time, 
 the appropriation of an amount of money sufficiently large 
 to establish and properly endow a university. 
 
 The discussions at the associations had developed the 
 fact that in the judgment of some, on account of numerical 
 and financial weakness, the time had not yet come to at- 
 tempt to start and fully equip a college or a university. 
 When the convention met in 1886 it rescinded the action tak- 
 en in 1885, ‘‘accepting the trust committed to it by the 
 North Dakota Association, of all rights, titles, etc., in 
 Tower University.” At the same time it commended 
 the school to the sympathy and help of the churches. 
 
 In 1888 Tower University ceased to exist in name and 
 in fact. Though all were discouraged, there were those 
 who were stil! anxious to have and maintain a denomina- 
 tional school, and one was started at Lisboa. A more 
 modest name was given to the new institution. It became 
 known as DakotaCollege. Rev. Geo. H. Davies was elected 
 president and Prof. W. G. Crocker, principal. <A hotel 
 building was temporarily secured for college purposes. 
 It was soon filled, and also some adjacent buildings. The 
 outlook seemed hopeful, and for a time there was financial 
 success. Then there came financial reverses. The college 
 passed out of the management of those who were first in- 
 terested in it. After a year or two of struggle to exist it 
 died. It is an occasion for regret that in these later years 
 when the denomination is stronger, and conditions are 
 more favorable, there seems to be no desire or effort to 
 establish in this state a Baptist college. 
 
 According to vhe last official census the population of the 
 state is 319,146. Since 1900 the increase has been large, 
 
16 Baptist History of North Dakota 
 
 especially by immigration, but it is impossible for us to 
 know what the percentage of increase is at this time. We 
 can only estimate and estimates are not history. The 
 native born inhabitants number 206,055, and the foreign 
 born 113,091. But of those who are native born a very 
 large proportion are descended from parents one or both of 
 whom were foreign born. More than two-thirds of the 
 present population were born in other lands, or are of 
 foreign parentage. 
 
 Of the population of foreign birth the nationalities most 
 largely represented are the Scandinavians, Germans, Rus- 
 sians and Canadians. Of the Scandinavians there are 93,- 
 735, including 71,998 Norwegians, 14,598 Swedes and 
 7.1389 Danes. There are 32,393 Germans, 23,909 Russians, 
 and 31,086 English speaking Canadians. ‘These leading 
 nationalities, and their children, comprising so large a 
 percentage of the total population, furnish an attractive 
 field for the missionary activity of Baptists. Though 
 gratifying results have been accomplished, still greater 
 efforts should be put forth for their evangelization. Other 
 denominations have accomplished something among the 
 Germans, but the Baptists have had the largest success 
 in reaching the Scandinavians. 
 
 Many of the first settlers in North Dakota came from 
 Norway, Sweden and Denmark. They were hardy pio- 
 neers, and, with unshaken courage they endured the 
 privations of the early years, The constant additions to 
 their number by immigration resulted in the founding of. 
 Scandinavian colonies. In these settlements Baptist 
 churches were organized. Some of these people were 
 members of Baptist churches in their fatherland. They 
 brought their religion with them. Their first church was 
 organized at Fargo, April 30, 1883. Its first pastor, J. A. 
 H. Johnson, served successfully for eight years, and is 
 now rendering efficient service ina second pastorate. For 
 
Baptist History of North Dakota 17 
 
 some time the church included Norwegians, Swedes and 
 Danes. After several years the Swedish members with- 
 drew, and a Swedish church was organizedin Fargo, Sep- 
 tember 2, 1891. 
 
 The second Scandinavian church in the state was located 
 at Bismarck, September 1, 1883. It was composed mainly 
 of Swedes. For some time it seemed to have lost its visa- 
 bility. It was reorganized as a Swedish church April 8, 
 1895. The Norwegian church at Grand Forks was organ- 
 ized'March 7, 1885. The period of greatest activity in or- 
 ganizing Scandinavian churches has been during the last 
 twelve years. Some of the churches have members rep- 
 resenting three nationalities, but they are usually desig- 
 nated by the nationality most largely represented. Until 
 within recent years they were identified with the North 
 Dakota and Red River Valley Associations, but as the 
 number of churches increased it seemed desirable to form 
 associations of their own. 
 
 The Norwegian Conference or Association was organized 
 in 1894. It has now fourteen churches, with a total mem- 
 bership of 498, and church property valued at $18,394.00. 
 The five Swedish churches near the Missouri river were 
 grouped together, at Slaughter, June 9, 1900, into an or- 
 ganization known as the Missouri Slope Association. 
 . Later these five churches and the Fargo, Kulm and Rut- 
 land Swedish churches were formed into a Swedish Bap- 
 tist Conference or Association at Coal Harbor, June 14, 
 1903. The eight churches in this organization have 218 
 members, and six houses of worship. The valuation of 
 their church property is reported to be $10,850.00. In 
 addition to the twenty-two Scandinavian churchés, three 
 others were organized, but they have passed out of sight. 
 They were Caledonia, organized February 12, 1886; High- 
 land, June 23, 1900, and St. Thomas in 1895. Scandina- 
 vian Baptists are watchful and careful in fostering their 
 
18 Baptist History of North Dakota 
 
 interests. Naturally their field of operation is bounded by 
 lines of nationality. but others have been inspired and 
 helped by them. They are characterized by an earnest 
 devotion to the church, deep spirituality, and generous 
 liberality. 
 
 There are in North Dakota 32,393 Germans and 23,909 
 Russians. Most of those who are classed as Russians 
 should properly be called Russianized Germans. They are 
 the descendants of the South German people who, during 
 the reigns of Catherine and Alexander I, (1776 -i818) were 
 invited and encouraged to settle in Russia. They were 
 promised exemption from military service and permission 
 to retain their native language, and retain their own forms 
 of religious worship. They were needed in Russia because 
 they were familiar with many of the arts of which the Rus- 
 sian serfs and peasants were ignorant. Because they 
 helped todevelop the resources and increase the revenue 
 of the empire, the promises made were kept for a genera- 
 tion or so. But though their intense religious convictions 
 were tolerated at first, later Russian rulers and the Greek 
 church persecuted them without mercy. This culminated, 
 in 1874, in edicts so arbitrary and cruel, that many thou- 
 sands of them came to the United States, and of these a 
 large proportion found a haven of rest in North Drkota 
 and South Dakota. One of the present pastors in this 
 state was for thirty years a missionary among these people 
 in Russia. He was in prison a dozen times, and was final- 
 ly banished. 
 
 They are generally known in Russia as Stundists. A 
 low estimate of their number is 250,000. Many of them 
 are Baptists, They are intensely in earnest in holding and 
 disseminating their religious opinions. They are so far 
 in advance of the unthinking and ignorant Russian serfs 
 that it is not surprising that their superiority in belief 
 and life aroused the hatred of the state church and the 
 
Baptist History of North Dakota 19 
 
 rulers, and led to their suffering relentless persecution. 
 Having fled from religious oppression in Russia they have 
 come to enjoy.religious liberty in America. During all 
 the generations of their sojourn in Russia they retained a 
 knowledge of the language of their fatherland. Religious 
 services conducted in the German language are therefore 
 understood by them. While no longer compelled to wor- 
 
 _ship God in secret, at the risk of imprisonment, they still 
 maintain their long accustomed simplicity of living and in- 
 tense religious devotion. In Russia all attempts to break 
 their spirit, and compel them to renounce their faith, were 
 in vain, and here ‘‘there are none to molest or make them 
 afraid.” 
 
 Missionary work among these people and among the 
 Germans began, in: South Dakota, in 1876, and in North 
 Dakota in 1884. Among the pioneers in this work in this 
 state were Revs. B. Matzke, J. Reichart, Wm. Achterberg, 
 J. Jaeger, J. P. Goth and others. 
 
 Their first church was organized at Germantown, No- 
 vember 2, 1884, the second at Danzig, August 15, 1856, and 
 the third at Berlin, May 21, 1888. They have now thirteen 
 churches in the state. The number would be larger if 
 
 American plans of organization were adopted. Hach 
 church has its central headquarters, with several outlying 
 stations, and from two to four Sunday schools. The num- 
 ber of members at tkese stations is often large, but they 
 -are usually held as stations or branches of the parent 
 church until they are strong enough to be self-supporting. 
 'At some of these stations chapels are built, so that it is 
 ‘not unusual for a church to have two or three houses of 
 worship. The parental oversight of the mother church is 
 ‘such that some of the new churches, when organized, 
 have their religious home already prepared for them. 
 ‘The work that is being done by these people gives them a 
 rightful place in a history of the Baptists of North Dako- 
 
20 Baptist History of North Dakota 
 
 ta. In their thirteen churches and various stations they 
 have 1,856 members. The value of their church property 
 is reported to be $27,600.00. The German Baptist Associ- 
 ation or Conference was organized in 1896. 
 
 Reference has been made to nearly twenty-four thou- 
 sand who are classed as Russians, but, for reasons stated, 
 are closely allied with and related to the Germans. There 
 are, however, in the state several thousands of Russians 
 who have nothing in common with Germans, and know 
 nothing of the German language. They are located in 
 several counties, but mainly in McHenry county. They 
 represent the Russian peasantry. Some of them were 
 serfs. They are a simple minded people and have been so 
 long accustomed to poverty, hardship and oppression, that 
 they are inclined, at first, to distrust the sincerity of 
 those who would assist them. It will require some time 
 for them to adapt themselves heartily to American methods 
 and customs. 
 
 They felt so long the heavy hand of religious oppression 
 that ever since they came to this land of religious liberty 
 they are conservative and cautious lest in some way their 
 consciences may become burdened, and their newly found 
 religious privileges be encroached upon. It was a mem- 
 orable event, and one of peculiar interest, when Dr. O. A. 
 Villiams and the writer organized a Baptist church among 
 these people, south of Balfour, in McHenry county, April 
 4, 1901. Its name is the First Russian Baptist Church of 
 Liberty. They desired that in some way a recognition of 
 the fact of religious liberty should appear in the name of 
 their church organization. They have a pastor, Rev. 
 Alex. H. Niklaus, and a house of worship. They now have 
 one hundred and forty members’ This is the only dis- 
 tinctively Russian Baptist church in the United States. 
 
 A condensed statement has been given concerning the 
 progress of the work of evangelization among a few of 
 
BSS Ge es ee ec ey 
 
 REV. C. H. HOLDEN 
 District Missionary March 17, 1892, to July 1, 1392 
 
 General Missionary and Corresponding Secretary 
 July 1, 1892, to July 1, 1894 
 
+ 
 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 
 Baptist History of North Dakota 21 
 
 the nationalities that are most largely represented in the 
 population of the state. While considering those of for- 
 eign birth or foreign parentage we should give hearty 
 recognition to those who, in immigrating to North Dakota, 
 had only to cross the international bouncary line. There 
 are 31,086 English speaking Canadians living within the 
 state. We may properly add to these 27,858 who came 
 from Great Britian, making a total of 58.944. Concerning 
 the others we have had to recognize the difference in lan: 
 guage and the consequent need of organization according 
 to nationality. Concerning these no such necessity exis!s. 
 Between them and native Americans there is identity in 
 language and interest. The former outnumber the latter 
 in a score or more of the churches, and they are largely 
 represented in other churches. 
 
 A table has been carefully prepared giving a list of 
 American, Scandinavian and German churches with the 
 date of the organization of the churches and Sunday 
 schools, and of the dedication of houses of worship. [our 
 of the churches have each two dates of organization. The 
 church at Minto, the Norwegian church at Grand Forks, 
 and the Swedish church at Bismarck, after having run 
 well for a season, seem to have died, or were for several 
 years ina state of suspended animation. In later years 
 they were reorganized. Within a year or so after the or- 
 ganization of the chnrch at Lisbon it was reorganized. 
 
 On account of a change of location, or a change in the 
 names of some of the early settlements or villages, the 
 names of a few of the churches are not the same as those 
 under which they were organized, and annually reported 
 to the associations. Thus the original name of the Bath- 
 gate church was Fuller. The corporate name of the 
 church at Fairmount was Richland. The Langdon church 
 was first known and reported by the name of the place 
 where it was originally organized, Rosa Lake. The Rosa 
 
22 Baptist History of North Dakota 
 
 Lake church was reorganized as the Langdon church. 
 The Pleasant Grove church was organized at Galesburg. 
 The name and location of the Peabody church were recent- 
 ly changed to Souris. At the time of the great fire in 
 Fargo, June 8, 1893, the Swedish church home was 
 destroyed when it was ready for dedication, and a new one 
 was soon after built. The date for the first building is 
 that of its completion since no dedication service could be 
 held. In other cases, as at Grand Forks and Fairmount, 
 where two dates are given for the dedication of their 
 houses of worship, they indicate that the churches grew 
 and prospered until they were able to move ‘‘out of the 
 old house into the new.” 
 
 The following table gives the names of churches, the 
 date of their organization, the date of the dedication of 
 their houses of worship, and the date of the organization 
 of their Sunday schools: 
 
Baptist History of North Dakota 
 
 \ 
 
 23 
 
 ORGANIZATION OF CHURCHKHES. 
 
 CHURCHES 
 
 Organized 
 
 LA GHeTe NIG) Ps 
 ‘Lower City 
 Tongue tviver 
 PS AMMESREOh get hs s< cnc lee oe cies 
 Jamestown 
 
 Fairmount..... 
 Grand Forks Ist............ 
 
 Tishon:. = 2... 
 Bismarck 1st 
 - Grafton.. 
 St. Tuer PERN ecu 
 Ried oth ieee eee 
 
 Fargo (Nor.).... 
 DDO e 0) Se 
 IBRSMUITO Uae ces eek dees 
 Bismarek (Sw.)...........-. 
 IDigaG CCR A eee ees 
 Crystal 
 New Rockford 
 Cooperstown Isr... 
 
 Germantewn (Gr r).. 
 
 Grand Forks (N:r.) ..... 
 PS UNVONE ota kia esos eee 
 JURE Gt 28 or 
 BOUGMOAI aa sek as 
 
 Warie(Genrs eo. 2ihe.s.ese 
 
 ERG). I 9 a 
 Tonic lala eee 
 EAUGLONG assert wks a 
 MENTO Peet reeicsnid fea. 
 
 PACH reine ee L see Se: 
 Berlin (Ger.) 
 Antelope oa 
 Sheyenne.. Bes he 
 RUOMA ME eter cere es aces cis asctee 
 Iiamiltonsssce-) 0). Oia 
 Rupand | (Sw.)... 62.000... 
 SSUES Ee mas hens Soot. 
 
 AMP OCW a) nc cis. coms bs Sees 
 
 Cavalier 
 Kulm (Sw... aeons 
 Hillsboro (Nor. Nex meycactolsisarese 
 Jewell (Ger.).. 
 Valley City ‘Nor. r).. 
 Deapolis 'Sw.). 
 Barton (Nor.). eS 
 Cooperstown (Nor.) yee 
 RW RIYEIO NOR: alts glia cotsue se 
 Poplar Grove 
 Moscow (Nor.).. 
 Edinburg (Nor. He 
 Fessenden (Ger. Nee 
 TLVOStA Meee cys bse Tas 
 Ball Hill 
 
 “1 U Now, 
 .|Deeceinb r 20, 1881 
 
 _.June 11, 188_ 
 
 .|June 1, 
 
 _._ {November 2. 1884... 
 
 .|October 15, 
 
 -|May 20, 1839.. 
 
 .|March 8. 1890 
 
 .|July 4, 1892 . 
 July —, 
 -|Suly 7. 
 
 .../August 21, 
 ...|February 17, 1896. . 
 ..\June 13. 1896 
 .|July 1, 1896 
 
 January 27. 1879... 
 August 1, 1880. .... 
 ‘May 29. 2881. ..... 
 June 10, 881... 2... 
 ‘August 28, 1881.... 
 
 October 9, 1881... 
 
 October 16, 
 
 COrt 2a. IVR. 
 £9: 1887... 
 
 1881... 
 ( 
 S 
 
 Dre mber 9, 1882.. 
 January 14, 1883... 
 
 § March 18, 1833. ( 
 7 May 8. 1x92 2 
 
 .|March 30, 138;3. . 
 
 July 22, 18k; 
 { Sept. 1, Be 
 7 April 8, 1893. .. 
 April 13, 1884 
 1S8tarsene 
 1584... 
 
 June 4, 
 Iniy 19, 1SS4. 
 
 § March 7, ARSD.. 
 
 ? July —. 1890... 
 March 29, 1885. ... 
 § Angust, 10, 1885» 
 2 Augrst 15, 1887 
 August 16, 1°85 
 Augns: 15, 1886.... 
 1886. .. 
 October 17, 1886. . 
 March 21. 1888 ...- 
 \prild. 18:8. 
 April 8, 1888. 
 
 =~ 
 
 .|May 22) LAC ea 
 
 November v4. 1888... 
 
 June 2. 1889........ 
 
 June 24, 1899 
 April 4, 1891. ...... 
 
 September 2, 1891. 
 May 3, 1892........ 
 
 January 3, 1893.... 
 1893 
 fuly 1, 1894 
 1894 
 November 4, 1894.. 
 September 12, 1894 
 
 January 12, 1895... 
 1895... 
 
 —, 1897 
 
 January 12, 1895...|.Jun e F 
 
 Sunday School 
 
 Dedicated Organized 
 alyylosern seek ahi seaeeroees 1, 1879 
 October 31, 1882... be ——., 1880 
 June 3. 1882 .. eeeee{. .2..-————, 181 
 ‘|November be 1882. ..April 23, 1882 
 March 23. 188.5 ae . December 31, 1°82 
 § July & 1883.2... 5 209, 
 } Jane 7, 1896 ;.. §|>+>> = - May 28, 1882 
 § March 4, 1883.. ? 7 12R9 
 1 Dec. 15, 1901... §)7077 ie 1G aes 
 March #0. 1884 ....|. Decem! er 23, 18838 
 April 1, 1883.......].. February 18, 1852 
 § April 10. 1884.. 2] 4 Pat a5 
 SIBLE ee ECHL set ..February 4, 1882 
 July 15, 1883. .. Angust —, 1883 
 duly 28) 189. 22... ..March 3, 185% 
 June =, [888 ec}. . ee ————., 1884 
 . February 15, 1885..}.... August —, 1883 
 ———., 1883.......}.. January —, 1884 
 February 21, 1596..|..-bruary 21, 1596 
 
 |February 17, 1895..|Septembe: 27, 1884 
 November 11, 1888.|/September 27, 1884 
 December 28, 1891.].September 1. 1891 
 December —-. 1898.|.... . Mareh 9, 1888 
 -|September 28. 1887] ...... ————, 1086 
 June 11, 1893.......]......———, 1884 
 October 27, 1895. ..|...October 12, 1890 
 -|September 20, 1885].. October —, 1885 
 November 25, 1887.|..... \uzust 20, 1885 
 December 11, 1887.).... Augu-t 20, 1585 
 June 25. 1893. . et oo, 1887 
 aU ARY Doe AQT A eee ——- , 1887 
 bal pabeey ca ————, 1889 
 November —, 1888 
 [April 1, “1889. Re avi . November —, 1889 
 ol as ba CA eo cnyere 1886 
 June 30. 1859 May 2 22, 1888 
 —— — , 1894,...... -—, 1888 
 -|-———.. 1902. ......]-..- June 4, 1890 
 -— y LOLs November 11, 1892 
 January 7 Ty US83... --May 25 25, 1881 
 Sahil vats aris neh - , 1891 
 December — see. “January —, 1892 
 {June 1, 1893. . 
 7 Nov. 15, 1804... SOntone: 1, 1891 
 December 11, gov. . December 11, 1892 
 -|December 6. 1903..].... August 16, 1591 
 September 23, 1900|.. February 19, 1893 
 Oetobrr—j lod Gaies tosses ae eae ste 
 October 24, 1899... . April 1, 1894 
 Ee Sm as Aas ——, 1896 
 ————-, 1904,...... ’ May 22. 1895 
 nes t8Ob. <5. sale. . June 2, 1895 
 .. January 24, 1895 
 
 June 24. 1895 
 February 1 17, 1896 
 
Baptist History of North Dakota 
 
 ORGANIZATION OF CHURCHES—Continued. 
 
 Organized 
 
 Dedicated Sunday School 
 
 CHURCHES Organized 
 Mandani(Swalses sachets June 12, 1897...... October 30, 1900 ..].-..... June 24, 1900 
 Casselman (Ger.)../.......- July 18, 1897. ....../November 14, 1902.7). 0). sone nee 
 Blumenfeld oS das .../August 8, 1897. ....|November 26, 1900. ———., 1897 
 Acton.. ..-. eietloe eel Atpril as 1898 eee May 1, 1898s eereeleees ———., 1898 
 Wilton (Sw) Ee ae Seah rT Sue atch e, ae June 21, 1903 .....}.......May 23, 1900 
 Coal Harbor (Sw.). pee Boe July, —, 1898. 2... <2}. . os cn a cele een age 1901 
 Ruby UNGnslesmeene ese aor July 1, 1899. .... 6.6). 2. eee ere el Sle |e ee 
 Goodrich (Ger.). wceeeee [ADPrEl 9, 1900... 562] ccs cn lee ne eee 
 Kenmare (Scand.).......... May 20, 1900. Sale 19, 1903...........),25. 2. Waly La. 1900 
 Balfour.. .. [August 2, 1900. .... » 2a eee .. August —, 1900 
 East LaMoure (Nor. ).. .|September 9, 1900)... . - jt... levy am enenered| eran ene 
 Freudenthal (Ger.). .| November 18, 1900. |. 0c sree DE 2 ere epee ea 
 Liberty (Rnssian).......... April 4, 1901. ......|—————, 1904 . 
 
 W ashburn. tee) icv ceases Panuany PO; 1902... |June 29, 1902; tuto. 
 
 Calvin. na _../August 31, 1902....]. Ls flrercce dal cote e Roe oie ons Iee 
 Stilwell. ..|November 18, 1902 December 8, 1902... 
 
 Donuy brook (Dai . December 14, 19027)... o25 see ene 
 
 Rosenfeld Gee ’ ...|February 1, 1903... .|November 1, 1903.. 
 
 Riga...... i ive. «| Marebls: 1903. S hbeson —, 1904...... 
 
 Des Liacss. 22. -e5- . sees | March 16, 1903. .-5.|.5 5... ck ele eee eee 
 White Earth (Nor. ie: REA se June.5,1903::. «3. fei |lsecelss 3 ae ...June 5, 1903 
 Saline aot aeanu roe ere: July 12, 1903.......2).>-- aoe July 12, 1903 
 Denhotf (Ger.)....-........- January 5. 1904. .. January 5, 1904 
 West Hope........ ae | May AOS 1964S. Vale eee PPE Ce esate 
 New Salem.... foe cca Vekroy rill lS HONE meee 
 
 Totaly ise acne eecmeeee es OO) 
 
 In the foregoing table is given a list of eighty churches 
 
 that have 
 
 a real or nominal existence, and are retained on 
 the roll of churches in the associations. 
 
 The list, howev- 
 
 er, does not include the names of thirty churches that are 
 
 dead. Some of them died in 
 
 ers after several years of strug 
 
 infancy or early life, and oth- 
 gle for existence. The 
 
 names of these churches, with the date of organization, 
 
 are as follows: 
 
 Pembina..... .November 9, 1881. 
 
 Mandan...... November 14, 1881 
 Sanborn seins eee May 28, 1882 
 Wahpeton....... October 27, 1882 
 Hekelson)....-.:.- —— —— -, 1882 
 
 Devil’s Lake. .September 30, 1883. 
 Niagara.........October 14, 1883. 
 
 OaksEill zee a2: —— -, 1883. 
 Pleasant Grove. ..—--—— -, 1883. 
 Steele .. June 8, i884. 
 Wheatland......... June 24, 1884. 
 
 Grand Rapids. .September 8, 1884. 
 
 Caledonia, (Swedish) Feb. 12, 1886. 
 
 Tappan........2eeee June 13, 1886. 
 Garfieldi) saceee .. June-, 1886. 
 Spring Lake..... January -, 1887. 
 Galt........5 eee June 5, 1887. 
 
 Hebron (German)... Novy. 4, 1888. 
 Reynolds.......... .April 1, 1890. 
 
 Glen. Ulin. April 5, 1890. 
 Highland (Scand.) June 23, 1890. 
 Thompson: jee May 31, 1891. 
 Northwood......-. June 25, 1894. 
 
 St. Thomas (Scand.) -—— -, 1895. 
 
Baptist History of North Dakota 25 
 
 Immanuel..........June 19, 1885. Valley City... December 28, 1895. 
 Tiffany..... meee August 8, 1885. Lakota............... = SSS 
 PramMioune. ..<.:..% August 25, 1885. Williston.. sts ——— — 
 
 In the earlier portions of this history a erates of details 
 are given showing the wonderfully rapid progress in the 
 organization of churches. Everything was new and noth- 
 ing seemed impossible. The rising villages and aspiring 
 young cities wanted churches and schools, and were ready 
 to promise encouragement. They had not already at- 
 tained but were looking for metropolitan growth and dig- 
 nity. It was easier then than in the later years of drouth 
 and crop failures, and financial reverses, to begin large 
 and important undertakings. 
 
 Bnt unusual activity along any line is usually followed 
 by a reaction. Hopes cherished during a boom are not 
 always realized after the boom period has passed by. New 
 conditions sometimes arise which prevent the fulfillment 
 of what had seemed to be carefully arranged plans. The 
 wise and careful leadership of Rev. G. W. Huntley and 
 his associates, is worthy of the highest appreciation, and 
 should long be gratefully remembered. It is no discredit 
 to him that of the thirty churches that became extinct, 
 twenty-five were organized during his term of service as 
 general missionary. In“an early and transitional period 
 he and his co-laborers planned as wisely as they knew. 
 They ought not to be held responsibie for later internal 
 dissensions, lack of local leadership, or changed local con- 
 ditions, that could not be foreseen from the beginning. 
 Some churches, like some people, ought never to have 
 been born. Because of unhealthy internal conditions, or 
 permanently fixed unfavorable surroundings, there are or- 
 ganizations in which a healthy growth is an impossibility. 
 
 There are various causes leading to the decay and death 
 of churches, but as a general rule one of the surest causes 
 of their becoming extinct is the failure to secure a house of 
 worship Of the thirty churches that no longer exist only 
 
26 Biptist History of North Dakota 
 
 four of them, Mandan, Steele, Wahpeton and Thompson, 
 had homes’ A homeless church is like a homeless family 
 or individual. It becomes a wanderer from place to place, 
 roving about from schoolhouse to hall or empty store room. 
 It is difficu t to secure or retain a pastor, and much of the 
 time it can have only occasional services. A church that 
 is without a local habitation, is likely, sooner or later, to 
 be without a name. 
 
 It is not claimed, however, that the possession of a place 
 in which to hold religious services, isin every case a guar- 
 
 antee of the permanency of a church organization. 
 
 Churches have been established in localities where, from 
 the nature of things, growth was impossible. Houses of 
 worship hive frequently been unwisely located. through 
 the mistaken belicf that it was cheaper to accept from a 
 town site comp ny the gift of a lot in the suburbs, than to 
 buy a corner lot in the center of the village or city. It has 
 happened several times in the early development of a state, 
 that villages were side-tracked by the construction of 
 railroad lines that built up rival villages a few miles away. 
 The death of some churches is inevitable, and, for their 
 death, conditions and not individuals are responsible. 
 
 The following table has been compiled for the purpose 
 of showing the location of churches by counties, giving 
 also the number of members in each church, and the name 
 of the Association to which it belongs. The names of 
 churches located at county seats are printed in small 
 capitals: 
 
Baptist History of North Dakota 
 
 27 
 
 LOCATION OF CHURCHES 
 
 BY COUNTIES AND ASSOCIATIONS. 
 
 COUNTIES. 
 
 eT OGene Myer clea are « 
 
 Benson........ 
 
 PSM eis cies <a case seein cleve's 
 
 Bottineau..... 
 
 Bunlowh.... ok. oocse see ee 
 
 Gayalierie ater so lan citeniene 
 
 Emmons... .- 
 ASAT MMIC area teal cele law he enelinas eines 
 
 Grand Forks.......... 
 
 (CURE GE sk doen aga cenep eee 
 
 TAGE techie pee one Aer eiaeea nena bac 
 LaMoure...... 
 
 CHURCHES. MEMBERS. ASSOCIATIONS. 
 ; East LaMoure........ 9 is 4 divi tn te gs NOLWORTAN. 
 Walley @ityseoe sane AQ) or ahs Sas pe Ne ane Norwegian 
 Bottineau.. Aone ‘96 -7. Red River Valley 
 ee Boeceee Guristas boils Gin 11 ..... Red River Valley 
 West Hope............ 14 .Red River Valley 
 ; ISTISMAMR Oat canta) tte isiel< By? OF ick peas ae Ne Dakota 
 Bismarck (Sw).......-. 10 We alee swedish! 
 MARGONISEs. <nierentcteiels 218 ete eee North Dakota 
 Fargo (Nor.).......... 78 eee . .Norwegian 
 Reta aan ors arco: (Sw). .5.04-: 64 ae, Swedish 
 Barer sc cena anes SOF te eee ‘North Dakota 
 MowenlCity so. so eee TE haa eee ete North Dakota 
 (SliBeauliemiee ene secsesee 1S rit aN eae Red River Valley 
 WiGE bab Wianervos peSatae Bayes 2S Suma Weve ie Ec e aie 
 PANGDON Av. c bees 63 Red River Valley 
 4 |Moscow.. 16 ..... Norwegian 
 Poplar Grove. 43 ed River Valley 
 Stilwell... 18 .Red River Valley 
 (Wiig aS on eS BY eel ieee eerie Norwegian 
 ELLENDALE 85 North Dakota 
 eR ene Ludden 16 North Dakota 
 Oakes..... 5 North Dakota 
 ; New ROcKFORD.....-. 8 -North Dakota 
 a ae te: Sheyenne.. 3 8 North Dakota 
 SS eEEEES poeEee Freudenthal 52 lene toy - .German 
 { Granp Forks ist....| 319 |... Red River Valley 
 x Grand Forks (Nor). 26 af .. Norwegian 
 COOPERSTOWN Ist... 46 -North Dakota 
 Cooperstown (Nor.) 33 Norwegian 
 Ballgenl ye eee 16 North Dakota 
 ee Kalin: ces eel hl aa Bees .- Swedish 
 Balfour.. ko Mats| Kes ae Red River Valley 
 
 HONE Liberty... es ind 136 eats 
 
 ine IO TE ER Beslan arora A Shap a liga a Red River Valley 
 Saline Gar 14 .....Red River Valley 
 Ber linty ye wecisnrs wee c 144 .. German 
 RG bites tee Danzig ne wa.con sh. 142 yoboeh.2 a) German 
 Owelliotenyteas see 169 . German 
 (i@asselmanrens-eee ee oe 151 ... .German 
 | Coal Harbor......... 20 _. Swedish 
 (Menhoth scat) sane ah os 26 . .German 
 Behe se helices? 4) i|Goodrichs.-e- ..- 1... 125 Bil ea eee aR German 
 | Rosenteldiects. sos: TOG ee hy Sec aes German 
 WASHBURN..........-- 43 German 
 WH Witlktionts siemeeeenceres 200 6 ee Re RE Swedish 
 EP ee de mace Meapoliss..) sseeeck: 16 2 SLSR ee ce EO RECLISEL 
 
28 Baptist History of North Dakota 
 LOCATION OF CHURCHES 
 BY COUNTIES AND ASSOCIATIONS —Continued. 
 COUNTIES. CHURCHES. MEMBERS. ASSOC.ATIONS. 
 Mortons 6 eee J MANDAN: oc. «cise eh sees 20 .. Swedish 
 (lNew Salem... ........ 12 -) ce eae eee 
 x { |Aneta.. 21 pas Dakota 
 Nelson...... ..-- .:.-5. +24 Ruby. ...Norwegian 
 Oliver! scutes Ca Tae st a 
 { |Bathgate.. 26 .... Red River’ Valley 
 | Cavalieri.) see. smyeen 62 -.Red River Valley 
 Crystal 86. | Vie Rea River Valley 
 Pembinaeciee.sth oe eee nce} Ea bon) eee eee 35 ....Red River Valley 
 | Prathfordssqsss4 sess 13 ...Red River Valley 
 SEEhomas-te anes 23 .Red River Valley 
 |Tongue River.. SY 13 Sp es River Valley 
 Pierce <3 Ay. sence aeeeela cen PALbOM es aloe ae ares 27 .. Norwegian 
 Ramsay Poe ce ence bee ceva e eecse mie cin] eevee! cle lees ofeset nena tele err 
 AMSOM ese gene ose eet LUTSBON eso eromenun ees 82: ~ Ncaheebee North Dakota 
 Richland. Fairmount............ bY Ma cs anc North Dakota 
 Rolette.... Joie eee ahs RO DTNA RS Sa Peis eee 56 Red River Valley 
 SED) Ha B Eso ne einoconen aa ween laid eget! Oe iY ene aah eaae cot Swedish 
 Shik { |Antelope....... 49 |. ee German 
 FAN wats ato mA ke ? |DICKINSON...... ....-. 10 oe eae Dakota 
 Dhesle acs ~cdneere acne Paterno bes 
 x umenfeld ........... 3erman 
 BT EUS) ARLE hk a ola S28 oe (|JAMESTOWN.......... 74 --North Dakota 
 DOWNED oo pe Feces = he ie oat Soo alae Eafe tota ayn eee Be aoe 3 
 Triatll Otsu neta sos sea o laa ELE DS BORO eer seas 31 ae . Norwegian 
 (|Acton.... Sea nae 10). eee Red River Valley 
 Edinburg ees.os he eee 42 Base Norwegian 
 Walsh y) \Grattons ene. == 57 ‘Red River Valley 
 Whee ea, Park Rivarsscssestanee 16 Red River Valley 
 1 Mat Come tccctuttern ethe eee 25)... Si See Red River Valley 
 lel Silvestay jeacent ceases 9 =| s seats bee eal enero eee 
 Desilacstemcckce ae 12 ..Red River Valley 
 Donnybrook.... ...... 18. | eee Norwegian 
 Ward cd-s-ctewaste eee Onmanescns ce 68° | cnet Norwegian 
 MINOG 3.0 SEM 39) Wess Rev River Valley 
 White Barth.......... 59 .. Norwegian 
 §|Fessenden...........-. 130.) | eoeeereae yeas German 
 Wells. «2 -- 1-284 vere ars (|Germantown. 153 : .-German 
 Williams.. naan coins cone ewes ee sons erll cole cele ens) oh 
 Standing Rock............ d 
 Indian Reservation .. ‘ , ee ee ee ee ee ee ee Gr a rr 
 MOtal 7. ch seas etc Pee OG | Cota eae OEE 80 4,145 «0 
 
 The following summary has been compiled from the 
 foregoing table, with four additional columns giving the 
 number of churches and members of churches in each 
 county, the ratio of members to population in each county, 
 the number of houses of worship and parsonages in each 
 county, and the total reported valuation of church prop- 
 
 erty: 
 
Baptist History of North Dakota 
 
 29 
 
 MEMBERSHIP AND CHURCH PROPERTY. 
 
 BY COUNTIES. 
 
 Value of Church 
 Property 
 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 
 1,800 
 
 2 AS 
 
 a a 
 
 aoe | es zg 
 
 9! © aS i) 
 
 a s| so a\e 
 
 COUNTIES & | ® 3 to | 
 
 3 O| & O38 rill ag 
 
 3 © | 6 oh 9 | & 
 
 Q - : ¥o ra = 
 
 ° ° ° oF Gs} ° 
 
 Au Zila [= oo | 
 
 EVIE Be I TS159) |e | bs) |) Dtei227 1 
 
 WSCMSOMMC Maes wakciGee Sisal te ne waie OBZ OL He teres Crevetael af tor seeeten cesta hetero) cate lisees ae enc verd 
 Billings. ap Sine OB nace een ES noel ogee Beat aepeed lensed atoll ac atcee aps 
 
 Bonuimeauere et. sete de octagon ccss 7,be2 | 3 | 121 1lto 62 2 
 i (HOLY PAN |) aicey CON he cotton 5 
 28,625) 5 | 459 1lto 62 4 5 
 
 12,580] 7 | 205 1to 61 2 5 
 
 6,061} 3 | 106 1to 57 1 1 
 
 3,330 | 2 16 1 to 208 2 
 
 4,349 | 1 52 1to 63 Bae 
 
 SETTO! | iaee ciate. all R stations es at 
 
 24,459| 2] 345 1to 70 1 2 
 
 4,744] 3 95 1to 50 1 1 
 
 PTS a wastes feoeeedect ls aathas eeges ae 
 
 6,048 | 1 52 1to 116 1 
 
 Ni G20 Heats woes ai careciaeets Red 
 
 5,253} 4 | 174 1to 30 2 
 
 4,818} 3 | 455 1to 10 1 Y} 
 
 4,791 | 7} 396 1to 12 1 5 
 Aton a 15 1 to 118 Bile 
 
 8,069 | 2 32 1 to 250 at 
 
 7,016} 2 28 1 to 261 1 1 
 
 990) | se eega ee lacts ane were eel lene 
 
 17,869 | 7 | 250 1to 79 1 tf 
 
 ASOD tle Ate Loto Lim enna 
 1a, ee ee eee eID Sur aeciinievahts oil chia Widnes Zale 
 RUHNU RR cta as eos fe cis iwiaisl sinjets aie ncisane.s 6,919} 1] 82 | 1to 84 iy) 
 LSI@ evel” < See Oe aan Mere eee ae ee 17,387} 1} 57 | 1to0 305 1 eles 
 TSOVENR EG) 30 Aa ESE IS Ce ane eee 7,995] 1] 56 | 1to 143 iy) 3 
 IEUNOMNeetie f csiis hits Gah adee wa ctereued 6039] 1 17 1 to 355 1 
 SHH Ee. <8 or" iy gona eng Re aia 7.621 | 2 59 1 to 129 uf 2 
 MS LELOM PPCM: crete, we Siok Gals sie hate LRerote emanate eae oy cE oe aaron | es | eta 
 MEA SERVER TIM reac sists hoe ee ha asyodes viata s 91143.) 2. || 145 | 1 to~ 63 2 
 MRanumGrepree sek ccs Jann csb econ eo cects (slo) UA eres (EGO ee toe er erel etal [toes 
 IPTEDTID arches ait See ere ete eas 13.107} 1 31 Lto422))\.2 sah a 
 VV IS he OS Seo eee nee ean wae 20,288 | 6 | 190 1to 106 |....| 4 
 Ward... 5 ek: Roe Oy te. 3 Ie R962) by 96 Lito: 400 (22 3 
 Wells! 2... .5.. 8,310 | 2 | 283 1lto 29 2 3 
 
 AWatlaim Se eee |. TRHBON oa heraeet: : se 
 Standing Rock Indian Reservation.. ZeOA si] sree < [Poe tate eee coed Reet aie 
 
 Total No. Counties. ...........-..89 | 319,146 | 80 |4145 |1 to 76% 
 
 $159,744 
 
 (> Population in 1860, 4,837; 1870, 14,181; 1880, 135.077 ; 1890, 182,719; 1900, 319,146. 
 Ratio of whole number of Baptists to population in North Dakota, one to seventy- 
 
 six and one-half. 
 
 From the foregoing tables it is ascertained that there are 
 in North Dakota eighty Baptist churches, having four 
 thousand one hundred and forty-five members. 
 
 These 
 
30 Baptist History of North Dakota 
 
 churches have sixty-six houses of worship and eighteen 
 parsonages. The total reported valuation of church prop- 
 erty is $159,744.00. The population of the state according 
 to the last census is 319,146. The ratio of Baptists to the 
 population is one to seventy-six and one-half. 
 
 There are thirty-nine organized counties in North Da- 
 kota. There are now Baptist churches in all of these 
 counties except the following: Benson, Billings, Foster, 
 Kidder, Logan, Oliver, Ramsay, Steele, Towner and Wil- 
 liams—10. Three of these counties, Billings, Oliver and 
 Williams, are west of the Missouri river, in the grazing 
 country, and are very sparsely settled. The population of 
 the ten counties first named is 37,143, about one-ninth of 
 the total population of the state. In six of these counties 
 were formerly located some of the churches that became 
 extinct. _ Baptist churches are now located in twenty-nine 
 of the thirty counties. There is a Baptist church at the 
 county seat of eighteeu counties, namely: Bottineau, Bur- 
 leigh, Cass, Cavalier, Dickey, Eddy, Grand Forks, Griggs, 
 McLean, Morton, Ransom, Rolette, Stark, Stutsman, 
 » Trall, Walsh, Ward and Wells. 
 
 The first Baptist Sunday school was organized at Fargo, 
 May 1, 1879. Beginning with the rapid organization of 
 churches in 1881, Sunday schools followed, wherever 
 practicable, with almost equal rapidity. Six or more col- 
 porter missionaries have labored efficiently in this depart- 
 ment. The first was Rev. F. E. Bostwick in 1882-3. Rey. 
 J. McFarland was appointed in 1885, and served seven or 
 eight years. Rev. J. P. F. Groth labored mainly among 
 the Germans. The others have been Norwegians, Revs. 
 J. O. Modahl, C. J. Hill, and E. P. Johnson, and all have 
 been efficient workers. The devoted labors of Rey. J. O. 
 Modahl during several years of service were fruitful, and 
 his memory is gratefully cherished. After his death his 
 widow left a bequest to the American Baptist Publication 
 
Baptist History of North Dakota 31 
 
 Society which was applied on the purchase of a colportage 
 wagon for North Dakota. This wagon has been properly 
 designated as the ‘‘Modahl Memorial.” It was ready for 
 use in August, 1901, and it has ever since been doing ex- 
 cellent service under the care of Rey. E. P. Johnson, col- 
 porter missionary. 
 
 The faithful services of Frank D. Hall, who was for 
 nearly ten years State Sunday School Missionary, cannot 
 be too highly appreciated. He served from April 1, 1893, 
 to July 1, 1902, when he resigned to became superintendent 
 of the North Dakota Children’s Home. For over seven 
 years preceding July 1, 1902, he was also State Sunday 
 School Missionary for South Dakota. His successor is 
 Thomas H. Hagen, whose appointment dates from Septem- 
 ber 1, 1902. 
 
 The greatest difficulty in preparing this historical re- 
 view has been in trying to secure full and accurate statis- 
 tical information. Many pastors and clerks of churches 
 and superintendents of Sunday schools have failed to fur- 
 nish needed information. The statistical tables in associa- 
 tional minutes, for a number of years, were not carefully 
 compiled, and some of them are neither full nor accurate. 
 Sunday school statistics are too frequently carelessly re- 
 ported. The following statistical table has been compiled 
 as accurately as possible from all available and reliable 
 sources. The starting point is 1879, when the first Sunday 
 school was organized at Fargo. 
 
32 Baptist History of North Dakota 
 
 SUNDAY SCHOOL STATISTICS 1879-1904. 
 
 x 
 Bi 28 
 us) . so bU 
 aa | Be 2 a0 pee 
 ; a 2 = i 
 YEAR. we aig a 3 a 3 Sad 
 eS) 20 < = S ag ra So 
 Sn se a 6 S 8 R Sasa 
 ZA fo) is) a isa) (ee) [cot a 
 iT aotaet tarts | loro oe 7: 
 mt i lilcne eee 
 Sl ee Se. onto (Gea eos 
 19 19 171 
 15 50 366 
 24 100 1,007 
 19 151 1,030 
 
 71 409 2,814 3,223 
 
 65 489 3,532 4,021 
 
 71 389 3,340 | 3,729 
 
 69 433 3,728 | 4,161 ; 3. 6: ' 005. 
 91 488 4,085 4,573 52 230.69 1,312.78 1,543.47 
 83 457 3,790 4,147 58 178.54 1,681.92 1,860.46 
 
 5) ateace t vee aae 743 | $4,825.09 | $16,729.35 | $21,554.44 
 
 In compiling the following summary of contributions 
 for benevolence and expenses, since the beginning of our 
 history in North Dakota, numerous omissions and defects 
 were found in the early records. During the first decade, 
 and longer, sufficient care was not taken to collect and 
 publish either the membership or financial statisties of the 
 chuches. Diligent and presistent efforts have been made 
 to obtain needed information from every possible source. 
 The total amount reported as raised by the churches for 
 benevolence is $58,597.71; and for local improvement and 
 current expenses, $411,218.71. Total, $464,812.42. 
 
 . 
 
REV. W. L. VAN HORN 
 General Misionary and Corresponding Secretary 
 October 1, 1894, to April 1, 1898 
 
33 
 
 aes 
 98! Lite 
 
 w 
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 oa ta be: rine Wy irsse ay "6 LET 
 SUOISSIP. | SUOTSST Py SUOTSSIPY |SAOQuIO;y|soqorny~y) ave} 
 UdTOIO OWlo eT 94849 JO ‘ON JO ON 
 
34 Baptist History of North Dakota 
 
 Adding the total amount contributed for benevolence 
 and expenses by the Sunday schools to the total contribu- 
 tions from the churches we have the following result: 
 For benevolence from churches, $53,597.71; from Sunday 
 schools, $4,825.09. Total benevolence, $58,422.49. For 
 expenses, from churches, $411,218.71; from Sunday 
 schools, $16,729 35. Total for expenses, $427,948.06. 
 Grand total for benevolence and expenses, $486,366.86. 
 This is a large amount, but there is no doubt that if correct 
 and full reports had been annually made from the beginning, 
 the total amount of money contributed by the churches 
 and Sunday schools would be considerably in excess of 
 $500,000.00. 
 
 The foregoing table showing the annual reported con- 
 tributions for benevolence and expenses is supplemented 
 by a brief table showing the results by decades, since the 
 first church was organized in 1879. It will be convenient 
 in making comparisons as to the rate of progress in differ- 
 ent periods: 
 
Baptist History of North Dakota 
 
 ESCO BORNE | OI SFOrLORD [OR COT. SGer ign 22 geo et re [ian ee pe ae ee MNO Fy] DOUEE TS) 
 
 OP PSC TAS RE GZL'OTS 60° Gas'ts | ieee pass sjooyos Avpung word [2307 
 SP 2666 06° COTS SC 8 caren bee a eae er Sea eS ‘O6L'E | 6 Sen RL FO6T-668T “TIT 
 BO'SCF'6 20-0F¢'9 9¢ 816% SORES Ae reat Pe Or ils gly saad 196% | 69 |" “"*""** 9687-6881 “IL 
 96° S0L'2$ {TF Eg0'c$ = ee BT9$ J g eee lly Se CS Sars SOPaT | OGi eee Soa one 7" 888-6180 “T 
 
 “STOOHDS AVGNNS ‘II 
 GP CIS HOTS |TL SIS TLFS |TL'LES‘ESS |F6OFT LIS |LLORE'TS |EF GLE ES |20 298'8 |GTTeO'TT$ |60'9LT‘zT$ | -° “seTOIng() Wot [BIOL 
 BS'SCT‘OTZ OF OLS'GLT |T8SLE'82 |60°9R0'0E |ea czO'L OT ects |p Lbah jor'2go'r its sRe'9 |cpI'h | 08 |°°°°° °° °° FOBL-66R8E “IIT 
 6E O81 OLE |8F OSE EST JOS coco" |ZE"80Z'S FE" ROT LF 9TR EL LSS'G § 19% 29'S jez OGT‘CS |ze0'e | $9 |" ~~ “687-6881 “TT 
 FF OLP ESS [LL LSE'LLS OF OFF FS 00 €6T$ . JOR LOGS [RF egch lecece TS | eee T | GR SRT-BLRT 'T 
 ae 
 B | A 
 pass eounyT | .. uoieon | ‘{4er00¢ |, a5, eA |e 4 
 [#10], sesuvdxy | | sgo0lqgo | _ : *SUOISSIP] |*SMOISSIPY|"SUOISSIY| o a sadyoua 
 pueig [eIOL aun | 18q30 ener Seas uUsTeI0g | onIOR 0484S a |e 
 “SHHDUNHD *1 
 
 ‘SdadVOUd AG SHSNHdXH GNV HONHIOAGNGE AO AUVWWOAS 
 
36 Baptist History of North Dakota 
 
 As an item of encouragement concerning the period 
 nearest to us, the following summary is given for the last 
 ten years. During this decade the number of baptisms 
 reported by the churches was 2,102. The gain in mem- 
 bership was 2,136. Thirty-seven new churches were or- 
 ganized and thirty-four houses of worship were built. With 
 one or two exceptions allof the eighteen parsonages in the 
 state were built or purchased. The increase in the val- 
 uation of church property was $148,375.00., During these 
 ten years the contributions for benevolence have been as 
 follows: For state missions, $10,322.73; for home mis- 
 sions, $6,773.34; for foreign missions, $5,960 74; for the 
 Publication Society, $1,586.11; for christian education, 
 $1,085.28; for other benevolent objects, $11.373.22. Sun- 
 day school benevolence, $1,935,78. Total from churches 
 and Sunday schools for benevolence, $39,017.20. For 
 current expenses. $168,506.81; for local improvement, 
 $62,289.94; for Sunday school expenses, $10.892.90. Total 
 for expenses, $241,759.74. Total for benevolence and ex- 
 penses, $280,776.94. This is a gain over the previous six- 
 teen years of nearly three times as much for benevolence, 
 and considerably more than twice as much for expenses. 
 If any are inclined to take a pessimistic view of things, 
 and look for signs of a retrograde movement in the last 
 decade, it will be necessary to look elsewhere for data 
 from which to reach discouraging conclusions. 
 
 The last five years cover the period of the author’s 
 official relation to the State Convention and missionary 
 work in North Dakota. During this period the nuiuber of 
 persons baptized was 1,273. The net gain in membership 
 in the churches was 1,658. Nineteen churches were or- 
 ganized, and twenty-one houses of worship were built. 
 The increase in the valuation of church property was 
 $74,174.00. Forty-six ministers have come into the state 
 to engage in missionary work, and five others who were 
 residents of the state became pastors. In the last five 
 years the contributions for benevolence have been as fol- 
 lows: For state missions. 46,364.51; for home missions, 
 $3,961.85; for foreign missions, $3,817.53; for the Publi- 
 cation Society. $1,065.83; for christian education, $990.73; 
 
REV. T. M. SHANAFELT, D.D. 
 General Missionary and Corresponding Secretary 
 July 1, 1899, to October 1, 1904 
 
Baptist History of North Dakota 37 
 
 for other benevolent objects, $9,019.94. Total for benevo- 
 lence, ‘$25,310.39. For current expenses, $112,940.99; for 
 local improvements, $48,201.81. Total for expenses, 
 $161,124.96. Total for benevolence and expenses from the 
 churches, $186,453.19. Adding to these totals the amounts 
 contributed by the Sunday schools, and the grand total 
 for all objects since July 1, 1899, is $194,596.35. This is 
 over $4.000 more for benevolence and nearly $13,000 more 
 for expenses than was contributed in the preceding ten 
 years. During the last five years there was contributed 
 for both benevolence and expenses only a little less than 
 one half as much as in the preceding twenty-one years. 
 These statistics seem to furnish gratifying evidence of 
 progress and growth. 
 
 The North Dakota Baptist Convention was organized in 
 1884. A preliminary meeting was held at Tower City in 
 June, and the organization was perfected on the first Wed- 
 nesday of the following November, at Fargo. For some 
 years its efficiency aS a missionary organization was not 
 sufficiently realized or tested. Greater interest appears to 
 have been taken in the Associations. The larger organi- 
 zation seemed at first to be valued less than the minor and 
 local organizations. At three or four annual meetings it 
 was voted to authorize or instruct the secretary to print 
 the minutes of the Convention with those of the Associa- 
 eiation. As the churches grew in strength, and a few of 
 them becaue self-supporting, the need and value of the 
 Couvention were more fully appreciated. The plan of co- 
 operation between the American Baptist Home Mission 
 Society and the State Convention was adopted in 1892. It 
 became practically effective in 1894. 
 
 The table of anniversaries of the State Convention since 
 its organization records the place of each annual meeting, 
 and the names of all who have served as president, vice- 
 president, recording secretary, corresponding secretary, 
 treasurer, and the preacher of each annual sermon. It 
 also gives for each year the number of Associations, 
 churches, ordained ministers, persons baptized, and the 
 total reported number of members in the churches. 
 
Baptist History of North Dakota 
 
 35 
 
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 hab Poteet = 
 Teele 
 
 ‘NOILNGANOD GHL 4O SHIYVSUHAINNV 
 
Baptist History of North Dakota 39 
 
 To the foster mother of nearly all of the churches in the 
 state a lasting debt of gratitude is due for the assistance 
 rendered from the beginning, and continued with a liberal 
 hand. To the fullest extent of her ability the American 
 Baptist Home Mission Society furnished aid to struggling 
 churches, and made it possible to organize new ones, with 
 a superintending missionary to care for their interests. 
 The total amount appropriated by the Society for mission- 
 ary labor in North Dakota, to July 1, 1904, is $209,497.36. 
 From the church edifice fund the churches have secured 
 generous assistance: in gifts, $14,501.00; in loans, $9,350.00. 
 Total, $23,857.00. The total amount of aid received for 
 missionary support and in building homes for the churches 
 is $233,348.36. 
 
 There have been four general missionaries under ap- 
 pointrent by the Home Mission Society. Rev. G. W. 
 Huntley, under whose supervision the work was practical- 
 ly begun, served eleven years, from July 1, 1881, to July 
 1, 1892. His successor was Rev. C. H. Holden. His 
 first appointment was that of district missionary. March 
 17, 1892. He became general missionary July 1, 1892, and 
 served two years, closing July 1, 1894. Rev. W. L. Van 
 Horn became general missionary October 1, 1893, and 
 served until April 1, 1898, a period of three years and six 
 months. After an interval of a year and three months, 
 during which there was no superintending missionary, 
 Rev. T. M. Shanafelt, D. D., was appointed, July 1, 1899. 
 At the expiration of his present appointment, October 1, 
 1904, he will have served five years and three months. 
 
 The duties of a general missionary must necessarily be 
 mainly administrative and supervisory. Assistants are 
 needed in the working out of details on local fields. With 
 the exception of the short period of service rendered as 
 district missionary by Rev. C. H. Holden, there had been 
 only one of these officers for detail work among the Eng- 
 
 . 
 
40) Baptist History of North Dakota 
 
 lish speaking churches, until Rev. Frank Sprague became 
 district missionary and evangelist February 1, 1903. | 
 There have been two Norwegian district missionaries, 
 Revs. T. G. Wold and J. B. Sundt. In recognition of the 
 needs of the Swedes as well as the Norwegians, Rev. Ole 
 Larson was appointed Scandinavian district missionary 
 January 1, 1900. Among the Germans there have been, 
 at intervals, two or three who have rendered double ser- 
 vice as district missionary and evangelist. 
 
 North Dakota is one of the states comprising the Upper 
 Mississippi District. Rev. O. A. Williams, D. D., became 
 district secretary and superintendent of missions for this 
 district September 1, 1894. He has rendered nearly ten 
 years of very successful and helpful service. He is held 
 in the highest esteem by the churches in the four states 
 comprising his district. 
 
 In the state organization of the Baptist Young Peoples’ 
 Union, October 5, 1891, a new element of strength and 
 helpfulness came into auxiliary relationship with the State 
 Convention. Women’s missionary circles have been or- 
 ganized in many of the churches. The study of missionary 
 literature and plans of work has increased the efficiency 
 of the christian women of the churches, and many of them 
 are faithful helpers in promoting the primary: and funda- 
 mental object of a State Convention, the vigorous prosecu- 
 tion of missionary work within the state. 
 
 Soon after the organization of the first Baptist church at 
 Fargo in 1879, came the first Baptist pastor, Rev. E. B. 
 Haskell. He was preceded, for a short time, by Rev. G. 
 B.Vosberg, as supply, It is probable that converts were 
 baptized at Fargo before the organization of other church- | 
 es in 1881, but the first record of a scriptural baptism in 
 North Dakota, is that of Edward Sloan and his wife, by 
 Rev. J. R. Deckard, at Bismarck, on Christmas day, De- 
 cember 25, 1881. The next known case is that of Mrs. J. 
 
 e 
 
Baptist History of North Dakota Al 
 
 F. Burgar, who was baptized by Rev G. W. Huntley, in 
 Park River, at Grafton, Jun 24, 1882. Mr. R. B. Griffith 
 has the longest record of nearly continuous service as 
 superintendent of a Sunday school, having served, with 
 the exception of one year, since the organization of the 
 first Sunday school in Grand Forks, May 7, 1882. He 
 has been clerk of the church since its organization in 
 October, 1881. The churches of largest membership and 
 influence in the state are the American churches in Grand 
 Forks and Fargo. The former has probably the finest ar- 
 ranged and best equipped house of worship, especially for 
 Sunday school work, in the northwest. The church at 
 Fargo is about io build a new house of worship, that will 
 be fully adequate to the needs of that large and rapidly 
 growing city. 
 
 If the surviving pioneer pastors and workers had re- 
 sponded to requests for reminiscences of the early days, a 
 larger number of interesting incidents would have been 
 placed on record in this historical sketch. There are ex- 
 periences incident to the beginning of historical epochs 
 that are seldom duplicated in later years. It would be in- 
 teresting to have these foundation builders tell to this, and 
 the generations following, the story of hardships endured, 
 and sacrifices made, and results accomplished, as they 
 themselves saw them and shared in them. They were 
 laying the foundations of anew state, and helping to shape 
 its character and destiny. 
 
 All honor to those who wrought in those formative 
 years, an! to the busy toilers who followed them. Many 
 have borne a part in constructing the frame work and 
 perfecting the development of a state worthy of a high 
 rank in the federation of states. The leaders in these 
 movements showed marked fidelity and zeal, but they had 
 faithful co-workers in the churches. Much of the success 
 achieved was due to the earnest devotion and self-sacritice 
 
that they rendered, though less conspicno ous, 
 less worthy of commendation. 
 All of these are entitled & an honored 
 
 his faithful ally in the home, and the = el 
 
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