The Winnebago Indian Mission 
 
 of the Reformed Church in the United States 
 
 located at 
 
 BLACK RIVER FALLS AND NEILLSVILLE, WIS. 
 BY REV. THEODORE P. BOLLIGER, D.D. 
 
 MORNING CONGREGATION, AUG. 13, 1922 
 
 OUTLINE OF THE HISTORY 
 
 The Mission was begun in 1878 by Rev. Jacob Hauser. He 
 served until 1885. Since that date Rev. Jacob Stucki has been in 
 charge. 
 
 The forty-four years of the mission may be divided into three 
 periods. 
 
 The Period of Hope — 1878-1898. From the founding of the 
 Mission to the baptism of the first convert. During this period a 
 day school for the children was regularly conducted and preaching 
 services were held as often as the services of a suitable interpreter 
 
could be obtained; for only a few of the Winnebagoes could speak 
 English. Rev. Hauser taught, preached, visited the Indians in 
 their wigwams and shacks, and diligently studied the difficult Win- 
 nebago language. He reduced the language to writing, compiled 
 a dictionary of 1500 words and beean a grammar. Rev. Jacob 
 Stucki continued the mission along the lines laid down by his prede- 
 cessor. 
 
 The Winnebagoes for sixty years had been so mercilessly 
 oppressed, cheated and robbed by the White Man that they were 
 unwilling to listen to the White Man’s religion. By means of thir- 
 teen treaties not one of which was kept by the White Man, the 
 Winnebagoes had been deprived of their lands in Wisconsin, the 
 purchase price was held “in trust” by the government, and the 
 interest promised them annually was withheld from all those who 
 refused to live on the reservation in Nebraska. The children were 
 willingly sent to the school; but the old folks declared: The Indian 
 religion is better than the White Man’s. 
 
 The Period of Harvest — 1898-1917. From the baptism of the 
 first convert to the opening of the Boarding School. David Deco- 
 rah, King of Thunder, John Stacy and wife were the first converts. 
 From year to year the number increased until a congregation of 66 
 souls has been gathered. These Indian Christians have made a 
 good record. Not one has been a backslider. Not one has been 
 guilty of a crime. No one has disgi-aced the name of Christ. All 
 the men are willing and able to pray at the services. In addition 
 to the baptized ones there have been many timid adherents who 
 shrank from publicly breaking away from their relatives and 
 friends, but nevertheless by their attendance and interest gave evi- 
 dence that God’s Spirit was working in their lives. The influence 
 of the Mission has reached practically every Winnebago family in 
 Wisconsin and a very marked change in their behaviour has 
 resulted. 
 
 As the Christian life and faith can grow strong and beautiful 
 only as they are directed and nourished by the Word of God, Rev. 
 Stucki labored for years to translate parts of the Bible into the 
 Winnebago tongne. John Stacy rendered invaluable aid in com- 
 pleting this task. The four Gospels, Acts, Genesis, and Exodus 19, 
 20 were translated. The American Bible Society published the 
 Winnebago Scripture in 1907. 
 
 The Period of the Boarding Scjiool — Since 1917. From the 
 opening of the Boarding School until now. When the day school 
 was begun in 1878, several hundred Winnebagoes lived within walk- 
 ing distance of the school. As land values increased in Wisconsin 
 many square miles formerly counted as of little account were 
 bought up and fenced in for pasture. This forced the Indians to 
 scatter and find new locations. At present they are living in small 
 or larger groups throughout six counties. A Boarding School there- 
 fore became an absolute necessity. In the summer of 1917 modest 
 accommodations were prepared for housing and feeding about 25. 
 From the beginning applicants had to be turned away. The space 
 intended for 25 had to serve for as many as 42. The crowding 
 became dangerous to the health of the children. Two epidemics of 
 influenza swept through the school. There was no room for the 
 
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children to read or study and no place within doors where they 
 could amuse themselves. 
 
 The demand for larger quarters could no longer be resisted, 
 and hence in 1920, the new building at Neillsville was be^n. It 
 is located 25 miles from the old mission. A modern building was 
 erected, providing home and school facilities for about 75 children 
 and the necessary working staff. At the opening of the school in 
 September, 1921, the building was filled and about 40 applications 
 had to be i-efused for lack of room. The building stands on a 3314 
 acre farm beautifully located along the Black River. The home of 
 the superintendent and the manual training building are near the 
 main building. The buildings with their equipment and the farm 
 represent an investment of about $80,000. 
 
 Between 1878 and 1922 a total of 472 individuals has been en- 
 rolled. About 300 remained long enough to learn to read, write 
 and figure a little. Of these three score passed through six grades 
 or more, five entered the High School, and three have had some 
 college work. 
 
 AIMS OF THE SCHOOL 
 
 First. To educate the head. The course of study includes the 
 work done in the eight grades of the public schools. Those who 
 take the full work are prepared to enter the High School. 
 
 Second. To educate the hand. The Winnebagoes with few 
 exceptions must earn their living by the work of their hands; 
 hence, manual training receives much attention. The girls are 
 taught to patch, darn and sew; as well as to perform the usual 
 household duties in the kitchen, dining room, and laundry. The 
 boys also have their tasks in the household and on the farm. They 
 help with the chores and the work of the farm and garden. An 
 elementary course in carpentry has also been added. 
 
 Third. To educate the heart. Superintendent Benj. Stucki 
 says: “To lead these children to know Jesus and to accept him as 
 their Saviour is the main spring of all the efforts of the school. All 
 other aims are considered subservient to this. We recognize that 
 without Christianity all efforts towai’d bettering the temporal wel- 
 fare of these Indians can be only in a small measure successful. 
 For these reasons, the religious training has been prosecuted with 
 special diligence in Sunday School, devotions, daily Bible classes, 
 song services and catechetical instructions.” 
 
 CONCLUSION 
 
 The education of the Indian without Christianity is a failure. 
 Only a Christian training can bring enduring benefit to the Ameri- 
 can Indian. 
 
 A PRAYER 
 
 “0 Christ our Lord, Thou Shepherd of the Indians, Thou 
 Friend of the little red children, show Thyself to the Winnebago 
 tribe. Subdue many hearts ; shed divine peace into many lives ; 
 reveal the joy of Thy salvation to many souls. To Thee we con- 
 secrate this work. Amen. 
 
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LITTLE PICTURES OF SCHOOL LIFE 
 
 1921-1922 
 
 On the opening day before the pupils were allowed the free- 
 dom of the building, they had to be scrubbed from head to foot. 
 The head required special attention. It was washed with coal oil 
 to rid it of vermin. Sometimes the battle against the cooties re- 
 quires the application of all the known formulas before the victory 
 is won. 
 
 Skin diseases, such as rash, itch, scabs and eczema are com- 
 mon. After the pupils are clean, these are attacked. One of the 
 regular daily duties of the workers in charge is to attend to the 
 many sores, bruises and wounds which the youngsters manage to 
 get. Toothaches demand the right of way at all hours of the day 
 or night. 
 
 Ninety per cent of the children enrolled come from heathen 
 homes and yet all of them gladly learn the hymns, and Bible stories 
 and verses. During the last school year forty-two of the choicest 
 hymns were memorized and also scores of Bible verses. 
 
 When the county Sunday School convention was held in Neills- 
 ville last February, the Indian School was invited to give a forty 
 minutes’ program. They sang, recited, repeated Bible verses and 
 gave their exercises. The interest of the audience reached its cli- 
 max when one of the older girls repeated an entire chapter from 
 memory instead of the usual Scripture reading. The school won 
 many friends that day. 
 
 The smaller boys were taught how to mend, sew on buttons, 
 darn stockings, make the beds and help about the building. This 
 had a wholesome restraining influence upon them, impressing the 
 lessons: Be careful; Keep things neat; Don’t rip your clothes. 
 Clothes do not seem to rip so often when the boys have to attempt 
 the mending themselves. 
 
 One of the older girls who was not yet a professed Christian 
 and whose parents are still heathen, wrote a little essay on the 
 theme, “Why I am at the Winnebago Indian Mission School.” 
 This essay contained two remarkable sentences which are given 
 here. “I was very anxious to come to school here because they 
 teach us about the love of Christ and learn about our Lord so we 
 may become good Christians and come unto Jesus when we die and 
 live with him forever. I hope I may learn many things about our 
 Lord, so when I go home I can tell my father and mother about 
 the good things I learned about Jesus, and ask them to worship 
 him always so they may become good Christians also.” 
 
 Superintendent Benj. Stucki says: “The health of the children 
 was exceptional. The Lord preserved us from epidemics and 
 there was only one case of serious illness, a case of pneumonia. 
 The average attendance for the entire year was 98 per cent. The 
 per cent was never lower than 96 and for several months 
 reached 100.” 
 
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Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2016 
 
 https://archive.org/details/winnebagoindianmOOboll 
 
May 2l was the most inspiring day of the entire school year. 
 Three of the older boys and three girls after most careful instruc- 
 tion confessed their faith and were baptized. Of their own accord, 
 without any urging, they had resolved to become Christians and 
 unite with the Church. The Word and Spirit of God had worked 
 the great decision. Rev. A. V. Casselman said of these young peo- 
 ple: “They were the most earnest and serious-minded class I have 
 ever seen. There was a look of knowing earnestness in the faces 
 of these young Christians, as they answered the questions and con- 
 fessed their faith, that was inspiring.” All the parents of these 
 converts are still heathen, and some of them with bitterness had 
 tried to intimidate and prevent their children from becoming Chris- 
 tians. Though it meant hardships and suffering not one of them 
 was turned back or even hesitated. 
 
 SCHOLARS AND MISSION WORKERS 
 CLOSING DAY, MAY, 1922 
 
 WAYS OF HELPING 
 
 Adopting a child. We invite organizations to “adopt a child” 
 for a year and contribute $50 or more towards its support. The 
 name and picture of the “adopted” child will be sent to the con- 
 tributor, as well as other information, if desired. 
 
 Clothing and bedding. Clothing which is appropriate for the 
 wigwams in the woods will not suit the conditions at Neillsville. 
 The pagan Indians are generally very poor. Hence the friends of 
 the Indians must supply the lack. Clothing, stockings, caps, shoes, 
 bedding, blankets, towels, handkerchiefs, etc., are always welcome. 
 Worn articles, if still in good condition, can be put to good use. 
 
 Little extras. Good, nourishing food is always furnished, but 
 the children greatly appreciate “little extras.” The good women 
 
of the Church know this and numerous packages of cakes, cookies, 
 candies, fruit, jelly, etc. are being sent. There is small danger 
 that too many “goodies” will be received. Children’s books, games, 
 and toys are also gladly received. 
 
 All inquiries concerning the “adopting of a child,” or the 
 clothing, etc., needed at any particular time, or the “little extras” 
 should be addressed to the Superintendent Winnebago Indian 
 School, Neillsville, Wis. 
 
 WINNEBAGO INDIAN SCHOOL, NEILLSVILLE, WIS. 
 SHOWING THE EAST AND SOUTH FRONTS 
 
 INDIAN MISSION DAY 
 
 The Tri-Synodic Board of Home Missions, which conducts the 
 home missionary operations within the boundaries of the S 3 mod of 
 the Northwest, the Central Synod and the former Synod of the 
 Southwest, requested the synods last year (1921) to recommend 
 the observance of the second Sunday in November as Indian Mis- 
 sion Day. The Synods unanimously endorsed the request. 
 
 The Tri-Synodic Board therefore calls upon pastors, congrega- 
 tions, and Sunday Schools to receive special offerings for the Win- 
 nebago Indian Mission on that day or some other suitable day. Let 
 each congregation do something special for our Indians during 
 November. 
 
 Congregations, societies and individuals desiring to make a 
 special offering should send their money gifts directly to Rev. Theo- 
 dore P. Bolliger, 1918 West Lawn Ave., Madison, Wis. 
 
 Published by the Central Publishing House, Cleveland, Ohio, for the 
 Trl-Synodlc Board of Home Missions of the Reformed Church in the 
 United States. October, 1922. 
 
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