Show missionary WORK IN THE INDIAN TERRITORY the missionary work of the latter flatter day salute saints in the efforts to carry into effect the divine injunction this gospel goepel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations has taken within ita scope cope the principal place of gathering together of remnants of the once formidable tribes of indians of the united united states the indian territory and justly so from the position the saints occupy through the knowledge Impart eGby 0 by the revealing of the book of mormon in this age by which the true lineage character and history of the aborigines have come to light information concerning those indians has been given at various times through the public cressand press pres and sand oth otherwise erwim Lia lately tely too interest has been aroused because of disputes which nave occurred and negotiations which have been pending between the united states general government and that of indian territory regarding land interests and a movement to abolish z tribal relations among the indians yet without the bounds of the territory knowledge is limited as to the local and general situation and especially to give more ila information formation relative to the spread of the gospel there an outline of the history of the mission is given it is only lately that the mission has developed sufficiently to justify the pres presenting entin 0 of f semiannual semi annual reports and through CI the courtesy of elder andrew kimball Eim ball who is in charge of that field of labor the following is gleaned frum from the first aport some 34 tribes or portions thereof are at present located in indian berri tory numbering some many of these tribes aggregate only from 50 to the largest tribe or nation to is the cherokee amounting to over 25 of these some tribes are uncivilized uncivilized others semi civilized and the largest ones civilized the titles to lands being held in the name of the particular nations save in a few instances where allotment has taken place among the smaller tribes the privilege of indians or adopted citizens those of the whites or negroes who have inter married to take up as much land as an they can cultivate or hire cultivated has brought into that country thom thousands from the surrounding states who rent lands for a small fee make a good livelihood and are free from taxation these persons constitute a majority of the total inhabitants amounting to nearly the white negro and indian races are much mixed and those of the pure blooded aborigine are much in the minority but whether they be full blood half eighth or sixteenth they occupy the same position as citizens indian territory when first outlined in 1828 comprised com prized a more extensive region than at present it is now 2 2000 square less in a area than utah utah territory including the small territory of oklahoma situated in the very centre the eastern and southern portions are those which are am inhabited chiefly by the larger nations whom where farming stock raising and a few industries are followed previous to 1828 the land included in indian territory was the home of the uncivilized caage comanche etc but from 1828 to 1836 1835 as the increase odthe of the white population east of the mississippi continued and the indian lands there were exchanged for lands to the westward the exodus of several thousand indians was effected the cherokees being the pioneer nation then came the creeks choctaws Chick chickasaws maws seminoles Semi noles and the many others from time to time as the original homesteads homestead B were parted with those who wended bended their way in those early days from georgia north N drw carolina florida and mississippi did so amid scenes of hardship and suffering and those who live today who pawed passed through the and experiences incident to such a pilgrimage recount with solemn feelings the recollection of their trials in leaving long established homes satisfactory to them even if humble bumble and erected atter after their peculiar style the difficulties encountered in reclaiming a wilderness and obtaining an existence exist buce euce not only did they have to contend with natures obstacles of a wild country sickly regions and wild beasts but the uncivilized tribes warred against them for many years often producing desolation and ruin and spreading discouragement among those who were industriously triou sly inclined prior to 1855 there was no effort to make known the gospel to these peoples but an occasional elder in traveling to other fields bad pawed passed through the country and experienced some difficulties in this year however steps were taken by president brigham young to extend the gospel among the inhabitants and for that purpose nine elders five from utah and four from a branch of the church at st louis were sent these elders no doubt were surprised at the evidences of thrift often to be found considering the conditions the people had experienced and labored zealously until two small branches were organized in the creek and cherokee nations one of the number elder john A richards married an indian woman and gave a permanent resting place for the others all save the one mentioned were released in from three to four years but during their stay had penetrates penetrated penetrate a into the choctaw country their success in this direction bassoon prohibited by the united states agent ordering them away which order they were required to obey even while having the necessary permission from the terri territorial to r Is I 1 government the fair prospects of both inhabitants and missionaries abruptly terminated when the war of the rebellion broke forth in fury over the land the indians had no particular part in the issues at stake though a few were slave owners the strife was on all sides of them and insurrection tots of their own race soon produced a division and the land and became overspread once more with will war and bloodshed the end of the strife in other places did nut not spread tranquility over the indians home for many of the worst characters and individuals whom the war had brought forth and developed took refuge in this frontier land and the nature of the indian is not to lay aside revenge because of a covenant a of peace entered into by others disagreeable and bloody scenes therefore continued for several years after peace was declared and life and happiness were not among the certainties naturally the few saints were scattered by these circumstances and elders were not safe in traveling and preaching among people whose natures were thus trained elder richards had taken part in the war and subsequently turned his bis whole attention to farming april 1877 elders M W dalton john hubbard of willard city and robert lake part indian who later on deserted his bis companions and anthony also part indian arrived in the territory they again opened the mission elder hubbard died and was buried there elder returned to his tribe and elder dalton reached his home in utah in november of the same year leaving the mission abandoned butil april 16 1883 1 when apostle george teasdale and elder dalton reopened opened re the field the former came home october 1883 and elder joseph H felt of salt luke lake city became the companion of elder dalton and the labor was continued until april 1884 when both returned home in may the same year elders J bale and frank Te isdale both of nephi resumed efforts to establish a permanent field lut but they were forced to return in september 1884 much im paired in health from the experiences these elders encountered and the disadvantages they had to contend with the principal among which were chills and fe fever ver long journeys because of the scattered condition of df the residents and the great amount of indifference and contempt generally accorded them when elders andrew Kim balland jas Q G West both of this city journeyed thither in the beginning of 1885 rhe fhe past record of the country they were going to did not present a very encouraging picture however they went to work confidently and were making some headway until the summer season advance dand the dread annual epidemic chills and fever overtook them as it had the previous elders elder bests sickness was the cause of his bis release in september 1885 1886 and elder kimball remained alone for a few months and finally recovered from his illness s while waiting for more elders from utah andrew traveled somewhat with elder richards who had been found shortly after elder kimball had arrived in the cherokee nation in 1886 the mission was increased to four ellers elders and in 1888 to six and eight in 1890 though there are but six there at present elder kimball remained laboring for some twenty seven months and it may be said that from the date of going of those who went there in the winter of 1886 1885 the mission commenced as an permanent one year to twenty three months has been the average period of the individual labors there since then ethen a few have reached two years the indian territory mission has had to cope with many disadvantages some 24 elders have been there since 1883 most of whom have had to contend with sickness each year the climate and country being so thoroughly billel with malaria which readily attacks and prostrates prostrated pro strates portions persons going from a colder and healthier climate but each succeeding year has been productive of more encouraging results the work is enlarging and in creasing by the experience of tile te past the present missionaries are bene dene fitted and are escaping the ills of the country labor was first commenced in the cherokee nation at present this nation is well traversed affording a fair field and kind and hospitable entertainment tain ment generally the choctaw and creek nations the choctaw especially ally also are visited the chickasaws and seminoles Semi noles have extended the privilege of mission work in their midst and an encouraging commencement has baa been made this winter among the former the semi civilized usages would have been beau labored with had bad not the agent prohibited the entrance of the elders to their reservation also half a dozen of small and intelligent tribes in the northeast part of the territory but for a similar refusal on the part of the agent and minister who has general supervision over them the interesting te are among the latter as the agent tile the freedom granted by their chief and council to the elders each of the many tribes has bar a separate and distinct language yet a similarity to is so manifest between three or four of the dialects that they can understand each other the elders do not learn any of these langu agues as english is used by the great majority it is taught in the public schools and it is only a condition for future years to develop when all shall speak the one language but one the cherokee has a written language the alphabet of which numbers eighty five characters and was invented by one of their number in th the early part of this century the present prospects of the mission are worthy of mention the scattered condition of converts so far has made it impracticable to organize branches but before long the idea is to select a central location and erect ft va conference house where conferences m ly be held the field of labor covers a large area of country and the work of instructing the people and laying before them the principles of truth is rendered various by the numerous remnants and aad divisions of tribes negroes and whites the latter are a very roving claw class whom practices of renting and moving nearly every year are not always of the kind to produce harmony between the races the larger tribes govern their own affairs formulate and execute laws for the of their own citizens in accordance with the general laws of the united statts states government the latter government acting as by having an agent to represent it and the interest of its citizens within the indian borders the rhe elders rs now there are enjoying good health and are in excellent spirits |