On this date in 1911, the Historical Society announced the program for its biennial meeting in Bismarck. A business meeting at the state Capitol would be followed by a social gathering at the Presbyterian Church. The highlight of the day would be an evening presentation by Jenkin Lloyd Jones.
Jones was a Unitarian minister from Chicago. He had served in the Wisconsin Volunteers during the Civil War and walked with a cane because of injuries he suffered during the conflict. His war experience led him to believe that people had to find a better way to settle differences. An outspoken pacifist, he spoke against both the Spanish American War and World War I.
Jenkin Lloyd Jones was described as one of the most noted speakers in the country. His appearance in Bismarck would surely have been considered one of the great intellectual events of the year. The Historical Society expected a full house.
Jones was scheduled to speak about historian Francis Parkman, one of the first serious historians of the American West. Parkman seems like a rather unlikely frontiersman. Born in Boston to a wealthy family, he was sickly throughout his life. He spent much of his early years at his grandfather’s home in the country. After graduating from Harvard, he was determined to write a comprehensive history of the French and Indian War. To set the stage, he decided to study the Indians in the West to learn more about native life.
Parkman traveled through Dakota Territory, arriving at Fort Laramie in 1846. He planned on spending the summer doing his research. An experienced trapper who was married to a Sioux woman agreed to serve as his guide, and they spent the summer with the Sioux. A prominent warrior not only allowed Parkman to share his teepee, he also watched over the inexperienced and chronically sick young man.
The name of Jenkin Lloyd Jones is little known today and he has mostly faded into history. Parkman, however, is still remembered as a noted historian. He left behind a clear picture of life on the Great Plains. His book The Oregon Trail remains a classic. The Society for American Historians annually awards the Francis Parkman Prize for the best book on American history.
Dakota Datebook by Carole Butcher
Sources:
Bismarck Tribune. “Preparations Made for Historical Meet.” 4 January 1911. Bismarck ND. Page 5.
Unitarian Universalist Society. “Jenkin Lloyd Jones.” http://uudb.org/articles/jenkinlloydjones.html Accessed 11/30/2018.
Nndb: Tracking the Entire World. “Francis Parkman.” http://www.nndb.com/people/008/000047864/ Accessed 11/30/2018
