Yeah, I didn't learn until recently how the state (territory at the time) was divided into regions and different churches/ missionaries were sent into each region to convert the locals. Very effective in subverting, burying much of the indigenous culture/language in each region. And they picked some poor locations to settle.

Begs the question, "Why follow"? Just wondering, is all. I think there is more to it.

They didn't at first. But they were preached "Be baptized and be saved, or continue your heathonism and God shall smite thee!" And then the "tuqupaks" happened, the "Big Deaths," the influenza epidemic, measles, so on. After that, one and one is two, better be baptized to avoid further smiting. Also, many of the elders, who were in the process of passing on their knowledge and traditions, succumbed to disease and said traditions knowledge were not passed on.