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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 06592 0974
GC 977.302 M72FE
Diamond
Jubilee Album
1850-1925
Kenneth Pilerson 847-19 ave Moline Ill. as a gift from For other on Die 24, 1925
THE NEW CHURCH.
JUBILEE ALBUM
for the
Seventy-fifth Anniversary of the
First Ev. Lutheran Church
Moline, Illinois
December Ist, 1925
ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS AUGUSTANA BOOK CONCERN, PRINTERS AND BINDERS
REV. C. O. MORLAND.
Preface
The publication of this Album was authorized by the congregation at the annual meeting January 13, 1925, in order to commemorate the Seventy-fifth Anniversary of its organization on December 1, 1850. A Jubilee Committee was elected consisting of the Board of Adminis- tration and the presidents of all organizations. 'This committee had charge of all arrangements and elected all subcommittees. The follow- ing were elected as a committee for the publication of the Album; Rev. C. O. Morland, chairman, Miss Hanna Wahlberg, secretary, Dr. Adolf Hult, Mr. J. A. Godehn and Mr. August Brissman. The chairman was selected as editor.
Program Committee: Rev. C. O. Morland, Mr. Martin J. Ander- son, Mr. S. H. Forsberg, Miss Gertrude Johnson and Mr. Alfred Erickson.
Music Committee : The Church Music Committee.
Ticket Committee : Mrs. S. H. Forsberg, Mr. Martin J. Anderson, Mr. Charles A. Carlson and Miss Jennie Astrom.
Committee on Decorations: Mr. E. L. Nordgren.
Committee on Confirmand Reunion: The Misses Edna Swanson, Selma Peterson, Gertrude Johnson, Ansie Anderson, Evalina Anderson and Anna Johnson.
The history written by Dr. C. A. Hemborg for the "Jubel Album" in 1900 is here given in English dress. Mr. August Brissman has compiled statistics from 1860 to the present day from the printed minutes of the Augustana Synod.
We are greatly indebted to the members of the committee and several others for valuable help and suggestions.
"In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted." Psalm 89. 16.
Moline, Illinois, December 1, 1925.
C. O. MORLAND.
"Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 1. 4-6.
History of the Lutheran Church in Moline
HE first Swedes arrived in these regions in the year 1849 and settled in Rock Island. As Moline was favored with splendid water power by the branch of the Mississippi flowing south of the Government island, flour mills and minor factories commenced to be erected here. This gave the Swedish immigrants an opportunity to obtain work, and soon Moline became a small settlement of industrious Swedes. And to this day the greater portion of the citizens of Moline are Swedish people, who work in the great factories.
The immigrants, who in 1849 and 1850 passed westward from Chi- cago, located in Andover, where Rev. L. P. Esbjorn, in the spring of 1850, had founded a congregation of Swedish Lutherans. With the Andover congregation, the first settlers in the three cities by the Missis- sippi were in communion. Evidently they could no longer belong to the Andover church, and it was found expedient to organize a church in Moline in the fall of 1850. For this purpose a meeting was called the first of December 1850. The meeting took place and the minutes read as follows :
Resolved, I. That we, for our own spiritual welfare, and the pro- motion of the true evangelical doctrine, and for the increase of God's Kingdom among our people and our descendants, unite and organize ourselves into an evangelical church in Moline, Rock Island County, Ill.
Resolved, 2. That only those who give satisfactory evidence of a true change of heart, endeavor to live according to the Word of God and desire to become members of this congregation, may be accepted as members.
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Resolved, 3. That we accept the principle, that the books of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God; that this word has the highest authority and contains a sufficient and infallible rule for man's faith and conduct, so that what is not therein contained and can not be proven by it, is not required for faith or to be done for salvation ; and that the holy Scriptures are the only rule whereby dissen- sions and opinions in spiritual matters may be tested and settled ; that no tradition or custom be accepted or supported which is contrary to the Scriptures; that Symbols, the decisions of meetings and the ideas of men be supported only in so far as they are in accordance with the Word of God, and finally that the symbolical books of the Lutheran Church contain a correct interpretation of the Word of God, wherefore we declare and accept them as foundation for our faith and doctrine next to the Holy Scriptures.
The names of those who subscribed to these articles have been lost, but they were probably members of the Andover church. This can be ascertained from the fact that Rev. L. P. Esbjorn had written the fol- lowing on a slip of paper: Removed to the Lutheran congregation in Moline : Carl Johansson, wife Maja Stina Andersdotter ; Olaus Bengts- son, wife (?) ; Carl Petter Johansson, wife Caroline Persdotter; Swen Johan Jonsson, wife Johanna Sofia Göransdotter; Per Viklund, wife; Daniel Nelson, wife, daughter Cajsa Lena (?) ; Gustaf Jansson, wife; Abraham Anderson; Daniel Fr. Fredin (?); N. P. Peterson, wife ; G. Ad. Erikson; Gustaf Anderson; Peter Berg, wife, son Nils; Swen Olson; Lars Larson, wife Maja Lena; Karna Persdotter; Carl Nord- gren ; Per Anderson, wife; Erik Norelius; Erik Viklund; Jonas Vest- berg, wife Lisa Greta Samuelsdotter; Per Soderstrom; Bronstrom's wife Christina; Per Vicklund; Olaf Hendrickson, wife Greta; Swen Jacob- son ; Theodor Manke; Nils Johan Rundquist; Gustaf Linder; Maria Sofia Persdotter (?) Fru Osterberg; Anders Boberg (?); Fredina Isaksdotter ; Johanna Nord; Per Larson. Some of the names are fol- lowed by the interrogative mark, which indicated that it is uncertain whether they moved to Moline. No special record of members was kept before the time of Rev. Andren. Rev. Esbjorn had noted down the names on slips of paper for the years 1853 and 1854, and as these slips were so old and written by Esbjorn himself we shall bring them in here. Communicants of Moline April 14, 1853: Erikson, and wife; Anders Larson, wife; Maria Fransdotter; Jonas Jonsson; Augusta Abrahamina Lindberg; Erik Jonson and wife; Lovisa Pettersdotter; Jonas Peter Hanson, wife; Albertina Jonsdotter; Widow Anna Stina Nelsdotter ;
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Anna Stina Petersdotter; Maja Lisa Petersdotter; Johanna Kristoffers- dotter ; Lars Magnus Johanson; Swen Anderson, w .; Bothilda Bengts- dotter ; Carl Magnus Nelson ; Swen Jacobson; Johan Nyman.
Communicants of Moline February 12, 1854: Carl Gustaf Gustaf- son and wife; Frans Nelson, w. Carolina Larsdotter; Hans Chr. Kil- berg, w. Anna Bengtsdotter ; Jacob Peterson, w. Maria Vikstrom; Olof
REV. L. P. ESBJORN.
Anderson ; Lars Olson, w. Sara Pettersdotter ; Anders Johanson ; Johan Hoffman, w .; Carl Olofson ; Johan Peterson ; Johan Beckman, w .; Nils Person; Bothilda Bengtsdotter ; Petter Månsson, w .; Samuel Peterson, w .; Lisa Jonsdotter ; Nils Peter Johnsson, w .; Per Larson; Gust A. Erikson, w .; Olof P. Peterson ; Jonas Erikson ; Peter Anderson, w .; Per Bodelson; Carin Soderberg. These three slips of paper constitute the first Church Records of the Moline church. A few baptisms were also noted down on the same paper.
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The following report of the proceedings of the meeting of the Mis- sissippi conference in Moline is a much-prized document from the early times of the Synod and is given complete.
"Meeting of the Mississippi conference in Moline January 6, 7, 8, 9, 1853. Present at the meeting: Pastors Esbjorn, Hasselquist, and Valen- tine; delegates: Samuel Jonson from Andover, Johannes Jönson from Knoxville, and Carl Lindman from Moline. Resolved: I. That in view of the great need of teachers among us, the churches are requested in public and private to pray to God that He send us spiritual men, who shall preach the gospel to our countrymen. 2. That we humbly peti- tion the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Northern Illinois that it take necessary steps to commission traveling preachers among our people un- der their supervision. 3. That the congregations be requested to organ- ize Sunday Schools, singing schools, and Bible classes. 4. That teachers zealously instruct the young in catechism, especially confirmation in- struction using Luther's smaller catechism, also Spener's is recom- mended. 5. That our ministers at the Sunday morning service use the Swedish ritual or liturgy. 6. That our ministers give certificates to the parents of children baptized. 7. That the names of members be reg- istered before taking communion. 8. That the conference exhort our people to practise home devotion and to come together for mutual edifi- cation on Sunday, even when there is no minister present, and not have recourse to other denominations. 9. That our pastors earnestly and in their sermons exhort to temperance. 10. That they read the Litany a few times a year.
Rev. Esbjorn was the first Lutheran pastor here, and it was his duty to take charge of those who had moved to the three cities from Andover. During a period of five years he traveled between Andover and these regions, enduring great difficulties from the lack of roads. Not only did he send his bread over the waters, but oftentimes were both minister and bread thoroughly soaked, when in times of sickness and spiritual famine he set out to minister to the wants of his flock. In our days, the difficulties of those early times can neither be described or compre- hended. Only those who shared the many troubles of the early settlers on the wild prairies or in the virgin forests can, to some extent, realize what obstacles the founder and organizer had to overcome. But even that work was not without recompense. The next problem presented, after organization, was how to secure a church. A lot was bought for $100. Rev. Esbjorn traveled during the summer of 1851 through the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts and solic-
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ited $2,200 for the building of churches in Andover, Moline, and New Sweden, Iowa. Of this money Jenny Lind, known as the "Swedish Nightingale," donated $1,500. Moline received $340, and the balance needed was secured by local subscriptions. The church was built in 1851 on the lot where the present edifice now stands, and was 36x40
JENNY LIND.
and 15 feet high. A little bell, now the property of the church in Port Byron, was bought for $50. The church was dedicated January II, 1857. Dr. T. N. Hasselquist wrote concerning it in "Hemlandet." "We have again had the pleasure of taking part in the dedication of a new church, namely the Swedish church of Moline, January 11, 1857. This church is certainly one of the oldest built by the Swedes, but a
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long time was required to complete it. Now, however, they have com- pleted the building and secured a pastor, who has settled among them. And as the Mississippi conference is about to meet here a desire for dedication has been expressed. It occurred on the above mentioned day in the presence of so great a multitude that the church could scarcely hold them. The church has one advantage above many of the Swedish churches - it owns a bell, which was hung Saturday afternoon. It is not a very large one, but answers the purpose. May it never call in vain."
The following year an addition of 14 feet was put on the church, and in 1866 it was added to the second time. Finally the church was
FIRST CHURCH, ERECTED 1851.
sold to Deere & Co., and moved across the street where it is still located and is used as a warehouse for plows.
The first parsonage in Moline was a little house on the northeast corner in the block north of the church. This house and lot was donated in 1852 by a bachelor, Abraham Anderson, on condition that it should always be used for the Lutheran parsonage. It was rebuilt in 1856. In 1858 the property of the church was valued: church $1,400; par- sonage $600; addition $150; barn $100; Rev. Esbjorn had charge of the congregation until 1855, but as the work required more than occa- sional visits, license was given to Mr. Vallentin to preach during the year 1852. Rev. Esbjorn says concerning Vallentin: "Had he not been here every Swede in Rock Island and Moline would have been confused by Palmquist, the free thinker." After Vallentin Deacon Lindman was
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requested to assist in the work. Rev. Esbjorn died July 2, 1870 in Östra Våla, Sweden. Upon the monument which marks his grave the following inscription may be read :
AT REST REV. LARS PAUL ESBJORN FOUNDER OF THE SWEDISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA. B. 16-10, 1808. D. 2-7, 1870.
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Svenska Santorohuset : Meine del gamla, s wars thathe eth nytt noe as light.
(Handwriting of Dr. T. N. Hasselquist.)
The Swedish parsonage in Moline, the old, in place of which a new one is now built.
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O. C. T. Andrén
It had become important that the little church here should have its own pastor as there was a great deal of proselytism going on. But where to find one that would be suitable was the question. Rev. P. Ahlberg promised to come but retracted. Rev. O. C. T. Andrén, pastor at Carlshamn, Sweden, was next called through Dr. P. Fjellstedt. He ac- cepted and came to Moline July 31, 1856. The church found its pastor a firm supporter in these stormy times, and gained strength and num-
BLOMGREN BROS
REV. O. C. T. ANDREN.
bers under his guidance. He was the right man for the day. Dr. E. Norelius, in his history, says :
"Andrén's term was short ; he stayed four years in Moline. But how important were these years for the church! He laid a good foundation, and though the time was limited he yet found time to build much good upon the foundation from which the congregation has reaped blessings ever since."
Rev. C. O. Lindell said in a letter to me: "The last time I heard him preach was in Swedona on the Day of Ascension. It was raining and the thunder and lightning compelled him to be silent for ten min-
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utes. When his voice could be heard he said: "God Himself speaks so powerfully that I must be silent." "It was Andrén who helped me to decide in favor of a ministerial career." In 1860 Andrén was sent to Sweden to arouse interest in and collect means for a school in Amer- ica. He resigned August 19. (Andrén's speech in Kristiania on Aug- ust 1, 1861, concerning America can be found in 'Korsbaneret' for 1886). Andren left for Sweden in September 1860. Rev. Peters writes concerning the departure :
"He never slept the last night, but prayed under tears to His Master that He would take care of the church. Though there was a great hurry Tuesday morning as the train would leave at ten, and though friends literally stormed the little parsonage, he sent for the key and entered the church alone. What he did there only He knows, who knows all things."
Andrén's History of Moline.
An extract from Rev. Andrén's description of Moline, dated March 3, 1859, says :
"Moline, or the city of mills, is situated on the Mississippi River. The land was cultivated by farmers until the year 1851 when a corpo- ration commenced the first mills there. Since that time Moline has progressed steadily. It now (1859) numbers about 3,000 inhabitants, and promises to be one of the largest factory cities of the west. There are at present four factories run by steam, water power being utilized by four flour mills and thirteen factories. The location is beautiful and advantageous. There is a prevalence of quiet and good morals, which distinguishes Moline from her sister cities, making it an attractive dwelling place. Moline's schools are well spoken of and have an at- tendance of 300, with four teachers. It has since its founding been a temperance town. Neither the drunkard nor the smuggler of drinks finds a place there. May our countrymen when they come to have a voice in the affairs of the city with earnestness join the party which works for purity and the true welfare of the city. Here, as in other places, the Swedes have been tempted to abandon their mother tongue. Only a few have listened to the absurd arguments. The majority show great zeal in instructing their children at home and then sending them to school. Our people have truly shared the hard times, and the years 1850, 1852 and 1854, when sickness, want and death reigned, will not soon be forgotten."
The older immigrants earned their homes by the sweat of their brow.
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For a time there was a steady progress. Many a one looked forward to the day when his savings would pay for a home in the city or a farm on the prairies of Illinois, Iowa, or Kansas. Sympathy for Scandina- vian professorship, the newspapers and "Publication Society" is on the increase. We are persuaded that the increase in these things will spread in spite of all opposition. In the beginning of the year 1861 the congre- gation sent a unanimous call to Rev. Andrén, desiring him to return. His answer expressed love and solicitude for the church. One of the most valued treasures of the Y. P. S. is an oil painting of Rev. Andrén, which ornaments their parlors. Rev. Andren died in Asarum, Sweden, June 11, 1870. Dr. Norelius has written very charmingly concerning the last hours of the lamented pastor's sickness and of the burial.
During this period it was resolved that no persons, not loyal to the denomination, shall be allowed to preach in the church. That a church fund be started by contributions at communions, receptions, etc .; tem- porary rules for disciplining adopted ; a constitution ratified by the Chi- cago and Mississippi conferences be adopted ; that the congregation do- nate $25 to a fund for a professor's chair ; many and peculiar rules for the janitor adopted in 1858. The Mississippi conference met in Mo- line in January 1853 and 1857.
From 1860 to 1873
The year 1860 marked a turning point in the history of the church as well as for the Augustana Synod. The congregation up to this time had been connected with the Northern Illinois Synod, but severed its relations with that body May 30 and joined the Augustana Synod. Rev. Andrén had left for Sweden during the summer and Rev. G. Peters was selected to take charge of the church during his absence. In August 1861, Andrén formally resigned as he did not intend to return to Amer- ica. Rev. Peters was then officially called to fill the vacancy. It was not a small charge, as the pastor was expected to visit Rock Island, Gen- eseo, and Fulton.
Rev. Peters was soon ready to leave, and in 1863 several meetings were held to call a new pastor. E. Norelius was called but did not accept. It was then decided to write to Rev. Andrén requesting him to send a suitable man from Sweden. Rev. Peters moved away in May 1864; his wife died here May 10, 1863, and his daughter, Hanna, died in Rockford in 1864. Rev. Peters is now officiating as a pastor in York, Nebraska.
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After this the church was vacant for two years, and the parsonage was rented out. Revs. J. Swensson, J. Johnson, and A. W. Dahlsten paid occasional visits. A certain Rev. Ekstrom was called from Sweden, but he did not come. On Dr. Hasselquist's suggestion a student, J. S. Ben- zon, was called from Paxton. He arrived in 1865 and on the request of the congregation he was ordained in 1866. The organization of Sun-
REV. G. PETERS (1862).
day- and parochial schools occupied the first years of the 70's. A city missionary was also appointed. Mr. A. Kropp was sent around to visit the families and distribute Bibles. The congregation revived with Rev. Benzon's arrival. An addition was built to the church and a school house put up on the same lot in 1868. A benefit society of the city assisted in this undertaking, securing $150, in return for which they were to use the school house for their meetings. Difficulties soon arose between the congregation and the benefit society. Members of
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the church living in Rock Island were permitted to organize a congre- gation in 1870. Rev. Benzon resigned in 1872, but remained until August 1873. He died at Albert City, Iowa, March 13, 1889. (His biography is found in 'Korsbaneret' of 1890). Mrs. Benzon relates of the time spent in Moline: "It was both pleasant and trying."
THE ENLARGED CHURCH.
Resolutions passed in this period: That members living in Rock Island may organize their own congregation; that members living five miles away pay only half of their fees; that the Sunday School may man- age its own funds; that the Sewing society meet at church; that the organ be moved to the rear of the church; that the congregation be divided into six districts; that the minister's family may use the cemetery lot donated by Abraham Anderson; that the minister shall have Satur- day off.
The Mississippi conference met here January 11-15, 1860, and the Synod 1869.
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REV. J. S. BENZON.
From 1873 to 1879
During the uneasiness that followed Rev. Benzon's departure, two pastors, H. Olson and Jorlander, were called, but neither accepted. Finally Rev. A. G. Setterdahl accepted and entered upon his duties in the spring of 1874. At this time all old buildings were swept aside to make room for new ones. The old parsonage was sold for $210 and moved across the street, and a new building was erected.
Erection of Present Church.
In December 1875, the congregation arrived at the important decision of building a new church, and a committee of twenty members was ap- pointed as a building committee. This was a great and worthy object to work for. Soon, however, dissensions crept in and a few discontented members withdrew and formed a new congregation. They built a church in the west end and called it Gustaf Adolf church and later united with the Mission covenant. The old church and school house were sold and moved away.
The new church was 116x62, built of brick and the corner stone was laid June 15, 1876. The foundation was built by J. P. Berg for $2,000,
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the upper story was built by Colseth, Knutson & Co., for $13,360. The finishing was done by Knutson and cost $1,238. The carpenter work was done for $800 by Andrew Peterson; for iron and tin $378; for the tower to, J. P. Berg, $1,425 ; to the architect, J. P. Holmes of Rock Is-
REV. A. G. SETTERDAHL.
land, was paid $150; and to the superintendent $200. The church was enclosed by December 1, 1876.
Rev. Setterdahl had a four months' leave of absence while he went to Sweden during the summer 1877. Prof. O. Olsson had charge of the congregation in the meantime. He conducted the first Sunday morning service in the new church, October 13, 1878. Rev. Setterdahl resigned his charge here in 1879 and moved to Sweden, where he is pastor at Östra Stenby. The membership fee was raised in 1877 to
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five dollars for men and three dollars for women. A subscrip- tion was started to pay off the debt, and a fund for the poor established. The church ex- pressed its disapproval of mem- bers joining secret societies.
A resolution prepared and presented by the church council was sanctioned January 15, 1878, and read as follows: The congregation expresses its dis- approval of any of its members uniting with secret societies, by whatever name they are known, and the church council is hereby instructed to make earnest pro- cedure with such members who violate this rule.
THE SCHOOL HOUSE.
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From 1880 to 1892
After Rev. Setterdahl, Rev. J. Telleen was called twice, but declined. They then called H. O. Lindeblad, who accepted and came to Moline in 1879. The church was now enclosed, but not nearly finished, and a shrewd business man was needed to straighten out the tangled affairs.
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DR. O. OLSSON.
The pews in the church cost $1,375; those in the gallery $134. The pulpit was given by Rev. J. Johnson, who thus contributed $200. The altar piece was painted and donated by F. A. Lundahl. A pipe organ, costing $2,700, was installed in 1881 and dedicated December 16th. The exterior of the church was painted in 1882 at a cost of $400, and
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a partition put in the basement. The plastering and interior work was done in 1883, and the bell, costing $825, was hung in the belfry. In 1884, a 4-dial clock costing $540 was placed in the tower. The organ and a portion of the church was damaged by lightning June 8, 1884, to the amount of $1,700, which was fully covered by insurance. More Scriptural paintings were added in 1886 and the stone steps, donated
REV. H. O. LINDEBLAD.
by the Moline Plow Co., were erected in the same year. Two furnaces were put in in 1887. The congregation was awed by the fact that the debt was increased at a rate that gave them much concern.
Rev. Lindeblad resigned in 1892, but was prevailed upon to remain, and he set to work and took up subscriptions to pay off the debt. He succeeded so well that the church was freed from debt June 9, 1889, at which time appropriate services were held. While these financial diffi- culties were troubling the congregation a petition was received from Augustana College, asking the right to organize an English Lutheran congregation at the college. This was not granted. The congregation
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