An illustrated history of the counties of Rock and Pipestone, Minnesota, Part 21

Author: Rose, Arthur P., 1875-1970
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Luverne, Minn. : Northern History Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 924

USA > Minnesota > Rock County > An illustrated history of the counties of Rock and Pipestone, Minnesota > Part 21
USA > Minnesota > Pipestone County > An illustrated history of the counties of Rock and Pipestone, Minnesota > Part 21

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

1909-Winnifred Anderson, Clarence Loose. Genevieve Carver, Verra Tangeman, Edna Nore- lius, Lillian Jones, Mary Noonan. Fern Philbrick. Kenneth Konnicott, Mamie Pease, Charles Sipes, Jessie Wiggins, Irving Cummings, Willard Jolin-

154

HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

In fine the Central building, too, be- rame inadequate to the needs of the grow- ing town for educational purposes. It was necessary to secure rooms in different halls of the town only a few years after the addition was completed. In May. 1893, the proposition to issue bonds to the amount of $3000 to build another ad- dition was defeated by a vote of 46 to 19. In the course of another year deci- sive measures for the erection of a second building were taken. Bonds in the sum of $20,000 were voted September 24, 1894. 123 electors balloting in favor of the proposition, and 37 against. The board of education purchased a site for $1750 in October: in November W. D. MeLaughlin was employed as architect : and in March, 1895, the contract for the erection of the building was awarded to Greene & Gillham. The handsome sione building. now used almost entirely as the high school, was ready for occupancy in November, 1895. Within the last few years both of the Luverne public school buildings have been remodeled and enlarg- ed and are modern and fully equipped in every particular. Luverne has a public school system unrivaled by any other city of its class in the state.

THE CHURCHES.

Eleven church societies maintain or- ganizations in Luverne, and of these all except one are established in their own houses of worship. The societies repre- sented in the county seat city are Metho- dist. Baptist, Presbyterian. Catholic. Nor- wegian Lutheran (Synod ). Norwegian son, Marie Keegan. Ray Hodgson, Marietta Johnson, Estelle Philbrick. Eva King.

1910-Guy W. Morso. C. Edwin Baker, Mary E. Byrne, Roy H. Cummings, Nina M. Ferguson. Earl E. Strever, Esmonde L. Connell, Bernice E. Davidson, Lily K. Franklin, 11. Stanley Loffler, Lillian E. Lynch, Meta Rathjen, Eunice E. Woodrow.

mr.It is announced that a session of the quarterly conference of the Methodist church will be held in the school house in this place on the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth of this month, In charge of Rev. Wright, of Mankato.

Lutheran ( United), Unitarian, Episcopal, German Lutheran, Norwegian Lutheran (Free) and Christian Science.

The pioneer church of Luverne is the Methodist, which has now arrived at the thirty-eighth year of its existence. In- cluded among the early settlers in Beaver Creek township was a company of de- yout followers of John Wesley, who in the summer of 1822 brought about the organization of a Sunday school and Meth- odist class. It was at the request of this religious company that Rev. E. H. Bron- son came from Wisconsin to supervise the cause of the Methodists in Rock county. The announcement of the elder's coming prompted the few Methodists in Luverne to make plans for a church organization. to which Rev. Bronson would minister. Through the activity of those interested a conference, in charge of Presiding El- der Wright, was held in the village school house May 24 and 25. 1873, to discuss the feasibility of the undertaking."

Rev. Bronson arrived June 12, 1823, and three days later, on Sunday, preached to his new congregations, holding ser- vices in the Beaver Creek settlement and in Luverne. At the close of the meetings of the day the minister completed the work of organization. the members of the two congregations uniting lo form one church society.

The lot of a pioneer clergyman in a new and untempered country is always one that can only demand hardihood of the strongest fibre. The experience of Rock county's earliest established pastor is a case in point. For six weeks the "parson-

presiding elder of the conference. We under- stand that one or more preachers, besides the presiding elder, will be present. We are to have a minister of this denomination located in the community at an early day. We are re- liably informed that he is now on his way hither. We hope he does not imagine that he is a missionary going to spread the gospel among the heathen, for in times past we have heen accustomed to the 'sound of the church- going bell' and will again rejoice to obey its summons to the house of worship. We have a school house, and now let us have a mort- ing house."- Rock County Hlerall. May 23. 1873.

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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

age" which gave shelter to Rev. Bronson ed.7 A building committee was appoint- was a wagon cover, utilized from the equipment of some emigrant train. Ile organized churches and classes in Spring- water, Kanaranzi, Ellsworth, Ashcreek, Magnolia and other places, all being grouped under the general name of the Laverne circuit, and for a number of years the one man supplied the many charges.

Each separate organized church in the Luverne circuit elected delegates to sit 'on the board of trustees and stewards for the whole. which convened at stated in- tervals in Luverne to take up matters of church importance. Such an organization existed for four and one-half years, when the union was dissolved and the churches given the privilege of developing as in- dependent. units.

Late in December, 1873, the Luverne Methodist church became a corporate body as a result of the recording of the certificate of organization with the reg- ister of deeds. The first board of trus- fees, elected the first Sunday in Novem- ber, consisted of C. R. Henton, Bishop 1. Crossman, Charles Williams, T. P. Grout, Joseph Forbes, J. Gillard. Philo Hawes, Amos Estey and Joseph Knight. The question of erecting a church edifice in 1823 was a matter of discussion. but re- sulted in no action, although one of the townsite proprietors pledged a suitable site and a donation of $100 to the first church society to build in Luverne.

For a period of four years following or- ganization the Methodist society worship- ped in the school building. On July 21. 1827, the project for a church building was successfully launched. Subscrip- tions to the amount of $2000 were seeur-

"James Preston, T. P. Grout, James Gillard and W. Il. Glass contributed the first one thou- sand dollars to the building fund.

8The following have been succeeding pastors of the Methodist church: J. W. Lewis. 1877-78: Peter Claire, 1878-79; H. W. Pease, 1879; J. Thomas Murrish, 1880-81; W. F. Means, 1881-82,

ed, and the work of construction com- menced soon after. The season was one of hard times, and the committee was forced to solve some grave financial problems in order to continue the work. The brick church. which still serves the society, was sufficiently completed by December 1, 1822, to permit the holding of services in the basement. On Sunday, August 5, 1883, the church was dedicated free of debt. The dedication was made by Bish- op Foss, of Minneapolis, assisted by Bishop Samuel Fallows, of Chicago. The cost of the completed structure approxi- mated $5000. Improvements and altera- tions amounting to about $3000 were made in 1905, following which. on June 18. the church was impressively rededi- cated by Rev. G. H. Bridgeman, D. D., president of Hamline university.

Rev. Bronson served the church as pas- tor from 1873 to 1877. and was assisted during the final year of his active minis- try by Rev. J. M. Bull.S

For several years the Methodist was the only church organization in Luverne, although from time to time ministers of other faiths preached to their following among the population. The year 1815 witnessed the beginning of the Luverne Baptist church.

At a Sunday school pienie, on Satur- day. July 3, 1825, Elder A. W. Hilton, of Turner county, South Dakota, learned from three members of the Beaver Creek settlement who were present, O. A. Hul- oft, William Ells and Thomas Jones, of the existence in Rock county of a strong Baptist following that was desirous of perfecting a closer union. An appoint- ment was made with Mr. Hilton to hold

Samuel Cates, 1882; T. W. Butler. 1883-84; E. R. Lathrop, 1884-85; D. Seymour, 1885-86; Noah B. Foot. 1886-89: Oliver Williams, 1889-92; Rev. Harris, 1892-93; T. H. Scheckler, 1893-95; J. W. Cornish, 1895-97: T. A. Jones, 1897-01: C. A. Anderson, 1901-03; William Burns, 1903-04; E. Z. Durham, 1905: I. H. Woodworth. 1906-08; Ross I .. Finney, 1908-09; C. W. Morse, 1909-11.

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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

services on Sunday, July 11. On the aft- ernoon of that day Mr. Hilton preached at the home of JJ. 11. Stearns. near Val- ley Springs, and in the evening at Lu- verne. Two weeks later, on June 25. Mr. Hilton again conducted services al. Lu- vorne. At the close of this meeting, which was held at the school house, a church organization was decided upon, and The following eleven persons were re- ceived as members: Mrs. Elizabeth Nor- ton. Mrs. Cordelia Brockway. William Ells. Mrs. Lydia Ells, Albert E. Snow, Sidney Hulett, O. A. Hulett, Mrs. A. C. Croft. Estella Ells, Mrs. Emily James and Mrs. Laura Spalding. Mr. Ells was chosen deacon and Mrs. A. C. Croft. church clerk. Mr. Hilton was elected to the pastorate and consented to come from his home in South Dakota to preach every two weeks. Over Twenty-five additions were made to the membership before the close of the year 1875.

AL an election held in October, 1875, a board of trustees, consisting of Sylves- ter Norton. B. F. Roderick. H. Hall, P. J. Kniss and A. C. Croft, was elected as a preparatory step to incorporation and the creation of a church building. In May. 1876, a committee of seven was appointed to canvass Rock county for funds with which to ereet a building. Lots were donated by P. J. Kuiss and . 1. Warren. By the opening of winter the foundation of the proposed structure was laid. The building was slow in reaching completion, owing to the depression inci- dent to the grasshopper scourge, which serionsly affected the payment of subserip- tions to the building fund. Timely aid in the form of a carload of lumber was received from Horace Thompson and E. F. Drake, of St. Paul. The winter of

"The list of jnistors who have filled the Bay- tist pulpit is as follows: A. W. Hilton, 1875-77: 1. W. Reese. 1877-78: J. F. Merriam, 1879-SI: . J. W. Reese. 1881-80; Cyrus Thomas, 1882-88; 11. K. Varney, 1888 (June to August); W. E. Hop-

1817-18 found the house of worship en- closed and plastered, but without seats or means of heating, but these necessities were supplied before the end of spring.

The constitution and articles of incor- poration were adopted by the church body on June 21. 1811. One year later. in June. 1898, the Unverne church was admitled into membership by the Minne- sota Valley association. The cost of the church edifice approximated $3500, and the dedication ceremony was postponed until the entire indebtedness had been paid. The event occurred on July 26. 1885. when was celebrated the tenth anm- versary of the church's organization. The services on this occasion were conducted by Rev. J. Sunderland, state Baptist missionary. A north wing was added Lo the church building in 1902 at a cost of abont $2500. The money for this pur- pose was donated by the Baptist society of Beaver Creek, which on disbanding sold its church building and donated the proceeds to the sister society in Luverne. The present membership of the Baptist church is 130. Since its organization there have been 427 names recorded on the membership roll. Mrs. L. B. Kniss has been the church clerk without inter- ruption since 1849.9

Of the three Norwegian Lutherm churches in Unverne, the Synod society is the oldest. So far back in the county's history as 1822 can be traced the begin- nings of this organization. Among The pioneers of Rock county were quite a mumlar of Norwegians who had been brought up in the Lutheran faith in their native land and were desirous of perpetu- ating the Lutheran form of service il: their new home. An informal church or- ganization was maintained by several

kins. 18SS-S9: Russell S. Sargeant. 1889-91; . T. P. Coffman. 1892-93: 1. W. Lisk. 1893-91: 41. F. Bronson. 1895 47; J. Y. Montagre 1898-02: Charles Firth. 1902-07: J. M. Curry. 1907-10; W. II. Porham. 1910-11.

SOME LUVERNE CHURCHES

HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

157

families, services were held from time to time at convenient places, and occasional- ly a minister of their denomination was present.

Rev. O. O. Sando, who came to Luverne in 1873, and preached frequently there- after to the little congregation, was in- strumental in effecting a regular church organization. The society was organized June 1, 1826, as the Luverne Norwegian Evangelical congregation, and the follow- ing wore received as first members: B. S. Wold. Engebret Evensen, Gahr Aanen- sen, O. A. Plomasen, Isak Isaksen, Jacob Aanensen and Rasmus Halvorson. Roy. Sando was duly installed as the first pas- top.10

For ten years the Synod church was without a home of its own and held its services in different halls of the town. The corner stone for the present editice, on the corner of Freeman avenue and Lu- verne street, was laid October 3, 1886. The building committee consisted of Rev. A. O. Thurmo. K. Egge and Andreas Erickson, The structure, erected at a cost of $2500, was first occupied for services March 25. 188%. In 1882, before the church was built. the society purchased a dwelling to be used as the manse. Two other churches are served by the pastor of the Luverne church : the one at Kenneth, and the Trefoldighed church of Rose Dell township.

St. Catherine's Catholic church of Lu- vorne is another organization whose his- tory begins in the seventies. Among the early day settlers were the Catholic lam- ilies of MeDermotis, Ryans, MeCarthys. Lynchs, Fitzgeralds. Ilykes, McKoons and others, who banded themselves together for the purpose of worship. A petition for a regular pastor addressed to Bishop Ireland in 1843 was answered. Father Knauf was assigned to the fickl.

JOThe pastors of the Syand church have been: 0 0. Sando, 1876-78; C. A. Naeseth, 1878 81:

Many of the cariy day services of the society were held at the home of Lawrence MeDermott, at the mounds, and in the publie halls of Luverne. Under the pas- torate of Father Fox, late in 1880, the fiist church edifice was erected at a cost of several thousand dollars. The pastors in charge of the parish since Father Fox have been Fathers Keefe, Dowling, Dwyer, Engelbert, MeDonough, Hartlieb, Walsh and Mangan.

St. Catherine's church of today is the largest and handsomest in the county. The first steps toward its erection were taken in April, 1908. The corner stone of the building was laid September 8. 1908, and it was brought to completion in December of that year. The cost of the imposing structure was $20.000 and it was dedicated free of debt on Wednes- day, August 18, 1909. Sixteen visiting clergymen were in attendance at the cere- monies, and the dedieatory sermon was preached by Rev. Father William Griffin, of Ellsworth. The foundation walls of the edifice are of red jasper from the mound quarries and are overtopped by a superstructure of buff colored pressed brick, trinoned with white stone.

The very first religious service held in Rock county was conducted by a Presby- terian minister, Dr. Rice, and occurred in the summer of 1868. Dr. Rice had accompanied a party of government sur- veyors which was operating in Rock coun- ty that year and found there a few scat- tered settlers. To an audience numbering senice a dozen, including members of the visiting party. Dr. Rice, on August 12. preached from a position on the summit of the Blue mounds, and in these most characteristic surroundings gave an ex- position of Christ's sermon on the mount.

The initial steps in the formation of a Presbyterian church in Luverne were

A. O. Thurmo, 1882-94; J. II. Lunde, 1894-02; S. Bervin, 1901-09; L. P. Lund, 1909-11.

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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

taken during the late seventies. Among the pioneer ministers of that denomina- tion to visit the town and promote the agitation for a church organization were Revs. D. C. Lyon and Edward Savage. In May, 1828, Rev. Charles Thayer was sta- tioned by the state synod as missionary in Rock county. As a result of a few months' labor, on October 28, 18:8, Rev. Thayer received a petition signed by nine persons, requesting him to proceed with the regular organization of a Presbyterian church in Luverne. To this end a meet- ing was held November 12, which result- ed most successfully. The following thir- teen persons entered into fellowship with one another and were received as mem- bers of the first Presbyterian church : Mrs. Mary J. Loomis, Mrs. Lucy A. Spalding. Mrs. Belle Rice. Lafayette Palmer, Pardon E. Brown, wife and daughter, Nelson R. Reynolds and wife, Rov. Charles Thayer. wife and son Martin. and Mrs. Bullis.11

Under the direction of Rev. John Mun- ro, who succeeded Rov. Thayer, a church building. the fourth in Luverne, was erected in 1881 at a cost of $1230. The sanctuary was dedicated. unencumbered. on Sunday. April 16, 1882, by Rev. Thomas Campbell. This original build- ing served the purposes of the society for sixteen years. The present handsome church edifice of the Presbyterians was creeted in 1899, and cost. complete. $5300. The corner stone of the struc- ture was laid November 20. 1898, by Dr. Thayer, the first pastor, and the dedica- tion took place September 17, 1899. The building is well appointed, with gallery and large lecture room, and has a seating capacity of 550. The present member- ship of the Presbyterian church is about 135.

11The pastors who have ocenpied the Preshy- terian pulpit, with dates of service, have bren' Charles Thayer. 1878-80; John Munro, 1880-AS; Rev. Laverty, INS3-54; John 0. Henderson, ISN4-

As the result of a call. signed by seven- teen persons, for a meeting of those in- terested in the organization of a tUnited Norwegian Lutheran church and the re- sultant meeting, which was held July 19. 1884. Luverne became the home of a sec- ond Norwegian speaking church. At the initial meeting a committee was appointed to secure a pastor for the congregation. Prior to the organization, services had ben conducted from time to time by Rev. Il. Z. Hvid.

Our Saviour's United Norwegian Evan- gelical Lutheran church was incorporated in July, 1886, the trustees elected to carry out this design being J. O. Helgeson. O. Lund and O. J. Oestern. The society worshipped in private homes and in the court house for many years, until 1898. when the church on the corner of MeKen- zie and Luverne streets was erected at a cost of $2000. The building was occupied for the first time on Sunday, August ?, 1898.

The first regular pastor of the church was Rev. H. Wang, who served from 188F to 1890. Ile was succeeded in the latter year by Rov. Th. Fossum, who was in charge for fifeen years. From 1905 to 1908 the pastor was N. O. Rogver. The present minister. Rev. J. Mundahl, locat- ed in Luverne in Angust, 1909.

On Sunday, October 31. 1886. the first Unitarian service in Loverno was con- mucted by Rev. J. R. Effinger, of Chicago, Interest in the movement was awakened. and a series of meetings was arranged, held under the leadership of Rev. S. S. Hunting. of Des Moines. As an outcome the Unity Congregational church of Lu- verne was organized December to, 1886. The first board of trustees, consisting of E. Il. Canfield. R. E. Moreland, George

$5: William Miller. 1885-87; S. A. Jamison, 1887- 92. Arthur M. Smith, 1892-94; John McArthur. 1894-96: William J. Johnson. 1896-99; Frank L. Fraser, 1599-03; Augustus H. Carver, 1903-11.

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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

B. Brace, F. C. Mahoney and A. M. Cros- organizing an Episcopal church was arous- by, was elected at that time.

Rev. Hunting served as missionary pas- tor of the new society until July, 1887. when he was succeeded by Rev. Mary Wilkes. The "Unity Society" of Luverne became a corporate body July 21, 1888. Just prior to this a building committee of three members, F. C. Mahoney, A. M. Crosby and E. H. Canfield, was chosen. The erection of a church was commenced in April, 1899 ; the corner stone was laid May 10 : the first service therein was held July 14: and the formal dedication occur- red Sunday, October 20, that event veca- sioning a noteworthy gathering of emi- nent Unitarian ministers. The lot and building complete cost $4765. Of this amount the pastor, Mrs. Wilkes, raised $2000 in the east, and $2500 of the bal- ance was contributed by fifty-one citizens of Inverne, in subscriptions ranging from $5 to $200 each.

The Unity church has not held regular services since the last pastor, Rev. B. A. Hills, removed from the field in October, 1908. A Sunday school was organized simultaneously with the church and is still continued. Ten years ago the Sun- day school at Inverne was distinguished as being the largest Unitarian Sunday school in the state. The society was be- queathed the house and lot adjoining the church on the west by the late George W. Snook, and the income from that property is to be forever used in the sup- port of the Sunday school.

The first event to mark the birth of Holy Trinity Episcopal church of Lu- vorne was the visit of Rev. D. Griffin Gunn, of Worthington, in March, 1883. At that time he conducted a service of the Episcopalian form in the Presbyte- rian church. Interest in the matter of

ed during the few succeeding years, and services were held from time to time by visiting ministers.

Holy Trinity Parish was organized June 25, 1891, at which time Rev. C. S. Ware, who had supplied at intervals, was chosen as the first rector. The first ves- try, elected at this time, consisted of N. R. Reynolds, senior warden ; T. E. Jones, junior warden : W. H. Wilson, J. W. Ger- ber, J. W. Millhouse and R. B. Hinkly. The erection of a church home was agreed upon, and on August 19, 1891, Bishop Gilbert and Rev. Ware laid the corner stone of the structure. The building, of stone construction, was completed late in the fall, at a cost of $6000. The dedica- tion ceremonies did not eventuate until six years later, when it was accomplished with the indebtedness cleared. The event took place Monday, November 7, 1897, Bishop Gilbert officiating. The parish owns a rectory. bought in 1906 with funds raised for the most part through the efforts of the ladies' guild.12

St. John's German Evangelical Luther- an church commenced its life on July 12, 1891. Services had been held prior to that time, but not with any regularity or as a united congregation. At the or- ganization meeting ten persons were re- ceived into membership. They were John Ahrendt, Bernhard Ahrendt, Albert Ah- vendt. Henry Meyer, Anton Roeder, Wil- liam Stelling, Carl Kurth, William Mann, Carl Mannigel and Henry C. Sodemann. The first board of trustees was made up of Bernhard Ahrendt, William Stelling and Henry Meyer.

The Synod Norwegian Lutheran church was employed as a house of worship by the German organization until the society erected a building of its own in the fall

E. Couper, 1827-00; W. Parry-Thomas, 1901-04; W. A. Dennis, 1905-09; J. D. Salter, 1910-11.

"The Episcopal church has been ministered to by the following six regularly installed rectors: C. S. Ware, 1891-94; F. W. White, 1894-90; W.

160

HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

of 1895 at a cost of $1000. The dedica- tion took place December 10, 1895. In 1906 a commodious parsonage was added to the church property. In its history of twenty years St. John's church has had only two pastors: Rev. H. C. Brink- man, the organizing minister, and Rov. 11. W. Baumann. the present incumbent, who succeeded to the charge in 1898. The pastor also has under his charge Trinity German Lutheran church at Steen and a mission post at Beaver Creek. A paro- chial school is maintained, in charge of the pastor.

A church of the Christian society ex- isted in Enverne for a few years in the late nineties. The organization was per- fected on January 8, 1897. During the following year a small church building, valued at $1100, was erected. The dedica- tion occurred December 12, 1898. At the time of its greatest prosperity the so- ciety had a membership of forty. Owing largely to removels, the number became depreciated to such an extent that the or- ganization was disbanded after a few years' life, and the church building was sold.

The third Norwegian Lutheran church in Imverne dates its existence from 1904. This is the Free church, incorporated as the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Zion's Society. Six or seven former mem- bers of the local United church formed the nucleus of the organization. A frame structure, 30x40 feet in size, was erected by the society for a church home in 1905. Three years later when the Catholics moved into their new church, the building vacat- ed by them was purchased by the Free Lutherans and moved to the site of the original church home it supplanted. There are about fifteen families represented in the membership of the church.

The Christian Science society is the only established religious organization in

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An illustrated history of the counties of Rock and Pipestone, Minnesota, Part 21

Author: Rose, Arthur P., 1875-1970 Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Luverne, Minn. : Northern History Publishing Company Number of Pages: 924

Author: Rose, Arthur P., 1875-1970
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Luverne, Minn. : Northern History Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 924