USA > Minnesota > Cottonwood County > History of Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume I > Part 43
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53
Auto garage-Appel & Wettestad. Gottlieb Dettwiler, Pioneer Auto Company, Schoffman, Crowley & Vellum.
Attorneys-F. C. Farmer, Jens L. Lobben, Albert Running, Seager & Seager.
Banks-Citizens National, First National, Security State.
Barber shops-Lawrence & Crain, Louis W. Meyer, V. W. Riley.
Blacksmith shops-Nels Bjorklund, Herman Elting, H. A. Remper. Bakery-City Bakery.
Clothing-Haugen & Warnke, J. P. Heirtz & Son.
Creamery-St. James Creamery Company.
Confectionery-G. W. Giles, Olympia Candy Kitchen.
Druggists-Hintgen Drug Company, John W. Shanks.
Dray fine-Klaras & Mausling.
Dentists-Fred W. Hinds, Johan Rolf, A. C. Thulien.
Elevator-Great Western Grain Company, Farmers Grain Company. Furniture dealers-A. K. Peck & Son, St. James Furniture Company. Feed store-F. M. Priest.
Florist -- J. J. Hill.
Grocers-Clinton Ellsworth, Amel Running.
General dealers-Schoffman Brothers, John K. Sonnesyn & Company.
P. N. Sterrie & Company, Swendsen & Ranseen.
Hotel-The Boston.
Harness shops-John L. Beck, George J. Hartung, John D. Meyer. Hardware dealers-Charles Il. Engelbrecht, Rollie C. Gibson, City Mercantile Company. J. T. Beatrundi.
Implements-Charles H. Duryea, City Mercantile Company, Hans Olson.
Ice dealer -- Manning Fuel Company.
Jewelers-Severt Hansen, Emil F. Minder.
Laundry-St. James Steam Laundry.
Lumber dealers-S. Hage Lumber Company, Thomas-Halverson Lum- ber Company.
Livery-Forsyth Livery. Mill-St. James Milling Company.
Millinery-Cook & Rodgers, Agnes B. Cooney, Charlotte Schaefer.
478
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
Meat Market-Otto Bergman, David Schroeder & Son.
Moving Picture Show-Star, Princess.
Merchant Tailors-Chris. G. Kittelson, Paul Rudie.
Newspapers-Plaindealer, Journal-Gasette, St. James Independent. Nations-G. A. Beck, I'. A. Beeker.
Nursery-John Hill.
Opera House-Grand Opera House.
Physicians-Benjamin H. Haynes, William H. Rowe, Albert Thompson. Photographic Gallery-Steel Studio.
Produce dealer-Fred M. Priest, Peterson & O'Connell.
Restaurants-Diamond, Gish & Henkle, John Johnson, J. J. Williams.
Real Estate dealers-Sonnesyn Land Company, Curtis-Sawyer Land Company, Gibbs & Sweppe, Home Seekers Land Company, Ed. C. Fuller. Stock Buyer-St. James Shipping Association, J. D. Nolan.
Tile works-St. James Tile Company.
Telephone-St. James Telephone Company, Tri-State, North Western. Veterinary-Charles C. Anderson, William C. Cullen.
Wagonmaker-Erickson &. Johnson.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.
In July, 1908, there was a three days home-coming gathering at St. James. The president on that occasion was J. J. Thornton, Sr .; the secre- tary, E. Z. Rasey and the treasurer, Mrs. J. J. Thornton. An Old Settler's Association was formed at that time for Watonwan county. The first day of the celebration was interesting; a speech was delivered by Hon. W. S. Hammond; a baseball game was played: the Old Settlers Association per- fected, etc. On the second day the real home-coming occasion took place and many old friends of early times renewed their acquaintance and reviewed the long-ago years. The third day was devoted to games, horse races and wound up by a display of fire-works in the evening.
The Omaha coal sheds at St. James were burned at a loss of fifteen thousand dollars, May, 1912.
The St. James water-works contract was let to E. F. Sykes, of Minne- apolis at $21, 116 and was to be completed by November 5, 1894.
In 1804 there was a contract let for the construction of three thousand two hundred and forty feet of sewer. This was awarded to Abbott & Youngren, Minneapolis, at eighteen hundred and fifteen dollars and sixty cents. It called for a twelve-inch vitrified pipe.
479
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
The vote to bond the city for water and lights in May, 1894, stood, 240 for, as against 105 opposing the measure.
In the summer of 1889 a contract was let to build the city flouring-mill, at a cost of ten thousand dollars.
In 1907 the city hall bonds were sold to a Minneapolis firm for the sum of $6.525. This was for the erection of the present city building.
Quite an innovation in the printing business occurred in St. James in the autumn of 1915, when H. L. Troop, established a "printery" in which by linotype machines he is doing the typesetting of the news departments for all three of the newspapers of the city, as well as setting advertising matter when the offices require it of him. in busy seasons.
TIIE ST. JAMES GRAIN COMPANY.
In 1890, what was styled the Farmers Elevator Company was organ- ized by E. Z. Rasey, John Erickson, Patrick Grogan and Frank Goodwin. It was re-organized in 1911 and named the St. James Grain Company. This organization soon revolutionized the grain trade of the county. Not- withstanding that there are other large grain warehouses and dealers in St. James, still this company made up of farmers co-operating on a mutual plan. have taken the lead and every day the smaller towns in the county get their market figures from this company. They usually declare a ten per cent dividend, annually. This is one instance wherein the farmers have shown their ability as able business men in the handling of large amounts of grain and money.
.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE CHURCHES OF WATONWAN COUNTY.
The religious element has always predominated in the various town- ships of Watonwan county, from the earliest date of settlement. The Amer- icans who first braved the dangers coincident with effecting a permanent settlement in this part of the state, were from one or more of the older settled portions of the Union, and did not leave their church letters back beyond the Mississippi or Alleghany mountains, but as soon as conditions would permit, after building themselves rude houses and raising a few crops, com- menced to organize classes and religious societies of different kinds, accord- ing to their own religious views.
The first denomination to lift up the Cross in this county was the Meth- odist Episcopal, a ciass being formed at Madelia in 1857. As other sects arrived they worshipped in union congregations, until enough had settled to support churches of their own when such societies were formed. There are now in this county churches of the following denominations: Methodist Episcopal, Episcopal, Baptist. Presbyterian, Catholic. Mennonite, Swedish. Norwegian, German and Danish Lutherans, Christian or Church of Christ, with possibly some others.
METIIODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHIES.
The Methodist denomination is only represented at this time by two churches, one at St. James and the other at the village of Madelia. The First Methodist Episcopal church at St. James was organized in 1871, by Rev. J. R. Andrews, with a charter membership as follows: Hamilton Foster and wife, Mary Keing, Mrs. J. W. Seager, Frank Smith and wife, S. W. Thayer and family, A. S. Trowbridge and wife, J. B. Bemies, C. J. Smith and wife, B. Z. Rasey and wife, E. P. Newell and wife, James Butler, Ira W. Bowen and wife, Amasa Smith and wife, Mary Lyons, Alice Hol- land, A. D. Lewis and wife, Lyman Matthews and wife and Clarence Row- land.
The present total membership of this church is one hundred and eighty. A church building was erected in 1871 at a cost of one thousand dollars. The present edifice was built in 1895 at a cost of fourteen thousand dol-
6
2
7
----
----
.
-
1
1
4
5
RURAL CHURCHES OF WATONWAN COUNTY.
غير
٠
481
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
lars. A parsonage was erected in 1883 and remodeled in 1900, and is now valued at twenty-five hundred dollars.
The first sermon preached in St. James by a minister of this faith was delivered by Rev. W. I. W. Cunningham. His widow still resides in St. James, and now lives with her daughter, Mrs. E. Rowland. The following have served as pastors here: Revs. J. R. Andrews, N. A. Trowbridge. M. D. Terwilliger. F. L. Tuttle. W. L. Demorest. J. W. Cornish, W. A. Miles, W. H. Barkoloo, John Gunson, W. F. Stockdill. H. E. Chase, Lincoln Jones, N. B. Foote. G. A. Cooke, L. A. Wilsey, William Burns, E. R. Houck, F. F. Fitch. C. H. Miller. A. C. Petrie and the present pastor, Rev. W. H. Irwin.
This church has all of the usual departments of church work, and is in a flourishing condition.
AT MADELIA.
The Methodist Episcopal church at Madelia was organized in 1857 by Theopholis Drew, but the names of the charter members cannot now be learned. The present membership of this church is one hundred and eighty- five. The present church building was erected in 1896 at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars.
Among the pastors who have been assigned to this place are recalled the following: Revs. Theopholis Drew, John W. Powell, Stines, Milner, McCleary, S. T. Richardson, Churchbuck. B. Y. Coffin, A. G. Perkins. Joshua Barnard. J. W. Powell, W. I. W. Cunningham, J. R. Andrews, N. A. Trowbridge, M. D. Terwilliger, F. L. Tuttle. W. L. Demorist. J. W. Cornish, C. A. Ressy, W. A. Miles, W. H. Barkaloo, John Gimson. W. P. Stockdill, H. E. Chase, E. H. Goodell, A. D. Seckner, W. C. Sage, C. W. Morse, J. R. Hitchcock, John Lowe, I. N. Goodell and C. A. Anderson. The last named came before Rev. Seckner, and the present pastor is Rev. I. N. Goodell.
It appears that this work began in 1857 and meetings were held at private homes until 1862, and then after the Indian uprising troubles had ended, services were held in the old fort or block-house, which was on the site of St. Paul street, just to the north of the present church. After they left the fort they held meetings in the school house for about eight years. Next, they held services in the Presbyterian church which was built in 1871. Next, Flander's Hall was used by the Methodists. The first Methodist church here was erected in 1876 and cost two thousand dollars. It appears from the records that a parsonage was built in 1871, during the pastorate of Rev. J. R. Andrews.
(31)
182
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCHES.
The Evangelical Lutheran St. Paul's congregation held its first services on April 4, 1886. The services were conducted in German, by Rev. C. J. Albrecht. On October 6, 1886, the congregation was formally organized, the organization of which included the following: President, E. Vehling; secretary, F. W. Uhlhorn: treasurer, Christ Harms; H. Feigs, Otto Close, H. Keller, John Petrich, L. Englebrecht, A. Franghucsk, A. Mueller, A. W. Schweppe.
Until May 7. 1887, the congregation was furnished with student pastors from the Martin Luther College of New Ulm, but on the date indicated the Rev. R. Poethke was called as the first regular pastor. On June 4 the con- gregation decided to become a member of the Minnesota Association. On August 15, 1887, the congregation resolved to build a church and on Sep- tember 9, the corner-stone was laid. On July 29, 1888, the edifice was dedi- cated by the Rev. C. H. Sprengler, assisted by Rev. R. Poethke. In size the building was twenty-four by forty-four feet and a tower of sixty feet high.
Rev. R. Poethke accepted the call of another congregation on November I. 1888, and to fill the vacancy, Reverend Nietscke was secured and he served until Palm Sunday, 1890. The church was without the services of a regular pastor until March 2, but during this time Rev. C. H. Sprengler conducted the services. On the date mentioned the Reverend Porisch, of Hurley, Wis- consin, was secured as the regular pastor.
In 1897 the congregation decided to build a school building and in 1898 Mr. H. Schmal was chosen teacher. He held this position until November, 1903, when he received a call to Manestine, Michigan. In September, 1904, Miss Ida Sperind was called as teacher.
In the spring of 1904 Rev. Porisch was called to Butterfield, Minne- sota. and the congregation was without the services of an active pastor until October 2, 1904, when the Rev. A. Dasler, of Rapid River. Michigan, accepted the call. In the forepart of the year 1905 the congregation bought property for the residence of the pastor, and in the summer of the same year, a new two-story school building, thirty by forty-four feet, cement block con- struction, was erected to meet the growing needs of the church and school.
Rev. Dasler served as pastor until the spring of 1911, when he accepted a call to Scranton, Pennsylvania. He was succeeded by Rev. E. A. Pankow, who is the present pastor. The teacher in charge of the school is Mr. E. Gruber, who has served since the fall of 1906.
483
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
Services are conducted in both English and German. but with German predominating. The congregation has a Young People's Society and a Ladies' Aid Society that meets monthly in the school building.
AT BUTTERFIELD.
German Evangelical Lutheran, St. Matthew's congregation, in the vil- lage of Butterfield, was organized February 13, 1904, by Rev. A. F. Zrehls- dorf. with the following charter members: A. B. Schwretest, H. Obevdick, C. Schellin. Louis Seavert, John Ott. George Wolff, Adam Wolff, John Wolff, R. Krause, John Oeltjenbruns, H. Oeltjenbruns, H. Reinitz, William Abel, W. Williams, H. Janssen, G. Blankenburg, William Kuecker and D. Goltz.
The congregation now numbers eighteen. The pastors who have served this congregation are Revs. A. F. Zrehlsdorf. J. Porisch and present pastor, Rev. W. C. Rumsch, who has been in charge since August, 1910.
The church building cost the society thirteen hundred and sixty-four dollars. There is a parochial school attached to this church and school is kept up seven months each year; it is held at the parsonage; ten to fifteen pupils attend. Instruction is given by the pastor.
AT MADELIA.
The Madelia Evangelical Lutheran. or East Lutheran, as sometimes . called, is located at the village of Madelia and it was organized November 29. 1870, by Rev. N. Olson, of the Norwegian Lutheran conference. The first board of trustees were as follows: Jerome Patterson, Martin Gjertson and Torger Olson. Its first deacons were: Gunder Sasson, Ole Berntson and Anders Anderson.
The present membership is one hundred and twenty-eight. The first church building was erected in 1873, and the present one in 1901, at a cost of about four thousand dollars. The parsonage was built in 1894, valued at three thousand dollars. The following is a list of the various pastors who have charge of this work at Madelia: Revs. N. Olson, 1870-74; N. S. Hoggenes, 1874-81; T. R. Solensten, 1882-87: S. Romsdahl, 1881-91; J. H. Brono, 1892-93: II. Houkom, 1893-97; John Mastson, 1898-04: H. C. Cas- person, 1904-05: Johan Mattson. 1905-07; O. M. Bakke. 1907-08; C. M. Tollefson. 1909 and still pastor.
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran church at Madelia was organized October
484
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
28, 1870, by Rev. T. H. Hattrem and the following charter members: Will- iam Wilness. Hans Juvland, Tolley Pederson. Charles Tiegum. Syver Tjelsta, Rasmus Johnson. David Anderson, Helge Palme, Jens Thorson, Ole Wiborg. Nils Thorson.
In 1916 there were three hundred and eighty-one members of this church. They own a six-thousand-dollar house of worship and a parsonage valued at about fifty-five hundred dollars. This denomination has churches at LaSalle. Rosendale township, St. James and other points within Waton- wan county. This church maintains parochial schools in four districts- Martin Nelson district, Homre district, Olaf Olson district and Madelia dis- trict. The total number of pupils enrolled is fifty-six.
AT DARFUR.
The German Evangelical Lutheran St. Johns church at Darfur was founded on August 5, 1907, by Aug. Goring and A. A. Uhlhorn. The charter members were as follow: Aug. Goring, Aug. Schaper, A. A. Uhl- horn, Earnest E. Uhlhorn. John Koenig. Henry King, William Koenig. Otto Langhoff, George Feller. The first trustees were the following: Aug. Gor- ing. A. A. Uhlhorn, and Aug. Schaper. The pastors in order of serving are: Rev. Adolph Dasler, Rev. Edmund R. Bliefernicht, Rev. Arnold Eick- man and Rev. E. A. Birkholz. The membership is about fifteen. The house of worship is a frame building, formerly a school house. However the building has been remodeled and very well serves the needs of the con- gregation.
The first teacher of the parochial school was Henry Geiger, but since that time the ministers have served in this capacity. The number of pupils averages about thirty.
AT SOUTHI BRANCII.
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church in South Branch township. was organized on June 13. 1887, by Rev. C. Ross, of Willow Creek, Minnesota. As far as now known the charter members were as follow: Paul Sieg, Frank Rathke, Henry Heckmann, trustees; C. Knovck. Charles Zarn, Albert Spoleder, F. Lange, Gustav Boehm. H. Schroeder. W. Mibuhr. F. Stradt- mann, HI. Jablinski, Carl Roesing. W. Niemeir, C. B. Engle, Fred Schultz.
The first church was erected in 1809, and remodeled in 1900. A par- sonage was erected in 1895 and remodeled in 1906 and in 1914. The first parochial school building was erected in 1899. A school is maintained and
485
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
has been ever since the organization of the church ; the pastors at first were the teachers. At first the church was used for school house purposes on week days, as well as for church services of the congregation on Sundays. A teacher's house was built in 1902. The first to teach here was C. F. Isbeener, of Portage, Wisconsin, called in 1901, and served until September, 1911. From February, 1912, F. W. Rochlitz has had charge of the school and is the present teacher.
The voting membership of this congregation is forty-seven. while the entire congregation is numbered at three hundred and seventy-five. The present school enrollment is fifty-five children. The pastors have been Rev. D. Koennemann, 1888-89: Rev. Hermann Nitsche. 1889-94; Rev. S. Sell, 1894 to the present date.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.
The First Presbyterian church of Madelia, was organized on May 23. 1869, by Christian Wisner and a charter membership as follows: Mrs. Morris Bradford, Mrs. Mary Rutherford, Mrs. John Travis, Mrs. Mary A. Travis, Mrs. Elizabeth Winnerstrand, Mrs. E. Sprague, Mrs. Harriet Tib- bles, Edgar Sprague, Miss Emily Sprague, George Yates, Mrs. Jennie Yates. The total membership of the church in 1916 was one hundred and twenty-five. The first church building was dedicated on June 18. 1871. It was remodeled and enlarged during the pastorate of Rev. A. A. Palmer, at an expense of seven thousand dollars.
The pastors who have served this church since its organization are as follow: Revs. Christian Wisner. M. W. Adams, D. B. Jackson, J. W. Van Eman, James Cochran, C. A. Hampton, J. L. Gage, W. T. Hall, William Lattimore, E. B. Johnson. A. A. Palmer, W. S. Grimes, J. D. Gibb, present pastor. For almost a half century this church has been doing excellent work in the community about Madelia in holding aloft the banner of Protestant religion.
AT ST. JAMES.
At St. James about 1870, or possibly a year or two later, the Presbyter- ians organized a church society-the second denomination in town. For a time the congregation prospered and were served by some worthy and com- petent pastors. Although the congregation has no active pastor at the pres- ent time, yet services are held as often as possible in the church that was first erected. In the beginning the first services were held in a box car and
486
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
continued to be held there until the congregation could find more suitable and convenient quarters. Among the pastors that have served the congre- gation are the following : Reverend LaGrange, Slack, Pinney, White, Land- man, Rankin, Preston, A. Marlow, Fisher. Among the first and oldest mem- bers are: M. G. Price, J. R. McLean, G. A. Boston and G. Morris. The present membership consists of about thirty families.
Another church of this denomination is located at the village of Butter- field, but no data was sent the editor of this work for insertion.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
.At the village of Lewisville there is a church of this denomination. It was organized in the nearby country in 1877, by Archibald Law, with a charter membership as follows: Robert Dewar, Mrs. Robert Dewar, Robert Alexander, Mrs. Margaret Alexander, John D. Johnston, Mrs. Nott. There are now one hundred members, who worship in a church building which cost two thousand dollars. At first this building was erected in 1892, two miles from the village of Lewisville, but in 1900 the building was moved to the village. The society owns no parsonage.
The pastors here have included these : Revs. E. Rogers, E. C. Bennett. F. M. Stewart, R. W. Stevenson, W. O. King. David Hubsand, J. K. Shel- lenberger, Leslie Wolfe, C. Yewell. C. Ainsworth. George Brown. A. L. Martin, Bruce Black, Edmund Sarchette. Burton L. Hoffman and John Mc- Kce. The society is in a flourishing condition and doing a good work in the vicinity of Lewisville.
THE CHURCH OF CHRIST.
The Church of Christ, at the village of Madelia, was organized in April. 1806, by J. K. Shellenberger, with forty charter members. The church building was erected in 1896. at a cost of four thousand dollars. The mem- bership of this church in 1916 was one hundred and seven. The influence for good in the community in which this church exists is indeed great. The pastors who have served here are as follows: Revs. J. K. Shellenberger, J. Crook, J. C. Radford, John Harris, George Brown. F. A. Straingam, Burton Hoffman, and the present pastor is Rev. John McKee.
487
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAY COUNTIES, MINN.
EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.
Calvary Episcopal church, at St. James, was organized about 1887-8. and now has a membership of forty-six. The records were not to be had for a complete account of this congregation, owing to unavoidable causes. It is known that Revs. C. H. Beaulieu and W. H. Knowlton have served as rectors of this parish, and that about 1888 a frame church building was erected, and that the same was rebuilt about 1894.
AT MADELIA.
The Episcopal church at Madelia, known as Christ's church, was organ- ized in either 1872 or 1873. by Rev. Dene Livermore. In 1883 a church edifice was erected and immediately occupied by the little congregation of faithful worshippers. The cost of the building was fifteen hundred dollars. This church has never grown to be one of a large membership, but an organization has been kept up. It now has nine communicant members. Among the pastors who have had charge of this work may be recalled the names and good works of the Reverends Livermore, Gunn, F. A. Johnson, T. C. Huedson, E. E. Lofstrom, W. H. Knowlton and Fillmore.
NORWEGIAN LUTHERAN CHURCHIES.
The church of this denomination located in Butterfield township, this county, was organized by Rev. J. P. Thorkveen. April 14. 1896, and now has a membership of twenty-five and a church building costing two thousand dollars. The older membership includes the following persons : G. S. Lang- land, J. P. Anderson, Claus Melheim. John H. Berdett, C. N. Sonnesyn, A. Syverson. H. Bertison, Isaac Olson, O. A. Ulverstad. Later membersship has included these: Hans Stalvorson. J. O. Ness, Jacob Brigger, Dr. O. E. Hagen, Dora Johnson, B. Nordby, Anton Stotte, John Olson, T. T. Tonner- son, 1 .. A. Jacobson, J. Sigvaldeson and Emma Fossum.
Butterfield congregation of this denomination was organized July I. 1896, by Rev. L. P. Thorkveen with forty members. The first officers were: Claus Melheim, J. P. Anderson and Gilbert Langeland, trusteees; Christ. Sonnesyn, treasurer; John Berdell. secretary: Amund Syversen, superinten- dent of the Sunday school: C. Melheim, sexton. This congregation now has a total membership of seventy-one. The church edifice was erected in 1898, at an expense of twenty-three hundred and fifty-one dollars.
488
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
The oldest of these churches in the county is Rosendale, organized July 2, 1859, by Reverend Fredericksen with forty members. The first trustees were Ole Jorgensen. Halvor Knudtson and Notto Jensen, the last one acting also as secretary of the church. The old Rosendale school house was used for meetings up to 1900, when a handsome church was erected, costing twenty-four hundred and fifty dollars. This church now has a membership of ninety.
Long Lake Norwegian Lutheran church was organized in 1869 by Rev. T. H. Dahl with forty-one members. The first officers were: Hans Jolin- son Berdahl and Ole P'. Ohnstad, trustees : Ole Jorgenson. sexton and paro- chial school teacher. The first meeting house was built in 1869 and the church building proper was erected in 1887, costing thirty-five hundred dol- lars. The congregation now has a total membership of two hundred and ninety-four.
Albion Norwegian Lutheran congregation was organized in 1871 by Rev. Thor Hatrem with one hundred and forty-eight members. The first trustees were Ole Lec, Torkel Sunde and Elef Grotta; the first sexton was Abraham Olsen Listul; secretary, Nils Kjelson; treasurer, Hans Blackstad; parochial school teacher, Erick Svene. The first church was built in 1885. It was struck by lightning and burned down in 1908 and was rebuilt the same year, costing twelve thousand eight hundred and eighty-five dollars. The membership of this congregation in 1916 was five hundred and sixty- two.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.