USA > Minnesota > Douglas County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume I > Part 23
USA > Minnesota > Grant County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume I > Part 23
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At a meeting held at the house of Gust M. Johnson on February 24, 1906, Per Hanson, chairman, and Gust M. Johnson, clerk, the Swedish Bap- tist church of Holmes City was incorporated by the election of Per Hanson, Gust M. Johnson, Maret Hanson, Ellen Ekstrand and Annie Johnson as trustees.
The Catholic church of St. Anna of Brandon was incorporated on February 10, 1909, the articles of incorporation being signed by James Trobec, bishop of the diocese of St. Cloud; Edward J. Nagl, vicar general; Paul Kuich, pastor in charge, and August Lehr and Jacob Table, two lay members.
At a meeting held in the school house at Carlos on April 5. 1909, Scott Bundy, moderator, and C. O. Franzen, clerk, the Carlos Presbyterian church was incorporated by the election of M. E. Smith, James B. Howe, C. O. Franzen and Scott Bundy as trustees.
The Evangelical Lutheran St. John's Society of Garfield was incor- porated at a meeting held in the village hall on February 24, 1910, August Stark, Sr., chairman, and Carl Kloehn, secretary, Fred Berthel, Henry Wadtke and Fred Wittnebel being elected trustees.
At a meeting held on January 19, 1910, M. B. Juul, president ; Carl O. Augdahl, secretary, and Julius Larson, treasurer, the Brandon Evangelical Lutheran church was incorporated by the election of Anton Strom, O. F. Olson and M. Sektnan as trustees.
The First Swedish Baptist church of Spruce Hill was incorporated at a
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meeting held in the home of O. A. Peterson on May 4, 1914, Fred Palmborg, chairman, and Nathaniel P. Larson, secretary, O. A. Peterson, Nathaniel P. Larson and G. A. Erickson being elected trustees.
On August 18, 1914, at a meeting held at the home of A. Eastman in Evansville, G. R. Anderson, chairman, and S. A. Swenson, secretary, the First Swedish Baptist church of Evansville was incorporated by the election of Per Johnson, Mrs. N. P. Johnson and O. Skold as trustees.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
As noted in the introduction to this chapter the house of worship of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Alexandria was the first church build- ing erected in that city and from all accounts the first to be erected in Doug- las county. The Minnesota Conference met at Red Wing in 1867 and at its business session voted to establish a church at Alexandria, and Rev. William Bowdish was appointed pastor. The next year the first church building was erected in Alexandria. It was just west of the present building, near where the new parsonage now stands. The second pastor appointed to that field was the Rev. C. F. Kingsland, under whom a revival occurred that greatly increased the membership of the church. He remained but a year and was followed by the Rev. H. G. Hilton, who remained two years and during whose pastorate the first parsonage was built. It still remains at the rear of the church in the possession of the society. In 1874 the Rev. C. B. Bre- count was appointed to the Alexandria charge, that having been his first Minnesota pastorate and under his ministrations there was a large ingather- ing to the church. Two years later, in 1876, the Rev. G. S. Dorsey became pastor, the period of his service long being remembered as the beginning of a period of trial and hardship. It was in that year that the grasshopper scourge swept the fields and starvation stared the people in the face. The pastor's health failed and he asked to be released. The financial pressure became so great that on the retirement of Reverend Dorsey the church doors were shut and for fifteen months no regular preaching services were held. Even the Sunday school was finally closed.
Under the presiding eldership of Reverend Starkey, Rev. S. M. Bron- son, of Iowa, was secured and placed in charge. He reorganized the society and placed a new roof on the building. Dark days followed in close succes- sion until the entire membership were ahnost disheartened and some favored closing the church again. But there were, as usual, a few faithful ones, who, like the Scotch bugle boy, never had learned to play "retreat," and who per-
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sistently pressed for victory. The Rev. C. T. Barkulo was sent as pastor in October. 1881. He was a faithful preacher of the Gospel and an earnest, hard worker, and soon the society was on upgrade again. He was followed by the Rev. S. Snyder who had a stirring revival, thus strengthening the church very materially. He was followed by the Rev. J. B. Ogle, a talented man who was much beloved by his congregation. It was about this time that the church was greatly strengthened by the accession of some prominent men, possessed of generous hearts and zealous endeavor for Zion. Such men as J. C. Barnes, William Moses, Robert McCrory, H. A. LeRoy and others, who of their increasing wealth and worth gave freely to the prosperity of the church. In the fall of 1887, Rev. Samuel White was appointed pastor and his ministry was made memorable by a very successful revival and a new building was decided upon. By the fall of 1888 he had the frame of the new building up, when, contrary to the wishes of the people, he was removed to another charge.
This proved unfortunate to the society's advance, as it was not until the coming of the Rev. R. C. Grose in the fall of 1889, that the old debt was paid off and the building properly enclosed. That building was dedicated on January 26, 1890. In the fall of 1891, Rev. H. Treglawney became pastor and was successful in eliminating all indebtedness. Next was the Rev. C. W. Lawson who was a careful and untiring shepherd of the flock. He was fol- lowed by one of the most constructive and effective pastors the church has had, namely, the Rev. J. M. Brown, now of Grinnell, Iowa. Mr. Brown gave to the church the longest pastorate of any preacher up to that time ---- nearly five years. They were years of material improvements and spiritual growth. The new parsonage was constructed under his supervision, being until recently the best ministerial home in the Fergus Falls District.
Under the head of "Notes and Comments," there appears this interest- ing paragraph: "The old church building when no longer needed was sold to W. K. Barnes who started it one winter across Lake Agnes on its way to his farm on Lake Darling ( now occupied by N. J. Nelson and family) where it is now used as a barn (where it can truthfully be said, it is "cold as a barn"). When well on its way over the lake it broke through the ice as favoring immersion exclusively, or protesting against the indignity put upon it. There it remained for some time, and was afterwards taken to its desti- nation."
The following is a record of the pastors who have served the Methodist church at Alexandria as taken from the official records: William M. Bow- dish, 1867 to 1868; C. F. Kingsland, 1868 to 1871; J. L. Fasig, 1871 to
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1872; H. G. Hilton, 1872 to 1874; C. B. Brecount, 1874 to 1876; George N. Dorsey, 1876; S. M. Bronson, 1878 to October, 1880; F. I. Fisher, 1880; D. S. Smith, July 1881 to October, 1881 ; T. C. Barkuloo, October, 1881, to 1882; S. Snyder, 1882 to March, 1883 : J. B. Ogle, April, 1883, to September. 1885; S. D. Kemerer, October, 1885, to 1887; Samuel White, 1887 to 1888; H. C. Klingel, 1888 to 1889; R. C. Grose, 1889 to 1891 ; C. H. Terglawney, 1891 to 1892: C. WV. Lawson, 1892 to 1895; J. M. Brown, 1895 to May. 1900: C. W. Collinge, May, 1900, to June, 1901; E. H. Nicholson, June, 1901, to October, 1904: J. G. Crosier, October, 1904, to 1905: R. W. Wilcox, 1905 to 1907; George E. Tindall, 1907 to the present time.
During the present pastorate many difficulties have been met and prob- lems solved. The material increase of the church has been most encourag- ing. The old "basement debt" of six hundred dollars at six per cent. interest has been paid in full, and over one thousand dollars improvements have been made upon the buildings, so that the buildings are all under good repair. The interior aspect of the church parlor has been greatly enhanced. Two beautiful memorial windows have been installed in the church to the memories of Robert McCrory and Mr. and Mrs. William Moses, beloved pioneers of the church and faithful servants of God, through whose generosity and untiring zeal the church was sustained in some of its years of severe trials. During the year 1915 the budget ran up to over two thousand five hundred dollars, the largest of any year in the history of the church, except when the church was dedicated.
The spiritual growth of the 'church has also paralleled its material in- crease. Revivals have been held every year and have been the means of increasing the membership from eighty-four at the commencement of the present pastorate to one hundred and seventy-three at the present, with twenty in the pastor's probationer's class. The superintendent of the Sun- day school is O. L. Solstad; president of Epworth League, Dr. D. E. Whit- tenberg; president of Ladies' Aid Society, Mrs. T. R. Aiton ; president of Woman's Missionary Society, Mrs. L. Madison; stewards, O. W. Landeen, George Susens, W. H. Horton, A. F. Storm, C. J. Larson, H. H. Griebenow, J. A. Poalson, Mrs. O. W. Landeen, Mrs. S. D. Johnson, Mrs. D. L. John- son, Mrs George Bracken, Mrs. H. N. Doyle; trustees, G. Jesse Strang, M. R. McArdle, Thomas Cooper, Herman H. Squires, Gus. E. Anderson, Fred G. Boomgaarden, George W. Ramsdell, Franklin George, Jacob Luckert.
The Rev. George E. Tindall, present pastor of the church, is also called to speak at Brandon, Hoffman and Garfield. For three years he pub- lished at Alexandria the Fergus Falls District Methodist, a quarterly publi-
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cation in the interests of the church of that district, and during the twenty- six years of his ministerial activity in Minnesota, having begun his pastoral work on May 20, 1890, his first charge having been the church at Ada, has in other ways been one of the most active ministers of the Methodist church in this state. Mr. Tindall is a native of Canada and left his old home near Bradford, Ontario, in 1890, to take up his ministerial calling in this state and has ever since served in Minnesota, his several charges having been at Ada, Melrose, Grove Lake, Staples, Long Prairie, Frazee, Akley, Warren and Alexandria.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF ALEXANDRIA.
Sometime in the year 1860, two years after the advent of the first white settlers in what is now Douglas county, the Rev. C. S. Harrison, a Congre- gational missionary, and representative of the American Home Missionary Society of that denomination, then stationed at Sauk Center, held what is claimed by some to be the first religious service within the bounds of the present city of Alexandria and probably of Douglas county. This service was held in a bedroom of a log house owned by P. L. Gregory. Mr. Harri- son probably continued to come to Alexandria for occasional services for about six months.
In the winter of 1866 and 1867 Mrs. Theresa T. Hicks and Mrs. Ann B. Whitcomb, being anxious that the young should have some Christian training, gathered a little flock together within the old stockade and formed a Sunday school. In the summer of 1867 the American Home Missionary Society again became interested through the Minnesota superintendent, Rev. Richard Hall, and sent Rev. B. F. Haviland to work in this district. On the 14th day of December, 1867, a meeting was held in the court house hall to consider the propriety of organizing a Congregational church in Alexandria. The church was duly organized with the following members, who brought letters from their respective churches. Rev. B. F. Haviland, J. R. Lowell, S. B. Childs, Eliza Lowell, L. R. Childs, Ann B. Whitcomb, Antoinette Darl- ing, L. J. Hobert, H. T. Haviland and Theresa T. Hicks-three males and seven females. The officers elected were Rev. B. F. Haviland, clerk; J. R. Lowell, deacon, and S. B. Childs, treasurer. On April 1, 1869, Mr. Havi- land resigned his charge. The little company were still meeting in the court house hall for services. George F. Whitcomb was elected clerk.
In the fall of 1868 W. E. Hicks donated a lot for a church and the people of the village all contributed towards the erection of a new church
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building on the site of the present Methodist Episcopal church and parsonage. The Methodists had recently formed an organization and the new building was known as the Methodist church. Upon its completion the Congregation- alists used it alternately with the Methodists. The first mention found in the records of meeting in the new church was on June 26, 1869. In July, 1869, Rev. Reuben Evarts came to Alexandria to care for the young church and continued in his work until July, 1871. Little is on record concerning the work during the two years except that the pastor was to receive seven hun- dred dollars salary, a part of which was to be paid by the Home Missionary Society. There is no record of any pastor being at work from July, 1871, to May, 1873, but the church was not idle, for in October, 1872, after having tendered a call to Rev. Mr. Williams-who did not accept-the church voted to raise five hundred dollars and proceed at once to build a parsonage, the building committee being James Purdon, George C. Whitcomb and L. G. Sims. The parsonage was built on lots donated by W. E. Hicks on the site of the present Congregational church which comprises three entire lots.
On May 1, 1873. Rev. William W. Norton became pastor of the church which was evidently not yet very strong, as the salary was to be seven hun- dred and free parsonage, the church paying but two hundred dollars of the amount. It was during this pastorate that the church seemed to take on new life and great progress was made. On May 20, 1873, a church "society" was organized and a corporation formed to be known as "The First Congrega- tional Church and Society of Alexandria," and William E. Hicks, George C. Sims and Robert C. McNeil were elected trustees. During the Rev. Will- iam W. Norton's pastorate of four years the membership increased from nine to thirty-three ; the parsonage was enlarged and improved ; a new church seating two hundred was built and furnished at a cost of about two thou- sand six hundred dollars, all but five hundred dollars of which was raised by the church and society. At the conclusion of his pastorate in April, 1877. the following appears on the record: "Although the grasshoppers have inpoverished the country, yet the condition of the church both spiritually and financially is excellent and the future prospects very encouraging."
Rev. P. S. Smith was acting pastor for one year from May 1, 1877. and on January 4, 1878, was held the first regular annual meeting, the fol- lowing officers who had served since May, 1874, being elected: Clerk, W. E. Chidester : treasurer, Mrs. George C. Whitcomb; deacon, W. E. Chid- ester. Rev. Quincy L. Dowd was pastor from September 1, 1878, to Sep- tember 1, 1880. June 24. 1879, a constitution for the "society" and a com- pact of agreement between the "church" and "society" was adopted, and thus
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the regular organization of "The First Congregational Church and Society of Alexandria" was perfected after an existence of more than six years. At the annual meeting of the church in January, 1879, William S. Moles was elected clerk, Andrew Purdon, treasurer, and L. G. Sims, deacon. At the first annual meeting of the "society" held on May 24, 1880, George C. Whitcomb was elected trustee for a term of three years, thus showing that finally, after many years of struggle, the machinery of that part of the church organization was working smoothly. On the 19th day of July in the same year an amendment to the constitution was adopted increasing the number of members of the board of trustees to five and Messrs. D. H. Mason and George H. S. Campbell were elected the additional members.
On November 1, 1880, Rev. W. W. Norton was recalled to the pastorate and continued for one year. The church had evidently been strengthened, for when Rev. William Gill was called to the pastorate in December, 1881, the church promised to pay four hundred and fifty dollars of the seven hun- dred dollars salary. This pastor continued until April, 1883, when Rev. J. S. Jewell was called, taking charge on June I. This seemed to be a time of awakening, as the church assumed self-support and also increased the salary to one thousand dollars. This result was largely due to the wise planning of the previous pastor, Rev. William Gill. On account of sickness in his family this pastorate continued but two years. The church was supplied during the summer of 1885 by Rev. J. A. Stemen, who declined a call to become permanent pastor. Rev. S. M. Wilcox was then called to the work and began his pastorate on December 1, 1885, and continued five years. Whether or not this was the time of the organization of the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor is not shown by the records, but in December, 1888, the society and the Sunday school, which had been continued since its first organization in 1866, both gave annual reports for the first time. At this same meeting the Ladies' Society gave its first annual report, although the report showed it was not the first year of its organization as it showed cash on hand at the beginning of the year of sixty-five dollars. . On January I, 1891, Rev. George W. Jackman came to the church as pastor, but remained only one year.
It is said "There is a man for every crisis" and the man was evidently found when the church called to the pastorate Rev. George E. Soper, in June. 1892. Although there had been a steady advance under the leadership of nearly every pastor, it was during Mr. Soper's pastorate that the present church building was erected, the membership was largely increased, and the church came into prominence among the churches of the state. After hav-
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ing finished the present beautiful and commodious church edifice, the state association was invited to meet in Alexandria. This invitation was accepted and in 1895 the pastors and delegates of the churches of the state met in their fortieth annual meeting. From that time the Congregational church of Alexandria has held a high place among the churches of the state.
The first action of which there is any record with reference to the erection of the present house of worship was taken by the society at it: annual meeting in January, 1889, when Mrs. J. H. Lebson, Mrs. F. B. Van Hoesen and W. S. Moles were appointed a committee to devise ways and means for raising funds for the purpose, and at the annual meeting held in January, 1890, Mesrs. H. K. White, C. H. Raiter, George G. S. Campbell were added to this committee. At a special meeting held November 18, 1892, it was resolved "That this church and society proceed to the erection of a new church building to cost twelve thousand dollars, provided that amount of money be first raised, and the following building committee was appointed : F. B. Van Hoesen, treasurer ; George L. Treat, secretary ; A. S. Mason, master mechanic. At a later meeting the members of the board of trustees, consisting of Messrs. Samuel D. Moles, C. H. Raiter, G. B. Ward, J. H. Letson and George G. S. Campbell were added to this committee. The building was completed and dedicated with a week of services beginning on December 17, 1893. Its total cost, including furniture and heating plant, was twenty thousand five hundred and thirty-five dollars and forty-two cents, which was all paid before dedication.
An important feature of Mr. Soper's pastorate was the inaugeration of rural missionary work at four out stations in the towns of Hudson, Lake Mary, Carlos, and Miltona, supported in part by members of the church and society. This work, started in 1896, was successfully carried on for six years by Rev. George F. Norton, Rev. F. P. Ferguson and Rev. Alexander Thorn, resulting in the organization of churches at Carlos and Hudson, and the erection of two church buildings, and its final abandonment was due largely to changed conditions on the fields. The church building in the town of Carlos was located about two miles west of the present Carlos village and was shared with the German Lutherans and Norwegian Lutherans. After being used for several years it was destroyed by fire and a new church was built by the Lutherans at Carlos village. After the location of the village of Forada on the new Soo Line railroad the Hudson church building was sold to the Presbyterians and moved about a mile and a half to its present location in said village where the church work started as above stated is
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being successfully carried on by the Presbyterians. A revival service, led by Rev. Mr. Hartsough, was conducted during this pastorate and was fruitful in adding a number of members to the church rolls. The work continued to grow during the five and one-half years of Mr. Soper's pastorate, which ended on December 31, 1887.
Rev. William H. Medlar succeeded to the pastorate in May, 1898, and continued till December 1, 1903, five and one-half years. During this pastor- ate the records show two distinct features of work, the first being that of rural missionary work, and the second the successful revival services con- ducted by Mr. Hunt from which thirty united with the church by confession of faith. The total membership was increased from one hundred and fifty- eight to two hundred and thirty-eight. The splendid work done among the young people under Mr. Medlar's leadership needs also to be mentioned.
Rev. William J. Paske accepted the call and became pastor of the church on May 1, 1904. Some institutional features of work were added to the church equipment in the summer of 1905. 'A Men's Club was organized which finished off a portion of the basement of the church and installed there- in bowling alleys at a cost of five hundred and eighty dollars, which fur- nished wholesome recreation for all who cared to avail themselves of the opportunity, boys and girls alike, as well as members of the club. During the year 1904 a beautiful new parsonage was erected at an expense of over five thousand five hundred dollars on lots directly west from the church building. In 1907 a magnificent organ was installed in the church at an expense of three thousand five hundred dollars. Mr. Paske's pastorate ended on Sep- tember 1, 1907.
The next pastor to take up the work was Rev. Alfred A. Secord, begin- ning on November 15, 1907, and ending on September 1, 1913, being more than five years and nine months and the longest in the history of the church. Mr. Secord's pastorate was not marked by any great increase in the material equipment of the church, as in some former pastorates, but there was a strong steady and well balanced growth along all lines, with a marked increase of influence in the whole community. In 1907 the church received a legacy from the estate of Francis B. Van Hoesen of one thousand dollars for the purpose of making repairs to the church building when needed. Union revival services held in 1908 under the leadership of Rev. Milford H. Lyon, brought into the church about thirty new members. The benevolences of the church were largely increased and became the largest in its history. In 1911 the General Congregational Association of the state again held its annual meeting with the church.
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On December 1, 1913, Rev. Frederick Osten-Sacken commenced his pastorate which continued to July 1, 1916, the two and one-half years being characterized by a large increase in membership, seventy-six members being received and there being a net gain of fifty-seven. A Men's Sunday Club of over fifty members was organized which has charge of the bowling alleys and holds a weekly meeting at the Sunday school hour in a room which it provided in the basement of the church, for the discussion of religious and social topics.
This history would not be complete if it failed to mention the mission- ary and charitable work of the church. A child of the American Home Mis- sionary Society, and assisted by it for the first sixteen years of its life, as well as by the Church Building Society in the erection of its first parsonage and church building, the church has always recognized its obligations to these societies especially, and at the same time has always contributed to other missionary and educational objects as well as to local charities. In carrying on the rural missionary enterprise before mentioned, and assisting in the erection of the two church buildings in the towns of Hudson and Carlos, an opportunity was afforded to repay to some extent its debt to the home mission and church building societies. These contributions amounted to about four hundred dollars per year for about six years for carrying on that work, and to nearly one thousand six hundred dollars for the church buildings. In 1898 the total benevolences are recorded as eight hundred and twelve dollars, and in 1899, one thousand nine hundred eighty-six dollars, including the church building subscriptions. For the last ten years the total annual benevolences have averaged over nine hundred dollars.
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