USA > Minnesota > Douglas County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume I > Part 24
USA > Minnesota > Grant County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume I > Part 24
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It is interesting to note the growth of the church in membership by decades. In 1877, at the end of the first decade, there were 33 members; in December, 1887, there were 81; in December, 1897, 158; in December, 1907, 158; and at the present time, September, 1916, there are 247. The officers who have served the church are: Deacons, J. R. Lowell, S. B. Childs, William E. Chidester, L. G. Sims, George T. Robards, Fayette C. Meade, George L. Treat. Andrew Purdon, Samuel D. Moles, George E. Middleton, Charles W. Ridley, Millard Fifield, Arthur S. Mason, J. A. Cranston, Frank Kent, J. Willis Knox, Hugh E. Leach and Fred C. Meade. Those who are conspicuous for their long service are: William E. Chidester, from May 1, 1874, to September 19, 1898, over twenty-four years and four months; George L. Treat from August 2, 1883, to the present time, thirty- three years; Andrew Purdon, from December 28, 1893, to the present, near- ly thirty-three years; and Fayette C. Meade, from August 2, 1883, to Janu-
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ary 2, 1896, and from January 10, 1907, to the present time, over twenty- two years. The present deacons are: George L. Treat, Andrew Purdon, J. Willis Knox, Hugh E. Leach, Fred C. Meade, and Fayette C. Meade, honor- ary deacon.
Deaconesses, beginning on December 31, 1896: Mrs. Mary J. Camp- bell, Mrs. Annie E. Roberts, Mrs. Mary E. Chapman, Mrs. Mary J. Stevens, Mrs. Lucy Whitcomb, Mrs. Anne Raiter, Mrs. Albert Hubbell, Mrs. F. I. Cook, Mrs. A. G. Sexton, Mrs. Hattie Barnes, Mrs. Maud Larson, Mrs. H. S. Campbell, Mrs. Lillian Boyd, Mrs. Angeline Hounsel and Mrs. J. A. Kinney.
Clerks: Rev. B. F. Haviland, George T. Whitcomb, William E. Chid- ester, William S. Moles, Mrs. N. E. Dowd, Andrew Purdon, Mrs. A. E. Loring, Joel N. Childs, George L. Treat, Henry A. Barnes, Nathan M. Barnes, George E. Middleton, Dr. C. L. Good, Arthur S. Mason. The pres- ent clerk is George L. Treat. Among those who have served as treasurer are : Mrs. Ann B. Whitcomb, George C. Whitcomb, Andrew Purdon, Alex- ander Forbes, Eder E. Houghwont, Fayette C. Meade, J. H. Wettleson, William Walker, William E. Nesbitt and James A. Kinney.
The trustees who have served the "society" are: William E. Hicks. George C. Sims, Robert C. McNeil, George C. Whitcomb, William S. Moles, David H. Mason, George G. S. Campbell, George W. Robards, Gershom B. Ward, Samuel D. Moles, Christ H. Raiter, James H. Letson, Andrew Purdon, Horatio Jenkins, Francis B. Van Hoesen, Constant Larson, Tallef Jacobson, Hugh E. Leach and William J. Sheldon. George H. S. Camp- bell has served continuously as a member of the board of trustees since July 19, 1880, and as secretary of the board since January 5, 1883, and C. H. Raiter has served as a member since 1883. The present trustees are: Hugh E. Leach, president ; George G. S. Campbell, secretary; C. H. Raiter, J. H. Letson and William J. Sheldon.
There are a number of auxiliary societies connected with the church which have contributed largely to its growth and work and which should be briefly mentioned. The first of these is the Sunday school, which was organized, as has been said, even before the church, and has been success- fully carried on ever since, largely furnished, through its training, recruits for the church membership. From a very small class it has grown to a membership of about two hundred at the present time, though there have been some ups and downs in its history. Those who have acted as superin- tendent of the school since 1880 are: L. G. Sims, George L. Treat, E. E. Houghwont, Samuel D. Moles, Joseph H. Wettleson, Prof. J. E. Phillips,
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Prof. J. A. Cranston, Mrs. Nellie Page, Mrs. O. J. Robards, J. W. Knox, Constant Larson, Ezra E. McCrea.
The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor has been in exist- ence since 1887, and while it, too, has had its ups and downs it has done a valuable work among the young people in fitting them for more advanced church work. The combined active membership of the senior and junior societies in January, 1916, was one hundred and three.
The Woman's Missionary Society, organized in February, 1885, has done much to advance the interest of Missions in the church. Its first report to the church at the annual meeting in December, 1886, showed total con- tributions to home and foreign missions of sixty-two dollars and these annual contributions have gradually increased until the present time. For the last few years, including the value of missionary boxes of clothing, the annual offering amounts to from three hundred dollars to four hundred dol- lars. The society has a present membership of fifty-two.
One of the strongest forces in the material work of the church has been the Ladies' Society. While a work society existed at an early period probably no formal organization was attempted until 1885 or 1886. From that time the society has been very active. It now has a membership of fifty-three. The records show that in 1893-4 the society expended in furnishings for the new church building $2,335; that in 1900 it paid for the lots on which the parsonage now stands $1,150; that in 1903 it expended "mostly for carpet" for the church $634; and that in 1904 it took the lead in building the par- sonage and paid $2,171 of the expense. In 1905 it contributed $500 toward the expense of the new organ. These are some of the larger things that it has accomplished, but it has also contributed largely towards the running expenses and the local charitable work of the church as there has been need.
Only one of the original members survives, Mrs. Thresa T. Hicks, who is still a member of the church, though for many years unable by reason of deafness and blindness to take part in the church work. Others who have been members from an early period are George F. Whitcomb, 1868, Deacon Andrew Rudon and Mrs. Lucy .E. Whitcomb, 1875, and Mrs. Chris- tine Walker, 1877. Among those now deceased who were members for the longest period may be mentioned, David H. Mason, missionary of the American Sunday School Union for more than twenty-five years, from 1874 to 1906, and Deacon William E. Chidester from 1873 to 1898.
While there are many members who have taken a prominent part in the work of the church from an early period none are more worthy to be mentioned for their Christian character and zeal and for their long
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and arduous service than Mrs. Ann B. Whitcomb, one of the original band ; Mrs. Lucy Finch, Deacon William E. Chidester and Deacon Andrew Pur- don. In conclusion it remains to be said that the leadership in providing the splendid equipment in church building parsonage, pipe organ, etc., was found in the large donations of Christ H. Raiter and F. B. Van Hoesen and in the splendid labors of the board of trustees, without which such equip- ment would not have been possible.
THE NORWEGIAN LUTHERAN CHURCH.
One of the first churches of the Norwegian Lutheran communion in Douglas county is that of the Norwegian Lutheran church at Evansville, which was formally organized and rules and regulations adopted on Octo- ber 9, 1896. Previously ministers from other settlements came periodically to preach to the persons of that faith in the Evansville neighborhood and it was not until 1871 that the permanent pastor was chosen. Rev. Carlson was the first minister to fill the position and he remained four years. From the fall of 1875 to 1885, the Reverend Stadstad served the congregation as pastor, and from that date the Rev. T. A. Sattre has filled the position, for years having been recognized as one of the oldest ministers of that communion in continuous service in one parish in western Minnesota. The services of the congregation until 1880 were held in the old log school house on the hill and in that year the present commodious house of worship was erected. In 1900 the congregation provided a fine parsonage for the pastor.
The two churches of the Norwegian Lutheran communion in Moe township have for many years been large factors for good in that commun- ity. These churches are maintained under one charge, the minister in charge filling both pulpits alternately. The Moe Norwegian Lutheran church on section 7 of Moe township was erected in 1878, the first pastor being the Rev. Lauritz Carlson, and the East Moe church was erected in 1882. The two congregations aggregate more than one hundred families and the par- sonage is maintained in conjunction with the first named church.
The Norwegian Lutheran church of Alexandria was organized at a meeting held in the school house in that city on April 17, 1872, the following persons participating : Lars K. Aaker, John Sundblad, Ove M. Week, Lorintz Johnson, S. N. Miller, G. Dahl, O. R. Wulfsberg and Katherine H. Aaker, others joining a short time afterward, as follows: Mrs. Kris- tine Vandyke, Oluf Solum and family, Thomas Oakson, Christian M. Han-
NORWEGIAN LUTHERAN CHURCH, EVANSVILLE.
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son, Stean Torgerson and Theodore Bordson; in 1875 Christoffer Larson and Sophia Larson and in 1876, Olef King. The first church building was erected in 1876 and the following pastors have served: Rev. Lauritz Carl- sen, 1872-75; Rev. O. H. Auberg, 1877-79; Rev. A. I. Stadstad, 1876, 1880-85; Rev. T. A. Sattre, 1886-1900; Rev. B. A. Benson, 1901-15; Rev. Grant Milo Rundhaug, 1916. The present membership of the congregation is about one hundred and twenty and a very comfortable parsonage is maintained adjoining the church. The pastor in charge also has charge of the congregation of the Scandinavian-American Lutheran church at Carlos and of the church of Our Savior at Nelson.
NORWEGIAN LUTHERAN CHURCH AT EVANSVILLE.
The Norwegian Lutheran church at Evansville was organized and rules and regulations for the same were adopted on October 9, 1869. Previously, ministers from other settlements came periodically to preach to the people of that faith and it was not until in 1871 that a permanent pastor was chosen. Reverend Carlson was the first minister to fill the position and he remained four years. From the fall of 1875 to 1885 Reverend Stadstad served the congregation as pastor, and from that date Rev. T. A. Sattre, the present pastor, has filled the position with ability and marked success.
Until in 1880 the services were held in the "old log school house on the hill," but in that year the present commodious building was erected. The fine parsonage near the church was built in 1900. The first trustees of the church were Ole Granddokken, John Davidson and John Saterlie. The present congregation consists of about four hundred and the church and parsonage are free from debt.
THE SWEDISH LUTHERAN AUGUSTANA CHURCH.
The first ministers of the Swedish Lutheran Augustana church to visit Douglas county were Eric Norelius and Peter Carlson and that was during the summer of 1865. They travelled on foot and by ox-team through the dense woods and uninhabited prairies. The next year Rev. J. Magny came to the county and organized the Oscar Lake church in Holmes City town- ยท ship. He visited a number of places in the county and prepared them for future religious work.
In September, 1879, in the Svea church at Alexandria, the Alexandria District was established. The district was very large, extending to the
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Pacific Coast on the west and to the extreme north of Canada on the north, but in this vast territory there were then only nineteen small congrega- tions. The following ministers were present at that meeting: J. P. Matt- son, L. C. Lind, P. J. Lundblad, S. J. Kronberg and L .- Johnson. Of these all have passed to their reward except Reverend Kronberg, who lives on his farm near Melby, Minnesota.
There are eleven churches of this denomination in the county, namely : Svea, at Alexandria; Ida, in Ida township, Falun, in Osakis township; Spruce Hill, in Spruce Hill township; Oscar Lake, in Holmes City township; Holmes City, at Holmes City ; Wennersborg in Solem township; Immanuel, at Evansville; Christine Lake, in Lund township; Fryksende, in Urness township, and Zionsborg, in Evansville township.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THESE CHURCHES.
Svea church at Alexandria was organized and incorporated in 1877. For a time the congregation used the church building, located where the present church stands, together with the Norwegian congregation, but pres- ently the Norwegians built a church of their own and each then had its separate house of worship. The present fine Svea church building was erected in 1909. There is a commodious parsonage next to the church and this is owned in common by Svea and Ida congregations. The ministers of this church have been the following: L. C. Lind, John Hedberg, A. Melin, A. Mattson, the last named being the present very efficient pastor.
Ida church was organized in 1869 and incorporated in 1877. Its pres- ent edifice was erected in 1897. The church owns a parsonage at Alexan- dria in common with the Svea church. The congregation has been served by the above named pastors of the Svea church, and A. Mattson is the present pastor.
Falun church was organized on May 31, 1871, at a meeting at which Peter E. Hanson was chairman and E. L. Forsgren, secretary. Lars Berg- strom, E. L. Forsgren and John Marites Johnson were elected deacons. Adam Anderson, Peter Lundgren and P. E. Hanson were elected trustees. Later on in the same year the church was incorporated and Adam Anderson, Peter Lundgren and P. E. Hanson continued to be trustees. The men- bership then was sixty-five. The first church building was built of logs and was quite a large building. It was located on the southwest quarter of section 8 in Osakis township. The present building was erected in 1886 and there is a commodious parsonage near the church. The following pastors
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have served Falun church: P. J. Lundblad, J. P. Hedberg, A. Melin, J. S. Ryding, and P. G. Ording, the latter of whom is the present very efficient pastor.
Spruce Hill church was organized in 1876; incorporated in 1878 and its present church building was constructed in 1902. For some years the church was served by the pastor who served the church at Parkers Prairie, and later by the pastor of the Falun church.
THE CHRISTINA LAKE PASTORATE.
The church work among the Swedish people of the western part of Douglas county has been carried on by the Christina Lake pastorate since 1871. Rev. J. Magny organized the Swedish Lutheran Christina Lake congregation in that year and it was incorporated in 1877.
In the year 1874, Rev. S. J. Kronberg was called by" the mission board of the Minnesota conference to take charge of the church work among the Swedish people of Douglas, Otter Tail and Grant counties. The pioneers were very religious .. They felt that they could not live and prosper without having the church of their fathers in their midst. Under the able leadership of Reverend Kronberg, the beautiful Christina Lake church building was erected which yet serves as the place of worship. This was by no means a small undertaking when the financial circumstances of the people at that time are considered.
This congregation has been a prominent factor in the upbuilding of this community, and many men and women have been better fitted for the duties of life through the influence of this church. Northwestern College, which is now located at Fergus Falls, had its beginning here under the name of Lund Academy, and the school room of the church served as. the home of the college during the first year. Nearly all of the charter mem- bers of this congregation have been laid to rest in the peaceful cemetery adjoining the church, but the good work begun by them will continue through generations to come.
When the Great Northern railway, then the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba road, was built through Douglas county in 1879, the village of Evansville came into existence. The Swedish people in the village and surrounding country at that time belonged to the Christina Lake congrega- gation, but in 1883 the Swedes and Norwegians erected a small church in the western part of the village. In 1884 the Swedish Lutheran Immanuel congregation of Evansville was organized and the Swedes became the sole
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owners of the above mentioned church building. This building was replaced by a modern church in 1906. Upon the resignation of Reverend Kronberg, who faithfully served this pastorate for thirty years, the residence of the pastor was changed from Christina Lake to Evansville. In 1913 the pastor erected a beautiful modern house next to the church at a cost of five thou- sand dollars, which makes this property a valuable addition to the village.
The Swedish Lutheran Fryksende congregation, in the township of Urness, south of Evansville, was organized in 1877 and a church building was then erected.
In 1884 the Swedish Lutheran Zionsborg congregation was organ- ized and a church was built in the southwestern corner of the township of Evansville.
The above mentioned four congregations constitute the Christina Lake pastorate which has been served by the following ministers: Rev. S. J. Kronberg, from 1874 to 1904; Rev. Eric Floreen, from 1905 to 1908; 1908-1910, no residence pastor; from 1910 to 1912 by Rev. C. E. Holmer, and from 1912 to the present day Rev. S. W. Swenson has been the pastor. In closing this brief review of the history of the Christina Lake pastorate, Mr. Swenson appended the following: "It would have been a pleasant duty for the writer to mention many faithful men and women who have been connected with the work in this pastorate, but, as space does not permit, we close with the assurance that God knows them all and He will give the due reward."
SWEDISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
One of the very earliest church organizations in Douglas county was that of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church of Oscar Lake, which was organized in 1886, largely through the individual efforts of O. Fahlin, one of the first settlers of that community. For some time services were held in the homes of the settlers of that neighborhood, but after awhile a small church building was erected. The second and present house of worship was erected in 1884 at a cost of above three thousand dollars and was dedicated in 1886 by the Rev. J. Fremling, president of the conference. The pastors who have had charge there are as follows: Rev. J. Magny, Rev. Aaron Wahlin, Rev. L. Johnson, Rev. J. A. Johnson, Rev. Rudolph Vallquist and the present pastor, the Rev. E. M. Ericksson, who is also pastor of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church of Holmes City, where he makes his home, and of the church of the same communion at Norunga,
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over the line in Pope county. The church at Holmes City was organized in 1875, services being held in convenient places of meeting until a house of worship was erected in 1889, the building being consecrated on December 3. 1890, by the Rev. P. Sjblom, the cost of the church having been in the neighborhood of three thousand dollars. A parsonage is maintained for the pastor at Holmes City. the cost of the same having been shared by the con- gregation at Oscar Lake and at Norunga. Among the ministers who pre- ceded Mr. Eriksson at Holmes City were the Rev. O. Lindh, Rev. J. P. Hedberg, Rev. J. J. Johnson and Rev. Rudolph Vallquist. The three churches in this charge are well organized for effective service, the various departments of the work of the church being well represented by active workers.
SWEDISH BAPTIST CHURCH OF ALEXANDRIA.
At the same time that Alexandria and Douglas county were celebrating their home coming week in the summer of 1916, the Swedish Baptist church was celebrating its thirty-fifth anniversary. A large number of the mem- bers, former members and friends from far and near were present. The programs extended over several days and were well attended. Great interest in the meetings prevailed.
The congregation was organized on July 2, 1881, at the home of John Broms with A. A. Linne, of the American Baptist Missionary Society, pres- ent. N. A. Peterson was chosen president and A. A. Linne, secretary. Thirteen persons joined as members on this day. They are J. Broms, Fred Severson, Johanes M. Broms, Ulrika S. Broms. Ida Broms, Ole E. Floding, Karin Floding, N. J. Anderson, Christine Anderson, Nils A. Peterson and Anna Peterson. The first deacons were Fritz Severson and Nils A. Pet- erson.
In December Martin Dahlquist was engaged as pastor which position he held for three years. The progress and growth of the church was marked from the start, so in 1885 there were forty members. At that time the American Baptist church on Seventh avenue was hired as the public meet- ing place. Following Mr. Dahlquist came Reverend Hallgren in 1877 and the progress of the congregation became still more marked, so in 1891 there was a membership of one hundred and twenty-five. It was during this time that the congregation secured the present site and built their own church. In 1891 Reverend Hallgren went to Sweden and this left the congregation without a fixed pastor. But Mr. Ole Sutherlund served in the capacity as such until the following year when Rev. A. G. Holm took charge. The
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church was completed in 1894 and in 1895 and the membership had reached one hundred and eighty.
At that time a great change took place. A branch church was organ- ized from a part of the membership at Reynolds, Todd county. Also a large number of the members migrated to Canada and a Swedish Baptist church at Midale was organized almost exclusively from members that had left Alexandria. This for a time greatly reduced the local organization but it continued to prosper because of the self-sacrifices and energy of those who remained.
In 1901 the Holmes City members organized the Holmes City con- gregation and have later built for themselves a very beautiful church in the village of Holmes City.
In 1912 the local church was remodelled and enlarged at a consider- able expense. It is now one of the largest churches of the city and cen- trally located, so is often used for large temperance gatherings and meet- ings of similar nature by outsiders.
The activities of this congregation are extensive and felt in many parts of the county through its Sunday schools and various Ladies' Aid organi- zations. One of the features of this church organization is the persistent and energetic temperance work. Its membership can always be counted upon as loyal supporters in any movement of this kind, no matter under what auspices such movement may be conducted.
Rev. A. O. Lundeen, the present pastor, has brought new life and energy into the organization and the growth and influence of the congre- gations are steadily gaining ground.
GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
In the fall of 1874 the Rev. A. Hertwig, resident at South Effington, made a number of explorations into the townships of Miltona, Carlos, Belle River and Spruce Hill. A number of German Lutherans were found scat- tered through these townships and that same fall the Emmanuel's German Evangelical Lutheran congregation was organized. Services were held at the homes of the various members until a small church could be built near the present farm of William Zunker. The members being far scattered, progress was slow and some years later a number of the original members severed their connection and joined in building a Union church near the pres- ent cemetery at Carlos. The rest built the present church of the Emmanuel's congregation just at the outskirts of the village of Carlos. That building
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was put up in 1898, there being fourteen members of the church at the time, and is still used as a house of worship by the congregation. After the Rev. A. Hertwig moved from South Effington to Gaylord the Rev. A. Bartz, of Alexandria, had charge of the congregation until the sum- mer of 1910, when the Rev. J. H. Jank was called and was installed as the first resident pastor. He had charge of the congregation until in May, 1914. and in June of that same year the present pastor, the Rev. Paul F. Siegel, took charge. Connected with the Emmanuel congregation at Carlos there is a small congregation at Park Hill, over in Todd county, also under the charge of Mr. Siegel. Naturally, in a mixed settlement, such as that around Carlos, the progresss of a one-language church, and that foreign, must be slow. The congregation at present numbers thirty voting members, about eighty-five communicant members and about one hundred and seventy souls. There are no auxiliaries to the church, but the congregation upholds a paro- chial school, though in the winter of 1915-16 there were only seven in attendance at the same. The pastor also serves as teacher in the school. It is reported that a new church is badly needed, the present edifice not holding more than half the congregation and without doubt the next few years will see a new church edifice erected alongside the parsonage in town.
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