USA > Minnesota > Douglas County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume I > Part 42
USA > Minnesota > Grant County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume I > Part 42
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. AIMS OF THE MODERN SCHOOL.
In 1906 there were sixty-four school districts in Grant county and in 1916 there are sixty-nine. These schools are distributed over the county in such a manner as to make it most convenient for all children to attend. The school of the present day is a wonderful improvement over the pioneer school in equipment and scientific methods. The aim of the modern school is to afford not only mental training, but supply serviceable knowledge as well. To this end courses are given in the use of tools, agriculture, domes- tic science and commercial branches. Local and state fair contests and boys and girls clubs add to the interest of school work.
Teachers' institutes, reading circles and libraries now help to enlarge the scope of instruction, and parent-teacher clubs bring home and school nearer together. When a school has attained a certain high standing in regard to length of term, qualifications of teacher, condition of building and equipment, library and school grounds, it is entitled to state aid to the extent of one hundred and fifty dollars each term. Fifty-five schools in Grant county are now receiving this state aid.
TEACHERS FOR 1916.
The total enrollment in the schools for the year 1915 was 889 pupils in the high and graded schools, and 1,503 pupils in the rural and semi- graded schools. There were thirty-nine teachers in the high and graded schools, and seventy in the rural and semi-graded schools. The teachers in the various districts for 19.16 are as follow: District No. I, Clara Sanders ; No. 2, Irene Flynn; No. 3, E. B. Anderson, superintendent of Herman high
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DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
school; No. 4, Stella Erickson; No. 5, L. H. Brinks, superintendent of Elbow Lake high school; No. 6, Augusta Johnson; No. 7, Annie Wilson; No. 8, G. A. Fjeldstad, superintendent of Ashby high school; No. 9, Thora Dybdal; No. 10, M. J. McDonald; No. 11, Pearl Holman; No. 12, Nellie Ellingson; No. 13, Sena Bah; No. 14, Gladys Sauby; No. 15, Olive Thomp- son; No. 16, Alice Newman; No. 17, Alma Hanson; No. 18, Mary Smith; No. 19, Alma M. Louthan; No. 20, Ida M. Johnson; No. 21, Margaret Cavanough; No. 22, Ephra Ackerman; No. 23, Ida Kassa; No. 24, Charlotta Johnson; No. 25, Mildred Palin; No. 26, Blanche Schoonover ; No. 27, Lilly Johnson; No. 28, Alma Bengston; No. 29, Sigrid Fjoslien; No. 30, Lilly Dybdal; No. 31, Josephine Groheler and Lulu Christophel; No. 32, Betsy Hanson; No. 33, Mabel Hall, superintendent of Barrett school; No. 34, Clara Klug, superintendent of Wendell school; No. 35, Eda Thompson ; No. 36, Agnes Manskau; No. 37, Martha Mecklenberg; No. 38, Genevieve Doely; No. 39, Hilda Dahler; No. 40, Amber Hastie; No. 41, Annie Johnson; No. 42, J. A. Cook, Hoffman school; No. 43, Ella Holt; No. 44, Eldora Lund; No. 45, Stella Adams; No. 46, Dotty D. Nye; No. 47, Olive Huseth; No. 48, Latania Ackerson; No. 49, Hilda Mel- by ; No. 50, Nellie Brown; No. 51, Dessie Ziebarth ; No. 52, Margaret Hoff ; No. 53, Hilda Haugen; No. 54, Ulda Dybdal; No. 55. Fannie Iverson; No. 56, no school; No. 57, Anna Dahler; No. 58, Ella Ness; No. 59, Grace Sheppard; No. 60, Hulda Bengtson; No. 61, Lydia Enderle; No. 62, Cecelia Berquist ; No. 63, Ida Martinson; No. 64, Ida Sellseth; No. 65, Clara Ears- ley ; No. 66, Mabel Haugen; No. 67, Jennie Vik; No. 68, Eudora LaGrange; No. 69, Bada Chambers.
SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICERS.
In the following list are given the names of the school district officers for 1916-17, with the township in which the school is located. The first named is the clerk, the second is the director and the third is the treasurer. No. I, Elk Lake township-R. E. Olson, O. B. Peterson, O. W. Olson. No. 2, Land township-T. Joranger, A. R. Bjelland, P. O. Nordin.
No. 3, Herman village-A. H. Morken, A. W. Wells, E. E. Peck.
No. 4, Lien township-Otto Nelson, Andy Block, H. A. Larson.
No. 5, Elbow Lake village-Tos. E. Dybdal, E. Sauby, W. E. Lan- deene.
No. 6, Erdahl township-Olous O. Bah, J. T. Johnson, Ole A. Dahlen.
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DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
No. 7, Pelican Lake township-Anton O. Sumstad, Charles Nelson, Julius Elberling.
No. 8, Ashby village-L. J. Hauge, E. K. Teisberg, A. M. Randall.
No. 9, Pelican Lake township-C. E. Schow, Joseph Balgard, Bodel Anderson.
No. 10, Elbow Lake township-A. Haakenson, A. I. Haugen, Elef Gren.
No. II, Pomme de Terre township-George M. Johnson, H. L. Olson, Fred Schwarck.
No. 12, Stony Brook township-O. E. Lillemon, Ole Asleson, Nils Skinnemoen.
No. 13, Erdahl township-J. E. Olson, Martin N. Lee, H. O. Rustad.
No. 14, Lien township-J. B. Blixrud, John Sandberg, Mons A. Ron- hovde.
No. 15, Pomme de Terre township-H. O. Johnson, Peter Brandvold, Henry Tollefson.
No. 16, Roseville township-F. D. Clark, U. F. McCollor, Aug. Holm.
No. 17, Elbow Lake township-A. O. Halvorson, Lars H. Berg, J. H. Ferguson.
No. 18, Gorton township-A. H. Richards, C. H. Christophel, John Gronwold.
No. 19, Delaware township-C. E. Ellison, A. De Vries, Wm. Hedlund.
No. 20, Roseville township -- A. T. Lindem, Jens Lerum, Albert Lind- strom.
No. 21, Macsville township-Theo. Ritzschke, W. H. Brown, Frank Oachs.
No. 22, Sanford township-C. J. Nibbie, B. E. Engen, Ole H. Larson.
No. 23, Roseville township-James R. Borrill, Fred Zimer, W. H. Kridler. ,
No. 24, Elbow Lake township-H. C. Kersten, G. Johnson, L. L. Brewster.
No. 25, Lien township-C. O. Strand, Ed. Rulien, William Coleman.
No. 26, Delaware township-C. A. Anderson, Christ Christensen, Erick Helsene.
No. 27, North Ottawa township-Mrs. George Larson, Nick Koltes, John Sieben.
No. 28, Lawrence township-Fred Weigand, Geo. Weigand, H. Weaver.
No. 29, Stony Brook township-O. K. Lysne, T. T. Cordal, S. S. Wangsnes.
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DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
No. 30, Elbow Lake township-T. C. Johnson, K. O. Sand, H. K. Vigen.
No. 31, Norcross village-B. Torgersrud, George Houps, J. A. Loughlan.
No. 32, Elk Lane township-O. M. Huberd, Thomas Otterson, J. Sethney.
No. 33, Barrett village-E. N. Ellingson, A. F. Peterson, August Miller.
No. 34, Wendell village-John E. Raines, H. T. Haavig, L. C. Ber- gan.
No. 35, Elk Lake township-C. J. Anderson, Ole Melin, A. M. Ander- son.
No. 36, Lawrence township-J. H. Summers, J. W. Thiel, J. F. Styer. No. 37, Pomme de Terre township-Alfred H. Woessner, Louis Island, William Woessner.
No. 38, Sanford township-I. M. Westermoe, Louis Pederson, Ole A. Olson.
No. 39, Elbow Lake township-Olous A. Pikop, Knut A. Pikop, Alick Ormbrick.
No. 40, North Ottawa township-Oscar Amundson, John Ricks, An- drew Rustand.
No. 41, Land township-Swan Auslund, Abner Erickson, Theodore Lindquist.
No. 42, Hoffman village-H. L. Englund, P. P. Hedenstrom, Eric Sletten.
No. 43, Erdahl township-J. J. Taylor, E. Conroy, A. J. Betland.
No. 44, Erdahl township-A. G. Enberg, Hans Johnson, J. P. Ander- son.
No. 45, Lawrence township-Mrs. V. A. Bugbee, F. J. Miller, A. G. Kube.
No. 46, Logan township-Louis L. Lentferr, William Boeckholt, H. N. Erfert.
No. 47, Elk Lake township-F. A. Peterson, P. H. Nelson, A. J. Peterson.
No. 48, Sanford township-Herman Ledum, Pete Ekelien, Engbert Syverson.
No. 49, Land township-Anton Amundson, Alfred Hagen, Thosten Haatvedt.
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DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
No. 50, North Ottawa township-W. W. Cushman, Jake Besler, Roy L. Brown.
No. 51, Delaware township-B. D. Brewster, John Buhr, Austin Vaa. No. 52, Elk Lake township-J. T. Halvorson, Pete Peterson, Alfred Lund.
No. 53, Lien township-E. J. Newman, Knut Waugh, John J. Leraas: No. 54, Elbow Lake township-Sven Jorgens, Knut Fjoslien, G. C. Paulson.
No. 55, Pomme de Terre township-Mike Thompson, M. Haroldson, T. A. Hagen.
No. 56, Delaware township-Albert Passer, Dan Kloos, Emil Nelson. No. 57, Sanford township-Lewis T. Fagerberg, Herman Huset, Ben- hard Westrom.
No. 58, Erdahl village-O. G. Reine, C. A. Bergren, H. T. Harrison.
No. 59, Roseville township-Conrad Blixrud, N. P. Peterson, Herman Podratz.
No. 60, Lien township-J. H. Clark, Hans. Moen, Bennie Ostenson.
No. 61, Lawrence township-R. C. Tompson, M. A. Baker, G. A. Shuck.
No. 62, Macsville township-Mrs. C. J. Bacon, A. H. Blume, Theo- dore Johnson.
No. 63, Pomme de Terre township-Jacob Haberer, Andrew Woes- sner, Pete Martinson.
No. 64, Gorton township-Edwin J. Awe, Louis Steger, William Jones.
No. 65, Delaware township-John Beck, R. F. Rarer, Knute Haugen.
No. 66, North Ottawa township -- O. K. Rustand, John Kelly, Charles Gorden.
No. 67, Lien township-Martin Leraas, Niles P. Setterlund, Oscar Erickson.
No. 68, Gorton township-R. H. Martin, Oscar Hillestad, William Steinhagen.
No. 69, Macsville township-F. A. Ekberg, William Tretten, H. B. Johnson.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
The following financial statement is taken from the report of the county superintendent of schools, for the year ending July 31, 1916:
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DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
High and Graded School Districts.
Rural and Semi- Graded School Districts.
Receipts.
Cash on hand at beginning of year
$ 6,756.97
$15.789.55
Received from apportionment.
5,095.17
9,155.27
Received from special tax.
21,080.75
20,894.60
Received from local one-mill tax
1,176.15
4,827.82
Received from special state aid.
9,184.00
4,578.37
Received from bonds and other sources
18,621.15
1,993.II
Total
$61,914.19
$57,238.72
Disbursements.
Paid for teachers' wages and board
$26,327.46
$27,373.13
Paid for fuel and school supplies
3,743.42
3,961.42
Paid for repairs and improving grounds
2,215.64
1,646.89
Paid for new school houses and sites
14,453.29
20.00
Paid for bonds and interest
85.47
710.25
Paid for library books.
196.95
644.86
Paid for text-books
889.88
766.24
Paid for apparatus
469.70
237.74
Paid for transportation of pupils.
67.41
Paid for all other purposes.
3,963.52
3,748.16
Cash on hand at end of year
9,503-45
18,150.03
Total
$61,914.19
$57,238.72
Amount of outstanding orders
$607.48
$82.95
CHAPTER X.
CHURCHES OF GRANT COUNTY.
There is no better recommendation for a country than the fact that it is well supplied with churches of various denominations. The fact that such a circumstance exists in Grant county makes this locality a coveted place of settlement .. Although there are many churches and many different denomi- nations in the county the history of their organization is very incomplete and the requests for information have been very meagerly answered.
SYNOD LUTHERAN CHURCHES.
In 1871 and 1872 the Rev. Louis Carlson held services in many parts of the county. He organized several congregations, among them being those of Elk Lake, Lien, Elbow Lake, Erdahl and Herman. This valiant mission- ary did valuable service for four years, and then became a missionary to Australia. After a few years he returned from Australia and again took up his work in this field. He removed to California and died there.' Means with which to build churches in the early days were limited, and the meet- ings had to be held in small private dwellings and later in school houses. According to tradition perhaps the first religious service in the county was a Swedish meeting held in Land 'township in the dug-out belonging to Gust Shalmark. This meeting was presided over by Rev. Mageney, a traveling missionary.
The congregation at Aastad was the first to build a church edifice. The congregation was organized in 1872, and the following year began prepara- tion for a church building. It was of logs, twenty-six by thirty-six feet and ten feet high, with four small windows on a side. The expense was three hundred dollars, logs furnished free. The church was completed in 1875 and served its purpose until 1889 when it was replaced by a modern frame building. In 1881 a large and beautiful church was erected at Herman at a cost of over five thousand dollars. It was for a long time the finest piece of architecture in the county and one of the nicest churches in the western part of the state. In 1883 churches were built in Lien. and Elbow Lake townships. In 1875, Rev. G. Erdahl began his labor in this county. He
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DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
held meetings in all parts of the county and lived to see many prosperous congregations organized.
The Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church of Elbow Lake township was organized on October 12, 1873, by the Rev. Louis Carlson, who served as pastor from 1873 until 1875. He was followed by Rev. G. M. Erdahl who served until 1900. Rev. O. G. Juul was the next pastor and served until 1915. At that time Rev. E. Wulfsberg became the pastor. In 1889 the congregation built a modern edifice which they continue to use as a place of worship. The present membership is about two hundred.
The Pomme de Terre Lake Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church was organized on December 5, 1873, by the Rev. Louis Carlson. The pas- tors of this congregation have been the same as those for the Elbow Lake Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church mentioned above. A modern frame church building was erected in 1899. The present membership is one hun- dred and ten.
The St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church of the village of Elbow Lake was organized in 1900 by the Rev. O. G. Juul, with the following charter members: L. J. Hauge, H. J. Bollum, P. P. Larson, Christian Haarstad, K. T. Dahlen, Lars Lynne, O. L. Larson, H. W. Olson. The first meeting was held in the residence of John K. Lee. Services were held in school house for some time and then in the Swedish church for two years. Rev. G. M. Erdahl preached here many years. Reverend Juul served as pastor until 1915 and was followed by Rev. E. Wulfsberg who is the pres- ent pastor. As the church congregation grew and prospered a handsome church building was erected in 1907. The present membership is one hun- dred and seventy-five.
The Stony Brook Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church, located at Wendell, was organized in 1905 by the Rev. O. G. Juul, who served as pastor until 1915. He was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. E. Wulfs- berg. In due season a modern church building was erected at a cost of four thousand dollars. The present membership is one hundred and fifteen.
Other congregations of the same denomination were organized in Elk Lake, on May 6, 1872; Lien, in 1873, and Gorton, in 1877.
The Synod Lutheran church of Norcross was one of the congregations organized by Rev. Erdahl. When the charge was divided the congregation was assigned to Reverand Juul who labored there until 1915 and was suc- ceeded by Rev. Holum. Although the congregation is not large it is very active and exercises a potent influence in the community. A nice little church was built a few years ago that is now entirely paid for.
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DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
REV. GULLIK M. ERDAHL.
Rev. Gullik M. Erdahl was born in Hardanger, Norway, on October 5, 1840, and seven years later emigrated to America with his parents and settled in Madison, Wisconsin. He studied in the high school of that city for some time and then entered Luther College at Decorah, Iowa, from which he was graduated in 1866. In order that he might better prepare himself for the ministry, he continued his research at the Concordia Semi- nary, at St. Louis, from which school he was graduated in 1869. He pur- sued his studies in the University of Michigan the following year and in 1871 entered the state of Kansas as a missionary and remained there one year. He then removed to Omaha, Nebraska, where he organized several con- gregations and also one at Soldier Valley, in Monona county, Iowa. In 1875 he received a call from the congregations of Grant county, including those of Lincoln, Immanuel, Elbow Lake, Pomme de Terre and Hjerdal. He served these congregations until 1900 at which time the circuit was divided. Rev. O. G. Juul was assigned to the congregation in the northern part of the county and Reverend Erdahl retained the Lincoln and Immanuel congregations.
. Thus for forty-four years Reverend Erdahl was a teacher and preacher of the gospel; for thirty-nine years he served the same congregations. It was a record of labor in the service of the Master that is most creditable. It covers an experience that none but one who has dedicated his life to the advancement of Christ's kingdom would choose to select. He came out on the western frontier in the early days, not that he might better his own condition but for the sake of the Gospel and humanity. His choice evi- denced a steadfastness, a nobility of purpose that is characteristic of few. He met his own trials and privations, sorrows and worries. He forgot self and shared the adversities and sorrows of his people, he comforted them with words of cheer and bade them take courage when despondency threat- ened. He pointed out the way of righteousness and carried the Savior's message of love and forgiveness. As a minister he arose above denomina- tionalism; he carried a message of reason, of acceptance of Christ and the Savior of mankind. He died at his home near Barrett on March 25, 1914.
SWEDISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCHES.
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Fridhem church, located five miles southeast of Barrett in the town of Lien, was organized in December, 1877. Among the charter members were, P. A. Moller, Erick Johnson, Olaf
L.
HIERMAN CHURCHES.
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DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Cederberg, Wilhelm Erlandson, John G. Peterson. The first pastor was Rev. L. J. Kronberg. This congregation was reorganized in 1885 and incor- porated the same year at the home of Mons Anderson. At that time Rev. J. Lundberg was the pastor. The present pastor is the Rev. Oscar O. Gustaf- son of Elbow Lake. The church property is valued at three thousand five hundred dollars and the present membership is one hundred and nineteen.
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Bethel church of Herman was organ- ized in 1880 by the Rev. J. Lundberg. Among the members instrumental in the organization were, C. A. Smith, John A. Willd, Isaak Ekberg and Andrew Selander. The congregation has a church and grounds valued at three thousand dollars. The present pastor is Rev. Oscar Gustafson, and the membership is eighty-two.
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran congregation of Elbow Lake was organized and incorporated in 1887, the pastor at that time being the Rev. J. Lundberg. Among the men who were responsible for the organization of the church at this point were: Nels Hakanson, Nels Anderson, Nels Olson and Rev. J. Lundberg. In the beginning, services were held in various places and often in the town hall, but as the congregation grew in strength and numbers a handsome church building was erected at a cost of about three thousand dollars. Among the pastors have been Reverend Nordstrom, Reverend Olson and Rev. M. W. Gustafson. The pastor at the present time is Rev. Oscar O. Gustafson, who is a college man of unusual talents and liberal ideas. The present membership is one hundred and thirty-two.
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran congregation of Hoffman is one of the three church organizations that has originated from the mother church of Wennersborg in the town of Solem, Douglas county. The church con- gregation was not incorporated until 1901 but was organized several years before. In 1900 a beautiful and modern building was erected, costing about four thousand five hundred dollars. The congregation is unusually strong as is evidenced by the present membership, there being two hundred and forty-seven. Among the early pastors was Rev. Nordstrom, who conducted services at many points in the county. Rev. Rudolph Vollquist was pastor of the congregation for several years and was succeeded by Rev. P. P. Hedenstrom, who has been the regular pastor for the past eight years.
NORWEGIAN UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH.
The Norwegian United Lutheran congregation of Elbow Lake held their first service in 1875, the meeting being conducted by the Rev. J. A. Berg. He was a traveling missionary and preached here only occasionally.
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DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
He served the religious needs of the people for about two years and was succeeded by Rev. I. Tharaldson, who two years later established congrega- tions in Elk Lake township and Bethana. Shortly afterward, Reverend Tharaldson removed to Grand Forks, and he was succeeded by Rev. Gustaf Oftedal and he in turn by Rev. Ole Ogen, of Morris, Rev. N. Hierman and A. Wold. In 1886, Rev. P. T. Peterson, of Minneapolis, received a call and being ordained the same year, took up the work. Following him was Rev. S. A. Johnson, then Rev. L. E. Kleppe, and the present pastor, Rev. H. M. Thoresen.
THE HJARDAL CONGREGATION.
The Hjardal congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran church was organized on April 8, 1881, under the name of the Norske Evangeliske Lutherske Menighed of Ten Mile Lake, under the direction of the Rev. T. WVetleson, those participating in the organization and present at the initial meeting of the same having been Ole Johnson, K. O. Sanby, Aslak Tollef- son, Roar Halvorson, Ole Sorenson, Nils B. Brekke, Tobias O. Sanby, Olaus Ostenson, Halvor Mikkelson and Andreas Erickson. The first pastor, the Rev. T. Witleson, served the congregation until in September, 1886, when he was succeeded by the Rev. A. J. Hulting, who served until 1891 and under whose pastorate, in 1887, the name of the congregation was changed to that which it now bears, Hjardal. It was also during Mr. Hulting's pastorate that the church was erected, in 1889, the congregation previous to that time having held its meetings in the school house in district No. 15. The Rev. P. T. Petterson was called to succeed the Reverend Hulting and he served until in December, 1899, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Aaron Johnson, who was succeeded on November 1I, 1903, by the Rev. L. E. Kleppe, who resigned in July, 1906, and was succeeded by the Rev. H. M. Thorson, the present pastor, under whose pastorate progress is reported in all departments of the work of the church, the present membership of which is about forty-three.
The Norcross Evangelical Lutheran church was organized in 1878 under the ministration of the Rev. G. Erdahl, who served as the first pastor of the same and was succeeded in turn by the Rev. O. G. Juul, the Rev. T. A. Hoff and the Rev. J. O. Holum, the latter of whom is the present efficient pastor of the congregation. The congregation numbers a membership of seventy and worships in a substantial frame building. The various depart- ments of the work of the church are well organized and a Ladies Aid
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DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Society and a Young Ladies Club contribute very materially to the cause of the church.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
In the summer of 1886, Rev. A. C. Petitt, of Fergus Falls, began to hold services at Elbow Lake, and after several months of persistent labor, he succeeded in organizing a Presbyterian church on October 23, 1886. The meeting was held at the home of J. N. Sanford, Rev. A. C. Petitt presiding and Reverend Winchester preaching the sermon. After the sermon the following named persons were received as the charter members of the organization : Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Sanford, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Marple, and Mrs. Nancy E. VanNess. Messrs. Sanford and Marple were chosen as elders but the former declined to act as ruling elder. Mr. Marple was duly installed, having been previously ordained in the church of Western. Rev. Pettitt continued his labors among the people at Elbow Lake until April, 1887, when he accepted a call from the churches of Maine and Maplewood, Minnesota. The church was then without a pastor for several months, until Rev. W. T. McAltioner came to the field. Owing to his wife's illness he was obliged to leave ere he got rightly into the work. The little flock being left without a shepherd, became discouraged and somewhat indifferent so that for a time it seemed almost advisable to abandon the field. However, on December 9, 1888, Harold Thorson gave Rev. James Godward, of Evans- ville, a pressing invitation to preach for the people at Elbow Lake on the following Sabbath. The invitation was accepted and a large attentive audi- ence assembled to hear the preached word, and strange as it may seem to old and thoroughly organized congregations, Rev. Godward was engaged by the leading business and professional men of the town to preach every altern- ate Sabbath for one year, and there was not a Presbyterian among them. The salary agreed upon was increased one hundred dollars the first year. Reverend Godward served the spiritual needs of the people until his death, May 14, 1913. R. G. Rieman, a student pastor, filled the pulpit during the summer of the same year. In November, 1913, Rev. A. T. Huber accepted the call of the congregation and is the present pastor. He also has charge of the church at Ashby. The membership of the local congregation is one hundred and eight.
The present church building was erected in 1897 at a cost of two thou- sand seven hundred dollars. Improvements have since been made thus mak- ing the building quite ample to meet the needs of the congregation.
The Ashby Presbyterian church was organized on December 9, 1888,
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