USA > Minnesota > Douglas County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume I > Part 43
USA > Minnesota > Grant County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume I > Part 43
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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
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by Rev. A. C. Elmer and Rev. James Godward, with the following charter members: E. Marden and wife, William Porter and wife, Dr. William Mckenzie and wife, D. R. Davidson and wife, M. A. Burbank and wife, A. D. Dewey and wife, Mrs. H. K. Fisk, George Huggett. Rev. James God- ward was the first pastor and served ten years, from 1888 to 1898. Rev. J. W. Hood succeeded Reverend Godward and served the congregation one year. Rev. A. T. Ploetz became the pastor in 1900 and served one year. Rev. W. H. Leggett was pastor from 1901 to 1907. He was followed by Rev. D. O. Bean, who served about one year. From 1908 to 1911 the church had no regular pastor. In 1912 Rev. John Mark accepted the call of the congregation and was the pastor for about two years. Since that time Rev. A. T. Huber, of Elbow Lake, has been the pastor. The present membership numbers seventeen. The congregation uses the church building formerly owned by the Methodist congregation.
REV. JAMES GODWARD.
The Rev. James Godward was born in Sheffield, England, May 29, 1845, and in 1849 came to this country with his parents who settled in the vicinity of Youngstown, Ohio. His mother died when he was quite young and he was brought up under the guidance and direction of his elder brother. He spent his boyhood days in Ohio, and until he was eighteen years of age worked in the coal mines. During the Civil War he enlisted in the service of his country and became a member of a volunteer regiment from Ohio. He served in the war about a year and returning home at the end of the war resumed his work in the coal fields. During the time he was working in the coal fields he was educating himself. After working hours he recited to students and teachers of Westminster College, located at New Wilming- ton, Pennsylvania.
In December, 1865, James Godward was married to Jean Binnie, a Highland Scotch girl of unusual talents and wisdom. Soon after his mar- riage he became a member of the Neshannock church, a so-called country church, but one having an average attendance of one thousand and an approximate membership of two thousand people. This church has the dis- tinction of sending out more missionaries than any other church of this denomination. To say that Reverend Godward was as great as any of these would not be an exaggeration. For many years he was an active elder in the church and a leader in Sunday school and temperance work. He remained in New Wilmington several years and then moved to Albany,
LUTHERAN
CHURCH, ELBOW LAKE.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ELBOW LAKE.
SWEDISH LUTHERAN CHURCH, ELBOW LAKE.
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NORWEGIAN SYNOD CHURCH AND PARSONAGE, ELBOW LAKE.
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Ohio, and organized the Concord church, of which he was an elder and superintendent of the Sabbath school. After a few years he went back to New Wilmington and there was chosen as an elder in the church. From New Wilmington he removed to Mt. Jackson where he was chosen as an elder and superintendent of the Sabbath school. He remained at Mt. Jackson for several years and then returned to Albany and worked in the church there. During all this time he was studying and preparing himself for the service of God.
He decided to enter the mission field and came west in the early part of 1887, and was ordained at Moorhead, Minnesota, in March of the same year. He decided to locate at Evansville, Minnesota, and there he organized a congregation and built a church building. He also organized a church at Ashby about the same time and in the years of 1887 and 1888 preached at the places already mentioned and also at Dalton. In 1888 he ceased preach- ing at Dalton and annexed the congregation of Elbow Lake to his circuit. In 1893 he built the church parsonage at Elbow Lake and from this point as a center conducted services at different times at Ashby, Barrett, Hoffman, Kensington, Wendell, Lawrence and Western in addition to Elbow Lake and Evansville. Under his pastorship the church building in Elbow Lake was constructed in 1897.
Reverend Godward was a man universally loved and respected. The golden rule was his precept in dealing with his fellow men and in his every walk of life he practiced the religion he preached. He enjoyed a popularity that was only limited by acquaintance and not an enemy did he have. He visited the sick, comforted the sorrowing and helped the needy. It was given to few men to yield such an influence of good-an influence that will continue to live and bear fruit. Reverend Godward's health began to decline a year before his death. He was requested to give up his work but he insisted that his services were needed. His last sermon was preached in Elbow Lake on Sunday morning, April 20, 1913. A few days afterward his illness became so acute that he was confined to his bed. He died on the morning of May 14, 1913.
The First Presbyterian church of Wendell was organized on April 10, 1904, by Rev. James Godward. The charter members were as follow : Miss Ida Stickney, Miss Della Barker, Mrs. W. U. Williams, Mrs. Hattie Masters, Mrs. Laura C. Stickney, Miss Emma Stickney, Ole Saison, Mrs. Ole Saison, Mrs. Mary Steine and Miss Gertrude Steine.
The first pastor was Rev. James Godward, who was succeeded by (29)
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Rev. F. O. Bastrom and Rev. William Anderson. The present pastor is Rev. H. T. Sackett. The church now has a membership of sixteen. In November, 1912, the congregation bought the Methodist church building at Hereford and moved it to Wendell, where it is still in use. The pastor of the Wendell church conducts services in Lawrence and Western.
LAWRENCE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The first religious service held in the town of Lawrence was in the home of Joseph C. Marple, father of H. L. Marple, in the winter of 1893, Rev. John Irwin conducting the service. The first Sabbath school was organized in the school house of district No. 28 by J. C. Marple in the spring of 1884, with John Marple as superintendent and Rev. George John- son of Western Presbyterian church preaching. `Services were held each Sunday afternoon during the summer and similar services were held during the summers of 1885 and 1886. On December 18, 1886, a meeting was called under the direction of Rev. A. C. Pettitt, and the Presbyterian church of Lawrence was organized with a membership of twenty-two members, namely : Jacob M. Reeser, Harriet R. Reeser, George H. Adams, Daniel L. Tucker, Harriet Tucker, John Shaw, Mary E. Shaw, Delany Shaw. George H. Shaw, Mattie J. Shaw, John Sellie, Theodore Cowdell, Mrs. Mary M. Ash, Kilborn B. Lovejoy, Mr. S. P. Lorell, Mrs. Sophia Lorell, Wilmar J. Reeser, Lillie C. Reeser, Ida A. Reeser. Clarence G. Wentworth, George E. Wentworth and Stella Anderson. Jacob M. Reeser was elected elder and continued to hold the office through life.
Sabbath school and preaching services were held in the sunimer months by different ministers. 'Rev. James Godward especially looked after the interest of the church up to the year 1900. The church was incorporated under the laws of the state in the spring of 1901, under the direction of Rev. C. M. Junkin. Five acres of land having been donated, the congrega- tion proceeded to build a church edifice that same summer, and the same was dedicated on December 1, 1901, Rev. R. N. Adams, synodical superintendent ; Rev. James Godward, of Elbow Lake, and Rev. C. M. Junkin, pastor, being present. The building cost about one thousand eight hundred dollars, the Presbyterian board of church erection supplying five hundred dollars. The board of home missions assisted in support of the pastor up to the summer of 1902 when, in conjunction with the Western church, the churches became self-supporting. From that time on there has been regular service under different pastors, with many changes of membership, members moving away
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and others moving in; but never has there failed to be those who supported and enjoyed it, and rejoiced in the fact that a House of God had been estab- lished in the town of Lawrence.
In the current year (1916) the membership is fifty-two, with a Sunday school of over one hundred. Only two of the charter members, the .elder, J. M. Reeser, and his daughter are still in attendance. Since its organiza- tion, the following pastors have served the Presbyterian church of Lawrence: 1884, Rev. George Johnson; 1886, Rev. A. C. Pettitt; 1894 to 1900, Rev. James Godward; Reverends Stewart, Stevens and McInnis were student sup- plies; Rev. S. Ferguson, pastor-at-large; Rev. Matthewson, pastor-at-large; Reverend McAltioner; 1900-02, Rev. C. M. Junkin; 1902-03, Rev: I. G. Smith; Rev. W. F. Finch, pastor-at-large; 1903-07, Rev. James Wray, Rev- erend Shibli and students; 1910, Rev. T. C. Hodgeson; 1913-15, Rev. Will- iam Anderson; 1915-16, Rev. H. T. Sockett; Rev. S. Sharpless, pastor-at- large.
METHODIST CHURCHES.
" The first Methodist church in Grant county was organized in Herman in 1879 by the Rev. J. B. Starkey. The church began its existence with a inem- bership of ten members, but has grown to such an extent that the organiza- tion is one of the strongest in this section of the country. The auxiliaries in connection with the church are the Ladies' Aid Society, of which Mrs. Dunn is president ; the Sunday school and the Queen Esther Circle. The pastors who have served the congregation since the beginning include the following: Rev. H. B. Crandall, Rev. S. M. Harm, Rev. C. W. Larson, Rev. W. J. Hunter, Rev. M. O. McNiff, Rev. P. P. Ingalls, Rev. Frank Fisher, Rev. D. S. Smith, Rev. George West, Rev. S. G. Briggs, Rev. E. C. Teachout, Rev. C. E. Davenport, Rev. E. H. Nickolson, Rev. W. Peckard, Rev. H. A. Barton, Rev. Thomas E. Archer, Rev. Elijah Haley, Rev. R. Murray, Rev. Joseph E. Watson, Rev. William Love, Rev. L. D. King, Rev. J. Wesley Scott, Rev. J. J. Trask, Rev. C. I. Mason, Rev. L. W. Bartholow, and the present pastor, Rev. R. Levin.
The Methodist Episcopal church at Norcross was organized several years after the one at Herman and was incorporated in 1901. For some time services were held in the village school house but as the congregation grew in strength and numbers a neat little church was erected. Besides holding regular services here the pastor also conducts regular meetings in a school house in the township of Delaware.
In 1888 or 1889 a Methodist congregation was organized at Hereford.
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The little congregation prospered and in due season erected a neat little church building. Church services were held with regularity for a few years. Rev. Smith preached to the congregation for several years. Among the leading members of the congregation were L. L. Brewster, Josias McGee, Kelley B. Lovejoy, Rebekah Ireland, George Shaw and Thomas H. Toombs.
CATHOLIC CHURCH AT ST. OLAF.
The first Catholic gathering in Elbow Lake and vicinity was held at the home of J. A. Dols on June 8, 1912. The first Sunday service was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Tos. E. Dybdal on May 7, 1914, with Father James Walcher, of Tintah, presiding. Services are now conducted quite frequently at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Dybdal by Father Matthew Hoff- man, of Tintah. Sunday school is conducted each Sunday by Mrs. Tos. E. Dybdal and although the gathering is small the interest manifested is en- couraging to those of the faith.
The congregation received its name from the fact that Harold Thorson, although not a Catholic, has kindly donated a beautiful lot as a site for the prospective church building and it was he who so liberally endowed St. Olaf College. A great deal of support has been received from non-Catholics, a fact that is very encouraging to the supporters of this faith. Two thou- sand five hundred dollars have already been subscribed toward the erection of an edifice and it is the fond hope of every member to have the structure in the course of construction within a year.
THE PARISHES OF ST. CHARLES AND ST. MARY.
The Catholic church of St. Charles at Herman was organized during the summer of 1913 by the Rev. Father Charles L. Grunenwald and during that same summer was incorporated under the laws of the state of Minnesota with the following board of directors: The Rt. Rev. James Trobec, D. D., bishop of St. Cloud ; the Rt. Rev. Mgr. E. J. Nagl, vicar general; the Rev. Charles L. Grunenwald, pastor in charge, and J. J. Olson and Edward Drexler, lay members. The Rev. Charles L. Grunenwald, who had labored so effectively for the success of the parish, was appointed the first pastor of St. Charles, attending the same from Donnelly, and upon his removal to St. Cloud to become editor of the diocesan paper, the present pastor, the Rev. B. H. Wessling, was appointed at the end of November, 1915. At present there are about twenty-two families connected with St. Charles parish, numbering
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about sixty souls, and progress is reported in all departments of the work of the church.
The church of St. Mary at Norcross was organized in the year 1906 by the Rev. Father James Walcher, of Tintah, his successor being the Rev. Father Matthew Hoffman. Then Norcross was made a mission of the parish at Donnelly and the Rev. Father Charles L. Grunenwald was appointed pastor, he being succeeded by the Rev. B. H. Wessling, of Donnelly, the present rector. and pastor also of the church of St. Charles at Herman.
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH AT HERMAN.
In the year 1905 a small company of believers in the doctrines of the Seventh-Day Adventist church in and about Herman was organized into a church company by Elder W. W. Ruble, now in the educational work of that communion, and Elder A. C. Gilbert, now president of the Canadian conference of the Seventh-Day Adventists. The congregation was organ- ized after a six-weeks series of lectures and started out with an initial mem- bership of twenty, which number was increased to thirty-one by 1907. The work of this small company prospered and a few more members have been added since. Some of these members have moved away and joined other churches, while "some have been laid to rest, awaiting the Lord's soon com- ing; when all the Faithful shall be called from their dusty beds to meet the Lord in the air (I Thess., iv: 15-17), the living righteous to be changed (I Cor., XV: 51-54) ; all to go to Heaven, where Christ is ( John xiv: 1-3) to reign with Him one thousand years ( Rev. xx: 4)." The present mem- bership of the Seventh-Day Adventist church at Herman is twenty, with two waiting to join. The offerings for the first, second and third quarters of 1916 amounted to $480.33 ; that is, including the tithes, besides the con- tributions for home missionary work. As one devout member of this faith puts it : "Every member of this denomination is an ambassador of God and has a work to do: to help warn the world of the coming of the Day of God, just before Christ comes in the clouds of Heaven."
OTHER CHURCH INCORPORATIONS.
There are several organizations in the county whose incorporation is recorded with the register of deeds, some of which are not now active. Among the incorporations are the Land Norsk Evangelical Lutheran Meni- ghed church of Hoffinan ; the Bethel Norsk Evangelical Lutheran Menighed
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church at Erdahl; the Bethesda Menighed church of Barrett; the First Bap- tist church of Herman, one of the early churches in the community; the Christian Reform church of America of Norcross; the Evangelical Lutheran Saint Paul's church of Herman; the Bethany Lutheran congregation in the township of Lien ; the Salem Lutheran church of Barrett; the Catholic church of St. Charles of Herman; the Catholic church of St. Mary of Norcross; the German Evangelical Lutheran Zions Congregation in the town of Rose- ville; the German Evangelical Lutheran Christ church of Pomme de Terre; the German Reformed church southwest of Herman. The Church of God at Hereford has an active organization and a neat frame building.
CHAPTER XI.
NEWSPAPERS OF GRANT COUNTY.
The newspapers of Grant county compare very favorably with those of any other distinctly rural community. A number of journalistic efforts have appeared in the county in the past years, flourished for a time and passed out of existence. There are now five weekly papers published in Grant county.
GRANT COUNTY REVIEW.
The Grant County Review was established in 1900, at Herman, by J. S. Arneson and Oscar Arneson. The Arneson Brothers conducted the paper until 1911, when they sold out to Ronald Morrison, who had charge of the paper for about three months. The present proprietor, E. M. Chesebrough. assumed the management of the Review on November 1, 1911, and has built up a very good paper. It is a six-column, six-page weekly paper, and is noted for the thoroughness in which it covers the local field. The Review is independent in politics. The office is well equipped for both news and commercial job work.
The Herman Enterprise was established at Herman in May, 1887, by E. W. Randall, publisher, and F. J. Skinner, editor. It was an eight-column. four-page paper. It was later purchased by J. W. Reynolds, who sold out to K. C. Ness, who in turn sold to Nellie Jacobs. Miss Jacobs continued to publish this paper until it was discontinued in 1908. She was noted for the vigorous manner in which she handled local matters. Miss Jacobs married N. J. Bothne and they now live at New Rockford, North Dakota.
Perhaps the first paper in the county was the Herman Banner, published at Herman, about 1878. This newspaper is said to have been owned by a Mr. Kindred and edited by A. C. Belyea, later owner of the Herald.
GRANT COUNTY HERALD.
The Grant County Herald was established at Herman, about 1881, when that village was the metropolis of Graut county, by W. C. Whiteman. Mr. Whiteman conducted the paper for several years and then sold to A. DeLacey
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Wood, who in turn sold to A. C. Belyea. Mr. Belyea moved the paper to the village of Elbow Lake in 1887, and continued as its publisher until his death, in 1895, when W. H. Goetzinger became the proprietor. Mr. Goet- zinger conducted the paper until 1914, since which time it has been owned by the Herald Printing Company.
The Elbowe Lake Tribune was established in 1886 by J. S. Arneson. In 1899 the Tribune absorbed the Barrett Lake Breese, which had been pub- lished for some three years at Barrett. At the time of consolidation the Tribune was enlarged from a five-column, four-page paper, to seven columns, four pages. A few years later the paper was discontinued.
ASHBY POST.
The Ashby Post was established on November 1, 1901, by William Pen- nar, who sold out on April 22, 1910, to Alfred J. Dahl. Mr. Dahl continued as publisher until April 22, 1913, when he transferred his interests to L. R. Rathbun. the present proprietor.
The Post has a circulation of five hundred and fifty, and is published every Friday. It is a six-column folio. The type is hand set, and the office is equipped with newspaper and job presses.
The Grant County Farmer was published at Ashby about 1890, by A. S. King. In 1897 this paper was taken over by J. S. Arneson, who conducted it a few years, when it was discontinued.
WENDELL TRIBUNE.
The Wendell Tribune was established on August 14, 1914, by A. R. McManus, formerly principal of the Wendell public schools. When founded the paper had two hundred and seventy subscribers and now has five hun- dred. It is a five-column, eight-page paper, and is well supported by local advertising from the wide-awake Wendell merchants.
The Tribune office is well supplied with up-to-date type faces and all the necessary facilities for commercial job work. The paper circulates in Grant county and the southern part of Otter Tail county.
The Wendell Sun was published for about eight months at Wendell, by J. Harvey Cousins, in 1913, when it was discontinued. Mr. Cousins also started the Barrett Tribune about the same time, and after a brief existence it also ceased.
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HOFFMAN TIMES.
The Hoffman Times was established on May 25, 1916, by W. N. Bron- son. It is a six-column, eight-page paper. The Times office has an "Ideal" news press and a ten by fifteen inch job press, also a good supply of type.
The Hoffman Independent was conducted at Hoffman by Casper Noh- ner, from the spring of 1912 to the fall of 1914, when it was discontinued.
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CHAPTER XII.
THE BENCH AND BAR.
From the time of its permanent organization, in 1873, until 1883, Grant county was a part of Douglas county for judicial purposes, and dis- trict court cases from this county were tried at Alexandria. In 1883 the state Legislature gave Grant county a court of its own and made it a part of the seventh judicial district, which was comprised of Benton, Douglas, Grant, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Otter Tail, Pope, Sherburne, Stearns and Todd counties. The judges who presided over this court while Grant county was a part of the seventh judicial district were L. W. Collins and L. L. Baxter. Judge Collins later became a member of the state supreme court.
In 1887 Grant county became a part of the sixteenth judicial district, then composed of Big Stone, Grant, Stevens, Traverse and Wilkin counties, to which Pope county was added later, and these counties constitute the pres- ent sixteenth judicial district. The judges have been : Calvin L. Brown, who served from 1887 to 1898, when he was elected to the state supreme court of which he is now chief justice; F. J. Steidl, who served from 1898 to 1901, and S. A. Flaherty, who was elected in 1900 and is still presiding as judge of this district.
ATTORNEYS.
E. S. Rolfe was the first attorney to take up residence in Grant county. He opened a law office at Herman in the early seventies and at once took an active part in county affairs. Mr. Rolfe was county superintendent of schools from 1879 to 1880 and was county attorney from 1878 to 1881. He moved away from Herman in 1882.
Joseph W. Reynolds located in Herman in 1879 and was one of the leading early lawyers. Mr. Reynolds was county attorney from 1881 to 1883. He is now practicing law in Duluth.
Charles M. Stevens, who also located at Herman, was county attorney from 1883 to 1885. He moved from Grant county to Minneapolis, and later went to Aberdeen, South Dakota, where he is still in the practice.
W. H. Townsend, a native of Michigan and a graduate of the law
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school at Ann Arbor, located at Herman in 1887. He was county superin- tendent of schools from 1893 to 1895. Mr. Townsend died at Flint, Michi- gan, in 1900.
A Mr. Rothrick engaged in the practice of law at Herman, in 1882, in partnership with J. W. Reynolds. About 1888 he moved to Little Falls, this state.
George Ketcham opened a law office at Herman in 1882. He was county attorney from 1885 to 1891. Mr. Ketcham died at Herman in 1899.
Arthur B. Childress moved from Northfield to Herman in 1897, en- gaged in the practice there for two years, then came to Elbow Lake, and after conducting an office here for one year moved back to Northfield, where he is now judge of the fifth judicial district.
Guy B. Caldwell located in Herman about 1895. After practicing there three years he removed to St. Paul.
F. C. Anderson opened a law office in Herman in 1905, and is still located there.
Nels J. Bothne located in Herman in 1906, and after residing there one year moved to Elbow Lake. Mr. Bothne was county attorney from 1909 to 1913. Soon after leaving this office he moved to New Rockford, North Dakota.
A. S. King came-to Ashby in 1882 and after residing there until 1900 moved to Lake Park, Becker county, where he is still engaged in the prac- tice.
Michael Casey and Thomas Casey, brothers, natives of Wisconsin, opened an office for the practice of law at Elbow Lake. in 1887. Michael Casey served as county attorney from 1895 to 1899. In 1899 he moved to Bloomington, Wisconsin, where he is engaged in the practice. Thomas Casey was court commissioner for Grant county from 1891 to 1895. He is still engaged in practice at Elbow Lake.
Oscar M. Torrison located at Elbow Lake in 1887, and lived here until 1890, then moved to Chicago, where he is now one of the judges of the circuit court.
E. J. Scofield came to Elbow Lake from Houston county in 1889, and was in partnership with Mr. Torrison for one year. Mr. Scofield served as county attorney from 1891 to 1895 and from 1899 to 1909. He is still engaged in practice here.
Andrew O. Ofsthun located at Elbow Lake in 1891. In 1896 he was elected judge of probate and was serving in that office when he was acci- dentally killed at Pomme de Terre lake in 1901.
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R. J. Stromine began the practice of law at Elbow Lake in 1903. Mr. Stromme was county superintendent of schools from 1907 to 1913, and since 1913 has been county attorney.
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