History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, Part 44

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1264

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The following pastors have served the congregation: B. J. Muus. M. O. Boekman, T. Aug. Hanson, J. N. Kildahl. N. Oefste- dahl, C. A. Mellby, and A. Hauge, the present pastor.

The church maintains parochial schools in several districts. It has four auxiliaries. The present membership is over 600. It belongs to the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America. The present trustees are: Ingebright Bakke, M. O. Mering, Th. Bakken, B. Swenson and O. Kumperud ; treasurer, C. T. Haugen ; secretary, O. Flaten ; organist, E. Rude.

Wangen's Prairie is a congregation located in Warsaw town- ship. Reverend Hauge is pastor. It was organized and incorpo- rated January 9. 1908. Its members belonged formerly to the Urland congregation. The first trustees were : Joh. Lillskov, Hans Loven, and John P. Wangen. Its church building was dedicated in 1902. It is in connection with Vang and Urland congregations as one call, the present pastor being Rev. A. Hauge. The church maintains a parochial school and two auxiliaries. The present membership is over eighty. The congregation belongs to the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America. The treasurer is Joh. Lillskov, and the secretary is Oliver Fretten.

Urland Congregation originally belonged to Holden congrega- tion. In 1868 it was decided to organize Urland as a "Sogn," and in 1872 it was incorporated as a congregation. Articles of incorporation were signed by E. L. Otterness, Ragnald Johnson and William Olson. The trustees were Lars Flom, Torsten A. Melhouse, Ole A. Melhouse, Ragnald J. Ohnstad and Johannes Ingebritsen.

A church building was erected in Leon township in 1872. and was dedicated in 1874, and capable of seating 500 people. The building committee consisted of Ragnald J. Ohnstad. Ed. L. Otter- ness and A. A. Flom.

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HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY

This summer-1909-a beautiful and high-grade pipe organ was bought and placed in the church. and dedicated by Dr. C. A. Mellby the 18th of July.

As Urland forms a call together with Vang. the parsonage is a joint property. The following pastors have served the congre- gation : Revs. B. J. Muus. M. O. Bockman. Th. Aug. Hanson. J. N. Kildahl. N. Osfstedahl, C. A. Mellby and A. Hauge, the pres- ent pastor. The church maintains parochial schools in several districts. It has three auxiliaries. The present membership is over 600. It belongs to the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America. The present trustees are P. J. Otterness, O. E. Ohnstad, R. O. Underdahl, J. E. Flom, and S. Charleson. trustee- . at-large and treasurer; secretary. I. D. Hustvedt, who has also been the parochial teacher and organist in the congregation for more than thirty years.

Gol's Congregation is located in Kenyon township, and the Reverend Simonson is pastor. See Kenyon.

Moland Congregation includes both Goodhue and Rice county people. The Reverend Simonson is pastor. See Kenyon town- ship.

Kenyon Congregation has a flourishing village congregation. The Reverend Simonson is pastor. See Kenyon village.

Hoff Congregation erected a church in Belvidere township in 1867. The Reverend Mellby is pastor. See Belvidere township.

Rev. B. J. Muus, the venerable old patriarch of the Norwegian churches of the county, was born in Norway, March 15, 1832. He graduated from Christiania University in 1854, and a few years afterward immigrated to Minnesota. In 1859 he came to Goodhue county and took charge of all the Norwegian Lutheran congrega- tions at that time organized in Minnesota, including the congre- gation of Holden. He was the first minister of the established church of Norway to locate here, and for some years had sole charge of the congregations in eight counties in Wisconsin and Minnesota. His work resulted in the formation of new parishes, until his district included seven congregations. as follows : Holden congregation, in Wanamingo; Dale, in Cherry Grove; Urland. in Leon ; Vang's, in Holden; Gol and Halgre in Kenyon, and Moland, on the county line. All these congregations, except Moland. owned fine church buildings, and in taking charge of the congregations Rev. Muus was aided by two assistants. Over twenty parochial schools were also conducted in connection with these churches. Under the care of Pastor Muus these congrega- tions grew and prospered, and in the course of time many secured pastors of their own. one after another. Reverend Muus retained charge of the IIolden congregation until a short time before his death. in Norway, May 25, 1900. He served as president of the

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Minnesota Synod of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church, as president of St. Olaf's school, at Northfield, and for many years ocenpied a high place of honor and respect in the counsels of the church with which he affiliated. In 1876, when the Nor- wegian synod was divided into three districts, Mr. Muns was elected president of the one embracing Minnesota and the states to the west. He was the founder and first president of St. Olaf college, at Northfield. In his latter years he differed with his synod on doctrinal questions, and was finally expelled, but was, in spite of this, respected for his learning and high character.

Prof. F. A. Schmidt, D. D., is professor of theology at the United Lutheran Seminary at St. Anthony Park. He is one of the best known Lutheran scholars in the northwest. He was born in Leutenberg, Rudolstadt, Germany, January 3, 1837, and came to America in 1841, after the death of his parents. After spending six years in the parochial schools in St. Louis, he en- tered college, and graduated in 1853. IIe studied theology three years, served a congregation in Eden, N. Y., and later another at Baltimore, Md. After two years he was called as professor in the first Norwegian high school in America, now known as Luther College, in Decorah, Iowa. This was in 1861. Later he taught theology five years at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and then removed to Madison, Wis., teaching there eleven years in the Norwegian Theological Seminary. When the United Norwegian Intheran church was formed in 1890, he was transferred from Northfield, whither he had gone in 1886 to teach in the seminary of the Anti-Missourians, to Minneapolis, where he is still teach- ing, although he is now seventy-two years of age. In 1883 he re- ceived the D. D. degree in recognition of his honorable services. His wife, Mrs. Schmidt, formerly Caroline Allwardt. is still liv- ing. On Tuesday, December 8, 1908, the aged couple celebrated their golden wedding. Mrs. F. A. Schmidt was born in Mecklen- burgh-Schwerin, Germany. October 11, 1842, and came to Chat- tanooga county, New York, when she was eight years old. She 'was married to Dr. F. A. Schmidt fifty-one years ago at Olean. N. Y. Dr. and Mrs. Schmidt have a number of sons and daugh- ters. among whom is Prof. E. W. Schmidt. of the Red Wing Seminary.

The Norwegian Synod has three churches in this county- Trinity. at Red Wing; Little Cannon. in Holden, and the Zum- brota church.

The Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Church, of Red Wing. at one time known as the First Norwegian Evangelical Church, of Red Wing, belongs to the Synod of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. The first Lutheran sermon in the Norwegian language was preached in Red Wing in 1858 by Rev.

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HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY

L. Larsen. A faithful. but small, body of believers continued to hold services at the homes of meinbers, in halls, at the courthouse, and in various other places, Rev. Larsen continuing as religious instructor and pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. B. J. Muns, under whose pastorate the church was formally or- ganized as a Norwegian-speaking church, in the basement of the German Lutheran church, February 18. 1864. The original organization had a membership of eight families. In 1865 the lot on the corner of Bush and Sixth streets was bought, and a church erected. The cornerstone was laid October 10, 1866, and the church was dedicated October 18, of the same year. On the same day the Rev. Nels Th. Ylvisaker was ordained, and became the first resident pastor. He was succeeded in 1875 by Rev. R. Lar- son, who the next year was followed by the Rev. K. Berven. During his pastorate the predestination controversy divided the congregation, and twenty-eight families severed their connection with the church. Reverend Berven remained pastor to 1887. Then for a year the congregation was served from Minneapolis by Rev. O. P. Vangsnes. In 1888 the Rev. K. Bjorgo was installed as pastor. In 1891 he was elected president of the Minnesota district of the Synod. He had the following assistants: D. P. Growe, 1891-94; P. A. Kittelsby, 1894-96; C. Doring, 1896-97. It was during Reverend Bjorgo's pastorate that English work was begun in the congregation. The English Mission Society was organized in 1890 with Rev. J. A. Detzer. of St. Paul, in charge from 1890 to 1892. IIe was succeeded by Rev. E. F. Haertel, who served from 1892 to 1897. In 1897 the English Mission Society was merged into the congregation proper, and the congregation adopted its present name and the English language as its official tongue. The duties of district president required more and more of Reverend Bjorgo's time. He therefore resigned as pastor, and was succeeded in 1897 by Rev. H. G. Magelssen. Reverend Bjørgo remained as assistant pastor. Reverend Magelssen's pas- torate extended to January, 1903, when he was succeeded by the Rev. E. I. Strom. In 1900 the corner of Fifth and Dakota streets' was purchased for a site for the new church and parsonage. In 1902 the house on the property was remodeled for a parsonage. In September. 1904, the excavation for the new church was com- menced. The cornerstone was laid April 9, 1905, and the church was dedicated July 15, 1906. The new church is of Red Wing stone, 84 x 48, with a seating capacity of 400. It is heated with steam and lighted by gas and electricity. The basement extends under the whole church, and is used for school and societies. The church property as it now stands cost, in round numbers, $30,000. A regular day school has been conducted since the fall of 1903, with the pastor and Elizabeth Clausen as teachers. The

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Ladies' Aid Society meets on the first Thursday of every month. The Young People's Society and the Priscillas meet at the call of the presidents. The Sunday school meets regularly every Sun- day after service.

Rev. Eimar Ingvald Strom, who resigned as pastor in May, 1909, and is now pastor of two churches in Chippewa county, Minnesota, was born in Zumbrota, this county, June 9, 1871. In the fall of 1886 he entered Luther College, at Decorah, Ia., where he was graduated in 1895. Ile was ordained August 19, 1895, in the church at Zumbrota. His first parish was in Ward and McHenry counties, North Dakota. In 1897 he became principal of Luther Academy, Albert Lea, Minn., where he remained until 1902. He then served the Crow River parish, in Kandujohi county, for one year, and came to Red Wing in May, 1903. Dur- ing his stay in Red Wing he served as trustee of the Lutheran Ladies' Seminary and as trustee and treasurer of St. John's Hospital. He was married in 1897 to Helina Marie Nedrud. This union has been blessed with six children, Kristine, Carl, Agnes, Nora, Ingvald and Solveig.

Zumbrota Congregation was organized in 1889 by the Rev. O. P. Vangsnes, of Minneapolis. Among the members at that time were K. L. Strom, A. Erstad, Andrew Ylvisaker, C. A. Erstad, John Fylken, Christ Tolleffrud, Albert Erstad, Iver Lunde, Hans C. Lunde, Bernt Lunde, Michael Gullerud, Ole Fin- stuen, Henry Goplen, P. P. Finstuen, Hans Bjugan, Thos. Avels- gaard, Nels O. Rostad and Th. Raaen. In 1893 a new church was erected on the outskirts of Zumbrota and dedicated July 30 by Rev. Joh. Ylvisaker, assisted by Rev. I. A. Thorsen, K. Bjorgo, D. P. Growe and Rev. Skabo. The church cost about $4,000, is 42 by 30 feet, with a chancel 18 by 22 feet. The tower is 12x12x 85. O. P. Vangsnes served the congregation from 1889 to 1890. Then for ten years the pastor was Rev. K. Bjorgo, assisted by D. P. Growe, P. A. Kittelsby. C. Doring and H. G. Magelssen. John Linnevold served a short time in 1900; H. G. Magelsson served from 1900 to 1901 and the Rev. S. J. N. Ylvisaker served until August 31. 1908. Rev. E. J. Strom served as pastor three months and then came the present pastor, Rev. S. Bervin. The church has about thirty families, has a Saturday school, two ladies' aid societies, a church choir and other organizations. The officers are : Chairman, Rev. S. Bervin ; deacon, Iver Lunde ; trus- tees, Albert Erstad, Th. Avelsgaard, H. Goplen : secretary, Peter H. Lunde .; treasurer, O. E. Bjorgo. The church is constantly growing and has a splendid future. In 1903 this church, in con- neetion with the Little Cannon church, purchased a fine parson- age, adjoining the church.

Little Cannon Congregation originally affiliated with the con-

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gregation at Hayfield, Minn., and the pastor was the Rev. John Linnevold. Later the congregation associated with the Zum- brota congregation, at that time in charge of Rev. S. J. N. Ylvis- aker. In the fall of 1908 the congregation was served a short time by the Rev. Th. Norman, of Hayfield. Since that time the pastor has been the Rev. S. Bervin. The church has a parochial school and the usual societies. The church building was dedi- . cated September 22, 1901, by Rev. K. Bjorgo, assisted by Prof. Hans Allen, Rev. H. G. Magelssen, Prof. J. U. Xavier and Rev. S. J. N. Ylvisaker. Among the early members were: G. K. Norsving, Bk. Norsving, K. K. Tasa, Th. O. Quam. T. T. Hover- stead, Ole J. Broen, J. O. Broen, H. O. Broen, John Broen, Ole Nesseth. Ole O. Braaten, Erik Odegaard, Roar O. Nesseth, Iver O. Nesseth, Martin Jjellum, H. B. Underdahl, Bernt Nesseth. Baard Nesseth and Knute Tasa. The parsonage is at Zumbrota.

Rev. Sven Berven was born in Bergen, Norway, September 21, 1874, son of Kristen and Ingeborg (Sexe) Berven, natives of Norway, who came to America in 1875 and located in Springfield. Ill., where the father attended a theological seminary, graduat- ing in the following year. He received a call from the Trinity Lutheran church of Red Wing and served as their pastor until the fall of 1888. Ile then went to Day county, South Dakota, and had charge of a church until 1899, when he resigned from the ministry. Rev. Sven Berven received his education at Luther Normal School at Sioux Falls. S. D .. and at Luther College, De- corah, Iowa, graduating in 1901. In the fall of 1901 he entered Luther Seminary at Hamline; graduated in 1904 and was or- dained to the ministry. He received a call to Luverne. Minn .. which he served until December, 1908, when he was called to take charge of the churches of Zumbrota. Little Cannon and Valley Grove. He was married. April 26, 1905. at Minneapolis. to Luella Eriekson, daughter of E. M. and Johanna (Hjort) Erickson, the father a traveling salesman out of Minneapolis. where they reside. Rev. and Mrs. Berven have two children.

Hauge's Synod has four churches in Goodhne county. at Red Wing. Kenyon. Roscoe Center and Aspelund.

St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Congregation, of Red Wing. was organized April 9. 1866, and incorporated under the state laws of Minnesota. The first board of trustees consisted of the following members : Ole O. Hegna. Lars Siverson and Nils Jacob- son. The first year the congregation had about thirty communi- cant members. In 1866 a lot between Sixth and Seventh streets. on Bluff street. was bought. and a building erected on same. which served as the place of worship till 1886. when the present church. situated on the corner of Seventh and Bush streets. was dedicated.

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Several years before the organization, in 1866, of the congre -- gation of the so-called Ilanges people. Rev. O. Hanson had served those who later composed the St. Peter's congregation by monthly visits to Red Wing, and the meetings were generally held in the old firemen's hall, then situated on Third street, between Bush and Plum streets. Rev. O. Hanson was the first regular pastor, and was present at the meeting when the congregation was organized. He continued to serve until January 3. 1876, when Rev. Chr. O. Brohough was elected to the charge. May 9, 1881, Reverend Brohongh resigned. and the congregation called Rev. I. Eistenson, who served but one year. From August 10. 1882, till April 30, 1885. St. Peter's. congregation was served by Rev. A. Weenaas. 'For a few years the congregation had no regular pas- tor. but in 1889 a call was extended to Rev. O. S. Meland, who accepted, and preached his introductory sermon Sunday, July 1, 1889. Rev. O. S. Meland has since been the regular pastor of St. Peter's congregation. The present membership of the congrega- tion is about 500.

Rev. Ole S. Meland, pastor of St. Peter's Norwegian Lutheran church, was born in Norway, October 6, 1854. He received his education in the public and high schools of his native town, and later attended the seminary at Balestrand. In 1875 he emigrated to America, and located in Dane county, Wisconsin, where he worked on a farm in the summer, attending school in the winter. Ile engaged in teaching for three years, after which he entered Augsburg Seminary, at Minneapolis, where he studied for five years. On account of failing health he left school and went to Norway. He entered college at Christiania, and remained two years. Later he received a call to the Red Wing Seminary, as instructor, to succeed Prof. Sven R. Gunderson. This position he held for eight years, and was principal the last two years. In 1889 he was called to become the pastor of St. Peter's Norwegian Lutheran church, which he still serves. Mr. Meland is also a member of the Seminary board and the pastor of the school. September 1, 1887, Rev. Meland was married to Elida C. Sin- mons, daughter of Thor K. and Hannah S. (Hawkins) Simmons, of Red Wing. Rev. and Mrs. Meland have four children : Alvin Simmons, born June 20, 1888, a student at Williams College, Massachusetts ; Aneva Maria, born September 10, 1892: Norman, born June 20, 1894, and Jennette, born May 11, 1897, all of whom are attending school. Reverend Meland is Republican in his politics, and is an active and interested worker in the Anti-Saloon League.

Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, of Aspelund. was organized in 1859 by Rev. A. E. Boyum. Although not ordained. Oesten Hanson took charge of the congregation, and in 1861 was ordained, remaining until his death. At the time of the organiza-

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tion the membership was about thirty-five, and the officers were : Deacons, Stephen Lee and Ole J. Lee; trustees, Ole J. Lee, Hans M. Sande and Knut Sanden. The present pastor is the Rev. C. C. Holter, who has been in charge of the congregation about eleven years. The church has a membership of 350, and the meeting place is a fine church building, erected at a cost of $5,000. The present secretary of the church is O. S. Haugen, of Wanamingo. A board of trustees and a board of elders, and the other ens- tomary officers. constitute the governing board.

Hauges Evangelical Lutheran Congregation, at Kenyon, has a membership of 210, and two churches, one in the village and the other in the country. The two churches are valued at about $8,000. The secretary is A. Anonby, of Kenyon, and the other officers are as usual. These churches, like the others of Hauge's synod in their vicinity, were organized about fifty years ago, and were for many years in charge of Rev. O. Hanson, now being served by Rev. C. C. Holter, who has been the pastor abont eleven years. The Kenyon congregation. the Stordal church and the Immanuel church unite in a parsonage at Kenyon village valued at about $5,000.

Stordal Evangelical Lutheran Church, at Roscoe Center, is one of the old churches of the county, and has a membership of abont 300. The church building cost $5,000, and the secretary is O. G. Romo, of Zumbrota. Like the other two congregations now in charge of Reverend Holter, this congregation was for many years served by Rev. O. Hanson.

Rev. C. C. Holter, pastor of the congregations at Kenyon, Ros- coe Center and Aspelund. is a clergyman of acknowledged ability, and took up his present parishes about eleven years ago. He is the editor of the "Budbaeren," a 24-page weekly church paper, which has a wide circulation among the communicants of the Hange synod.

Rev. Oesten Hanson was born July 8, 1836, in Norway, and died August 4, 1898. At the age of fifteen he emigrated with his parents to this country, and with them lived for a time in Wis- consin. In 1856 they moved to this county, and here Reverend IIanson was ordained, in 1861, serving the congregations at Aspe- lund, Kenyon and Roscoe Center until his death. In 1875-76 he was president of Hauge's synod, was its vice-president for about twenty years, was president of the board of regents of the Red Wing Seminary for several years. and was again elected president of the synod in 1887.

The Free Church, which has a congregational form of govern- ment, is represented in this county by two churches, one in Wana- mingo, and Hegre in Kenyon, near Skyberg.

Wanamingo Congregation was organized July 27, 1869, and

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the following officers elected: Erick Erickson (chairman), E. T. Sandstrom (secretary). Otto Thoreson, Nils Christofferson, Erick Erickson and John Swenson. deacons. The constitution of the Angustana synod was adopted with no changes. Angust 31, 1869, a meeting was held for the purpose of calling a pastor, and Rev. L. E. Green, of Forest City, Ia., was chosen. Johannes E. Skaar presided at this meeting, with Herman C. Sorum as secretary. The first annual meeting was held JJanuary 3, 1870, when Tosten Thoreson, John A. Skaar, JJohn Swenson and Carl Swenson were chosen to serve as trustees. and Herman C. Sorum as treasurer.

January 13, 1872. Rev. N. E. Viekre, of Christinia, Minn., was called. He accepted. and remained until 1881. December 2. 1872, a meetng was held to discuss the building of a church, and a subscription was taken among those present, which amounted to $898.00. At the annual meeting, held March 3, 1873, at the home of Haagen Saetran, they decided to build a church 40 x 32 x 16. with a balcony for the choir 18 x 18. A committee was chosen, consisting of Johannes Skaar (chairman), II. Ener- son. Lars Sorenson, Haagen Saetran and Tosten Thoreson. May 26th a meeting was held at the home of Edward Larson for the purpose of choosing a delegate to the annual conference. Ole Anfinson was elected as the first representative of the church.

In the fall of 1877 the church was finished and dedicated the twenty-fifth Sunday after Trinity. The tower was built in 1886. August 14, 1881, Rev. Gerhard Gjertsen, of Rochester, Minn., was called to succeed Reverend Vickre. December 27, the same year, the members met again for the purpose of selecting a pastor. A question arose of joining with the Dale church, and calling Reverend Munck, of Norway, but it was finally decided to join with Rochester, and call Rev. L. Lund to serve both churches. In November, 1890, the Rochester church severed her connection with Wanamingo, and that left them again without a pastor, so a meeting was held September 13, 1891, when Student R. Halvorson was called. He remained two years. In the fall of 1892 Wanamingo, Hoff and Hegre churches joined, and ealled Student R. Halvor- son to assume charge of the three churches. He served until September, 1901, and Reverend Rislov, the present pastor, was called.

At a meeting October 14, 1889, the constitution of the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America was adopted, and a reso- lution passed to take part in the effort to raise the sum of $22,000 in the conference. S. S. Hommedal and Ole Sletten were elected as delegates to attend the conference at Minneapolis in 1890. March 25, 1897, the Wanamingo church separated from the United church. There are at present about 230 members, and of the founders, only one-Edward Larson-is living. The church

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is affiliated with no definite synod, but is what is known as a "free church," having a distinctly congregational form of government.

Hegre Congregation was organized in the year 1878. Among the first members were P. P. Hegseth, A. II. Hegseth, J. P. Heg- seth, Haagen Danielson. N. O. Rodningen. L. A. Jarstad, S. A. Ofstedal, L. J. Kyllo, P. J. Borstad. P. II. Satran, A. Kinseth and P. J. Kyllo. The erection of the church building was started abont 1880, but was not completed before 1902. It was dedieated November 2, of the same year. The present membership is 200 souls and 123 confirmed members. The following pastors have been in charge of the congregation : B. J. Muus. M. O. Backman, A. Winther, N. Ofstedal, R. Halvorson and S. Rislov, the latter of whom is now in charge. The church is located in Kenyon.

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History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, Part 44

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago, H.C. Cooper Number of Pages: 1264

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1264