History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, Part 45

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

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The United Brethren have two churches in the county, one at Kenyon and the other at Hader.

NORWEGIAN METHODIST.

There are two Norwegian Methodist churches in the county, one in Belvidere and one in Leon.

The Eidsvold Norwegian Methodist Church of Leon. The first meetings were held in the homes of the members, in the school house, or under the trees when the weather permitted, in the year 1859, and the church was organized a year later. In 1875, through the efforts and liberality of one of its charter members, Gulbrand Nelson, a church was erected, and has since been sup- plied by the pastor of the church of Belvidere. It is located in section 20. The present membership numbers eleven. and its leading member and main supporter is John Ring.

The Norwegian Methodist Church of Belvidere. (By Mrs. David A. Larson.) The first meetings were held in the homes and in the schoolhouse as early as 1858. These meetings. led by a local preacher, Knut Knutson, were usually well attended, the old settlers sometimes walking a distance of eight to fifteen miles to be present. In 1874 a church was erected and dedicated the following year, July 11, by the presiding elder, J. II. Johnson, assisted by the pastor of the church. Rev. G. Oleson, also Revs. C. F. Lindquist and A. Olaveson. The first members were : Knut Knutson, a local preacher; Amund Larson, a preacher who was a soldier in the Civil War, and died September 2, 1865, of disease contracted in the service ; Hans H. Danielson. also an old soldier, who suffered the loss of a limb in the war, and his wife, both active church workers, and whose home was always open to friends and strangers; Swen Hendrickson, a soldier who died after the war. and his wife; Thor Erickson, also a soldier. and

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his wife, both of whom have passed to the Great Beyond; Her- man Hanson, now deceased, and his wife, who resides in Wis- consin. The pastors who have served this church are: Revs. Nicholas S. 'Olstrom, who enlisted in 1861, as chaplain in the army and died there; P. M. Johnson, who served the church dur- ing the war; Rev. Long, C. F. Lindquist, now living at Red Wing; Rev. Borgeson, E. Arveson. now deceased; Arne Johnson, Chris- tian Oman, who died in 1894; A. Knutson, now of Minneapolis, who was the prime factor in the erecting of the church in 1874, but did not stay until it was dedicated; Paul Seim, 1885; B. E. Olin, 1886; C. Christoferson, 1887, now of Deer Park, Wis .; Axel Olsen, who was a preacher and farmer, and is now dead; Rev. Gustav Thoner, who served one year; N. C. Hanson, 1896; Nels Jacobson, 1897-99; O. S. Rolland, 1900; A. W. Rosness, 1901-02; Arnt M. Anderson, 1903; O. A. Doblough, 1904; O. A. Hofsted, 1905. L. A. Larson, who served in 1907, died August, 1908, and is buried beside the church in Belvidere. His mother, Bertha Larson, donated the lot on which the church stands in section 20.

Rev. J. A. Jacobson is the present pastor, and is serving his second year. He was born in Norway, and came to America when a youth, and received his education in Chicago. Since his ordination to the ministry, he has had several charges. He served the Norwegian Methodist church in St. Paul and was presiding elder for six years. He preaches equally well in both the Eng- lish and Norwegian languages. He was married in 1888 to Hannah Bernson, of Minneapolis, and has two daughters: Ruth is a school teacher, and Gertrude attends school. They have also adopted an orphan boy.

The present officers of the church are David A. Larson, Mrs. H. H. Danielson and Otto Larson. There is a Sunday school of three classes, of which David Larson is the superintendent and secretary, and Caleb Larson, treasurer. The church also supports a society called the Band of Helpers, the officers of which are President, Edna Danielson; vice president, Mrs. A. B. Larson ; secretary, Alison B. Larson ; treasurer, Otto Larson. Mrs. II. H. Danielson is the only surviving charter member of the church, and is still an active worker.

SWEDISH LUTHERAN.

The Augustana Synod of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church is represented in Goodhue county by eight congregations, Vasa, Zion (Goodhue), Red Wing, Cannon River, Welch, Prairie Island, Spring Garden and St. Ansgars (Cannon Falls).

The history of the churches at Vasa and Red Wing is a part of the early history of this county, and a full record. written by

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Rev. E. Norelius and Rev. E. G. Chinlund, is found in another chapter.

Cannon River Church was established May 11, 1857, by the Rev. E. Norelius. The first members were Andrew Swanson, Nels Ilawkinson, Gustof Anderson, A. P. Johnson, Andrew Lind- strom, C. F. Johnson, Magnus Nelson, John Peterson, Jacob An- derson, Magnus Lundell, August Peterson, Swan Nelson, Gustof Johnson, Olof Ostberg, John Johnson and Jonas Engberg, Jr. The meeting was held at the house of Andrew Swanson, on block 51. in the Cannon Falls city addition, where the mill was after- ward erected. The trustees elected at this meeting were Andrew Swanson, Nels Hawkinson and Jonas Engberg. The latter was also elected treasurer. It was decided to build a church and subscriptions were raised to the amount of $465. At a later meeting, held June 8, 1857, it was arranged to build a frame church, 30x40, eighteen feet high, with a tower. Andrew Lind- strom laid the foundation in June, 1857, but the church was not completed. In 1862 the congregation built a church in the town- ship, on section 3, 20x26. This edifice was used until the summer of 1878, when the congregation erected a frame church on section 1, 30x60, with a tower, at an estimated cost of $4,000.

An interesting story once related by G. Westman is to the effect that during the year 1858, the congregation was to have the Lord's supper administered, and a collection was taken up and a bottle of wine procured. On the morning of that eventful Sabbath the wine was to be brought from the south side of the Little Cannon to the north side. The river being high, the seven members residing on the south side were to be taken over in a skiff. With them was the wine. When they reached the middle of the stream. the boat was upset. With the assistance of the people on either shore, all were saved except old Mrs. Angberg, whose body was recovered several months later, eight or nine miles down the stream. It is needless to say that the wine also was lost.

Spring Garden Church was organized July 19, 1858, at the residence of Peter Johnson, on section 15, Leon township, under the charge of Rev. P. Beckman, who continued for some time thereafter as pastor. The first congregation was composed of the following members: M. Edstrom and family. C. A. Haggstrom and family, John G. Wanberg and family, Jacob Johnson and family, John P. Johnson and family, A. W. Johnson and family, Isaac Holm and family, Peter Johnson and family, Nils Chalberg and family, Peter Lundell and family, Bengt Anderson and fam- ily, A. Enberg and family, Paul Nelson, John Holm, G. Holm, P. O. Holm, C. Holm, Johannes Holm, John Edwall, John Lager-

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strom and S. Anderson. The officers were: Deacons, M. Edstrom, for one years; John P. Johnson, for two years; Peter Johnson, for three years. Trustees, Jacob Johnson, for one year; Nils Chall- berg, for two years, and S. Anderson, for three years. For a time the congregation met in private houses or in schoolhouses. In 1862 a small church was built on section 11. This church was later replaced by a fine edifice, erected on the site of the original structure, with a capacity of 600 people.

According to the official reports of the church, the present edifice was erected in 1876, the present value of the property being $13,800. There are 563 members, of whom 398 are com- municants.

St. Ansgar's Church, of Cannon Falls, was organized August 15, 1869, at the school house, by the Rev. P. A. Cederstam. Among the early members of the church were G. Westman, A. P. Johnson, John Matson, Gustof Bergman, Magnus Anderson, John Anderson, Gustof Wedestrom, John Beck, Otto Johnson, A. W. Carlson, Lewis Larson, C. Jackson, C. P. Swanson, John Moline, Gustof Thumberg and Swan Widholm. The first trustees were G. Westman, A. P. Johnson and John Matson. . At a meeting held February 17, 1872, it was resolved to build a frame build- ing, 34 by 50. The structure was started in the spring of 1872 and completed the same year. Including furniture and an addi- tion built in 1874, the cost was $3,000. This church was rebuilt in 1909 at a cost of some $7,000, enlarging its capacity and mak- ing it modern.

Zion Church, in Goodhue, was organized in 1869 and incorpo- rated in 1873. A frame building was erected in 1874, the entire valuation at the present time being $3,000. There are 127 mem- bers, of whom 91 are communicants. Dr. E. Norelius has for several years served this church as pastor.

Welch Church, in Welch township, was organized and incorpo- rated in 1873, and in 1878 a frame church was erected, the pres- ent valuation of the church property being $8,000. There are 334 members, of whom 258 are communicants. The parochial school has about thirty pupils.

Prairie Island Church was organized and incorporated in 1876, and in 1897 a frame church was built, the present value of the property being $1,500. There are ninety-five members, of whom sixty-five are communicants. The parochial school has about twenty pupils.

ENGLISH LUTHERAN.

The English Lutheran denomination has four flourishing churches in the county, at Red Wing, Goodhue, Zumbrota and Cannon Falls.

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HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY

St. Paul's Church, at Red Wing, was organized November 20, 1886, by the Rev. G. H. Trabert, D. D .. of Minneapolis, who con- tinned to serve the congregation every two weeks. The congre- gation at first held its services in the Swedish church, then in the school house belonging to the church. Later the services were transferred to a hall at the corner of Third and Bush streets, and from there to the chapel of the Episcopal church. The pres- ent lot was secured in the summer of 1889 and the building erected. This was enlarged in the year 1899. The congregation began with seven members and has increased to 300. There are 200 scholars in the Sunday school. Services are held each Lord's day morning and evening. Five pastors have served the congre- gation : Revs. G. II. Trabert. D. D .. 1583-89; C. B. Lindtwed, 1889-92: A. Steimle, 1893-95: J. A. Leas. 1896-01. The present pastor is Rev. A. J. Reichert, who has served the congregation since May 1. 1901. The congregation has now no indebtedness.

First English Evangelical Lutheran Church, of Cannon Falls. In the early part of January, 1899. several persons of Cannon Falls, among whom was F. R. Anderson, were desirons of having English Lutheran services held in Cannon Falls. Mr. Anderson conferred with Rev. J. A. Leas, who was then pastor of St. Paul's church. of Red Wing. Rev. Leas made arrangements, and the first service was held in the Methodist church at Cannon Falls on a Sunday evening. A goodly number was present at the service, and many expressed a desire that services be continued at the convenience of the pastor. In a few weeks another service was held. but after that service Reverend Leas was so occupied with the duties of his own parish that no further services were held for several months. In May, 1899, Reverend Leas and the Rev. Mr. Boulton visited Cannon Falls, and, having found a number of families that desired the continuance of English Lutheran sery- ices. arrangements were made to hold Sunday evening services every two weeks in the Methodist church. These services were conducted by Revs. Leas and Boulton from May 9 to October 15. About the first of October. 1899, a meeting was held for the pur- pose of organizing an English Lutheran church. but owing to the fact that one or two of those who were the prime movers of the work at first, becoming somewhat fainthearted, and being inclined to enter the Swedish Lutheran church, which had formerly refused to admit them to membership, the other persons inter- ested thought it not advisable to organize at that time. However. arrangements were made to hold services regularly every other Sunday. both morning and evening, in a hall rented for the pur- pose. P. A. Peterson, postmaster, kindly offered the use of a small hall near his place of business. The first service was held October 15. 1899. These services were so well attended that after

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on Sunday evenings the hall was found to be too small, and many had to stand during the entire service. In March, 1900, arrange- ments were made to use the hall of the A. O. U. W. The hall being large and comfortably furnished. the attendance at serv- ices continued very satisfactorily. In May, 1900, at a meeting called by Reverend Boulton, who had conducted the services from October 15, 1899, the First English Evangelical Intheran church, of Cannon Falls, was organized with nine charter members, as signers of the articles of organization. The total membership was twenty-five communicants. The congregation elected the fol- lowing named persons as its first officers : Secretary. P. S. Aslak- son ; treasurer. B. R. Johnson ; deacons, S. J. Edlund, O. L. Ben- son. A. J. Ullevig ; trustees, S. J. Backlund, N. A. Winslow, A. E. Gilbertson. The congregation was received into the Synod of the Northwest at the synodical meeting in Goodhue, June. 1900. On the first Sunday in Advent. December 2. 1900, Rev. Merrill E. Boulton was installed as pastor by the Rev. G. H. Trabert, D. D., of Minneapolis. Rev. M. E. Boulton served as pastor of the congregation until May, 1903, when he resigned, to accept the pastorate of the First English Evangelical Lutheran church, of Mishawaka, Ind. In June, 1903. Rev. R. A. Helms accepted the call, and served as pastor until 1906, when he tendered his resig- nation. During the pastorate of Reverend Helms a lot was pur- chased, and a new church erected thereon at a cost of $2,500. It was dedicated in May, 1905. Rev. Willis Beek assumed the pas- torate in December. 1906, and is its present pastor. serving it from Zumbrota. The present communicant membership is 100. It has an energetic ladies' aid society of thirty members, a Luther league, and a Sunday school of ninety members, of which P. S. Aslakson is superintendent.

First English Evangelical Lutheran Church, of Zumbrota. On October 5, 1905. Rev. R. A. Helms, who had been requested by J. A. Langslorf. Herman Kalass and others to hold English Lutheran services at Zumbrota, came here and conducted a meet- ing in Anderson Hall. The attendance at this time was forty persons. At the next meeting, two weeks later, the attendance was eighty-three. Services were then held every two weeks, until November 27. 1905, when the church was regularly organized as the First English Lutheran Church of the Redeemer by the Rev. R. A. Hehns, assisted by Rev. J. A. Reichert, of Red Wing. The original signers of the constitution were Herman Kalass, Mrs. Herman Kalass, Julia Frederich, Harnett Abend. Mrs. Anton Johnson, Anton Johnson, Fred Lohmann, Lizzie Lohmann, August Klng. Elinor Klug. J. H. Langsdorf, Augusta Langsdorf, William Langsdorf, H. E. Weiss, B. A. Kolbe and Anna Kolbe.

Reverend Helms resigned as pastor in the early part of 1906.

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Rev. Willis Beck became pastor in December of the same year, and is the present pastor. Services were continued in Anderson's HIall until the beginning of 1907, when the congregation secured the use of the United Norwegian chapel, which it used until the spring of 1909, and then rented the Episcopal church, where it worships at the present time. The membership has steadily grown. At the present time it is seventy-five. It has a ladies' aid society of twenty-five members, and a Sunday school of eighty members, of which Anton Johnson is the superintendent. In May, 1909, subscriptions were raised for two church lots.

St. Luke's English Evangelical Lutheran Church. On Janu- ary 5, 1897, Rev. John A. Leas, pastor of St. Paul's English Lutheran church, of Red Wing, visited Goodhue and met K. L. Anderson, Hein Prigge and others. with a view to learning the prospects of holding English Lutheran services in the village. The project was so favorably received that a business meeting was called for January 8, on which occasion C. A. Erickson, of Red Wing. accompanied the pastor; and in the room of K. L. Anderson a meeting was held with a view of discussing further the proposed project. Those present were K. L. Anderson, Hein Prigge, William Hennings, Henry Holst, Fred Meyer and William Kurschinsky, all of whom manifested a great interest and desire to begin such English services, with the further view of organiz- ing a congregation. Arrangements were made for weekly services, and the first service was accordingly held in L. K. Anderson's hall, above the postoffice, January 14, 1897. with an attendance of about eighty-five persons. Services were then held each week, usu- ally on Friday evening, until February 19, 1897. when a congre- gation was organized after the services with the following charter members : K. L. Anderson, Hein Prigge, JJohn II. Boxrud, Henry Ilolst, William Hennings. Fred Meyer, William Kurschinsky, John Schaeffer, F. W. Als and Ole Holte. The pastor presided, and after explaining the synodical connections which he main- tained, and which the proposed English Lutheran church should sustain, the following elections were reported : Deacons, William Hennings, Ole Ilolte and Hein Prigge; trustees, Hein Prigge, Ole Holte and Henry Holst ; president, Henry Holst ; secretary, F. W. Alms; treasurer. Hein Prigge. The secretary-elect, Mr. Alms, withdrew from the organization, and K. L. Anderson was elected to fill the vacancy on May 30, 1897. Regular services were held at stated times by Pastor J. A. Leas until arrangements were made to seenre a supply for the new congregation. On April 2, 1897, the church council of St. Luke's congregation met and unanimously elected Student M. E. Boulton, of the Imtheran Theological Seminary of Chicago, to supply the pulpit during the

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summer. Student Boulton served the congregation from May 9, 1897, to September 26, 1897, leaving then to return to the theo- logical seminary at Chicago, to finish his course. During the winter of 1897-98 the congregation was supplied by Rev. J. A. Leas, of Red Wing, and Student L. L. Mastad, of the Red Wing Seminary. On March 4, 1898, at a congregational meeting, M. E. Boulton was given a unanimous call to aet as pastor as soon as his seminary work would permit. Mr. Boulton having com- pleted his theological studies, and graduated April 27, 1898, accepted the call, and began his labors in the congregation May 16, 1898. Ile was ordained at the meeting of the synod in St. John's church, Minneapolis, June 16, 1898, and on June 23, 1898, was installed as pastor at Goodhne by Rev. W. K. Friek, of Mil- waukee, president of the synod; Rev. C. L. Warstler, of St. Paul, secretary of the synod, and by Rev. J. A. Leas, of Red Wing. During the winter of 1898-99. Reverend Boulton completed his seminary course at Chicago, and again returned to his Goodhue congregation May 14, 1899. He continued as pastor until May. 1903, during which time the membership gradually increased, and a neat frame church was erected at a cost of $2,000. Rev. R. A. IIelmis served as pastor from June. 1903. until May, 1906, when it was vacant until December, 1906. At this time Rev. Willis Beck became pastor, and continues to serve it from Zumbrota. In the early part of the summer of 1908 there was erected on the church a new steeple and a 1,000-pound tin-copper bell, installed at an expense of $1,000. The congregation is in a flourishing condition, with a membership of 150, a faithful ladies' society, and a Luther league. which meets regularly.

Rev. Willis Beck was born in Stone Church, Pennsylvania, " February 12. 1876. He was educated in the publie school of his native village. Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pa., and Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, Pa. Before entering college he taught in the public school for one term. He was ordained in the ministry in May, 1902, and served English Lutheran churches in Derry, Pa., from 1902 to 1905. In the spring of 1905 he organized the first English Lutheran church of Superior, Wis., and served until December, 1906, when he became pastor of what is known as the Goodhue parish, consisting of congregations in Goodhue, Cannon Falls and Zumbrota. July 7, 1903, he was married to Grace I. Klingensmith, and they have two children: Isabel R., born September 25, 1904, and Mary C., born January 11, 1906. In polities he is a Republican.

SWEDISH MISSION.

There is one Swedish Mission church in Red Wing.

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HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY

Swedish Mission Evangelical Lutheran Church, of Red Wing. In August, 1868, a few persons gathered at the home of Nels Nelson, who lived near the Milwaukee depot, and held a prayer meeting, which was led by Nels Sylvander, who had arrived from Sweden two weeks before. After that, meetings were held every Wednesday evening and Sundays, and were usually con- dueted by Mr. Sylvander, except for an occasional visit by Revs. P. Undeen and J. M. Sangren, of Chicago. The meetings were well attended and in 1869 the society was organized and the fol- lowing officers elected: President. Nels Sylvander; deacon, G. Bordson; trustees, G. F. Kjellstrom, P. Johnson and L. Larson, who with their wives and J. Johnson and wife, constituted the society. In 1873, a lot was purchased on Sixth street, west of West avenue, at a cost of $400, and a small frame church 30x40 was erected the following year, and as soon as the building was enclosed the meetings were held there. In 1875 the church was finished. and was dedicated by Revs. C. A. Bjork, J. M. Sangren, S. M. Younggnist and P. Wedin. In 1877, Rev. J. M. Sangren was called to become the first pastor and he served until 1878. when he died. The pastors who have served are: Revs. J. M. Sangren, A. Soderstrom. C. W. Boquist. A. Sundberg, L. Sundin. J. A. Nyvall, J. A. Jacobson. N. J. Lindquist, Rev. C. W. Holm, who died here in October, 1907, and Henry Soderhohn, who is the present pastor. During Rev. Boquist's service, the church became too small and an addition was built, also a small school room. In 1900 the church was repaired and improvements made at a cost of $800, and the corner lot on Sixth and West avenne. adjoining the church lot, was purchased at a cost of $750. In the fall of 1908 the church was moved to this lot and remodeled. A stone basement was built which is used for the Sunday school. The church is lighted by gas and electricity, and is heated by steam. All this was done at a cost of nearly $6,000. This church is one of the few that is free from debt. It was dedicated March 28, 1909, by Revs. C. A. Bjork, president of the conference, G. Anderson, Prof. K. E. Forsell, J. A. Palmquist. Of the first mem- bers only three remain. Nels Sylvander, G. F. Kjellstrom, and J. Johnson. The present membership is about 150. The present officers are: President, Gustaf Swanson; vice president, John Compton : secretary. E. Boye; treasurer. Ang. Lindstrom; dea- vons. John Compton, A. E. Sundby. B. A. Olson. Edward Boye ; trustees, John Compton, John Nord. The church has a prosper- ous Sunday school, which was organized in 1869, with G. F. Kjellstrøm as the first superintendent. The present superintend- ent is B. A. Olson, who has held that position for twenty-six years. There is a Y. P. S. and two ladies' aid societies, a senior

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and junior. A parochial school is held a few weeks every sum- mer for the purpose of teaching the children the Swedish lan- guage. The church belongs to the Swedish Mission Covenant of America.

Rev. Henry Soderholm was born in Sweden in 1866 and came to this country in 1885. Ile entered the Chicago Theological Seminary, graduating in the spring of 1890. He has served as pastor in three churches previous to coming to Red Wing. two in Connecticut and one in Chicago. He is married and has a family of five children.

GERMAN CHURCHES.

The history of the German churches of the county will be found under the head of "The Germans," an article by Prof. F. W. Kalfahs, which appears in this work.

Rev. Christian Bender. There are probably but few names that are recalled in Red Wing with so much love and so deep a veneration as that of the Rev. Christian Bender. For nearly thirty-five years he was the leading German pastor of the county, and the older Germans remember him as the one who married them, who gave advice and help to the well, sympathy and con- solation to the afflicted, and whose voice spoke the last sad words when their loved ones were laid to their eternal rest. His influ- ence on the parishes in his charge will never be forgotten, although the real extent of the vast good he accomplished in his quiet, unostentatious way can never be fully measured. He was born in Germany September 11, 1838, and as a boy attended the public schools of his neighborhood. At the age of twenty-two years he entered the Mission College at Basel, Switzerland, and graduated in 1866. Ile was ordained at Wittenburg, and preached in his native country about one year. During that time he became interested in the stories of the American Northwest, and learned that there was among the pioneers from his own country a vast field for religious work. Accordingly, in 1867, he came to this country, and after a week at Minneapolis, located in Red Wing, where he at once received the appointment as pastor of St. John's German Lutheran church, also taking charge of St. John's church at Frontenac and Grace church at Goodhne. He ‹lied in February, 1901, and his death caused deep mourning among all denominations, all classes and all nationalities. Rev- erend Bender was married in October, 1868, to Christina Dick- hudt, born at Quiney, Ill., March 7; 1850. To this union six children were born: Lydia, Christian. Anna. Christina. Freda and Adolph.

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History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, Part 45

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