USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I > Part 41
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Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church of Battle Lake .- The first Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church in Battle Lake, or in fact, in that part of the county, had its inception at a meeting of Norwegian settlers on September 14, 1873, at the home of Anders Oestby. The purpose for
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which this meeting was called was to discuss plans for the organization of a Lutheran congregation in this vicinity. All who met on this day were in favor of taking such a step and before the meeting closed some of the settlers signed their names as members of the proposed congregation. Thus this date may be taken as the formal establishment of the first Lutheran church in this part of the county. It happened that on this particular day. the Rev. J. A. Bergh, of Fergus Falls, was present and he was elected pastor of the church at the munificent salary of twenty-four dollars a year. The sterling settlers who signed their names as members were Anders Oestby (who was made secretary ), F. Finkelson, J. Larson Frislov, Carl Nelson and Ole Hoff.
Nearly ten years were to elapse before the members felt able to erect a house of worship, and during this period they worshipped at the homes of the members of the congregation. It was not until February 20, 1882, that the initial steps were taken to provide a church building. At a business meeting on this date it was decided to build a church fifty-four by twenty- eight feet. and to this end a committee composed of Anders Oestby, Andrew Larson, L .. Engerud and A. Peterson was chosen to have charge of the work of construction. Hans Gilbertson and L. Crogan were made a financial committee and authorized to solicit donations for the proposed building, the members present at the business meeting subscribing two hundred and twenty-five dollars.
The next question to decide was the location of the building. This was done at a special meeting held on the 17th of the following July, when it was decided to build the church on the southeast corner of the land donated by Rev. Iver Tharaldson for a cemetery. At this second meeting it was decided to erect a chancel, sixteen feet square, and an entry, six by twelve feet. Work on the building was rapidly pushed to completion and in January, 1883, the congregation was able to hold its first meeting in the church, although it was not fully completed until the summer of 1884.
But the building erected with so many sacrifices on the part of its loyal members was soon to be so nearly destroyed by a storm that it was neces- sary to tear it down and rebuild it. This happened in 1888 and it was a year before it was again ready for use. The second building was erected on the same plan as the first, except that the chancel and entry were made larger. In addition a steeple sixty feet high was placed above the entry way. When the building was first erected its entrance was toward the south, but when it was rebuilt it was turned so that the entrance was toward the east.
This building continued to be the home of the congregation until 1915. For some years prior to that time it was felt that additional room was
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necessary, but the congregation could not agree on the method of providing it. The final decision was made at a business meeting held in March, 1915, when it was decided to move the church from the old site to a more central part of town and put it on a full baesment. Lots were purchased at once and the work of making the proposed changes was placed in hands of a committee composed of P. N. Lundquist, H. C. Hektner, P. L. Larson, J. G. Peterson, Ole M. Johnson, Andrew Bjork and B. T. Pederson. These members performed their duties to the entire satisfaction of the congrega- tion and before the end of the year the work was done and the church ready for occupancy.
As has been mentioned, the first pastor of the infant church was Rev. J. A. Bergh and he served the faithful little band for the first year of their existence. He was followed by Rev. Iver Tharaldson, who remained with the congregation until 1881. Since that time the following pastors have had charge : T. Moen, 1881-91 ; B. B. Haugan, 1892-93; E. Berlie, 1893-94; Olaf Ellingson, 1894-1901; Johan Mattson, 1908-13; Gustav Sandanger, 1913 to the present time. To the present generation it may be a surprise to know of the amount of work done by the early pastors of the church. Rev. Tharaldson, who served the church for seven years ( 1874-81), also had charge of five other churches and in those days, with practically no roads, it was no small task to make the trip from one charge to another. It is to the credit of these faithful and self-sacrificing men of God of a past generation that we of today have so many well established churches in Otter Tail county.
It is appropriate in the brief historical sketch to give the names of the faithful secretaries who have so well performed their duties for the past forty-three years. They have served in the following order: Anders Oestby, C. A. Larson, L. Engerud, N. O. Nygaard, Christian Berg, Clement Crogan, Nils Erickson, Andreas Peterson, and Dr. H. C. Hektner, the pres- ent holder of the office. In 1893 the congregation was incorporated under the laws of the state.
When the church started out in the early seventies practically all of the work devolved on the pastor, but with the advancing years the members . have taken various duties on themselves and in their many auxiliary move- ments are making the church a much more potent force for good in the community. The Sunday school is a comparatively recent institution, but its value now is recognized as second only to that of the pastor in the pulpit. The Ladies' Aid dates back nearly to the beginning of the church itself, and these loyal mothers of Israel have worked patiently and quietly. though none the less effectively, all these years that the church might realize its greatest possibilities. They are not only a prominent factor in the financial support
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of their home church, but their influence has been felt in foreign lands where their money has been the means of spreading the Gospel among the heathen. The Young People's Society is an organization which seeks to interest the young people in the work of the church and thereby prepare them to take the place of their elders in the future years. Another little band bears the distinctive title of the Cheerful Helpers, and this group of little girls in especially interested in the foreign missionary fields.
Enough has been said to set forth the place this church has in the life of the community it is trying to serve to the best of its ability. Its mem- bership of nearly two hundred and fifty is composed of men and women who believe in the work of their church and are willing to make sacrifices so that its influence may spread that peace on earth and good will toward men which makes life worth living.
The Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church of Norwegian Grove, locally called Lile Bethania, is located in section 6 of that township, and has been in existence for thirty years, its formal organization dating from March 27, 1886. The congregation of fifty members owns a frame house of worship valued at two thousand dollars, and forty acres of land worth about fifteen hundred dollars. The pastors of this church have been only two in number, H. A. Gaardsmoe ( 1886-96) and U. D. Johnsen from 1896 to the present time. The church maintains various auxiliaries for the advancement of its work.
The Hedemarken Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church is located on the northwestern quarter of section 27, Oscar township. This church was established at this place before Oscar township was a part of Otter Tail county, the first preaching being at the house of Iver Skistad on November 24, 1870. This was probably the first service held in the west part of Otter Tail county and it is interesting to note that on this date Rev. T. Vetleson of St. Olaf, who held the service, baptized ten children. Some of these chil- dren are still living, among them being Anna Lokken, a daughter of Peter Lokken, now Mrs. Youngberg, Adel K. Bye, Margit Fetvedt, Marie Satheren, now Anton Dahl and Helge Moen.
Some time during the seventies Svenning Fetvedt donated five acres from his homestead for a building lot for the church and a cemetery. It .was not until the following spring that the organization of the church was perfected. According to the best records available it appears that at a meeting held on April 24. 1871, at the house of Ole O. Sletvold, the church formally began its career. Among the charter members may be mentioned Ole O. Sletvold, Sr., the Nestor of the settlement, K. A. Bye, Peter Lokken, I. O. Satheren, Peter H. Satheren, Svennung Fetvedt, Fred Fjestad, Casper Lein, M. O. Hagen, Ole Haug, E. Sletvold, John Spidalen, M. Halvorson
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and others. There may have been other charter members but the first records being kept on loose papers, some of the records have been lost, and the complete list of the earliest members is not possible to obtain.
The first building was erected as early as 1872, a log structure whose component parts were furnished and put up by the members themselves. The present building was erected in 1873, the main part being forty-eight by thirty-four feet, with a steeple and an addition for the altar. The second church, a frame structure, was built by Halvor Back, of Fergus Falls, at a cost of four thousand dollars. The church was incorporated June 4, 1877, at which time Sver Hysjilier, John Spidalen, Casper Lein and Frederick Fjestad.
The following ministers have served Hedemarken church since it was established in 1870: T. Vetleson, 1870-72; T. Rosholdt, 1872-78; in 1878 Hedemarken, together with Hamar of Rothsay, was served as a charge by itself by S. Svennungsen, 1878-83; since 1883 M. Langeland has had charge of both churches.
The present membership of the church is two hundred and twenty-two and of these one hundred and fifty-two are confirmed members. A Ladies' Aid Society has worked faithfully for the maintenance of the church, besides aiding the different missions of the Norwegian synod.
The Hamar Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church was established in the early seventies in the southwestern corner of the township of Trond- hjem, but was later moved to the village of Rothsay in Wilkin county. The members are about equally divided between Otter Tail and Wilkin counties. Rev. T. Rosholdt of Norwegian Grove began preaching at the homes of the Norwegian settlers in the southern part of Trondhjem township as early as 1873. The formal organization of the church was perfected at the home of Casper H. Rudh on June 1, 1874, at which time Hamar started with twenty charter members: T. O. Gronseth, A. G. Flatin, Haakon Halvor- sen, Paul Halvorsen, Ole O. Gronseth, L. O. Honerud, K. C. Gulson, O. P. Rudshagen, Gilbert Engelson, T. Kantrud, M. L. Heggen, O. T. Nord- marken, P. L. Paulson, K. Tanberg, A. R. Johnson, F. Fosse, G. H. Kant- rud, John Kantrud, Gunder Kantrud and Casper H. Rudh.
The first church was built of logs in the southwest corner of Trondhjem county, and this was in use until about 1885, when it was abandoned for a more pretentious structure which had been just erected at the village of Rothsay. The village was more centrally located for the members of the congregation than the first location, and it has been maintained in that place since it was located there in 1885. H. Back, of Fergus Falls, built the frame church in Rothsay in 1885, the building costing six thousand dollars. A
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few years later a fine basement was added to the building and many other improvements have been made from time to time.
The church has been served by the following ministers: T. Rosholdt, 1873-78; S. Svennungsen, 1873-83; Langland, 1883-1916. The church has a membership of three hundred and fifty-six, of which number, two hun- dred and forty-four are confirmed members. A Ladies' Aid, a Young Ladies' Society and a large Young People's Society are important auxiliaries of the church, and are doing their share toward bettering the religious life of the community. These organizations are also active factors in helping to finance the church and are also very much interested in the support of missions.
The Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church of Fergus Falls, locally known as the Zion Lutheran church, was established by the following charter members : G. O. Nordmarken, Andrew Pederson, Julius Ryen, M. H. Stand and Carl Stang. The congregation, which now numbers one hundred, has a substantial frame house of worship at No. 117 Julius avenue east, erected at a cost of forty-five hundred dollars. The church is fitted up with a par- lor, class-room and kitchen in the basement.
The church was incorporated December 22, 1902, the names of the following members appearing in the articles: Andrew Pederson, C. Syver- son, G. O. Nordmarken, J. J. Rendahl and M. H. Stang. The church is doing effective work through its various auxiliary organizations, among them being the Sunday school, Ladies' Aid Society, Helping Hand Society. Young Ladies' Aid Society and Young People's Society.
HAUGES EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF AURDAL.
The Hauges Evangelical Lutheran church of Aurdal, located in section 21 of Aurdal township, and locally known as the Vang Lutheran, was organ- ized by J. P. Qvinlog, J. L. Mangerud, Hans Hvasse and H. O. Haugen. The church was incorporated February 29, 1888, under the name of the "Hauges Evangelical Lutheran Church at Aurdal." On that date Martin Vik, Martin Fyhie and J. L. Mangerud were elected trustees of the church. The congregation has a substantial frame building which was erected at a cost of two thousand dollars. The following pastors have served the church since its organization : Reverends Kasa, B. B. Haugen, J. J. Rendall and J. M. Johnson, the present pastor. With a membership of eighty the congregation has sufficient strength to be a potent factor for good in the community which it seeks to serve. A Sunday school, Young People's Society and a Ladies' Aid Society are prominent factors in the work of the church.
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EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH OF SVERDRUP.
The Evangelical Free Church of Sverdrup is located in section 23 of that township, and dates its organization from February 14, 1885. Its charter members were Ole Aune, Ole. O. Stampro, Hans O. Aune, Ole T. Stampro, Ole Nygaard, Otto Nilsby and Mikkel J. Rindal. Rev. L. O. Nygaard has served this church since its organization thirty-one years ago. The church has a frame building, which was erected at a cost of seven hun- dred dollars. The present membership is thirty-two. The church incorp- orated April 1, 1901, at which time the congregation chose Mikkel J. Rindal, L. O. Nygaard and Ole O. Stampro as trustees.
GRACE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF FERGUS FALLS.
The Grace Methodist Episcopal church of Fergus Falls was organized in 1871. The earliest record does not give the name of the pastor who first had charge of the church, simply stating that the church was "to be supplied." The first regular pastor, Rev. A. L. Tull, came in 1873 and remained one year. The church was incorporated August 30, 1873, but it was not until 1874 that the congregation was able to erect a building. During that year the church, under the leadership of the pastor, Rev. C. L. Libby, succeeded in building a modest little house of worship on the site now occupied by Garwin Livery stable. This was used until 1883, when the second building was erected, largely through the efforts of Rev. W. Moyes Martin, the pastor. The erection of this second building left the congregation with a debt which it bore for a quarter of a century. In fact, it was not until January, 1908, that the mortgage was finally burned. it was very natural that the people should rejoice in being freed of their finan- cial burden, but their joy was short lived.
Four months after the last dollar was paid on the mortgage the church building burned to the ground. It seemed that the burden of the congrega- tion was more than it could bear, but it took such a catastrophe to rouse the congregation of three hundred and fifty to its greatest efforts. The old mortgage had been paid off through the efforts of Rev. Charles H. Flesher, and under his leadership the people began the task of rebuilding the church. Within the following year the present beautiful brick church, at No. 126 Union avenue north, was completed and dedicated. The building cost twenty-three thousand dollars and it is entirely free from debt. The con- gregation also owns a modern parsonage at No. 414 Union avenue west. A pipe organ was installed in February, 19,16. at the cost of three thousand dollars.
The records of the church do not give the exact tenure of the various pastors of the church, but it is certain that they have served in the following order : A. L. Tull, C. L. Libby, J. B. Furman, C. B. Brecourt, Peter Claire,
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J. W. Cathcard, W. Moyes Martin, J. B. Hingeley, C. R. Kellerman, S. Ellery. Richard C. Gross, Thomas Hamby, C. B. Brecourt, J. H. Cudlipp, R. H. Craig. J. G. Morrison, Charles H. Flesher, S. L. Parish, Jesse T. Dodds and Elmer E. Shawl.
In addition to the regular church services in charge of the pastor. the church maintains no less than eight auxiliary organizations, all of which are performing their specific duties in an able and efficient manner. These organizations are as follow: Sunday school, Epworth League, Junior Epworth League. Ladies' Aid Society. Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, King's Heralds and Light Bearers, Woman's Home Missionary Society and Queen Esther Circle.
SWEDISH BAPTIST CHURCHES.
The Swedish Baptist church of Fergus Falls was organized August 24, 1870, with twelve charter members. The initial meeting was held in a small log cabin in the southern part of the village, later known as Gottland, and here on this quiet evening in the fall of the year the first church in Fergus Falls began its career. The village was still in its swaddling clothes, in fact, it could hardly be called a village at all, but there was a sufficiently large number of people to establish a religious organization, probably the first one in the village. Rev. O. Ockerson, at that time a missionary whose field was in the northwestern part of Minnesota, was present on this men- orable evening and assisted in the organization of the little band of faithful men and women into a church. Only one. Christian Johnson, is left in Fergus Falls of the twelve charter members; two others are living else- where: Mrs. Sven Helander, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Charles Halberg, living in the vicinity of Topeka, Kansas. The other nine charter members were Mr. and Mrs. Nils Dahlberg, Mr. and Mrs. Nels Peterson, Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Halberg, Mr .and Mrs. John Laus and Charles Lindell.
The services were held in private homes or in halls until 1875, when a building was erected on Bismarck avenue east at a cost of eight hundred dollars. This same building was sold in the great boom year of 1882 for two thousand one hundred dollars; later, it was remodeled as a dwelling house and is still used as such, now standing at 113 Bismarck avenue east. Before it was sold in 1882 it was used for court purposes at times and at least one famous murder trial, State vs. J. H. Saunders, was tried in the church while it was serving as a court room. With the money derived from the sale of the building, the congregation erected a second house of worship the same year ( 1882) at the corner of Court street and Bancroft avenue, the total cost being twenty-five hundred dollars. This building was used until 1911, when it was sold and the present beautiful brick structure on Court
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street was erected at a cost of twelve thousand dollars. A parsonage was erected in the summer of 1915 at a cost of twenty-five hundred dollars.
The congregation has been served by fourteen pastors during the forty- six years of its existence. Their names and dates of service follow: O. Ockerson, 1870-76; A. A. Line, 1876-81; M. Dahlquist, 1881-82; John Halstrom, 1883-85; A. G. Hall, 1886-89; C. E. Malm, 1890-92; N. J. Tarn- quist, 1892-94; R. A. Clint, 1895-98; F. J. Liljegren, 1898-1901; J. N. Soderstrom, 1901-03; C. E. Wedholm, 1904-07; C. H. Ekblad, 1907-09; J. O. Larson, 1910-15; J. C. Johnson, 1915, the present pastor.
The present membership is one hundred and eighty-five; since the church was established in 1870 it has enrolled no less than five hundred members. This church has been instrumental in establishing four other congregations : Eagle Lake, Oscar, Campbell and Friberg. These churches are referred to as "Daughter churches" from the fact that they were organ- ized by members who were formerly attached to the congregation in Fergus Falls.
The local congregation has a well organized Sunday school of one hundred and forty, divided into nine graded classes. There is also a very active young people's society with over forty members, which meets for educational, devotional and social purposes every week. The church also has two missionary societies, one for the matrons and the other for the unmarried women of the congregation. These societies both have regular monthly meetings. The church services are made more attractive because of the excellent music furnished by a well trained chorus.
The records of the church treasurer show that in its different activities the church has collected and paid out for missions and other benevolent pur- poses the sum of sixty thousand dollars. This large amount represents the total free will offerings for the past forty-six years. It is safe to say that a church with such a record has been a most potent factor in the life of the community.
The Swedish Baptist church of Amor is located in section 17 of Amor township, and has a comfortable frame building which was erected a short time after the church was organized in 1901. It has never had a large congregation, its present membership numbering only eleven members, but it has struggled valiantly to fulfifill its mission in the community which it seeks to serve. Its pastors have been as follow: Charles Hoard, Peter Lovene, Oscar Svedberg, C. A. Lindahl, E. Hindorf and Gustav A. Dahl- quist, who is now serving the church. A Sunday school and Ladies' Aid Society are doing their share in advancing the work of the church in their respective lines of activity.
The Swedish Baptist church of Aurdal is located in section 2 of the
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township of the same name, and dates its organization from March 30, 1895. Its charter members were August Sandberg, S. Sandberg, Johanna Sandberg, Elizabeth Sandberg, Charles Sandberg, Ida Sandberg, L. Han- son, Emma Hanson, Axel Hanson, ---- Hanson, John Hall and Louise Hall. The pastors of the church have been as follow: Oman P. Loven, Oscar Swedberg, L. E. Petterson and J. A. Johnson, who is now the pastor of the church. The congregation has a frame house of worship which was erected several years ago at a cost of nine hundred dollars. The present membership numbers twenty.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF FERGUS FALLS.
The articles of incorporation of the First Baptist church of Fergus Falls were formulated and adopted by the congregation at a meeting held in their regular place of worship, June 4, 1883. These articles were signed by the following: Davis Burbank. M. R. Burbank, W. G. Burbank, Robert Clapperton, E. J. Woodham, Mrs. E. J. Woodham, George W. Perkins, J. C. Owells, Fannie E. Owells, Mrs. M. C. Owells, Mrs. A. Hilton, Miss Emma E. Knowles, R. W. Arnold, A. J. Elkins, A. Hilton and F. S. Owells. The congregation bought a small building which stood the ground now occupied by the Methodist church, which building was formerly occu- pied as the printing office of the Fergus Falls Advocate. This remained the church home as long as they maintained their organization, a period of less than ten years. Reverend Sullivan was the first minister. He was succeeded by Rev. C. A. Foote, now of Minneapolis. In a few years the congregation saw that there was not room for another church and wisely decided to abandon their organization and ally themselves with the other Protestant denomination in the city. They sold their building and lot to the Methodist Episcopal church.
PEOPLE'S UNION CHURCH OF SCAMBLER.
The People's Union church of Scambler is undoubtedly the most unique church in Otter Tail county. In 1909 there met at the home of Mrs. J. H. Page, of Dunn township, a dozen women from the surrounding community to celebrate a birthday anniversary. In the course of the day someone men- tioned the advisability, as well as the feasibility, of the community having a church. The result of the discussion on that particular day was a definite plan on the part of the women present to form an organization and build a church of their own. A month later at the home of Mrs. S. D. Rider, in Scambler township, these zealous women perfected an organization, limit- ing the membership to the women of Scambler, Dunn and Pelican town- ships. At this second meeting they completed their plans for raising money to build a church. And this was in 1909.
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