USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I > Part 42
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Six years later this little band of women had the satisfaction of seeing the beautiful little church completed and dedicated to the service of the community in which it was located. During these six years these faithful women, all communicants of different religious denominations in the three townships mentioned, worked together to raise the money for the erection of this church. When they were ready to build they incorporated as a Ladies' Aid Society, forever barring any denomination from owning or having any control over the building. Its doors were to be open to any denomination desiring to make use of it, the only stipulation being that the English-speaking people of the immediate vicinity should be entitled to the first choice of service.
This church stands on an acre of land in Scambler township, donated by Mrs. S. D. Rider. The building itself is a modern structure, thirty by forty-two feet, with a concrete basement under the entire building. The church was dedicated, September 26, 1915, without a dollar of debt and with money in the treasury. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. T. A. Hawks, pastor of the Congregational church of Pelican Rapids. Reverend Buttedahl, pastor of the Zion Lutheran church, of Dunn township, made a short address. The church is known as the People's Union church. It employs no minister, and in fact it cannot, according to the conditions under which the church was built. It started out with thirty-two charter members.
ST. JAMES EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF FERGUS FALLS.
The St. James Episcopal church of Fergus Falls was organized in 1872, but owing to the absence of all the records of the church prior to 1888, when they were destroyed by fire, the names of the charter members and other facts incident to the history of the church during that period are lack- ing. The church was incorporated January 12, 1884, but prior to that time it had erected a house of worship at its present site, No. 323 Court street north. The congregation owns a fine parsonage at No. 314 Whitford street north. The pastors of the church since 1872 have served in the following order: George Stewart, 1872-76; J. T. Osborn, 1876-78; George E. Swan, 1878-81; F. B. Nash, 1882-85; Samuel Mills, 1885-88; C. T. Rollit, 1889-95; A. O. Worthing, 1896-1904; Carl Reed Taylor, 1905-07; J. G. Ward, 1907-14; S. J. Hedelund, 1915, the present pastor. The congregation now numbers one hundred and twenty members. Among the auxiliary societies of the church can be mentioned the Sunday school, St. Agnes Altar Guild, St. James Guild and the Woman's Auxiliary.
ZION CHURCH OF DALTON.
The Zion church of Dalton represents a new departure in the religious life of Otter Tail county. It is an admitted fact that many communities are
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trying to support too many churches, and one of the signs of the times is the federation or union in some way of denominations in restricted localities. One of the cases of this kind is to be found in the little village of Dalton in the township of Tumuli. In the immediate vicinity there are members of three Norwegian churches representing as many branches of the Luth- eran church but no one of the churches is strong enough to maintain a congregation in the village of Dalton. With the idea of serving the people in the best way, representatives of the Norwegian Lutheran Synod, the Hauges Synod and the Free church met and agreed to unite and build a union church. This is not a union church in the sense of a formal agree- ment between the three churches above mentioned, but rather a place of worship, built by the people of the village and the immediate vicinity, yet all the members of the Zion church are connected with one of the three denominations. The church is maintained by free gifts, supplemented by the efforts of a Ladies' Aid Society connected with the church.
The church building was dedicated on October 3, 1915, with impressive ceremonies. Seven ministers were present, representing the congregation of Ashby, Fergus Falls, Aastad, Elbow Lake, Dalton and the four leading Norwegian Lutheran denominations of this county. Reverend Normann, of Ashby, delivered the dedicatory sermon in the afternoon. He remarked upon the progress of the churches in coming together as one on such a momentous occasion, and drew attention to the fact that the strife which has hitherto existed between the churches was drawn to a close in the build- ing of this church, which belonged to all the Lutheran denominations instead of only one. The progress of the day came to a close with the dedication of the cemetery by Reverend Skyberg of Aastad. According to the plan outlined beforehand, the church is to be served in turn by the pastors repre- senting the three churches above named, namely: Rev. O. A. Normann, Ashby; E. Berlie, Dalton, and J. F. Melom, Dalton.
FINNISH APOSTOLIC LUTHERAN CONGREGATION OF OTTO TOWNSHIP.
The Finnish Apostolic Lutheran congregation of Otto township is located in section 26, and has been a prominent factor in the life of that community since its organization in 1879. During the thirty-seven years of its existence, the church has been served by three pastors, Rev. Herman Karjalainen, Rev. John Mursu, and Rev. Israel Hagel, the latter having charge of the church at the present time. The congregation numbers eighty- five families, and has one of the largest houses of worship in the county. It was erected several years ago at a cost of sixty-five hundred dollars. and has a capacity of seven hundred. The church was incorporated November 19, 1898.
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PENTECOSTAL CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE OF FERGUS FALLS.
The Pentecostal church of the Nazarene was organized in Fergus Falls with twenty charter members. The church does not have a house of wor- ship, but rents a hall at No. 113 Mill street south, where services are regu- larly held. Three pastors have served the congregation, James H. Martin, William M. Irwin and Elmer Cordell, the latter now having charge of the congregation The present membership is about thirty.
REORGANIZED CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS. By Hallie M. Gould.
The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is repre- sented in Otter Tail county by a branch of one hundred and eighty mem- bers, fifty-four of whom reside in Clitherall village and vicinity. They have a frame church building in Clitherall, in section 6, Nidaros township, valued at six hundred dollars. They also own a frame church building in Rush Lake township, section 19, valued at six hundred dollars.
The first branch of the church in this county was organized in the sum- mer of 1875, when Apostle T. W. Smith came to Clitherall and made the first converts here to this particular faith. The charter members were George Gould and wife, Buckley Anderson and wife, Alma Sherman, Lois Cutler, Clayton Gould and wife, Rhoda Sherman, Roseltha Gould, Emma Gould, J. D. Anderson, Charles Pierce, Freeman Anderson and Richard Anderson.
The organization was known as the Hope of Zion Branch, the first president (or pastor) being J. D. Anderson. Later other branches were organized in the county, but at present all have united with the Union branch, organized February 16, 1890.
The presidents of the Union branch since its organization have been William Barnhard, George Gould, Alonzo Whiting, Freeman Anderson, Lurrett Whiting and Lester Whiting. The last named is presiding at the present time, with B. S. Lambkin, president of the Minnesota district.
A Sunday school, Religio-Literary Society and Ladies' Aid have been established in Clitherall by the church. The church of which this is a branch should not be confused, as it frequently is, with the Latter Day Saint church in Utah, commonly called the Mormon church, as the Reorganized church rejects the doctrines of polygamy and kindred evils advanced by Brigham Young, the early leader of the church in Utah.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE SOCIETY OF FERGUS FALLS.
The Christian Science Society of Fergus Falls was organized in 1897 with Mrs. William Cockroft as first reader. For some time after the organization the services were held at her residence, and the society grew and prospered for a time. However, in 1900 the services were discon-
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tinued. In 1914 the society was reorganized with Mrs. George Franklin as first reader. The Presbyterian church was obtained for the regular services shortly after the reorganization, although later it was necessary to move to Smith's hall. The society has made a rapid growth during the past few years and is now preparing to erect a building of its own. It has purchased a lot with a frontage of one hundred feet on the site of the old Presbyterian church at the corner of Summit avenue and Whitford street and expects to erect the building within the near future. The usual ser- vices include a Sunday morning service, Sunday school and a Wednesday evening testimonial meeting. Mrs. William Cockroft is now the first reader.
CATHOLIC CHURCHES.
The Church of Our Lady of Victory, of Fergus Falls, traces its begin- ning back to the fall of 1881, although it is thought that Catholic mission- aries paid occasional visits to the county before that time. It was to the missionaries from the Dakotas and from the Chippewa missions of northern Minnesota that the pioneers of Fergus Falls and vicinity owed the few welcome opportunities to hear Mass and receive the sacrament. In those early days the humble home of some lately arrived settler served temporarily as the house of God.
The first Catholic church of Fergus Falls, a little frame structure situ- ated one hundred feet west of the present church was erected in the fall of 1881, although the interior was not finished until later. Shortly afterwards a priest's residence was added. Handicapped in every conceivable manner, it was only by persevering effort and great sacrifice on the part of the priest and the people that so much could be accomplished. There were very few Catholic families in the village before the middle of the eighties, among them being M. Frankoviz and family, Anton Kaus and family, E. J. Weber and family, and John and Charles Nangle, Joseph Bauer, F. J. Pfefferle, J. E. Metcalf and James McCrossin.
Rev. Joseph Moder, the first pastor, was transferred to Barnesville in 1882, and the parish of Fergus Falls was temporarily attended by the Bene- dictine Fathers of St. John's Abbey. In 1883 Rt. Rev. Rupert Seiden- busch, D. D., then vicar apostolic of northern Minnesota, appointed Rev. Joseph Boever pastor of Fergus Falls and the surrounding missions. Father Boever, as well as his immediate successors, labored assiduously to pay the little debt, which in those days weighed heavily upon the small congregation. Rev. Francis Watry was pastor from 1885 to 1886; Father Schels. 1886 to 1889, and Rev. William Lange from 1889 to 1893. During the service of Father Schels the interior of the church was completed, and during his suc- cessor's period the congregation was finally freed from debt. The Revs. Joseph Stephan, G. Goebel, Charles Pfeiffer, Anthony Arzt, Emil Steinach,
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Hubert Gundermann and Francis Welp successively had charge of the parish during the years 1893-1906. Rev. William Scheiner ( 1906-08) was the first pastor to give his undivided care to the Catholics of Fergus Falls, the adjoining missions having been placed in charge of another priest in 1906. Rev. George Rauch has had charge of the church since 1908.
As the number of families slowly increased, the need of a new church was felt, and, after some hesitation it was decided to build, the pastor and his people working together in complete harmony to that end. The con- struction of the church, a substantial brick building, fifty-eight by one hun- dred and sixteen feet, in modified Gothic, was begun in June, 1913, by con- tractor William Schueller. The corner stone was laid September 7, 1913, by the Rt. Rev. James Trobec, D. D. On Easter Sunday of the following year the first services were held in the new church. The beautiful windows, pews, altars, stations and altar-railing, had just been completed the previous week. Bishop Trebec officiated at the dedicatory services on June 2, 1914.
The old place of worship had been known as the church of the Holy Family, but after its dedication September 10, 1890, by Rt. Rev. Otto Zar- detti, D. D., it was named the church of St. Otto. When the present church was dedicated, it was placed under the care and protection of Our Lady of Victory, its present patron. A new parsonage was completed in November, 1914. The parish already owns a teacher's home, as well as the site for a school, with every prospect for the opening of a parochial school in the near future. The church maintains three Sunday school classes for the instruction of its young people. Other auxiliaries include the St. Ann's Society. St. Agnes Sodality of Young Ladies, and the Catholic Order of Foresters.
St. Stanislaus church was organized at Perham, August 23, 1883, by the Rt. Rev. Rupert Seidenbusch, O. L. B., Rev. Severinus Gross, O. L. B. and Rev. Dr. Peter Chovanier. This is the wealthiest Catholic church in Otter Tail county and also the largest in point of membership. The church cost ten thousand dollars, the parochial school five thousand dollars and the parish house forty-five hundred dollars. The church now has seven hun- dred and fifty-six members.
The pastors of the church since it is organized are as follow: Reverends Grunholz, Urbanke, Kiuch, Wippich, Matuszewski, Bujalski, Golkovski, Kivzniak, Dudek and John Kromolicki, the present pastor. The church maintains three societies: St. Stanislaus Men's Society, Ladies' Rosary Society and Young Ladies' St. Cecelia Society.
St. Elizabeth Catholic church of St. Elisabeth .- The parish of St. Elizabeth is located in the little country town of Elizabeth in the township of the same name. The parish is in the diocese of St. Cloud. This little
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village is on the bank of the Pelican river, nine miles northwest from Fergus Falls, the county seat. The original name of the church was Sacred Heart, but in the latter part of the nineties the name was changed to St. Elizabeth, since there was another Sacred Heart church in Otter Tail county.
The first Catholics began to arrive in the vicinity of Elizabeth in the. latter part of the sixties. Most of these families were Germans, although a few of them were Slavonians. With these few families as the nucleus, a flourishing little mission sprang up in the little village of Elizabeth. About the year 1872 the services were held over the mercantile store of Peter Maurin. The building is still standing in the village.
The first priest to say mass in Elizabeth was Rev. I. Tomazin, an Indian missionary at that time, and now pastor of St. Anthony's church at Kraintown, Minnesota. From that time the few scattered families were occasionally visited by passing missionaries. Before 1875 a rude log church was constructed, to which was added a log parsonage. In 1875 the aged Rev. Frund became the first resident pastor and he remained in charge of the congregation until 1878. The parish then extended as far west as the boundaries of the state of Minnesota and in a southerly direction for more than fifty miles, including the parish at Fergus Falls. Something of the early history of the church is revealed by the following extract from the church records as set forth by Joseph Moder, pastor of the church in 1882.
"In Festo Ascensione D. N. 1882. Those baptisms which were admin- istered before this time have been usually recorded at Wahpeton, Dakota ( Millerville, Minnesota. Reverend Tomain). A priest for some time resided here, Reverend Frund. Reverend Bergmann attended this church before me, he being the resident pastor of Wahepton. November 1, 1881, the undersigned has taken charge of the congregation, having his residence at Fergus Falls. Since then regular services have been held every other Sunday. The congregation, small and poor as most of them were, has shown a good spirit and a willingness to support the church. May the Sacred Heart bless us and give us prosperity in the future.
"Elizabeth, May 18th, Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord, 1882. "JOSEPH MODER, Pastor."
The present church was built about 1883 and in the latter part of the nineties the church was enlarged by the addition of a tower and sacristy. In 1913 the church was remodeled on the inside; it is now valued at seven thousand dollars. The pride of the little parish is that they are entirely free of debt. In the year 1906 a new rectory was build by the Rev. Francis Whelp, now pastor of St. Patrick's church, Melrose, Minnesota. The new parish house being built of solid brick with the latest improvements cost about seven thousand dollars. The parsonage as well as the church is
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free of debt, the last debt having been paid off in 1912. The number of parishioners at present numbers two hundred and five. There are about forty-five families attending the church. They are of a mixed nationality- Slavonians, Germans, Americans, Scandinavians and Irish, although the pre- dominant factor is of German descent. Practically all are American-born except the few old veterans of the parish. The following are the remaining members of the church who arrived here in the latter part of the sixties or the fore part of the seventies: Peter Maurin and wife, Bernard Schroeder, George Wedell, George A. Mock and wife, German Sha and wife, Thomas Ratcliff and wife. All the rest have gone to their retreat.
The pastors of the church up to 1875 were missionaries who stopped off on their journey between missions. Since 1875 the following pastors have served : Reverend Frund, 1875-78; Reverend Bergmann, 1878-81; Rev- erend Joseph Moder, 1881-83; Reverend Joseph Boever, 1883-85; William Lenge, 1885-86; Reverend Vatry, 1886; Reverend Schelt, December, 1886- November, 1888; William Lenge, 1889-92; Rev. Joseph A. Stephen, 1892-95; Carl Pfeifer, 1895-96; Anthony Artz, 1896-99; Rev. E. Steinach, 1899- 1900; Rev. H. Gundermann, 1900-03; Rev. Francis Whelp, 1903 to Decem- ber, 1908; Reverend Tomazin, December, 1908, to August, 1911; Rev. John B. Wilkes, 1911 to the present time.
The membership has remained practically stationary for years. Those who move away or die are replaced by natural growth or conversion. Sister Theona Shroeder, O. S. B., and the late Sister Mock, O. S. B., are both from this parish. The church societies consist of the following: The St. Joseph Men's Society, consisting of twenty members; the Young Ladies, twenty-five members; the Young Men's Sodality, twenty-nine members; Confraternity of the Christian Mothers. thirty-nine members. Besides these societies, there is a league of the Sacred Heart to which nearly every member of the parish belongs.
The present pastor, John B. Wilkes, was born at New Munich, Minne- sota, December 12, 1878. When he was two years of age he removed with his parents to Barney, Richland county, North Dakota. He attended church at the little mission of St. Anthony, Mooreton, North Dakota. he made his first holy communion at Wahpeton, North Dakota, May 15, 1892, and was confirmed October 7th of the same year by the late Rt. Rev. Bishop John Shanley, of Fargo, North Dakota. He entered St. John University. Col- legeville, Minnesota, November 17. 1897, entered the seminary in that place in he fall of 1903, and was ordained on June 13, 1908, by the Rt. Rev. James Trobec, D. D., bishop of St. Cloud, Minnesota. On July 8, 1908, he took charge of St. Bernard's church. Ward Springs, Minnesota, together with the missions of St. James, Randall. Minnesota, St. John's, Swanville,
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Minnesota, and St. Mary's Swiss settlement. On August 15, 1911, he came to Elizabeth, Minnesota, where he has since been stationed. He also has the missions of St. Leonard's at Pelican Rapids and St. Mary's at Fox- home, Minnesota.
The Sacred Heart Catholic church of Urbank, located in the southwest corner of Effington township, was established in 1902, and during the four- teen years of its existence has made a rapid growth. The center of a flour- ishing farming community, the church has a prosperous membership at the present time of nearly five hundred and is constantly growing. The church was organized by Bishop John Busch, Monsignor Edward Nagle, Rev. John Sand, Joseph Suchy and Clemens Revering. Steps were at once taken to provide a church and parsonage and both were completed within the fol- lowing year. the church at a cost of six thousand and the parsonage at a cost of four thousand five hundred dollars. Preliminary preparations for the erection of a parochial school building are now in progress and it is hoped to have this ready for occupancy within a year. The parish house was remodeled two years ago.
The pastors since the church was organized in 1902 have been as fol- low: Rev. Stephen Urbanke, 1902-05; Rev. Father Makuschewske, 1905-06; Rev. Alois Ruster, 1906-08; Rev. G. Schollenberger, 1908-11; Rev. Alois Ruster, 1911-13: and Rev. John Sand, 1913- to the present time. The church maintains four auxiliary societies, as follow: Men's Society, mem- bership of fifty-six; Young Men's Society, membership of thirty-six; Young Ladies' Society, membership of twenty; and Ladies' Society, membership of sixty-five.
The Inventio Sanctissimae Crucis church of Butler was established in 1910 under interesting circumstances. A. D. S. Johnston, a wealthy Cath- olic of St. Paul, and a large landowner of Butler township, engaged some Catholic families, natives of Holland, to settle on his land in this county. He promised to build a church for them, a parish house, and give the church forty acres of land. The first settlers came from Europe in March, 1910, and others settled in the county later. At first services were held in a rented room pending the erection of the church. Early in the spring of 1910 steps were taken toward the building of the church and parish house, and both were built and blessed before the end of the year, the church being incorporated October 25, 1910. The buildings are frame and stand in section 16 of Butler township. Their total cost was about thirty-five hun- dred dollars.
The parish is in charge of the Order of Crosier Fathers, who came with the people from Europe. Not all of the thirty families composing the parish are natives of Holland, there being some from Belgium, Germany
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and a few of American birth. The first pastor was Rev. Henry Yzermans, Ordinis S. S. Crucis. The present pastor is Rev. John B. Keyzers, Ordinis S. S. Crucis. The Holy Name Society and the League of the Sacred Heart are two active organizations in the church. Religious instructions are regularly held in the church by the pastor.
OTHER CHURCHES OF OTTER TAIL COUNTY.
The churches whose histories have been given above in more or less detail responded to requests for information. The remaining part of this chapter is devoted to those churches which did not furnish any information. The facts given concerning this second group of church have been taken from the incorporation articles which are filed in the office of the register of deeds. As near as possible they have been grouped by denominations.
SWEDISH EVANGELICAL. LUTHERAN CHURCHES.
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church of Compton held a meeting on January 4, 1887, for the purpose of electing trustees and adopting articles of incorporation. Jonas Forsberg, John Skog and Charles J. Loren were elected trustees. The congregation decided that the corporate name should be the "Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Compton Congregation." These articles were certified to by O. J. Sutter, chairman, and l'eter Nilson, clerk of the meeting, and were filed for record February 14, 1887.
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Trinity congregation of Paddock was incorporated under this name on October 25, 1890, on which date thir- teen charter members were present at a special meeting called to prepare articles for incorporation. The business meeting of the congregation on this date was presided over by Rev. J. G. Hultkraus, with G. Magunson as clerk. Frank Gustafson, Eber Hought and C. S. Lijioggren were elected trustees.
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church of Eagle Lake dates its incorporated career from March 25, 1892, at which time thirty members were present at a meeting to prepare articles of incorporation and at the same time elect trustees. John Holmgren, Edwin Lundby and A. P. Melander were elected trustees.
FINNISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCHES.
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