History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 115

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1110

USA > Minnesota > Stearns County > History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 115

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

It may be of interest to remark that the first name added to the roll was on profes- sion of faith and that has been character- istic of this church; she has grown much more by additions on profession than by letter, and this year has added more names to the roll than in any other year in her history.

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

home and abroad. Sometimes in the early days it seemed almost cruel to call upon the church to aid anything outside the home work, for there were years when even this seemed too much, but there was no let-up. This is our record: For all purposes, benevolent and home use, we have raised $72,269.85. I am not certain, but I think this church became self-sup- porting in the year 1878 and has so con- tinued. It has also paid back to the Board of Church Erection several loans, and to- day owes nothing to anyone only good will."

The Ladies' Aid Society was organized in January, 1865, and has been a right hand from the beginning, and is today stronger than ever. For a few years we had dea- cons, but there was so little for them to do we dropped that office and adopted the deaconess plan, and found that to work well. This branch of the work has been of great value to the church. From an early date we had the Home and Foreign Mis- sion Societies, but as neither was strong they were united and became a very strong and efficient body, and so continues. Our Society of Christian Endeavor was the second organization in the state in our denomination and has been a great help in the development of the Christian life of the young members.

As Protestantism has always been in the shade in this city, much more so in the early years, this churchi made slow growth, but there never was a year without some increase. The total of names on the roll is 590. But, as was common with all Western churches, there was a continual change of roll. This is the mother of three churches, namely: Willmar, Litchfield and Fergus Falls. There have been 498 bap- tisms, including both adults and infants. (Read at the Fiftieth Anniversary of the or- ganization of the church, November 19, 1914, by the Rev. E. V. Campbell, D. D., pastor.)

Unity Church. - The first Unitarian preaching in St Cloud, or at least the first preaching by a Unitarian minister, was on Sunday evening, November 27, 1887, in the old Odd Fellows' Hall, corner Fifth ave- nue and First street, South, by the Rev. Samuel McChord Crothers, then of Unity Church, St. Paul. In the announcement of this meeting the following statement ap- peared in the local papers of the week

preceding: "All persons interested in the cause of liberal religion are cordially in- vited to attend. A number of the most successful Unitarian ministers of New England have offered to give each a month to the work of presenting the principles of Unitarianism, and St. Cloud will be se- lected as their place of work, if sufficient interest is manifested here in the cause." This plan for establishing a new liberal church was suggested by Mr. Crothers in discussing the possibilities of church ex- tension in the west during a visit to New England the previous summer. The Rev. Charles F. Russell of Weston, Massachu- setts, undertook to find the ministers, who should give their time to the enterprise, if Mr. Crothers would select the place. Just at this time Mr. Crothers's attention was called to St. Cloud by a write-up of its re- sources in a St. Paul paper. He learned from a lady in his church, who was en- gaged in Post Office Mission work, that James W. Garlington of St. Cloud had ap- plied for liberal religious literature. Ac- cordingly on November 22, 1887, he came to St. Cloud and called on Mr. Garlington, who introduced him to O. Tenny. Mr. Tenny took up the idea earnestly and in- troduced him to Judge Collins, the Searles, A. F. Robertson, N. P. Clarke, George H. Reynolds, E. H. Atwood and others. Ar- rangements were made for services the next Sunday evening, November 27. It was very cold, but about fifty people came out to hear Mr. Crothers. They stayed for a business meeting, when they invited the New England ministers to come out. At that meeting the church was virtually started on its course. The American Uni- tarian association paid the expenses of the eastern ministers and supplied their pul- pits in their absence; the St. Cloud peo- ple paid the local expense of the meetings and boarded the ministers. Mr. Crothers preached Sunday evenings during Decem- ber, with the exception of December 11, when the Rev. H. M. Simmons of the First Unitarian Church of Minneapolis spoke.

January 15, 1888, the Rev. H. Price Col- lier, of Hingham, Massachusetts, the first of the band of New England missionaries, preached in St. Cloud. After that date services were held at 10:30 A. M. The in- terest increased and during Mr. Collier's stay, on February 11, 1888, the formal or-

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ganization of the church was effected. Those present at the meeting were L. W. Collins, F. E. Searle, C. P. McClure, A. E. Hussey, George H. Reynolds, O. Tenny, J. H. and H. S. Locke, A. F. Robertson, James W Garlington, G. W. Stewart, D. B. Searle and G. S. Spencer. George H. Reynolds was elected chairman and G. W. Stewart, clerk. It was unanimously voted that the church be known as Unity Church of St. Cloud. Nine trustees were elected: L. W. Collins, J. H. Locke, N. P. Clarke, James W. Garlington, Robert Lutz, A. F. Robert- son, George H. Reynolds, C. P. McClure and D. W. Bruckart. At a meeting of the trustees held the same day, L. W. Collins was elected president of the board, F. E. Searle treasurer and G. W. Stewart clerk. The Rev. Benjamin R. Bulkeley of Concord, Massachusetts, succeeded Mr. Collier Feb- ruary 19.

The Ladies' Association, the present Woman's Alliance, was organized March 7, 1888, with the following officers: Presi- dent, Mrs. D. W. Bruckart; vice-president, Mrs. J. F. Boulter; secretary, Mrs. F. E. Searle; treasurer, Mrs. E. H. Atwood; ex- ecutive committee, Mesdames Bruckart, Searle, Collins, Churchill and Miss Wash- burn.

The Rev. C. E. St. John of Northampton, Massachusetts, followed Mr. Bulkeley, be- ginning his labors March 18, 1888. The fourth New England missionary was the Rev. Charles F. Russell of Weston, Massa- chusetts, alluded to above, who began his work the middle of April. The last one was the Rev. Charles J. Staples of Read- ing, Massachusetts, who preached his first sermon in St. Cloud, May 20, 1888, and re- mained until the end of June. He received and accepted a call to became the settled minister of the church and entered upon his duties October first. During July, Au- gust and September, the pulpit was sup- plied by the Rev. Leon A. Harvey, then a student at the Harvard Divinity school.

Among the early subscribers to the church aside from those already mentioned were Dr. A. O. Gilman, J. H. Lufkin, O. F. Carver, E. H. and C. L. Atwood, William Westerman, John and M. F. Becker, J. Mayhew, E. P. Sartell, John Vandersluis, Mrs. C. C. McClure, L. A. Evans, George B. Smith, G. H. Dunnewold, George Church- ill, Charles Linwood, William Russell, A. J.

Marx, L. R. Swift, W. A. Shoemaker, C. H. Foote, J. R. Boyd and D. Van Dyke.

The first Unitarian Conference was held the ninth and tenth of October in 1888 at the Congregational church. Among the many ministers from abroad were Jenkin Lloyd Jones of Chicago, Samuel McChord Crothers of Boston, Caroline J. Bartlett of Kalamazoo, Michigan (now Caroline Bart- lett Crane), Charles G. Ames, Edward A. Horton, Grindall Reynolds and George Batchelor of Boston and Thomas R. Slicer of New York. In October, 1888, one lot and a fraction, in all 81 feet on the north- west corner of Fourth avenue and Second street south was purchased for $1,675.00 and architect A. E. Hussey prepared plans for the church building. Ground was broken November 19, 1888, and the founda- tion walls erected the following June. The first service was held in the Sunday-school room on June 7 and in the auditorium Sep- tember 6, 1891. The building was dedi- cated October 29, 1891, in connection with the second meeting of the Minnesota Con- ference in St. Cloud. Judge L. W. Collins was president of the Conference and Mrs. E. H. Atwood and O. Tenny delegates from the St. Cloud church. During the summer of 1892 the building was completed with the finishing off of the dining-room, kitchen, study and cloak rooms.

The first great loss, which came to the church, was the death of one of its most active workers and inspiirng leaders, Mrs. L. W. Collins, who passed away in May, 1894.

The Rev. Charles J. Staples remained in St. Cloud six years and was succeeded Oc- tober 1, 1884, by the Rev. Carleton F. Brown. September 1, 1897, the Rev. Rob- ert S. Loring became pastor and he in turn was succeeded May 1, 1901, by the Rev. J. H. Jones. Dr. Manfred Lillifors be- gan his pastorate March 17, 1907, and was followed by the Rev. Paul D. Dansingberg, September 1, 1909 .. Mr. Dansingberg left St. Cloud April 1, 1914, to accept a call to Kansas City, Missouri. His successor, the Rev. Walter Albert Smith, a graduate of the Meadville Theological School in Mead- ville, Pennsylvania, became pastor of the church September 1, 1914.

With the assistance of Andrew Carnegie, a fine pipe organ was purchased and in- stalled during the summer of 1912. The

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

trustees at present are Mrs. C. L. Atwood, Mrs. W. A. Shoemaker, Mrs. M. D .. Taylor, Miss C. E. Clarke, Messrs. C. C. Dragoo, G. H. Dunnewold, George C. Hubbard, James Colgrove and M. E. Jones. The church stands for education as well as religion and the denomination embraces among its members the leading educators and lit- erary men of the country.

German Evangelical Friedens Church .- The German Evangelical Friedens Church, which is affiliated with the Evangelical Synod of North America, was organized October 1. 1892, and incorporated Decem- ber 5, 1892 .. Its first members were: Wil- liam Albrecht, Karl Buddrius, William Em- merich, H. Gruen, Carl Juergens, Gottlieb Kowitz, Karl Kowitz, Sr., Karl Kowitz, Jr., Andreas Keller, George Krieg, Gustav Krueger, Gustav Menz, F. Manthe, Franz Naegeli, Friedrich Poepke, Adam Schaum, Adam Stanger, George Stanger, Fred F. Schieman, John Schiedinger, Ernst Soete- bier, Julius Vierkant, William Ziemer, Fritz Ziebol, Friedrich Wegner, Karl Macke, Herman Steffens, Christine Stan- ger, Eva Fischer, Louise Gerard, Augusta Terwey. The first church board consisted of the following members: Franz Naegeli, president; William Albrecht, secretary; Andreas Keller, treasurer; William Em- merich and Fred Schieman, elders; Karl Kowitz, Sr., and Gustav Krueger, trustees.

The first church, a small frame struc- ture, was built during the pastorate of the Rev. E. John Fleer on block 55, lot 7, on the corner of Eighth avenue and Fourth street South, and was dedicated Novem- ber 24, 1892. On January 15, 1893, a small church bell, which had been donated by the St. Paul Evangelical Church of St. Paul, Minn., was dedicated.

In the spring of 1894 the parsonage was erected on the rear end of the church lot, fronting on Fourth street South. The lot adjoining the church property (block 55, lot 8) was donated to the congregation March 11, 1902, by Mrs. Margaret Metz- roth, and in the year of 1908, after the old frame church, which no longer could ac- commodate the growing congregation, had been sold and moved away, a new brick church with Sunday school room was erected on lot 7 and part of lot 8. The cornerstone of this church was laid May 10, 1908, and the dedication took place in

September, 1908. In the spring of 1910 two fine church bells were installed (1,500 pounds and 900 pounds, respectively) and dedicated May 1, 1910. The interior of the church was artistically decorated in the spring of 1912 and various other important improvements were made in and around the church and parsonage.

The pastors which have served the church are as follows: Rev. E. John Fleer, from November, 1892, to November, 1895; Rev. Henry Waldmann, from January, 1896, to May, 1906. Rev. Alex Siegen- thaler, from May, 1906, to March, 1909. Rev .. Waldmann, who is still residing at St. Cloud, served temporarily from April, 1909, to August, 1909. Rev. John L. Haack, present pastor, since September 1, 1909.

The church has at present about 150 in- dividual members, and the present board is as follows: Fred Schieman, president; Herman Steffans, secretary; Ernest Keller, treasurer; August Schiffmann and Fred Wegner, elders; Herman Schack and Her- man Meierding, trustees.

Swedish Baptist Church .- This church was organized November 20, 1882, with nine charter members, viz., Michael John- son, Mrs. A. L. Johnson, C. J. Johnson, Mrs. C. J. Johnson, A. G. Magnuson, Mrs. A. G. Magnuson, John Buckman, Mrs. John Buckman, Christine Johnson.

The pastors have been: Rev. Michael Johnson, 1882 to 1889; Rev. A. G. Hall, 1889 to 1892; Rev. L. J. Olson, 1892 to 1895; Rev. A. G. Holm, 1895 to 1898; Rev. John Rosen, 1898 to 1900; Rev. Aug. Nor- den, 1900 to 1904; Rev. P. O. Ekstrom, 1905 to 1907; Rev. Regnold Lund, 1907 to 1910; Rev. C. T. Martin, 1910 to 1911; Rev. A. J. Dahlstrom, 1912, (April 1) present pastor in 1915. Deacons-A. G. Magnuson, John Buckman, M. Coley, Gustaf Liljedahl, Martin Olson, Chas. Johnson, John Person (now serving), O. L. Anderson, C. L. Peter- son, Ebert Johnson, Michael Johnson, Wil- liam Shield (the three last named are now serving). A total of 402 members have been reecived; 304 have moved, been dis- missed or died; present membership, 107.

The church was built in 1886 on Wilson avenue N. E., and in 1905 was moved to St. Germain street east, between Second and Third avenues, a more convenient lo- cation. The church property is valued at $6,000, with no debts. The society contrib-

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utes $300 annually to home and foreign missions; this being outside of all local and charitable work.

Swedish Church of God .- This church was organized June 23, 1883, with seven members, in Sauk Rapids. These members were L. J. Haggqvist, A. B. Anderson, Andrew Petterson, Lois Ol- son, August Johnson, Nels Larson, John Skoglund. The first pastor was the Rev. Matthias Petterson for one year, followed by the Rev. A. G. Nelson. In June, 1888, the church voted to become Congregational and was duly recognized by the council.

A brick-veneered church building was erected in East St. Cloud in 1889 and in the following year a comfortable brick- veneered parsonage. The successors to the Rev. A. G. Nelson have been: the Rev. B. Finstrom, the Rev. Mr. Loven, the Rev. John Rood, the Rev. K. E. Pederson, and the Rev. E. W. Bjorklund, the present pastor. The same pastor serves both the church at East St. Cloud and that at Sauk Rapids. The present membership of the two churches is about 90, somewhat the larger proportion being at East St. Cloud.

Norwegian Lutheran Church .- The or- ganization of this church probably had its beginnings in small missionary services held in this city or in the neighboring county at irregular times mostly by the Rev. P. O. Langseth of Glendorado or the Rev. T. H. Dahl of Minneapolis. Just when or how long these services, which were conducted under the direction of the Church Extension organization of the Nor- wegian Lutheran Synod of America, con- tinued cannot at this time be ascertained. The formal organization took place in this city in the German Evangelical Lutheran Church on Eighth avenue and Fifth street South on September 27, 1908. Among those who took a prominent part in the organi- zation were: Christian Knutson, Alfred Haugen, M. H. Halleckson, Carl Iverson, Nels Fuhre and Mrs. Bertha Quickstad.

For one year after its organization the congregation was served by the Rev. Mr. Langseth and the Rev. Mr. Dahl. On Sep- tember 12, 1909, the Rev. G. T. Lee of Glen- wood preached his introductory. sermon and continued serving the congregation until the close of the year 1913, when the Rev. E. Mortensen was called to service in the congregation and began his work in

the form of an introductory sermon on Sunday evening, December 21, 1913. The Rev. Mr. Lee came the following Sunday, December 28, when he gave his farewell address and assisted in the Christmas tree exercises.

Up to September, 1910, the congregation had free use of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church on Eighth avenue South. On September 12 of that year, through the untiring efforts of the Rev. Mr. Lee, the Congregational Church property on Fifth avenue South was purchased and $300 spent on repairs. On October 9 of that year the congregation held its first services in this their new church.

Since its organization the following have become members of the church: T. L. Ness, John Jordahl, I. T. Johnsrud, Christ Hendrickson, Hjilmer Dam, John Dam, Anna Omundson, Adolf Hanson, Elmer Eg- gers and others whose names cannot now be secured. Besides these there are sev- eral residents of the city and the sur- rounding country who, though not formally members of the church, are affiliating themselves with it in its work. A large number of Normal School students are making this church their place of worship. The total present actual membership is seventy-four.

Christian Science Church .- The first or- ganized Christian Science work was begun in St. Cloud in October, 1889, with the formation of the first Christian Science As- sociation. Meetings were held in the Lahr building on St. Germain street for several years.

The growth of the work necessitated the formation of a Christian Science Society, November 24, 1895. At this time the Christian Science reading room, where au- thorized Christian Science literature may be read or purchased, was opened to the public.

The society now holds its Sunday serv- ices in the auditorium of the Unitarian Church, and a reading room is also main- tained in the same building.

Congregational Church .- The society was organized February 16, 1864, in the Everett schoolhouse, with the following named members: The Rev. F. Ayer, Mrs. E. F. Ayer, Dr. W. R. Hunter, W. T. Clark, Caro- line M. Clark, C. Bridgman, Sarah L. Bridg-

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man, H. P. Bennett, and Charlotte M. Ben- nett. The society worshipped in Wilson's Hall until 1867, when a new brick church building was erected, which was formally dedicated November 30, 1870. Much credit was due the Rev. James Tompkins for his efforts to raise sufficient money to pay off the indebtedness. An addition was built to the rear of the church edifice in 1885, making the total value of the prop- erty $8,000.

The first pastor was the Rev. W. B. Dada, who organized the church and gave $1,000 toward the building. His successors were: Rev. Geo. I. Wood, November, 1867, to June 1869; Rev. James Tompkins, July, 1869, to July, 1870; Rev. Henry Mills, Au- gust, 1870, to August, 1871; Rev. Cyrus Pickett, July 1872, to January, 1874; Rev. Geo. R. Milton, January, 1876, to August, 1876; Rev. W. C. Chapin, October, 1880, to October, 1881; Rev. Jos. Chandler, January, 1882, to September, 1882; Rev. J. H. Chan- dler, September, 1882, to September, 1885; Rev. J. W. Hargreave, October, 1885, to December, 1888; Rev. A. G. Pettengill, Au- gust, 1889, to August, 1890; Rev. A. E. Steiner, June, 1891, to November, 1892; Rev. J. F. Bacon, September, 1893, to Sep- tember, 1894; Rev. H. S. McCowan, Octo- ber, 1894, to July, 1895; Rev. I. B. Tracy, September, 1897, to April, 1898.

The Rev. Mr. Swain preached for about one year in the interval until April 27, 1902, when he resigned and the church was finally closed. The building was sold in 1910 to the Norwegian Lutheran society, by which it has since been occupied.

One of the pastors, the Rev. Mr. Steiner, has in later years acquired a national and an international reputation as a student of and writer on sociological questions,

especially those relating to the immigrants to the United States.

Universalist .- Preliminary to the organi- zation of a Universalist society an effort was made in the spring of 1864, by a num- ber of the citizens of the place interested in the movement, to purchase and finish off the large, unoccupied building which had been begun for a Baptist church, but the matter was eventually abandoned. Nothing further was done until the follow- ing January when the Rev. Mr. Keyes, of the Universalist church at Minneapolis, began a series of meetings in St. Cloud. As a result of his efforts about $1,000 was subscribed for the support of a minister. A call was extended to the Rev. J. H. Ballou, who accepted and entered on his pastorate in March, services being held part of the time in the building then occupied as a school, located on the present Fifth ave- nue near the corner of Fourth street south (now a dwelling house) and part of the time in the courthouse. The Universalist State association met in the city July 12 and 13, 1865, at which time Mr. Ballou was ordained as pastor of the St. Cloud church. He remained in charge until the following June, when he removed to another field. Another pastor was not called, but during the following two or three years occasional services were held by ministers from other localities. Among the more active mem- bers of the society were Mr. and Mrs. T. C. McClure, Mr. and Mrs. N. P. Clarke and Judge L. A. Evans.

Other Churches .- From the following churches no information regarding their organization and history could be obtained: German Evangelical Lutheran, Zion Evan- gelical Association, Advent, Seventh Day Adventist, Gospel Hall.

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CHAPTER LV.

ST. CLOUD ORGANIZATIONS.

The Masonic Bodies-The G. A. R. and Its Auxiliaries-Elks-Odd Fellows and Rebekahs-United Workmen and Degree of Honor-Modern Wood- men and Royal Neighbors-Woodmen of the World and Woodmen Circle -Equitable Fraternal Union-Court of Honor-Modern Brotherhood of America-Commercial Travelers-Eagles-Camels-Modern Samaritans -Degree of Pocahontas-Lady Maccabees-Order of Vasa-North Star Benefit-Independent Foresters-Royal Arcanum-Knights of Columbus -Catholic Order of Foresters-Lady Foresters-Hibernians and Auxil- iary-St. Joseph's Benevolent Society-Ladies' Benevolent Association- Catholic Club-Humane Society-Health League-Social Clubs-Labor Organizations-St. Cloud Automobile Club-Commercial Organizations.

North Star Lodge No. 23, A. F. & A. M. was organized October 25, 1857, and the first meeting was held October 31, 1857. The officers under dispensation were: W. M., Martin G. Smith; S. W., Richard C. Burdick; J. W., James K. Miller; secretary, Taylor Dudley; S. D., Peter A. Grant; J. D., D. J. Boynton, and tyler, Burnham Han- son.

The charter was granted January 8, 1858, and the first meeting held under the char- ter, January 16, 1858. The charter officers were: W. M., Martin G. Smith; S. W., Richard C. Burdick; J. W., James K. Mil- ler; treasurer, David Gilman; secretary, Taylor Dudley; S. D., Peter A. Grant; J. D., Burnham Hanson, and tyler, Henry Hillman.

The successive meeting places have been as follows: First: Second story Burdick store building, Watab, Benton county, un- til July 14, 1861. Second: Second story "Stokes" warehouse on the upper levee, St. Cloud, first occupied July 27, 1861, and until October 8, 1864. Third: Second story Carter building on northeast corner Sev- enth avenue and First street north, occu- pied from October 8, 1864, to August 30, 1875. Fourth: Second story Clark & Davis building on northeast corner of Fifth ave- nue and Second street south; occupied from September 1, 1875, to August 31, 1886. Fifth: Third story D. B. Searle block, No. 20 Fifth avenue south; from September 13, 1886, to February 16, 1912.

Sixth: February 16, 1912, it occupied its present home in the third story of the Ma- sonic block, S. Gorman street. This build- ing, formerly known as the "Kerr block," was purchased by the St. Cloud Masonic Temple Association, a corporation, in Sep- tember, 1912.

The following members of the lodge have held state offices in Minnesota: Ste- phen Miller, governor; Charles A. Gilman and Alphonso Barto, lieutenant governors; H. C. Rogers, secretary of state; L. W. Collins, assistant justice supreme court; J. M. McKelvy, L. W. Collins and M. D. Taylor, district judges; M. D. Taylor, su- preme court commissioner.

The list of officers of this lodge has been a notable one. In the list here appended the worshipful master, the senior warden and the junior warden are given for each year, (D), after a name signifying de- ceased, and (W) signifying withdrawn.

Martin G. Smith (D), Richard C. Bur- dick (D), James K. Miller, 1858; Richard C. Burdick (W), James K. Miller, David Gilman (D), 1859-60; James K. Miller, Da- vid Gilman (D), Abner W. Libby (D), 1860-61; Thomas C. Alder (W), George S. Geer (W), Abner W. Libby (D), 1861-62; Albert B. Curry (W), Gilbert S. Mattoon (W), Abner W. Libby (D), 1862-63; Albert B. Curry (W), J. D. Rogers (W), Abner W. Libby (D), 1863-64; Albert B. Curry (W), H. Z. Mitchell (W), A. Gillmore (D), 1864-65; Gilbert S. Mattoon (W), Silas Mor-

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History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 115

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843- Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper Number of Pages: 1110

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1110