USA > Minnesota > Redwood County > The history of Redwood County, Minnesota, Volume I > Part 41
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"In October, 1872, Praxel & Schandera erected a small build- ing in section 20 and on the south side of the railroad and near what is known as Cottonwood Crossing. They put in a stock of goods and had quite a trade which they conducted until 1874, when they moved to the present site of Lamberton. Charles- town postoffice was established in 1873, and located at their store, with A. A. Praxel as postmaster. He resigned when they moved their store, and G. L. Wagner was appointed. He held the office about two years when it was discontinued."
"The first election was held April 1, 1874, at W. W. Kelly's warehouse. The judges of election were, J. H. Abbett, H. Small, George Porter. The clerks were William Johnson and W. W. Kelly. The following officers were elected : J. H. Abbett, chair- man; Hiram Small and John Pierce, supervisors; W. E. Golding, clerk; William Johnson, assessor; M. B. Abbett, treasurer ; J. E. Libby and P. L. Pierce, justices, and Albert Small, constable.
"The first school was opened in the summer of 1875 by Miss Louise Kelly, with about sixteen scholars, at J. H. Abbett's honse,
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in section 22. The following fall a building was erected and occupied the next winter. The town now has three school build- ings, all frame.
"The Congregational society began holding services in 1875, in Mr. Kelly's warehouse. In 1877 an organization was effected under the ministry of the Rev. Leonard Moses. The present pas- tor is Rev. George Holden, and services are conducted weekly. The Catholics held services as early as 1876, but no organization has been effected, and services are conducted irregularly. The Methodists began holding services in the spring of 1879; the min- ister was Rev. John Gimson. An organization was effected the following summer with about six members. The present pastor is the Rev. J. H. Harrington, of Sleepy Eye, who conducts serv- ices once in four weeks. A frame church was partially built dur- ing the summer of 1880."
CHARLESTOWN TOWNSHIP.
Charlestown township is located in the southeast corner of Redwood county, and embraces Congressional township 109-36. It is bounded on the north by Willow Lake, on the east by Brown county, on the south by Cottonwood county, and on the west by Lamberton. The Cottonwood river flows eastwardly through its southern part. The surface is rolling prairie. The Sanborn- Vesta branch of the Chicago and North Western crosses it from north to south in a northwesterly direction and the Winona-Tracy division of the Chicago and North Western passes from the south- east corner to the west-central corner. The village of Sanborn is located near the southeast corner. The trading centers are Lamberton and Sanborn in Redwood county, and Springfield in Brown county. There are four schoolhouses. The predominat- ing nationality is German.
The original survey was begun Aug. 2, 1858, and finished Aug- 5, 1858, by James L. Nowlin, U. S. deputy surveyor. The quality of this land was very good with the exception of some bluffs along the creeks, some low bottom lands and a few marshes. It was all fit for cultivation. The general appearance of the land was rolling prairie. The Cottonwood and small streams that were found, skirted by timber, gave the land additional advantage and a fine appearance. No surface stones, nor springs, nor appear- ance of minerals of any kind were found. The water in the creeks was pure and fit for use. Colonel Noble's wagon road from Fort Ridgley to the South Pass of the Rocky mountains, passed east and west across the northern part of this township. There were also two other wagon roads, being in the central part of this township.
Beginning with the organization of the county, this township
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was considered a part of Redwood Falls township. Charlestown was created May 3, 1872, and an election ordered to be held at the home of A. Kenton, May 20, 1872. The township then in- cluded the present townships of Charlestown and Lamberton. Lamberton was set off and created March 12, 1874, leaving Charlestown with its present boundaries. The creation of Charles- town with its present boundaries was reaffirmed Jan. 7, 1880.
The History of the Minnesota Valley, published in 1884, says : "It was named for Charles Porter, the first settler; he arrived in 1864 and took a claim on section 31. His daughter, Lillie, born Nov. 14, 1868, was the first birth. In November, 1868, George L. and John Wagner, William Goehring and Gotlieb Jacobs set- tled in the town.
"Rev. August Kenter, a German Lutheran, held the first re- ligious services in the spring of 1869. The society was formed the next summer with eight members, and in 1878 a church was built on section 26, costing $400, and there are thirty members. The Allbright Brethren of Evangelical Methodists held services in 1870, and have a church in connection with members in Cot- tonwood county.
A schoolhouse was built on section 30 in the fall of 1873, and school taught by Christina Van Schaack; the town has four school buildings.
The first marriage was that of John Bauer and Hattie Werner in 1873. An infant son of George Wagner died in 1869, the first death.
"The first town meeting was held May 25, 1872. Officers elected : J. G. Wagner, chairman; John Mondy and Henry Neeb, supervisors ; G. L. Wagner, clerk; George Huhnergarth, assessor; John Yaeger, treasurer; William Goehring and Charles Porter, justices ; Melville Abbett and William Heidlauff, constables."
Yellow Medicine township was the first township created in Redwood county. It was created Sept. 4, 1866, and embraced everything in the county west of the range line between ranges 37 and 38. It thus included the townships of Underwood, Vesta, Westline, Granite Rock, Gales, Johnsonville, Springdale and North Hero in what is now Redwood county, and all the present counties of Yellow Medicine, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln and Lyon. The first election was to be held at the home of John Winter, who lived on the Yellow Medicine river. It was to be in charge of D. P. Lister, George S. Johnson and J. A. White. All this vast tract was constituted school district No. 3. March 2, 1868, all the west half of range 37, lying in this county, was added to Yellow Medicine township. This took in the west halves of
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the present townships of Swedes Forest, Kintire, Sheridan, Vail, Waterbury and Lamberton.
From the very beginning it was generally understood that all area not otherwise organized was included in Redwood Falls township. Therefore, as soon as Yellow Medicine county was organized, March 6, 1871, all the area left in Redwood county that had previously been included in Yellow Medicine township was generally understood to be in Redwood Falls township until the various townships were created from its territory. In the meantime, however, Sheridan had been organized from Yellow Medicine township before Yellow Medicine county was cut off.
Other Townships.
When Redwood county extended to the western boundary of the state, the creation of the townships in the present counties of Yellow Medicine, Lac qui Parle, Lyon and Lincoln was under the control of the commissioners of Redwood county. Lac qui Parle township was refused organization Jan. 5, 1871. Cerro Gordo (all of township 118, ranges 42 and 43 south of the Min- nesota) was created March 17, 1871, and an election ordered held at the home of William M. Mills, April 5, 1871. Camp Re- lease township (all of township 117-40, 117-41 and 118-41 south of the Minnesota) was created March 17, 1871, and an election ordered held at the home of Peter Peterson. Sannes township (114-40) was created May 18, 1871, and an election ordered held at the home of Ingebret Johnson, June 6, 1871. Ree township (114-41) was created May 18, 1871, and the first meeting ordered held at the home of Ole O. Lande, June 6, 1871. Stony Run township (116-40) was created Sept. 6, 1871. Baxter township (117-42) was created Sept. 12, 1871. Sept. 9, 1869, township 109, ranges 34 and 35 were notified that they were included in Red- wood county by the revised statutes of the state.
Authorities. History of the Minnesota Valley, Foote & War- ner, North Star Publishing Co., Minneapolis, 1882. (Second edition in 1884).
Notes of the Original Government Survey, in the custody of the register of deeds of Redwood county.
Records of the County Commissioners in the custody of the auditor of Redwood county.
Federal and State Census Reports, 1870-1910.
Atlas and Farm Directory of Redwood County, Webb Publish- ing Co., St. Paul, 1914.
Personal Observations of Mrs. Adella G. Pratt, superintend- ent of schools of Redwood county.
Other information has been furnished as follows: Honner, H. R. Simondet; New Avon, George I. Davis and J. S. Towle;
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
Three Lakes, H. N. Redig; Morgan, F. W. Zaske; Gales, A. M. Grunden; Wanda, M. M. Jenniges; Brookville, S. J. Hansen; Springdale, E. E. Nichols; North Hero, M. J. Wiggins; Swedes Forest and Kintire, A. O. Gimmestad.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
REDWOOD COUNTY CHURCHES.
The churches of Redwood county have exercised a strong in- fluence upon the life of Redwood county, even outside of the re- ligious purpose for which they were primarily organized and for which they are sustained.
The churches have naturally followed the population, but the population has also followed the churches, and the churches of the various nationalities and denominations have been a strong factor in bringing to the locality of the church, people of like inclinations, nationality and beliefs.
The earliest settlers of Redwood Falls being Americans, the first churches were those of the Methodist and Presbyterian churches. Bishop Henry B. Whipple's interest in the Minnesota river country caused an Episcopal church to be established in Redwood Falls not many years after the Methodists and Pres- byterians had organized. Previous to the massacre there had been an Episcopal mission at the agency.
As the settlers began to spread out, other Presbyterian and Methodist churches were organized. Delhi, in particular, became the center of a sturdy Scotch Presbyterian settlement. Some of these people had come here from Scotland, and some from Can- ada, while others, both from Canada and Scotland, had lived in Wabasha county, this state, before coming here. A few had lived in other states. All were of staunch Presbyterian faith, and the upbuilding of the churches among their first thoughts.
Before the massacre, there had been a flourishing settlement of Germans in Renville county, across the river from Redwood county, and an Evangelical association church had been organ- ized. After the massacre, Flora township, in Renville county, became the center of a German colony, the people of which were likewise of the Evangelical association faith. Some of these peo- ple settled on this side of the river in Honner township, and serv- ices of the Evangelical association were early held in Honner township for their benefit.
Among the earliest settlers in the county were the Norwegians in Swedes Forest. As the settlement began to grow there, and
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other Norwegians came in, services were held as a part of the work which was being carried on among the solid Scandinavian settlements of western Renville county, not far away. Religi- ously and socially the people of Swedes Forest were closely con- nected with the people of Renville county for many years, an association which even to the present day is not entirely severed.
As the Scandinavians, mostly Danish, came up the Cotton- wood, and settled in Sundown and Brookville townships, a Nor- wegian and Danish Lutheran was organized in Sundown town- ship, and a Danish Advent and a Danish Lutheran church in Brookville.
A few Americans settled in the southern part of the county and in addition to Methodist churches at Walnut Grove and Lam- berton, Congregational churches were organized in each of these places.
The Swedish people formed the nucleus of a settlement in the southwestern part of the county, and a Swedish Lutheran church was organized in North Hero township.
The majority of the pioneers of Brown county were Germans. This brought many of their fellow countrymen to this part of the country, and the settlement which was in time to dominate the southern, central and western parts of Redwood county, was started in the townships of Charlestown, Lamberton, Willow Lake and Waterbury. For these people, German Methodist serv- ices were held at Waterbury, and German Lutheran and German Evangelical services in Charlestown.
Among these Germans were also many Catholics. Catholics had also begun to settle in Redwood Falls. A few Irish also drifted into New Avon and Three Lakes. These people were served by the Rev. Alex. Berghold, a devout and scholarly priest from New Ulm. He held mass at Redwood Falls and Lamber- ton, in the seventies, and also visited isolated families of his faith in various parts of the country, administering to them the consolations of his religion.
When the central part of the county began to be built up, many years later, the people were for the most part of the Cath- olic and Lutheran faith, of German and Bohemian nationality.
The present denominations of the county are the Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Congregational, Evangelical Association, Advent, Episcopal, Christian and Brethren.
In 1914 the Rev. L. F. Badger, then pastor of the Presbyterian church, at Redwood Falls, took a canvass of religious life and work in Redwood county. The following statistics are from the report of that canvass :
"English-speaking (exclusively) churches (7 denominations), 22; German-speaking churches (6 denominations), 21; Scandi- navian churches (5 denominations), 14; Roman Catholic churches,
-
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12; total number of churches, 69. Communicants in: English- speaking churches, 1,588; German-speaking churches, 2,384; Scandinavian-speaking churches, 1,474; Roman Catholic churches, 2,299; total, 7,745. Total population of county over 14 years of age, according to U. S. census, 10,975. Total over 14 years of age, not in any church, 3,282.
"Children under 16 years of age enrolled in Sunday school or 'instruction classes :' English-speaking churches, 831; German- speaking churches, 610; Scandinavian-speaking churches, 524; Roman Catholic churches, 581; Union Sunday schools, 90; total under 16, getting religious instruction, 2,636. Total population 6 years to 17 years, according to U. S. census, 5,646. Without regular religious instruction, 3,010.
"Number of farms in Redwood county worked by renters, ac- cording to U. S. census, 778; number of renters' families con- nected with some church by at least one member, 203; renters' families with no church members, 575; farms operated by the owners, 1,519; farm owner families represented in the churches by members, 1,248; farmers owning farm where no member of the family is member of any church, 273.
"There are twelve English-speaking ministers and one Indian in Redwood county. There are two vacant churches, the Metho- dist churches at Milroy and at Nettywynnt with a membership of three and four respectively. There are two churches which do not have regular pastors, the Advent church near Wayburn and the Brethren at Vesta. Six churches have each the full time of a pastor.
"There are 22 English-speaking churches, including one In- dian, as follows: Presbyterian, 8; Methodist, 6; Congregational, 3; Episcopal, 2; Brethren, 1; Advent, 1, and Christian 1.
"The Methodist churches have 569 members; outside the city of Redwood Falls, 192 members. The Presbyterian churches have 550 members; outside of the city, 402 members. Other de- nominations have a membership of 476; outside the city of Red- wood Falls, 216. Total membership of English-speaking churches in county, 1,590. Net increase in church membership during the last five years, 99. The largest church in county, Redwood Falls, Methodist, 427 members. The smallest church in county, Sanborn Methodist, members 0. Three churches have been organized dur- ing last five years, all Presbyterian; five have increased their membership, six have lost, and seven have neither lost nor gained.
"Five churches have no organization besides the Sunday school. Seven churches have ladies' aid only ; two have brother- hoods, Redwood Methodist and Paxton (Indian) Episcopal. Four churches have four other organizations: the Methodist and Pres- byterian of Redwood Falls, Presbyterian of Delhi, and Methodist of Lamberton.
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"Three churches have no building, Underwood and Ashford Presbyterian and Vesta Brethren. $77,000 are invested in build- ings for English-speaking congregations. Half of this in Redwood Falls, one-fourth in Redwood Falls Methodist church. The total seating capacity of all these and two school houses used by church organizations is 4,460. The average attendance, morning service, if there are more than one, is 1,440. Only one church, Delhi Pres- byterian, has an average attendance equalling its seating capac- ity. Only two, Redwood Falls Methodist and Paxton Indian, have an average attendance equal to one-half the seating capacity.
"Total paid for salaries $12,695, an increase in five years of $1,675. All Presbyterian churches have increased salaries; one Methodist, one Episcopal, one Christian. Outside of Redwood Falls the largest salary paid (Presbyterian) $1,000; smallest $950. Methodist: high salary $750; lowest $600, outside of Redwood Falls. Only one minister, English-speaking, outside of Redwood Falls, besides Methodist and Presbyterian, receives a salary of $800.
"Statistics of foreign-speaking churches in Redwood county show the following: Number of churches, 35; German-speaking, 21; Scandinavian, 14.
"Of German-speaking the churches are: 2 German Metho- dists; 5 Evangelical Association; 6 Ohio Synod Lutheran ; 5 Min- nesota Synod Lutheran; 2 Missouri Synod Lutheran; 1 Evangel- ical Lutheran.
"Of Scandinavian churches: 7 Norwegian Lutheran Synod ; 3 Norwegian Lutheran Free; 2 Swedish Lutheran ; 2 Danish Luth- eran United.
"There are twelve of these churches in the open country, six German-speaking and six Scandinavian-speaking.
"Four German churches have each the full time of a pastor. No one Scandinavian church has the full time of a pastor. Seven German pastors supply two churches; five supply three or more. Two Scandinavian pastors supply two churches; six supply three or more. Only one German church has more than one service on Sunday. No Scandinavian church has more than one service on Sunday. Eight German churches do not have services every Sun- day. Only two Scandinavian churches have services every Sun- day.
"The largest church of any denomination or language in the county is the German Lutheran church of Sanborn with 485 com- municants-more communicants than the entire population of the village in which it is located. The smallest foreign-speaking church is the Evangelical Lutheran of Sanborn, with a member- ship of fifteen.
"There are two large Scandinavian churches, the Springdale Swedish with a membership of 268 communicants, and Swedes
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Forest Norwegian church with a membership of 180 communi- cants.
"One German church has lost in membership during the past five years. No Scandinavian church has lost in membership. Fig- ures as to growth could not be obtained from ten churches. One new church has recently been organized, the Norwegian of Lucan.
"Seven German churches have no organization within the church. Only one German church, at Sanborn, has three organ- izations.
"All but two of the Scandinavian churches have local organ- izations. Four of them have at least three such organizations.
"Three churches have no buildings: at Walnut Grove, Lucan and Belview, all Scandinavian. The value of the church buildings is estimated at $58,000 for the German, and $24,000 for the Scan- dinavian churches. In only three churches does the average at- tendance equal the seating capacity of the building: Willow Lake, Milroy and Vesta, all German. Eight churches have an average attendance equalling half the seating capacity. In all the other churches the average attendance falls below half of the seating capacity of the church.
"The following are some of the facts brought out by the house-to-house canvass of Redwood county. Much of the can- vass was very thoroughly and conscientiously done. Some of it -a very few cases-was evidently done in a very perfunctory manner. Out of the 113 school districts in the county the canvass has been completed in eighty-three. One township, Lamberton, has done nothing in any of its districts, the only whole township to fail. Of the sixteen villages and the city, eight have failed to make any returns, viz., Belview, North Redwood, Redwood Falls, Wabasso, Sanborn, Lamberton, Revere, Walnut Grove. It has been much easier to get the canvass done in the country than in the villages. Just half of the town districts having been can- vassed but 75 out of 97 of the rural districts have made their re- turns.
"Some of the totals are as follows: Number of families can- vassed, 1,617; number of these families which report no church members in the family, 248; number of Lutheran families, 789; number of Catholic families, 339 ; number of families not Lutheran or Catholic, 594; number of families where no member of the family attend church, 301; number of persons over fourteen years in the families canvassed who do not attend church, 633; number of children between five and sixteen years who are not reported as attending Sunday school, 1,501; number of families which are reported as taking a religious paper, 381.
"In the three of the four districts in Swedes Forest township which reported, every family is Lutheran; every family has church members; there are no adults who do not attend church.
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"There seems to be little or no overchurching in the county, only three towns having more than one English-speaking church. There are two abandoned churches in the county. One organ- ized as a Union affair by some people believing in holiness, the church going down as this class of people moved away. The other the result of a Methodist church organizing in a small town where there was already a Presbyterian church. There is one unused Catholic church because a town sprang up near by and in the town the congregation put up a $20,000 new church. There is no Catholic church in the open country."
Since the above survey was taken, the Catholics have erected a magnificent church at Redwood Falls, and a splendid struc- ture has been put up by the Swedish Augustana Synod church at Belview. The Methodist Episcopal church at Wabasso has been moved to New Avon township, and a Methodist congregation organized under the pastorate of the pastor at Redwood Falls. The Union church in New Avon township has been reopened as a Christian church under the pastorate of the pastor of the Chris- tian church at Redwood Falls. Bethany Congregation of the Missouri Synod, German Lutheran church, has been established at Wabasso, meetings being held in the village hall.
An effort has been made to secure a history of each individual congregation in the county. Repeated letters have been ad- dressed to pastors and others on the subject. In the following material a complete list of the churches of the county is given. Where no detailed account of the church appears, the reason is the failure of the pastors or members to respond to inquiries. The histories here appended are of value for several reasons. They are fairly typical of all the churches, and they will be in this volume preserved long after many of the church records have been destroyed.
German Lutheran, Ohio Synod.
In Redwood county there are six German Lutheran churches of the Ohio Synod, located in Waterbury, Johnsonville, Morgan, Lamberton, Wanda and Milroy.
Evangelical Lutheran Christus-Gemeinde (Christ's Congrega- tion) of Wanda, Minn. This church belongs to the denomination known as "Evangelical Lutheran church of the Evangelical Luth- eran Joint Synod of Ohio and Other States." The first meetings, as well as the divine services of this congregation were held in "Eichten's Hall," Wanda, where at the second meeting, Jan. 13, 1902, it was organized under the presidency of Rev. Geo. Appel, of Springfield, Minn. In October, the same year, the mem- bers-only eleven in number-succeded in erecting a church edi- fice, with a seating capacity of 100, which soon after was dedi-
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cated to the service of the Triune God and His Kingdom. Rev. Geo. Appel preached the sermon on this occasion. In the serv- ices of the church, including the sermons, the German language is used exclusively, except on certain special occasions, when English is made use of. At present the congregation consists of twenty-two joint members, or "families," and families not be- longing to the church but attending the services; of the latter some six or seven from some of which the congregation receives financial support. In spite of the considerable expenditures for other purposes, which have been necessary from the beginning, the congregation in 1910 managed to provide a nice little par- sonage, located in town, for their minister. The present pastor, Rev. Th. Tychsen, who came here three years ago, also has charge of two other congregations about the same size as this-one at Comfrey, Minn., and the other in Stately township, ten miles southeast of Sanborn, Minn.
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