USA > South Dakota > The Baptist history of South Dakota > Part 12
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Up to 1876 the church was harmonious. Then a division of sentiment arose on the Sabbath question. " Rev. P. A. Ring, the pastor, led a movement in favor
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of the observance of the seventh day, but in April of that year, he and the disturbing element withdrew, and formed a Seventh Day Baptist church. He was succeeded as pastor by Rev. A. B. Nordberg. The weakened church was soon strengthened by accessions by baptism and letter. The following ministers have served as pastors: P. A. Ring, A. B. Nordberg, C. Sandquist, C. M. Widen, Andrew Johnson, Andrew Swartz and C. Silene. There were some long intervals between pastorates, but services were regularly main- tained by well qualified lay members, including C. J. Nilson, Peter Johnson, and others. Several extensive revivals were enjoyed, and they greatly strengthened the church. A parsonage was built during the pastor- ate of Rev. Andrew Johnson. Following the great revival of 1883, a new and larger house of worship be- came a necessity. Rev. Andrew Swartz, pastor, led in this movement, which was successful. It was dedi- cated September 24, 1893.
Anticipating slightly the actual anniversary, on ac- count of the annual meeting at Big Springs of the Scandinavian Baptist Conference or Association, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the organization of the church was celebrated June 3, 1894. It was an event of very deep interest. and was the first quarter cen- tennial anniversary ever held in South Dakota. Five of the six pastors of the church gave addresses, and a letter was read from the absent one, Rev. Andrew Johnson. English and Swedish copies of the history of the church were read. Mr. A. Lindbloom the only constituent member still identified with the church. was an interested sharer in the proceedings.e
The last pastor, Rev. Christopher Silene, entered upon his work in September, 1894, under brighter
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prospects than any of his predecessors. With a large experience, and possessing all of the elements of lead- ership, he has led the work, along all lines, to success. The church has now over two hundred members. At least one-half of these are young people, well trained in Christian work. It is the largest Scandinavian Baptist church in the state. Several of its members are Americans and Germans. The whole region round about Big Springs is Baptist in sentiment. The people have become so thoroughtly Americanized, that since 1888, during the oversight of pastors Johnson, Swartz and Silene, one-half of the services have been conducted in English. This language is used almost exclusively in the Sunday school and young people's meetings.
BLOOMINGDALE .-- There were Swedish Baptist set- tlers at Bloomingdale as early as 1868. So far as known the first religious service held by them was at four o'clock on Christmas morning, of that year. The first Swedish Baptist missionary who visited the field was Rev. P. A. Ring, of Big Springs. The first baptism at Bloomingdale occurred June 14, 1871, when four converts were baptized by him. He organized the church October 15, 1871. A house of worship was built in 1878. The date of dedication cannot be defi- nitely fixed, but it was probably in November. From the organization of the church until August, 1874, many were added to the church, but the additions were then offset by an almost equal number of exclusions, indicating defective early leadership. Many turned away to seventh day adventism and other errors, and the faithful few weregreatly discouraged. In October, 1884, Rev. Jacob Olson, Scandinavian missionary, visited the field, sought out the genuine members, and was able to reclaim some who had wandered away.
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Rev. James Lundin, from Sweden, became pastor in 1885, and served successfully for five years. His successors have been Rev. C. J. Nelson, M. A. Frid- lund, N. A. Lindholm and Olof Lind. The church is now in a prosperous condition. The missionary visits of Rev. Jacob Olsen have continued through a period of fourteen years, and have resulted in much good to the church.
LODI .- An American Baptist church was organized in this settlement July 23, 1871. As the people were mainly Danes, after a few years it became extinct. The Danish Baptist church of Lodi was organized March 25, 1872. Its growth was rapid, and soon it increased to a membership of over forty. For more than eleven vears the meetings of the church were held in the homes of the members and in school houses. The present house of worship was dedicated early in October, 1883. Many of the members lived so far west of the usual places of meeting that another organization seemed to be necessary. By mutual agreement a majority of the members, twenty-seven in number, were dismissed for the purpose of organizing the Danish church at Daneville. Seven ministers have served as pastors of the church at Lodi, Rev. Charles Anderson, N. Tychsen, Marcus Hansen. T. O. Wold, M. Nilson, P. P. Overgaard, and Jacob Larsen. The church is located in a thickly settled farming com- munity. As the usual place of business and postoffice address of most of the members is Wakonda, in Jan- uary, 1898, the church changed its name to the Bethel Scandinavian Baptist Church of Wakonda.
DANEVILLE .-- Peter Larsen Christiansen is supposed to have been the first Danish Baptist in Dakota. He came in in 1864. Six others came a few months later.
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In 1872 others came from Denmark and from Racine, Wis. Some of these lived in Daneville, Turner county, and others in Lodi, Clay county. Ten of these formed the first Danish Baptist church in Lodi, March 25, 1872. In 1873 immigration was so rapid that by the close of the year thirty-seven Baptists lived in and near the Daneville settlement. Most of them were members of the Lodi church. The distance was so great that it was thought best to have a church organ- ization in each settlement. For this purpose the entire church met at Lodi December 31, 1873. Twenty-seven members were dismissed, with the assistance of Rev. G. W. Freeman, and they formed the organization known as the Danish Baptist church in Daneville. The organization was completed June 3, 1874, by the elec- tion of officers, including Christian Plet, as leader of their meetings. Meetings were held in the sod houses of the settlers, for there were, as vet, no school houses.
By the close of the year there were thirty-nine mem- bers. About this time the proselyting work of the Seventh Day Adventists began, and the leader of their meetings and others were led astray. About this time Rev. Christian Anderson, from Clark's Grove, Minn., became pastor of both the Daneville and Lodi churches. 'The winter of 1875-6 was a trying period. As the result of the work of the Adventists, the Baptist church was reduced to twenty-three members. Among those who were drawn away were the pastor and deacons. This was the period of the grasshopper raids, and all of the crops were destroyed. The few members who re- mained sought God in their distress and praved for help, and for a pastor who would be true and faithful. In March, 1876, the church at Clark's Grove, Minn .. sent Rev. L. Jacobson, whose labors were greatly
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blessed. After a few weeks he went away, but returned soon, bringing with him a young man, Nils Tychsen, then a student at Morgan Park, Ill., who was called first as supply and then as pastor. His labors were success- ful. At the end of the year there were forty-three members.
The next year, 1877, was also full of blessings. During this year they began to build a house of wor- ship, which they first used in June, 1878. It was not fully completed until 1884. Mr. Tychsen remained on the field ten years, and then became pastor October 1, 1886, at Dell Rapids. Rev. M. Hansen settled as pas- tor at Daneville in March, 1887. During this year the church added ten acres to its church property. In 1888 a parsonage was built. In August of that year fifteen members were dismissed for the purpose of organizing the Spring Valley Danish church. In Feb- ruary, 1889, the pastor resigned, expecting to remove to another field in April. During the memorable elec- trical storm on the second day of April, a disastrous prairie fire swept over Daneville and destroyed the house of worship, parsonage and barn. The pastor, with his wife and children, barely escaped from the burning parsonage to a place of safety. One of the members of the church was burned to death.
The church was now destitute of a pastor. a parson- age, and a place for holding meetings, but with new courage they rallied, and began to build a house of worship. It was dedicated November 10, 1889. In the spring of 1891, Rev. N. C. Nelson became pastor. He resigned in August, 1892, to settle at Pukwana. Six- teen members of the church living in Yankton county, were dismissed, December 30, 1892, for the purpose of organizing the church in Turkey Valley. H. M. Ander-
REV. A. B. NORDBERG,
IS76-1887.
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son, of Chicago University, supplied the church dur- ing the summer of 1893, and settled as pastor in May. 1894. Under his labors the church has continued to prosper.
BROOKINGS. - Rev. Jacob Olsen, then pastor of the Scandinavian Baptist church of Kingsbury county, was the first Scandinavian Baptist who held a religious ser- vice in Brookings county. It was held November 7. 1882. He continued for two weeks, holding meetings from house to house, until no dwelling house was large enough to accommodate the people who attended. The meeting's were then moved into Brookings, and held in the American Baptist church building. It seemed as if every Scandinavian home had become more or less influenced by the preaching of the gospel. As soon as the Lutherans learned that the interest was so great that it might result in the baptism of several converts. and the organization of a Baptist church, in order to keep their people away from Mr. Olsen's meetings. they sent for Lutheran ministers in various localities. who surrounded him and his flock with daily special meetings. By this time, however, it was too late for them to stop the progress of the work. Eleven con- verts were baptized March 11, 1883, and on March 15, they were organized into the Norwegian Baptist church of Brookings.
A movement was begun, without delay, to build a house of worship. It was completed and dedicated December 19, 1883. A parsonage was afterwards secured. Mr. Olsen continued to serve the church as pastor, in connection with his work in Kingsbury county, until he became state missionary for the Scan- dinavian Association in the summer of 1884. Since then the church has had three pastors, Revs. C. J.
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Westergaard, C. W. Finwall, and J. B. Sundt. In 1893 several of the most active members removed to Ore- gon, and since then the church has had no settled pas- tor, until the return of their first pastor, Rev. Jacob Olsen, October 1, 1898.
STRANDBURG .--- The first Baptist settlers in Strand- burg were E. M. Dahlberg and N. A. Dahlberg, and their families, in 1880. They came from Sweden. The first meeting conducted by a Baptist minister was held in January, 1882, by Rev. J. A. H. Johnson. The church was organized June 25, 1882. During nearly all of the period of its existence, the church has been without a settled pastor, but services have been regu- larly maintained by the two experienced laymen named above. E. M. Dahlberg is the recognized religious leader of the church.
OLDHAM .-- The Scandinavian Baptist church of Kingsbury county was organized January 25, 1882. The members were scattered over much of the county, and the places for holding religious meetings were various school houses and private dwellings. Rev. Jacob Olsen came from Chicago, July 4, 1882, and at once became pastor of this church, serving it and also the church at Brookings until October 1, 1884. As the number of Baptists increased the name of the church was afterwards changed to Oldham. It has had four pastors, Rev. C. J. Westergaard, O). L. Hoien, and A. A. Ohrn. In 1888, this church and the American Bap- tist church at Oldham jointly erected a house of wor- ship. In September, 1897, these two church organi- zations were consolidated.
SIOUX FALLS .- Charles Tornquist and his wife were the first Swedish Baptists in Sioux Falls. They arrived there May 15, 1881. Soon after Albert Nor-
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berg and Miss Martha Olsen came, and others followed. Rev. C. J. Johnson, pastor at Dell Rapids, was the first Scandinavian Baptist minister who visited Sioux Falls. He began preaching there in the summer of 1882, The first Swedish Baptist church of Sioux Falls was organ- ized May 19, 1883, by Rev. Frank Peterson and C. J. Johnson. The constituent members were Charles Tornquist and Peter Calvin and their wives. August Johnson, A. B. Norberg, Olof Larson and Martha Olsen. Six others were immediately added by bap- tism. Rev. C. J. Johnson became the first pastor of the church, and remained until January, 1885. During his pastorate a house of worship was built. It was dedicated December 21, 1884. Other pastors have been Revs. A. B. Nordberg, J. P. Berlin, A. W. Peter- son, K. Ostlund. H. P. Peterson, and L. J. Olsen. In the intervals between pastorates, Rev. Jacob Olsen has greatly assisted the church. Since the organization of the church it has had 149 members. Of these seventy-one were received by baptism. The present number of members is fifty-seven.
SUN PRAIRIE .--- The first resident Scandinavian Bap- tists in the vicinity of Sun Prairie. Miner county, were John Nilson, C. W. Lindell and wife, Mrs. A. Liljen- berg. Mrs. Hannah Nelson and Christine Anderson, who settled there in 1881. The first Scandinavian Baptist minister was Rev. Charles Johnson, of Sioux Falls. who visited the community and preached at different times in 1881-2. In the spring of 1883, Rev. C. M. Widen and his wife came from Sweden. Being an ordained Baptist minister, he began to labor among the people. The Scandinavian Baptist church of Sun Prairie was organized at the home of C. W. Lindell. June 3, 1883. With occasional intermissions, the
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aggregate time spent as pastor by Rev. C. M. Widen was nearly seven years. The church is now without a pastor, C. W. Lindell is the chosen leader of the church.
PUKWANA .- This church was organized by Rev. Jacob Olson, July 25, 1885. The first pastor was Rev. N. Mattson, who was ordained September 4, 1885. During his pastorate the church grew rapidly. After he left the field October 1, 1891, Rev. N. C. Nelson be- came pastor in October. 1892. In the fall of 1892, a house of worship was secured which was dedicated March 11. 1893. In the fall of 1892, Rev. F. M. Andrea- son became pastor. A vear later he resigned, when the work was resumed by Rev. N. C. Nelson. The church has had many trials and hindrances in its work, but its present outlook is encouraging. In the summer of 1896 the chapel was totally destroyed by a severe wind storm. The church has not vet been able to build another.
DELL RAPIDS (Danish) .- In 1871, N. J. Norgaard took up a claim northeast of where Dell Rapids now stands. There were then no dwellers there except Indians. In 1872, N. C. Sorenson and wife, N. P. Nielson and A. Markesen came, and in 1873 the Morton Olsen family. These few Baptists began to meet for religious services. The meetings at first were gener- ally led by Morton Olsen. Though formerly identified with the Adventists, he worked and worshiped with the Baptists. In the spring of 1874, Jens Olsen and his family came among them. Being an ordained Baptist minister from the old country, he naturally took the lead of religious meetings. Later arrivals increased the number of Baptists. The first missionary who visited them was Rev. L. Jacobson, of Clark's Grove, Minn., in 1876. The second was Rev. C. J. Johnson, in 1882, who for some time rendered service there.
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By previous arrangement eight persons met Decem- ber 9, 1885, for the purpose of organizing a Baptist church. They were P. M. Olsen, N. J. Norgaard, Simon Nielson, J. P. Peterson, C. Sorenson, N. C. Sorenson and Sena Sorenson. Rev. Jacob Olsen led in the organization which was called the Scandinavian Baptist church of Moody county. These members lived north of Dell Rapids, near or across the county line. During the same month eleven were added to the church by experience and eight by baptism. Most of these additions were the result of special meetings conducted by Missionary Olsen.
In 1886 some members then living in Dell Rapids, and some who belonged to the American church, pro- posed the organization of a Scandinavian Baptist church in town, provided a pastor could be secured for the new organization and also for the church in the country. Rev. N. Tychsen, of Daneville, became pastor in Octo- ber, 1886. The Scandinavian Baptist church of Dell Rapids was organized November 2, 1886. A year later, November 2, 1887, the Scandinavian Baptist church of Moody county, having then a membership of twenty- six, disbanded for the purpose of uniting with the later organization, which, previous to the consolidation, had forty-five members. Mr. Tychsen served successfully as pastor until the close of 1892, when he removed to California. Rev. A. Carstensen became pastor in April, 1893. The next pastor was Rev. H. P. Ander- son, who settled there in December, 1895. The present pastor is Rev. A. C. Nasby. The church has a com- fortable house in Dell Rapids. As a large proportion of the members live in the country, a chapel was built for their convenience in 1888.
SCANDINAVIAN BAPTIST CHURCH OF SPINK COUNTY. --- In May, 1882, S. C. Anderson and A. P. Clemenson
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and their families settled in Beotia, Spink county. These two families met every Lord's day, for religious services. Later a few other Baptist families came. The first Baptist sermon was preached in 1886 by Rev. S. C. Nielson. In July, 1887, several of the brethren visited the German Baptist church then existing at Warner, Brown county, to confer with them as to the advisability of uniting with that church. They were cordially received, but were advised that their interests would be better served by organizing a church among people of their own nationality. Accordingly they met, July 10, 1887. at the home of P. H. Jensen, and organ- ized the Danish-Norwegian Baptist church of Spink county. The constituent members were S. C. Ander- sen, A. P. Clemenson, P. H. Jensen, and Anton Christiansen, and their wives, and Mary Olsen. A Sunday school was organized in April, 1888. Rev. T. O. Wold became pastor in July, 1889, but remained only three months, when he resigned to accept a pro- fessorship in the Dano-Norwegian department of the theological seminary at Morgan Park, Ill. K. P. Ham- mer served as pastor in 1890, and S. Holm in 1893. During the long periods when the church has had no pastor, S. C. Anderson and S. P. Jensen have accept- ably and successfully conducted religious services.
LAKE NORDEN. The first Baptist settlers along the shore of Lake Norden, from 1880 to 1883 were A. P. Palm and John Lindell and their wives. They brought with them letters of dismission from the Lannas Bap- tist church near Orebro, Nerike, Sweden. The first meetings were held in the home of John Lindell, in the summer of 1881. The first Baptist sermon was preached by Rev. Jacob Olsen, in 1882. The church was organized September 17, 1888. A. P. Palm was
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ordained October 12, 1888, and has continued to serve as pastor. The Sunday school was organized in 1890. One of the lavmen of this church has devoted much of his time to preaching in Scandinavian settlements.
SPRING VALLEY -- In May, 1882. Jens C. Faarup and family and J. C. Sorenson and wife, settled in Spring Valley. Finding no other Baptists there. they united with the church at Daneville, whose pastor, Rev. N. Tychsen, afterwards occupied Spring Valley as an ont-station. Peter Anderson, a layman, preached every month for several years. The Spring Valley Baptist church was organized with fifteen members, November 11, 1888. In September, 1889, Rev. Lars Hanson became pastor, remaining on the field until February 1, 1894. A house of worship, costing $1,050.00, was dedicated March 27, 1892. Rev. L. E. Larsen was called as pastor February 1, 1894, and served one year. Since he re- signed, the church has had no pastor, but student sup- plies have rendered acceptable service during the sum- mer months.
ORLEANS .-- Orleans was first settled by Scandina- vians in the spring of 1885. Erick Olsen and O. Olsen and their families were the first Baptists. A Baptist church of eight members was organized April 8, 1888. It was then called the First Swedish Baptist church of Millard. The name was afterwards changed to Orleans. In 1889, Rev. N. P. Wik came from Sweden to become its pastor, and he has continued to serve as such to the present time. The church has enjoyed several revivals, and new members have frequently been received. Baptist sentiments pervade the entire com- munity. During the last six years the church has contributed $368.42 for foreign missions, and $675.68 for home missions and current expenses.
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NORWEGIAN BAPTIST CHURCH OF MINER COUNTY, OR BERTON .- On the first Sunday after Christmas, 1888, Rev. C. M. Widen, and S. H. Liljenberg began a series of meetings in Hanson school house, Hendea township. There were only two Baptists then living in that community, August Erickson and wife, recently from Sweden. A few families lived near there who wished for a clearer knowledge of the Scriptures. In attending these meetings they found what they sought, and were greatly helped. Soon after meetings were held further north, in Errickson's school house, near the Lutheran church. When the Lutherans learned that these men were Baptists, they had the school house closed against them. From there they went to Berton, where some families were living who had left the Lutheran church, and were waiting and looking for something better. Meetings were held in their homes, and a large number were converted. In May, 1889, Rev. Jacob Olsen and Rev. L. Hanson visited that neighborhood. They conducted several meetings and fourteen were baptized. Soon after, June 16, 1889, the Norwegian Baptist church of Miner county was organ- ized in the house of Jacob Holm. The need of a house of worship was seriously felt, but the poverty of the people seemed to make it impossible to build one. At length it was agreed by each member to set apart as a chapel fund the proceeds of one or more acres of wheat each year, until enough could be saved to pay for a church home. The plan was carried out, and a com- fortable chapel, worth $800, was dedicated November 21, 1897.
HURON .- A few devoted Swedish Baptists in Huron and vicinity, desired an organization of their own. A meeting was held in the First Baptist church, Decem-
REV. NILS TYCHSEN.
1876-1593.
MEMBER OF TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE, ISS3.
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ber 19, 1889, at which time the Swedish Baptist church of Huron was organized. Rev. A. P. Palm served as pastor about three years. As the Swedish population is small and not increasing, and it is practically impos- sible to support a pastor, it is probable that the organ- ization will not be continued beyond 1899, and that the members will become identified with the American Baptist church in Huron.
TURKEY VALLEY .- Beginning with 1879, a few Bap- tists lived in Turkey Valley, Yankton county, who became members of the Danish church at Daneville. It was for some time an out-station of the Daneville church. Efforts to maintain a Sunday school in the early days were only partially successful, as the chil- dren were occupied during each summer in herding cattle. The Turkey Valley Baptist church was or- ganized February 8, 1893. P. P. Ovegaard supplied the church during the summers of 1893-4. Peter Anderson, a lay member of the church, rendered ex- tended service as a supply. A house of worship, cost- ing $1,412.00 was built in the summer of 1894. It was dedicated October 21, 1894. P. P. Ovegaard was or- dained June 3, 1895, and served as pastor one year. Rev. F. M. Andreason was pastor six months, in 1897.
VERNON .- The church at Vernon, Roberts county, was organized by Rev. Jacob Olson, June 19, 1897. A. J. Swelander served as supply for several months and during that period fifteen were baptized. O. G. Newgreen has served the church since April, 1898. Efforts will be made soon to build a chapel.
SUMMIT .- The youngest of the Scandinavian churches in the state is located at Summit, in Roberts county. It was organized largely through the services ren- dered it by A. J. Swelander, who was ordained as pastor
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