Freeborn County, Minnesota - Chapter 52, 1882 (part 2 of 2)

The Fihst Baptist Chukoh of Albert Lea. - The first preaching with any sort of regularity in this place was by Rev. D. H. Palmer, in the schoolhouse. This was before the war. Rev. Amory Gale, the very first State missionary, also held service here, and so much of an interest was manifested that it was resolved to organize a church, and after suitable preliminary meetings, a council of bretliren convened on the 29th of September for that purpose. Rev. Gilead Dodge was chosen Moderator, and Rev. I). H. Palmer, Clerk. The customary examination resulting satisfactorily, the church was duly organized and the following named persons admitted to membership: Eunice Jennings, Lydia C. Jennings, Charles (Ireen, Sarah Green, Jeremiah Walker, Mrs. J. Walker, Maggie E. Morin, John Wood, Emeline A. Wood,

Reuben C. Cady, Rodah Lowe, Alden G. Douglass, and Winnah Pride, with H. 1). Palmer pastor of the church. On the following day Sister D. Stage was baptized and admitted to full fellowship.

At the organization the following services took place: Sermon by Rev. H. I. Parker; hand of fellowship by Rev. A. L. Cole; prayer by Rev. Gilead Dodge; charge by Rev. E. L. Rugg; benediction by the pastor, Rev. D. H. Palmer.

It should be mentioned that the venerable missionary. Rev. M. W. Hopkins, rendered invaluable aid to the society during the preliminary labors incident to the organization.

The church was duly incorporated on the 13th of May, 1871. In October, 1873, Rev. Amos Weaver became pastor. In October, Rev. Norman F. Hoy t became pastor of the church, and remains still at his post.

On the 5th of February, 1874, the subject of building a church was vigorously taken in hand, the parsonage having been previously built. Services at this time were held in Masonic hall. It was rapidly pushed to completion, and dedicated on the 1st of November, 1874, at 10:30 a. m. Amory Weaver was the pastor. Several other ministers were present, among them Rev. S. F. Drew, R. B. Alibott, and' George Prescott. The cost of the structure was -f3,58.5..56, and there was a debt upon the property of $2,300, which was reduced by contributions at that time by the sum of $8-56. The building is a rather severely plain gothic, 28x 50 feet, with sixteen foot posts, a recess 4x14 feet in the rear and a tower 10 feet square, with the spire reaching an altitiide of 63 feet. The front has a fine large window - 6x14 feet - of stained glass. It is supplied with patent seats, is carpeted, and is really neat and tasty.

In 1876 this churcli was without a ))astor, and the debt upon it was pressing heavily upon the few members who were struggling to preserve the altar they had erected with such self-sacrificing devotion, so, after much thought and consultation, it was resolved to make an appeal to the deaomination generally, for help. Implorations not unlike this have been sent east from every State iu the Union, beginning with the Pilgrims - as they planted religious liberty on Plymouth Rook. This circular is printed, that coming generations may see how the eirly settlar;* adapted means to ends, and that while the injunction has always been to put religion into business, that here they did not hesitate to put business into religion.

Austin, March, 30, 1876. Deau Brother. - Freeborn County, in the Southern tier of counties, in this State, has a population of over 13,000, and is constantly filling up. Its county seat is Albert Lea, a thrifty and important railroad center in a township of 1,900 inhabitants. The little Baptist Church there, of 27 members, mostly females, is in trouble. As one of the nearest Baptist Ministers, I have become deeply interested in the needy condition of this church. I know its members to be earnest and self-sacrificing. They are in danger of losing their neat house of worship, which was recently built, and for which they have worked so hard. After raising, in two years, over $2,.500 for religious purposes, they can do little more and are liable to lose all they have thus far gained. On a property, (including a parsonage, built some years ago ) valued at over $.5,000, they owe about -^1,800. The meeting house, costing |3,500, is completely finished and furnished - except an organ. The united testimony of the community is that the expenditure has been very economical, and without many favors received must have been greater. To-day this church is without a pastor or preacher, and burdoned with this debt. There are two other small native churches in the county accessible from Albert Lea, but without preaching, so that there is not a single Baptist Minister in the county to-day, excepting the Swedish. Remove this dept and we can put a pastor iu this field and he will find a good support. Let it drag Albert Lea Church down, and Baptist interests in that whole section suffer irreparable injury. Look at the map and see how important a point it is tor us to hold. Its possibilities within ten or fifteen years are very great. Now, Baptists can raise this debt and not feel it. We ask of your whole church the specific sum of two dollars. How easy iu a few moments to raise so small an amount and thus rescue this church. The only expense in this movement is the printing and sending this circular, so that every dollar you send goes directly to raise the debt. If you respond, the amount required will be raised. Perhaps your Sabbath school would like to own a share in one of God's houses out on these broad prairies. Will you, for the Master's sake, help to make this plan a success? If we had asked a hundred dollars, you might lay this appeal aside as useless, but surely the amount named is not a large one. If you treat this as a small matter and lay it aside unnoticed, of course the plan fails. They need help at once. Three are waiting baptism. Ground can now be occupied, that soon will be out of reach. Contributions may be sent to .John Wood, or Mrs. M. E. Morin, Albert Lea, Freeborn County, Minn.; to Rev. W. W. Whitcomb, Owatonua, or to me. Yours fraternally.

We, the advisory committee to the State Convention Board, from the Minnesota Central Association, of which body the Baptist Church at Albert Lea is a member, heartily endorse the above movement for the relief of that church, and wish complete success.

This paper was indorsed by the trustees of the Minnesota Baptist State Convention as certified to by A. A. Russsell, Secretary of the Board. It was quite extensively circulated and the result was contributions to the extent of about $500, which relieve<l their present necessities, and in October 1874, Rjv. Norman F. Hoyt located here, and since that time the society has beem moving along in a prosperous way, and now has a good membership and a thriving Sunday school.

Roman Catholic - The Chdrch of St. Theodore. - A beautiful brick church was erected in 1877, and dedicated on the 9th of September. Bishop Ireland, R3V. P. Riordan, and R9V. Theodore Venn, were present and conducted the exercises, the Bishop preaching a sermon on the Rules of Faith. There ire sixty families connected with this church. The pastor is Rev. James Fleming, who came in November, 1881. His predecessor was Rev. P. F. Dargnault, and before him was Rev. Theodore Venn. There are several mission cimrclie.s iu tlio county, with Albert Lea as the mother charch. Oin' of these is in Bath, one in Newry, one at Twin Lakes, and another at Aldeu, whicli are supplied from here with services at regular intervals. In the whole parish there are 210 families. The connection is witli tiie St. Paul Diocese, under Bisliop (irace.

The parochial residence was built in the summer of 1882, at a cost of --{;l,9.50. The cost of the church was upward of $4,200, and it is without doul)t the finest and most durable edifice for cliurch purposes iu town.

The First UniveratjIst Society of Albert Le4. - -There had been religious services in the interest of this form of belief for some time, with more or less regularity, iu the Court House, and on the 14th of May, 1870, pursuant to four weeks notice, a meeting was held for the puri«)se of organizing. Wm. C. Pratt was chosen chairman, and Alonzo Brown was appointed secretary. On motion the meeting adjourned to the house of C. R. Ransom.

On reassembling the Committee on Constitution, which had been previously appointed, reported a Constitution and Articles of Faith, which were unanimously adopted. The document eml)raced twenty -one articles, including the Dec laration of Faith.

The following officers were elected: Moderator, C. R. Ransjm; Clerk, E. C. Stacy: Collector and Treasurer, C. E. Ransom; Trustees, E. C. Stacy, A. Brown, and M. M. Luce.

On the 4th of March, 1872, a meeting was held to take into consideration the building of a house of worship, and a committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions, consisting of E. C. Stacy, Charles Levens, Frederick Cochrane, A. H. McMillen. and J. M.-Pratt.

Little progre.ss seems to have been made until the fall of 1876, when the following building committee was elected: William C. Pratt, John M. Marty, and G. C. Harper. In the spring of 1877 the edifice was completed, and is an unpretentious building in size and architectural appointments; it was christened "Our Father's Chapel." Articles of incorporation were filed in the office of the Register of Deeds on the 22d oi April, 1879.

The Conorbi;.\tion.\l Church. - The history of this society is, during its early period, identical with the Presbyterian, into which it was transformed, as rel.Tted in the sketch of that denomination. It will 1)6 remembered that when the church was organized there were three Presbyterians and three Congregationalists, and in deference t<> Mr. Cook, who visited and preached here at an early dxy, and who was connected with the Congregationalists, that church form was adopted.

The Presbyterian members were Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Eaton and Mrs. Woodrufl'. Those of the other connection were Mrs. A. Armstrong, and J. U. Perry and wife. Father Lowry was a Presbyterian. At first meetings were held at any place where couvenient. When Mr. Lowry, or any minister came round, Col. Eaton, who had a good team, would get Tim Sheehan to take it, with a big sled, and circle about the vicinity of the \-illage and bring them into church.

When the church was turned over two-thirds of them were of Presbyterian antecedents. After a time the Congregationalists, or most of them, in . the church, concluded to go back to their first love, and to build a church of their own. Mrs. Reuben Williams took an active part in the work, and considerable aid was obtained from the Home Mission fund, it is believed to the extent of §1,000, and perhaps other sums from the East, and .so the church was built, a very neat structure.

Their first pastor was R?v. Mr. Drew, who turned Presbyterian and went to Preston. Rev. Mr. Todd was the next minister, and he too went into a Presbyterian pulpit. The next, and last, was Rev. Chalmers, who went to Dakota, and the church was then sold at quite a sacrifice to the Episcopalians, and most of the members were again merged in the old society.

Albert Lea Evangelical Lutheran Norwegian Church. - This society has a fine church on Clark street, opposite the Public Park, built in imitation of freestone. There are about fifty families who worshi]) here. The church was got together and the edifice built about 1874. Rev. Mr. Vulpsburg was the pastor at one time, and Rev. Mr. Eiver. The present pastor is Rev. O. H. Smeby. There is a Sunday school, and the church

The Scandinavian Union Baptist Church. - This church is usually called the Danish Baptist church, and was organized in 1874, with eleven members. It now has about eighty. Preaching in this interest was commenced at an early day, and kept up with more or less regularity until the organization of the society. Of those who have been here may be mentioned: Rev. Louis Jorjenson, Kev. James Hendricksou, Adolph Carlsen, and others. The erection of the edifice was at a cost of more than $2,500.

The church having been completed, was dedicated on Sunday, the 2d of July, 1876, with services in the Scandinavian language by Rev. Mr. Ostergreen, of St. Paul, and Rev. Mr. Lunde, of Clark Grove. In the evening the service was in English, by Messrs. Abbott, Alden, Lunde, and Wood. The building is a fine appearing building, 28x42 feet, with a tower extending 65 feet. Rev. Carl Carlson, the architect and builder, came here in 1873, and for some years has regularly filled the pulpit. The services are in English.

Danish Evangelical Ldtheban Church - Independent. - This is a small church located in Parker's Addition, and built in 1881. The pastor is Rev. J. Danielaon, who resides in Freeborn and oificiates here once every few weeks.

Episcopalian - The Church of the Good Shepherd. - There have been occasional services here in this form since an early day. Sometimes it has been quite regular, with some one from the Cathedral in Faribault, and Bishop Whipple has occasionally been here himself, as well as his brother. Rev. George B. Whipple. The church edifice was purchased of the Congregationalists for S2,000, and arranged for the Episcopal service. It was first opened for service on Christmas day, 1879. Rev. Mr. Irwin was the first pastor, who was succeeded by Rev. W. R. Powell, the present incumbent. There are twenty-five families who worship here.

Albert Lea people have, up to this time, paid little attention to the ornamentation of burial places, which is in any case a mere sentiment, as nothing that can be done here for the departed ones, however dear in life and cherished in remembrance, will be of any service to them, although the kind offices we perform in token of our love for those who have gone before, does have a beneficent influence upon us and upon those who take cognizance of this bestowal of such tokens of regard.

About the first burial place was that on the Pickerel Lake road, taken from McReynold's farm. A certain amount of money was appropriated by the town at one time to fence the grounds, but only the side next to the road got so supplied, the money having been used for other purposes. This cemetery has some fine monuments, and is otherwise very highly ornamented with shrubbery and prairie flowers, and if "beauty unadorned is adorned the most." this place is embellished in the highest style of nature.

In the spring of 1882, the subject of a. new cemetery was agitated, and in May a meeting was held to discuss measures to provide a new cemetery. Hon. H. D. Brown was called to the chair. The matter was freely talked over, and it was the almost universal feeling and decision of all present, that a new cemetery ground should be purchased and the old cemetery abandoned. As to the location there were various opinions, although the majority seemed to favor a place north of Fountain Lake. Others favored a location east of the mill. The matter was finally relegated to a committee of nine, consisting of H D. Brown, Chairman; T. H. Armstrong, J. A. Lovely, D. R. P. Hibbs, W. P. Sergeant, W. W. Johnson, J. W. Smith, Dr. Wedge, and George Davies, who were to report to a future meeting of citizens concerning all the matters that pertained to the location of a new cemetery. So that it is likely that at no distant day, Albert Lea will have its "Mount Auburn," "Greenwood," or "Glendale," with its wealth of landscape scenery, and costly marble.

Itasca Cemetery. - This was laid out r.nd appropriated as a burial place iu 1871. It is owned by a company. A. M. Burnham is President; Isaac Botsford, Secretary; and E. D. Hopkins, Treasurer. It is located to the west of the buried city whose name it bears, commanding a view for quite a distance in several directions, and is just east of the old north and south territorial road, traces of which can yet be seen. Those who repose here have fine marble monuments. The price of the lots is $20.

Histouy Op Fueebobn Count Y. Fraternal. Orders

Masonic. - Western Star Lod^e No. 26 wae instituted in OctolxT, 1857, ane worked under a dispensation until October 27th, 1858, when a charter was granted.

The first officers were: Asa W. White, W. M.; Charles Norton, S. W.; .1. Brownsill. J. W.; A. C. Wedge, Tr.; H. D. Brown, Sec'y; A. B. Webber, S. D.; Aug. Armstrong, J. D.: Isaac Botsford, Tyler.

The Masters of the lodge have been, fnun the fir.st until 1882, as follows: Asa W. White, John Browu.sell, H. D. Brown, F. B. Fobes, D. N. Gates, W. P. Sergeant, .7. F. Reppy, F. S. Lincoln, and William C. Pratt.

The lodge is in a nourishing condition, and has a capacious and well furnished hall. The meetings in the summer are on the second Wednesday in each month, and the rest of the year, on the second and fourth Wednesdays.

Albert Lea Chapter No. 30, Kotal Arch Ma-sons. - Instituted on the 30th of March, 1874. The first meeting was on the 17th of April. The first officers were; A. W. White, H. P.; C. L. West, K. ; S. Partridge, S. ; H. Powell, C. of H. ; F. S. Lincoln, P. S.; George Woodward, R. A. C; William Morin. Tr. ; F. S. Sinclair, Sec'y.

Apollo Commandery, Knights Templar, No. 12. - Instituted on the 1st of October, 1879, with nineteen charter members. The officers were: John Boyce, E. C. ; H. R. Wells, Gen. ; M. H. Avery, C. of G.

Equitable Aid Union. - At the last regular semi-annual election of officers of Albert Lea Union, No. 390, E. A. U., the following named persons were elected officers for the ensuing term: Ira A. Town, Chancellor; L. I). Smith, Advocate: Theo. Schlender, Vice President; E. H. Ellickson, Auxiliary ;H. O. Haukuess, Treasurer; T. K.Ramsey, Secretary; .John Docrr, Accountant; A. G. Brundin, Chaplain; Ole Knudson, .Jr., Warden; M. P. Johnson, Sentinel; C. O. Barnes, Watchman.

City Op Albert Lea

The present officers of the post are: Commander, George S. Ruble; Senior -Vice Commander, Gr. Q. Annis; Adjutant, F. W. Drake; Quartermaster, Jerome P. Greene; Officer of the Day, John Murtaugh; Officer of the Guard, J. B. Frauss; Chaplain, William Lowe; Surgeon, D. M. M. Dodge; Sergeant Major, J. J. Bond; Quartermaster Sergeant, Martin Olson; Sentinel, Ai Rice.

The list of members was burned in the Are of April, 1882, but it is made up of the men who went to the front from wherever they lived when the war broke out.

There have been various other fraternal orders, some of them with insurance features, and others with monopathic reformatory ideas, and they have had an existence more or less extended. Some of them may be in existence now, and while they are of interest, and perhaps use to those who are connected with them, the public, as a rule, are not sufficiently concerned to warrant the occupancy of much space in a work like this.

From time to time there have been military companies in existence here since the war, which have been more or less creditable Now we have the Albert Lea Light Guakds, which was organized on the 4th of May, 1882. It is Company E, Second Battalion of the Minnesota National Guard. Fifty-two men were mustered in by Major Bobeleter, commanding the Second Battalion. The company is duly armed and equipped, and is a fine body of men.

This company took part in the Decoration services on the 30th of May, the same month they were organized, and made a fine appearance. Their uniform is identical with that of the United States regular army, but of finer material.