Goodhue County, Minnesota - Chapter 21: Swedish Settlement, 1909

Chapter 21: Swedish Settlement

Early Colonies - Coming to Minnesota - Mattson, Willard and Norelius - Story of the Early Swedes Told by Dr. Norelius - The Churches at Red Wing and Vasa - Reminiscences by Early Settlers - Characteristics of the Swedes.

The first Swedish settlement in the United States dates from L638, when there sailed into Delaware bay a man-of-war, the Kalmar Nychel, and a smaller vessel, Fogel Grifs. bearing a band of Swedish colonists. The voyage had taken over six months, owing to terrible si onus, and when the colonists finally arrived they were so thankful and delighted that they called the cape Paradise Point. They purchased land on the west bank of the Delaware bay from the Indians for a fair price. This land stretched from Cape Henlopen to the fall near Trenton, taking in nearly all the stale of Delaware and a portion of Pennsylvania. They immediately built a fortress, which they named Fort Christina, in honor of the queen. They called the new state New Sweden. Here they remained and prospered, being at peace with the Indians, who had learned to trust them on account of their fair dealings. They had brought with them from the old home the fear of God, their Bible, respect for sacred things and a strict observance of the Sabbath. It has been said that no emigrants more closely resemble the Pilgrim Fathers of New England in works and faith than the Swedes. Some of these Swedish colonists continued to live on the banks of the Delaware, and their descendants are today among the most honored citizens of America. The man who cast the deciding vote for Pennsylvania as a member of the Continental Congress, in favor of the Declaration of Independence, was a Swede of Delaware, named John Morton. AVhen the Civil War broke out General Robert Anderson, with a handful of men. bravely and calmly met the first shock of the Rebellion at Fort Sumter.

The idea of a New Sweden originated in the mind of Gustavus Adolphus, but was not carried out until after his death, when his chancellor. Axel Oxenstjema, completed the plans. The

Swedish king had intended the colony to be an asylum for the oppressed of all nations, a free state where all would have equal rights and where slavery should never exist. Trade between the white man and red men was fair and square; they always kept their word with the Indian and never cheated him. When "William Penn arrived on this continent in 1662 it was the Swedish settlers and their children who received him and made him welcome to the new world. They were Penn's interpreters with the Indians. Penn did precisely as the Swedes had done, bought land of the Indians at a fair price, treated them kindly and kept faith. The Swedes had become so prosperous through their industry that in 1698 they wrere able to erect a church of stone, and the city of Wilmington has now grown up around its walls. This church, known as the "Old Swedes' Church," still stands, after nearly 200 years, a fitting monument to the New Sweden of Gustavus Adolphus.

Swedish immigration was not large throughout the colonial period. Only about ninety-four people arrived from Sweden in the ten years, 1820-30. - Since then it has rapidly increased, but it is only in the past fifty years that the influx of Swedish settlement has been great.

The first governor of New Sweden was Johan Printz of Vester Gotland, who was appointed August 15, 1642, when he was knighted. He died in 1683.

The men of Swedish stock who rendered service in the Revolutionary and Civil wars are numbered by the thousands. Among them are Admiral Dahlgren, General Robert Anderson, General Nelson, who was shot in Kentucky, General Stohlbrand, General Vegesach, Colonel Hans Mattson, and Colonel Elfiring. Then, too, there is John Erickson, the great inventor who planned and built the "Monitor," which saved the country from great peril. He was born in Sweden, son of a Swedish miner, and lived in a miner's hut in the backwoods of Sweden.

The first Swede to come to Minnesota was Jacob Falstrom, who came to the state before 1819. The first Swedish settlement in the state was commenced at Marine, Washington county, in 1850, by Oscar Roos and two other Swedes.

The first Swede in Goodhue county was Nils Magnus Nilsson, known as Nels Nelson and as Dr. Sweney's Nels. He was brought from St. Paul by William Freeborn and here spent the remainder of his life. He served in the Civil War and spent his declining days in a cabin on the island opposite Red WTing's levee. In this cabin he was found dead, and all the old settlers turned out to his funeral.

The Swedes have taken an important part in the development of Goodhue county and are now numbered among her best citizens. Their children and grandchildren are thoroughly American and are taking the places in official and business life to which they are entitled.

"Yes, it is verily true that the Scandinavian immigrants, from the early colonists of 1638 to the present time, have furnished strong hands, clear heads and loyal hearts to the republic. They have caused the wilderness to blossom like the rose ; they have planted schools and churches on the hills and in the valleys; they have honestly and ably administered the affairs of town, county and state ; they have helped to make wise laws for their respeetive commonwealths and in the halls of Congress; they have with honor and ability represented their adopted country abroad: they have sanctified the American soil by their blood, shed in freedom's cause on the battlefields of the Revolutionary and Civil wars; and though proud of their Scandinavian ancestry, they love America and American institutions as deeply and as truly ;is do the descendants of the Pilgrims, the starry emblems of liberty meaning as much to them as to any other citizen.

"Therefore the Scandinavian'-American feels a certain sense of ownership in the glorious heritage of American soil, with its rivers, lakes, mountains, valleys, woods and prairies, and in all its noble institutions ; and he feels that the blessings which he enjoys are not his by favor or sufferance, but by right - by moral as well as civil right. For he took possession of the wilderness, endured the hardships of the pioneer, contributed his full share toward the grand results accomplished, and is in mind and heart a true and loyal American citizen."

Dr. Eric Norelius some years ago wrote an account of the early Swedish settlement and consequent growth of their colonies, which is of deepest interest to all who have considered the beginnings of the Swedish influx, which has continued to have so important an influence on the life of the county. The contribution of Dr. Norelius follows :

"The honor of having first directed the influx of Swedish immigration into Goodhue county belongs to Colonel Hans Mattson. He was a young man with a military education, from Sweden, and had spent some time in Moline, 111., after his arrival in this country. The following is gathered from an article written by him in the early part of 1856 and published in 'Hemlandet,'' a Swedish paper, then at Galesburg :

'In the month of September, 1853, I started from Moline with a small company of immigrants for Minnesota, in order to find a place where we conld commence a colony. Having arrived at St. Paul, Minn., some of our party took a contract for some work, while I, together with four others, started out to find a place for our future home. We were directed to Red Wing, which a short time before had been laid out as a village. We were told that good land could be had in the neighborhood. We went on board a steamboat and made directly for that place. When we landed we found the whole bank, where the town now stands, covered with Indian tepees, but we did not see more than four dwelling houses to prove to us that the people of our race lived there. Soon we met several Americans, who received us with much hospitality, and when they learned the object of our visit they got us a team and a man who was acquainted in the wilderness to go with us and show us the land. The following day we started out, but we did not feel satisfied before we got upon the prairie, now known as Vasa. On this prairie we found the best of soil and we saw good oak timber in all directions. Now we had seen enough, and we went immediately back to St. Paul, in order to make ourselves ready to move to our new place.

' 'It was in the month of October and we expected a cold winter. As we considered it impossible at so late a season to build houses comfortable enough for the women and children, all those who had families resolved to stop at St. Paul over the winter. In company with two other men Ave returned to make claims for all of us". When we for the second time returned to Vasa prairie we were provided with a tent, a stove, some provisions and some winter tools. After having pitched our tent on the bank of the big creek, now Belle creek, in a clump of trees, and arranged our romantic camp, we went out to reconnoiter the land around about and took several claims. Thereupon we went about to build a house where we could live during the approaching winter. Some weeks after two families of our party came down from St. Paul to stay, and during the following summer, 1854, we numbered ten families.

" 'On one occasion, when the Rev. E. Norelius, of Indiana,, conducted religious services, a Lutheran church was organized, and the settlement received the name of Vasa, in memory of the great hero, Gustaf Vasa, who liberated Sweden from foreign despotism and brought about the establishment there of the Lutheran faith. The name seems to be well chosen, as the Swedes at Vasa strive to imitate the great Gustaf and his coadjutors. Before this name was applied the place was known as "Swede Prairie," "Mattson's Settlement," and also "White Rock," from a big rock of white sandstone somewhat similar in

'From the time of Mr. Mattson's account, as above, up to 1860. a large number of Swedes arrived, partly from Sweden direct and partly from the older states of the Union, and filled up not only the town of Vasa but also parts of the surrounding townships, such as Leon, Cannon Falls. Belle Creek, Goodhue, Featherstone. Burnside and Welch. Quite a number settled in Red Wing from the beginning of Swedish immigration to Goodhue county. The most of them were of the Lutheran profession, at least nominally.

'The organization of the Swedish Lutheran churches at Red AVing and Vasa stood in connection with a missionary tour to Minnesota, which I made in 1855, in the months of August and September, I at that time being pastor of several Swedish churches in Tippecanoe and surrounding counties in Indiana. From my diary kept at that time I may here transcribe some items.

"1855, August 31. Landed at Red Wing at 12 o'clock at night; took lodging at a miserable hotel; tried to sleep, but could not for mosquitoes. September 1, made an attempt to scale Barn Bluff before sunrise, but was recalled by the breakfast bell. I made some inquiries to find out if there were any Swedes, but I obtained no information. After a while I met a Swedish servant girl, who told me that there were quite a number of them in Red AVing and gave me directions how to find them. After having spoken to several of them and explained the object of my visit, I proposed to hold a service in the evening if a place could be had. They told me that the Presbyterians had a meeting house, a shanty, in the burgh, and that we might possibly get it. I then went to the Presbyterian minister, the Rev. Mr. Hancock, introduced myself and asked for permission to use his chapel, to which he consented, provided I would preach the sound gospel. In the evening I had about one hundred hearers, among whom, no doubt, were hard cases. One poor fellow told me that 'the old devil may run after preachers, but he would not.' However, not a few seemed to be edified and desired me to hold as many services as my time would permit.

"September 2, the Lord's day, I remained at Red AVing and preached in the afternoon in the Presbyterian chapel, the house being full ; and making a new appointment for Monday night, I got a horse and a guide in the evening and went out to Vasa, word having been sent before, for divine service in the forenoon on Monday. AVo went up the Spring creek valley and got over the prairies to Carl Carlson's after dark. Carlson lived in a log house a little to the northeast from the present brick church.

I was hospitably entertained at his house, and on the .following morning-, September 3, I Mas to hold service there Almost every soul in the settlement came together at Mr. Carlson's. No Swedish minister had visited them before in their new home. After the service it was proposed to organize a congregation, and the organization then adopted resolutions under the name of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church, of Vasa. Swen Jacobson, S. J. Willard and Ola Olson, Sr., were elected deacons. The following persons handed in their names as members of the congregation: Carl Carlson, wife and four children; Ola Olson, Sr., widower, and four children ; John Bergdahl, widower, and one child; Samuel Johnson, wife and one child; Gustaf Carlson, wife and three children; Erik Anderson, wife and two children; S. J. Willard, wife and one child; Jonas Gustafson, wife and one child; Nils Peterson and wife; Peter Nilson, wife and four children; Nils Westerson, wife and four children; August Johnson, single; Peter Johnson, wife and one child; Swen Jacobson and wife; Anders Nilson, wife and two children; Swen Swenson, wife and three children; Swen Olson, wife and one child; Benzt Anderson and wife; Ola Swenson, single; Sizuild Andersdoter, single; Matts Mattson and two sons; M. Flodquist, single; Gustaf Peterson, single; Carl Peterson, single; Olof Peterson, wife and one child; Nicklas Peterson and wife; Bonde Olson, single; Nils Eklund, single; Bengt Kilberg, single; Peter Wedin, single; Carl Roos, wife and two children; A. G. Kempe ; in all, eighty-seven persons.

"It was now the great desire of the congregation to secure a pastor. On the same occasion three children were baptized, viz. : Maria, born at Vasa August 21, 1855, daughter of Samuel Johnson and his wife, Stina Lisa ; Selma Adelaide, born October 15, 1853, daughter of S. J. Willard and wife, Anna; John Wilhelm, born on good Friday, 1855, son of Peter Johnson and wife, Carolina. The meeting was closed by singing and prayer, and in the afternoon I went to Red Wing, where I preached in the evening, organized a congregation and baptized two children.

'Three weeks after that time, when I returned from an extended tour to St. Paul, Stillwater, Marine and Chisago county, divine service was held at Vasa in Nils Peterson's new log house. It was September 21, in the midst of the equinoctial storms, the rain was pouring down and I was suffering badly from the fever and ague, which I had brought with me from Indians. A young man had taken me out from Red Wing in a lumber wagon hitched to a pair of horses, a great institution in those days. The Lord's supper was also to be celebrated at this occasion, the first in the history of the congregation at Vasa. After having preached the sermon, or just at its end, I had a very bad attack of the chills and had to go to bed, the people in the meantime patiently waiting until the spell was over, after which I got np and administered communion. On September 24 I bade the good people of Vasa farewell, and was exceedingly glad to find an ox team to take me down to Red Wing. Soon after I had left, on September 30, a meeting was held by the congregation at Vasa for the object of electing a pastor. It was then unanimously resolved to extend a call to me. The sum of $200 was guaranteed as salary for the first year, with the expectation that the congregation at Red Wing, which desired to participate in the eall, would contribute a like amount. With a view that most of my parishioners in Indiana, who owned no land there, would go along with me to Minnesota and settle there, I accepted the call and moved to Goodhue county in the spring of 185ti. I was in my twenty-third year and had been married nearly one year. I knew that a life full of hardships was before me. but I had made up my mind beforehand, with the help of God to conquer or die. I told my excellenl young wife that we should have to swim or else to sink, and she consented to do her part.

"May 25. 185(1. the first Sunday after Trinity Sunday, I preached my introductory sermon a1 Vasa, in Peter Wilson's new log house, which was tilled to overflowing. My sermon was on the text for the day. treating of the rich man and Lazarus, and I tried to tell my new parishioners thai it was better for them to be truly pious with poverty and go to heaven with Lazarus than to be ungodly with riches and go to hell with the rich man. I told them plainly that my object in coming here was to preach and teach the pure gospel of Josus Christ, and by study, earnest and patient work, to build up a Christian congregation, not by periodica] extraordinary efforts and occasional high steam, but by diligent and faithful instruction in the word of God. Looking back now upon those years, we have witnessed many movements and changes, but I have no occasion to regret or change my standpoint which I took from the first, and I modestly think that my labor, under God's blessing, has not been altogether in vain. For several weeks we lived at Peter Nilson's in the same room in which I preached. Our whole property consisted of a bedstead of the rope bottom kind, a plain, square table, an old bureau, an old cooking stove and a few books. Bacon and flour were high at Red Wing, and it cost $4 to bring a sack of flour and a ham home to Vasa. In the spring of 1856 a log house, designed for a school and meeting house, had been put up on Mr. Willard's farm, but it was not completed at the time when I arrived, and it took the whole summer to get it in order for winter use. However, we used it for divine service during the summer, after the floor was put in.

"June 22. 1856, ci' business meeting of the congregation was held, when a constitution for the church was adopted, the principles of which are still in force, although considerable altered several times. The question as to the location for a church and graveyard was also brought up. Mr. Willard proposed to donate ten acres of land to the congregation for this purpose, round about the sehoolhouse, a short distance to the southeast from the present brick church, and the offer was thankfully accepted. As Mr. Willard had the misfortune to lose his land, the congregation could not secure a deed to the property, and consequently could not use his offer. A number of dead were buried there, and the sehoolhouse was occupied as a meeting house up to 1862.

"July 6. 1856, a meeting was held for the election of three trustees, and the following named persons were duly elected, viz. : Peter Nilson, for the term of one year ; Carl Carlson, for the term of two years, and Olof Peterson, for a term of three years. A certificate of incorporation of the trustees of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church, of Vasa. was made out the same day, duly acknowledged on July 13, before Mr. Willard, he being then a justice of the peace, and filed for record July 17, 1856, and recorded in first book, religious societies, pages 9 and 10. by J. M. Hancock, register of deeds.

'From that time the congregation may be said to be fully organized. My object now will be to show something of its development during the subsequent twenty-two years of its existence. My own history is so much interwoven with that of the congregation at Vasa, not to mention that of Red Wing and olher places in the county, that I cannot well relate the one without having to touch the other. And I hope, therefore, that the reference to myself will not be looked upon as too egotistical. After having lived for several weeks at Peter Nilson 's we moved to a place in the neighborhood of White Rock, on Belle creek, where I bought the improvements on a quarter-section from old Mrs. Bockman, for $130, proved up the claim and paid the government price the following winter. When I bought the claim there was a small log hut on it, 8x10 feet in size, with flat sod roof and with no floor. This was to be our kitchen department. I got some common lumber at Red Wing, at a high price, and put an addition to the hut, a shanty 12x16 feet, intended for a parlor, sitting room, bedroom, etc., all in one. We moved in when three sides were up, without roof or floor, without doors and windows. Well do I remember the first night in that house, if house it was. We made our bed on the ground on a pile of shavings and hay, with the blue sky above us. I had filled the mattress with new-cut grass, and unintentionally put in with it a small snake No wonder, then, that in the morning, when my wife made up the bed, she caught hold of the dead snake in the mattress. By and by the roof and ceiling were made, consisting of sheeting; the floor was laid of common lumber, and the carpet put on; the walls were papered and then we had a nice, clean, cozy house to live in. The only inconveniences we had were when it stormed and rained, for the carpet then stood like a bellows and the rain came pouring down through both roof and ceiling. On such occasions we used an umbrella. It was only a little odd to sleep under an umbrella in the house. In the middle of September we had a visit from, the well known Rev. Dr. Passavant. of Pittsburg. Pa., who stayed with us one night. He had a dream. In his nocturnal imagination he thought he lay under the bottom of a lake, and no wonder, for it rained that night. A little later a number of our friends from Indiana came up, and for some weeks we were no less than twenty-one persons, and the weather was ,-it that time very ugly. Horses were yd scarce. Our neighbors were in no better condition, and some were a great deal worse off than ourselves. My friend and neighbor. J. Robertson, first used a big loom for a house; then he dug himself down in the ground, till he got a small cabin put up. T. G. Pearson, our nearest neighbor, was busy putting up a solid log house that summer; in the meantime he lived in the same primitive way Ave did. My time was divided between Red AVing and Vasa and other places, and my duties often called me away from home. On this account it was a trying time for my wife, especially as the Indians were occasionally passing by. In the fall the prairie fire threatened to burn down our house, while I was away, and my wife had to fight for clear life. AVe continued to live in our frail house until November 4. when we moved to Red "Wing in a snow storm. "I will now return to the congregation and my pastoral work. As soon as I got to be a little 'fixed' I bought a horse and a rickety old wagon ; most of my trips, however, were made on horseback or afoot, as the roads were poor and far between. During the summer I made a pretty thorough canvass of the whole settlement. People were pouring in very fast, and settled down on the unoccupied land. On November 8 I could report to a special meeting of the congregation that the church numbered 185 persons, of whom 101 were communicants. At the same time it was determined to establish a Congregational school, and on November 15 it was opened. J. Engberg was the first teacher, with a fixed monthly salary of $35. Ever since that time the school has been a fixed institution in the congregation and has done much good for the religious instruction of the children. Among the earlv teachers were Lovisa Peterson.

Jane Nilson, L. Anderson, A. M. Lundin, S. Westendahl, A. Anderson and P. Lindholm. The winter of 1856-57 was a long and a cold one. and the snow was very deep. One Sunday morning when 1 went from Red Wing to preach a1 Vasa 1 stuck fast in a snowdrift, just as I got up on the prairie, and I had to return. I learned afterwards that only three persons ventured out to meeting that day. It was a very cold day and they showed their warm religious disposition by grumbling over the non-appearance of the preacher. This, however, was the only appointment I missed that winter.

"Having sold my horse to buy bread, I had to foot it between Red Wing, Vasa and other places. This caused me some hardships. On New Year's day. 1857, I had early service in the schoolhouse at Vasa, that is to say. at 5 o'clock in the morning. As the weather was fine and mild, I determined to walk to Cannon Falls and preach in the afternoon. There was no direct road to the Falls at that time, but we were obliged to go around by White Rock, then cross the Belle creek, and over the prairie. I started afoot after breakfast; the sun shone brightly, the weather was mild, but the snow was very deep and there was no track. By the time I got to Belle Creek the weather had changed entirely. A high cold wind commenced to blow, and very soon a bitter snow storm was raging in my face. It was with the greatest difficulty I got over the prairie into the bush. There were no houses on the road. My scanty clothing, which had become wet by dragging myself through the snow, now began to grow stiff with the cold. I laid myself down under the first bush I reached, entirely exhausted, with little hope of ever rising any more. Yet, after some hours a little strength returned, and by the greatest exertion I finally reached Cannon Falls in the evening, but my ears and nose, hands and feet were frozen, and I could not speak for a good while. After having thawred out and taken some food I was able to hold service at night, and on the following day I returned to Red Wing.

'Up to November, 1858, I continued to serve the congregations at Reel Wing and Vasa, besides making missionary tours to other parts of the state. For fear of making too long a sketch, I will not go into details. At Vasa nothing of special note took place. The question of determining where the future church should be located was up in 1857-58, but without any results. The congregation continued to increase, and numbered 130 communicants in the fall of 1858, and in several respects I was permitted to see some fruits of my labors. My salary was to be about $200 a year from each of the two congregations, but as the times w^ere very hard during these years, and all being new settlers and struggling for their life. I did not receive the full amount. Thus at the annual business meeting at Vasa, June 25, 1858, there was $100 back on my first year's salary, and no prospects ever to pay it. My whole salary from both congregations from June 25 to November 1, 1858, amounted to $75 in cash and a few sacks of spoiled corn and one barrel of beans. It was probably the best the poor people could do, .and, thank God, I did not starve, though it was somewhat pinching. From the beginning of the congregation to November, 1858. the following persons were officers: Deacons, Swen Jacobson, S. J. Willard, Ola Olson, Sr., Johan Sundell, Jacob Robertson, S. P. Peterson. Carl Johnson, Peter Johnson, John Bergdahl, T. G. Pearson and Nils Swenson ; trustees, Peter Xilson, Carl Carlson, Olof Peterson. T. G. Pearson, Swen Jacobson; pro-singer. Nils Person ; sexton, Jon Bergdahl. Olof Paulson. A change in the pastoral relation now took place. AVhat caused it. and the history of the congregation during my disconnection with it, from November 1. 1858, to September 1. 1861, 1 will now briefly relate.

"In the fall of 1857 I started a paper at Red Wing by the name of 'Minnesota Posten.' It was designed as a family paper, treating of political as well as religious matters, besides containing general news and other matter. I still think that some good in various ways was accomplished by that paper, although I had to regret that I ever tried my hand at politics. For some time I was suspected of having considerable political influence among the Swedes of Goodhue county ; but to tell the truth, I never was a politician, though al various times I have discussed general moral principles of right and wrong, touching politics, but I have never taken any part in political managements, caucuses or meetings, nor have I ever preached politics. I have never sought after any political office in my life. It is true I was elected county auditor in 1858, but this was done while I was away on a journey to Illinois, and I knew nothing about it before I came home. I did not accept the office and Mr. Going was appointed in my stead. But to return to my paper. It was published only twice a month, but the burden of editing a paper of that kind, together with the already crushing load of pastoral and missionary work which rested on me. was rather too much for me. My health broke down, and in the spring of 1857, I had a severe hemorrhage of my lungs. After having carried on the paper for one year - and the year 1857 was the hardest one in the history of Minnesota - it was proposed to unite it with 'Hemlandet,' the Swedish paper published at Galesburg, 111., and that the united paper be moved to Chicago. In the meantime I had been appointed as an agent to solicit funds in the East for a Scandinavian professorship in the Illinois State University. I accepted the appointment, and removed with my family to Chi- eago. As the times, however, were too unpropitious, my agency was dropped, and 1 was instead elected editor of 'Hemlandet' and another religious monthly. After one year I relinquished the editorship and served a Swedish congregation at Attica, Ind., one year. J was then appointed traveling missionary for the state of .Minnesota, and removed to St. Paul. In that capacity J continued up to September, 1861.

'When I left in November. 1858. the congregations at Red Wing and Vasa called the Rev. J. P. C. Boreen, who had recently come from Sweden, to supply my place for one year. At the end of that time he was elected, in 1859. permanent pastor at Red Wing, but at Vasa he was called only a vice-pastor, or supply, because the congregation had hopes I would return. During this time some few families separated from the church at'Vasa and organized the Methodist Episcopa] and Baptist congregations. Considerable trouble and some bad feeling also arose in the congregation with reference to the question of a new location for a church, which was in contemplation. Many meetings for this purpose were held, and the question was earnestly discussed, but resulted in no definite termination. The old log house continued to be used for the meetings, but was, of course, altogether insufficient to hold so large a congregation. In June, 1861. the number of communicants was 143. The inconveniences were, therefore, very great, and the necessity for a church was very pressing. Mr. Boreen was no doubt a good, earnest and well-meaning man. He afterwards removed to Stockholm, Pepin county. Minnesota, where he served a congregation, and died there March 22, 1865. He was buried at Vasa. In September, 1861, I was recalled to the pastorate at Red WTing and Vasa. I immediately removed to Red Wing, where I resided up to January, 1870, and entered upon the discharge of my duties. In order to bring the question of a location of the church to a close, a meeting was called September 7, 1861, at Vasa, when a committee of eleven wras appointed, consisting of such persons as lived round the whole settlement and furthest away from its center, and this committee was authorized to decide upon a place for the church, and by its decision the congregation was to abide. The committee soon after met and decided upon the location where the present brick church now stands, viz., the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 15, township 112. In order to secure the location, the committee had first to buy eighty acres of Dr. Whitmore, of AVabasha, for the sum of $320. The congregation bought forty acres and the other forty was sold to a private person. Now the place was decided upon, at a meeting called October 12 it was resolved to go to work and build a church. Tt was to be built of frame. 60x38 feet.

Soon, however, a number of families in the southern part of the settlement were dissatisfied with the location, and some other things relating to the building of a church, and withdrew themselves from the congregation. They even organized themselves into a new congregation and talked of building a church by themselves. The congregation paid no attention to this new movement, but went to work and built a small church on the beautiful hill where it had been decided upon. But in view of so many families having withdrawn themselves, the dimensions were cut down to 40x26, with a small sacristy. In June, 1862, it was so far finished that the Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Synod of North America could hold its annual meeting there - an occasion of historical note. The movement of the seceders fell to the ground, and by and by most of them returned to the old congregation.

"We were now in the times of the great Civil War, and the minds of the people were occupied with the all-absorbing theme. It was not a time favorable to the growth of spirituality and the peaceful development of the kingdom of God; the times were too exciting for that. Nevertheless, the grace of mercy in caring for the sick and wounded, and the people, was during that time awakened in the congregation as never before. Not a few of its members went to the war, and many never returned. In numbers and material wealth the congregation continued to grow during the war. At its close it had .'HI communicants. On this account the church soon became too small for the congregation. At the annual meeting- of 1865 it was proposed to move the church building from the top of the hill to the east side of the lot, put a stone basement under it, and to make preparations for erecting a larger church. This proposition was adopted and the church was removed during the summer. In the following fall and winter the basement was occupied by the Congregational school and by the Orphan Home, then in its incipieney. In regard to the erection of a new church, there were many deliberations from December, 1865, to January 2, 1867. It was then resolved by the congregation that I should take the whole matter in my own hands - solicit subscriptions and direct the work from beginning to end. During the winter and spring I had some $8,000 subscribed towards the new buildings, and during the summer Messrs. J. Paulson and J. Wisley made 350,000 bricks. My health failing again, I had to ask permission for one year, from November, 1867, to recruit ; and leaving the pastoral work to my assistant, and the erection of the church to its trustees and a building committee, I went to Sweden on the beginning of 1868. The foundation to the new church was laid in the summer of 1868. and the church was put up in 1869.

1). C. Hill, of Red Wing, was the architect and contractor for 1 he work. In the early summer of the next year the church was finished and consecrated. Its dimensions are: Length, 118 feet; width, 50 feet; side walls, 22 feet high. A parsonage was also erected late in the season of 1869. The whole cost of the new church and parsonage as completed amounted to $31,065.22. The gentlemen to whom belongs the credit of having collected and disbursed the greatest part of this sum is Hon. J. AY. Peterson, who in 1870 became treasurer of the congregation. With the beginning of the year 1868 the pastorate of Red Wing and Vasa was divided. I then resigned the former and retained the latter ; but I did not remove to Vasa before January, 1870. Among the early assistant pastors were : Rev. P. A. Cedarstrom, from 1867 to 1870; Rev. J. Magny, from 1870 to 1871; Rev. A. Anderson, from 1872 to 1873. From 1873, on account of my many duties as president of the synod, I withdrew from the active duties of my pastoral office in the congregation, and the Rev. P. J. Sward, formerly missionary among the seamen at Constantipole, Turkey, and more recently at Baltimore, was elected vice-pastor. Up to 1860 the congregation belonged to the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Northern Illinois. Since that time it 1ms belonged to the Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Augusta na Synod of North America."

Since 1878 following ministers have had charge of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church, of Vasa : Rev. T. J. Swarcl, 1878-1886; Rev. E. Norelius. 1886-1888; Rev. J. Fremling, 1889- 1901; Rev. E. Norelius, 1901-1906: Rev. Bernhard Modin, from March, 1906, to present time. Rev. Dr. Norelius has served this congregation in all about 25 years. Living for many years on his own farm, a stone's throw from the church, Dr. Norelius has on several occasions been a happy refuge to whom the congregation has gone whenever a vacancy in the ministry has occurred. This, to a great extent, accounts fqr the five terms of office which he has served this congregation since its organization in 1855.

A member of the Swedish Lutheran Church of America (The Augustana Synod), Vasa congregation supports, partly, several educational and charitable institutions, home and foreign missions, etc., to the amount of about $1,000 a year. The average annual expense for the last three years has been about $5,700. During these years the congregation has installed a new two-manual pipe organ at a price of $2,300. and several valuable improvements have been made on the church property. The Vasa church consists at present of 1,050 members, of whom 750 are communicants. There are about '260 families belonging to the church. The present value of the church property is $27,800.

Every summer, during May and June, seven teachers are employed in different parts of the congregation for the instruction of the children, the main branches of study being the elements of the Christian religion, according to the doctrine of the Lutheran church, and also the Swedish language and literature.

Now, considering the whole history of the Vasa church, it certainly has been a great source of much good, spiritual and material, not only to this community and Goodhue county, but also to the great commonwealth of Minnesota, which most of the Swedish people seem to prefer to any other state in the Union.

Rev. Bernhard Modin, the present pastor of the Yasa church, was born near Stockholm, Sweden. August 20. 1863. He arrived in this country when nineteen years of age, is a graduate of Augustana College, Rock Island, 111., and also of the Theological Seminary at the same place. He was ordained minister in the Lutheran church in 1895. As pastor he has served the Swedish Lutheran Church of America, first at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, (1895- 1896), and then the Swedish Lutheran church. Bethesda church, of Page county, Iowa 1 1896-1906). He took charge of the Lutheran church, of Yasa. in March, 1906. During these years as pastor he lias also held several important positions of trust. Thus he was a member of the executive committee of the Iowa conference for several years, and secretary of the same conference about six years. At present he is president of the board of directors of the Yasa Orphan Home, a charitable institution, supported by the Swedish Lutheran Minnesota Conference.

Rev. Eric Norelius, D. D., president of the Augustana Synod of the Swedisli Lutheran church, was born in Helsingland, S.weden. in 1833. He came to America in 1850, graduated from the Capitol University of Columbus, Ohio, in 1855 ; entered the ministry and was ordained in 1856, and then came to Minnesota, where he has since continued to labor, with short interims. The complete story of his early labors is told in an article by himself, which appears in this volume. The dozen congregations he organized in log huts in the fifties have become a conference numbering about 400 congregations and 75,000 members. In 1857 he established the first Swedish newspaper in Minnesota, which led the way to the number published today. In 1862 he founded a high school for the conference at Red Wing, which he nursed and tended with much care. It was moved to Carver and then to St. Peter and is today the Gustavus Adolphus College, known far and wide. In 1865 he founded the Yasa Orphan's Home. Dr. Norelius is author of several very important works of the Swedish- Americans of America and the development of the Swedish church, also biographies of several of the leading Swedish- Americans. In January, 1903, Dr. Norelius was knighted by King

Swante J. Willard related some years ago the following incidents: "After our arrival from Sweden we came to Moline, 111. From thence, on a trip up the .Mississippi to St. Paul, our boat made a stop at Red Wing. The singular formation of Barn bluff attracted our attention. 1 then knew not even the name of the place. I said to our company that I would like to settle there, on account of its singular beauty and attractiveness. I then for the first time saw Indians. At St. Paul I met Peter Green and Abraham Peterson, who had been in the country about a year. I learned soon after that a committee of our countrymen, having visited Red Wing and vicinity, strongly recommended the place as a desirable one for settlement. I came with my family in the fall of 1853. Leaving my family in Red AYing, I went with Mattson to Spring creek valley, thence on to where Roos and Kemp had started to build but had not finished their house. They were camping in a tent near by. Mattson and I stopped over night with them. We heard the most hideous music of prairie wolves. Mr. Kemp, being of rather nervous temperament, was disturbed by their -close proximity. Several times he awakened Mr. Roos and whispered, 'Roos, Roos, they are trying to dig under the tent.' Mr. Roos. being a good deal of a stoic, finally blurted out, 'Let the wolves howl; they have not worked as hard as I have during the day, or they would be willing to quit and be quiet.' The next morning I selected and marked off my claim. As the new settlers could not carry surveying instruments, it was customary to pace out the lines and distances, which almost invariably resulted in large quarter-sections. I was somewhat surprised to find by the government survey the next year that the claim I had paced off for my quarter-section held land enough for about two more. But foreigners have a faculty of profiting from the examples of others, and we have observed that our American friends selected those who were capable of taking long strides to do their measuring.

"Mattson and I engaged the following winter to chop wood for Mr. Freeborn. It was a new life for us to be out in the forest. Our house was a shanty 10x12, and combined sleeping apartments, dining hall, parlor and kitchen, circumstances common to all in those days. We were contented with a great deal less than is now deemed necessary. During our stay at this place Indians often visited us, but we were seldom annoyed or frightened by their presence. Their canoes were often moored on the river near us. One day Mattson and I resolved to try our skill in one, but like many a bark on the financial sea, it upset a few rods from the shore, and as we succeeded in reaching dry land, we concluded to leave the Indian to paddle his own canoe. "We left the wood chopping early in March, 1854, and moved out to our claims. Having built our house of logs,- we moved in and considered ourselves established as regular farmers. After a few weeks' labor our provisions which we had brought with us gave out and Mr. Mattson went to Red Wing to procure more. No steamboat having yet come up the river that spring, he found that scarcity prevailed in town. There were no provisions for sale, and Mattson remained in town waiting for the arrival of a boat. During his absence on this occasion I and my little family experienced the hardest privations of our lives. For nine days we had only white beans, excepting one clay I shot a few blackbirds. Before our stock of beans was exhausted Mattson returned with provisions. During that year several more families arrived in Vasa. Carl Carlson, Gustaf Carlson, Peter Nelson, Nels Peterson. Erick Eriekson and Samuel Johnson.

"In the summer of 1856 we ran a breaking team. I managed the plow, with Frank Carlson for driver. We were breaking for a man in Spring Creek Valley, who, on acount of his anxiety to have us plow deep, used to follow £he plow and weigh down the beam. One day we turned up a large snake, over six-feet long, which was evidently as much disturbed as we were and in trying to escape chose as a retreal the pants of our employer, who, fearfully frightened, yelled, kicked and almost fainted. I jerked the snake out and killed it. If my team could not appreciate the snake's appearance. I could and did."

Colonel Hans .Mattson writes in his early recollections: 'In the spring of 1853. I left Moline, Illinois, for Boston, to meet my mother and sister. They were to leave Sweden about the same time on a sailing ship carrying some 200 emigrants. The ship was three months on the ocean and there was a great scarcity of provisions before landing. The ship at last arrived in the month of July, and a couple of days later the whole party took the cars for the west, I volunteering as their guide and interpreter. All went well until about 100 miles east of Chicago, when the baggage car attached to our train in front, caught fire. It was thought best to try to reach a station, and the burning rain sped on at the rate of sixty miles an hour. The scene was a frightful one, the cars filled with frightened emigrants, the flames hissing like serpents from car to car. windows cracking, people screaming and women fainting ; all at the same time looking to me for protection and deliverance. As soon as possible, I placed men as guards at the door to prevent the people from rushing out and crowding each other off the platform. The train did not reach a station, but had to be stopped on the open prairie, where all were helped out of the cars, without accident except that every particle of baggage excepl what the passengers had in their seals with them, was burnt. In due time another train brought us to Chicago, where the railroad company immediately offered to pay all losses, as soon as lists of the property destroyed could be made out and properly verified. I did all the work without the aid of counsel, lawyer or clerk, collecting nearly $20,000 for old trunks, spinning wheels, copper kettles, etc. Having lost nothing myself, I, of course, received nothing, and as the company did not consider it their duty to pay me for my trouble, one of the emigrants suggested that they should cfo something. The hat was passed around and the collection realized the magnificent sum of $2.60, which was paid me for being their interpreter during that long journey and for collecting that large sum of money. But I raised no complaint. In due time my own family and friends arrived at Moline. .Minnesota was then a territory but little known; yet we had heard of its beautiful lakes, forests and prairies. There were many of the party who decided to find a place for a Swedish settlement where lands could be had cheap, Mr. Willard and myself among them. And it was finally agreed that a few of us should go to Minnesota and select a suitable place. Being the only, one of the party who could speak the English language, I naturally became the leader of the explorers. My father went with us and so did Mr. Willard and his wife, my sister, the whole party taking deck passage on a Mississippi steamer, arriving at St. Paul during the month of August. St. Paul was then a town of a few hundred inhabitants. There we found Henry Russell, Johan Tidland and a few other Swedish pioneers. We learned that near Red Wing, places could be found with both timber and prairie, and an abundance of good water. After looking in various places we finally decided on the present town of Vasa, about twelve miles west of Red AVing. Claims were staked out on Belle creek, north of White Rock, near where a large brick church now stands.

After selecting this land, my father returned to Ililnois. I went with the other explorers to St. Paul, where a council was held in which our whole party participated, and it was decided that three of us, Messrs. Roos, Kemp and myself, should proceed to our claims that fall and do such work as wTe could until the others could join us in the following spring. Red Wing was an old missionary station, containing only half a dozen American families, among them Rev. J. AY. Hancock, who had been some years a missionary among the Indians. William Freeborn, Dr. AY. AV. Sweney, H. L. Bevans, John Day. and Calvin Potter were the other settlers. There were also two Swedes. Peter Green and Nels Nelson ; also a Norwegian named Peterson. On the river about between Alain street and the levee was a large Indian camp of the Sioux tribe. All the country west of Keel Wing was then practically a wilderness, and my little party were the first who started in to cultivate the soil and make a permanent settlement. After supplying ourselves at Red Wing with a tent, cook stove, provisions, carpenters' and other necessary tools, and a pair of oxen, we hired a horse team, packed our goods in a wagon, hitched the cattle behind and started for the new settlement. Toward - we arrived at a grove on Belle creek, where we pitched our tent and cooked our evening meal. And only pioneers understand how well it was relished affer a long day's tramp. The horse team returned alone with its driver in the morning and we were left in the wilderness. After a day's exploration we removed the camp to another point on the creek, near where Roos had taken his claim. It was now late in September, and our first care was to secure hay for the oxen during the coming winter. A few days' work produced a great stack. Having heard about prairie fires, we concluded to guard our stack against them, so we set fire to the short stubble around the stack, intending, of course, to put out the inner circle of fire. But a minute and a half was sufficient to convince us thai we had made wrong calculation, for by that time Hit- stack itself was burning with such fury that all the water in Belle creek could not quench it. And this was not the outer fire circle had extended over tin' best part of the valley and burned all the remaining grass that was left in the county, Itut fortunately we found plenty near our first camping ground. Having secured ;i second stack of very inferior hay. we proceeded to build a rude loo- house, and had just finished it when .Mr. Willard. my brother-in-law, appeared in our midst. I accompanied him to Red Wing, where we obtained work chopping steamboat wood during the winter. Early the next spring we commenced improving our claims and before summer was ended our colony numbered ten families. These emigrants with their goods had to be transported from Red Wing to the new settlement, twelve miles, in the following manner: When in the spring of 1854 Willard and myself received a pair of three-year-old steers and a cow from my father, we could get no other wagon than a truck with wheels made of 4-inch thick oak cylinders, sawed off a log. A good wagon was made in this way. The wheels were only about twenty inches in diameter, hence I had great trouble in getting over the stumps between John Day's ravine and Hay creek. The road was about where the Milwaukee railroad track is now. I often had to lift one end of the axle to straddle the slumps, one axle at a time, of course, and as the steers were wild, and my assistants always newly arrived emigrants who did not understand how to conciliate the steers by forcible English. I often had great trouble. The wagon was stronger than the steers, however ; that helped me. On that truck I carted out the goods and supplies for all the emigrants that arrived at Vasa in 1854.

The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church, of Red Wing, belongs to the Minnesota Conference of the Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod of America. Its history in resume is as follows:

So far as it can be ascertained, the first Swede who made Goodhue county his home was a man by the name of Nils Magnus Nilsson, who was brought to Red Wing from St. Paul by the pioneers Dr. W. W. Sweney and William Freeborn. He worked for Dr. Sweney a number of years and became known as the doctor's Nils, and also as Nils Sweney. Nilsson served in the Civil War from October, 1861 until March, 1863. He died April 30, 1893.

In the spring and summer of 1855, the Swedish immigration to Red Wing received its first real impetus. In the fall, when the Rev. E. Norelius came to Red Wing and preached the first Swedish sermon at this place, be had an audience numbering over 100 souls.

The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized on September 3, 1855, in the Presbyterian Chapel, the use of which was kindly granted to Dr. Norelius. On the following day the organization was completed, hence the 4th is given as the date of organization in the church minutes. The charter members were the following: Hakan Olson, wife and five children; Marten Person, wife and six children; Anders Carlson, wife and son; Peter Sandberg and wife; Magnus Jonson, wife and three children; Bengt Anderson, wife and three children; Carl Anderson and wife; John Nilson Bylo; Peter Johanson ; Nils Kallberg, wife and one child ; Anders Johan Johnson ; Nils Trulson, wife and two children ; Anders Peterson ; Swen Swenson ; Lars Westerson, wife and one child: Anders Westerson; Mrs. Anna Brita Person and two children ; Peter Anderson, wife and four children ; Anders Wilhelm Jonson and one child ; Elna Person ; Inga Swenson ; Anna Nilson ; Carl Bockman and son ; Edward Soderlund, wife and two children; Peter Sjogren, wife and two children; Swen Kjellberg and wife. In all fifty-four communicants. Peter Sjogren, Hakan Olson and Anders Carlson were elected trustees.

In October the Red Wing and Vasa congregations jointly extended a call to Rev. Norelius and on May 16, 1856, he arrived here with his wife. The introductory sermon was preached on Trinity Sunday in an unfinished store building on the corner of Fourth and Plum streets. At the close of the service a subscription was made for a church, which amounted to $104. The congregation bought a lot on the corner of Fifth and Franklin streets from C. J. F. Smith for $153. It was decided that the church should be 26 feet wide, 30 feet long, with 12-foot walls. There were to be three windows on either side with fifteen panes of glass in each, 12x11 inches in size. The door was to be 4 feet 6 inches wide and 8 feet high. The church was erected in the summer of 1856, but it was never fully completed, never being painted, and because of its shape it Avas nicknamed the Swedish barn. The little struggling congregation was happy, however, over the fact that it could worship in its own church, even though it in no sense could be compared with the larger and more massive churches in which the emigrants had been accustomed to worship in their fatherland. This church was later on converted into a parsonage and is still standing on the original sight. It was sold when the present parsonage was built in 1889.

The second church. At the annual meeting held January 7, 1863, a committee was elected to find a more suitable church lot, and to get plans and specifications for a new church. Following is a list of the committee : T. K. Simmons, Hakan Olson, Anders Swenson, C. G. Wernstrom, S. A. Fristedt and Carl Anderson. As a result of the work of this committee, the lot upon which the present church stands, Fifth and West avenues, was bought for $200. A subscription committee composed of C. G. Wernstrom, Anders Larson, Gustaf Carlson and J. Nordquist, was elected to solicit funds for the new church. The work was begun in the summer of 1866 and completed the following year. The building was built of red brick, 36x60 feet in dimension, at a cost of $4,296 with the furnishings. In 1883 a pipe organ was installed at an expense of $2,500.

It was found that the expenses of the new church, according to the plans which the committee proposed, exceeded greatly the amount which had been solicited, and therefore the matter of building was dropped for a time. But the subscription committee continued its work, and on the 9th of April, 1895, the committee reported a fund of $7,000. By ballot the congregation decided to begin work immediately. In the latter part of May the old church was torn down, and on the 20th of June the first stone was laid. August 1, the cornerstone was laid by Dr. E. Norelius, who was then president of the Minnesota Conference. On Thanksgiving day the first churehly rite took place in the new structure, when C. A. K. Johnson and Miss Hilma S. Erickson were united in marriage. On December 20 the first service was held. The old pulpit, pews and other church furnishings were used until 1899, when the present church furnishings were installed. On August 13, 1899, the new church, fully completed, was dedicated by Dr. Norelius, assisted by Dr. Rast, the pastor of the church, and seven visiting clergymen.

The new church is built of gray limestone in Gothic architecture. Its dimensions are 60x80 feet, with a side chapel 30x50 feet. The tower is 130 feet high. The total cost of the building was $23,000, but conservative estimates value the building now at $40,000. It is fully paid for. The altar painting, a copy of Plockhorst's noted work, representing Christ walking on the sea, and painted by Prof. O. Grafstrbm, Rock Island, 111., was donated to the church by the Junior Mission Society, paying $315 for it. A hell, weighing 2,800 pounds and costing $800, was donated by Mr. and Mrs. G. P. Malm. The pulpit is a gift of Mrs. N. Akenson, the pews are circular and made of quartered red oak. Memorial art glass windows were put in by Mrs. T. K. Simmons, Mrs. Clara Youngdahl, J. G. Gustafson's children, Anders Lindgren's children, Hakan Olson's children, the young people 's society, and the choir.

During the year 1909 the entire floor was covered with cork carpet, donated by the Dorcas Society at an expense of over $500. The chancel was carpeted by the Ladies' Aid Society with green velvet carpets, the side chapel was furnished with lecture room chairs, also a gift from the Ladies' Aid Society. The AYilling Workers paid for new pews and choir chairs in the gallery.

Parsonage. In 1871 the first church was remodeled and i | nipped as a parsonage at a cost of $700. In 1888 a lot was bought on the southwest corner of Fifth and Fulton streets for $1,000, and in 1889 the present spacious building, having eleven rooms, was erected at a cost of $4,000.

Pastors. Dr. Norelius. who organized the congregation, served as its first pastor until November. 1858, and again from 1862 until 1868. From 1859 to 1861 the Rev. J. P. C. Boreen served as pastor. He moved to Stockholm, AYis., where lie died in March, 1865. He was buried at Vasa.

in Red Wing in April. 1869, remaining in charge until in July, 1886. When Rev. Sjoblom took charge of the congregation the membership was 200. Between the years 1869 and 1875, 474 communicant members were received into the church, aside from those who were confirmed. From 1876 to 1886 the membership was increased by 279 communicants. Dr. Sjoblom died in Minneapolis January '24. 1909.

In January, 1887, the Rev. G. Rast assumed charge of the fold, preaching his first sermon Sunday. January :50. Dr. Ras1 served the congregation over twenty years or until May, 1907, when lie moved to Sand Lake. Wis. During Dr. Rast's pastorate the communicanl membership was raised from 500 to 700, over 500 communicants being admitted during these years. Dr. Rast also had the pleasure of moving into a new parsonage and into the new magnificent church.

Rev. E. G. Chinlund, the present pastor, assumed charge of the congregation in October, 1907, preaching his firsl sermon Sun. lay. October 27. Be was born in Chicago, 111.. January L8, 1872, attended the public schools of Chicago, and continued his studies a1 Augustana" College, Rock Island. 111., graduating in 1896; 1896-97 he served two congregations, in Montello and North

Seminary in Rods [sland, graduating in 1900, and was ordained to the ministry at the Synod in Burlington, Iowa. Be accepted a call from Lincoln, Neb., where he remained until removing to Red Wine. While in Lincoln he took up graduate work at the State University for two years. In 1901 Rev. Chinlund was married to Alma Swensou of < Ihicago.

officers and church societies. - The present church board is composed of the following members: Deacons, William Sjogren, C. A. [saakson, Car] Lhulcr. Karl Bawkanson, Andrew Mossberg and 1*. A. Lamberg. Trustees, s. s. Lundquist, II. E. Akenson, ( '. ( i. Swenson. ( >scar Kawkanson, Arthur Johnson. Clarence Skoglund, C. A. K. Johnson, Andrew Lindgren and 0. D. Anderson.

The following societies are doing active work for the upbuilding of the congregation: Ladies" Aid Society, organized 1888; officers: President, the pastor; secretary. Mrs. C. A. K. Johnson; treasurer. Mrs. F. F. Hoorn. Dorcas Society, organized 1887, reorganized 1904; officers: President, the pastor: vice president, Mrs. B. A. .Johnson: secretary and treasurer, .Mrs. E. G. Chinlund. Young People's Society, organized 1880, reorganized 1887; officers: President. Clarence Skoglund; vice president, Herman

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Chinlund; secretary, David Gustafson; treasurer, Harry Anderson. Willing Workers, president, Mamie Gottrick ; vice president, Hulda Skoglund; secretary, Gena Luridquist; treasurer, Minnie Swanson. Concordia Society, organized 1909; president, the pas tor; vice president, X. -J. Skoog; secretary, Arthur Johnson ; treasurer, P. A. Lamberg. Sunday school is held every Sunday and is attended on the average by 150 children. The school is divided into a senior and junior department, the senior department having fifteen departments and tin- junior department ten classes. Superintendent, the pastor; vice superintendent, Andrew Mossberg; secretary, Harry Anderson; treasurer. Clarence Skoglund; librarians, Leonard Nelson, Reuben Skoglund, Eva Lindgren and Mabel Anderson. There are two church choirs, the senior choir, composed of aboul twenty members, and the junior choir, composed of about thirty young ladies. The congregation publishes a monthly eight-page paper, edited by tin; pastor.

Tin1 following statistics may he iriven for the church year ending January 1. 1909: Number of communicants, 658; total membership, 1,001; expenses for salaries, $1,858.88; other purposes. $1,387.16; to missions, education and benevolent purposes, $1,210.32; total. $4. 456. 36. Since its organization the congregation has contributed toward church buildings, $38,000; toward missions, education and charity, $20,300, and toward current expenses, $102,000; total, $160,300.

Hon. Peter Nelson, of Eed Wing, ex-senator, is a man greatly honored throughout the county for his work in upbuilding this section of the country. To his efforts is largely due the fact that the Training School is located here, when there were many other cities bidding for the honor. He was born in Skatlof, Sweden. April 14. 1844. son of Nels Nelson, a Swedish farmer and bridge contractor. The subject of this sketch left his native land on May 1. 1866, bound for America, but on account of the great rush was compelled to wait at Liverpool nearly a month. When he at last secured passage, cholera broke out on board, and out of 250 cases seventy-five proved fatal. For this reason the ship was held at Ellis Island in quarantine for a month after reaching New York, and it was consequently nearly the last of July before Peter Nelson was permitted to set foot on the land of which he was later to become an honored citizen. Since that landing his record has been one of successful achievement. He arrived in Rockford. 111., August 1, 1866. In this town he was employed at various work, and by attending night school, supplemented the education he had received in the public schools of his native country. During the latter part of his stay in Rockford he worked at the carpenter's trade, and December 4 of that year entered the employ of a sash and door factory in Water Valley, Miss. In 1868 he formed the firm of Newbero & Nelson, contractors and builders. A year later he bought his partner's interest and carried on the business himself for about a year, after which he purchased a half-interest in a hardware store at Oxford, Miss., the firm name being Peter Nelson & Co. , In 1873 he sold out and came to Red Wing, where he started a store in company with Jonas Peterson, on Bush street, handling all kinds of hardware and also harvesting machines and farm implements. In 1888, Mr. Nelson bought out Mr. Peterson's interest and in 1895 added a plumbing department. He continued this business until 1905, when he sold to D. B. Johns and retired from active business. Mr. Nelson became interested in politics in early life, and has always been a stanch Democrat. He was a member of the ^tate committee from 1883 to 1889 and served in the senate from 1887 to 1889. In 1890 he was defeated for that .office by but thirty-five votes, and in 1892 was defeated for secretary of state by 8,250 votes. He has also occupied other prominent public offices. He was interested in the Minnesota Scandinavian Relief Association in its earliest days, and in 1886 was elected vice president. Since 1892 he has been its president. He also belongs to the Elks and the Commercial Club, and is financially interested in many of Red Wing's leading industries. Mr. Nelson was married in October, 1870, to Oliva Olson, daughter of Mr. Olson, a hotelkeeper in Awika, Sweden. To this union has been born one son, Peter A. Senator Nelson has a pleasant residence at 1004 Fourth street.