Monroe County, Wisconsin - Chapter 54: Norwegian Churches by Rev. A. H. Eikjarud, 1912

Chapter 54: Norwegian Churches by Rev. A. H. Eikjarud

Norwegian Lutheran Church of Fish Creek. The territory wliere the Norwegian Lutheran Church of Fish Creek is located was first settled by Ole Hansen Ekern in 1855. The following year Nils Hansen came and in 1858 Amund Hansen. These pioneers settled in the upper part of Fish Creek valley. The ridge was not at that time considered worth very much and on the distance from Fish Creek to Newry only one dwelling house was to be found. The first settlers on the ridge were Ole Andersen, John Svensen, Grilbrand Paulsen, ^Mathias, Even and William Johnson (1859), Hans Hansen. I\Iagnus Svensen, Ole Svensen, Marcus Gulbrands(M^ and John Eriksen (1861). Every year thereafter Norwegian settlers came thick and fast and the beautiful valleys and ridges of Fish Creek became a little Norway. From the early 60s Rev. A. C. Preus from Coon Prairie occasionally preached the gospel among them, and as they as yet had no church meetings were for many years held in the dwelling house of Gulbrand Paulsen. January, 1869. Fish Creek Norwegian Congregation was organized and a constitution adopted. Rev. A. C. Preus served as their pastor to June 5, 1871. December 3, 1871, a meeting was held and it was decided to build a church on a piece of land bought from Mrs. Ole Olsen Dandvaasen. Rev. H. Halvorsen from Coon Prairie served the congregation occasionally as his time permitted until December, 1874, when he was succeeded by cand. theol. A. S. dieting, who l)esides Fish Creek served three congregations at Coon Valley to July 1, 1882. Together with these same congrgations Fish Creek called Rev. E. Jensen, who was their pastor for eleven years to July 1, 1898. The congregation now decided to join the charge of Rev. A. II. ?"ik.jarud. North Coon Prairie, Portland and Brush Creek, and he has been the minister of the gospel at Fish Creek to the present time.

From a small beginning the congregation increased every year and it became necessary to build a neAV and larger church, which was ready for use the last part of 1893, and the next year they took part in the erection of the >Jorwegian Lutheran parsonage at Cashton. Very seldom have I seen a congregation where the attendance at diA'ine services is better, and especially so among the young people.

Portland Norwegian Lutheran Church is located in the toAA-n of I'ortland, livr miles nortlnvest fi'oui ("asliton. In the early 60s the first Norwegians settled around Melvina, in Cannon valley and on the siirrounding ridges. For many years there was no organized congregation, but services occasionally were held by Rev. A. C. Preus from Coon Prairie at different places among the farmers. For confirmant instructions the children had to journey to the far off Coon Prairie church, one and one-half miles south of where Westby now is located. April 2 and 8, 1874, meetings were held at Melvina, where Portland Norwegian Lutheran Congregation was organized and a constitution adopted. Ole Thoresen, Christopher Brown and Hans Davidsen were elected as trustees. At the same time it was decided to build a church on the present location and call Rev. H. Ilalvorsen from Coon Prairie as their pastor. The first meeting in the ncAV church was held the same year - August 23. Rev. Halvorsen served as their pastor from 1874 to 1895. February 5, 1890. cand. theol. A. H. Eikjarud was called as chaplain for Rev. Ilalvorsen, and when the charge was divided in 1895 a call was extended to him from the northern part, consisting of North Coon Prairie, Portland and Brush Creek congregations. He has been their pastor up to the present time. For every year the congregation of Portland has increased in membership and has been active and faithful workers for the welfare of the church.

May 25, 1893, they decided, together with the other congregations in the call, to build a parsonage at Cashton, Avhere their pastor has resided ever since.

By Lars Olson Aas

The Immanuel United Norwegian Congregation. The Immanuel I'uited Norwegian Conjiregation of tlie town of Portland, Monroe count}', was organized in 1890 with about 100 members. The majority of the members were formerly of the Norwegian Sj^nod and quite a few new members joined. The church was built the same year on a lot donated by Martin P. Moen and was a brick veneer building, costing about $3,000. On May 22, 1907, the church was struck by lightning and was totally destroyed. In the year 1908 a new church was built on tlie same ]o\. wliidi was also a brick veneer building, at a cost of .$7,500.

Noravegian Churches 581

1895 to the time of his death, December 17, 1907. His resting place is in the cemetery by this church. Rev. J. Tanner was temporary pastor until 1909, wdien a call was extended to Rev. Chr. Sybelrud, who served until 1912, when he resigned. Rev. E. Ilofstad is now serving as temporary pastor. A call has been extended to Rev. S. O. Rondestwedt, but it is not certain that he will accept. The present mendjership of this congregation is 350. The first trustees of this congregation were Lars O. Aas, Chr. Anderson and S. Stenerson ; secretary, John 0. Aas; treasurer, Martin P. Moen. The present trustees are James Luckason, Ole Justen, Andrew Johnson, Ole Aarness and Ingebrit Olson; secretary, Lars 0. Aas ; treasurer, Ole C. Aas.

The Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Sparta, AVis.. was organized about the year 1880. The tirst nnnister to preside was the Rev. A. C. Preus, of Coon Prairie. He was succeeded by Rev. I. B. Frich. of La Crosse, who was followed by Rev. A. G. Helgeson, of La Crosse. The next pastor was E. 0. Vik, of La Crosse, who for twenty-five years, on Septendjcr 7, 1912, has presided over the congregation of the church, its membership consisting of twelve families.