Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/481

 IIIsTol.'Y (>F GOODHUE COUNTY m; hail Prom a congregation in Norway called Vang, in Valders. In 1883 the congregation was incorporated, the following persons signing the articles of incorporation : Peter E. Bakke, Simon 0. Gjellum, Halvor L. Lilleskov, Torgor Thompson and Nils Torsten- son. On the south of Yangs church reside a fine settlement of Germans, who are very prosperous, and came to stay, but on the north side were a good many other nationalities, who wanted to sell; and as the Norwegians are generally industrious and pros- perous farmers, they were always ready to buy, and as a result the congregation continued growing north, leaving the church in the south part of the congregation. Finding the old church too small for the large increase, they built a new church nearly in the center of the member's homes. Two years ago the congregation bought a beautiful and high-grade pipe organ. An expensive parsonage is located near the old church site. The following pastors have served the congregation: B. J. Muus, M. 0. Bockman, T. Aug. Hanson, J. N. Kildahl," N. Oefste- dahl, C. A. Mellby, and A. Hauge, the present pastor. The church maintains parochial schools in several districts. It has four auxiliaries. The present membership is over 600. It belongs to the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America. The present trustees are: Ingebright Bakke, M. 0. Mering, Th. Bakken, B. Swenson and 0. Kumperud; treasurer, C. T. Haugen; secretary, O. Flaten ; organist, E. Rude. Wangen's Prairie is a congregation located in Warsaw town- ship. Reverend Hauge is pastor. It was organized and incorpo- rated January 9, 1908. Its members belonged formerly to the Urland congregation. The first trustees were : Joh. Lillskov, Hans Loven, and John P. Wangen. Its church building was dedicated in 1902. It is in connection with Vang and Urland congregations as one call, the present pastor being Rev. A. Hauge. The church maintains a parochial school and two auxiliaries. The present membership is over eighty. The congregation belongs to the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America. The treasurer is Joh. Lillskov, and the secretary is Oliver Fretten. Urland Congregation originally belonged to Holden congrega- tion. In 1868 it was decided to organize Urland as a "Sogn," and in 1872 it was incorporated as a congregation. Articles of incorporation were signed by E. L. Otterness, Ragnald Johnson and William Olson. The trustees were Lars Flom, Torsten A. Melhouse, Ole A. Melhouse. Ragnald J. Ohnstad and Johannes Ingebritsen. A church building was erected in Leon township in 1872. and was dedicated in 1874. and capable of seating 500 people. The building committee consisted of Ragnald J. Ohnstad, Ed. L. Otter- ness and A. A. Flom.