Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/485

 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 411 Ladies' Aid Society meets on the first Thursday of every month. The Young People's Society and +he Priscillas meet at the call of the presidents. The Sunday school meets regularly every Sun- day after service. Rev. Eimar Ingvald Strom, who resigned as pastor in May, 1909, and is now pastor of two churches in Chippewa county, Minnesota, was born in Zumbrota, this county, June 9, 1871. In the fall of 1886 he entered Luther College, at Decorah, la., where he w T as graduated in 1895. He was ordained August 1.9, 1895, in the church at Zumbrota. His first parish was in Ward and MeHenry counties, North Dakota. In 1897 he became principal of Luther Academy, Albert Lea, Minn., where he remained until 1902. He then served the Crow River parish, in Kandujohi county, for one year, and came to Red Wing in May, 1903. Dur- ing his stay in Red Wing he served as trustee of the Lutheran Ladies' Seminary and as trustee and treasurer of St. John's Hospital. He was married in 1897 to Helina Marie Nedrud. This union has been blessed with six children, Kristine, Carl, Agnes, Nora, Ingvald and Solveig. Zumbrota Congregation was organized in 1889 by the Rev. 0. P. Vangsnes, of Minneapolis. Among the members at that time were K. L. Strom, A. Erstad, Andrew Ylvisaker, C. A. Erstad, John Fylken, Christ Tolleffrud, Albert Erstad, Iver Lunde, Hans C. Lunde, Bernt Lunde, Michael Gullerud, Ole Fin- stuen, Henry Goplen, P. P. Finstuen, Hans Bjugan, Thos. Avels- gaard, Nels 0. Rostad and Tli. Raaen. In 1893 a new church was erected on the outskirts of Zumbrota and dedicated July 30 by Rev. Joh. Ylvisaker, assisted by Rev. I. A. Thorsen, K. Bjorgo, D. P. Growe and Rev. Skabo. The church cost about $4,000, is 42 by 30 feet, with a chancel 18 by 22 feet. The tower is 12xl2x 85. O. P. Vangsnes served the congregation from 1889 to 1890. Then for ten years the pastor was Rev. K. Bjorgo, assisted by D. P. Growe, P. A. Kittelsby, C. Doring and H. G. Magelssen. John Linnevold served a short time in 1900 ; H. G. Magelsson served from 1900 to 1901 and the Rev. S. J. N. Ylvisaker served until August 31, 1908. Rev. E. J. Strom served as pastor three months and then came the present pastor. Rev. S. Bervin. The church has about thirty families, has a Saturday school, two ladies' aid societies, a church choir and other organizations. The officers are: Chairman, Rev. S. Bervin; deacon, Iver Lunde; trus- tees, Albert Erstad, Th. Avelsgaard, H. Goplen ; secretary, Peter H. Lunde.; treasurer, O. E. Bjorgo. The church is constantly growing and has a splendid future. In 1903 this church, in con- nection with the Little Cannon church, purchased a fine parson- age, adjoining the church. Little Cannon Congregation originally affiliated with the con-