Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/489

 HISTORY (>K GOODHUE COl N VY U5 the following officers elected: Erick Erickson chairman), E. T. Sandstrom secretary). Otto Thoreson. Nils Clnistofferson, Erick Erickson and John Swenson, deacons. The constitution of the Augustana synod was adopted with qo changes. August 31, 1869, a meeting was held for the purpose of falling a pastor, and Rev. L. K. Green, of Poresl City. la., was chosen. Johannes E. Skaar presided at this meeting, with Herman < '. Sorum as secretary. The first annual meeting was held January •'!. 1870, when Tosten Thoreson, John A. Skaar, John Swenson and Carl Swenson were chosen to serve as trustees, and Herman C. Sorum as treasurer. January 13, 1872, Rev. X. E. Viekre, of Christinia, Minn., was called. He accepted, and remained until 1881. December 2, 1872, a meetng was held to discuss the building of a church, and a subscription was taken among those present, which amounted to $898.00. At the annual meeting, held March 3, 1873, at the home of Haagen Saetran, they decided to build a church 40x32x16, with a balcony for the choir 18x18. A committee was chosen, consisting of Johannes Skaar (chairman), H. Ener- son, Lars Sorenson, Haagen Saetran and Tosten Thoreson. May 26th a meeting was held at the home of Edward Larson for the purpose of choosing a delegate to the annual conference. Ole Anfinson was elected as the first representative of the church. In the fall of 1877 the church was finished and dedicated the twenty-fifth Sunday after Trinity. The tower was built in 1886. August 14, 1881, Rev. Gerhard Gjertsen, of Rochester, Minn., was called to succeed Reverend Viekre. December 27, the same year, the members met again for the purpose of selecting a pastor. A question arose of joining with the Dale church, and calling Reverend Munck, of Xorway, but it was finally decided to join with Rochester, and call Rev. L. Lund to serve both churches. In November, 1890, the Rochester church severed her connection with Wanamingo, and that left them again without a pastor, so a meeting was held September 13, 1891, when Student R. Halvorson was called. He remained two years. In the fall of 1892 Wanamingo, Hoff and Hegre churches joined, and called Student R. Halvor- son to assume charge of the three churches. He served until September, 1901, and Reverend Rislov, the present pastor, was called. At a meeting October 14, 1889, the constitution of the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America was adopted, and a reso- lution passed to take part in the effort to raise the sum of $22,000 in the conference. S. S. Hommedal and Ole Sletten were elected as delegates to attend the conference at Minneapolis in 1890. March 25, 1897, the Wanamingo church separated from the United church. There are at present about 230 members, and of the founders, only one — Edward Larson— is living. The church