| Summary: | Rutland Churches HISTORY OF NORDLAND LUTHERAN CHURCH The History of Nordland Congregation is intimately connected with the life of the people in their ancestral homes. The early settlers of this community came from Norway and Sweden as early as 1883. One of their first concerns was founding a church. Some of the first pastors who preached to these settlers were Reverend Thomas Johnson Skjie, Gustov Westerlund, and Reverend R. Lovik. Rev. Westerland came all the way from Horace, North Dakota. These pastors served from about 1885 until 1897. During the first years services and meetings were held in the homestead shanties of Peter Gulleson, G. Westerlund, and others. The very first meeting was held in the home of Peter Gulleson in May, 1884. After schoolhouses were built about 1889 services were held there. One of these schools was near the Hans Brown home; one was known as the Oxhoved school, and another as the Olstad school. Although the early records are lost, so that the definite date cannot be obtained, sons of the pioneers have verified that Nordland Congregation was organized in 1885 at the home of Peter Gulleson. The following are known to be charter members: Peter Gulleson, Gustav Westerlund, Theodore Skaarer, Olai Knutson, Anton Wildmo, Adrian Wildmo, Jacob Jacobson (Hero), David Mattson, Ole A. Jacobson, Jacob Davis, Ole J. Jacobson, and Andrew Miller. The first officers were: Peter Gulleson and Jacob J. Hero as deacons, and Jacob Davis as secretary. Andrew Miller also acted as secretary. The congregation was admitted into the Hauges Evangelical Lutheran Synod, with a membership of sixty-one in 1887. It was incorporated under the laws of North Dakota on January 15, 1900, and the charter was signed by Nordland Lutheran Church. T. H. Skaarer, Ole Peterson, and Ole J. Jacobson as trustees. It should be mentioned that there were several other Lutheran Missions Congregations that joined with the Nordland congregation. They were the following: The Swedish Lutheran Congregations, the Rutland Congregation of the Norwegian Conference served by Rev. Charles Wold, and L. C. Hill, the Rutland Congregation of the United Norwegian Lutheran Church served by Reverend R. Lovik; the Bethel Congregation of the Lutheran Brethren, served by Reverend E. Gunhus. The cemetery of the congregation was acquired and dedicated in 1887. The original cemetery was a gift from Jacob J. Hero, and was a part of his homestead. Later Lars Pederson gave one half acre on the south and west to the road. The first person known to be buried there was Bennie Jacobson, about 1887. The cemetery was plotted according to law in 1932, and supplied with markers by Simon Pederson in 1933. Looking back over the history of Nordland we find various active organizations within the church. Christian instruction has always held a high place. Catechistical instruction for confirmation has always been a prinicpal part of the pastor's work. Parochial or vacation school was held every summer. Bernt Giske conducted Sunday School out in one of the country schoolhouses in the early days. Andrew Miller was Superintendent of the Sunday School about 1909-1915. Other early organizations were a Young People's Society, a Singing Society, A young Ladies Missionary Society, and of course, the Ladies Aid. Some early members of the young ladies Missionary Society were Miss Josephine Jacobson, Miss Otine Olson, Miss Bergitta Olson, Miss Elsie Wildmo, Miss Jacobs Wildmo, Miss Lorraine Wildmo, Miss Maren Jacobson, and Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited with Multi-Page TIFF Editor.
|
|---|