East Lemonweir Church Celebrated 75th
Anniversary
Mauston Star
August 7, 1929
The East Lemonweir Norwegian Lutheran church celebrated
its 75th anniversary with appropriate and impressive services Saturday, July
27, and Sunday, July 28. There was a vary large attendance and many
visiting pastors were present for the occasion.
The East Lemonweir church was one of the first churches
established in this county. It was started in what was then Lemonweir,
Town of Lisbon, Adams county, in response to a call signed by seven people
and they represented twelve settlers whose families numbered forty three
persons. The call was made on May 22, 1854, and was sent from the post
office which was then in Seven Mile Creek, Adams county, and was signed by
John Halvorsen, Knut Ormson, Ole Jhanson, Nels Bjornsen, Gunder Johanneson,
Laurans Angondsen and Andres Mieklsen.
On July 22, 1854, a preacher came to what is now the
John Felland farm and divine service was held on what has been known for
years as the Odd Larsen farm (now the M. E. Timbers farm). And it is
told that in order to reach there one of the settlers carried the preacher
across what is now Brewers creek on his back. The first church built
by this congregation has been preserved thruout the years and is still standing
on the parsonage farm.
(The following is reprinted from the New Lisbon
Times-Argus)
Rev. Chr. Hjermstad has been pastor of the church since
1903.
The festival sermons were given by Rev. H. J. Magelssen,
La Crosse; Rt. Rev. O. J. H. Preus, Stoughton, and Rev. L. S. J. Reque,
Galesville.
Assisting pastors were S. J. N. Ylvisaker, Minneapolis;
J. O. Holum, Westby; Norris Olson, Cashton; O. Otterson, West Salem; F. J.
Swenson, Tavera; O. M. Kleven, Elroy; Chr. Hjermstad, New
Lisbon.
Music was furnished by the Arkdale Junior choir; an
instrumental quartette composed of Norwald and Erling Hjermstad, Adolph and
Joseph Saetveit; vocal duets by Olga Olson and Frieda Hjermstad and Signe
and Helen Anderson; an octette by the ministers present, and solos by the
Revs. Holum, Otterson and Hjermstad.
Pastors
H. A. Preus, 1854-1865; St. S. Reque, 1865-1871; B. Hovde, 1871-1875; G. A. Lunde, 1875-1880; M. P. Ruh, 1880-1896; C. Schive, 1896-1905; I. G. Nelson, 1905-1906; Christian Hjermstad, 1906-
Present Officers of Corporation
Chr. Hjermstad, President; L. J. Quamme,
Sec.-Treas.
Trustees - Nels Benson, Gilbert Ormson, Edwin
Vedum
Deacons - Nels N. Nelson, L. H. Temte, Odd
Nelson
Organist - Mrs. Chr. Hjermstad
Teacher and Precentor - Jacob L. Quamme
Ladies Aid Society
Suldal - Mrs. Nels Nelson, Pres.; Mrs. L. J. Quamme,
Vice-Pres.; Mrs. C. Hjermstad, Sec.-Treas.
Church Valley - Miss Ellen Severson, Pres.; Mrs. L. H.
Temte, Vice-Pres.; Mrs. Hans Olson, Sec.-Treas.
Historical Data
On July 25th, 1854, divine service was conducted in
"Lemonweir, Town of Lisbon", then in Adams Co., Wis., by Rev. H. A.
Preus, of Spring Prairie, Dane Co., Wis. After the service a meeting
was held and "The Norwegian Evang. Luth. Church of Lemonweir" was
organized.
In 1855 the congregation was admitted into "The Synod
for the Norw. Luth. Church of America."
Mr. Gunder Johanneson was elected as the first
delegate.
On Dec. 6th, 1861, the congregation decided to incorporate,
under the name of "The Norw. Evang. Luth. Church at Lemonweir River, Juneau
Co., Wis."
The first board of trustees elected were: Anders Arneson
Rosseland, Torstein Thorbiorsen, John Halvorsen.
In 1861 the first church, a log structure, was erected
and was dedicated Aug. 28th, 1863, by Rt. Rev. H. A. Preus.
In 1873 the congregation was divided into "East Lemonweir"
and "West Lemonweir" congregations.
The present church was built in 1874 and dedicated Oct.
3rd, 1883, by Rt. Rev. H. A. Preus.
The basement was built in 1926.
Following is one of the many letters of congratulations
we are publishing below:
"To the Pastor and the people of East Lemonweir Church,
New Lisbon, Wisconsin:
Thought I am not permitted to be with you on this impressive
occasion these words go to you as a little greeting.
It has not been granted be to see your church or its
environs, nor to know her people and her history during these many years,
and yet from this distance we may know what is there.
In the distant past a group of pioneer men and women
building homes in a wilderness. In them was remembrance of the blessings
of the old home church and the ministry of reconciliation there. In
them a determination to seek not only the added things, but to see the first
things - the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. The years have gone
by, these pioneers are gone, their children are gone in large measure.
Their children's children are gathered today around the old church
which their fathers founded. Changes have touched every home, the
landscape, your church, but through it all the grace of God has been
outpoured through Word and Sacrament.
By your church, not very far away, is God's Acre where
the pioneers sleep. Others have laboured, ye are entered into their
labours. Watch is kept, human watch over God's Acre is kept busy by
a living, loving, labouring congregation, which confesses the Name and keeps
His Word.
In the absence of our esteemed president, Dr. Aasgaard,
let these words suffice as a greeting from the Norwegian Lutheran Church
of America on this, your Seventy-fifth anniversary.
Sincerely yours,
F. F. Gullickson, Pastor
Vice President Norw. Luth.
Church of America
Minot, North Dakota