Traces of Adams History
The following information appears to have come from a series of newspaper articles. I am guessing they are from the Adams Review, but do not know for sure. I am also unsure about the date of publication or who wrote the articles. The information was photocopied and included with documents from the Harvey Sathre Estate.
First in a series of articles.
The following tells about the first settlers and their organization of the congregation. The various Pastors served in the territory of congregations for preservation from splitting up in disagreement. They wanted peace on truthful grounds.
The township of Adams was one of the first townships in Mower County that became organized and where the immigrants began to live and build. This was in the years of 1855 and 1856 that the immigrants decided to come from Wisconsin to settle in south and southeast Minnesota.
The first arrivals in Adams Township were Norwegians, as early as 1855. They left Dane County, Wisconsin where they had stayed for awhile. They wandered westward by oxen team to the following places.
Amongst the first settlers, namely Tideman Knutsen Objor with parents and brothers Haldor, Erik and Arne and a sister Marit. They came in June of 1855. In July the same summer the following came together by oxen teams: Rognald Olson, mother and stepfather Ole Johnsen Holstad and brothers Johannes and Stephen Olsen and sister Birtha, John Olsen Hesjedal and his son Johannes H. Johnsen with two sisters both named Anna, and Stephen Christiansen.
They had immigrated from Norway from different neighborhoods in Holsnoen from southern Bergen Husant (county) and Finoy near Stravanger, Valdres, Sogn and Voss.
The first house that was built in town was a log house built by Tideman Knutsen Objor on section two. It was 18 feet square and eight feet high. The roof was covered with hay and sod. And there were two layers of apple tree logs for floor.
Second in a series: The First Deaths in Adams.
The two who died first in the town were Stephen Olson and Stephen Christianson. The first graves were on Section 11. None of their adult relation can remember what the colonists had to live through and what the new life was like with no house, no crop, no train, a long way to market...yes, over a hundred miles and that with oxen.
Many long, hard winters, poor houses, worn-out clothes, and very little money. The little they had to sell was too cheap under the long transport, and what they had to buy was very expensive. Yes, it was the truth - it was no fun to settle this land in the early days. Now it does not mean anything to compare those times as of today.
The train followed in the heels of the immigrants. I mentioned before there was a poor crop and little food for the first settlers the first year. Many died from starvation, now it became necessary to obtain the proper food to survive life.
The first death I named was Stephen Olson and Stephen Christianson, who left on the morning of December 8, 1855 by ox team for Six-Mile Grove in Nevada township for life's necessities. They got a few supplies, but on their way home an unusually strong wind and snowstorm came up. The oxen lost their way so these men froze to death. The oxen came home during the night watch with one of the men's hats fastened on to the yoke of the oxen. The next morning some neighbors went out to hunt for the men. After three days of searching, they found their bodies dead on the LeRoy prairie, now Lodi township. They left each with a wife and a baby. They were buried on Section 11 without any funeral service.
Third in series: More hard times ahead.
The first grave in section 3 was opened for the wife of Rasmus Rasmussen Vignes. The next day when they were going to bury the lady they found the grave full of water. Because of this she was also buried in section 11. The cemetery in section 3 was permanently closed. The last person buried on section 11 was Jens A. Bargard. Here also rest the bodies of the first Norwegian immigrants to this place.
The first post office in town was established in 1859 and our landowner, John S. Ingens was the first postmaster. The post office opened in his own home on section 8.
The following is a short history of the first settling of the congregation and its organization. The newly built settlement became entirely different at its beginning. It was a mission congregation without organization, with worship service held now and then in the homes. The first minister who visited the first settlers here was Pastor C. L. Clausen from St. Ansgar, Iowa. The first services were held in the home of Rognald Olsen on section 12 in the fall of 1856 by Pastor Clausen from St. Ansgar, Iowa.
He obtained Pastor Adler Prous from Dane County, Wisconsin. When the first settlers here held their second service it was conducted by Prous in John Olson Hesjedal's home, section 31 in Clayton Township.
The other services for the most part were held in Objors Grove, as the people organized themselves and the weather permitted services outside - if not, then in Objors' home. Other ministers could have taken part in the congregation for its organization that are not named.
Fourth in a series: First Little Cedar Congregation.
Little Cedar congregation was organized by C. S. Clausen the 26th of November, 1859. The first congregation met for the purpose of organizing in Helje E. Floens home on section 1. The first congregation members were as follows: Brothers Rognald and Johannes Olsen, Ole Johnson Holstad, Brothers Tidemand and Erik Knutson Objor, Hendrick Bensen, John Olsen Hejedal and sons Johanns and Ole, Simon Knutson, Helge Erickson Floen and sons Even and Oleay, John Olsen Qvale. One of the congregation's first elected trustees was Rognald Olsen. The congregation's first church was built in 1863. After a lot of discussion, it was settled to build the church on the same place that the congregation's old church now stands on section 1.
Four and one-half acres of land were purchased by Rasmus Rasmussen Vigness for the church and cemetery.
The congregation's first church was a log church, 20 ft. x 40 ft. x 16 ft. high. Each farmer gave so many logs each until the full size was built. It was built by Tideman, Knutson, Objor and Torius Flaten from Six Mile Grove and divided inside by Arne Johansen Fossen. The first body to be buried on the new cemetery that we called Cemetery 2 was the first wife of Ole Thorstad. This is a short history of the congregation and its organization.
Fifth in a series.
The big event that took place after the congregation organization and during the building of their church was the "Borger Krigen," known as the Civil War of 1861-1865. This was the biggest and bloodiest war in history up to this date. The Norwegians went to serve as their duty to their adopted land. They won the war. The immigrants that came to this settlement after the census was taken volunteered their services too - to help protect the United States together with the 15th Wisconsin Infantry regiment that was also called the Scandinavian Regiment. They had the misfortune of losing numerous amounts of their privates and officers in the war.
The various others came from the northwestern states regiment. I will also name those who willingly volunteered themselves to fight from this area besides the congregation. Pastor C. L. Clausen was called to serve as their chaplain. The chaplains for the 15th Wisconsin regiment were John Inters, Gullick Olson, Brothers Even and Ole Helegesen, Floen, Ole Sjursen, Stupen, Peter Johannesen Fassen, Harold Irgens, Gjert or George Thompson as he called himself. The first four named belonged to the 15th Wisconsin Infantry and the last four named belonged to the Minnesota Cavalier. John S. Irgens came home with a Lieutenant's rank.
Next week: more church news.
Now going back to the congregation's ministers to the beginning of the ministers who served the congregation under Clausen's beginning; we can name Pastor Lauritis Larson, now editor for his contribution in visiting the people for news for the church newspaper.
From Decorah, Iowa was Wilhelm Karem from the Norwegian Synod. Together with Pastor Clausen, whom they called Little Clausen, came home from the war and began his own congregation on October 13, 1867. There was a call meeting held in Pastor Clausen's home in St. Ansgar. Delegates representing the five different congregations he had started were from St. Ansgar, Six Mile Grove, Red Oak Grove, Little Cedar and Rock Creek, and came to unite an organizing service and salary and to decide on the direction and action whatever follows.
St. Ansgar, Iowa-27 church services a year at a set salary $288 annual salary; Six Mile Grove to have 12 church services a year with $128 annual salary; Red Oak Grove, 14 church services a year with $106 annual salary; Little Cedar, 12 church services a year at $128 annual salary. Together this gave a salary of $800 a year.
This calls connection remained until the spring of 1871 when Pastor Clausen announced the congregation beginning the 13th of April. There was held a meeting in Austin about dividing the delegates present from Little Cedar, Austin, Red Oak Grove, Blooming Prairie to resolve a union Pastor call - and called Pastor P. G. Ostby as a minister who had for one time been Pastor Clausen's assistant. His residence should be in Austin and he was to live in his own home. His annual salary was $700. Likewise divided on LCC at $210, Austin congregations $150, Red Oak Grove congregation $210, Blooming Prairie $130 with services as evenly divided as possible.
This call was binding until the fall of 1879. Under Pastor Ostby's services of the congregation, the old log church was torn down and the new frame church built under the congregation incorporation under the state of Minnesota law.
They raised money donations until the conference of the clerical district at their 1875 November 1st meeting, resolved that the new building of the new church be built on the same place as the old church stood. The 6th of December, 1875, this was agreed by the congregation.
First in a series of articles.
The following tells about the first settlers and their organization of the congregation. The various Pastors served in the territory of congregations for preservation from splitting up in disagreement. They wanted peace on truthful grounds.
The township of Adams was one of the first townships in Mower County that became organized and where the immigrants began to live and build. This was in the years of 1855 and 1856 that the immigrants decided to come from Wisconsin to settle in south and southeast Minnesota.
The first arrivals in Adams Township were Norwegians, as early as 1855. They left Dane County, Wisconsin where they had stayed for awhile. They wandered westward by oxen team to the following places.
Amongst the first settlers, namely Tideman Knutsen Objor with parents and brothers Haldor, Erik and Arne and a sister Marit. They came in June of 1855. In July the same summer the following came together by oxen teams: Rognald Olson, mother and stepfather Ole Johnsen Holstad and brothers Johannes and Stephen Olsen and sister Birtha, John Olsen Hesjedal and his son Johannes H. Johnsen with two sisters both named Anna, and Stephen Christiansen.
They had immigrated from Norway from different neighborhoods in Holsnoen from southern Bergen Husant (county) and Finoy near Stravanger, Valdres, Sogn and Voss.
The first house that was built in town was a log house built by Tideman Knutsen Objor on section two. It was 18 feet square and eight feet high. The roof was covered with hay and sod. And there were two layers of apple tree logs for floor.
Second in a series: The First Deaths in Adams.
The two who died first in the town were Stephen Olson and Stephen Christianson. The first graves were on Section 11. None of their adult relation can remember what the colonists had to live through and what the new life was like with no house, no crop, no train, a long way to market...yes, over a hundred miles and that with oxen.
Many long, hard winters, poor houses, worn-out clothes, and very little money. The little they had to sell was too cheap under the long transport, and what they had to buy was very expensive. Yes, it was the truth - it was no fun to settle this land in the early days. Now it does not mean anything to compare those times as of today.
The train followed in the heels of the immigrants. I mentioned before there was a poor crop and little food for the first settlers the first year. Many died from starvation, now it became necessary to obtain the proper food to survive life.
The first death I named was Stephen Olson and Stephen Christianson, who left on the morning of December 8, 1855 by ox team for Six-Mile Grove in Nevada township for life's necessities. They got a few supplies, but on their way home an unusually strong wind and snowstorm came up. The oxen lost their way so these men froze to death. The oxen came home during the night watch with one of the men's hats fastened on to the yoke of the oxen. The next morning some neighbors went out to hunt for the men. After three days of searching, they found their bodies dead on the LeRoy prairie, now Lodi township. They left each with a wife and a baby. They were buried on Section 11 without any funeral service.
Third in series: More hard times ahead.
The first grave in section 3 was opened for the wife of Rasmus Rasmussen Vignes. The next day when they were going to bury the lady they found the grave full of water. Because of this she was also buried in section 11. The cemetery in section 3 was permanently closed. The last person buried on section 11 was Jens A. Bargard. Here also rest the bodies of the first Norwegian immigrants to this place.
The first post office in town was established in 1859 and our landowner, John S. Ingens was the first postmaster. The post office opened in his own home on section 8.
The following is a short history of the first settling of the congregation and its organization. The newly built settlement became entirely different at its beginning. It was a mission congregation without organization, with worship service held now and then in the homes. The first minister who visited the first settlers here was Pastor C. L. Clausen from St. Ansgar, Iowa. The first services were held in the home of Rognald Olsen on section 12 in the fall of 1856 by Pastor Clausen from St. Ansgar, Iowa.
He obtained Pastor Adler Prous from Dane County, Wisconsin. When the first settlers here held their second service it was conducted by Prous in John Olson Hesjedal's home, section 31 in Clayton Township.
The other services for the most part were held in Objors Grove, as the people organized themselves and the weather permitted services outside - if not, then in Objors' home. Other ministers could have taken part in the congregation for its organization that are not named.
Fourth in a series: First Little Cedar Congregation.
Little Cedar congregation was organized by C. S. Clausen the 26th of November, 1859. The first congregation met for the purpose of organizing in Helje E. Floens home on section 1. The first congregation members were as follows: Brothers Rognald and Johannes Olsen, Ole Johnson Holstad, Brothers Tidemand and Erik Knutson Objor, Hendrick Bensen, John Olsen Hejedal and sons Johanns and Ole, Simon Knutson, Helge Erickson Floen and sons Even and Oleay, John Olsen Qvale. One of the congregation's first elected trustees was Rognald Olsen. The congregation's first church was built in 1863. After a lot of discussion, it was settled to build the church on the same place that the congregation's old church now stands on section 1.
Four and one-half acres of land were purchased by Rasmus Rasmussen Vigness for the church and cemetery.
The congregation's first church was a log church, 20 ft. x 40 ft. x 16 ft. high. Each farmer gave so many logs each until the full size was built. It was built by Tideman, Knutson, Objor and Torius Flaten from Six Mile Grove and divided inside by Arne Johansen Fossen. The first body to be buried on the new cemetery that we called Cemetery 2 was the first wife of Ole Thorstad. This is a short history of the congregation and its organization.
Fifth in a series.
The big event that took place after the congregation organization and during the building of their church was the "Borger Krigen," known as the Civil War of 1861-1865. This was the biggest and bloodiest war in history up to this date. The Norwegians went to serve as their duty to their adopted land. They won the war. The immigrants that came to this settlement after the census was taken volunteered their services too - to help protect the United States together with the 15th Wisconsin Infantry regiment that was also called the Scandinavian Regiment. They had the misfortune of losing numerous amounts of their privates and officers in the war.
The various others came from the northwestern states regiment. I will also name those who willingly volunteered themselves to fight from this area besides the congregation. Pastor C. L. Clausen was called to serve as their chaplain. The chaplains for the 15th Wisconsin regiment were John Inters, Gullick Olson, Brothers Even and Ole Helegesen, Floen, Ole Sjursen, Stupen, Peter Johannesen Fassen, Harold Irgens, Gjert or George Thompson as he called himself. The first four named belonged to the 15th Wisconsin Infantry and the last four named belonged to the Minnesota Cavalier. John S. Irgens came home with a Lieutenant's rank.
Next week: more church news.
Now going back to the congregation's ministers to the beginning of the ministers who served the congregation under Clausen's beginning; we can name Pastor Lauritis Larson, now editor for his contribution in visiting the people for news for the church newspaper.
From Decorah, Iowa was Wilhelm Karem from the Norwegian Synod. Together with Pastor Clausen, whom they called Little Clausen, came home from the war and began his own congregation on October 13, 1867. There was a call meeting held in Pastor Clausen's home in St. Ansgar. Delegates representing the five different congregations he had started were from St. Ansgar, Six Mile Grove, Red Oak Grove, Little Cedar and Rock Creek, and came to unite an organizing service and salary and to decide on the direction and action whatever follows.
St. Ansgar, Iowa-27 church services a year at a set salary $288 annual salary; Six Mile Grove to have 12 church services a year with $128 annual salary; Red Oak Grove, 14 church services a year with $106 annual salary; Little Cedar, 12 church services a year at $128 annual salary. Together this gave a salary of $800 a year.
This calls connection remained until the spring of 1871 when Pastor Clausen announced the congregation beginning the 13th of April. There was held a meeting in Austin about dividing the delegates present from Little Cedar, Austin, Red Oak Grove, Blooming Prairie to resolve a union Pastor call - and called Pastor P. G. Ostby as a minister who had for one time been Pastor Clausen's assistant. His residence should be in Austin and he was to live in his own home. His annual salary was $700. Likewise divided on LCC at $210, Austin congregations $150, Red Oak Grove congregation $210, Blooming Prairie $130 with services as evenly divided as possible.
This call was binding until the fall of 1879. Under Pastor Ostby's services of the congregation, the old log church was torn down and the new frame church built under the congregation incorporation under the state of Minnesota law.
They raised money donations until the conference of the clerical district at their 1875 November 1st meeting, resolved that the new building of the new church be built on the same place as the old church stood. The 6th of December, 1875, this was agreed by the congregation.