The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Monday, June 01, 1953
Centennial Edition, Section 8

[Section 8, Page 6] The Immanuel Lutheran Church was erected in the fall of 1923 with the dedication taking place Feb. 14 and 15, 1924. The Rev. O. A. Elmquist is credited with the carrying out of the building program during a 15 months pastorate here. In 1920 the parsonage was acquired. On Oct. 21, 1946, the congregation had made such progress that a mortgage burning ceremony was held.

The Immanuel congregation was organized Aug. 20, 1914, under the leadership of the Rev. S. H. Newman of Burnside. Until the present church was built the congregation worshipped (sic) in a small chapel.

Pastors who have served the congregation have included the Rev. T. A. Conrad, the Rev. B. T. Erholm and the Rev. Ernest A. Bergeson. At present [1953] the Rev. S. E. Peterson is pastor.

NOTE: Rev. O. A. Elmquist was the pastor at Odgen, arriving there with his new bride in October of1903. On June 5, 1907, he became the pastor of the Swedish Lutheran Church of Chariton, Iowa, for two years there.

Rev. Swan Hakan Newman was born in Sweden on September 27, 1862, and died May 31, 1955, Dayton, Iowa. His wife, Anna Augusta (Anderson) Newman, was born in Sweden on April 12, 1864, and died July 9, 1960, Dayton, Iowa. They were interred at Dayton Cemetery.

Rev. Ben T. Erholm was born in 1889, and died in 1966. Ebba E. Erholm his wife, was born in 1903, and died in 1994. They were interred at Scandinavian Cemetery, Lee County, Iowa.

Immanuel Lutheran Church and St. Paul Lutheran Church merged in 1962.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2015