Pastor T. A. Torgerson of the Norwegian Synod was the first minister to visit the Norwegian settlement of Fertile, then named Rhodes Mill. On October 21, 1870 he held worship services at Anders Grovum, which probably was the first worship services in this area.
The first congregational meeting was held in Platts schoolhouse Monday, February 16, 1874. This seems to be the church's establishment day. Pastor J. M. Dahl was in charge and Ole Ouverson the secretary. A committee of five members were chosen to pick out a place for the cemetery. The following families were to be members of the congregation: Guldbrand Olsen Hovland, Ole Pederson Dokken, Aslak Stenerson Mastri, Halvor A. Halvorson, Knut Olson Bratterud, Thomas Olson Bratterud, Ole Thovson, Anders Anderson Grove, Aslak Olson Bratterud. Also 9 families, of which 2, namely Ole Thovson and Aslak Bratterud were bachelors.
Others who ended up in the congregation the same year or a little later, were: Anders Grovum, Gunder Daley, Halvor Johnson, Tellev Tallaksen Soli, K. K. Sagen, Kittel Paulsen, Hans Hovland, Ole Jørgenson, Anund Prestholt, John Førde, L. O. Sanderson and several more.
On June 7, 1876 the number in the congregation was 29 families and 4 unmarried persons. People decided that the church name should to be Fertile Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church and that cemetery and future building site should at Brush Point, one and one half mile northeast of Fertile.
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| Interior of Church |
The first minister's assistant was Gunder Onstad, the first sexton, Gunder Daley, the first Sunday school teacher, Anders Grovum. Services was held for many years in Platts School house, one half mile northeast of Fertile. Later services were held the at Creamery hallway in town. The pastor's wages was partly in goods. For example for the year 1875, the pastor received $65.00, 26 bushels wheat, 20 bushels oats, 12 bushels corn. The parish clerk was to have a half bushel wheat of each family, which he had to collect himself.
The Norwegian population spread itself little by little to the east and west. The town (Fertile) also grew a little. When it came to the question of a church building, there were divided ideas. The eastern part would build at the cemetery, the western part in the town of Fertile. This resulted in the church being divided in 1891. The eastern part built church with the cemetery and continued under the old name. This church was later moved to Hanlontown. The western part called itself from now Village of Fertile Church. The Village of Fertile Church will say thanks to the Fertile church for good company during these 17 years they were together. We are happy that there is good understanding between these two sister congregations.
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| Rev. J. M. Dahl | Rev. O. O. Wold |
| 1874 - 1892 | 1892 - 1900 |
Pastor Dahl served the congregation for 16 years until 1892. Much could be said of this time. It was land clearing time. It was poor new settlers who tried to build a home for themselves and their families. The had to contend with small comforts, poor houses, bad roads, poor driving equipment, far to market, no telephone; now are automobiles, and electric lighting is quite common. Pastor Dahl was also by nature well equipped with a good body and intelligence.
When Pastor Dahl left, Pastor O. O. Wold was called as minister for Village of Fertile Church, who was called in connection with Clear Lake. The pastor's residence was under construction and almost ready to use then he received the call in 1892. The church was built in 1895 and in use the following year. The church now belonged the United Church. Then some well-known disagreements come up before the society regarding the conveyance of Augsburg Seminar, which ended with an retirement of the society and formation of The Lutheran Free church. This fight also came to swarm through the Village of Fertile congregation. Pastor Wold and a part with him held to Free Church, and the result was that he and about 80 left the congregation in 1899 and organized a new congregation and built a church building 2 miles west of Fertile.
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| Rev. M. E. Waldeland | Rev. Hans Fosnes |
| 1874 - 1892 | 1892 - 1900 |
In 1900 it came to be that Pastor M.. E. Waldeland was called to be the minister. He served also Clear Lake and Mason City. When he finished in 1903, Pastor Hans Fosnes came to be in that post. He served also simultaneous congregations in Clear Lake and Mason City and later Beaver Creek Church. He finished operations in Fertile in January 1907. Pastor R. O. Hjelmeland was now called and installed the l0th of November, 1907. Village and Fertile and Ellington church had now connected. In addition to these two churches, he served for about 6 years, Ellington Prairie and Miller churches, until these called their own minister. One year he served also Beaver Creek church.
Rev. R. O. Hjelmeland
1907 -
Village of Fertile church consists now of about 50 families. The church building is estimated at a value of $8,000. The pastor's residence, which was repaired the previous year, is estimated at $5,000. The church shares a common cemetery with the church in Hanlontown. It has an active women's organization which works mainly for missions, and also an youth organization which supports a native worker in Madagascar. The youth organization bequeath the church a new Meneely church bell some years ago. The church's officers are as follows: Secretary, Olaf Myhre; deacons, K. O. Sheimo; Henry Halvorsen, A. Oppedahl; trustees, Jacob Rødberg, Peder Suby, John Holskar; Sunday school superintendent, Henry Halvorsen; organist, Mrs. Carl Sheimo; sexton, Edward Rødberg. The church holds religion school each Tuesday through the school year. The pastor has been the instructor in this school.
Pastor's Residence
On this 50th Anniversary, the congregation thanks first and foremost the merciful God who has bequeath us grace in word and sacraments, and we pray fpr His continued aid to build up God's riches among us to save many of us. Next we remember with thanks to God for the servants who He has sent to proclaim God's word among us. We remember also many faithful workers, both men and women, who have passed away, as well as those who have moved from here to other places in our land. Among these can also name some who have gone into church work: Pastor C. S. Halvorsen, Hartland, Minn.; Rev. A. D. Halvorsen, Springfield, Minn.; Rev. Arthur Rholl, Northwood, N. Dak.; Rev. H. B. Raun, Evansville, Minn. We thank God for these and wish them God's rich blessings in their work!
God bless Village of Fertile church!
Translated from Norwegian by Gordon Felland from a pamphlet titled "Festskrift."
Posted by Gordon Felland, 12/23/2009.
