CHURCHES OF PALO ALTO COUNTY
From Atlas of Palo Alto County
Compiled 1969 by Title Atlas Company; Minneapolis, Minnesota

ST. JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH
DEPEW, IOWA

     When the early settlers came, no matter from where, they brought their hymn book, books for the instruction of their children, as well as their Bible. Soon after settling in their new homes, they felt the need of fellowship, so they would gather in homes or school houses to hear the word of God and sing the hymns they loved.
     Records show the first business meeting of the congregation of Scandinavian pioneers was held in a school house Oct. 23, 1876. Two trustees and one deacon were elected and Johannes Jenswold was made secretary. Pastor Holseth of Estherville was called at a salary of $30 a year, with no mention of services he was to render. The constitution was very well written. The names chosen for this congregation was Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation by Cylinder Creek in Palo Alto County-commonly known as Cylinder Creek Congregation. This congregation was affiliated with the Synod group of Norwegians in America.
     They built a church in 1894, built by one carpenter and the members, located 1 mile south and one mile east of Depew. In 1900, they bought an acre of land from S.E. Rustebakke to be the Scandinavian Lutheran cemetery-now known as the North  Cemetery of St. John's Congregation.
     In 1914, this church was moved to its present site in Depew. It bogged down in crossing the creek, where it stood for 3 weeks, but on Norway's National Holiday, with the power of 2 steam engines, it was triumphantly pulled on to its present site in Depew.
     This Cylinder Creek Congregation shared a pastor with Seneca, with the pastor residing in Seneca. Pastors serving were: Ole Vereide, 1894-96; Theodore Opsal, 1896-1902; N.I. Berg, 1902-14; Skagen, 1814-17.
     Pastor Skagen made an unusual contribution to his congregation in that he painted "Christ in Gethsemane" for the altar. It is a beautiful work of art we can enjoy in our church today.
     In 1885, seven Scandinavian families moved into the community, followed by more families in 1887.
     The next business meeting recorded was held May 10, 1888. Here, they decided to share a pastor with Lost Island Lutheran, pastor to reside there, and to spend a weekend here every 3 or 4 weeks. The pastor traveled the 25 miles via horse and buggy. Folks came to the services held in school houses in wagons, some equipped with spring seats, some with a board across the wagon box. There were no rubber tires to cushion the rides across the prairie, and it was slow going too. Some preferred to walk and they also felt the horses should rest on Sunday for the heavy tasks of the work days following.
     This group was organized in 1888, an chose as their name St. John's Norwegian, Danish Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church, in Palo Alto County. The secretary was J.A. Mathison.
     On Oct. 11, 1890, an acre of land was purchased from J.N. Norland to be used as a cemetery and the potential site for a church. The purchase price was $25. Twenty-five men paid $1 each, entitling them to a lot in the cemetery; this is now known as the South Cemetery of St. John's Church.
     By 1891, there were at least 50 families attending worship services, making school house facilities inadequate, so they decided to build a church. This group was part of the United Lutheran Church body.
     On Jan. 21, 1892, they met with Pastor Svalestuen, of Lost Island Township, acting president, and S.J. Quam, secretary. They decided to build. Ole Norland gave an acre of land of the southeast corner of his farm for a church site for as long a time as the church remained there. More families were living farther north so the cemetery building site was no longer the center of the community. The committee to solicit funds for building were: S.J. Quam, Ole Clevelon, Andrew Saether, Julius Mathison, and B.A. Benson. On Feb. 13, 1892, a meeting was called and the report of the fund committee brought the decision to build. The building committee-B.A. Benson; Ole Norland; S.J. Quam; Thom Haugstuen; Charley Christian; Thomas Nordby; Thomas Dryland; Ole Knudson; and A. Saether-were given authority to hire 5 or 6 carpenters. The building to be 32x72 with a steeple and tower 75' high. On Mar. 4, 1892, there was a committee report, details decided on and carefully recorded. On Mar. 12, 1892,Columbus Larson's bid of $2147 was accepted.
     It took men with a vision to build a church of these dimensions when they were living in 1, 2 or 3-room homes. The church could be seen for miles around and was quite a landmark. all lumber was hauled from Whittemore across the prairie fording the creeks. Carpenters lived with families living nearest the church, sleeping in grainaries and eating all meals with the family. On Sundays, folks would come to see the progress of the building. Carpenters hung ropes from beams for the children to use as swings, great sport for there were no trees from which swings could be hung.
     On September 12, 1892, it was decided to pay the contractor in full by Nov. 15 on condition that he repair the steeple which had already been struck by lightning. A very good bell was hung, to be rung at 9:00 A.M. to announce services that day, and again when services started. The bell began to toll as soon as the custodian could see the funeral procession and continued until the service started. The bell was very much a part of the waking in the New Year, ringing out the old, and ringing in the New; it could be heard for miles on the midnight air. When news came of the end of World War I, the bell was rung with gusto, heralding the good tidings to all within hearing distance.
     Sam Skartvedt, a member of the congregation, built the altar; it was painted white and, in 1905, a painting of Christ on the Cross was added with large letters in gold beneath "Det er fulbragt", translated, "It is finished."
     In 1906, an organ was purchased by the young people; Selma Rustebakke was elected first pianist. Before that S.J. Rustebakke, led the singing. Music has played an important part in the life of the congregation, with a choir usually singing at services thru the year. For many years, there has been both a junior and senior choir-the junior choir singing at the morning service once a month. The two choirs put on a full evening's program before Christmas, a very festive occasion.
     The Sunday School was started and continued intermittently until 1924, when it was reorganized and has continued constantly since, with classes from nursery to adult Bible classes.
     Vacation Bible School has played an important part in training our youth. During the early years, students were employed to teach all summer from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. These students lived in the homes of the parents and were paid by those who had children in school. Now the summer sessions are taught by local residents with no added expense to parents.
     The Young People's organization has been an important factor in our midst all through the years, and many incidents are related that are very interesting, showing their willingness to cope with any problems they encountered.
     Pastors who served St. John's Congregation until 1917 were: Pastor Haug, 1888-1890; J.D. Svalestuen, 1890-1893; A.H. Gjevre, 1903-1907; and L.O. Wigdahl, 1908-1917.
     First salaries were $180 to $200 a year with 3 offerings. In 1908 this was increased to $250 a year and, in 1909, it was $300 a year. By 1914, the pastor was receiving $500 a year.
     Several publications of 1892 are in the cornerstone and are informative and interesting.
     The ladies of the church organized early because they felt the need of fellowship and wanted to do work for the church. They were first known as the Ladies Aid, later the name was changed to Womens Missionary Federation, and was changed again and is now known as the American Lutheran Church Women. We now meet once a month. Occasionally there is a family night wit ha program followed by fellowship hour and lunch.
     Many years ago the men of the church organized a Mission Band, and now the men are known as the Lutheran Church Men, meeting once a month for study and fellowship.
     As years passed, improvements were made. The early kerosene lamps were replaced by gas lights and later a Kohler or Delco electric plant was installed. Coal stoves were replaced by a coal furnace which added much to the comfort of the worshippers. In 1915, the church was raised and a full basement was put under the church; the young people finished the interior and it became the center for the church's social activities.
     The high steeple and the clear ringing bell, no doubt, had a tendency to "draw lightning", as lightning struck it 5 times, the most serious damage being done by a cold bolt during the Twenties. On June 13, 1937, the final blow came when lightning again struck and the church burned to the ground.
     It was decided not to rebuilt on this site but to add to the church in Depew and put in a full basement. This is our present sanctuary for worship.
     In 1957, a new parish unit was built, a fine and useful building consisting of Pastor's study, 8 class rooms, one large assembly room, one smaller assembly room, furnace room, and a very efficient kitchen. A new parsonage was built on property adjoining the church, making it more convenient for the pastor as well as parishioners.
     In 1917 the Cylinder Creek Congregation and St. John's Congregation merged and are known as St. John's Congregation.
     Pastors who have served since the merger are: K.G. Nilsen, 1918-21, with Rev. Monson serving in his place while REv. Nilsen was given a leave of absence for a trip around the world, a trip given him by a friend. Upon his return he resigned. Pastors L.O. Wigdahl, 1921-22; A.K. Gaard, 1922-45; V.G. Gilbertson, 1945-53; Missionary Vorland the summer of 1953; H.L. Norheim, 1953-57. Pastor Sorenson of Emmetsburg, and Pastor Kobtvedt served until the fall of 1958, when Oliver Johnson, and he is still with us, for which we are grateful.
     Sons and daughters of the congregation who have gone to full-time church work are: Pastors Olaf Goving; Norman Nelson; Harold Naig; Dale Mitchell. Anna Marie Mitchell is missionary to Japan. Bertha Solberg Vorland, wife of Gerhard Vorland, missionary to Japan. Lorraine Borkland Foehringer, wife of Pastor Gene Foehringer, in Brazil, S.A. Marie Mitchell Sibrum, wife of Pastor Edw. Sibrum; Rose Marie Naig Otto, wife of Pastor Otto in Springfield, Ill.; Donna Berkland Ismir, wife of Pastor Samih Ismir.
     We are grateful to the members who, as secretaries for the congregation. have left us for posterity accurate records of what has gone on before. All records were written in the Norwegian language until 1932. John Jacobson was secretary for many years and he wrote his parts equally well in English and Norwegian.
          (The above history was submitted by Mrs. Herman Norland, of Cylinder, with editing by Title Atlas Co.)