Rev. T. A. Torgerson: History of Worth County

The following general view of the history of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Silver Lake and its adjoining sister congregations connected with it, was prepared by Rev. T. A. Torgeson:

The Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran settlers in the northern part of Worth and Winnebago Counties, Iowa, and their neighbors in the southern part of Freeborn Co., Minn., had at first for about five years to go to St. Ansgar, Mitchell Co., Iowa, a distance of 18 to 40 miles, to hear the word of God preached in their vernacular tongue, to have the holy sacraments administered unto them, and to have their young people confirmed. The first divine service they enjoyed in this neighborhood, was held on the 20th day of July, 1858, at the house of Mr. L. L. Lobergt in Silver Lake township, by Rev. A. C. Preus, deceased, from Dane Co., Wis., then president of the Synod for the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, commonly called the Norwegian Synod. The day following, he preached in Hartland township.

Rev. C. L. Clausen, then residing at St. Ansgar, introducing, at a later period, four articles, setting forth fundamental principles for a Church organization and its future existence and development, organized the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran congregation of Silver Lake for the farmers at Lime Creek, near Silver Lake and in the vicinity of Bristol, Worth Co., Iowa, and in the vicinity of State Line, in Freeborn Co., Minn. About forty families joined. These were thinly spread over a district about thirteen miles in length on both sides of the State line and about eight miles wide, in the following townships: In the western part of Hartland, in Silver Lake, in the northern part of Bristol, Worth county, in the northern part of Norway, Winnebago Co., Iowa, and in the southern part of Freeman and Nunda, Freeborn Co., Minn.

He also organized the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran congregation of Shell Rock, between the one above described, and Northwood. The first mentioned congregation was soon divided into two, the western occupying the name of the N. E. L. congregation of Lime Creek, and the eastern retaining the old name.

Divine service was held in each of these congregations from once to four times every year by Rev. A. C. Preus, before mentioned, by Rev. V. Koren, of Winneshiek Co., Iowa, now president of the Iowa district in the Norwegian Synod, by Rev.. F. C. Clausen, deceased, of Spring Grove, Houston Co., Minn., and by Rev. E. L. Clausen. In the fall of the year, 1864, these three congregations, uniting themselves into one ecclesiastical society, sent a writ of authority to the Church council of the Norwegian Synod to call and appoint a minister of the Gospel for them. The diploma of vocation was signed by Simon Thorstensen and Niels Andersen, trustees of the congregation of Silver Lake, Niels Hansen, Guldbrand Dal and Halvor Halvorsen, trustees of the congregation of Shell Rock, and Hellek Knudsen and Niels Bergersen, trustees of the congregation of Lime Creek.

But Jan. 14, l865, at the school house near Silver Lake, through the efforts of Mr. C. L. Clausen and others, being at variance with the synod in regard to the scriptural and Lutheran doctrine concerning the Sunday and slavery, it was resolved to retract said writ of authority. As it was not specified when the time and place for the meeting was appointed by Mr. C. L. Clausen, that the retraction of the writ of authority aforesaid would be a subject for deliberation and resolution, and as the chairman did not bring this important matter before the meeting before towards evening, when many members, not being initiated in the secret scheme, had left, this transaction caused much grief and discontent in the hearts of many, as soon as it had become generally known. At a numerous joint meeting, however, of the congregations at the school house last mentioned, May 18 and 19, of the same year, where the reverend gentlemen H. A. Preus, of Columbia Co., Wis., president of the synod and the Church council, I. A. Ottesen, of Dane Co., Wis., V. Koren and C. L. Clausen were present, and where those points of doctrine were discussed, it was unanimously resolved, by the advice of all the ministers present, that the retraction aforesaid should be null and void, and that said writ of authority should be valid.

Mr. T. A. Torgeson, a candidate of theology from the Theological Concordia Seminary, at St. Louis, Mo., accepted the call extended to him by the Church council in behalf of the congregations aforesaid, was ordained July 23, 1865, by Rev. H. A. Preus, and installed by Rev. C. L. Clausen, August 19, at a school house near Mr. Mikkel Paulson, in the congregation of Shell Rock, the next day being the tenth Sunday after Trinity, at the school house by Silver Lake, in the congregation of Silver Lake, and the day following at the house of Mr. Halvor Pedersen, in the congregation of Lime Creek. Aug. 22, 1865, he held the first divine service at Elk Grove, in a school house about half a mile south from Erik Nielsen Jorde, the Norwegian Evangelical Lutherans in this neighborhood, then belonging to the congregation of Silver Lake. The congregations before mentioned constituted a body corporate to all intents and purposes, peculiar to an Evangelical Lutheran society, although neither articles of incorporation, nor an explicit constitution and by-laws had been accepted by a joint meeting of the same. By tacit agreement, however, it was well understood that each congregation should have full power to regulate its own affairs, elect trustees, appoint committees for certain purposes, erect a church edifice, etc. Matters concerning them all had to be acted upon at a joint meeting of the congregations. Documents of the description and to the effect just mentioned, were adopted, as soon as it was considered proper. The N. E. L. congregation of Round Prairie, previously organized by Rev. C. L. Clausen, was soon admitted to the corporation. Before the said installment the three united congregations had purchased 160 acres of uncultivated land in Silver Lake township, upon which a dwelling house and barn for the use of the pastor were built, in the summer of 1866, at the cost of about $3,000. In the meanwhile the corporation rented two rooms at the house of Mr. Erick Ellingson, and the necessary stabling for $2 a month.

Although it was well understood at the joint meeting in May, 1865, the candidate, to whom the Church council would extend the call, in regard to the disputed points, held the doctrines, hitherto taught by all the ministers of the synod, except the Rev. C. L. Clausen, and although the minister last mentioned, at the said installment, advised members of the congregations, who were of the same opinion with him, to discontinue all further controversy, both he and they, before long, acted to the contrary. A long and tedious contest ensued. Here is not the place to enter into details concerning this lamentable strife. Let it suffice to state the result. The party disagreeing with the Synod, severed, without just cause, and in an unchristian manner, its connection with this body, the minister and the congregations. Those being faithful to the Lutheran doctrine and principles of Church government, to the symbolical books of the N. E. L. Church, to the constitution and by-laws and articles of incorporation previously accepted by the congregations, and the minister, and having eleven of the twelve trustees on their side, held that they were entitled to the property of the corporation; but not wishing to have any further dispute, made the party, who May 21, 1869, had withdrawn from them, the day following, the alternative offer, namely to refund its contributions towards purchasing the quarter section of land, before mentioned, and the improvement thereon, and to keep the parsonage, or to accept what they themselves had contributed to said purpose and to leave the parsonage with the seceding party. This party, now belonging to the Norwegian Danish Conference, accepting the latter term, a farm, containing 141 acres of land, and affording the necessary conveniences, for the time being, situated in Bristol township, about four miles south from the old parsonage, was bought by the association for the sum of $3,000. Dec. 1, 1869, this new parsonage was occupied by the minister and his family.

– Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregations Divided into Western and Eastern –

In the year 1873 the parish of Silver Lake built a church on its cemetery lot near the parsonage in Bristol township, the main part being 36x50 feet, 20 feet high, with a steeple 86 feet in height, and additions for the pulpit, altar and baptismal fount, and also the vestry, which with later improvements have cost about $3,000. In the year 1876 the charge of Pastor Torgeson was divided into two, the western comprising the N. E. L. congregations of Silver Lake, Concordia and Lime Creek, and the eastern including the N. E. L. congregations of Shell Rock, Round Prairie, Elk Grove, Northwood, London and “Our Saviour, at Six Mile Grove.”

The congregation of Concordia had hitherto constituted the southern part of Silver Lake. The congregation of Elk Grove was now put on equal footing with those of Shell Rock and Round Prairie. The congregation of Northwood was organized by Pastor Torgerson Dec. 2, 1873. It had been a missionary station until 1867, when it was incorporated with the other three congregations last mentioned. The congregation of London, Freeborn Co. Minn., was also organized by him Aug. 8, 1875; likewise the congregation of Our Saviour at Six Mile Grove, Mower Co., Minn., June 21, 1870. Those two congregations had also been missionary stations before the division in 1876, aforesaid, and continued in this relation to the eastern charge with Northwood as center. The western charge, by agreement, paid the eastern $1,000 for its share in the parsonage in Bristol township. It was left with the old minister to decide, what charge he would choose, and he concluded to stay at his old residence. The eastern charge extended a call to Mr. J. Nordby, then a candidate of theology from the aforesaid Concordia Seminary. He accepted the call and took up his abode at Northwood, where his charge had bought half a square with a dwelling house on for a patronage.

In the summer of 1881 a substantial and commodious frame dwelling house was erected for a parsonage in Bristol township at the expense of about $3,000. No debt encumbers the corporation on this account. The contributions necessary were now, as ever, all raised through voluntary subscriptions by the members of the association.

The minister is, ex-officio, the regular chairman of each and every meeting. If he be not present, or circumstances call for another, a chairman pro tem. is elected. The number at present members of the association are in the congregation of Silver Lake thirty families, of Concordia forty-five families, and of Lime Creek, fifty-five families.

Parochial school for religious instruction is kept at different places in each congregation six to eight months yearly. Mr. P. Otterson, being the teacher at present in the congregation of Silver Lake, G. M. Opsund and others in the congregation of Concordia and A. P. Ness in the congregation of Lime Creek. In some parts Sunday school is kept by the teacher of the parochial school. Besides being self-supporting the congregations have annually contributed $300 to $400 to the educational and missionary work, carried on by the Norwegian synod and other Evangelical Lutheran bodies.

The above is a brief sketch of the external history of the N. E. L. congregation of Silver Lake and sister congregations, from time to time connected with it, during the first twenty-five years of its existence. Here is not the place to give an internal history of the said Church, to describe the work done in order to rescue the dearly redeemed souls from the kingdom of darkness and secure them to the rock of salvation. Jesus Christ, God and man, our beloved Savior, to further the growth in the knowledge of the heavenly truth revealed in holy scripture, in the living faith “which worketh by love,” to reject seducing doctrines, to raise the fallen, to strengthen the weak, to console the afflicted, to visit the sick, to encourage the dying, to rebuke offenders and to exclude the refractory and impenitent. Our Heavenly Father has bestowed mercy upon us. He has not rejected us, as we had deserved, but for the sake of the obedience, suffering and death of his only begotten son, our beloved Redeemer, He has upheld his holy means, the word and the sacraments in our midst, and through them poured his heavenly blessings upon us by the work of the Holy Ghost. May his word be our guide in life and death. Deo soli gloria!

The oldest Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran minister of the gospel, who settled in Worth county, is Rev. T. A. Torgerson. He was born the 26th day of January 1838, in the southern part of Norway, at the “iron works of Ness,” one of the most beautiful spots in that romantic kingdom. His father managed a fine botanical garden with greenhouses containing plants from the remotest lands of the globe. His kind-hearted mother died two years and a half after the deliverance of this her third child, and he was brought up by her parents in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, with great tenderness and care. He was baptised in infancy, as customary in the Lutheran Church, and taught the Evangelical Lutheran doctrine. When he was three years old his grandparents sent him to a private school and from the age of six he went to the excellent public school of the place about eleven months every year, until he was confirmed, in the spring of 1853, when he emigrated to this country, together with his father, stepmother, brothers and sisters and other relatives. The winter 1853-4, his parents residing in the village of Winneconne, Winnebago Co., Wis., he spent by going to school in the country, a few miles distant, in order to be instructed in the English language. The summer following he moved with the rest of the family to Scandinavia, Waupacca Co., Wis., where his father finally settled as a farmer, and where he is still living and doing well. The next three years he earned money in the city of Stevens Point, and other places, assisting his father in providing for his large family. After that time he worked on the farm at home until the fall 1858. Through the instrumentality of his pastor, Rev. O. F. Duns, whose memory is ever dear to him, his heart was revived by the sacred power of the word of the only living God, and he became zealous to spend his life in the service of his dear Lord Jesus Christ, who had shed his precious blood for him, a poor sinner, and has bestowed his bountiful mercy upon him through living faith in him, his beloved Savior. Incited by this reverend gentleman, and with the consent of his parents, he concluded to study theology and prepare for the ministry.

“The Synod for the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,” commonly called “The Norwegian Synod,” to which he belonged, had, at that early period, no college and theological seminary of its own. But the synod, having previously, through delegates, investigated the institutions of higher learning in different older Lutheran synods of the land, had made arrangements with “The German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other States,” generally styled “The Missouri Synod,” to have our young men educated at its college and theological seminary, both at that time located in the city of St. Louis, Mo. Nine years was the regular time required for students to finish their studies at these institutions. Mr. Torgeson entered the college Sept. 1, 1858, and graduated at the seminary June 27, 1865. Out of the number of the many able professors and highly esteemed teachers of these institutions let it suffice to mention only one here, the world-renowned Right Rev. C. F. W. Walther, D. D., Professor of Theology, at the said seminary, by all Lutherans in the land, true to the symbolical books of our Church, regarded as the greatest instrumentality of the Lord in this country in restoring the holy scriptural light, the true apostolical doctrine and the living faith and the unflinching fidelity in prostrating false doctrines and confessing and defending the genuine biblical truth, the Christian charity, the brotherly love, the self-denial, etc., of the glorious Lutheran reformation to the Lutheran Church in this country. The Missouri Synod has, through the blessing of God, experienced an external and internal growth, as it seems, almost unparalleled in the history of the Church, secondary, perhaps, only to the days of the apostles and the sixteenth century. His influence for good is felt and the sweet fruit of his long heaven-blessed labor is gathered also in Europe, especially in Germany, and even in the far Australia.

Mr. Torgeson accepted a call, extended to him by the Church council of the Norwegian Synod, from the N. E. L. congregations of Shell Rock, Silver Lake and Lime Creek, in Worth and Winnebago counties, Iowa, and the southern part of Freeborn Co., Minn., was ordained an Evangelical Lutheran minister of the Gospel July 23, by Kev. N. A. Preus, of Columbia Co., Wis., the general president of the Norwegian Synod, and installed by Rev. C. L. Clausen, then residing at St. Ansgar, the 19th and the following days of August, 1865. His field of labor was soon greatly extended. Not only did he permanently become identified with two more places of public worship in his original charge, at Elk Grove and at Round Prairie, but he being that minister of the synod who was located farthest west in this part of the country, was, in the fall of the year last mentioned, called upon and cheerfully went to break the bread of life for Norwegian Lutherans, that were like sheep without a shepherd, in the counties of Winnebago and Emmett, Iowa, and Freeborn, Fairbault and Jackson counties, Minn. At a later period he had regular appointments at Wesley, Algona, Noli and West Homestead, in Kossuth and Humbolt counties, Iowa, and also in Nevada, Mower Co., Minn. The district he was working in was about 150 miles long east and west and fifty miles wide, the number of places at which he for years had appointments to meet amounted to as many as eighteen and for a short time even to twenty-three. Still he held divine service in his regular charge as frequently as it was his duty to do so, if he had had no other congregations to tend to.

At the beginning of his stay here he found shelter at the house of Mr Erik Ellingsen, one of the pioneers of Silver Lake township, who, with his family, bestowed much kindness upon him. A deeply felt sense of gratitude prompts him to say that they, with a good many other members, have continued to manifest much benevolence to him and his family.

The 10th of June, 1866, he was married to Dina Anderson, a daughter of Bjorn Anderson and wife, Abel Catherine, of Dane Co., Wis. Late in the fall of the same year they moved into the parsonage, in Silver Lake township, and occupied it about three years. Here their first born child saw the light of this world July 6, 1867. He was a fine and healthy boy, but suddenly he was taken sick with cholera infantum October 10 of the same year and departed this life the next day in the evening, having been sick about thirty hours. On the 1st day of December, 1869, he, with wife and child, moved to the new parsonage, situated in Bristol township, about four miles south from their former residence, and here he is still residing. Mr. and Mrs. Torgeson are now blessed with six children, living, all boys, ranging from the age of one to fifteen years.

Pastor Torgeson has now charge of the N. E. L. congregations of Silver Lake, Lime Creek and Concordia and eleven other ministers of the same synod having accepted calls from the other parts of his field of labor before described. Four years ago a call was extended to him from congregations in Allamakee Co., Iowa, but his old charge, by a vote of eighty-nine against six, expressing its wish for him to remain here, and as it could not approve the arguments adduced by Rev. V. Koren for his removal, he concluded to stay and declined to accept the new call. From Sept. 1, 1881, to June 13, the year following, he supplied the place of a professor of theology at the theological seminary, Madison, Wis., during the absence of one of the professors at that institution.

Although he has had a good deal of traveling to do, much hard work to perform, some trials and hardships to endure and encounter, he is still, through the grace of God, enjoying a good health and Vigor. His labor in the vineyard of the Lord has certainly not been in vain. He could, from his own experience, relate many instances, giving striking evidence of the soul saving power and praiseworthy mercy, contained in the word of “The Good Shepherd,” and exercised through the instrumentality of this humble servant of the Lord, but refrains from doing it here. His dearest hope on earth is that he, together with many dearer souls committed to his care, shall praise the Lord of mercy in the heavenly mansions.

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