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About the year 1858 Walker in Marine presented a petition
signed by settlers to the governor requesting that the Indians,
who by their hunting had wrought such great destruction among
the wild animals of the woods, especially the deer, should be
driven from the settlement. This request was granted, and, by
order of the Governor, the redskins were removed without further
demonstrations. Since then the farmers have been freed from
the red aborigines’ disagreeable proximity.
The increasing immigration during recent years has considerably
increased the number of people in the settlement. Most of
the Swedish immigrants professed the Evangelical Lutheran faith.
The little church by Long Lake was soon found too small and
inadequate to provide room for all the worshippers who gathered
there to hear the Gospel preached. In the year 1857 it was
decided that a new and larger church should be built on a more
centrally located place. The number of families that belonged
to the Swedish Lutheran church was twenty-eight. Since most of
the newcomers had settled in town 32, it was decided that the
new church should be built further to the north. The building
was started during the same year, or 1857, but was not completely
finished and furnished until 1863. The church, which was built
without a steeple, was forty-eight feet long, twenty-two feet wide,
and sixteen feet high on the sides. It was lined with boards on
the inside, but, with the exception of the pulpit and altar ring,
was not painted. The cost of the church was about $1,400.
In the parish records for January 18, 1859, we find that
Rev. J. P. C. Boreen then acted as chairman. Whether this
Boreen was living within the settlement or if he was the regular
pastor of the congregation we have not been able to ascertain.
The first Lutheran preacher who resided here was John Pehrson
who performed the pastoral duties within the congregation from
1860 to 1863. Pastor Pehrson often visited the Swedish Lutheran
settlers in Afton in the southern part of Washington County and
conducted church services. At this time we often heard mentioned
the first Swede within the settlement that held any office. He
was A. P. Jönson, who in 1860 was elected supervisor. This
position was later held for several years by Johan Svenson from
Goose Lake.
When the great American Civil War broke out in 1861, and
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