North Prairie Lutheran Church
48°23'22.1"N 99°25'42.4"W
48.389460, -99.428450
57th Ave. NE
Leeds, Springfield Township, Towner County, North Dakota
48°23'22.1"N 99°25'42.4"W
48.389460, -99.428450
57th Ave. NE
Leeds, Springfield Township, Towner County, North Dakota
In 1897 the North Prairie Lutheran Church was organized at the home of Julius Lee, Charter members were the following men and their families: Julius and Albert Lee, Hans Loet, T. A. Skeie, Reier Larson, Jorgen Johnson, Lewis Larson, Ole Erckvam, John Hall and Ole Undeberg. Bachelor members were John Fosen, Andrew Bratlee, Knut Fosaaen, Carl Hermendsen, Ole Johnson, Lars Wahl, Lars and John Meland, Ole Braaten, L. A. Birkland, Arne Berven, and Aanun Straabe. The Rev. A. A. Brunsvold was called at: a yearly salary of $125.
The first baptism on record in the N.P. Congregation is that of Grace Skeie Husie; the first marriage, that of Mr. and Mrs. Ole Rodland. Two ladies aids were organized in 1900. In 1922 these two groups reorganized into one group, the present N.P. Ladies Aid.
The Congregation met in homes and schoolhouses until 1916 when the N.P. Church was built. This church has continued to be the center of community activity throughout the years. Rev, Brunsvold served Ihe congregation from 1897 to 1918, Rev. H. C. Casperson from 1918 to 1922, and Rev. A. L. Larson from 1923 to 1949. Since that time the Rev. J. S. Dahlen has been the pastor.
Families other than those of homesteaders who have had an important part in the development of Springfield are those of Ole Nestegard (1901), Victor Skold (1908), Herman and Carl Johnson (1911), Ed Smith (1911), Hans Erickson (1914), Ray Bulman (1914), and Hjalmar Rongstad (1919), Gust Nelson came from Sweden in 1906 and Peter Bratlee from Norway in 1908 and are still living in this community.
Of the men who filed on homesteads in Springfield three are still living: T. A. Skeie, David Ahlberg, and Tom Solheim. Mr. Skeie is also the only living charter member of the North Prairie Congregation. Wives of pioneers still living are Mrs. Knut Sexhus, Mrs. David Ahlberg, Mrs. Andrew Bratlee, Mrs. Win. Dunlap, Mrs. Joe Smith, and Mrs. Otto Anderson.
Information: Seventy-Five Years Leeds & York 1886–1961 (pages 75 thru 76)
The first baptism on record in the N.P. Congregation is that of Grace Skeie Husie; the first marriage, that of Mr. and Mrs. Ole Rodland. Two ladies aids were organized in 1900. In 1922 these two groups reorganized into one group, the present N.P. Ladies Aid.
The Congregation met in homes and schoolhouses until 1916 when the N.P. Church was built. This church has continued to be the center of community activity throughout the years. Rev, Brunsvold served Ihe congregation from 1897 to 1918, Rev. H. C. Casperson from 1918 to 1922, and Rev. A. L. Larson from 1923 to 1949. Since that time the Rev. J. S. Dahlen has been the pastor.
Families other than those of homesteaders who have had an important part in the development of Springfield are those of Ole Nestegard (1901), Victor Skold (1908), Herman and Carl Johnson (1911), Ed Smith (1911), Hans Erickson (1914), Ray Bulman (1914), and Hjalmar Rongstad (1919), Gust Nelson came from Sweden in 1906 and Peter Bratlee from Norway in 1908 and are still living in this community.
Of the men who filed on homesteads in Springfield three are still living: T. A. Skeie, David Ahlberg, and Tom Solheim. Mr. Skeie is also the only living charter member of the North Prairie Congregation. Wives of pioneers still living are Mrs. Knut Sexhus, Mrs. David Ahlberg, Mrs. Andrew Bratlee, Mrs. Win. Dunlap, Mrs. Joe Smith, and Mrs. Otto Anderson.
Information: Seventy-Five Years Leeds & York 1886–1961 (pages 75 thru 76)