Sims Evangelical Lutheran Church
4945 Sims Road
Almont, Morton County, North Dakota 58520
4945 Sims Road
Almont, Morton County, North Dakota 58520
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Paul P. Ziner (my Great Grandfather)
Born 26th August 1862 Confirmed16th October 1884 Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sims by Pastor O.J. Norby |
SIMS EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH is rich with history resonating within its walls. Scandinavian immigrants, 35 men and 8 women, met in Sims, Dakota Territory, a then busy pioneer town with free land for homesteading opportunities. The settlers felt a need to establish a place of worship. This unique historic church and parsonage was established in 1884.
October 2008, former First Lady Laura Bush, as honorary chairperson of the SAVE AMERICA'S TREASURERS PROGRAM, chose to visit the oldest Lutheran Church in North Dakota west of the Missouri River. She was quoted as saying, "SHE SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST!"
The parsonage was built first to serve as a home for the pastor. The second story was used for services and Sunday school until the church was completed in 1900. Services and church records were in Norwegian until 1946. Restoration of the parsonage/church was undertaken by the congregational members in 2006 with a grant to Sims Historical Society from "PRESERVATION NORTH DAKOTA" (Preserving Prairie Places) matched by the church along with 2000 hours of volunteer labor.
Sims was once considered as the site for the county seat of Morton County with a population of over 1,500. Today it is a ghost town; however, church services are still held alternate Sundays with the United Lutheran Church of Almont.
Information for North Dakota Tourism
October 2008, former First Lady Laura Bush, as honorary chairperson of the SAVE AMERICA'S TREASURERS PROGRAM, chose to visit the oldest Lutheran Church in North Dakota west of the Missouri River. She was quoted as saying, "SHE SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST!"
The parsonage was built first to serve as a home for the pastor. The second story was used for services and Sunday school until the church was completed in 1900. Services and church records were in Norwegian until 1946. Restoration of the parsonage/church was undertaken by the congregational members in 2006 with a grant to Sims Historical Society from "PRESERVATION NORTH DAKOTA" (Preserving Prairie Places) matched by the church along with 2000 hours of volunteer labor.
Sims was once considered as the site for the county seat of Morton County with a population of over 1,500. Today it is a ghost town; however, church services are still held alternate Sundays with the United Lutheran Church of Almont.
Information for North Dakota Tourism
At that time the mines at Sims employed upwards of 175 men, and the brick factory workers numbered about 200. The miners and brick factory laborers had established homes in the area, but the developing community had no resident minister. The Swedish Lutheran Church of Bismarck helped by sending two of its ministers out to conduct services two or three times a year, namely a Rev. Carlson and Rev. Cavalein.
In 1879 the Northern Pacific surveyed and laid out the townsite of Sims. That same year a young Norwegian was ordained in the Trinity Lutheran Church at Rushford, MN, a Rev. Ole J. Norby. Rev. Norby then went to Yankton and Turner counties in southern Dakota Territory to begin his ministry. It was in 1884, at 29 years of age, that Rev. Norby visited the Sims community for the first time. This visit convinced him that a church would be successful. He returned to the East, however, after meeting (on Sept. 30) with those interested in organizing a congregation. These pioneers laid the foundation for the congregation at that time.
CHARTER MEMBERS
Ole Reinersten Feland, Reinert Gabrielson, Carl Knudsen Midboi, Marie Treeland, Nicolai Ostreng, B.T. Ramstand, Christian Thomsen, Carl P. Andersen, Ingeborg Wang, Staale Sakarisen, Tobias Samuelsen Aas, Ole Wettestad, Elizabeth Johnson, Ole Narvig, Ricard Olson, Theodor Feland, Abraham Elias Olson, Jacob Bernetsen, Theodor Samuelson, Olaus Hanson, Adrianne Johnson, Sakarias Egen Mathias Hanson, Jacob Olsen, Lars Wang, Elias Larson, Maria Larsen, Gabriel Petersen, Staale Johnson, Hans Paulsen, Jacob Bernetsen, Berndt Selius Olson, A. Amdal, Svend Johnson, Theodor Ramsland, Aanen Johnson, Berthe Treeland, Bolette Ostreng, Tobias Larson, Sine Ramsland, Surine Thomsen, Caroline Andersen, Amund Pedersen, Christin Pedersen, Tomine Johnson, Hans Pedersen, Arijan J. Johnson, Daniel Danielsen, Anders P. Neilsen, John Olin
While Rev. Norby was back East, the newly organized group began building the two-story parsonage which served as a home for the minister and a place of worship for the community. The first worship services were conducted on the second floor of the brick structure, located on land donated by B.T. Ramsland in the Terre Cotte addition and paid for by donations from the residents. Rev. O.J. Norby accepted the call of the community and moved to Sims in 1885, at which time he finalized the organization of the congregation. The Augustana Synod's Constitution had been the guideline for the congregation which chose the name, Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Sims. The Hauge's Psalm Book was chosen for use by the church members. The minister's territory extended over the northern half of the state, close to the Canadian border and west to Montana. In 1893 Rev. Norby accepted a call to Wisconsin and shortly thereafter Rev. T.K. Gaustad became the minister. He immediately began planning for a new church structure. Rev. Gaustad was credited with the successful financing of the building. Mrs. Gaustad and the ladies of the church held little parties, food sales, and programs to help raise funds for the new church building. The congregation purchased an abandoned building in downtown Sims and with the salvaged material from this torn-down building they built the frame for the now-standing structure. Work progressed slowly. The members worked when they had time and money to buy supplies, piecemeal style. Before the building was completed, a “cyclone" struck and leveled the building. Taking hardships in stride, the settlers rebuilt the church, having its dedication in 1900. Because there was no furniture in the church, Rick Olson brought a stock trough to church to be used for a kneeler when Holy Communion was held.
The pioneer women of the Sims Ladies' Aid worked to help fund the structure. Not only did they help pay for the building itself, but they also purchased a pulp it, altar, organ, and divided the upstairs of the parsonage into three rooms. Pews were purchased in 1903, as well as the bell with a Norwegian inscription on its surface. The church was lifted and a basement dug underneath in 1915. The “pike forening" helped to raise money for this project. The altar painting based on Math. 14: 22 -34 was painted by P. Holmboe - 1905 - from a picture by Pluckhorst. Nicolai Ostreng made the baptismal font, hand carving the design on the wooden structure to match the altar and pulpit, rubbing carbonized wooden matches into the wet, white paint, resulting in a marble look finished product. The hymn board was purchased for the church by the Sunshine Club, a group of young girls who made and sold handwork. The frosted window glass was donated to the church by Mrs. Oscar Olin and sons in 1944.
Rev. G.N. lsolany accepted a call to serve the Sims congregation, replacing Rev. Gaustad who had left the year before. While lsolany served the church, the Ladies' Aid held ice cream socials on Sunday afternoons and weekday evenings to help fund the church. The Aid also held a " sale and supper" in the fall for church and mission support. This sale and supper consisted of a feast followed by an auction of the donated handwork from all members of the church.
The church was first heated by a coal stove that stood in the front of the church, later by a coal furnace and now a propane furnace. Many cold Sunday mornings a designated church member would walk, ride horseback or drive a team to the church to start the fire and heat the church before worship services.
Kerosene lamps were the first type of lighting to be used. There were two chandeliers extending from the ceiling with six lamps placed in a circle on each. Gas lamps were the next form of lighting, followed by a windcharger built by Rev. C.O. Brecto. When the electric lines reached the area in 1950, electricity then became the mode of lighting.
The ministers that served Sims served other points also. While Rev. Norby was at Sims he organized the Mandan Lutheran Church and traveled to Taylor to minister. After the congregation organized at Almont in 1915, the two parishes maintained a pastor together. These pastors served the Sims parish: Rev. O.J. Norby, 1884-1893; Rev. T. K. Gaustad, 1893-1906; Rev. G.N. lsolany, 1907-1912; Rev. L.A. Breen, 1912-1916; Rev. L.D. Dordal, 1916-1918; Rev. H. D. Halvorson, 1918-1919; Rev. T.H. Larson, 1920-1923; Rev. J. Thornell, 1924-1928; Rev. I.G. Monson, 1928-1930; Rev. Lars Foss, 1930-1931; Rev. Carl G. Nelson, 1931-1936; Rev. R.P. Haakenson, 1936-1937; Rev. C.O. Brecto, 1938-1943; Rev. Rev. O. L. Olsrud, C.J . Fylling, 1943-1953; Rev. N. Jolivette, 1953-1956; 1957-1966; Rev. Leo Anderson, 1968-1969; Richard Durkop, 1969-1971; Rev. Douglas Brandt 1971-1975, and Rev. John Leitel, 1975.
The first officers in the Sims congregation were Staale Johnson, Christ Thomsen, B. Ramsland, A.J. Johnson, Amund Pedersen, Aanen Johnson, Tobias Larson, N. Ostreng, Svend Johnson, Sakarias Egen, Mathias Hanson and Jacob Olson.
The first baptisms in the congregation were Andrew Sims and Anna Petrina Johnson, Oct. 20, 1884. The first couple married were John Olin and Tobine Jacobson, Oct. 19, 1884. The first confirmed one was Anna Tobine Thomson, Oct. 10, 1887. And Ole Ramsland and Dena Ramsland were the first confirmed in the present church edifice.
The Sims church building has been a landmark on the Dakota prairie from the building of the railroad and the settling of the prairie by the pioneers on through the removal of the railroad and up to this nuclear age. This church is a symbol of a prairie heritage and our prairie roots.
The present-day Harvest Festival and Blanket Drive has replaced the sale and supper as a means of church and mission support.
The 1981 Sims Church Officers are: Joel Johnson, president; Jake Larson, vice president; Jeanette Anderson, secretary; Willard Johnson, treasurer; Deacons are Larvel Anderson and Richard Severson, with Lorna Bender, the deaconess; Trustees are Ray Olin, Milton Johnson and Karen Severson.
Info from - Amont: Welcome to Almont 1906-1981 (pages 114-115)
In 1879 the Northern Pacific surveyed and laid out the townsite of Sims. That same year a young Norwegian was ordained in the Trinity Lutheran Church at Rushford, MN, a Rev. Ole J. Norby. Rev. Norby then went to Yankton and Turner counties in southern Dakota Territory to begin his ministry. It was in 1884, at 29 years of age, that Rev. Norby visited the Sims community for the first time. This visit convinced him that a church would be successful. He returned to the East, however, after meeting (on Sept. 30) with those interested in organizing a congregation. These pioneers laid the foundation for the congregation at that time.
CHARTER MEMBERS
Ole Reinersten Feland, Reinert Gabrielson, Carl Knudsen Midboi, Marie Treeland, Nicolai Ostreng, B.T. Ramstand, Christian Thomsen, Carl P. Andersen, Ingeborg Wang, Staale Sakarisen, Tobias Samuelsen Aas, Ole Wettestad, Elizabeth Johnson, Ole Narvig, Ricard Olson, Theodor Feland, Abraham Elias Olson, Jacob Bernetsen, Theodor Samuelson, Olaus Hanson, Adrianne Johnson, Sakarias Egen Mathias Hanson, Jacob Olsen, Lars Wang, Elias Larson, Maria Larsen, Gabriel Petersen, Staale Johnson, Hans Paulsen, Jacob Bernetsen, Berndt Selius Olson, A. Amdal, Svend Johnson, Theodor Ramsland, Aanen Johnson, Berthe Treeland, Bolette Ostreng, Tobias Larson, Sine Ramsland, Surine Thomsen, Caroline Andersen, Amund Pedersen, Christin Pedersen, Tomine Johnson, Hans Pedersen, Arijan J. Johnson, Daniel Danielsen, Anders P. Neilsen, John Olin
While Rev. Norby was back East, the newly organized group began building the two-story parsonage which served as a home for the minister and a place of worship for the community. The first worship services were conducted on the second floor of the brick structure, located on land donated by B.T. Ramsland in the Terre Cotte addition and paid for by donations from the residents. Rev. O.J. Norby accepted the call of the community and moved to Sims in 1885, at which time he finalized the organization of the congregation. The Augustana Synod's Constitution had been the guideline for the congregation which chose the name, Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Sims. The Hauge's Psalm Book was chosen for use by the church members. The minister's territory extended over the northern half of the state, close to the Canadian border and west to Montana. In 1893 Rev. Norby accepted a call to Wisconsin and shortly thereafter Rev. T.K. Gaustad became the minister. He immediately began planning for a new church structure. Rev. Gaustad was credited with the successful financing of the building. Mrs. Gaustad and the ladies of the church held little parties, food sales, and programs to help raise funds for the new church building. The congregation purchased an abandoned building in downtown Sims and with the salvaged material from this torn-down building they built the frame for the now-standing structure. Work progressed slowly. The members worked when they had time and money to buy supplies, piecemeal style. Before the building was completed, a “cyclone" struck and leveled the building. Taking hardships in stride, the settlers rebuilt the church, having its dedication in 1900. Because there was no furniture in the church, Rick Olson brought a stock trough to church to be used for a kneeler when Holy Communion was held.
The pioneer women of the Sims Ladies' Aid worked to help fund the structure. Not only did they help pay for the building itself, but they also purchased a pulp it, altar, organ, and divided the upstairs of the parsonage into three rooms. Pews were purchased in 1903, as well as the bell with a Norwegian inscription on its surface. The church was lifted and a basement dug underneath in 1915. The “pike forening" helped to raise money for this project. The altar painting based on Math. 14: 22 -34 was painted by P. Holmboe - 1905 - from a picture by Pluckhorst. Nicolai Ostreng made the baptismal font, hand carving the design on the wooden structure to match the altar and pulpit, rubbing carbonized wooden matches into the wet, white paint, resulting in a marble look finished product. The hymn board was purchased for the church by the Sunshine Club, a group of young girls who made and sold handwork. The frosted window glass was donated to the church by Mrs. Oscar Olin and sons in 1944.
Rev. G.N. lsolany accepted a call to serve the Sims congregation, replacing Rev. Gaustad who had left the year before. While lsolany served the church, the Ladies' Aid held ice cream socials on Sunday afternoons and weekday evenings to help fund the church. The Aid also held a " sale and supper" in the fall for church and mission support. This sale and supper consisted of a feast followed by an auction of the donated handwork from all members of the church.
The church was first heated by a coal stove that stood in the front of the church, later by a coal furnace and now a propane furnace. Many cold Sunday mornings a designated church member would walk, ride horseback or drive a team to the church to start the fire and heat the church before worship services.
Kerosene lamps were the first type of lighting to be used. There were two chandeliers extending from the ceiling with six lamps placed in a circle on each. Gas lamps were the next form of lighting, followed by a windcharger built by Rev. C.O. Brecto. When the electric lines reached the area in 1950, electricity then became the mode of lighting.
The ministers that served Sims served other points also. While Rev. Norby was at Sims he organized the Mandan Lutheran Church and traveled to Taylor to minister. After the congregation organized at Almont in 1915, the two parishes maintained a pastor together. These pastors served the Sims parish: Rev. O.J. Norby, 1884-1893; Rev. T. K. Gaustad, 1893-1906; Rev. G.N. lsolany, 1907-1912; Rev. L.A. Breen, 1912-1916; Rev. L.D. Dordal, 1916-1918; Rev. H. D. Halvorson, 1918-1919; Rev. T.H. Larson, 1920-1923; Rev. J. Thornell, 1924-1928; Rev. I.G. Monson, 1928-1930; Rev. Lars Foss, 1930-1931; Rev. Carl G. Nelson, 1931-1936; Rev. R.P. Haakenson, 1936-1937; Rev. C.O. Brecto, 1938-1943; Rev. Rev. O. L. Olsrud, C.J . Fylling, 1943-1953; Rev. N. Jolivette, 1953-1956; 1957-1966; Rev. Leo Anderson, 1968-1969; Richard Durkop, 1969-1971; Rev. Douglas Brandt 1971-1975, and Rev. John Leitel, 1975.
The first officers in the Sims congregation were Staale Johnson, Christ Thomsen, B. Ramsland, A.J. Johnson, Amund Pedersen, Aanen Johnson, Tobias Larson, N. Ostreng, Svend Johnson, Sakarias Egen, Mathias Hanson and Jacob Olson.
The first baptisms in the congregation were Andrew Sims and Anna Petrina Johnson, Oct. 20, 1884. The first couple married were John Olin and Tobine Jacobson, Oct. 19, 1884. The first confirmed one was Anna Tobine Thomson, Oct. 10, 1887. And Ole Ramsland and Dena Ramsland were the first confirmed in the present church edifice.
The Sims church building has been a landmark on the Dakota prairie from the building of the railroad and the settling of the prairie by the pioneers on through the removal of the railroad and up to this nuclear age. This church is a symbol of a prairie heritage and our prairie roots.
The present-day Harvest Festival and Blanket Drive has replaced the sale and supper as a means of church and mission support.
The 1981 Sims Church Officers are: Joel Johnson, president; Jake Larson, vice president; Jeanette Anderson, secretary; Willard Johnson, treasurer; Deacons are Larvel Anderson and Richard Severson, with Lorna Bender, the deaconess; Trustees are Ray Olin, Milton Johnson and Karen Severson.
Info from - Amont: Welcome to Almont 1906-1981 (pages 114-115)