The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1881-07-07
BLAINE,
Sa6.,v nfkiafa
TINE TOWN OF LINDseoRo.

LINDsBORG, kANs., July I, 1881.
EDITOR JOURNAL: With your per-
mission | will drop line for the read
ers of the JOURNAL from this quiet
town.
Fifteen years last spring saw the
first herd OF buffalo where this pleas
ant village now is built. Then there
were only two houses, or dug-outs, In
all this naturally beautiful valley. hut
now il is one Of the best improved, UNI
der high state Of cultivation, and
this is one Of the most prosperous
tow nships In Kansas.
This Smoky Hill township Ii settled
with many Americans. But the Swed-
ish population pretiominstes To a large
degree.
The building committee Of the Beth
any Lutheran church nj this plAre
have contracted with the undersigned
for the plsstering Of their house OF
worship. This contract has thrown
me much In the society Of our Swed-
ish friends. l say friends. for when
you know these people as know them
they are friends. They are not 80 sell
fish az l have been led to believe.
They are quite mirthful and enjoy life.
Said church was organized In 1859.
The first house Of worship was built
In 1869, the material used for the cree
ton of said house being sod and grass.
Rev o. OLSON was the first pastor.
Ne IL now professor in Rock Island
ullJ College. He rallied bis members
to action, and they in 1874 built stone
house, 4Ox65. And In 1879 this work.
ing hand, or church, built substantial
two-story, g. room, parsonage.
Then Rev. OLSON was called to the
professionally In the Rock Island Col
iege, and Rev. G. A. Swenson was
called to this church, and accepted the
call. Rev Swenson graduated Ut Rock
Island College In 1877. He IL . young
man of energy, full Of push and nerve,
pleasant address. and is quite popular
with all the people. He teaches, or
instructs, . class Of boys and girls,
from twelve to eighteen year. Of age,
every Tuesday and Friday.
In 1880 an addition to the church
building was commenced. and com.
pleted In 1881. The entire building In
In feet long. and 70 feet vide, includ-
ing o lecture or school room. The
plastering, |. $50 yards, In finished with
. floor, or with rough surface. and cal.
cimined white or Q shade blue. There
are NO feet Of stuccO holdings. The
steeple II ll8 feet high. The walls are
of brown stone, two and . half feet
thick. Mr.. - BefkstPOm did the stone
~s.A NJ, thu -
ter work. These contractors executed
. No. I job.
The bell weighs 1885 pounds, and
cs-t e45S.
The pipe organ has nine sets Of pipes,
or 4S6 pipes In all; was manufactured
by G. N. Linsville, Moline, H.; cost
81 ,WO.
There Is . large gallery at each end
Of the audience room. The old pews
are placed in the galleries, IN the email
lecture and school rooms, and new
pews In the body OF the church. These
I,ews are Of live ash and walnut, with
buckets on the back Of them. The
pews are - substantial ~ any ! have
seen. Mr.. John valin 4 Co, OF Salina,
put down the pews. There are one
wide center and two side aisles. This
building will seat ,aO persona. Jam
l,ary I, 1881, there were 47s member
on the church roll. This Organization
ID In good working order, - you will
zee from the following circumstance
During the corn. planting season, while
ali the farmers were busy, the pastor
aid to his members that the masons
would have to stop work II they did
not get some stone next day. There
were twenty-seven wagon losds
brought In.
Ms. sweasoo, the pastors wife, and
,rgsnise for the church, b . graduate
4 theveii known Moline High School
She u . practical musician, and her