Willmar tribune., 1907-11-27
AIEFIER FROM G. A. E..
Correspondent Tells of Interest
ing DoingS at the Wellknown
ST. Peter School.

40 AAuSA CAcaC CO1lACO W duoCdV US
Adolphus College which, being of
especial interest to our Swedish
people, is of general interest as
we'll. Twas quite surprised, too, to
notice how generally the Tribune is
perused in the college reading
room. made the reflection that
if students here from all parts of
this state and adjoining states find
Kandiyohi county interesting, there
might be phases of our college life
to demand the attention of Kandi-
yohians.
Last week Gustavus Adolphus COL
lege celebrated the forty-ffth ami
versary of it's existence. The fes-
tive day proper was Nov. 6, which
every year is red letter day. On
the sixth of November, 275 years
ago the great Swedish hero fell on
the historic field of Lutzen. Gus
tavus Adolphus fell, but his army
was victorious. 1t gave happy
turn to the awful Thirty Years War;
and thoughtful students of history
have seen that enlightenment and
progress would have suffered a
frightful setback had this war not
SO terminated. Periods in history
can count their beginnings to less
causes, and our free institutions of
today owe much to the illustrious
Swede. That is why this college
bears his name; it is also the rea-
son why Germany as we'll as Sweden
this year celebrated November g..
But it was forty-fve years ago this
fall since DR.. E. Norelius at Red
Wing began the school which now
has become the institution of learn
ing Of which St. Peter is proud. 1t
was with the thought of doing this
old veteran honor while still in life
that it was decided to celebrate the
founding of the college this year
rather than to wait five years
longer. Another pioneer was guest
of honor on the hill last week. 1t
was Rev. J. Magny of Carlton, the
first student to enroll way back in
'62. The "reminiscences of these
venerable gentlemen were as in
tensely interesting as anything ]
have had the privilege Of listening
to.
DR.. Norelius, who has for many
years been president of the Swedish
Augustana Synod of America, read
old records in covers musty with
age, and portions of letters. l was
startled when, before reading one
Of these, the doctor explained that
it was penned at Columbia on Greer
Lake and dated the goth Of August
1862, two days before the Indian
outbreak. columbia, 1.-THE speak
er informed his audience, "was {
village of one hut near present Spi
Ger in Monongalia county, nov
Kandiyohi county," The speaker
then described the turbulent times
Of the outbreak, when the settlers
fled to St. Peter for refuge ane
threw up the rifle pits on the bluff
where stands G. A. College today
He also referred to the monumen
at New London as one Of the mos
memorable markings in the STATE
from these times. DR.. Noreliu'
dwelt for some time on the remark
able awakening effect that this war
and especially the civil war, had OF
the early settlers. 1t aroused pa
triotism and self denial. Ambi
tions for material advancement ant
intellectual attainment, before gen
, orally dormant, woke to life. HI
, recited the case Of a farmer a
J Marine Mills who spent a whole
, winter splitting 1900 oak rails will
t which to build fence for his on,
! COW. This was before the war
Afterwards the same communit.
= furnished to the minnesota E!e
mentarskola" a hopeful youth O
sixty odd years who wanted an edu
cation and who, at the rector's dis
suation, pointed to the case of Alb
raham Of old. Several Of those ear
ly students were referred to ant
among them an Anna P&lson who
if l am not greatly mistaken, was
Monongalia county girl from tn
o Eagle Lake settlement. She after
wards married Rev. J. J. Frodeen
who was for several years the hea
of the school when it was located a
y East Union and bore the name o
y. St. Ansgar's Academy. He did no
n succeed Norelius. however, but Rev
! A. Jackson, who had taken charg
at the removal from Red Wing.
1t was Rev. !. A. Krantz of Du
:, luth who spoke Of the history of tn
school while in Carver county. Hi
y characterization of Rev. Andre,
> Jackson, who was a remarkabl
. man in more respects than one, an
: the many anecdotes from this time
- were some Of the most delightfr
. things of the program. l wish
i might dare take the space to repes
some Of them. Old Jackson kne,
, every foot of Kandiyohi county an