The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-12-16
THE HISTORY
HERE RE-TOLD.
FIRST MEETINGS HELD IN DUC-OUTS, AND
LATER In SCHOOL HOUSES.
CHURCH ORGANIZED AUGUST '6S
Names Of Early Pas,o;s and Leaders Civer
How the funds for tie New Church
Were Raised.

In the very early days of this
Swedish settlement u number. who
had came from their fatfherland
where they had learned to serve and
love their God, gathered to discuss
their duty and the possibility of TAX
ing up religious work which they felt
was an undisputed necessity for the
maintenance of their spiritul life and
to implant the Gospel into the min DIS
and hearts of their children. The
result of their desires and determi-
nation terminated into the organizing
of the First Baptist church of Kiron
August 18th. 1868. with a member
ship of seventeen. who were: N.
Lindberg, C. P. Frodig. c. j. Star. A.
Anderson, N. P. Erickson, James
Anderson, w. Peterson, P. Carlson.
j. Hagglund. Mr.. Back. Mrs. Frodig.
Mrs. Hagglund. Mr.. and Mrs. John
A. Erickson. Mrs. Louisa Duncan. I.
Michaelson, n. Hallander. Of these
seventeen. twelve have ceased their
labor in this world and passed on
into the land from whence no man
returns. nine of this number having
died in Kirun. one in Dakota and two
in Nebraska. Of the FIVE living pio-
neer members, three live in the town
of Kiron. Mr.. and Mrs. John A.
Erickson and Mrs. Louisa Duncan,
Mr.. l. Michaelson. resides on the
old homestead one mile south of town,
and H. Hallander resides five miles
north of town in Ida county.
The first meetings prior to the or
ganizing of the church were held in
the dugouts, where the new settlers
gathered to worship and praise their
God for his kindness and goodness
and to listen to the preaching of the
word by H. Hallander. Later when
school houses were built they gather
ed in these. for religious services.
Some of our pioneers will especially
remember the C. j. Star school
house where they met so many times.
C. P. Frodig was chosen leaGer when
the church was first organized and
was pastor up to January 1870.
when A. Norelius was called to sue
coed him. He had charge of the
work from that year up to December.
1873. G. P. Frodig was again
called upon to h d e
the leadership of the church. which
he so faithfully did up to 1877,
when Rev. John Ring accepted call
from the church filling the pastor
ate up to the year 1880. From Oct.
1881 to Feb. !. 1886 Rev. L. j. ALL
strom was pastor. and from that time
to Feb. 1887, 1. Michaelson and C. P.
Frodig conducted the meetings and
preaching services. In the month of
Feb. 1887 Rev. E. o. Olson accepted
the passionate which he continued to
hold until May 1895 when he was sue
ceeded by Rev. G. j. Chader, who
conducted the work until March 189 Z
He was succeeded by Rev. A. P.
Hanson. who took up the work in
August the same year and continued
pastor up to April 1913. Rev. j.
Johanson was the pastor from May 4,
1908, until in the fall when Rev. A.
Berglund was installed to succeed hin
and after eight months labor. Rev
Gustave Nyquist became the mex
pastor. His period of labor was from
April 1904 to April 1906. Student
A. Lysell from Morgan Park, tenn
porarily filled the pastorate from Ma
Goth, 1906, until in October the sam
year. when Rev. ]. Soderstrom be
came its next pastor, taking charge i
December 1906, followed by its pres