Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-06-02
MEMORIAL STONE >.. !.
UNVEILED SUNDAY
Immense Throng Attends Inter.
esting Exercises at Eagle
Lake.

!.
Ideal spring weather, doubly well
come after a week of rain and cloudy
weather, graced the unveiling of the
monument on the grave of Rev. Ole
Paulson last Sunday. A great multi
tude of people from all parts Of the
county, including large contingent
from Willmar, as we'll as visitors from
afar, gathered at the Eagle Lake
church for this occasion. In the main
the program was carried out as given
in our last issue.
AT the morning services the Men,
orial Day address in English was CIV
en- by DR.. c. M. Roen, M. D., of Min
neapolis, son of a veteran, Rev. P.
w. Erickson having been prevented
from coming. DR.. Roen's address is
spoken of as an able effort and pleas
ed the G. A. r. veterans present very
much. The festival sermon was ad
dressed by Prof. E. P. Harbo. Songs
were rendered by the united church
choirs of Willmar and Eagle Lake un-
der the direction of Mr.. Lyness.
Dinner was served to all by the
ladies. This was big undertaking
but it was successfully carried out.
No charge was made for the dinner,
but free will Offering was taken for
the benefit of the homes which
amounted to $500.
The unveiling festivities took place
in the church yard, beginning at two
O'Clock and for two and a half hours
a vast throng remained standing close
ly around the improvised speakers
stand, while oratory and song held
their close attention. Rev. E. E. Gym
lid presided. The first number was
a song by the chorus. Rev. w. M.
Hagen spoke of ,Rev.-Ole Paulson's
labors in his first field as an ordained
minister, IN the Trinity church at Min
neapolis, and it is said that he was
the first Norwegian Lutheran minister
located at Minneapolis.
Rev. Gynild spoke of Rev. Paul
sons work at Willmar and vicinity,
sketching a few of the more import
ant activities in which he was a fac
tor.
Normaendenes Sangforening of
Willmar, directed by. Mr.. Olof Sundt,
with Rev. Walter E. Pearson of the
Bethel Lutheran church as soloist,
then sang Den Store Hvide Flok."
Rev. H. J. Urdahl, the present pas
tor at Blanchardville, and adjoining
congregations spoke of Rev. Paulson's
work there during the last twenty
years of his active pastoral life. He
closed with bringing out a beautiful
wreath of flowers which the people
of his churches had delegated him to
place on the grave of the departed
pastor on this occasion.
The Norwegian Singing Society
sang "N0r Fj0rdene blaaner." -
Rev. M. B. Michaelson of Willmar
then gave biographical sketch Of the
departed soldier-pastor.
Ole Paulson was born April 26, 1882,
at Wolberg, Grue, Sol0r, Norway. He
came to America in 1850. He first To-
Gated at Muskeego, then in Decorah,
and in 1854 in Corner, Minn., being
one of the first eleven Scandinavian
| settlers in that county. In 1858 he
was married to Miss Inger Loberg,
who still survives and was present at
these festivities. Ole Paulson became
converted and his purpose in life was
changed. He became a colperteur and
travelled about selling Bibles and
other good books and conducting de.
v0tional exercises. Feeling need OF
training he entered the Augustana
Seminary at Chicago in 1861. The
Civil war broke out and scattered this
school and Paulson answered his coun.
try's call and enlisted in Co. H Ninth
Minnesota Volunteers. He served as
both lieutenant and captain of his
Company. The regiment saw service
in Gen. Sibley's expedition against
the Indians and in the South. Aftel
his experiences in the war PaulsoI
returned to his theological studie:
which he finished at Paxton, ILL.,, IL
1868. He was ordained that year a!
pastor of the Trinity church at Min
neapolis. In 1874 he accepted cal
to Willmar where he labored twelv,
, years. He then went to Blanchard
vile, Wis, where he served the las
twenty years Of his active ministry
, In 1905 he retired and moved to Fal
,, 60. He. died in 1907, April 20, and O.
!. April 26, his birthday, his remain
were inferred in the Eagle Lake GENE
; terry, where the memorial stone wa
unveiled on this occasion. The ide
Of erecting the monument originate
with the "Mands og Kvinde forening
l. of the Willmar church, of which Re,
Paulson was the founder, and all th
Q congregations which Rev. Paulso
served Joined In raising the necessaf
funds. #
!. AT the close Of Rev. Michaelson
y address the chorus sang, The Sta
el SpangIed Banner
q The Ri: Rev. Johan Mattson, Pres
81 dentxof the Lutheran Free Church
lsI america, then made the unveiling q
VI dtess, In which he reviewed the II
y work of Rev. Paulson and paid tribu1
~