(1907-35)

The Missionary Visitor 1907 page 94-95

Egeland Congregation.

From the commencement of the immigration movement to North Dakota in 1894 to the spring of 1898 the counties including Towner, Ramsey, Pierce and Rolette (with most of the members in Towner) were all in the Cando congregation, but in the year of 1898 Salem and Rock Lake congregations (perhaps Turtle Mountain) were organized apart from Cando church, and in the spring of 1900 Rock was divided, Snider Lake being the name of the new church.

Rock Lake was still in two bodies members, known among themselves the “North End” and “South End.” In the fall of 1902 the “South End” built a neat house of worship, and the next year the “North End” built a house of worship also. Having two houses and two bodies separated. It seemed too prudent that there be another division. The church authorized the deacons in there annual visit to notify the members that the question of a division would come up at the regular quarterly council. This was done in the presence Elders John Deal and Geo. Strycker July 9, 1906, and it was decided that the “North End” hold the name of Rock Lake. On July 17, 1906, The “South End” members met in their house or worship and organized. The name of the new church is Egeland. This congregation embraces a territory of about ten miles square on the east side of Towner country, and about the center of the county north and south.

Elder J. L Thomas of Oklahoma and Bro. A. B. Puterbaugh were the first members that located in this territory. Last year (1905) the “Soo Line” built an east and west railroad from Kenmare, N. Dak., to Thief River Falls, Minn,; and the Great Northern built a branch road northwest from Devil’s lake. The two roads cross about six miles southwest of our churchhouse. The town of Egeland is located there. Quite a number of brethren and sisters live in and around Egeland.

The church decided to build another house, as it was almost impossible to make much headway without a house of worship.

We have about seventy-five members. Brethren J. F. Byer, A. B. Puterbaugh and W. H. Deardorff are trustees and Brethren J. F. Byer, M. W. Robertson, U. T. Forney, W. H. Deardorff and J. Barnhart are deacons. Lulu Puterbaugh is clerk and Clem Puterbaugh is clerk and Clem Puterbaugh church correspondent: J. O. Bowman, Treasurer; Edna Grance, solicitor; C. H. Deardorff, Messenger agent; J. W. Deardorff, C. H. Deardorff and A. M. Sharp are ministers, the latter having the oversight of the church.

At the churchhouse we have Sunday school with Bro. A. B. Puterbaugh superintendent, and preaching every Sunday at 10 and 11 A. M., and Christian Workers’ meeting each Sunday evening. At Egeland Sunday school and preaching at 3 and 4 P. M. The churches of North Dakota know nothing about Sundays schools dying out in the wintertime; evergreen the year around

The Gospel Messenger Aug. 18, 1906 page 528

Pleasant View church met in special council July 17 for the purpose of organizing the church after the separation from Rock Lake church. It will now be called the Egeland congregation, and a full corps of officers were elected. A committee was appointed to look up a location, draft plans and estimate the cost of a churchhouse to be built in Egeland. Bro. J. E. Fiffer was elected president of the Christian Workers’ meetings and other minor officers were elected. Another special council was held at the same place July 31. Further plans for the churchhouse in Egeland were discussed and solicitors were elected. We contemplate enlarging the district and committees were appointed that effect. Bro. John Brubaker conducted a three weeks’ meeting at this place, during which time nine were added to the church by baptism and two reclaimed. The church was greatly built up. – Clem Puterbaugh, Egeland, N. Dak., Aug. 12