Western Koshkonong Lutheran Church - ELS - WELS

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This history of Western Koshkonong Lutheran Church is a compilation from a research paper done by Robin Stern Barnett on the settlement of Koshkonong Prairie while a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and The History of the Western Koshkonong Lutheran Congregation by Agnes Grevstad Lee published in 1975. October 1, 1991 designates the one-hundredth anniversary of the Western Koshkonong Lutheran Church. It was on that date that the congregation was incorporated and the cornerstone laid for the church. This history tells the story of events that led to the establishment of the Western Koshkonong Lutheran Church. Though many Norwegians had come to the Wisconsin wilderness before 1843, none was an ordained minister. Lay preachers, who for the most part carried with them deep-rooted antagonism toward their homeland's church, first met the settlers' religious needs. This led to a state of affairs which Lutheran writers have described as chaos and confusion, and the result was that avid religionists of many different denominations visited the Norwegian settlements attempting to gain converts for their own churches. Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists and Mormons all had a measure of success. But by mid-1843 there was a strong desire for services held by a regularly ordained clergyman. Though the lay preachers had performed a useful labor of love and mercy, an increasing population and challenging pioneer life experiences demanded more systematic and thorough spiritual care. Many immigrants looked back to Norway for religious leadership. Coincidentally, in Norway, a religious interest was stirring in regard to the Norwegian immigrants. In. 1843, C. L. Clausen, a young Dane, had gone to Norway hoping to join a Norwegian missionary to Africa. It was suggested to Clausen that he go to the United States instead since the Norwegians in the Muskego settlement needed a school teacher. ( Muskego is in southeastern Wisconsin near Milwaukee ). Clausen accepted the proposal but the Muskego settlers persuaded him to become their minister rather than their teacher. Clausen, who was well-educated and informed, was examined and found qualified. He was ordained by a German Lutheran minister, and called to serve the people of Muskego. In February, 1844, Clausen visited all the major Norwegian settlements in Wisconsin, including Koshkonong. At each colony he preached, baptized and offered the Lord's Supper. He did not organize any congregations outside muskego believing that he wouldn't be able to care for them. Meanwhile, back in Norway, a young Norwegian theological candidate, J. W. C. C. Dietrichson, became active in the newly organized Norwegian Missionary Society. Through this group he became acquainted with a Christiana ( now Oslo ) merchant who was deeply concerned for the immigrant's spiritual welfare. The merchant offered to pay Dietrichson's passage to America if he would establish a permanent church order among them. After thoughtful consideration, Dietrichson applied to the Norwegian church department and requested ordination so he could conduct religious work among the Norwegians in.America. Although a call to serve a specific congregation was normally required before a pastor could be ordained, because of the apparent need and unusual circumstances, the church approved his request. Dietrichson left for America in May, 1844. His main goals were to organize Norwegian-American Lutheranism, bring religious order out of its present disorder and form congregations according to accepted state-church ritual. After briefly preaching in the New York area, Dietrichson reached the Muskego settlement on August 7, 1844 and the following Sunday preached to Clausen's congregation and participated in the communion service.