Chapter 8 • Richwood Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1872-1972

The Richwood Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 1872. The name then was Buffalo Lake Norske Evangeliske Lutherske Menighed Becker County, (Norwegian). Richwood was named after Richwood, Ontario, Canada, the hometown of W. W. McLeod, who operated the water-powered sawmill on Buffalo river at the head of Buffalo Lake.

Richwood was the main attraction in those days. The waterpower that operated the flour mill and saw mill came from the Buffalo River. People came from miles around to have their wheat made into flour and their logs sawed into lumber.

The first religious service held in Becker County was on Nov. 6 1870, by Missionary Rev. T. Vetleson of Lake Park. On the 16th of May 1871, he organized the first congregation in Becker County, at Lake Park. At this meeting a call was issued for a pastor from the Norwegian Synod. Rev. K. Bjorgo was called and came to serve the congregation there and the neighboring townships until 1888. In 1870 another Norwegian Lutheran meeting was held at the John Beaver home in Audubon, conducted by missionary T. Vetleson. It was recorded that Missionary Vetleson came twice a year from Otter Tail County to hold religious services here. The annual meeting held at Hans Hanson's home on Nov. 1 1872. Iver Evenson was elected chairman and Hans Hanson secretary of the Buffalo Lake congregation, which later became the Richwood Evangelical Lutheran Church.

One acre of land was donated by Tov Olson for the church site, then the building took place. Many people donated labor and material for the building.

The first baptism conducted by Pastor K. Bjorgo in Richwood Township, was of two children. One of Swedish descent was August W. Johnson born March 28 1873, and baptized on June 22 1873. The second child was of Danish descent, my cousin, and Harry H. Johnson's mother Johanna Marie Kristensen Johnson, born on May 18 1872, baptized on September 21 1873. She was born at Davenport, Iowa, shortly after they landed in America, to Nels and Sena Kristensen, later spelled Christenson.

Rev. Bjorgo tells about in the spring when he came to Richwood Evangelical church, there was no road across the country from Audubon to Richwood, so he took his shoes off and walked barefooted in the water and mud. When he come to the church, he put his shoes on before the services. Aunt Sena Christensen was one of the first charter members of the Richwood church, she joined the church in 1875. Sena is Harry H. Johnson's grandmother. My Dad, Nels P. Peterson, joined the church on Apr. 8 1908 after he married and started to raise a family.

We were all baptized and confirmed in this church. We celebrated our100th anniversary in 1972. My mother and I have been past presidents of the Ladies Aid, and had offices in the Aid and Circle.

For the Centennial of Richwood Church, they brought the old lamp chandelier in and hung it back in the ceiling where it hung when l was a small child. It sure is a beautiful lamp. They also have the organ that is nearly as old as the church.

Richwood Lutheran Church, 1969