Church

The annual business meeting of the Swedish Lutheran Bethany congregation will be held at Mt. Olive Church Tuesday January 13 at 2 o'clock p.m. and the Bethlehem congregation in Cherokee will hold its annual meeting at 7:30 o'clock p.m., same date at the Swedish Lutheran Church. All members are requested to be present t these meetings, as matter of importance. (Source: Former Cherokee County Historical Society working papers; hand noted "Cherokee Times, Jan 9, 1920"

New Pastor Comes to Cherokee

Rev. David J. Laurence, who arrived here recently to take charge of the pastorate of the Swedish Lutheran church, was born in Tuna, Kalmarian, Sweden. Arriving at the age of nineteen he determined to enter school and fit himself for a position as teacher but since that required so much money, and his means for obtaining funds were meager, he gave that up. Then, he went to Gerlic in the central part of Sweden and worked for a gardener, but since the master whom he served was a very hard one, he did not remain there very long.

In the year 1890, he arrived in America and went to Wichita, Kan., where he worked as a laborer for $15.00 per month. After having paid for his ticket from Sweden to this country, and having saved a small amount of money, he attended an English academy, where he remained for six years, during which time he earned his living by manual labor while his tuition at school was paid by hands of charity. He graduated from this academy in the year 1893, and was matriculated in the fall of the same year at Lindsborg, Kan., where he received his degree A. B> in the year 1900. Then he entered the Theological Seminary at Rock Island where he remained three years and was ordained minister at the Synod in Paxton the year 1903. He was at once installed as pastor of the Swedish Lutheran Church in Patton, Penn., and served that congregation for three years. During his pastorate there, several new members were added to the church, the entire debt of the congregation fully paid, and later a new parsonage purchased on which there yet remains a small debt. During the summer of 1903, Rev Laurence had the privilege of making an extensive tour in Europe, his trip included Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the most historical placed in Germany made famous though the life of Martin Luther, from there to Switzerland, through St. Gottards tunnel into sunny Italy, where he visited the cities of Venice and Rome. He returned via Paris and London and New York. Rev. Laurence was married in 1904 to Nellie Hollander of Salina, Ia. Two children have been born until them named Harold and Helen, the former 12 and the latter 6 years.

Besides Patton and Hastings, Pa., Rev Laurence has also served the following congregations: Tabor in the Stanton district, Ia., West Burlington and Mt. Pleasant, Ia.; Crystal Falls, Mich.; Wataga, Ill.

It is his wish and desire to get as many of his own countrymen as possible to unite with the Swedish Lutheran church at this place. The Bethany congregation south of the city has promised to unite with the church in town and make one strong congregation. The two churches have bought a parsonage located at 815 West Cedar street. The parsonage telephone is No. 481. (Source: The Cherokee Times, Tues, Mar 16, 1920, pg. 1)

	Cherokee
	*Swedish Lutheran Bethany Church*
	Annual Church Business Meeting The annual business meeting of the Swedish Lutheran Bethany congregation will be held at Mt. Olive Church Tuesday January 13 at 2 o'clock p.m. and the Bethlehem congregation in Cherokee will hold its annual meeting at 7:30 o'clock p.m., same date at the Swedish Lutheran Church. All members are requested to be present t these meetings, as matter of importance. (Source: Former Cherokee County Historical Society working papers; hand noted "Cherokee Times, Jan 9, 1920" New Pastor Comes to Cherokee Rev. David J. Laurence, who arrived here recently to take charge of the pastorate of the Swedish Lutheran church, was born in Tuna, Kalmarian, Sweden. Arriving at the age of nineteen he determined to enter school and fit himself for a position as teacher but since that required so much money, and his means for obtaining funds were meager, he gave that up. Then, he went to Gerlic in the central part of Sweden and worked for a gardener, but since the master whom he served was a very hard one, he did not remain there very long. In the year 1890, he arrived in America and went to Wichita, Kan., where he worked as a laborer for $15.00 per month. After having paid for his ticket from Sweden to this country, and having saved a small amount of money, he attended an English academy, where he remained for six years, during which time he earned his living by manual labor while his tuition at school was paid by hands of charity. He graduated from this academy in the year 1893, and was matriculated in the fall of the same year at Lindsborg, Kan., where he received his degree A. B> in the year 1900. Then he entered the Theological Seminary at Rock Island where he remained three years and was ordained minister at the Synod in Paxton the year 1903. He was at once installed as pastor of the Swedish Lutheran Church in Patton, Penn., and served that congregation for three years. During his pastorate there, several new members were added to the church, the entire debt of the congregation fully paid, and later a new parsonage purchased on which there yet remains a small debt. During the summer of 1903, Rev Laurence had the privilege of making an extensive tour in Europe, his trip included Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the most historical placed in Germany made famous though the life of Martin Luther, from there to Switzerland, through St. Gottards tunnel into sunny Italy, where he visited the cities of Venice and Rome. He returned via Paris and London and New York. Rev. Laurence was married in 1904 to Nellie Hollander of Salina, Ia. Two children have been born until them named Harold and Helen, the former 12 and the latter 6 years. Besides Patton and Hastings, Pa., Rev Laurence has also served the following congregations: Tabor in the Stanton district, Ia., West Burlington and Mt. Pleasant, Ia.; Crystal Falls, Mich.; Wataga, Ill. It is his wish and desire to get as many of his own countrymen as possible to unite with the Swedish Lutheran church at this place. The Bethany congregation south of the city has promised to unite with the church in town and make one strong congregation. The two churches have bought a parsonage located at 815 West Cedar street. The parsonage telephone is No. 481. (Source: The Cherokee Times, Tues, Mar 16, 1920, pg. 1)