Contact: Pastor Paul Otto, same address

Congregation founded:  1866
Church built:  1871
Historic Nationality:  German

Does the church have its own cemetery?  Uses Old Frontenac and other town cemeteries
Records held: Births, baptisms, confirmations, marriages, deaths
Records held at: Church
Can the public do research?  No
Are there fees for research done?  No
Can the public copy records?  If possible, copies can be made

Website: www.spring-garden.org

Church office: 507-263-5532  Parsonage: 651-258-4310

Mailing address: PO Box 237, Cannon Falls, MN 55009

History:
The first Swedish settlers came to the area about 1855. They heard there was good farmland to be had. They camped in Red Wing for several weeks, eventually leaving their wives and children there while they ventured on the buffalo trails to find the land in "Kallornas Lustgard" (Spring Garden) where they staked their pre-emption claims. In the fall of 1855 the men brought their families to the new land.

In the Spring of 1856 two boys were born in the new settlement. Word had reached the settlers that a young pastor, Eric Norelius had come to the Vasa settlement. On July 6, 1856 an oxcart full of people traveled toward Vasa to have the boys baptized. They encouraged Pastor Norelius to visit them in the new Spring Garden settlement. He made his first visit July 17, 1856 walking about 9 miles through unbroken wilderness to find the settlement. Thus began regular visits over the next two years by Pastor Norelius between the Vasa and Spring Garden settlements.

The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church of Spring Garden was officially formed July 19, 1858. The charter members were: Mr. M.A. Edstrom, wife four children; Mr. John J. Vanberg, wife, three children; Mr. C.A. Haggstrom, wife, two children; Mr. Jacob Johanson, wife; Mr. John Peter Johanson, wife; Foster-daughter Ingrid Jonson; Mr. A.W. Johnson, one child; Mr. Paul Nilson; Mr. Johan Holm, one child; Mr. Isack Holm, wife, two children; Mr. Gustav Johnson, wife, three children; Mr. Nils Kallber, wife, three children; Mr. Peter Lundell, wife, one child; Mr. Bengt Anderson, wife, two children; Mr. Anders Enberg, wife, one child; Mr. S.A. Ljungquist; Mr. John Lagerstrom.

Pastor Norelius arranged for Pastor Peter Beckman to come from Stockholm, Wisconsin to minister to the newly formed church. Minnesota had become a state May 11, 1858 and Leon Township had been organized and held its first election on July 5, 1858 with 50 votes polled. The organization of the Spring Garden church stands out with these other historical events. Ever since that day, the church has stood as God's lighthouse, sending forth the gospel light into hearts of the people.

Contact:  Howard Mehrkens
20865 290th, Goodhue, MN  55027

Congregation founded:  1921
Church built:  1939
Historic Nationality:  German

Does the church have its own cemetery?  Yes
Records held:  Births, baptisms, confirmations, marriages, deaths, cemetery. Information included in record - Name, parent's names, ages, address. Also have meeting minutes.
Records held at:  Church
Can the public do research?  No
Are there any fees for research done?  No
Can the public copy records?  No - records are for past members and their relatives only.

HOLY TRINITY
211 Fourth St.
Goodhue MN 55027
Telephone: 651-923-4472

Contact: Father Bruce Peterson
Telephone: 651-923-4184

Congregation founded: 1903
Church built: 1905  remodeled 1956
Historic Nationality: Mixed (German and Irish)

Does church have its own cemetery? No
      (Shares cemetery with St. Columbkill - directory at cemetery.)
Records kept:  Baptism (1903)         Communion (1926)
                       Confirmation (1926)  Marriages (1903)
                        Death (1903)
Records are kept at church.
Can public do research? Yes, by appointment with parish member present.
Fee for research? None
Can public copy records? Yes, by appointment with parish member present.

ST. LUKE'S LUTHERAN
P.O. Box 276
Goodhue, MN  55027
651/ 923-4695

Contact: Pastor Michael Gustafson or Marilyn Lensch, Secretary

Congregation founded:  1897
Church built: 1903
Historic Nationality: Mixed

Does the church have its own cemetery?  No. Do act as custodians of Zion Cemetery.
Records held: Births, baptisms, confirmations, marriages, deaths. Information included - addresses, family information.
Records held at: Church
Can the public do research?  Yes
Are there any fees for research done?  No
Can the public copy records?  Yes

Contact:  Lois Watson, Parish Secretary, same address

Congregation founded:  1873
Church built:  1925
Historic Nationality:  German

Does the church have its own cemetery?  Yes. Located across the road from the church.
Records held:  Births, baptisms, confirmations, marriages, deaths
Records held at:  Church
Can the public do research?  No.  Please call and Parish Secretary will check.
Are there any fees for research done?  No
Can the public copy records?  Yes - copies made by Parish Secretary

Contact: Fr. Bruce Peterson
651-923-4184

Congregation founded: 1860
Church built: 1860
Historic Nationality: Irish

Does the church have its own cemetery?  The cemetery is located across the road from the church. It serves both St Columbkill and Holy Trinity parishes.
Records held: Births, baptisms, confirmations, marriages, deaths, cemetery.
Records held at: Holy Trinity Church
Can the public do research? With supervision.
Are there any fees for research done? Voluntary donations.
Can the public copy records? Contact Fr. Peterson

Contact:  Merle Dargus
913 East Avenue, Red Wing, MN  55066

Congregation founded:  1858
Church built:  1897
Historic Nationality: German

Does the church have its own cemetery?  Yes
Records held:   Baptisms, October 1866 to present: includes names, date of birth and baptism, sponsors, parents, pastor; Confirmations, April 1867 to present: includes date of birth (sometimes), parents (sometimes); Marriages, January 1867 to present: includes address at time of wedding, witnesses and pastor; Deaths, 1867 to present: includes cause of death, pastor, sermon text for funeral;  Master membership lists, 1877, 1907, 1912, 1928  (transfers out are not listed)
Various Communion attendence records, 1867 to present, difficult to read old German script
Records held at: Church. Cemetery records are held by Edwin Kassen, 651/ 388-4831
Can the public do research?  No
Are there fees for research performed?  Not at present - possible in future
Can the public copy records?  No

Contact:  Maxine Bauernfeind, same as above

Congregation founded:  1944
Church built:  1955
Historic Nationality:  n/a

Does the church have its own cemetery?  Yes
Records held:  Births, baptisms, confirmations, marriages, deaths.  They also hold the records for St. Edward Church, Richland Township, Rice County: births, baptisms, confirmations, marriages, deaths 1944-1962.
Records held at: Church
Can the public do research?  No
Are there fees for research performed?  No
Can the public copy records?  n/a

Contact:  Grace Fenne
622 8th Street, Kenyon, MN  55946
507/ 789-6407
**The pastor appreciates research requests NOT being directed to him, due to the time-consuming nature of such requests!**
**Inquiries should begin with a phone call, please!**

Congregation founded:  1857
Church built:  Late 1940s  (current building)
Historic Nationality:  Norwegian

Does the church have its own cemetery?  Yes
Records held:  Baptisms        includes name and parents, sponsors, date of birth
                        Confirmations    includes name and date
                        Marriages       includes names, witnesses, date and place
                        Deaths       includes date and name
Some of the older records (1800s) may be combined with other churches records, i.e. Holden Lutheran Church in Wanamingo Township.
Records held at: Parsonage and the church. Only records on microfilm can be viewed.
Can the public do research?  No
Are there fees for research performed?  Yes - modest
Can the public copy records?  They can borrow microfilm per the existing policy.  Contact either Grace Fenne at the phone number above or JoAnn Flom (507/ 789-6634) for Holden Church requests.

Contact:  Debbie Eggert, Secretary or Helen Aase, Historian, address above

Congregation founded:  1891
Church built:  1926
Historic Nationality:  Norwegian

First Evangelical Lutheran started as a mission congregation of the rural church Gol Lutheran.

Does the church have its own cemetery?  No. Use Kenyon city cemetery
Records held:  Births, baptisms, confirmations, marriages, deaths
Records held at:  Church
Can the public do research?  No. Historian will search records.
Are there fees for research performed?  Hourly wage of church employee.
Can the public copy records?  Historian will make copies.

Contact:  Pastor at above address (if he does not have time, he will direct you to someone who does)

Congregation founded:  1859
Church built:  First church (Old Stone Church) started 1871, completed 1888. Present church built 1902.
Historic Nationality:  Norwegian

Does the church have its own cemetery?  No. Use Kenyon city cemetery.
Records held:  Births, baptisms, confirmations, marriages, deaths, 1898 to present. Little available for first 12 years.
Records held at:  Church
Can the public do research?  Only if pastor, deacon or other church officer is present.
Are there fees for research performed?  n/a
Can the public copy records?  With the consent of the church council.

Contact: Call church and ask for pastor

Congregation founded:  1898
Church built:  Original church built 1898, demolished in 1969 when present building was constructed.
Historic Nationality:  German

Does the church have its own cemetery?  No
Records held:  Births, baptisms, confirmations, marriages, deaths, cemetery. Older records are in German, later years in English. Some early names of parents, no addresses or nationalities. Most information available in the St. Paul Lutheran centennial book (cost of $12.00) or on computer.
Records held at: Church
Can the public perform research?  Church staff will research
Are there fees for research performed?  n/a
Can the public copy records?  yes - 10 cents/copy

Contact:  Opal Bollenbach Wolf
P.O. Box 146, Nerstrand, MN  55053   507/ 789-6649

Congregation founded:  1856
Church built:  1908
Historic Nationality:  German

In 1964, there was a union of E. U. B. and Methodist in Nerstrand. Presently they are connected with Wheeling's St. John's U. C. C.

Does the church have its own cemetery?  Yes - Methodist and E. U. B. located two miles apart.
Records held:  Births, baptisms, confirmations, marriages, deaths, cemetery
Records held at: Church
Can the public perform research?  Yes. Staff is willing to assist
Are there fees for research performed?  Not at this time
Can the public copy records?  n/a

Congregation founded:  1856
Church built:  n/a
Historic Nationality:  German

Does the church have its own cemetery?  Yes
Records held:  Births, baptisms, confirmations, marriages, deaths, cemetery.  Includes names, parents names, ages, sometimes addresses.
Records held at: Church
Can the public do research?  No
Are there fees for research performed?  No - donations are accepted.
Can the public copy records?  Up to the pastor for permission.

Contact: Karen Slininger
459 Sciota Trail, Randolph, MN  55065

Congregation founded:  1945
Church built:  n/a
Historic Nationality:  Mixed

Does the church have its own cemetery?  No. Use Lakeside Cemetery, along north shore of Lake Byllesby.
Records held:  Births, baptisms, confirmations, marriages, deaths, cemetery
Records held at: Church
Can the public do research?  Yes, with a church member present
Are there fees for research performed?  No
Can the public copy records?  Yes, with the help of a church member.