Grandview Covenant Church History

Formerly established as
Grand View Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Mission Church

In 1873, religious services of Swedish settlers began when Rev. John F. Wretlof, a 29 year old preacher from from Boone, IA, arrived along the Sioux River in Sioux Township. Pastor Wretlof was born Dec. 26, 1843, in Göteborg, Sweden, and had immigrated from Sweden, August 3, 1864. He came to Rock Rapids on the stage in May 1873, transferred onto a mail wagon to Larchwood, and then set out on foot across the open prairie in search of Swedish settlers that lived in this region. After walking most of the day, he heard a dog barking in the distance and followed the sounds of activity to the Jackson dugout along the Big Sioux River, about one and a half miles southwest of Granite, IA. He stayed with the Jacksons for a few days and met with other Swedish pioneers in the area, sharing God’s Word in preaching, song and prayer, the start of a religious community.

Above: 1888 map of Sioux Township, Lyon County, Iowa.

These settlers introduced him to more Swedes, taking him to Dakota Territory, to the north, where Wretlof eventually started two more congregations, The Beaver Valley Lutheran Church, of Valley Springs, SD and Swedona Mission (Covenant) Church, north of Brandon, SD. Rev. Wretlof soon brought his newlywed bride, of one year, the former Augusta Johnson, to the community, and they homesteaded near Valley Springs, SD.
Various traveling missionaries from Dakota Territory/South Dakota also visited the region regularly from the early beginnings of the community. For the next 39 years, organized mission meetings were held in the woods at John and Johanna Longs, Peter and Anna Newbergs on the Dakota side of the river, and Isaac and Carrie Swansons, for about 31 years families met in a school house near John Longs, with Wretlof coming about every third Sunday to lead the worship service, as well as meeting in other homes near the Sioux River. Mrs. Isaac Swanson gave him lodging most of the time, while he was in the community, in the early years.
Left: Friends and relatives meeting at the Charles and Anna Swanson home.
As years passed, the number of people increased on the land, including more immigrants from Sweden, allowing the religious community to grow. From about 1904 to 1914, the religious meetings were held in the homes and groves of: Axel and Olga Bonander’s northwest of Granite, Charles and Emma Long south of Granite, Martin and Anna Ruud’s southwest of Granite, and Charles and Anna Swanson east of Granite.
On August 3, 1912, the Grand View Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Mission Church of Granite, Iowa was organized, in the home of Charles and Anna Swanson on section 21 of Sioux township, under the supervision of Rev. Wretlof. Five families were the foundation of this congregation.
Members included: Mr. and Mrs. Charles Long, Cecelia Martin and Willie, Mr. and Mrs. August Swanson, Mr. and Mrs. Charles T. Swanson and Mabel, and Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Swanson and sons Swan, Edward and Anton, a group of 15 members with Rev. Wretlof.
Rev. Wretlof was elected chairman, L.C. Meberg, acting secretary; and more families joined the congregation, and a subscription list was circulated by the congregation members for the building of a church. Trustees; August Swanson, Charles Swanson and Swan Swanson were commissioned by the congregation to build a church, one and one half miles southwest of Granite, on an acre of ground donated by Swan Swanson.

Right: Sunday School at the Granite School in 1912.

Rev. Wretlof had started instructing the first confirmation class, of 7 members, which was confirmed in the new church in 1914. Children's Christmas programs were held Christmas 1912 and 1913 at the Charles T. Swanson home. The gatherings for these Christmas programs lasted until 3 or 4 a.m., before the wagons and sleighs headed on their way home in the early hours of the day. (There had been several programs in the community in the past as well.)
Left: Ladies Aid meeting at the C.T. & Anna Swanson home. In the picture is the Swanson's new King automobile.
Mrs. C.T. (Anna) Swanson conceived the idea of forming a Ladies’ Aid society, so on March 18, 1913, the ladies of the community were gathered at her home under the direction of Rev. Wretlof to meet every other week with Mrs. Swanson as their first president. This group did much sewing, including making a large blue block quilt with a yellow star in each square was made with people paying to have their names sewn in red on points of the yellow stars. The Ladies' Aid auctioned the quilt off and it was bought by Charlie Long for $60.00! The society also held large dinners for the community and invited others of the region to their fundraisers. Their income was said to be several hundred dollars a year, used for local and missionary purposes. (In 1982, the societies name was changed to Covenant Women.)
A constitution was adopted and the church was given the name of, The Grand View Swedish Mission Church of Granite, IA, affiliated with the Swedish Christian Missionary Society of South Dakota. Erected during 1913 - 1914, a stone foundation supported the gothic, stained glass windowed church with the grand staircase leading up to the front doors. The new church building was 26 x 48 ft. in size, comprised of eight rooms with a front arched auditorium with a slanted floor and a furnished basement. It was meant to hold about 200 people. The building was lighted with gas and heated with a hot air furnace. Upstairs, furnishings were procured including the beautiful altar oil painting (for $113.) “Ascension” and a piano, won in a contest by Mabel Swanson, for the church. The total cost of the church was $5,094.14, most of which was paid before it’s dedication, on Sunday, May 31, 1914. Before a large gathering of people, this church was dedicated to be a House of God, to worship Him in, and to be a spiritual light, full of warmth and guidance of the people, with the hope that many may find their soul’s salvation. Rev. Wretlof, Rev. O. H. Miller of Stockholm, SD, and Rev. K.O. Axelson, South Dakota traveling missionary, all took part in the dedication services, setting the church aside for its most high and holy mission.
The Sunday School was organized by Pastor Wretlof, on April 26, 1914. Miss Mabel Swanson was the first superintendent and over the years many faithful superintendents, teachers and students have been active in making it a vital part of our church through song, lessons, special programs and summer Bible School.
About 1918, Rev. Wretlof, with old age approaching, was aided by Rev. Emil Bergren from Swedona Mission church, as he was asked to give pastoral aid. He would motor down from Swedona about every other Sunday to preach an afternoon service. In 1919, a seminary student, Rev. Arvid Carlson from North Park College in Chicago, IL was called for the summer. He also interchanged with Rev. Bergren in preaching in Swedona and Salem, SD churches. Rev. Wretlof resigned, March 24, 1919, and only months later, on December 1, 1919, our faithful shepherd and minister of 46 years passed away in his home in Brandon, SD. May there always be a Peace of Christian Love over his memory.
A parsonage was conceived by the congregation and about 20 acres of ground (the former Quist place in the NW corner of Granite) owned by C. T. Swanson, was considered a good central location in the community. Rev. Bergren commissioned the trustees; August Swanson, C. T. Swanson, and Ed Swanson to purchase this land and a deed was recorded and improvements on the house were made.
The church got its first resident pastor, Rev. R. A. Larson, from Worthington, MN, who came with his family, June 9, 1921. At this time he brought about the church opening to the English language, with morning Swedish services and evening English services. Rev. Larson also organized the Young People Society in 1921 with Emil Swanson as the first chairman. This group started out meeting weekly for teachings and social time in area Christian homes. After three years Rev. Larson preached his farewell sermon Sunday, July 13, and left Granite, July 22, 1924, for Buffalo, NY.
Successors to the pulpit at Grandview were Rev. Samuel Hogander, The Rev. Charles Carlson and the Rev. Herman Carlson, who resigned in 1930. During the vacancy which followed his resignation the church was visited occasionally by different pastors. Rev. Bergren, at this time fieldsman of the South Dakota District, assisted the church considerably as did Rev. Raymond A. Johnson.
Rev. H. R. Jacobson began his ministry in the spring of 1934, and served the Grandview and Swedona churches jointly. In 1946, Rev. France Ericson took charge and in the same year the church joined the Northwest Conference but remained in the South Dakota District.

Right: Ladies taking a break out the back door of the church: Amelia Bennett, Olga Bonander, Tresa Grotewold, Tilda Swanson, Anna Monson, and Ella Bjork

Rev. David Kline accepted the call as full-time pastor in 1950. In 1952, he was succeeded by Rev. Ralph Powell as supply preacher. In 1953, Robert Fuchs (Fox), a student of the Baptist Seminary in Sioux Falls, took over the pastorate. Rev. France Ericson resumed duties as interim pastor in 1955.
A Martha Missionary Circle was organized in 1955, in the home of Mrs. Ethel (Swanson)
Palmberg, who was elected the first president. Its activities included projects such as sewing for the mission fields, childrens and retirement centers. They have sponsored various students in foreign countries and after 30 years of faithful service their responsibilities were turned over to the Covenant Women.
Rev. Paul Nelson served Grandview from 1957-1965. During this time a new constitution was adopted in January 1958, establishing the church name as the Grandview Covenant Church of Larchwood, IA.
during the next 12 years, the church was served by students of the Baptist Seminary in Sioux Falls, they were: David Samf (Sems), Jerry Edinger, Gale O’Neil, David Ehman and David Rushton. From 1977 to 1980, Dr. Ralph Powell returned to Grandview, assisted by John Ziulkowski, another seminary student, served Grandview.
The AWANA Youth Club, was started in 1975. It reaches out to all denominations. When this group started, they met once a week during the school year in the Larchwood Gym. Volunteer leaders and helpers prepared a very spiritual and enjoyable evening for the boys and girls of the community. The AWANA club dissolved for a time but has become active again in 2002.
Terry Lundquist, a graduate of North Park Seminary, served 1980-1981. Dr. Ralph Powell returned in 1981 to serve as our faithful and conscientious pastor. He was assisted by the following Baptist Seminary students: Harold Schroeder, Michael Campbell, Scott MacDonald and Tim Friez.
Modernization and improvements have come to the church as the years have passed. New electrical and pluming brought lights, improved kitchen facilities and restrooms. On May 25, 1941, the congregation had electric lights for the first time at our evening services. Pews, replacing the folded theater chairs and a new pulpit were installed in April of 1962. The pews and new pulpit were a memorial gift in honor of Carl J. Johnson. An addition was built onto the back giving room for another classroom and later office. Evergreen trees were planted to surround and protect the church on top of the highest point in Lyon County. In 1983, an addition was built, expanding the sanctuary to provide seating for an additional one hundred people, adding space for a new entry, sunday school rooms, and a reception area in the fellowship hall in the basement. Dedication services were held November 20, 1983.
Carl and Tracy Dieters donated more land to the East of the church and ample parking was added to the church grounds for the growing church.
The church celebrated their 75th anniversary September 12-13, 1987, when there were 32 families having membership. The church was active with Covenant Women, Sunday School, a Young People group, Daily Vacation Bible School, and the Awana Youth Club.
Constitution and By-Laws of the church were revised Sept. 25, 1988. The purpose of this church is to unite believers in fellowship for spiritual edification, for the winning of sinners to Christ, and for the propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ through home and world missions.
Following those before with faithful service to Grandview were, Rev. Jack Brooks, Rev. Heidi Wiebe and Pastor Hariet Shelton. The last two graduates of North Park Covenant Seminary.
In 2002, the Awana program was reinstituted in an effort to teach community youth about the Bible. Evening meetings are held at the Larchwood Recreation Center. Pastor Hans Eric Nelson, another North Park Graduate served the congregation from 2002 to 2004. Currently Pastor Penny Nance is serving the congregation, with members and the faithful attending from South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa.
There is a church cemetery 1/2 mile west of the church building overlooking the Sioux River Valley.
We are happy to celebrate history that is past, experience that is present, and hope and assurance that is our future. Praise be to God for our heritage.

Our Little White Church on The Hill by my Grandmother Phoebe (Swanson) Johnson
(Tune “The Church in the Wildwood”)

Oh, come to the church in the country,
Our little white church on the hill,
Where the Master waits, now, to give welcome,
And each heart with new gladness to fill.

CHORUS:
Oh, come, come, come, come
Worship the God of our fathers,
We trust Him as Counselor still.
May His Gospel Light always shine brightly
In our little white church on the hill.

How dear to us now is the chancel,
Where true hearts, in faith, have been wed,
Where our babes in God’s name have been christened,
And our youth in confirmation have read.

Here, loved ones, now gone, seem to linger;
In their stead, we labor today;
May we seek joy and peace in the Savior;
Love and praise Him each step of the way!

Summer Swimming

When I was young it seemed we often had our Grandview Covenant Church Sunday School picnics at McKennan Park in Sioux Falls, SD, so the kids could go "swimming" in their kiddie pool. These were taken in 1959, it's fun to look back at these kids who are now 50+ years old. Neighbors, cousins, and siblings having a good time, just what summer swimming is all about!

L to R: Susan, Carol, Sharon, Evelyn, Barbie, ?. Karen, Debbie, Sally.

L to R: Sharon, Carol, Barbie, Debbie, ?, Joey, ? Kathy, Stevie.

L to R: Susie, ?, Sharon, Evelyn, Barbie, ?, Karen, Debbie, Sally.

L to R: Sharon, Carol, Barbie, ?, ?, Karen, Debbie.

Pastor Wretlof, a Religious Pioneer

Years ago when I wrote "A West Ender's Scrapbook", I had researched the history of the area I grew up in in Sioux township, Lyon Co., IA. Our church, Grandview Covenant Church, has a history that goes back further than the church building, which was built in 1914.
In 1873, religious services of Swedish settlers began when Rev. John F. Wretlof, a 29 year old preacher from from Boone, IA, arrived along the Sioux River in Sioux Township. Pastor Wretlof was born Dec. 26, 1843, in Göteborg, Sweden, and had immigrated from Sweden, August 3, 1864. He came to Rock Rapids on the stage in May 1873, and then set out on foot across the open prairie in search of Swedish settlers that lived in this region. He found the Jackson dugout along the Big Sioux River, about one and a half miles southwest of Granite, IA. He stayed with the Jacksons for a few days and met with other Swedish pioneers in the area, sharing God’s Word in preaching, song and prayer, the start of a religious community. Rev. Wretlof soon brought his newlywed bride, of one year, the former Augusta Johnson, to the community, and they homesteaded near Valley Springs, SD.

The following, written in 1913, by Rev. Wretlof was published in FROM THE READING CIRCLE (Från läsekretsen) in Brandon, S.D. (Translated by my great aunt Mable E. Swanson)
RECOLLECTIONS OF REV. J. F. WRETLOF - Early days in the Granite, IA, & Valley Springs, SD, areas
In the year 1873 I lived in Boone, Iowa, where I presided over a congregation. By the Iowa conference was I called to make a journey in the northwest corner of Iowa to there seek to find Swedish people, in case such existed there.
In the last of the month of May I set out to unknown regions. The trip occurred by railroad to Rock Rapids, Iowa, then to Larchwood with the mailman and then by foot over beautiful, grass-rich but people-empty prairie. Here I wandered the whole afternoon without noticing the least trace of any roads. The air was foggy and it mist-rained about the whole time. This resulted in that I did not know exactly where to I went. Tired, wet and hungry, I thought of taking night quarters in the wet grass, when the sun came out, just as it was ready to go down in the west. I became now glad and brave again, because I understood now, that I was on the right direction. What was it that I now heard? A dog barking down there in the valley. That gave me speed, because there must be people. And soon I got to see a man, who in pure Swedish greeted: “Good evening and who are you?” I told him in what errand I was out. He opened then the door to a dugout and bade me step in and be welcome.
Here he and his wife lived soon over a years time. I got food. Then was had a while of prayer. The days troubles were now forgotten. Some more families lived here beside the Big Sioux River. We invited the people to a meeting, and they came nearly all. They were glad to get, for the first time out here, to hear the talk about the crucified but risen Savior. I was then with them a few days and talked with them about God’s kingdom. The neighborhood here is now called Granite.
I got the knowledge about , that further to the north there should be many Swedish people and that it was up towards Dakota Territory. A man who had a pair of horses, offered himself to drive me up there. The offer was received with joy. This was the only place I could find out here, where some countrymen had settled themselves down.
Now was the take-off for Dakota. After a couple hours of riding, my driver stopped his horses by the edge of a little brook. He said, “Here live Swedish people.” I asked him: “Where is the living house?” The answer became: “Doesn’t the pastor see the house!” He pointed to a pipe, which stuck up out of the earth. I went a few steps down the hill, and look, there was a door. I knocked on the door and a young woman came out. I said to her, that I was out with an invitation from our God. Her eyes filled with tears and she burst out: “Thanks, dear Lord Jesus, that you have not forgotten us!” Her husband came now. I became of them both so heartily received. Here was a “Mary” home, which Jesus loved. Such was my entry here in Dakota.
Soon was here a crowd gathered who wanted to hear about Jesus, The Crucified. The people out here had been here nearly two years, I was not the first preacher, who got to tell, to inform of the Word of Life here in Dakota. I stayed here some days. It felt quite good to be among them. Some of them were believers. The time had now come, that I must say to them farewell. But before that occurred, I must promise them two things. First, to organize a congregation here. After some consideration I met their desires. The 8th of June organized we a congregation, which received the name of “Beaver Valley.” The second was, that I should come out here and live among them. My answer became, that if it was God’s will. I would come, but when, I could not now say.
The Lord arranged it so, that I with family could leave Boone already the 1st of September. We traveled now by train to LeMars, Iowa, where we were met by an ox drive, sent by the friends in Beaver Valley Dakota Territory. From LeMars to our destination it took us nearly three days. At 5 o’clock in the morning of the 6th of September we were at our journeys goal. We now got to move in with a family who lived in a dugout, which lacked both windows, doors and floor. There we lived for 3 weeks. Later we got our own dugout, which also got to serve, during 3 years, as gathering place for our preaching and prayer meetings.
Soon I got three other preaching places, namely: Granite, Iowa, Sioux Falls, and Little Beaver, now Swedona. The people had need to both hear and read God’s word, not only on Sunday but all the days. Meetings during the week were held here and there in our low and small dugouts. To walk afoot, five or seven miles to hear the sermon, or to ride after oxen and tie the cow behind the wagon, that was not at all any trouble. The cow got to follow with, so that one knew where one had her when one came home. Poverty and sacrifice were our daily guests; but happy and contented the people in general seemed to be. Real want was there however not, even if one and another had to grind wheat for flour on the coffee grinder.
Now has 40 years gone and ended since we began the mission work out here. Of those which were with the 8th of June 1873, at the organization of the Beaver Valley Congregation - belonging to the Augustana Synod - most of them are dead. Only a few are yet left. New relations have come. This congregation now wanted to celebrate a 40-year-fest. The 12th of October was decided therefore. I was invited to give the fest speech. The day came when the fest should be celebrated; it was a beautiful, sun warm day. A large crowd of people were therefore gathered in the church. The fest took its beginning soon after the high mass was ended, which was held by the congregation’s pastor. Thereafter joint psalm-singing. Then the pastor read one of David’s psalms and lead in prayer. Thereafter I plucked forth as good as I could one and the other, small and good, from the humble beginning days. The speech was heard with great interest. A music band played some pieces. With song and the down-calling of God’s blessings the simple fest ended.
Sunday, the 19th of October was a very cold and stormy day. I was today at home. Between 1 and 2 o’clock, p.m. I heard a weak rap on the door. I went then to see who it was. It was not one or two persons, but a great crowd of folks, men and woman, young and old, which stood out there in the cold. I became so astonished that I did not come me about to great them welcome. They did not wait either until the invitation came, but as a stream they rushed in. For safety’s sake I took my refuge behind the door. But what people are they and what do they want? Oh yes! See! They are, why, of course, old dear friends, friends from Granite, Iowa and from Beaver Valley. All their faces shone of contentment over that they could so suddenly surprise me and so without resistance take in the mount. When they now had come to quiet, I should surely greet them welcome. When I was to begin, I became so overwhelmed by Jesus’ Word in Luke 21:36, so that a welcome talk became nothing of, but a counseling word to all: “Wake and pray.” The Lord’s mealtime should now be celebrated. Soon we were all in full speed to eat of all the good things which the friends had with them. With song, prayer and conversation the time flew fast away. At the last stepped one of my former confirmation children forth and asked for quietness. Some verses were then read. At the last was reached out a large bill packet to me and my wife. It was a money gift, named-will do. How should I bring forth to the friends my and my wife’s hearty thanks. That was easier thought then done when one becomes so lovingly met in word and action by loving friends. Thanks friends, dear in the Lord! May we all understand God’s Gift in Christ Jesus.
J.F. Wretlof - 1913

Rev. Wretlof resigned, March 24, 1919, and only months later, on December 1, 1919, our faithful shepherd and minister of 46 years passed away in his home in Brandon, SD. May there always be a Peace of Christian Love over his memory.

Grandview Wordle Fun

I've become addicted to Wordle, an on line program that rearranges text, URLs, poems, whatever you want to give it.
Here are some I made for Grandview Covenant Church, the church I grew up in and still hold a membership with.You don't have a lot of control over it, so it is very random, but oh so fun. You can change colors and fonts and randomly rearrange. Give it a try by clicking on the link above.

Grandview Covenant Kids

There's always activity surrounding a church. Grandview Covenant Church is my community and connects me with friends I grew up with and formed a history with. Grandview was built on the highest point in Lyon County, therefore the name. Below are a few views of the kids at Grandview back in the 60's. It's hard to believe this is more than 40 years ago, but many of these kids have kids older than we were then and a few grandchildren as well! These people were my first friends, some relatives, neighbors,... they've become family.

Pastor David Sems was our Pastor from 1965-67, and here are some photos he took of the kids at Grandview. (Hi Dave, I know you'll be reading this, how's your blog coming?) The front steps of the church was always the gathering place for photos, I lined up there after our confirmation to receive congratulations from family and friends. These are Bible School shots, back in the day when a sack lunch was just that. No coolers.
We'd open the double doors to let in cool breezes on hot Sundays before the days of air conditioning. The back door lead down the stairs the back way to the bathrooms and kitchen, an addition they built in my youth. I barely remember the old pump down in the kitchen and the cellar door that used to be there that led outside. I love the one in the top left corner above showing our old outhouse. There used to be a larger one there before this building.

There were always kids tables for eating at. One table was low to the ground, it's still in use - think of all the kids who have sat at that over the years. Simplier times...

Bible School group in 1964. Rev. Paul Nelson was the Pastor at this time. We played lots of games in the church yard, baseball and kick ball were favorites. Way back in the distance of this photo is our church cemetery. The Sioux River and the Iowa/South Dakota border is beyond that.

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. -Proverbs 22:6

As you can tell, I love reminising about the old days. Friends and family, do you recognize any of the faces here? I have more old photos scanned than the newer ones. I should get at that task and scan even more than I have, but I'll leave that for another day.

Eating Out - Summer Style

(Do you know that if you click on a photo it will enlarge into a new window?)

Going through old photos I found these treasures of picnic shots. As the last days of summer vacation creep up on me before school starts I imagine there's still a chance for a picnic.


Sitting on the front lawn at Charlie and Anna Swansons home (my great Grandparents who are in the bottom left of the photo) making ice cream as everyone anxiously awaits. There's a box with dishes in the center (by my Grandma Phoebe).

A Sack lunch in the church yard to the East of Grandview Covenant Church back in the 60's. Probably after Bible School? Families represented here include: Bjork, Hessaa, Johnson, Dieters, Volseth, and Payfer. Did I leave anyone out?


Lunch in the field - 1975. Left to Right: Calvin (Dad), Steve, Joe, David Hildring and Eddie Hildring.


The backyard of friends, Inger and Bjorn's home in Sweden - 2001. Mom, Aunt Joyce and cousin Robin and I made our memorable trip together, Barbro met us at Ingers also. I had met Inger and Barbro on-line back in the late 90's while doing family research. They both live in the town of Ljungsbro and while they weren't acquainted before meeting me, they both made our trip to Sweden a memorable one. We would picnic everyday on our trip. Packing a lunch in the morning and sharing our feast of treasures along our way.


The Ericsson family - 2001, my host family from when I was an exchange student back in 1975 in Hävla, Sweden. It was wonderful to meet Jan and Ulf's families and of course see Papa Olle and introduce them to my family in person. I do remember the dessert this evening was a huge bowl of ice cream with fresh raspberries in honor of a favorite treat when I lived with the family years ago.


In 2005 we had a Johnson reunion of Joyce, Calvin and Carol Ann's families. The day started with a church service at Grandview, followed by a trip to the cemetery before coming back to church to eat the then ready feast of food. (Ok, so we ate indoors... we're talking airconditioning and tables to eat at!) Many of the cousins had not seen each other for quite some time and while only 8 of the 10 first cousins were able to be there we were grateful for the opportunity to get together. After a buffet style lunch served in the church kitchen we toured the area connecting everyone with family sites of days gone by.

Hallowed Ground

There's some kind of connection from posting to posting. This time I go from the sacred beauty of God's landscape to the churches that have special meaning to my family. I first saw the Ljung church when I was an exchange student to Sweden back in 1975. Luckily, my host family made it possible for me to visit the church. An experience that was one of the many things that inspired my interest in family genealogy.
These photos are from the 70's showing the back of the church and inside from the choir loft. Did you know many of the cemetery plots are reused. If no one is caring for the grave it is reused. The headstones become part of the stone fence around the church or a walkway around the church. I'm not sure of all the details of the "recycled" graves but do know the cemetery has been in use for hundreds of years.

Brohemmet (the Swedish translation of the name is bridge home) is the birthplace of my Great great grandparents. (The brothers Karl and Adolph Svensson who later built Fallhemmet as mentioned from an earlier posting.) Their father Sven Svensson was a torpare. Brohemmet was on land which belonged to another owner than the Svenssons, in this case Ljung Slott (Castle) The settler who worked a torp was obligated to provide the owner with a certain number of free work days during the year. In return the torpare worked his plot of ground, seldom larger than a couple of acres, where he could plant potatoes, grow vegetables and a bit of hay for the lone cow, a couple of pigs and a few chickens. Brohemmet was one of the closest homes to the Ljung church and castle of the owner, therefore giving it a prime location as it was also next to the river. It is imagined Sven was an important worker for the estate due to the proximity of the home to the castle. The owners of the Ljung estate while Sven and Katrina lived at Brohemmet were The von Fersen family until 1862 (when they went bankrupt) and then The von Mecklenburg family bought the estate. The Svensson family had to move out of the house when father Sven died in 1860, that is when Fallhemmet was built. Photo Above: Brohemmet with a view of the Ljung Kyrka (Church) in the distance across the river.

Karl emigrated to the United States in 1869 with his wife Carolina and three children and settled in Dakota Territory in 1870, along the Sioux River. Adolph emigrated to the United States years later at the age of 54 in 1889 with his wife Greta and two of their six living children. The other four children had already emigrated to the same area where Karl had settled. The brothers reunited after 20 years, had 12 living children between the two of them, who were pioneers of the area. These descendants helped start a church named Grandview Swedish Mission Church of rural Granite, IA, now known as Grandview Covenant Church.