RECOLLECTIONS OF REV. J. F. WRETLOF

	This file was transcribed by Diane Johnson <djohnson@denver.k12.ia.us>
	Originally published in 1913. Translation by Mable E. Swanson.

	This file may be freely copied for non-profit purposes.

	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

FROM THE READING CIRCLE
(Fran  lasekretsen) from Brandon, S.D.
(Translated by Mable E. Swanson)