Freeborn Lutheran Cemetery

Early settlers in the Freeborn area began worship gatherings as early as 1894

About

Early settlers in the Freeborn area began worship gatherings as early as 1894.  By 1900 seven families became the founding members of the Freeborn Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Church.  They had no church but met in the schoolhouse.  The notes of the early meetings were written in Norwegian.

In need of a church and graveyard, Peder and Rakel Pedersen sold one acre of their property for $1.00 for this purpose.  The following is a translation of the notes establishing the cemetery:

"Then a committee of three men, namely, C. Iversen, J. Garberg and O. Husby, were tasked to begin work on the cemetery regarding grave lots of the dimensions of 16 feet by 24 feet.  In like manner, decision was made to start work on the cemetery beginning on the 14 of January 1901.  Determined also was the prevention to sell lots to outsiders and the price was $10.00 per lot (whenever the time comes to purchase.)  From 14 January there were three days work performed at the cemetery as was possible and 12 lots (containing 12 burial plots) were made.  On the 20th of January, lots were arranged for:"

G Guldbrandsen  No. 1
Ole J. Husby  No. 2
G. Gabrielsen  No. 3
C. Iversen  No. 14
J. Garberg  No. 15
Peder Pedersen  No. 16
Johanes Somme No. 17
Edvard Husby  No. 18
Invald Pedersen  No. 19
Henry Garberg  No. 31
Ed Johnson  No. 32

For more information about the Freeborn Lutheran Church click here