of Bosque Co., Texas
The Old Rock Church
The Old St Olaf's Lutheran Church
located four miles east of Cranfills Gap, Texas
The First Norwegian families started coming to this area of Texas as early as 1841. The State of Texas offered major land incentives for settlers to the King of Norway and Sweden. They were lead here largely by Cleng Peerson who helped Norwegian settlements across the United States.
Cleng Peerson found himself in sympathy in Norway with the plight of the Quakers who were being persecuted by the state Lutheran religion and locked into an economic caste system. He started his investigation for settlements to America on a three year journey on the behalf of the Quakers. He encouraged the Quakers but also promoted the economic opportunities and freedom to every Norwegian. The first colony of 53 immigrants was started in 1825 in Kendal, New York. When this one appeared likely to fail he started exploring more territory in Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri. [The Norwegian Texans]
John Nordboe was the first settler in Texas in 1841. As a friend of Cleng Peerson and member of his first settlement in New York, his presence here apparently drew Cleng to explore Texas. In 1847 Cleng Peerson was 64 years old and had married a young Swedish woman in a communal settlement in Bishop Hill, Illinois. When the marriage failed he sold everything to bring a few families to Texas. He lived with the Ole Canuteson family, a neighbor to John Nordboe, ten miles south of Dallas for four years. [The Norwegian Texans]
Bosque
County was founded in
1854 by the State of Texas and offered 320 acres free to each settler.
Cleng Peerson placed an ad in an Illinois newspaper and offered half of
his land grant in the State of Texas in exchange for a home in his
declining years. One particular method of getting from Illinois was by
steamboat to New Orleans, then by ship to Galveston and then by oxcart
to Bosque county. He lived with Ovee Colwick family near the Norse
community a few miles southeast of Cranfills Gap until he died here in
the Norse community, Dec. 16, 1865 where he is buried at the age of 82
in the Norse Cemetery. [Bosque Co. Hist., p35]
The Old Rock Church is situated on a rise overlooking Meridian Creek
valley. It was constructed in 1884 on land purchased for $25. The main
architect and builder was Andrew Michelson who with the help of his
brothers Christian and Ole, as well as, many local farmers quarried the
native limestone two miles away. The stone had to be dressed and carted
to the site where the church was built in their spare time. The bell
for calling worship weighs 3200 pounds. It was lifted into place and
the remaining covering for the steeple was constructed around it.
This was a true Scandinavian
community where Norwegian was the primary language although there were
Danes and Swedes here as well. Even after the new church was
constructed in Cranfills Gap 1917 we find that 44 services were held in
Norwegian and only 22 in English. Still today it is well known for its
Septemberfest and the Lutefisk Dinners that the Lions Club still puts
on as an annual event for first Saturday in December. Due the
communities strong ties to its original heritage this area was also
visited by the King Olav V of Norway on Oct. 10, 1982. He came to
commemorate the birth of Cleng Peerson and visited the Lutheran Church
in the village of Norse, which is very nearby. Here he placed a wreath
on the grave of Cleng Peerson. [Bosque Co. Hist. , p35]
Many of the original families
of the region are buried in the cemetery adjacent to this church. Here
you will find Rohne, Christenson, Johnson, Michelson, Bertelson but to
name a few. Andrew Michelson, the church builder and his brother,
returned to Norway after a few years and bought a farm in the Loten
Parish area. His heirs are still there. [Michelson. email]
Cleng Peerson is buried only a
few miles from the Rock Church in the old town of Norse. Here his
fellow expatriates celebrated their good fortune when the King of
Norway visited his grave.
A full list of cemetery records for St Olaf's can be found on the following web site - http://www.mustangtexas.com/St_Olaf_Cemetery.htm
sources:
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