Carl Lauritz Schive
Carl, the son of Christen H. Schive and Petronelle Adelgunde Laerum, was born on June 27, 1867 in Holmestrand, a town in Vestfold County, Norway. He attended Aars and Voss' Latin School, graduating in 1885 with an A.B; Christiana University, 1885-91 (Philosophy, C.T.). Carl was ordained in Christiania by Bishop Essendrop in 1892. He was married and immigrated to the United States that same year. His wife was Anna Holst. Anna was born in October 1867. Carl was a pastor in Hoboken, New Jersey from 1892-95 and in Westby, Wisconsin from 1895-96.
In April 1896, Carl was called to be the minister for the East Lemonweir Church and the associated churches of West Lemonweir, Greenwood in Vernon County, and Cazenovia in Sauk County. He was installed as pastor on July 5, 1896. In December 1896, East Lemonweir, upon request, gave its consent to the establishment of a congregation in Elroy which gave him a fifth church to minister. In 1900, Carl and Anna lived on the farm in Lisbon Township provided as a parsonage by the East Lemonweir Church. They had not had any children. Ellen O. Severson, age 30, and Gilbert Juve, age 15, lived in the household and were employed by them as servants (1900 U.S cen).
In a report made in May 1904, Carl described the East Lemonweir Church as a strong congregation of almost 100 families; the entire Lemonweir Parish had about 1,200 souls. The roads in the parish, he described as long and wearisome, since the congregational members lived in five different counties (Juneau, Vernon, Monroe, Sauk, and Jackson or Wood?). Because of these distances, powerful voices called for the division of the parish and several meetings were held in 1902 and 1903 to discuss division. Nothing had been decided and he hoped for a peaceful solution to this important problem!
The West Lemonweir Church was completed in 1898 with the addition of a steeple.
In 1899 both Lemonweir churches had been in use for 25 years and Carl held
a celebration in the West Church in May and in the East Church in September
1899. In the summer of 1904, Carl presided over the 50th anniversary celebration
for East Lemonweir. Later that year, he asked for a year's leave of absence,
in order to visit Norway. Carl and Anna left in the spring of 1905. The Rev.
John G. Nelson was called as temporary pastor and served until September
1906. Having decided to remain in Norway, Carl sent his resignation as pastor.
His resignation was considered and accepted on April 10, 1906. Carl died
in Norway on September 4, 1915.
By Lawrence W. Onsager, lonsager@kcom.edu