| In the 1800's, Madison, Wisconsin, was becoming a vibrant city and attracted hard working people to the area. The southeast corner that adjoins Madison became home to an entrepreneur named William McFarland who had visions of a beautiful community supported in part by the ever expanding railroad.
Our village, named after William McFarland, had a Lutheran congregation which built a church and later, in 1900, a parsonage as a home for their first resident pastor. Built at a cost of $2,000, it had gas lighting and two sources of water: well water from a well in the back yard and rainwater from a cistern outside the back door.
Rev. Realf O. Brandt with his wife Mathilde and four children; Olaf, Walther, Emma and Diderikke moved into the parsonage on October 16, 1900. Both daughters were married in the parsonage. The Brandts lived in the parsonage until his death in 1927.
The next family to live in the parsonage was Rev. Morris Sorenson, his wife, Bertha, and two children, Ruth and Morris Jr. A third child, Margaret, was the only child born in the parsonage. Pastor Sorenson served until 1948.
Pastor Gerhard Bergee and his wife Idella came to McFarland in May of 1949 with two small sons, Gerhard and Paul. The Bergees lived in the old parsonage until 1955 when a new, smaller, parsonage was built and the old building was sold. * * * * * * * * * A few families then lived in the building, giving them ample room to raise their family in a quiet, little village. 
Mrs. Pearson, one of the private owners who lived at the Parsonage, circa 1966. * * * * * * * * * |
