In the spring of 1869, settlers from Fayette County, Iowa, led by Peter F Jacobson, ventured north to explore and settle newly opening land in the Minnesota Valley and became known as the Jacobson Colony, the first permanent group of pioneers to settle in Lac qui Parle County. A settlement was begun here, and J F Jacobson and William Mills platted a townsite called Williamsburg. Chalmers and Donaldson built and occupied a store there, but about a year later the town of Lac qui Parle was established about four miles east in a more advantageous location, flourished, and drew the store away, causing Williamsburg to decline and disappear. Reverend Peter Thompson, an ordained minister and member of the Jacobson Colony, conducted services in open groves and settlers cabins because there were no schools or churches for worship. In 1870, the Lac qui Parle Evangelical Lutheran Congregation was organized, and Thompson was called as its pastor even though it had no church building. A need for a cemetery soon became apparent, and in 1871 the first cemetery was established on a one acre tract in the Williamsburg townsite. The congregation built a church one mile west in 1876 at the present site of Lac qui Parle Lutheran Church, but continued using this pioneer cemetery until 1884, when land next to the new church was purchased for a cemetery.