USA > Iowa > O'Brien County > Past and present of O'Brien and Osceola counties, Iowa, Vol. I > Part 33
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But these bare financial and statistical statements are no indication of the work done during the years of this society's existence. The church has been a power for good in every direction. Its financial affairs have added to the business life of the community. Far more important is the influence it has cast around the children and young people and the citizens in general. Interested in all good things, this church has stood for the best. As a moral, an educational, an inspirational center, this church has been a power. We
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face the future with confidence, believing that we have only begun to realize what God intends to do with us, and through us, if we are faithful to Him.
More appropriate words for closing this sketch could scarcely be found than Paul's addressed to the Christians at Philippi: "Forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ, Jesus."
THE FRIENDS SOCIETY NEAR PAULLINA.
The society of Friends, founded in the seventeenth century, has many yearly meetings scattered over the country, which may be called the parent bodies.
The conservative branch conducts one of these yearly meetings in this state, known as Iowa Yearly Meeting of Friends, of which the meeting known as Paullina Monthly Meeting of Friends is a subordinate branch. This was set up, or organized. the 26th of twelfth month, 1885, and the meetings were then held in a private house.
In 1886 a meeting house was erected on a two-acre lot on the south- west quarter of section 31. Highland township, at a cost of about one thousand dollars, size of house thirty feet square. In 1911 the present house was erected, being thirty-four by forty-six feet, and cost about one thousand seven hundred dollars, including a concrete basement.
Meetings for worship are regularly held on the first and fourth days of each week, at ten A. M. in summer and eleven A. M. in winter, except the fourth day preceding the second seventh day in each month, when the monthly meeting is held on the seventh day.
All are considered to be on a common level, and have no prearranged services ; the meeting is held, even if only a few attend. The assembly never waits for any special person, as the meeting is simply held for divine wor- ship, which is believed to consist in communion of individuals with their Maker, and not just to hear or to speak, though there is liberty for any to express what is on their mind, if they feel it their duty to do so.
Meetings for business are held each month, and this meeting orders and controls all church affairs. A clerk is appointed each year, who minutes and records the proceedings of each meeting in a book. There are women's meetings for business, as well as men's, held in separate session, each meet- ing appointing its own clerk.
No business is done by vote, but is considered with the thought of all
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being united. If any one feels a serious objection, the matter is postponed until all feel free it should pass, or at least, no objection be made.
Trustees are about the only officials who are appointed for an un- limited time. The first ones were Archibald Crosbie, Ole P. Tjossem and Hubert Rockwell. Others have been appointed as became necessary on account of death or removal. The present trustees are Oman K. Tow, Archibald Henderson and Lewis L. Rockwell.
The appointment of overseers is considered each year, to have general oversight of the good order and unity among the members. Committees are appointed for other purposes as needed.
A meeting for ministers and elders is held once in three months and consists of well concerned Friends appointed by the monthly meeting.
In the winter of 1887-8 a school was started and held in the meeting house, with a length of term of three and one-half months, afterwards lengthened to four months. In 1899 a school house was built at a cost of about five hundred dollars; size of building, twenty by twenty-eight feet. About this time a spring term of two months was added to the length of the school year, and later a fall term was added, which made it eight months.
In 1909 the school house was moved a short distance, and twelve feet added to its length. This, with a basement and furnace, cost about seven hundred dollars. The number of students having increased, two teachers were engaged. In 1912 the school house was again enlarged to double its size, which made it forty feet square, with primary and advanced rooms, class room and hall, costing one thousand five hundred dollars. Three teach- ers were then employed. The number of pupils at the present time is about forty, and the maximum, in 1912-3, was fifty-three.
The course of instruction is made according to the state manual, up to the end of the eighth grade, except music, which is not taught. There is also two years of high school work. No special religious instruction is re- quired, except that a portion of Scripture is read in the morning, and the pupils are required to commit to memory a few verses of Scriptures once a week and to attend the meeting on the fourth days, our object being to have a special care over the children, in order to eliminate, as much as possible, evil habits and cultivate good ones.
A committee is appointed each year to have an oversight and care in the management of the school, hire teachers, etc. This and other like schools in the yearly meeting, are under the supervision of a superintendent, who is employed by the yearly meeting.
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There is a library in connection with and for the use of the school. Also a library in the meeting house, owned by the monthly meeting, con- taining religious books, which will be loaned free to any one who wishes to read them, and a collection of Friends' tracts for free distribution.
EVANGELICAL CHURCHES.
This denomination, in its various branches, is quite strong in O'Brien county. St. John's Evangelical church at Sanborn was formed in 1886 by the following members: William Marquardt, M. David, Christopher Guse, Carl Nemistz, John Grabow, John Steuck, August Marquardt. The present voting membership is thirty-four families. The pastors have been as fol- lows: Revs. A. Coppett, P. Thusius, C. Dacumber, C. F. W. Brandt and F. Albrecht since January, 1907.
In 1895 a frame church was erected at a cost of two thousand five hun- dred dollars. They also have a good parsonage and a full block of ground. The parochial school attached to this church society has a membership of pupils at present of sixteen. The school house was erected in 1910 and is a frame structure. This denomination has in O'Brien county churches at Hartley, Paullina, Germantown and Sanborn.
GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN ZION CHURCHES.
In the year 1889 the now sainted Rev. E. Zuerrer, then pastor of the congregation at Germantown, called the few Lutheran families living in and close to Paullina together and with them conducted the first Lutheran service in Paullina. In spite of the many duties in his pastorate of his own con- gregation he, nevertheless, preached regularly to the few families, assisted for a time by a student of theology, E. Gesterling, who had charge of the congregation at Mill Creek.
From August, 1891, until September, 1893, Rev. H. Schwenk, then pastor of Mill Creek congregation, served these families with preaching of the divine gospel. In the summer of 1892 a congregation was organized with five voting members. Rev. H. Schwenk having been called away, the con- gregation then was in charge of his successor, Rev. C. D. Nuoffer.
With untiring energy, he conducted Lutheran services in the public school building for ten years.
The congregation enjoyed a slow but steady growth and the members at the expiration of the ten years felt themselves able, with the support of
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the mission board, to call a pastor of their own. And thus, on September II, 1904, the Rev. August F. Bernthal was installed as the first resident Lutheran pastor in Paullina. Under his faithful service the congregation continued in substantial growth, and after mature deliberation decided to build and own a house of worship.
On October 28, 1906. the present church edifice was dedicated to the service of the Lord. In 1908 Rev. Bernthal accepted a call to the congrega- tion at Edwardsville, Illinois. After a vacancy of about nine months, during which time the congregation was in charge of Rev. Oscar H. Horn, the present pastor. Rev. A. H. Semmon, then pastor of the Lutheran congrega- tion at Alton, Illinois, accepted the call and was installed into the office of pastor on May 9. 1909.
In the fall of 1909 the congregation purchased the excellent property just south of the church for a parsonage. The congregation at the present time has fifty voting members and three hundred souls. The value of church property is now twelve thousand dollars.
At Hartley the German Evangelical Lutheran church was formed in 1899 by Rev. C. Bondigkeit, of Peterson, Iowa. In the spring of 1900 the society bought the old Methodist Episcopal church and moved the same to a lot in the northeast part of town. In May, that year, the congregation ap- pointed Rev. Karl Dexheimer as pastor, and by the year's end some forty or fifty families counted themselves as members of this congregation. The following year they erected a fine frame parsonage and purchased a hand- some organ. Changes were made in the church building in 1903, when it was completely overhauled. Following Rev. Dexheimer came Rev. William Vehe, who, after two years and nine months, was succeeded by Rev. Schiemi- chen, and he, in August, 1907, was followed by Rev. J. Fischer, who is still doing a great work among his people.
St. Paul's Evangelical congregation, at Hartley, was organized Septem- ber 26, 1909. Prior to this time Rev. Albrecht, of Sanborn, cared for the people of this religious faith who resided near Hartley. August 29, 1909, Rev. Schrien was installed pastor by Rev. Albrecht. The young society struggled on and soon saw the need of a house of worship, and finally, on July 24, 1910, the corner stone was laid to start the superstructure of a new church, which was dedicated in December, that year. This is a small, but well-planned building. having good basement, light and ventilation.
Evangelical Lutheran St. John's church, which now enjoys a member- ship of about ninety, at the quiet little hamlet of Germantown, in Caledonia
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township, was organized in 1883, by the faithful few who banded together and built a church on ten acres of land donated by Henry Richter, for church and cemetery purposes. Here they erected a building costing about seven thousand dollars. The first church was erected, however, on section 14, and with it a parsonage. It was in 1888 that the present good church building was erected on section 15, while the cemetery is located on section 14. The three acres upon which the church stands was bought by the church mem- bers. The church building is thirty-six by seventy-two feet, one story in height, having twenty-two-foot posts. A year after the church was built the congregation was provided with a good sounding organ. The first min- ister in this congregation was Rev. E. Zeurrer, who served for eleven years, from 1879 to 1892. Then came Rev. J. Horn, who died after a forceful sermon, only about a half hour elapsing after he left the pulpit till he was cold in death. Heart failure was the attributed cause of his death. Next came his son, Rev. Oscar Horn, who remained a long number of years, and was succeeded by Rev. Henry Grefe, who served a year and ten months, when he met a horrible and accidental death by the burning of an over- turned automobile in which he was riding with others from near Meriden. where he had been instructing a choir of his denomination. The auto ran off the side of a twelve-foot bridge, and while he and a boy were pinned be- neath the machine, at eleven o'clock at night, he begged the bystanders to extricate the youth before trying to help him out. In trying to do this a lantern was caught in a nearby tree and thrown over and into the upturned automobile. The gasoline escaping from the machine was by the lantern ignited, causing a great explosion, in which the faithful minister was burned to death. He left a family of six children, his wife having died a few months prior to this terrible accident, September 6, 1912. The driver was so badly injured that he died the next day. His name was August Pauling, aged thirty-eight years, and he left a wife and four children.
Following Rev. Grefe came Rev. F. W. Potratz, of Willow City, North Dakota : he came November 17, 1912, and is still serving.
THE PAROCHIAL SCHOOL.
The church above described has in connection one of the best schools in the county. It is the parochial school where both German and English are taught by highly competent instructors. The building in which this school is kept was erected about 1901, after having occupied the original smaller building until the number of pupils increased until it became too crowded.
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This last building is forty-eight by ninety-six feet, one story high. The seating capacity is one hundred and fifty pupils. At first stoves were had for heating both school and church, but now it has furnace heat. This school teaches the common and higher branches. The first instructor here was Prof. Wilde Clement Kampe; then came Prof. H. G. Nuoffer, who left in 1911 and was succeeded by Prof. W. A. Leiner (lower class) and Rev. R. B. Knuth (higher class).
At Germantown there is a fine brass band of nineteen pieces, organized in 1889 by Professor Kampe. All this church and school life in the town- ship shows that the Germans of this county-especially in the little "king- dom of Caledonia"-set a good example for others to follow, in many par- ticulars.
NORWEGIAN LUTHERAN CHURCH.
The Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church of Paullina was organized on July 22, 1888, in the school building in Paullina.
The Rev. N. G. Peterson, then pastor at Jewel Junction, Iowa, came here and took charge of the work, and for some time the meetings were held in the school house, and later in the Presbyterian church.
In 1893 the Lutheran church bought the Presbyterian church building, the Presbyterians deciding to build a new house of worship, and they are using their first purchased church building at this time.
At first the Norwegian Lutheran church here was independent of any of the organizations of the Norwegian church in this country. In 1902, during the pastorate of Rev. Helmers, they joined the United church. Of the first members who signed the roll there are just four now living in this locality, to-wit: Olus Idso, Peter Idso, Martin Larson and Iver Goodmanson. The church has had nine different pastors, as follows: N. G. Peterson, now of Des Moines; Rev. Harrisville, of Chicago; Rev. Kasa, no longer in the work; Rev. Erwik, present residence unknown: Rev. John Mattson, of Mauston, Wisconsin; Rev. H. O. Helmers, now of Norway; Rev. H. Noss, now at Mankato, Minnesota : Rev. L. E. Kleppe, of Sioux Rapids, Iowa, and Rev. Theodore Kleppe, the present pastor. Of these, but two had their resi- dence here. the Rev. Helmers and Rev. Theodore Kleppe. The difficulty of getting ministers to serve this charge has been one of the great drawbacks to the advancement of the church here. At times they have been for months without services. On September 1, 1912, Rev. Kleppe came and since then the work of the church has advanced rapidly. The outlook for the future is
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fine, the pastor finding a fine field for his labors and a liberal response from his people.
The church now has forty voting members and about one hundred fifty members in good standing. In the twenty-five years of its existence one hundred and thirty-eight persons have been baptized and sixty-four have been confirmed. The church has property valued at not less than five thou- sand dollars, and is managed by a board of trustees, consisting of F. Stange- land, Goodman Goodmanson and K. Fjeld, and the following named men- bers are the deacons of the church at the present time: E. Fkor, Thor Naig and Peter Naig.
CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH.
This church at Sanborn was organized in the autumn of 1911 and the building was erected so that it was dedicated February 1I, 1912. It is a frame structure costing three thousand dollars, with an addition built in 1913. The original members of this society were W. W. Brouwer, G. D. Young, O. Vander Werf, P. Mars, C. Geolder. K. Tap, B. Mellema, B. Hof- man, J. Hofman, W. Groneveld. The pastor since November 17, 1912, has been Rev. F. Stuart. The total membership of this congregation is now sixty-two families. The value of church, parsonage and grounds in the fall of 1913 was placed at six thousand seven hundred dollars. In O'Brien county this denomination has churches at Sanborn and Sheldon.
The church at Sheldon was organized in 1905 by the classis of Orange City, Iowa. There were about fifteen members. The first building was erected in 1906 and an addition made in 1912, making it now thirty-two by fifty feet in size. The present total membership is about eighty families, or four hundred souls. The pastors have been Rev. F. Stuart, from 1906 to 1912, and the present pastor, Rev. Peter J. M. Voortman, who was installed May 4, 1913. The present valuation placed on the property of this church is eight thousand dollars. There is also a church of this denomination at San- born, as above noted, and these are the only two of the kind in O'Brien county.
EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION.
The Evangelical Association at Hartley was organized April 10, 1889, when the work was effected by the following original charter membership : F. Klampes, Caroline Klampes, George Klampes, Silas Klampes, Albert Klampes, Ida Klampes, Clara Klampes, John Klampes, Sophia Klampes, William Klampes, Albert Reinke, Minnie Reinke, F. Durre, Hillens Durre,
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Jacob Widman, Mrs. Widman, Anna Widman, William Widman, W. Filk, IV. Filk. Sr., Rose Filk.
The present membership of this society is twenty-eight, although in 1901 it had reached ninety-eight. The present building was erected in 1890. at a cost of two thousand three hundred dollars. The first parsonage, still standing, cost one thousand five hundred dollars. The church property is now valued at four thousand five hundred dollars. The various pastors have been : Revs. M. Trumbauer, G. Borghardt, John J. DeWahl, William Grobe, G. Youngblood. J. W. Wienands, L. Reep. Henry Raecker, E. C. Graenner, John D. Schaibie, Peter Schott, Charles S. Lang, William F. Mather, these having served from 1889 to 1914.
CHRISTIAN CHURCHES.
The First Church of Christ of Primghar was organized and incorpor- ated November 9, 1899, by William Wicks, Emma J. Wicks, William King. Theodore King, J. P. Knox, Jessie Frasier and many others. The church building was erected in 1896 and cost thirty-one hundred dollars.
The First Church of Christ of Sutherland of the same denomination was incorporated May 15. 1897, by Charles Peaker, J. N. Slick, F. W. Hul- ser, James Parker and others.
The First Church of Christ at Archer was incorporated October 15, 1898, by P. S. Tanner, D. H. Smith, James Morfitt and others.
This denomination also organized at Sheldon at a very early day and built a church, but at present and for some time it has been without a pastor.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE.
The First Church of Christ (Christian Science) was incorporated in Sheldon May 9, 1895, and Mrs. Isadore Starrett was chosen as first reader and F. E. Wade as second reader. Services and readings are held at its audience rooms in the second story of the Union Bank building.
The First Church of Christ ( Christian Science) at Sanborn was incor- porated April 2, 1898, by William Woodman, Frank Brainard, Peter Velie and August Schoel as trustees.
The First Church of Christ (Christian Science) was organized in Primghar in 1913 by the election of Mrs. D. R. Carmichael as first reader, and Mrs. J. S. Nye, Jr., as second reader. Services and readings are held in the second story of the Yeoman's lodge building.
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THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT PAULLINA.
By David Algyer.
The First Presbyterian church at Paullina was organized in the fall of 1881, as follows :
Rev. J. M. McComb, at that time located at Sanborn, lowa, under the auspices of the board of home missions of the Presbyterian church, laid the foundation of what is now our Presbyterian church, by holding occasional Sabbath services in the Carman school house in Dale township.
On January 10, 1882, at the home of Alexander Scott, in Dale town- ship, Mr. McComb organized a church of twenty-four members, namely : Alexander Scott, Helen Scott. John Sibbald Scott, William F. Scott, James M. Christie, Helen Clark, Rachel Clark, Thomas Milligan, Thomas Scott, Mary C. Scott, Thomas A. Scott, Fred L. Murrie, Walter Cowan, Mrs. Wal- ter Cowan, Mrs. J. Douglas, Jane J. Cowan, Agnes M. McNaughton, Will- iam Redford, Helen Redford, Jessie Redford, Andrew Redford, Jane Red- ford, Robert Aitken, William Aitken, Mary G. Aitken, Bella M. Aitken, Thomas H. Aitken, William S. Clark.
Of these Alexander Scott and the late William Aitken were elected elders, and Thomas Scott and the late William Redford formed the first board of trustees.
In May, 1882, Mr. McComb, being appointed to the place of foreign missionary to India, the church was placed under the care of Rev. Mr. Evans, who, though he remained only three weeks, made a deep impression on the people by his genial disposition and earnestness of his teaching, which remained with the people long after he was gone. Meanwhile, Paullina had grown into a good healthy town and it was considered advisable to make it the center of the Presbyterian church.
Accordingly, Mr. Evans preached the first sermon ever delivered in the town, to a little company of some eight people, on the third Sunday of May, 1882, in the parlor of the Northwestern hotel on Main street.
For financial reasons, Mr. Evans was removed to another field and the Presbyterian church of Paullina was placed with that of Marcus, Iowa, under Rev. W. E. Caldwell. Soon the congregation had so increased that a larger room was needed for its accommodation. This need was kindly met by Mrs. C. C. Smith, who offered for the purpose the use of her home, now occupied by the A. P. Jacobs hardware store. Here, for the first time in Paullina, the communion season and service was observed, and services were
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continued until the place of meeting was changed to the building in which was held Paullina's first school.
The first church building of the Presbyterian church was completed in September. 1883, and was dedicated by Rev. Gramby, of Sioux City, with- out pulpit or pew, or furnishings of any description : the people ranged them- selves as best they could on benches and a motley collection of chairs bor- rowed for the occasion, and, in spite of all drawbacks, it was with grateful, happy hearts, those present listened to the beautiful words with which the little edifice was set apart to its sacred use as a house of worship.
In 1886 Mr. Caldwell was regularly called and installed as pastor. In 1889 Mr. Caldwell resigned and as a brother minister said of him: "For all time, this church will remain a monument of Mr. Caldwell's work among you." Rev. Allen, of Sioux City, filled the pulpit with great acceptance until Rev. J. A. McAlmon was called and installed in October. 1889, and during his pastorate the parsonage was built. In the summer of 1891, Rev. McAlmon resigned, and Rev. Andrew Herron was called to succeed him and was installed September 1. 1891. In 1893 the first church building was sold to the Norwegian Lutheran church of Paullina, and the present church building was erected and dedicated in 1895. remodeled and made very con- venient for Sunday school purposes, etc .. in the year 1913. The value of the property of the Presbyterian church of Paullina at this time is not less than fifteen thousand dollars. Rev. Andrew Herron was succeeded by Dr. O. S. Thompson, who resigned in 1910 and was succeeded by the Rev. W. S. Harries, the present pastor. The temporal affairs of the church are governed by the following board of trustees: Charles Ihle, William F. Scott, W. J. McCauley, F. V. D. Bogert and Nelson Loucks. The spiritual concerns of the church are conducted by the following board of elders: Alexander Scott. John Cowan, Sr., J. S. McComb, John V. Adkins and Louis Wollenberg and the church has at present a membership of one hundred ninety-six.
OTHER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.
The First Presbyterian church at Sanborn was organized in 1881 by Rev. William S. Peterson and the following persons: Mrs. E. R. Dunbar, Mrs. Mary L. Thomas, Mrs. Mary L. Barnett, Mrs. J. M. Martin. A. H. Everhard, J. L. Greene, Mrs. Eva V. D. Greene, Mrs. Angie Vallean. The present membership is about eighty. The value of the church property. church, parsonage, barn, etc., is about six thousand dollars.
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