USA > Iowa > O'Brien County > Past and present of O'Brien and Osceola counties, Iowa, Vol. I > Part 61
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The church at present receives assistance from the Iowa Home Mis- sionary Society. It is also assisted by a highly efficient Ladies' Aid Society called the Busy Bees. Bernice and Beatrice Manville, the twin daughters of Mr. and Mrs. E. O. Manville, are fine musicians and are of much help in the choir.
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The church has had regular services, with little interruption, since the date of organization. On several occasions Rev. W. A. Schwimley, while pastor in Sibley, preached revival sermons in the Ocheyedan church.' Of the newer members of the church who were good helpers, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Bremmer, both of whom are now dead, deserve special mention. Of the older members the late Mrs. C. L. Buchman was the church treasurer for many years. The church is without a parsonage and it is hard to rent a suitable dwelling for one, but the church is not at all discouraged. Having survived about a quarter of a century, it has learned to be patient and overcome ob- stacles. It feels it has a mission in Ocheyedan and that it is a help to the community. With the further development of the fine country round about and the growth of the town the church will undoubtedly share in the gen- eral prosperity.
FIRST GERMAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SIBLEY.
About a quarter of a century ago Germans from eastern United States began to move westward and settle in the northwestern portion of Iowa and South Dakota. Among these early settlers missionaries were very active. Rev. J. E. Drake, the official missionary, Rev. H. Wortmann and other local pastors of the German Presbyterian church, through their unabating activity and the Grace of God, were instrumental in organizing churches among the German speaking people of the Northwest.
During the year of 1892 missionary work was begun among the Ger- mans of Sibley and vicinity. At first preaching services were conducted in the court house ; later in the Baptist and the old St. John's Episcopal church. In 1896 the present church building was purchased from the Methodists. Two lots, II and 12, in block 30, in the town of Sibley, were se- cured from the Iowa Land Company on which the present church building is situated. The congregation also owns a seven-room manse, situated on lots 5 and 6, in block 9, in Chase's addition to Sibley. The entire valuation of the church property is eight thousand dollars, free from debt. Last year the entire church building was equipped with a spacious basement and a new heating system. The church on the inside has lately been deco- rated by the Ladies' Aid Society.
After the organization had been effected in 1895 and incorporated under the laws of Iowa, it was received under the care of the presbytery of Sioux City and synod of Iowa, and so remained until it was transferred to the presbytery of George and the German synod of the Northwest. Names
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prominent among the charter members are: Oscar Schmidt, Krine Deuth, Cornelius Jensen. Min Schouhoven and Claas Huffmann. Ruling elders, deacons and a board of trustees constitute the official staff. Rev. Aiken Kruse served as the first local pastor of the newly organized church. He was succeeded by Rev. L. Figge, Rev. E. B. Grancko and Rev. J. Schaelde. For a while during the year of 1904 the church was without a pastor. Mis- sionary E. Boell had charge of the field for a while until Rev. A. Proett be- came its regular pastor in the year 1905. About thirty new members were added to the church during his pastorate of five years. In the spring of 1910 the present pastor, Rev. Oltman B. Oltmans, was called and is still serving the church.
The church now has a total membership of forty communicants. About fifty families are associated with the church, representing about three hun- dred individuals. The Ladies' Aid, missionary societies and the Sunday school are the only organizations connected with the church. The Ladies' Aid Society has a membership of eighteen and the Sunday school an en- rollment of eighty members.
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF SIBLEY.
As early as 1874, a few of the Baptists of Sibley met in the furniture store of Mr. Mitchell, in what was known as the Shell building. This stood where Dr. Wilder's house now stands. No permanent organization was made at that time but the subject was discussed and in February, 1876, a meeting was called at the Congregational church. Ten persons responded to this invitation and passed a resolution to organize as the First Baptist church of Sibley. Bro. T. O. Wilbern was elected as the first deacon and Mary Caldwell as the first clerk. A list of all known Baptists in the county was made at this meeting and the number reported as twenty-five. At a business meeting April 1, 1876, it was voted to invite the Baptist minister of Spirit Lake, Rev. J. L. Coppoc, to preach in Sibley once each month. Two more deacons were appointed, Bro. Mitchell and Bro. Churchill, and two trustees outside of the church membership, C. I. Hill and J. F. Glover. The Cherokee church showed interest in our welfare at this time by presenting a communion set. At the June covenant meeting arrangements were made to call a council to meet with the church the last Saturday in July to consider the propriety of being recognized as a regular Baptist church. This council was held July 29. 1876, and the following churches were represented by delegates : Spirit Lake, Sioux Falls, Cherokee and Iowa City. The follow-
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ing day resolutions to recognize the church were adopted, a recognition ser- mon was preached by Rev. Coppoc and the right hand of fellowship was extended to the church. The list of members at that time numbered about eighteen and others were added within a short time after this meeting. Thus was perfected the organization that has gone steadily onward, sometimes in the gloom of discouragement, and sometimes in the sunshine of success, but always, as the church believes, under the care and approval of God.
For some time after the council meeting the subject of calling a pastor was discussed, but on account of the repeated failure of crops through grass- hopper times, it was postponed until the winter of 1878-79, when Rev. Jud- son came to work in this part of Iowa in the capacity of a home missionary. In the following spring he was given a call to become pastor of the church. He was a faithful worker, preaching not only in Sibley but in some of the school houses of the adjoining country. He closed his work the first of March, 1880, and the church extended a call to Rev. E. M. Heyburn for six months, at the end of which time he was called for a year, and annually there- after until his resignation in April, 1887. His seven years of pastorate were marked by many important events, principal of which was the erection of the present church. Before this time the services were held either in the Con- gregational church or in the old school house. The church site was purchased in April, 1882, and the money for the building was raised by private sub- scription and a loan from the home missionary society. Some of the work on the building was donated. The church was completed and dedicated in the fall of 1882.
Rev. Heyburn is remembered with warmest affection. He labored long and faithfully during the hard times when the society was hard pressed to pay off the church debt. In order to live and get along he put in many a hard day's work in the harvest field. After Mr. Heyburn resigned in 1887 Rev. C. E. Higgins became pastor, but in less than two months he passed to his reward. His death occurred at Independence, November 3, 1887. In June, 1888, Rev. Schutz, of Buchanan county, came to the church and remained until 1890 and during that time did much effective work. The baptistry was put in the church during the first summer he was here. Then came Rev. Richard Bradshaw from Vermont, in June, 1890. He was a native of England and proved to be a good and faithful worker until he began to suf- fer from ill health. In the autumn of 1891 he was obliged to give up his work. He went to California, but received no especial benefit from the change and soon received the message to come up higher. The church was without a pastor from November 1, 1891, to July 1. 1892, when Rev. Schutz
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returned to Sibley and accepted a call. He remained this time two years, closing his work here November 1, 1893. Again the church was without a pastor for nearly a year. In October, 1894, Rev. McCollum came half time, each alternate Sunday being spent in Worthington where he resided. He was an earnest worker but the church felt the need of a resident pastor on full time, so Rev. D. B. Livingstone began pastoral work in Sibley in December, 1895. The following June he resigned to accept a call to become pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, of Sioux City. Soon after Brother Livingsto.le left to go to Sioux City the attention of the pulpit committee was directed to Rolla E. Brown, a student at Iowa Falls, and he was secured as pastor. He began work in 1896 and remained for nearly three years. He was a faith- ful worker and during his pastorate twenty-three members were added to the church by baptism and one by letter. He resigned to resume his school work. The next man called to this field was Rev. Baxter. He was a good man, but peculiar and was asked to resign after serving three months.
The church was then without a pastor for a period of ten months. In October, 1899, Brother C. A. Lemon was called and remained nearly two years, doing faithful work until he resigned August 29, 1901. During Bro. Lemon's pastorate there were added to the membership six by baptism and three by letter. Again the church was like a sheep without a shepherd for nearly nine months, but loyally held together until May, 1902, when Brother A. E. Chandler was called. During his pastorate the Sioux Valley Associa- tion met with this church. There were admitted to the church during his pastorate twenty-one by baptism, fourteen by letter and three by experience. He resigned October 30, 1904. May 22, 1905, Rev. Bancroft began work here and resigned March 29, 1906.
Rev. T. W. Harris, of Macon, Georgia, began his pastorate June 3. 1907. Both he and his wife were a great help in many ways. During Rev. Harris' pastorate the church roll was revised and forty-four were dropped, eleven dismissed by letter and seven lost by death. There were added twenty-seven by baptism, six by experience and ten by letter. Rev. Harris resigned June 28, 1908, his resignation to take effect the first of the following October. Once again the church was without a pastor eight months, depending on such supply as could be obtained. In April, 1909, Rev. H. R. Williams, of Doon, Iowa, was called to the church. Both he and his family have been much help to the church and all its auxiliaries. During Bro. Williams' pas- torate thus far there have been added to the church two by baptism and eight by letter. One has been dismissed by letter. Rev. Williams is an earnest and scholarly gentleman and is doing a fine work for the church and community.
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At the present time the Baptist Young People's Union consists of twenty-eight persons, nearly all of whom are active members. It is one of the most promising departments of the church and points forward to achieve- ments in future work.
THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF HORTON TOWNSHIP.
The first German Lutheran settlers of Horton township came in 1883 from Will county, Illinois. They were Fredrich Glade, Henrich Pinkenburg, August Palenski and Diedrich Wassmann. Wilhelm Noehren and Karl Griep followed in 1884. On Ascension day, May 22, 1884, the Rev. J. D. Hesse, at that time pastor at Hull, Iowa, preached the first German Lutheran sermon in the old Methodist church, then standing on the D. Wassmann place, one mile north and one-half mile west of Ocheyedan. From this date he preached once a month, or as often as was possible, until 1886, when H. Wind, a student from Concordia College, Springfield, Illinois, assisted him, taught school during the winter, and preached. This marked the begin- ning of the German parochial school of Horton township.
On April 17, 1887, the congregation was organized and a constitution adopted. Since that time it has been known as the Evangelical Lutheran church. The first signers of the constitution were H. Pinkenburg, H. Rusche, Christ Bremmer, August Bremer, Karl Griep, D. Wassmann, Fred. Glade, Chr. Pope. Fr. Kruetzel, August Palenske and Wilhelm Noehren. The first trustees were Fred. Glade, H. Pinkenburg and D. Wassmann. The secre- tary was Wilhelm Noehren and the treasurer was Chr. Bremer. John Schin- nerer was installed as first resident pastor on July 31, 1887. In 1888 the first church and parsonage was built. Fred Glade donated five acres and Karl Griep three acres of land for church and school purposes. In 1892 Rev. Schinnerer answered a call to Michigan and Rev. B. J. Ansorge took charge. In 1896 Rev. Ansorge resigned and Rev. Chr. Daeumler, of Sanborn, Iowa, was called. While he was pastor the German Evangelical Lutheran St. Peter's church was organized in 1901. This church built a new building in 1902 at a cost of forty-three hundred dollars. The corner stone was laid April 20, 1902, and the new church was dedicated August 31st of the same year. On the day of dedication only six hundred dollars remained unpaid. While Rev. Daeumler had charge of the congregation, he had two assistants, A. Kraft and F. Budi. In February, 1908, Rev. Daeumler followed a call to Oklahoma, and on November Ist, of the same year, the present pastor, D. W. Laugelett, was installed by Rev. A. Meukeus, of Ocheyedan.
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The Lutherans in Horton township established a parochial, or church school, before the congregation was organized and have maintained it ever since. The reason for establishing and maintaining church schools is be- cause they feel it is their duty to instruct their children in the Holy Word of God and make thein good Christians. While the Sunday school is good they feel that it is not enough. At the same time they believe if they succeed in making them true Christians they have the very best citizens of the United States. They believe with Daniel Webster, one of the greatest statesmen and orators America has ever known, when he said in his famous Plymouth oration, "Whatever makes men good Christians, makes them also good citizens." And Gladstone, the world renowned statesman of Great Britain, often said, "Try to make good conscientious Christians of your children, and Great Britain will be well satisfied with them as citizens." That is the avowed true spirit that animates the Lutheran congregation. That is the reason they affirm for establishing and maintaining their parochial schools. They desire to give their children the "pearl without price"-the Christian religion-and make them thereby the very best citizens of this country. At times this school has had an enrollment of more than forty names, but at present there are only twenty-one names on the roll.
The voting members of the church number thirty-three at the present time. The present trustees are August Claus, George Ostermann and Con- rad Bremer. The German church, since its organization, has always been one of the most important matters among the Germans in Horton township. If by the teachings of the church and school they can make the growing generation as good citizens as the present generation, then the country may certainly be well satisfied.
THE GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH OF VIOLA TOWNSHIP.
Viola township received quite an influx of German Lutheran farmers about twenty-five or thirty years ago. Wherever these people settle one of the first things considered is church privileges. Many of the older of these settlers do not understand the English language very well. hence they feel the need of a church wherein the preaching will be in their mother tongue.
As early as 1890 the question of a Lutheran church for Viola town- ship and vicinity was discussed, and 1892 a church society was founded. Services were held in a school house at first and in 1895 a building was erected on section 22, on the northwest corner of the farm of Fred Attig. A par- sonage was built in 1900, to which an addition was made in 1912.
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The first members were John Redinius, Fred Rubow, Gerd Behrends and Herman Timmermann. The first minister was Rev. Beathke, who preached in a school house occasionally as the settlers were coming in. Rev. W. Dieter came in the fall of 1892 and resigned in 1894. He is now located at Hosmer, South Dakota, officiating in a country charge. Rev. Ludwig G. Weinerich accepted a call and was installed in December, 1894. and resigned in November. 1895. He is now a pastor in Germany. Rev. C. Wandertich then held the charge a short time. Rev. F. Chworowsly served as pastor from 1897 to 1902. He is now at Jackson, Minnesota. Rev. John Bauermann served from 1902 to 1905 and is now at Ramona, South Dakota. Rev. L. Wiedner came in 1906, died at Harris, Iowa, in the sum- mer of 1907 and is buried in the Sibley cemetery. Mrs. Wiedner died in 1913 and is also buried in the Sibley cemetery. Rev. John Linden served from August, 1907, to March, 1911, and is now at Daykin, Nebraska. Two of his children are buried at Little Rock. Rev. O. C. Biermann came May 1, 1911, and is still in charge of the churches of this denomination in Viola township, Harris and Sibley.
The first baptismals were Bertha Bechmann, dead; Martha Bechmann, the wife of William Kleve; Fred Carl Pieper, now at Rushmore, Minnesota. and Anna Redenius, now Mrs. John Luttermann. The first couple mar- ried were William Boesse and Minnie Rubow. Mr. Boesse is now located at Trosky, Minnesota. His wife died in 1910 and is buried at Sibley. The first funeral was that of Henry Julius Nachtigal, who was born November 9. 1846, and died March 20, 1893. This church is located in a rich com- munity, and should prosper and grow as time passes.
THE HOPE CHURCH.
About eighteen years ago there was quite a prosperous settlement of Presbyterian Germans in West Holman township, a few miles west of Sib- ley. Gerd de Vries was the principal moving spirit in the agitation which led up to the establishment of Hope church. A church society was or- ganized and a church and parsonage erected, which flourished and sustained a pastor several years. The first pastor was Rev. Isaac Kruse. The sec- ond Rev. Figge and the third was Rev. Groncke. The present pastor is Rev. L. Heijenga, who has this church and a church in the east end of Lyon county, a few miles from George. He resides at the Lyon county church. Of late years many of the supporters of this church have moved
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away, leaving it in rather a weak condition. However, they are keeping up the organization and are living in the hope of better times.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF ASHTON.
"Our Lady of Perpetual Help."
On the 9th of June, 1871, the first two German settlers of this parish came to Osceola county to locate their homesteads. In 1872 and 1873 the Germans increased their number to ten families but in the two following years all except three families left Osceola county on account of the grass- hopper scourge. As soon as this plague ceased new settlers continued to come here, so that in the year of 1877 fourteen German families had settled near Ashton and several Irish families near Sibley.
As soon as Rev. B. C. Lenehan of Sioux City and Rev. John Smith of Emmettsburg learned that Catholics had settled in Osceola county they occasionally came to Sibley to look after their spiritual wants. in 1877 Rev. P. J. Lynch was sent as resident priest to Sheldon and for a time looked after the Osceola county Catholics. Within a few years the num- ber of German Catholics near Ashton had increased to twenty-six families and they now frequently spoke of building a church. On September 27. 1880, a meeting was held to determine upon a location for the church. The railroad company had liberally offered to donate five acres of land if the Catholics would build the church near the Ashton station. John Streit offered them five acres of his farm, two and one-half miles from the sta- tion, but nearer to the center of the settlement, and for this reason the last offer was accepted. At this meeting a subscription was taken which amount- ed to $1,213.00. When Father P. J. Lynch heard of their courage he at once came to Ashton to congratulate the settlers and on September 29. 1880, celebrated the first holy mass in the house of John Streit. Thus the blessing of God was called down upon the new parish and their under- taking. On October 10th work was begun on the new church, twenty-six by forty-eight feet, and it was eventually completed at a cost of $1,800. The young, but poor, congregation joyfully looked upon the result of their good labors and their joy was greatly increased when Father Lynch came on the 12th of March, 1881, and celebrated holy mass for the first time in the new, but unplastered, church. In 1882 Father Lynch was called away from Sheldon and Rev. J. J. O'Reilly became his successor, under whose care the congregation increased to about ten families. In 1883 Father O'Reilly removed from Sheldon and Rev. T. J. Sullivan succeeded him.
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Under Father Sullivan's care the congregation increased to sixty-four German families. Many more came with the intention of settling here, but, finding it impossible to purchase land near the church, went to other places.
This, of course, greatly injured the growth of the congregation. Now they considered it a mistake to have built the church two and one-half miles from the station, which had by this time grown to a little village. For this reason Father Sullivan, with the consent of the Right Rev. Bishop, insisted that the church should be moved to the town of Ashton. In 1885 the present site was bought and the church moved thereon. . At the same time four acres of land was bought for a parish cemetery. In June, 1888, Rev. James McCormack was sent to Ashton as the first resident priest. He at once built a handsome little frame parsonage at a cost of twelve hundred dollars, in- cluding the furniture. The same year eight new families came here, increasing the number of parishioners to seventy-two. In the spring of 1889 the good father erected the first parish school, a building thirty-six by thirty-eight, at a cost of thirty-two hundred dollars, and at once engaged three sisters of the Order of St. Francis (Dubuque) who opened the school in September with thirty-five pupils.
In 1890 Rev. Father McCormack was transferred to Sheldon and Rev. J. P. Hoffman was appointed to Ashton, taking charge January 25. 1890. The school and the mother language in the church drew German families froni all sides, so that in 1892 the parish counted ninety-six families. This. growth called for more room in the church. Having already used all avail- able space, it was impossible to give seats to each family. In a meeting it was decided in the following spring to build a new church. In accordance with this decision a lot was bought, the old church moved on it and changed into a parish hall. On May 28, 1893, work was begun on the new frame church building, forty-four by one hundred and twelve feet, at a cost of eight thousand three hundred dollars. On October 25th it was dedicated by Rev. T. Treacy, of Sioux City, who acted as delegate of the Most Rev. Archbishop Hennessey, of Dubuque. On this occasion holy mass was cele- brated by Rev. Joseph Brinkmann and the German sermon delivered by the late Rev. Henry Hemmesath and the English sermon by Father Treacy. During the five following years the inside of the church was furnished with new pews, a communion rail, pulpit, pipe-organ, chasubles and two side al- tars, all at a cost of sixty-eight hundred dollars. The high altar was do- nated by Mrs. Eva Boor, in memory of her deceased husband, at a cost of fourteen hundred dollars. By this time the parish had grown to one hundred
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and fifteen families and this naturally increased the number of pupils in the school. In the year 1897 it was found something had to be done to ac- commodate the increasing number of school children.
The parish therefore concluded that a new school building, forty by sixty feet, should be erected. This was done in the spring of 1898. At the same time the old parsonage was moved near the new school house and enlarged for a sisters' residence and the old school building was remodeled for a parsonage. All this was done at a cost of seventy-two hundred and sixty- nine dollars.
Now it was expected there would be room enough in the school and church for years to come. But the parish continued to grow and in 1910 it was discovered the church was too small. The congregation therefore decided to put a cross addition to it, forty-four by fifty-six feet with a steam heating plant for the church and one for the school. The interior of the church was remodeled and during the year a total of fourteen thousand dollars was expended. The church will now seat seven hundred people and in the school will accommodate two hundred and fifty, two hundred and fif- teen seats of which are occupied. Five sisters of the Order of St. Francis, from Dubuque, are instructing the children. The value of the church prop- erty is about sixty-five thousand dollars.
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