USA > Illinois > McHenry County > History of McHenry County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 10
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EPISCOPAL
CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The Episcopalians at one time had more active parishes within this eounty than at this date. Woodstock, Ma-
L. B. CovEll
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HISTORY OF McHENRY COUNTY
rengo and numerous places had mission churches planted, but the only really aetive Episcopal Church in MeHenry County now is Christ Epis- copal Church at Harvard. The planting of the church here was the accomplishment of an effort begun under very unpromising circum- stanees, as there were already three Protestant churches here, there did not seem to be any other call for additional work in a religious line. But there were a few families, of the Angelican communion, who felt a desire to see an Episcopal church established here, and by their united and zealous efforts, the end was attained. The initial steps were begun by Rev. Peter Arvedson, who had built a church at Algonquin. Appointed missionary-at-large for some northern counties in this state, he became especially interested in numbers of old-country people settled on farms in MeHenry County, and by occasional friendly visits among them won their confidence and esteem. Their number was not large, but they became the nucleus of what afterwards became Christ's Epis- eopal Church of Harvard. On a petition being signed and sent to Bishop MeLaren, asking for a resident priest to hold regular services, Rev. A. A. Fiske was indueed to accept the position and serve the little band of believers, beginning his work in the Congregational Church building which was leased for that purpose. The first services were held by Mr. Fiske in January, 1877; the last in May, 1880.
Meanwhile measures had been ripening among the members to build a house of worship of their own. A lot was secured and ground broken for the foundation of the present church, upon which the carpenters began their work in November, 1880, and finished it in the summer of 1881. The new edifice was opened for divine worship in September that year and on Sunday, May 8, 1885, the church was consecrated by Bishop MeLaren. The church property, comprising all of the build- ings, is valued at $30,000.
In 1886 Rev. Fiske resigned his charge on a call being sent him from the church at Austin, Ill., and other reetors followed him, until Reverend Fiske was called again to his old charge, and continued its faithful pastor until his health failed a few years ago, sinee which time he has lived a quiet, retired life among the people of other days, when he built up one of the strongest churches of his denomination in this part of Illinois.
The present membership is 153. The church school has a member- ship of about forty-five pupils, with Mrs. C. J. Hendricks as super- intendent.
The following is a list of rectors for this church : Revs. A. A. Fiske,
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Francis J. Hall, E. R. Sweetland, J. B. Williams, F. E. Brandt, R. S. Hannah, B. E. Chapman, H. A. Lepper, William Henry Bond, the pres- ent incumbent.
The rectory was purchased in 1908 and in 1913 a parish house was erected of brick. St. Mary's Guild is presided over by Mrs. Mary A. Fiske; St. Catherine's Guild, by Mrs. C. M. Johnson; St. Martin's Guild Acolytes, Harry Bosler, Master of Ceremonies Christ Church Men's Club, with 108 members, was organized by Rev. F. E. Brandt in 1907. llon. J. II. Vickers was elected its first president. The clubrooms of this club were recently built especially with this object in view and are in all ways modern in appointment, having fine reading rooms, billiard parlor and many convenienees. It should here be added in conclusion that whatever success has come to this church has been largely due to the devout men who have been its rectors-men of scholarship and advanced ideas in church work.
At Spring Grove, St. Mary's Episcopal church was formed May 5, 1873, by Rev. Peter Avidson and flourished as long as the English resided in that vieinity.
The first services held in Algonquin township was by the Episcopal people who assembled at the home of Samuel Gillilan, in 1836. St. John's Protestant Episcopal church was organized at Algonquin in 1844. A church was built in 1864 and was clear of debt in 1871. Rev. Avidson, rector, died there in November, 1880. Other denominations have virtu- ally crowded this church out of the field.
LUTHERAN
IMMANUEL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH. This church was or- ganized at Crystal Lake in 1869-70, by Rev. Richmann, then located at Elgin, Ill. The constitution was signed by thirty-six constituent mem- bers, only one of whom still survives, John Bohl of Crystal Lake. John Berg, F. T. Reddersdorf, John Lang, F. Wendt, John Ritt, Fred West- phal, Karl Kruse, Carl Kniebusch, William Kniebusch, John Sund, Mr. Zimmerman were also members. The present membership of this con- gregation is 600.
The first building erected in 1875 by the congregation, was a frame schoolhouse 20x36 feet, John Sund contractor, at a cost of $575. This building is now a part of John Buehler's store at Crystal Lake. In 1877 a church standing near Crystal Lake Park was purchased for $400 and moved to the lot on MeHenry Avenne. This was next to the school-
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house. In 1895 this building was taken down and the present edifice built. It is 86×44 feet, with two steeples 160 feet, and cost $6,000. It is valued at $10,000. The children of the congregation attend the day schools, but for strangers there is maintained a Sunday school, having both German and English departments that is now attended by about twenty-nine children. The day school is attended by 114 pupils.
The following pastors have served this congregation: Reys. 11. Schmidt, located at Dundee : Rev. Richmann, Elgin, Rev. Adam Betzer, of Desplaines, supplied. The first resident pastor was Rev. Henry Schmidt, 1875-80. Ile was followed by : Rev. M. Heyer, 1880-83; Karl Schmidt, 1883-97 ; G. Bertram, 1897-1904 ; and Rev. F. G. Kuehnert came in 1904 and is the present pastor.
TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH was organized at Huntley, March 1. 1871, by Rev. F. W. Richmann, of Elgin. The charter mem- bers were as follows: John Schrader, Henry Heuer, John Frost, John Gutshow. Charles Gruitzmacher, Fred Miller, Fred Zimmerman and Henry Heinemann, Sr., who died at the advaneed age of ninety-five years, in 1917. The present membership is 375 souls.
In 1872 they built a fine, large church in which to worship. With alterations and additions the property is valued at $23,000. In 1878, under Rev. J. E. Baumgartner, a steeple was added to the church, the same being 105 feet high, and the bell weighs 545 pounds. The con- gregation owns a beautiful school property near the church, creeted in 1912, a brick structure 46x28 feet, is equipped with all modern improve- ments and is really an honor and credit to the village of Huntley. Its value is $5,000. The present pastor, Reverend Baumgartner, organized a Sunday school of about seventy-five pupils. Ile also has charge of the parochial school of the congregation where the Bible and common school branches are taught, and from here pupils are fitted for the seventh or eighth grades in the publie schools. As pastor, superintendent and instructor, the present faithful pastor is kept very busy. Besides his congregation at Huntley he also cares for a church at Gilberts, where he holds services monthly.
The following is a list of pastors who have served this congregation : Revs. F. W. Richmann, 1871-73; C. Steinrauf. 1873-75; John E. Baum- gartner, 1875-87; J. L. Cramer, 1877-89; G. Guelker, 1889-1903; Daniel Pollott, 1903-10; and Rev. Louis Baumgartner, who assumed charge in 1910, is the present pastor and under whose leadership the congregation is constantly increasing.
ST. JOHN'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH is situated at the corner
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of C'alhonn and Jefferson streets, Woodstock. It was organized in April, 1574, under direction of Rev. Carl Schmidt. Its charter members were as follows: John Reiber, William Scharnau, Carl Riedel, Joachim Zierk, John Kindt, Carl Wienks, William Kindt, Fred Albrecht, Christ Vogt, Fred JJiervitz, John Wellner, Carl Sahs, Fred Kindt, William Knei- busch, John Sehnett, Sr., Lonis Kirchmann, John Schuett, Jr., John Niemann, Carl Nagel. The membership in 1875 was twenty-five fami- lies. The present membership of this church is about 329 souls, divided as follows: seventy-six voting members, and 253 communicants.
The school connected with this church is as follows: Christian day school, seven grades, R. G. Ernst, teacher : membership thirty-nine pupils. Sunday school, sixty-two pupils; R. G. Ernst, teacher. Rev. Il. A. Laufer is superintendent of both schools. The Sunday school is conducted entirely in English.
The pastors serving this church have been in the following order: Revs. M. Heyer, Carl Schmidt and H. G. Schmidt, who were nonresidents coming from various places. The first resident pastor was Rev. H. Engelbrecht, 1894-96; Rev. II, Dannenfeldt, 1897-02; Rev. J. Bertram, 1902-12; present pastor, Rev. II. A. Laufer, came in 1912 and is doing excellent work in both the church and school.
As to the places in which this congregation has worshiped it may he stated that for about the first nine years services were held in the lecture room of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Woodstock. Later the congregation purchased a vacant church, a frame building, on the corner of Calhoun and Jefferson streets for $1,700, which in later years was destroyed by fire. In 1898 a brick veneered church was built for $3,000, which today is valued at $9,000 with all improvements made since it was first in use. A parsonage and barn erected on the three lots pur- chased in June, 1907, are valued at $4,000.
ZION'S EVANGELICAL, LUTHERAN CHURCH was formed in 1876 at West Mellenry, under the direction of Rov. II. G. Schmidt, and in 18SI it had a membership of twenty-five. At present it has abont twenty-one voting members and seventy-six communieant menbers, The Sunday school is conducted by Rev. Il. A. Laufer.
The various pastors who have served this congregation are: Revs. ('arl Schmidt. M. Heyer and Carl Schneider, up to 1894. Since 1894 the pastors have been : Revs. Il. Engelbrecht, 1894-96; 1. Dannenfeldt, 1897-1902: J. Bertram, 1902-12, and II. A. Lanfer, who commenced his labors here in 1912.
At first this congregation held services in the Baptist church, later
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in the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1891 the congregation built a frame church costing about $800. It is valued at about $3,000.
ST. JOHN'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH at the village of Algon- quin, this county, was formed March 11, 1876, and its first pastor was Rev. J. II. C. Steege of Dundee, who preached in various schoolhouses east of Algonquin. The seventeen original members of this congregation were as follows: Fred Richards, Fred Duensing, Sr., Christian Patsche, William Wodrich, John Colhow, Christian Duchn, Carl Buerkte, Heury Rognan, Heury Albrecht, Henry Henk, Christian Pinnow, JJohn Zorn, Carl Schoening, J. Wienke, Fred Ahrens, Fred Pruess, Cart Gehr.
Shortly after organizing a congregation the members decided to build a church, which was 32 by 50 feet in size, besides a vestry room 16 by 24 feet. That was also used as a parochial schoolroom.
Rev. Henry Fuss was the first ordained minister, but he remained only one year. Rev. Ludwig von Schenk, who brought new life to the church, faithfully served for three years and was then ealled to Rockford, IH. Walter von Schenk was next ealled, and he proved an able minister . and teacher. He was installed June 13, 1882. All debts of the church were paid during his pastorate, also a fine bell was placed in the church tower. On December 6, 1891, Rev. Schenk received a call from a congre- gation in St. Paul and accepted. Rev. J. Steffen was called to Algonquin in 1892. He was an able man, but much of the time he was an invalid and died after he arrived at Algonquin in about one year. It was during his illness that the parsonage was destroyed by fire and the congregation immediately erected another. The next pastor was Rev. Paul von Torne. who remained until July, 1900. when he resigned. Next came Rev. Il. Moldenhaver from Hanson Park, who was installed September 30, 1900. Hle it was who wisely saw the need of keeping the children in the church and at onee gathered them into his school.
The old schoolroom being too small the congregation soon provided a new and better building in which to hold the school. In 1902 he had seventy-six pupils. The pastor was unable to teach and attend to the parish as minister, hence a teacher was employed in the autumn of 1902. Ernst Milizer of Arlington Heights, was called for that position and served well until he met with aceidental death by drowning in Fox River, April 8, 1917. Various instructors have been employed since that date.
In 1914 the congregation decided to build a modern church building. The committee finally awarded a contract for the building to Henry Markhoff, of Elgin. The church is valned at $25,000. The present eon-
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gregation is made up of 100 members. The present pastor is Henry Moldenhaner.
ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH was organized at Marengo, April 25, 1550, by Rev. J. E. Bamngaertner, with the following charter membership : Carl Guse, Karl Krause, William Gehrke, Ferdinand Trobes. Herman Trebes, Gottfried Treebles, William Treebes, Carl Zizkuhr, Ernest Kam- holz, William Eickstadt. Theo. Schmidt, William Fiebranz, Carl Fri- branz, Fred Lnehring. The present congregation has a total of about 820 souls, with 340 communicants. The church edifice is of brick and cost $19,000; the frame school building cost $3,200; the frame parsonage is valued at $1,800. This fine property is all located on Jackson street. It is now valued at $30,000.
The pastors have from time to time (in the order given) been as follows: Revs. J. E. Banmgaertner, 1880-86; J. Craemer. 1856->8; O). Doederlein, 1888-91; P. Doederlein, 1891-1904, and A. C. Staats, who came in 1905.
TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH. This is one of the strong- est church organizations in the county. Its history reaches back to 188.1. when work was begun by Reverend Schenk, who held the first services in a rented building belonging to the Presbyterian denomination at Harvard. The mission was really established in February, 1884, when Ilarvard had but abont 1,700 population. Not until May, 1889, was this congregation fully organized into a church. A goodly number of fami- lies were immigrants from Germany, these numbering certainly as many as thirty families who helped forward the new church movement at Harvard. .
The first baptismal ceremony was performed January 27, 1884, the subjeet being the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Nolz.
The first confirmation was on April 20, 1884, when four girls were confirmed at one time.
The first communion was administered Angust 26, 1884, when twenty- seven communed at the Lord's Supper.
The first funeral service was that had in June, 1884. The first wed- ding was March 31, 1884.
The first regular pastor was Rev. FF. Caemmerer, under whose admin- istration the constitution of the church was signed by thirty-nine voting members of the congregation.
In the month of Angust, 1885, an attempt was made to start building operations, but nothing materialized along this line until April, 1892. when the present frame elinreh edifice was ereeted. It is a large build-
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HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
ing with a spire surmounting it which is fully 100 feet high. This build- ing was dedicated to the worship of Almighty God, October, 1892. It is valued at $45,000.
The parsonage is also a frame building standing on the same grounds as the church, the premises being a full city bloek of land in a very sightly part of the city of Harvard. Its street location is East Diggins.
The various pastors who have faithfully served this congregation have been in the order here named as follows: Rev. F. Caemmerer, who served until May 6, 1899, and was sneeeeded by the Rev. E. A. Behrens, of New York ; he continued here five years and six months. Under his administration the influential Ladies Aid Society, with about 150 mem- bers was formed. In all, this society. has raised $6,500 for ehureh im- provements and for deeds of charity and merey. The third pastor was Rev. Carl O. Salzmann, of St. Louis, Mo., who served three years and seven months. Under him was built the addition to the church building, used for school purposes. Next came Rev. E. O. Giesel, of Platteville, Wis., who arrived Trinity Sunday, 1908, and served faithfully and well until called by death, December 5, 1912. Under his guidance was added to the parsonage more room and other needed improvements, amounting to an expense of abont $1,200, including the splendid base- ment, hot-water heating plant, the cement sidewalks, etc. He it was who started the pipe organ fund with which later the present sweet-toned pipe organ was purchased, and it is highly prized by the congregation and well-trained choir of about twenty voices. Following Rev. E. O. Giesel, Rev. E. A. Giesel, his son, responded to a call from this con- gregation December 11, 1912. lle came from South Haven, Mich. It was he who first introduced the English language in church services here and also in the Sunday school work and Bible classes. He is a strong believer in the use of the English language by all American citi- zens, whether native or foreign-born.
Under this energetic pastor there was organized a Luther League of 100 members, commencing with the modest number of only twenty-four. This noble band of church workers has been busy in season and out, and have raised and paid into the treasury of this church over $1,589, which has aided a score of needed improvements. The total amount in improvements made under Reverend Giesel is $7,000. The present pastor is John M. Schedler.
The "envelope system" of making collections is employed and was introduced and urged upon the people by the present pastor. The church books and records in general of this congregation show great
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pains upon the pastor's part, whose every hour is filled with pressing duties as he cares for both the spiritual and material interests of his large and constantly increasing congregation, yet he seems to be given time and strength, thus far, to keep all of the details of his Hock in good record form, and has indeed an exceptionally clear church record.
When Rev. Giesel came to Harvard he found a church about one- half its present size. There is a membership of 600. The church held its twenty-fifth jubilee anniversary commemorating the dedication of their church edifice in 1917, an illustration of which appears in this volume. At that great gathering Rev. II. K. Doermann, D. D., of St. Paul, was present and delivered the sermon. Up to the date of this jubilee-twenty-five years after the dedication, there had been officiated at by pastors here 1,008 baptisms; couples married, 233; persons buried, 278, and received into the church, 702 persons.
ST. JOHN'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH is located at the vil- lage of Union and was organized there November 10, 1887, with charter members as follows: Fred Schneidewind, Charles Miller, Ilenry Young, Fred Bloedorn, Angust Kunkle, Fred Martens, Fred Miller, August Kamholz, M. Kolberg, John Hopp, Charles Pries, Fred Selehow, Gust E. Hinz, Charles Kasten, John Tornow, Alb Gehrke, F. Pries, Charles Winkelmann, F. Dahelke. The present membership is about 103 families with seventy-six voting members. The present buildings of this eon- gregation are the veneered briek church, built in 1901, valued at about $20.000, a parochial school built in 1901, and a parsonage built in 1908.
The pastors who have had charge of this congregation are: Revs. Otto Doederlein, Paul Doederlein, George Lienhardt, August Lobitz and the present pastor Rev. Henry Tranh, who came to this church May 1, 1913.
ST. PAUL'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH was organized at Crys- tal Lake in 1896, and reorganized in 1906. It was organized by Rev. E. Rahn, reorganized by Rev. Il. Wagner. Under the reorganization the members were: Fr. Maekeben, HI. Walther, F. Schulz, II. Dunker, E. Schubbe, K. Tegtmeier, Fr. Kempfert, William Schwarz, Fr. Dreyer. Karl Lange. The present membership ineludes about thirty families and 600 souls. The Sunday school has four teachers and about thirty children. The Ladies Aid Society has relatively twenty-five members.
The church building is at North Crystal Lake and is a cement structure valued at $10,000. The following have been pastors in the order here given: Revs. H. Wagner, William Kreis, HI. Wagner, H.
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ROBERT COW.IN
ELLEN E. COW.IN
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Tietke, F. Ernst, Bhun JJ. Heinrich, and F. G. Kuehnert, the present pastor.
ST. PAUL'S LUTHERAN CHURCH at Harvard, was organized by Rev. R. Reinke abont 1904, and now has a membership of relatively 107, with sixty-six communicants. C'ary was organized by Rev. Kuehnert in 1911, and now has forty-nine members and twenty-four communicants. Rev. Kuehnert has charge of the church at Harvard as well as at Cary.
HOLY CROSS LUTHERAN CHURCH. The Lutheran Church at Cary station was organized in 1910, and has a present membership of thirty souls. There is no church property. Rev. F. G. Kuehnert is the pastor.
GRACE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH is a rather recent religious organization of Woodstock. The church building they now own and oceupy is not Far from the Catholic Church in the northwestern part of the city. It was built by the oldl German Presbyterians who disbanded a few years since. In 1919 a large addition was made to the edifice to accommodate the greatly increasing congregation. The church is valued at $20,000. There is a membership of 600 souls. Rev. Roger C. Kauf- man is the present pastor.
METHODIST
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH of Marengo was among the first pioneer church organizations in this county. It was organized in 1837 by Rev. John Clark and Leander S. Walker. It was during 1837 that the conference formed the Sycamore eirenit which embraced all the territory from Sycamore north to the Wisconsin line, running east as far as the Fox River and west to the Rock River. The regular appointed places for holding services were Sycamore, Rockford, Belvi- dere, Round Prairie, Garden Prairie, Marengo, Ilarmony, Ridgefield and MeHenry, besides many isolated places where occasional services were held. In all this vast region there was not a single church house at that date, private homes being made into "meeting houses." In the autumn of 1837, Rev. William Gaddis preached his first sermon at the house of Dr. Eli Smith, in Riley Township. The audience did not exceed eight persons besides the doctor's family. Sometime in 1838 the minister in charge formed a elass at Marengo, holding meetings in the house of Calvin Spencer. The following were the first members of the pioneer society : Eli Smith, elass-leader; Asenith Smith, Samuel and Polly Smith, and Eunice Cobb. A few days later the names of O. P. Rogers, Mary S. Rogers and Chester Williams were added to the list.
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In consequence of this eireuit being 300 miles in circumference, requiring nearly one year for a pastor to make the round, it was sub- divided. In 1838 Rev. L. S. Walker and Nathaniel Jewett were sent to the Marengo "appointment." At the first quarterly meeting held at Round Prairie, the following stewards were elected: Wesley Dig- gins, O. P. Rogers. Revs. Walker and JJewett received for their services abont $100 a year, and their duties were to preach one sermon each weekday and three on Sunday.
In the never-to-be-forgotten winter of 1856-57, one of the most re- markable revivals of religion ever known in this county, was held at Marengo. It commenced in the fall and continued till spring with no decrease in interest. People came from far and near, and the result was 400 people were soundly converted. It was in 1855 the church erected its handsome edifice, the same being dedieated in the spring by Rev. John Demster. A Sabbath school was organized in 1840 with nine pupils, but in 1885 the school had over 100 pupils.
The present beautiful briek edifice was built in 1897 and cost $20,000, while the parsonage cost $3,500. The membership is 420. The ministers who have faithfully discharged their duty as pastor of the church at Marengo are as follows: Revs. William Geddis, Nathan Jewett, D. A. Walker, P. Ferry, N. Smith, William Geddis, Charles MeClure, E. Brown, A. Hammond, D. Fellows, J. N. Hinman, James MeLane, G. W. Murphy, John Hodges, E. Ransom, E. G. Wood, A. Me Wright, A. B. Call, William Skelton, J. P. Nanco, D. Cassady, J. R. Goodrich, L. S. Walker, David Leed, A. P. Mead, E. W. Adams, Charles IFartley, George Richardson, N. D. Lanning, Alonzo Newton, Il. J. IFuston, A. Schoemaker, J. H. Reever, J. M. Clendenning, W. Il. Smith, J. C. Bigelow, S. II. Wells, C. W. Thornton, E. J. Rose, F. II. Gardner, C. A. Bunker, Wilmer Jaygard, N. J. Harknes, E. G. Sehutz, A. L. Fisher, C. J. Bready, William Ewing, R. E. Buckey, W. H. Tope, and Chas. J. Diekey.
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