USA > Minnesota > Brown County > History of Brown County, Minnesota: Its People, Industries and Institutions (Volume 1) > Part 25
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here to date are these: Revs. F. E. Leazer, J. H. Ander- son, B. J. Russell, C. G. Werger, R. D. Philips, Charles J. Moore, N. L. Hotchkiss, A. W. Gillilan, Lewis B. Hart and G. J. Sohm.
The Methodist Episcopal church at Springfield was organized on October 13, 1884, by Rev. M. F. Chester. The only living charter members are (May, 1916) Matthew Wilson and wife, L. E. Potter, John F. Potter and Allen Potter. The church has a membership of ninety, with a Sunday school of about seventy-five pupils. The house in which worship is held each Sunday is a frame church erected in 1884 or 1885.
The various pastors who have served at this point are Revs. M. F. Chester, P. D. Olin, J. B. Oakey, W. Scott, S. D. Kernerer, R. D. Phillip, C. E. Hawkins, A. C. Petrie, J. B. Hawk, W. S. Emery, L. H. Allen, W. G. Babcock, W. M. Wooley, W. E. Hawley, B. F. Snyder, T. P. Walter, J. W. Bostrom.
In Eden township the Methodist Episcopal denomina- tion was organized in 1869 with nine members, by Rev. Swift. In 1881 it had grown to sixty, when a portion left and united with the Congregational church and the class was discontinued.
GERMAN METHODIST CHURCHES.
The German Methodist church at New Ulm was organ- ized on October 18, 1858, with charter members as follow: Wilhelm Alwin, Wilhelmina Alwin, Wiebke Durbahn, Johanna Schramm, Henrietta Marquart, Dorethea Lillie, Heinrich Lillie, August Fenske.
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The present membership of this church is two hun- dred and fifty. Their first church building was a wood structure. This was burned by the Indians in 1862 and another was erected in its place in 1866 and this building was destroyed by the cyclone of 1881, this being a frame building, and was replaced in 1882 by a frame building which still does good service. Among the ministers stationed here are recalled Revs. Singenstrue, Charles Thalenhart, J. Haas, J. G. Bauer, F. Unland, J. M. Nip- pold, A. Biebighauser and John C. John, with the present pastor (1916), Christian Hohn.
The German Methodist Episcopal church at Sleepy Eye was organized on September 19, 1870, by Rev. John Bauer and charter members as follow: Henrietta Bruess, Peter Bendixen, Peter Ruenitz, William Krienke, Sr., C. Salkowske, Conrad Blettner, Henrietta Marquardt, C. Sommerfeld, N. Ruenitz, F. Rose, John Schneider, H. Bottemiller, Charles Kissner. This church now has a membership of one hundred and thirty-seven. Its first parsonage was erected in 1880 at a cost of twenty-five hun- dred dollars. In 1882 the church building was erected at a cost of four thousand dollars. It is a frame structure.
The list of pastors who have served here is as follows: Revs. John Bauer, F. Ries, C. Salkowske, J. M. Nippold, A. Dulitz, F. H. Wellemeyer, H. E. Young, A. H. Koerner, G. Raihle, F. J. Preine, W. F. Fritze, C. L. Lehnert, J. L. Nuelsen (present bishop), G. C. Rheinfrank, J. F. Steiner, H. G. Schmid, J. A. Rinkel, John Schneider, G. J. Sohm.
The Springfield German Methodist Episcopal church was organized by Rev. H. E. Young in 1879. Among the charter members is now recalled only the members of the
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H. Bendixen family. The various pastors have been in order as follows: H. E. Young, F. J. Preine, C. A. Borchardt, G. A. Rabe, F. E. Meierbachtel, J. J. Hoffman, J. C. Benz, J. Schneider, R. J. Simon and the present pastor, Rev. A. Biebighaeuser.
The present total membership is one hundred and fifteen .. The Sunday school now has seventy-six pupils and nine teachers.
The first church building was erected in Springfield in 1885. The present house of worship was erected in 1891. The parsonage was erected in 1891 also. The total value of church property is now estimated at ten thousand dol- lars.
In Home township the German Methodist people or- ganized at first in Leavenworth township in 1870, and later erected a church building. In 1874, however, they removed to Home township to the village. In 1882 they had a mem- bership of about seventy-five, with Rev. G. Reihle as pastor. Later, the church merged into others of the county.
In Eden township early in the eighties the German Methodists had a small log church in which they worshipped for a time.
In Burnstown township the German Methodist denom- ination date their organization from 1874, when services were held at the house of the pastor, Rev. Gustave Gronig, who was killed by lightning in 1875.
EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.
St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal church, of New Ulm, was organized in 1903, and a church built of brick in 1905.
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Its cost was seven thousand dollars, and it stands on South Broadway. The church has a congregation of thirty-five members at this writing. It is a "mission." Bishop S. C. Edsall visits the place and is the present rector. A Sun- day school is maintained and has a membership of about fifty.
At Sleepy Eye this denomination has a church at the corner of Sixth and Walnut streets. It is known as All Souls church. It was organized and a building erected in 1891, by Rev. S. B. Purves. Reverend Josh of Redwood Falls has usually attended upon this parish.
UNITED BRETHREN AND ADVENTISTS.
The first religious services held in Home township was by the United Brethren, under Rev. O. L. Howard, in De- cember, 1864, at the house of Current Brothers.
In Home township, in May, 1877, the Advent church was organized at Golden Gate; services were held in a hall and R. B. Simmons officiated. There is no such society there now.
LUTHERAN CHURCHES.
The second largest church and congregation in the city of Sleepy Eye is the St. John's German Lutheran church, founded in 1876, in the month of March, with a small mem- bership. It has constantly grown in power and strength until it now owns a magnificent church, school house and parsonage worth thirty-five thousand dollars, and all free of any debts. Rev. Christian F. Meyer was the first pastor ; he remained a year and was followed by Rev. C. Oerding,
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who remained three years; Rev. Simon Deuber, now de- ceased, remained pastor here seventeen years, retiring in 1897. Then came Rev. F. Zick, who in 1911 was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. W. C. Albrecht.
The first trustees elected for this congregation were Dan Stage, Fred Redetzke and Fred Kissner. The first elders were Henry Romberg, Christ Sommerfeld and Peter Peterein.
The present new and imposing church edifice was erected in 1901-02 and later a fine pipe organ graced the church. For the past seventeen years this church has maintained a good parochial school nine months each year. Here is taught about the same course as is found in the public schools of this county.
The church has one hundred and forty families with a voting membership of one hundred and twenty-five. The trustees in 1916 are Henry Offerman, Edward Krenz, Will- iam Guse, Sr., Fred Koehne and August Schroeder.
At the village of Cobden the German Lutheran church was organized in 1914, by charter members as follows: Louis Bloemke, August Schwartz, Richard Milke, Otto Milke, Adolph Krebs, Fred Hazelmeyer. In 1904 a frame house of worship was provided at a cost of about eighteen hundred dollars. The membership is now twenty and the pastor is Rev. E. Rine, who is doing faithful work in his little flock of devoted Christians.
Little Cottonwood Swedish Lutheran church at Com- frey was organized about 1873 by Reverend Ekman and charter members as follow: A. P. Anderson, C. L. Thor, G. Wing, Carl O. Johnson, Alfred Johnson, William John- son, Frank Anderson, C. L. Grek, C. J. Gabrielson. The
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church now has a membership of two hundred and sixty. Its pastors have thus far been: Revs. Echman, A. E. Erickson, K. J. Erkander, Carl Kraft and Rev. Samuelson.
A parochial school has been maintained since 1873, two months each year, the church building accommodating the scholars. The church building was erected in 1888 at a cost of two thousand dollars; it is a frame structure.
The Danish Lutheran church at the village of Evan was organized out in the country in 1874 and moved to Evan in 1898. It was organized by Reverend Olsen, with a charter membership as follows: H. J. Knudson, H. A. Clausen, Martin Rasmussen, George Knudson, Hans Christensen, Rasmus Erickson, H. P. Thorkeldsen, C. Carstensen, Jorgen Oleson, Andreas Hansen, Johan Ander- sen, L. P. Simonsen. The congregation now has a mem- bership of one hundred. Sleepy Eye is the only other point in Brown county where this denomination has a congrega- tion. A frame church was erected in 1897 at a cost of two thousand dollars, and in 1914 a fine modern parsonage was built at an expense of three thousand dollars. A summer parochial school is conducted by this church for four weeks each summer. Teachers are supplied by the Danish Sem- inary and the number of pupils at last enrollment was twenty.
The following is a list of pastors serving this congre- gation: Revs. Oleson, Hansen, Madsen, Dalstrom, Bor- gaard, J. K. Jensen, N. P. Lauze, H. W. Bondo, H. M. Hansen.
St. John's Lutheran church (Scandinavian), at Spring- field, was organized in 1879 and now has a membership of seventy. Its charter membership included these: N. Nel-
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son, Andrew Lee and Thomas Anderson. A frame church was erected in 1914 costing four thousand dollars. The pastors have included Reverends Lunde, Fgelsted, Jacob- son and the present pastor, Rev. L. G. Floren.
The Comfrey Swedish Lutheran church was at one time quite active at Comfrey. The German Lutheran also have a church at this point, but no pastor at this writing.
The following facts have been furnished by one of the older members of the German Lutheran church at Com- frey: This society was formed in the country before the laying out of the village of Comfrey, and in 1893. The charter members were as follows, as far as can now be de- termined: Christian Guhuke, Andrew Steinmetz, Taylor Schloak, William Rauschke, Edward Prohl, August Guhuke, Charles Krueger, Carl Wagheher, Edward Erd- man, Paul Janss.
The ministers have been as follow: Revs. Christian W. Huer, Jacob Cornils, Herman Drafs, Paul Elsel, Zschake, I. Buerkle, C. E. Nischurtz, Thomas Tychen. The present membership is about twenty-six.
One-half acre of land was donated the church by one of its charter members-Andrew Steinmetz. In 1910, the church was removed to the village of Comfrey; its cost was twelve hundred dollars.
In Linden township the Norwegian Lutheran located in section 34. The first services were held by Reverend Frederickson in 1859. The church was built in 1869 at a cost of nine hundred dollars. In the early eighties this congregation had a membership of forty-five families, with Rev. L. C. Green, of Madelia, as pastor.
In Cottonwood township the first religious services were held by Doctor Blecken, a Lutheran, at the house of
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Jacob Brust, or rather in his granary building, near his residence, in 1856.
During the history of this county there have been numerous small country churches organized, which have with the building of railroads and the laying out of vil- lages and hamlets, become merged with some one of the societies found within these new places. Among these may be recalled the following:
The German Lutherans began holding servcies in Home township about 1877. The following year they built a church at a cost of eighteen hundred dollars. Their first pastor was Rev. Christian Meyer, and his membership was only twenty at first, but by 1881 had increased to forty.
In Eden township the Lutherans built a church in 1881, at Lone Tree. The Danish Lutherans also had a society there about that date.
In Burnstown township the Lutherans had services led by Rev. A. H. Ketner in 1873, and later built in the village.
In Bashaw township the Lutherans erected a church in 1878. Rev. E. Carson was pastor.
In Albin township the Lutherans organized a church and erected a building in the autumn of 1871.
In Lake Hanska township the Norwegian Lutherans organized a church and erected a building in the fall of 1881. At one time there was a society of forty families at that point.
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCHES.
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran church at New Ulm was organized on June 30, 1865. The first officers were
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Jonas Landenschlager, president; Fred Boock, secretary; Herman Kiesling, treasurer; L. Pauli, K. Fritsche, H. Steinhauser, trustees.
The present number of voting members of this congre- gation is two hundred, while the total number enrolled in the church as members is 1,365.
The following is a list of the pastors and assistant pastors: Revs. F. Popp, 1866-67; A. Kenter, 1867-69; G. Reim, 1870-82; C. J. Albrecht, 1882 and is still serving. The assistant pastors have been O. Hoyer, 1885-92; J. Schaller, 1892-1908; J. Meyer, 1908-15; E. Bliefernicht, 1915.
A parochial school was established here in 1885, and the instructors have been as follow: P. Luebkert, 1877- 88; W. Blauert, 1888 and still serving; W. Muesing, 1887- 1914; H. Klatt, 1915 and still serving. The total number of pupils enrolled at this date is one hundred and twenty.
The first church building was erected in 1865; it was brick and stood on the corner of State and Second streets, north, and was twenty-five by twenty-six feet in size. The second church was built in 1882; was forty-six by seventy- two feet in size; built of brick, with a steeple sixteen feet square at the base and one hundred and twenty feet high, with a clock and three chimes of bells. This edifice was rebuilt in 1899 at a cost of eight thousand dollars.
The first school house was the old church building. In 1886 a separate school building was erected, twenty by forty feet in size; this was a frame structure. In 1900 a large brick school building was built.
A parsonage was built in 1867, sixteen by twenty-eight feet, it was of brick and cost six hundred dollars. In 1890 the present parsonage was constructed from brick.
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Er. Lutheran St. Paul's Church, New Ulm, Minn.
CATHOLIC CHURCH NEW III.M
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This is a strong organization and is well cared for in a spiritual sense, by the present faithful pastor.
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran church, at Springfield, was incorporated on July 6, 1874. The society was formed through the efforts of Reverend Kenter, with the following charter members: A. Engel, F. Heimer, Carl Pautzke, J. F. Wendt, Ferd. Schwarzrock, Carl Wendt, Wil. Wendt, Jul -. ius Kieper, Aug. Prechel, Henry Dorow, Conrad Gieseke, Henry Kaehler and Aug. Sandmann. There have been two church buildings, the first one, a frame, which was erected in 1878, having been replaced in 1887 by a larger and better structure, also built of wood. A parochial school has been maintained under the auspices of this church, with the fol- lowing teachers in charge: Prof. H. Kilian, 1892-93; Prof. F. C. Remmert, 1893-1903; Prof. P. Scharmann, 1903 to the present time. The pastors of this church have been as follow: Reverends Kenter, Ording, Kittel (1878-82), D. Lange (1882-88), J. G. Appel (1888-1914) and William von Fischer (since 1914).
Zion Evangelical Lutheran church at Springfield, was organized on June 13, 1897, by Rev. J. K. E. Horst, of Courtland, Minnesota. The charter members of this society were as follow: Carl Bronkow, H. Bloemke, H. Burchardt, H. W. Schmidt, J. F. Wendt, Edward Boettcher, Carl Tomschin, William Wendt, John Wendt, Henry Dorow, Carl Dorow, all of whom seceded from the St. Paul's church on account what they considered false doc- trines and non-Lutheran practice. This congregation is of the Missouri Synod. It now has a membership of two hundred. The first church was an ordinary building of frame, which in time proved too small. Its cost was fifteen hundred dollars. In 1913 a new and much larger, up-to-
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date building was erected of brick. It is handsomely decor- ated, and had a total cost of ten thousand dollars. In the basement of this new building, in well planned rooms is kept the parochial school. Here the pastors have taught both in English and German.
The following is a list of the faithful pastors of this congregation : Revs. J. K. E. Horst, pastor pro tem; Will- iam Janzow, student theological seminary; William Roecker, Hy. Boettcher, John Hutchanson, Chr. Droege- mueller, and the present pastor, Rev. Fr. Westerkamp.
The Danish Lutheran denomination is represented at Sleepy Eye, where the membership own a handsome church property and hold regular services. At present the pulpit is supplied from Evan, by Rev. H. M. Hansen, who speaks in both English and Danish.
Evangelical Zion Lutheran church, at Hanska, was organized in 1905, by a number of devout Lutherans, in- cluding these: Berger Johnson, George Brandoold, F. C. Jenson, H. V. Anderson. There is now a membership of twenty families, or about fifty-five persons. A frame build- ing was erected in 1904 at a cost of three thousand dollars.
SCANDINAVIAN UNITARIAN.
At Hanska is situated a church of the Unitarian de- nomination made up of Scandinavians. It was organized in 1882 and has a membership of three hundred, with a frame church costing over three thousand dollars, and a parsonage costing about as much. Reverend Norman is the pastor. A parochial school is taught one month each year.
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EVANGELICAL CHURCHES.
There are now only two Evangelical churches within Brown county. These are at New Ulm and the one at Essig, formed by the pastor of the parent church in the county at New Ulm. As there is sometimes a misunder- standing as to the differences in the Evangelical and Ger- man Lutheran denominations, it is well right here to set this right in the mind of the reader. The last of the arti- cles of faith written by Martin Luther-the fifteenth in number-referred to the Lord's Supper, and over the wording of this article there arose a great difference of opinion. Hence came the Reformed and Lutheran bodies, independent one of the other. It was three hundred years after Martin Luther's day that Frederick William III, of Prussia, in 1817, brought together a number of preachers of his kingdom. Then a book of worship to be used in the churches of the kingdom was compiled, and the name of a new church sprung into existence-the Evangelical Church. Really a union was effected, based upon the Bible.
Coming down to this country, it may be stated that "the German Evangelical Synod of North America, or- ganized in 1840 in Missouri, as a part of the Evangelical church, defines the term 'Evangelical Church' as denoting that branch of the Christian church which acknowledges the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament as the Word of God, the sole and infallible guide of faith and life, and accepts the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures as given in the symbolic books of the Lutheran and Re- formed churches, the most important being: The Augs- burg Confession, Luther's and Heidelberg Catechisms, in
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so far as they agree; but where they disagree the German Evangelical Synod of North America adheres strictly to the passages of Holy Scriptures bearing on the subject, and avails itself of the liberty of conscience prevailing in the Evangelical Church."
The Evangelical Protestant Friends church (Church of Peace) is located at the corner of North State and First North street, New Ulm. It was organized on September 20, 1890, by Rev. K. Zeyher and charter members includ- ing the following: William Wellner, Sr., A. Schilling, H. Schilling, G. Goetsch, K. Lohmann, C. Gewecke, S. Marti, W. Radke, Gesine Crone, Maria Hess, Mrs. Ottomeyer, Elizabeth Koch, Katherine Dhein.
The present total membership is about one hundred families.
The house of worship is a brick-veneered structure and it has connected with its appointments three bells and a good pipe organ.
During six months of each year the pastor has a school in which are taught the church catechism and Bible.
The following have served as pastors in this congre- gation: Revs. K. Zeyher, E. Seeger, G. M. Eyrich, H. C. Dallmann and the present pastor, Rev. G. Mayer, who came on December 14, 1905.
The congregation of this denomination at Essig vil- lage, this county, was organized by Rev. G. Mayer, of the above congregation, the date being December 3, 1907. It is known as "The Evangelical Friends Church at Essig." Its charter members were as follow: H. Schroeder, A. Wag- ner, E. Rolloff, F. Hofschild, J. Gereis, W. Heinmann, Hy. Knees, J. Schauer, J. Zaske and F. Roos. At present there
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are about twenty families connected with the congregation. The church building has new pews, organ and bell. Serv- ices are held every other Sunday, and the pastor (same as at New Ulm) instructs the children several months of each year. But few, if any, more devoted and faithful pastors can be found in the county than Reverend Mayer, of these two congregations.
The German Evangelical church at Sleepy Eye is one of the most influential church bodies in that city. Rev. L. Reep, the present pastor, is a learned man, and eloquent. Every department of church work is carried on, including a strong Sunday school.
In Cottonwood township an Evangelical Association church was organized and a church erected in 1865. Serv- ices were held by Rev. A. Huelster as early as 1857. At the end of twenty years the membership of the congrega- tion was forty. Other churches finally absorbed this.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.
The first religious services held on the present site of the town of Sleepy Eye was by the Presbyterian denomina- tion. Services were held by Reverend Kent during the summer of 1868 in the grove on Thomas Allison's farm. They organized at Golden Gate, with nineteen members, a number of whom had been Congregationalists. When Sleepy Eye was platted they moved to the village.
In Eden township the Presbyterians organized in June, 1870, with fourteen members, and the next year erected a church costing fifteen hundred dollars. By 1881 the society had ceased to exist.
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The First Presbyterian church of Evan was organized in 1896, with charter members as follow: George Irwin, Thomas Foster, Carl Plath, George Strange, under the pastor, Rev. C. B. Augur. The church now has a member- ship of thirty-two. A frame building was erected in 1887 at a cost of one thousand dollars. The pastors have in- cluded these: Revs. C. B. Augur, 1896-99; Mckibben, 1902; Arthur A. Palmer, 1908-09; J. C. Strand, 1910-13; B. C. Shields, 1914-16.
DANISH BAPTIST CHURCH.
At the village of Cobden the Danish Baptist church was organized on April 13, 1890. The first trustees were Peter Nelson and Ole Anderson. Among the old members of this society may be recalled the names of J. E. Jenson and Nels Nelson. They have a frame house of worship, cost about twelve hundred dollars. There are now only nine members in this church.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.
There are now four churches of this denomination in Brown county. These are located at New Ulm, Sleepy Eye, Comfrey and Springfield.
This church is a union organization, associated with other union churches. It is an independent church, co- operating with other independent churches.
In New Ulm Congregationalism had its start during the summer of 1881, when services were conducted by Rev. George E. Albrecht, who was sent to New Ulm by the Home Missionary Society. He established a Sunday school and
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worked as he could from house to house. After he left to resume his studies in school, the Sunday school was kept up and Mrs. C. H. Ross was its superintendent. On April 3, 1882, came Rev. Christian Mowery, who conducted serv- ices in the court house. The attendance was small and his discouragements were many, yet he spent much of his time that season in trying to raise funds sufficient with which to erect a house of worship. He succeeded in getting a foun- dation laid that autumn, and on December 11, 1883, a neat frame edifice was dedicated, free from debts. Fourteen hundred dollars of the amount needed was raised by the people of New Ulm; five hundred was granted by the Church Building Society and as much more was donated by friends outside of New Ulm. Mrs. A. Blanchard col- lected funds with which a good organ was purchased. The church was really organized during the winter of 1884- 1885 by Rev. Mowery, who remained its faithful pastor until his death, in October, 1887.
Under a succession of brief pastorates the church dis- played a spirit of benevolence and self-denial and kept faith with the community. One thing should be never forgotten of its benevolent spirit-in 1894 the church gave a fund of sixty dollars, which had been raised by a patient effort for new hymn books, toward the relief of the sufferers from the Hinckley forest fire.
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