USA > Minnesota > Redwood County > The history of Redwood County, Minnesota, Volume I > Part 42
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The Wanda congregation has no parochial day school, but the children are expected to attend the Sunday school (where they have to recite their catechism text or Bible history, and are taught the reading and spelling of the German language) until they reach the age of from 13 to 15 years. At that age the congregation provides that every child, for a period of six months, shall be given by the pastor an explanation of the catechism, instructed in the Holy Scriptures, and taught the confession of the Lutheran church; in addition to which the catechumens take up a general course in reading, writing and language. This short term of "confirmation-teaching" is held every second year, either in the church, public schoolroom, or in some other suitable building.
It should be of interest to learn that the pioneer members of the church were Paul Doepke, August Tonack, Herman Bloedow, William Bloedow, Mrs. Aug. Bloedow, John Hoffman, Carl Goedde, Carl Kagel, Emil Tonack, Albert Spalding, Louis Sand- berg and Henry Schrader. The latter two have moved away from here; otherwise all of the pioneers are still living, except William Bloedow, who was called away by death in the spring of 1913. As incidental to the history of the church it may be men- tioned that in the year 1908 the building was struck by lightning, and the repairs, together with a lightning-rod system put on, cost the congregation the sum of $900. Three years ago the church was renovated inside, and a new organ and carpets bought, the total cost of which amounted to $350. The present value of the property in $2,000. Since its organization the following min- isters have served the congregation: Rev. Carl Ganchow, in- stalled on a Sunday in July, 1902, accepted a call to Shakopee, Minn., in October, 1903. Rev. Rud. Kohlrusch, who took charge of the congregation in January, 1904, stayed until March, 1906. Rev. H. Bruss served from July, 1906, until November, 1907.
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By his removal the congregation was left without a pastor for almost two years, when Rev. A. Nischwitz accepted a call to the pastorate and was installed in July, 1909. After four years he accepted a call to Nebraska, in June, 1913. Since July 1, 1913, the present pastor, Rev. Th. Tychsen, has had charge of the con- gregation. It is worthy of note that whenever the church has been without a pastor, ministers from neighboring towns have made the best provision for the people that was possible under the circumstances.
The church book contains the following record of some "first" events connected with its history : First baptisms-George Bloe- dow, Walter Hoffman and Ida Kagel. Confirmations-Bertha Tonack, Elisa Schmechel and Sahra Hoffman. Marriage-F. C. Becker and Anna Hesse. The first death, a child of Rev. and Mrs. A. Nischwitz, in 1911.
Very often in the history of this church its future prospects looked dark, but its few members kept up their courage and con- tinued to hope and work, and it can now be said that the congre- gation really is growing and developing spiritually and materially, inwardly and outwardly, in a satisfactory way.
Evangelical Zion's Congregation of Lamberton, Minn. This church, which is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Ohio and other states, originated in the latter part of the year 1884, when the first services of the denomination were held in District Schoolhouse No. 16, Charlestown, about six miles south- east of Lamberton. The Rev. D. Lang, a Lutheran minister of Springfield, Minn., presided as pastor. The congregation was organized in Charlestown, December 16, 1884, the first officers being August Koenig, August Rogotzke, Franz Wichmann, George L. Wagner and Wilhelm Schuch. The first and only church edi- fice was erected in the village of Lamberton in the winter of 1885-6 and has been since renovated. In the summer of 1886 the parsonage was erected near the church. The bellfry and sanctuary of the church were built in the summer of 1900. In addition to the officers above mentioned, some of the prominent members of the congregation were and are the following: Hein- rich Steffen, Christian Kastner, Johann Kastner, Johann Stech- mann, Johann Joeckel, August Holznagel, Wilhelm Holznagel, Johann Wagner, Wilhelm Kasten, August Stern, Edward Arns- dorf, Daniel Radatz, Ludwig Joeckel, August Groechel, Wilhelm Vollmer, Carl Spaulding, Guenther Becker, Carl Bauch, August Kastner, Carl Beyer, Julius Grund, Asmus Bendixen, Franz Kaats, Otto Herder, Otto Vogler, Julius Pfarr, Wilhelm Degner, Heinrich Wahl, Johann Buetow and others. Among the first births re- corded are those of Frederick Wilhelm, Ester Emma and George Andreas, children of Chr. and Katherine Kastner; Anna Stech- mann, Karl August Johannes Koenig, Alma Auguste Emilie
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Moede, Wilhelm Johann Seidler, Ella Berends, Wilhelm Johannes Schuch, Ida Matzke and Anna Pauline Joeckel. The first mar- riage recorded was that of Johann G. W. Wagner and Emilie H. F. Joeckel, who were united in holy wedlock April 29, 1886. The first death was that of Hermann Johannes, son of Wilhelm and Anna (Koenig) Schuch, who died June 6, 1889. Others who died soon after were Heinrich Steffen, Elma K. S. Wagner, Carl A. H. Schuch, Paul R. Timm, Emma A. Dommer, Bertha M. Groechel, Anna D. Kastner, Ida Schulz and Joh. Reppel. The Rev. D. Lang was the first pastor of the church, serving from 1884 to 1885. He was followed by Rev. J. G. Appel, 1885 to 1887; Rev. F. H. G. Voelker, 1887 to 1890; Rev. C. Althof, 1890 to 1891; Christian Langholz, 1891 to 1895, Rev. W. L. Keller, 1895 to 1904; Rev. Paul Cornils, 1904 to 1913; Rev. Ewald Michaelis, who as- sumed charge in 1914 and who is the present pastor, serving also two other congregations, both of which are in Cottonwood county. In the congregation there are today nineteen voting members, 110 communicants and 184 baptized members. The German lan guage is nearly always used in sermons. Though there is no parochial day school in Lamberton, about three months of ca- techetical instruction previous to confirmation are given in a small school house near the church. The only society connected with the church is the "Frauenverein," or Ladies' Aid Society. The present value of the church building is $2,000.
German Lutheran, Minnesota Synod.
The Lutheran churches of the Minnesota Synod are found in Vesta, Redwood Falls, Sheridan, Seaforth, Sanborn and Wabasso.
Evangelical Lutheran St. John Church, of Vesta, Minn. The first meeting of the original members of this congregation took place June 10, 1900, at the residence of Emil Kratzke, in Vesta, and in the fall of the same year a church building was erected, in which the congregation has since worshipped. The pioneer members of the church were Otto Maasch, Emil Kratzke, Carl Rehfeld, Rudolph Kletscher, Carl Dietz, G. Steinkraus, Carl Gla- ditsch, Julius Jordan, August Jordan, Dick Rust and John Gassler. In 1914 the church building was enlarged and the property is now valued at $1,600. A school building was erected in the fall of 1909 and nine months of school are kept each year. The con- gregation was served by Rev. Ph. Martin from September 29, 1899 to 1906. He was followed by Rev. G. Adascheck, who was pastor from 1906 to 1907, since which time Rev. P. R. Gedicke has had charge of the church, being its present pastor. The congre- gation now numbers 225 members. The first baptism recorded on the church book was that of Dorothea Rust; the first marriage was that of Gustav Dallmann and Anna Jensen, and the first
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death that of Dorothea Hohnstaedt. In 1908 the church joined the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Minnesota and helped to build the Dr. Martin Luther College of New Ulm, Minn.
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, at Redwood Falls, Minn. Was founded in 1898. On January 2 of that year a small number of Lutherans living in or near Redwood Falls came to- gether for divine worship in an old Adventist church, which they had rented. After the services they held a business meeting, in which they organized themselves as St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church by adopting a constitution and electing a board of elders consisting of three men, namely: Louis Gaedy, August Heuer and Ferdinand Keil. Aside from these three the little congregation consisted of the following members: Friedrich Sauke, Christian Babzin, Gustav Massow, Anna Theiring and Robert Gruendemann. Occasionally services had been conducted here before that time by Rev. William Sheitel of Posen township, Rev. J. Bauer of Town Eden and Rev. William Fettinger of Morgan. In 1899 the number of members had increased to fifteen, and these took upon themselves the burden of erecting a church, which they joyfully dedicated to the service of the Lord on October 30, 1899. After its organization, the congregation at Redwood, which had at first been part of a parish which included St. John's church in Town Sheridan and Zion's church at Morton. The first minister of this united parish was Rev. H. Koch, who resided in Redwood Falls. In 1900 St. Paul's church at Seaforth was organized and this congregation was united with the one at Sheridan, both calling a new pastor to serve them. Since then, until 1916, the congregations at Redwood Falls and Morton also formed an independent parish, of which Rev. Koch remained pastor until 1901. During the last year of his pastorate he lived in Morton, where the congregation had built a new parsonage for him. Rev. P. Hinderer, who was called to the parish in 1901, also lived in Morton, from which place he served both con- gregations until he accepted a call to South Dakota in 1902.
For a year the parish was without a pastor. During this time the congregation at Redwood Falls was cared for by Rev. William Schoknecht of Morgan and Rev. A. Zich of Sleepy Eye. In the fall of 1903 Rev. H. Paustian was called by the parish and ac- cepted. According to an agreement between the two congrega- tions, it was decided that hereafter the pastor should reside in Redwood Falls. A parsonage was built for him in 1905. After having served the parish for six years, Rev. Paustian accepted a call to Wisconsin and in July, 1910, the present pastor, Rev. A. Schaller, came to take his place. During all these years the congregation at Redwood Falls had grown continually, and in the beginning of the year 1916 numbered about fifty-five members. In the same year the members came to the important agreement
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with the congregation, that the parish should be separated, each congregation having its own pastor. On the 27th of August, Rev. H. Parisius, who had been called to Morton, was installed in that congregation, and since then St. John's church at Redwood has also been an independent congregation, retaining the services of its pastor, Rev. A. Schaller. The pastor also serves Zion's Evangelical Lutheran Church at Morton, Renville county, Minn. The following items taken from the church records may be of interest to the reader. The first baptism recorded was that of Karl Jordan, son of Herman Jordan, born April 20, 1898. The first burial services in the church were held for F. Stroschein, December 2, 1899. The first members to be married in church were Ferdinand Panitzke and Louise Jordan, March 16, 1900. The first Holy Commmunion recorded was attended by thirty people. The first class of young people was confirmed in the church March 31, 1901. They were Alma Huehnerkoch, Alma Stage, Alwina Keil, Amalia Joern, Emma Hoepner, Maria Mar- quardt, Herman J. Raddatz, Franz Jordan, Herman Luessen- hop and Emmanuel Buerger. The church has now fifty-two voting members, the number of souls being 260. Most of the sermons are preached in the German language, but once a month English services are held. The Ladies' Aid Society is an important factor in the work of the church, while another is the well selected library of 300 volumes. The parochial school is taught for six months each year by the minister to pre- pare the young for confirmation. The value of the church prop- erty is $2,000; the parsonage, $2,000, and the school, $200. The average Sunday attendance is seventy-five persons.
St. John's Lutheran Church of Sheridan Township. The mem- bers who later on organized this church held their first meeting in Redwood Falls in 1870, the presiding pastor being the Rev. J. J. Hunziker of Lyon county. They were the first people of the Lutheran denomination who settled in Sheridan township. In 1892 they erected a church, 20 by 40 feet, with a seating capacity of 150 people, on five acres of ground which were donated by Friedrich Muetzel, the church costing $1,800. The Rev. J. J. Hunziker was their minister until 1896 and they were served by Rev. H. Albrecht of Renville, Minn., for a year and a half. In 1897 Rev. H. Koch was called as their minister, and in the follow- ing year they joined the Minnesota Synod. The parsonage, which is located near the church, was built in 1899 at a cost of $1,400. In the same year Rev. J. Mittelstaedt was called as their minister and served the congregation until 1904. He was followed by Rev. H. F. Eggert, who remained until 1910, after which Rev. John Piper of Echo, Minn., took charge of the congregation and was the minister until 1911, when the Rev. Julius X. Lenz was called to the pastorate from Meadow, S. D., and is still serving therein,
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being also pastor of the Seaforth and Bethany congregations. The year after his arrival a parochial school house was built, in size 24 by 32 feet. At present the congregation consists of thirty-four members.
The Seaforth Evangelical Church was organized in the year 1900, among its first members being Theo. Zorn, Dan. Staege, Theo. Staege, Leopold Staege, Ed. Schulz, William Schroeder, J. Schroe- der, Carl Lueck, G. Wotschke, Herman Schulz, August Redder- mann and others. The first minister was the Rev. H. Koch, of Redwood Falls, who served the congregation until 1901. He then accepted a call to Wisconsin and was followed by Rev. John Mittelstoedt, who was pastor until 1904, when the Rev. K. F. Eggert was called. In 1902 the congregation joined the Minnesota Synod. When Rev. K. F. Eggert accepted a call to Michigan in 1910, Rev. Paul Gedicke, of Vesta, took charge of the congregation until 1911, when the Rev. Julius X. Lenz, the present pastor, was called from South Dakota. The property of the congregation, which consists of 15 members, is valued at $2,000.
The Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Congregation at Wabasso is a recent addition to the religious forces of the county, having been organized in 1915. At present services are held in the city hall, but a church building, 30 by 32 feet in size, in process of erection. The pastor is Rev. Julius X. Lenz, who serves also the church at Seaforth and St. John's Church of Sheridan township.
German Lutheran, Missouri Synod.
The two churches of this denomination are located respectively in Willow Lake township and at Clements.
Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Church, of Willow Lake Town- ship, is located in the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of section 10. As far back as 1886 meetings were held at the resi- dences respectively of John Hoffman, Emil Hoffman and Fred Fenger, who were among the early members of the church, to- gether with Fred Raedel, Robert Hinz, Hr. Ristown and A. Beck- man. The church edifice was not erected until ten years later- 1896-at which time the congregation numbered only twelve members. This building cost $1,750 and has since been used for the services of the church, which are usually conducted in the German language, though in English when required. In 1913 it was remodeled and enlarged at a cost of $1,600. January 1, 1816, the congregation numbered forty-four members. A parson- age was built in 1901, across the road from the church, at a cost of $1,250, thus materially increasing the value of the church property. A school had been built in the previous year-1900- costing $400, the labor being furnished by the members of the
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congregation. It is taught four days a week from October 1 to the latter part of May. In the forenoon religion and German are taught, a public school course being given in the afternoon. Until the year 1910 the congregation belonged to the Minnesota Synod, but since that time it has been a member of the Missouri Synod. The original congregation consisted of only three families, who were served by the pastor residing at Sanborn, services being held only every third, sometimes every fourth or fifth Sunday. The first four pastors, who resided at Sanborn and served this congregation as a mission, were: Rev. J. Bauer, 1886 to 1890; Rev. August Graebner, 1890 to 1893; Rev. Chr. Meyer, 1893 to 1899, and Rev. W. Schulze, 1899 to 1901. The first resident pastor was the Rev. H. Westphal, 1901 to 1902. He was followed by Rev. W. Schulze, 1902 to 1903; Rev. H. C. Kothe, 1903 to 1915, and since July 4, 1915, Rev. H. L. W. Schuetz, who also serves the church at Clements. The first births and baptisms, as recorded on the church book, were: Emma Maria Elizabeth Hoffman, daughter of John Hoffman; Paul Adolph Raedel, son of Fred Raedel, and Fred Herbert Fenger, son of Fred Fenger. The first marriages were: Herman Ristow and Bertha Schlesner; Edward Nehring and Margaret Reimer, and Cark Zick and Ade- line Fenger. The first deaths: Hugo Raedel, child of Fred Rae- del; Henry Hinz, child of Robert Hinz; Augusta Beckman.
Evangelical Lutheran Bethlehem Congregation, of Clements, Minn. The pioneer members of this church were August Rad- datz, William Stricker, William Muenchow, J. Schlekau, Carl Kemfert, Albert Juhnke and Henry Schwantes. The first meet- ings were held in 1905 in the depot of the Chicago and North- western Railroad at Clements, and also in the town hall. In the following year Rev. H. C. Kothe organized the congregation and the church building was erected which has since been its religious home, and which is valued at about $3,000. The auditorium has a seating capacity of 180 persons. There is no parsonage, as the church is served by the pastor of Willow Lake church, now Rev. H. L. W. Schuetz, who succeeded Mr. Kothe July 4, 1915. There being also no school building, religious instruction is given for several weeks every spring in church and also in the Sunday school. January 1, 1916, there were thirty-seven members in the congregation. The services of the church are usually conducted in the German language, but occasionally in English. The first record of births and baptisms contained on the church book gives the names of Sylvester Backer, son of Gustave Backer; Leon Schlekau, son of J. Schlekau, and Louis Kahle, son of Christ Kahle. The first marriages were those of Adolph Zuehlke and Emma Fennern ; Herman Schulz and Augusta Reetz, and Christian Jensen and Emma Hartwig. The first deaths recorded were those of Elsie Heidemann, Louis Kahle and Arthur Volk.
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German Evangelical Lutheran.
There is a German Evangelical Lutheran church in Sundown township.
German Methodist.
There are two German Methodist churches in Redwood county, located respectively in Johnsonville and Morgan townships.
The German Methodist Church of Johnsonville Township. When and where the first meetings of this society were held has not been definitely ascertained, but the church edifice was erected in 1889 and is still in use. It is a small building, valued at about $1,000, the seating capacity of the auditorium being seventy-five persons. The congregation, which numbers thirty-four members, is composed of people of German birth or origin, and the German language is used in conducting services, the preaching services being held four times a month, one sermon being preached each Sunday. The present pastor is Rev. William Boemmels, who has served the church for one year, residing at Echo, Minn. Mr. Boemmels also serves two other congregations, both outside the county. In connection with this church there is a flourishing Sun- day school. A cemetery forms part of the church property.
Evangelical Association.
The Evangelical Association has four churches in Redwood county, which are located respectively in Wabasso, North Red- wood, Lamberton and New Avon. In addition to these there is another which is located just across the line separating Charles- town township and Cottonwood county, but which is regarded generally as a Redwood county church.
Pilgrim Church of the Evangelical Association at Wabasso. In the spring of 1900 the first members of this congregation met for worship at the Northwestern depot, Wabasso, and in the fall of the same year a church building was erected, which is still the religious home of the people. The pastors since the founding of the church have been as follows: C. F. Kachel, 1900 to 1901; C. G. Roesti, 1901 to 1902; H. Hensel, 1902 to 1906; B: Simon, 1906 to 1908; J. D. Moede, 1908 to 1911; C. C. Engelbart, 1911 to 1915; A. A. Schendel, 1915 to the present time. The members of the congregation are mostly of German origin and services are conducted in both the German and English languages. Among the pioneer members of this church were John Block, Christ Bagdons, Sr., Joe Neuenberg and Dan Zimmerle. The pastor, who resides in the parsonage in Wabasso, serves also Salem church in New Avon township.
Salem Church of the Evangelical Association in New Avon Township, was erected in 1894, previous to which services were
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held in the nearby schoolhouse. The congregation now numbers sixty-two members and there is a well attended Sunday school. Services are conducted in the English language. The societies which aid in the work of the church are the Evangelical Ladies' Aid Society of New Avon, and the New Avon Cemetery Asso- ciation. During the last two years the church has been served by the Rev. A. A. Schendel, who is also pastor of the church of this denomination at Wabasso, where he resides.
Roman Catholic
The Roman Catholic church is represented in Redwood county by twelve churches, respectively located in Wanda, Walnut Grove, Clements, Wabasso, Seaforth, Lemberton, Sanborn, Redwood Falls, Lucan, Milroy, Morgan and Vesta.
The Church of St. Catherine, Redwood Falls, Minn. In the fall of 1870 the Rev. Alexander Berghold, pastor of the Holy Trinity Church at New Ulm, Minn., visited Redwood Falls and said mass in the home of John O'Hara, there being but six Cath- olie families then in Redwood Falls and vicinity. The number of Catholics had increased to but thirteen families by the summer of 1884, when the first church was erected. This was a frame building, 24 by 40 feet and cost $900. Matthias Offermann and Frank M. O'Hara donated the two lots for the church. Mass was said in the church for the first time in the year 1885, by Rev. Father Ogulin, then pastor of the church of Immaculate Concep- tion, St. Peter, Minn. The following priests attended to the spiri- tual wants of the people until the first pastor was appointed : Rev. Father Schnitzler, Mankato, Minn., 1885 to 1886; Rev. Father Tori, Sleepy Eye, Minn., 1886 to 1887; Rev. Father Reichel, Sleepy Eye, Minn., 1887 to 1888; Rev. Father Shönen, Madison, Minn., 1888 to 1890; Rev. Father Rosen, Fairfax, Minn., 1890 to 1893; Rev. Father Vanderlage, Morgan, Minn., 1893 to 1897. In 1897 Rev. James J. Woods was appointed resident pastor and so re- mained until the fall of 1908, when he was succeeded by Rev. Valentine Schiffrer, who stayed until August, 1910. The latter's successor was Rev. Joseph J. Tomek, who took charge of the parish on the first Sunday of August, that year, and who is still the pastor. Before coming here Father Tomek was stationed for three years as assistant in the Cathedral of St. Paul, at St. Paul, Minn.
Perhaps the most important event in the history of the parish was the building of the new church in 1914. This fine structure, which is the finest church edifice in the county, has the ground dimensions of 44 by 120 feet, its total cost being $25,000. The corner stone of the new church was laid at 2:30 o'clock p.m., on the 8th of July, 1914, Rev. R. Schlinkert, of New Ulm, officiating
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and preaching the sermon. The windows, costing $75.00 each, were donated by the following members of the parish: The Lauterbach family, St. Michael; Altar Society, St. Catherine; Jackson family, The Resurrection; Oscar Warner, St. Margaret; O'Callaghan family; Catholic Order of Foresters; J. R. Keefe and P. Farrell, The Assumption; Mrs. C. Cummins, St. Joseph ; Knights of Columbus, St. Patrick; J. J. Tomek, the Last Supper. The following made other donations: The Sewing Circle, pews costing $750.00; Mrs. John Lauterbach, statue of Sacred Heart; Mrs. Elizabeth Zima, statue of St. Joseph; John Wilt, statue of St. Catherine; Fred Warner, statue of St. Ann; Miss C. Carroll, statue of St. Anthony. Mrs. Edward Cummins, baptismal font. Mass was said for the first time in the new church March 7, 1915.
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