USA > Wisconsin > Buffalo County > History of Buffalo County Wisconsin 10847607 > Part 32
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THE BUFFALO COUNTY REPUBLIKANER.
About two years after the incorporation of the City of Buffalo in this county, during the contest between said city and the vil- lage, then still a part of the town of Alma, for the county-seat, a German newspaper was considered to be a necessity and Mr. Christian Lohmann was induced to come to the place and to un- dertake the publication of said paper. Mr. Lohmann was a prac- tical printer and had had various experiences in the way of edit- in papers. The outfit, I think, originally belonged to him, and subsidies were furnished to induce him to come. The first num- ber of the paper was issued on the 15th day of March, 1861. It
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was then, as now called the "Buffalo County Republikaner," not so much because the editor was Republican in politics or sentiment, but because the leading people of the place were so. The start of the paper, too, fell into that period, when the "irrepressible con- flict" had begun to assume the shape and dimension of serious war. This would have given an ambitious man of honest Repub- lican sentiments a fine chance for making the paper interesting and successful. But there was no ambition about Mr. Lohmann, and I do not remember that he had any decided opinions in re- gard to politics, although I was daily in his office during the months of May and June. About the beginning of the next month the financial basis of Mr. Lohmann's establishment had disappeared and he departed, leaving the press and other materials in possession of the corporation. About that time I took a notion to become the editor and proprietor of the abandoned paper, but failing to secure the desired partner, desisted from the attempt. Some time afterwards, about the 1st of October, 1861, Mr. G. G. Oppliger, a practical printer, and until then employed at the Nordstern of La Crosse, purchased the concern, at a bargain, but conditioned for remaining in Buffalo City for about three years. Mr. Oppliger possessed the necessaay energy, experience and am- bition to make the enterprise a success. He had by his former residence in this county acquired sufficient local discrimination to begin with. He issued the paper at Buffalo City until May 28th, 1864, when for better facilities of communication and otherwise, he transferred it to Fountain City, where it is still in existence. Mr. Oppliger sold the Republikaner to Major John F. Hauser on the first day of April, 1869. Major Hauser sold to Joseph Leicht Nov. 4th, 1871. Up to that period the politics of the paper had remained Republican and agreed with the title. Mr. Leicht. not having passed through the struggle of the Civil War, listened to the seductive voice of those, who would have annihilated the me- mory of that struggle, and paralyzed its results, if they had been able to do so, and the paper become by degrees democratic, partly perhaps, in deference to the sentiment of a majority of the citizens of Fountain City. Like Mr. Oppliger, in his time, Mr. Leicht had to work very hard, and, like Oppliger, must be credited with the laudable ambition of making the paper a success in every respect, which he accomplished to a remarkable degree. After having had
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the property and management of the paper for over ten years, and having put in a power press, he conceived the idea of entering a larger field of labor, and began the issue of the "Westlicher Her- old" at Winona, Minn. The "Republikaner" he sold to Frederick Hepp and John L. Utermoehl, of whom the latter became the editor and manager of the paper, in which position he remained until a short time ago. After his retirement from it Mr. Hepp as- sociated himself with Mr. Jacob Meili, who now acts as editor and manager. There being a great many Germans especially in the lower part of the county, some of whom have never had time or opportunity to acquire a sufficient knowledge of the English lang- uage to render the reading of newspapers in it an easy matter, it was quite natural that the Republikaner should acquire a consi- derable circulation, and it must be admitted that under the dif- ferent managements it has always been conducted with considerate moderation, has always done as well as could be expected under the circumstances with regard to general news, and has been a faithful chronicle of psssing events in the county without descend- ing to gossip and unwarranted reflections. It may not be said to be absolutely perfect, but it deserves the patronage it holds and receives. In connection with this German paper we can not omit to mention, that it received in course of time the emoluments connected with the county printings and that the tax-lists are also published in it, and were, for a number of years past. There were now and then some objections raised to this official support to a paper not printed in English, but the general good sense of the community finally acquiesced in the practice, conceding the fact that citizens and tax-payers should not be deprived of official in- telligence merely because their opportunities for acquiring as suf- ficient knowledge of the so-called official language of the country had not been very extensive.
Personally I have always been on good terms with the editors of this paper, and have written for it every New Years Greeting or Carrier's Address since its existence, with the exception of one, and have assisted as the intermistic editor of it on several occasions. I have, also, edited the Educational Column of it during my last two terins of office as County Superintendent.
With the Republikaner office is also connected a job-printing establishment which does not remain behind any similar one in
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ENGLISH PAPERS.
Pioneer-Press and Globe of St. Paul; Republican-Leader and Chronicle of La Crosse; Tribune, World and perhaps Puck of New York; Tribune, News etc. of Chicago.
GERMAN PAPERS.
Nordstern of La Crosse; Herold and Germania of Milwaukee; Illinois Staats-Zeitung of Chicago; Staats-Zeitung of New York; Christliche Botschafter of Cleveland, Ohio; Cincinnati Volksblat; Volkszeitung and Freie Presse, St. Paul and Minneapolis.
NORWEGIAN PAPERS.
I have noticed, accidentally, several papers in this language. of which Fardrelandet og Emigranten is the principal one.
. In this sketch no notice could be taken of papers devoted to. special purposes. With the exception of one, the papers named are newspapers in the general acceptation of the word. Some pa- pers, and especially periodicals from other countries, the most, from Germany, are also taken, but space does not allow of their enumeration.
Papers and periodicals for special purposes are naturally as much diversified as specialities always happen to be ..
Papers in other than the languages named may also be kept, but with the exception of "Slavie," published at Racine by Chas. Jonas, I do not remember to have seen any. The "Slavic" is pub- lished in Bohemian. There is now a paper published at Winona in the Polish language and probably circlulates in some, especially the lower eastern parts of the county.
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RELIGIÓN.
RELIGION.
Civilized people have religion and means of manifesting the same. For the latter purpose those of about the same opinions or doctrines unite and form congregations or churches, which accord- ing to their means erect houses of worship, also called churches, temples, synagogues, and so forth, according to the usage of their predecessors. The historian can but note the existence of the dif- ferent congregations and of their arrangements for regular religious services, for the instruction of children and others in the respective tenets of the church and in morals and manners according to these, besides which, or included in which, their beginning and growth may be properly mentioned. With doctrinal or disciplin- ary differences between the different churches, or their origin, he has nothing to do. In this aversion to the discussion of the above named points the author is confirmed by the habits of most people in this county with regard to said objects. There is a general dis- inclination among the people to meddle with things that may con- cern others, but do not interest themselves. This, of course, does not exclude an interest in the doctrines of one's own church or creed and in the prosperity of the same, it only means that each person should be held responsible to his own conscience with re- gard to religious matters.
The Christian churches of this county may be divided into two main classes, Catholic and Protestant. The Catholic church is a unit in doctrine as well as in name. Not so the Protestant church, which appears even in our limited territory in several de- nominations.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CONGREGATIONS OR CHURCHES.
1. Congregation of the Immaculate Conception at Fountain City. It was formed in 1856 and built its church edifice in 1858. This is the oldest congregation of any denomination in this county,
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existing now over thirty years and maintaining divine service for about twenty-nine uninterruptedly. At present it consists of about 100 families. Regular services Sunday and Feast-day except sec- ond Sunday in each month. With the Church is connected a Catholic school with a full common school course of study. and a boarding institute, attached thereto. The following Reverend gentlemen have been in charge of this congregation or church: Reverends: Tappert, Schraudenbach, Seif, Kleiber, Joerger, Rasch, Spitzlberger, Schmidt, Koke, Moder, Geyer, Pfaller, Loserez, Stroehle, Uiker, Schaller, Klein and at present Rev. W. A. Hack- ner to whom I am indebted for the information above put down.
This congregation is in a sense the mother church of the other churches in the county, more especially of those at Alma and Buffalo City.
2. St. Lawrence's Church at Alma.
The congregation was formed and the church built in, 1868 under the pastorate of Rev. Lawrence Spitzlberger. About 45 families belong to it, and it has been, and is yet under the charge of the resident priest at Fountain City,, who holds regular services at Alma every second Sunday of each month. The Reverend gentle- men in charge of this church are above enumerated, beginning with Rev. Spitzlberger.
3. St. Anna's Church at Buffalo City.
This, like the next preceding, is a dependence to the church at Fountain City, as far as religious services are concerned. These are regular once a month on a week day. The congregation num- bers about 20 families. It was originally formed in 1868 and built its church the same year, under the pastorate of Rev. Spitzlberger, from whom beginning the Reverend gentlemen in charge are named above.
Having been a resident of Buffalo City from Spring 1859 I can testify that mass was celebrated and probably a sermon . or short exhortation preached long before the congregation was formed and the church built. This was usually performed in the house of Henry Erding, who is now a resident of Wabasha County, Minn.
4. St. Boniface's .Church in Waumandes ..
The congregation was probably formed in 1860 or '61, if not earlier, but religious services of any kind were performed at first
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RELIGION.
every alternate Sunday, and sermons preached in English and in German, a custom also practiced in Waumandee. The congrega- . tion consists of 65 families.
The church was at different times attended from Waumandee, as appears by the names of Reverends Spitzlberger and Lay, but was mostly independent or attached to the church in Arcadia. Rev. A. Mendel, P. Schmid, Flamang, Jos. Baur, B. Klein, were in charge, the present incumbent being Rev. Wekes, to whom I am indebted for the above information.
All these churches are situated in the lower part of the county. In the upper part is but one church of this denomination.
7. St. Patrick's Church in Canton.
This church is situated in Section 12, Township 24, Range 12, about 6 miles west of Mondovi and 12-13 miles east of Durand. It is in charge of the priest residing in the latter place. The con- gregation was formed in 1867, the church built in 1868, and regu- lar services were held from 1869 till now, but I can not state how often. The church is situated on a hill and can be seen from a considerable distance on the east and north side. Reverends J. B. Smedinck, John Meurs, Father Fagan, Froehlich, Wirz, Keller, Mendel and Flamang have been in charge. At present and dur- ing six years past Rev. Jos. M. Baur is, and was, pastor. To him I am indebted for the above information.
It would be wrong to omit the expression of my obligation to the Reverend gentlemen named in the above sketches for the prompt and explicit answers I received from them to the circulars forwarded to each.
PROTESTANT CONGREGATIONS OR CHURCHES.
LUTHERAN CONGREGATIONS.
Of these the Norwegian churches are the strictest, the most numerous, and closely connected by a Synodal Union with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.
1. Lyster Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation.
The members of this congregation live mostly in Little Bear Creek Valley and in the valleys of tributaries to that Creek, in the towns of Nelson, Maxville and Modena. Some of the members from Modena live in the central and southern part of the town, east of the hills separating Brown's and Jensen's creeks from Bear Creek. The congregation was formed in 1866 and the church built
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about the same time or soon after. The church is situated at the southwest corner of Section 12, Township 23, Range 13, in the Town of Nelson, close to the line of Modena. Its first pastor was Rev. K. Thorstensen, from the beginning until Sept. 7, 1873, since which time Rev. F. A. Moeller is in charge. The congregation has very much increased in the course of time and in 1885 num- bered about 120 families, or about 650 persons, of whom 341 were confirmed members and hence communicants. In 1885 the con- gregation was divided into two congregations, the one in charge of Rev. F. A. Moeller, being in Synodal Union with the Norwe- gian Ev. Lutheran Church of America, and building a new church this year. (1887.) Of the other I have no report. Regular serv- ices were at first held every fourth week but now are held every third week.
2. Thompson Valley Norwegian Ev. Lutheran Congregation.
This congregation was formed in 1867, and came under the ministry of Rev. K. Thorstensen until 1871, then under that of Rev. L. Sherwen till 1873, and from that time until now is in charge of Rev. F. A. Moeller. Its regular services are every third or fourth week, and its church stands near the center of Section 20 Township 24 Range 11, near the Thompson Valley schoolhouse in the Town of Mondovi. It numbers 73 confirmed members.
3. Bennett Valley-Norwegian Ev. Lutheran Congregation.
This congregation was organized May 23d, 1867. Its church stands in Elk Creek Valley on Section 22 Township 23 Range 10 in the Town of Dover. In the beginning it had no regular service and but little of any kind since there were at that time too few Norwegian ministers of the genuine Lutheran creed, and the con- gregation was poor. In 1867 Rev. K. Thorstensen of Dunn Co., Wis., held some services; in 1868-69 Rev. O. Valdeland of Trem- pealeau Co., until 1870; Reverends Jensen and S. Swennungsen also of Trempealeau Co. in 1871, and after that Rev. L. Sherwen of the same county regularly once a month. In 1873 this con- gregation united into one parish with the Lyster and Thompson Valley congregations with Rev. F. A. Moeller as minister, and since that time enjoys regular services every third week. A church was built in 1879, quite a pretentious affair for its situation, but subsequently the tower of it was blown down by a storm.
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4. Naples Norwegian Ev. Lutheran Congregation.
This small congregation was organized in 1877, Dec. 15. Rev. F. A. Moeller has been ever since, and is now, the pastor of it, and it belongs to the Synodal Communion of the Norwegian Evan- gelical Lutheran Church of America. It consists of 14 families only. In regard to schools connected with these congregations the reader may satisfy his curiosity in the chapter on Education. There is a Norwegian church situated in Sect. 24 of Township 24 Range 10, close to the line of Trempealeau county, belonging pro- bably to a congregation of which many inhabitants of the eastern parts of the Town of Naples may be members. This church, a large edifice, is not put down in the Atlas of Buffalo County, and may have been built since its publication. I saw it in 1882 when hunting up a schoolhouse in the same section. The pastor whose name I do not know, resided right across the line in Trempealeau County.
For the information regarding the four Norwegian congrega- tion in this county and the religious schools connected with them I am indebted to Rev. F. A. Moeller of the Lyster Norwegian church.
5. German Ev. Lutheran St. Michael's Congregation of Fountain City.
It was formed in 1860 and built its church in 1862. The members reside in and about Fountain City. There is regular service every Sunday, a sermon in the forenoon, religious instruc- tions in the afternoon. There is a Sunday and a parochial school connected with the church for the instruction of confirmands. The pastors of this congregation were Rev. Ernst Strube 1860-1874; John Hacker 1874-1881; P. B. Nommensen 1881-1887. From and after October 9th, 1887 the Rev. Augustus F. Nicolaus will be in charge of it.
6. German Ev. Lutheran Congregation of Buffalo City.
This congregation was formed in 1858, its church was built in 1860, at that time on Southwest corner of the Southeast Quarter of the Southeast Quarter of Section 6 of Township 20, Range 12 ad. joining Herman Street of the City of Buffalo. On account of sonie disagreement with the grantor of the property Mr. J. J. Mueller, the church building was removed to a lot in the city.
Regular services are held at 10 a. m. on alternate Sundays. The pastors of this church were; Rev, E, Strube 1860 to 1873,
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RELIGION.
tlers of this county. It was formed in 1887 and built its church in the same year, the dedication being performed in the last Sun- day in August 1887. It has regular services on alternate Sundays. Rev. Richard Fricke was the first pastor.
3. Evangelical Congregation in the Beef River Valley.
This congregation, of which Rev. John Leonhardy, sen., was for many years pastor de facto, consists of residents of the valleys of Beef River and its tributary creeks within the town of Alma. Its ancient place of meeting was in the schoolhouse of School Dist. No. 3 of the town of Alma. But in 1886 they determined to build a church, for which purpose they purchased land in Section 17, Township 22, Range 12, of Mr. James Bates, for a church site and a cemetery. The church, a handsome brick veneered building, stands on the southside of the Beef River road near the old house of Mr. Chauncey Bates. It was built during the summer of 1886. The first pastor was Rev. R. Fricke.
4. Ev. Reformed Congregation of Waumandee.
The first traces of this congregation reach back to 1859 or 60, but about that time the organization collapsed on account of troubles with the preacher. When it reorganized I could not tell, but sometime about 1875 Rev. Albert Merz, a native of Neften -. bach, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland, was its pastor, and a church, was built on a hill in Section 29, near the junction of the main. road up the Waumandee valley and that leading into Ulrich's Val -. ley. After the departure of Mr. Merz the congregation seems to. have become dormant.
5. Ev. Reformed Congregation in Eagle Valley.
This congregation, which I know to exist, is quite numerous, and for some time they have had a resident pastor, but at the present time I am not sure of there being one in the valley. Their meetings are held at the schoolhouse of Joint District No. 3 of the town of Cross, where I found the song books used at their devo_ tional exercises, at which some one, very often my friend Leon. hard Fried, plays the organ. In the absence of any public inform. ation in regard to this congregation I appealed to him for a history of it, but received no answer. Knowing from practical demonstra_ tion his friendly interest in my work, I can only ascribe to some untoward accident, that an answer failed to reach me. Rev. Haeuser, who for some time acted as pastor of the Reformed
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church at Alma resided for some years in Eagle Valley, near the schoolhouse named, and acted as pastor of this congregation. Whether Rev. Fricke ever did the same I could not learn. I can not now wait for further developments.
CHURCHES AT MONDOVI.
1. Methodist Episcopal Church.
Present Pastor: Rev. Thos W. Stamp. Services: Sunday 11 a. m. Sunday School 12 m., evening service 7 p. m. Tuesday class meeting 7 p. m., Wednesday 2:30 p. m. and Thursday 7 p. m. prayer meeting, Saturday 3 p. m. Bible meeting. -
Although application was made, no report was received of Rev. Mr. Stamp. From reports furnished by Rev. A. Kidder I give the following general data regarding the common history of the three churches.
Congregations of Methodists and Baptists were formed pre- vious to 1861. They held their services in the schoolhouse ac- cording to agreement among themselves and in that year the Congregationalists entered into these agreements. In 1867 the Methodists finished their church with an assistance of $150 from each of the two other congregations. In 1870 the union -estab- lished by this agreement was dissolved. But during its continu- ance it was productive of harmony and especially beneficial for the Sunday school. The congregations bad now grown too numerous not to wish for separate accommodations.
2. Baptist Church.
Present pastor, Rev. A. C. Robinson. Services: Sunday, 11 a. m. Sunday school, 12 m. On alternate Sundays evening service 8 p .. m. Prayer meetings Wednesday evenings. Although application: has been made, no report was received from Rev. A. C. Robinson. From memory and from notes of others I supply the following: Rev. B. F. Morse must be considered the father of the Baptist Congregation at Mondovi. He came in 1856, and says: "For the first ten years of my ministry my field 'of labor extended over parts of three counties, Buffalo, Pepin and Eau Claire. 'I `sup- ported myself principally by farming." The "Elder," as Mr. Morse was familiarly called, was a favorite with numerous Chris- tians of all denominations. He was highly respected for his sin- cerity and unaffected affability towards all persons: For many years he was the pastor of this church, and during his pastorate
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the congregation built a splendid new church and furnished it neatly and comfortably. On several occasions he was the speaker at agricultural fairs and always did meet expectations. For some years age and infirmity compelled him to quit the ministerial ser- vice. I regret to learn that he is about to move to the farther West, but he takes with him the best wishes of the writer among those of a host of others.
To resume the history of the church, it appears that this con- gregation, in common with that of the Congregationalists, extended assistance to the Methodists for the furnishing of their church, and that it occupied the same church with them and the Congregation- alists for about three years. According to the statement in the Buffalo County Atlas their new church was built in 1873 at a cost of $5,000. It stands at the corner of Main and Franklin streets.
3. Congregational Church.
This was in point of time the last of the congregations organ- ized at Mondovi. Its ;present pastor is Rev. Alberoni Kidder. Services: Sunday 11 a. m. and 7 p. m. Sunday school at 12 m. Tuesday class meeting 7 p. m. Wednesday prayer meeting in the evening.
With the history of this church the name of the Reverend Al- beroni A. Kidder is intimately connected, and I am enabled to give from notes furnished by him the following sketch of his life in which I introduce such points of the history of this church as he was connected with and were furnished by him.
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