USA > Wisconsin > Buffalo County > History of Buffalo County, Wisconsin > Part 39
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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 Waumandee ..
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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by the priest residing at Fountain City. A chapel had been built some little distance above the present one, but was probably re- moved down to near the place of the latter in 1867, the tinie of Rev. Lawrence Spitzlberger's pastorate, and of the building of the manse or parsonage house attached to the church. Considering that Rev. Spitzlberger during his pastorate 1867 to 1869 also built the churches at Alma and Buffalo City in 1868, and was at one time pastor of the Fountain City church, it is not quite clear, whether he was the first resident priest in charge of this church, or it was simply a "filiale" to that of Fountain City. But after removal the old church was enlarged by being made longer, and in 1877 under the pastorate of Rev. L. Lay, a new, and for the situation splendid, church of brick was erected. Services are re- gularly held three times a month, the fourth Sunday being ap- pointed for service at the church in Montana. There is a parochial school attached to the church, and accommodations for boarding some of the pupils are also provided. The number of families belonging to the congregation has not been reported to me. The following Reverend gentlemen were in charge of this church and congregation: Rev. L. Spitzlberger, 1867-1869; S. Seif for two months in 1869; L. Lay, 1869-1878; Theodore Beau, 1878-1880; Ig. Schaller, 1880-1881; L. Lay, 1881-1883; Seb. Rohr, 1883- 1887; Rev. J. M. Uiker being the present incumbent.
5. St. Peter's Church in Montana.
The church is situated on the ridge between the valley of the Waumandee and that of the Trempealeau, in Sect. 11 of Township 22 Range 10. The people from these parts used to attend church at the Waumandee, but the distance, 10-12 miles was too great, and in 1874 they formed a congregation of their own, building a nice brick church in 1878. Church and congregation arc attended from Waumandee, regular service being held once a month.
For the information regarding the churches in Waumandee and Montana I am indebted to Rev. J. M. Uiker of Waumandee.
6. St. Joseph's Congregation in Glencoe.
This congregation was formed 30 years ago and a church, if I am not mistaken, built somewhere near the Trempealeau River about 2-3 miles from the present one, which is situated on a nice level space between the residences of Henry Wuertemberger and Geo. Cowie, and was built about 20 years ago. Service is held
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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 theni 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 menibers 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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Rev. J. Koehler 1873 to 1876, Rev. B. P. Nommensen 1876-1883, Rev. J. Freund since 1883. He is the present pastor, and to him I am indebted for the information given about this church and the one next in number.
7. German Ev. Lutheran Church in Lincoln.
The time of organizing this congregation is unknown to me, but the church was built in 1878. It stands on the east side of the road going up the valley of the little Waumandee, on the North- west Quarter of the Northwest Quarter of Section 7, Township 21 Range 11. The first pastor was Rev. P. B. Nommensen and its present is Rev. J. Freund, residing at Buffalo City.
8. German Ev. Lutheran Congregation or Church in Waumandee.
Of this congregation and its church if it possesses one, I know nothing, but Rev. J. Freund named it as one of the charges con- nected with the pastorate of Buffalo City.
9. German Ev. Lutheran Congregation of Glencoe.
This congregation exists now for a long time, as I remember having heard of it perhaps twenty years ago. Its church stands in Sect. 36 Township 21 Range 10, about half a mile east of the Catholic church. I have never yet learned of the name of any pastor in charge of this congaegation, and this must excuse my neglect to make inquiries of the present one.
REFORMED CHURCHES.
1. St. Paul's Ev. Reformed Church at Alma.
The congregation for this church was formed in 1859 under the leadership of Christian Lehmann, gun-smith. They finally felt strong enough in 1871 to build a church, which is situated in the lower part of the city. During 1886 the congregation built a new and handsome tower to the church and furnished it with a bell. The services in this church were not always regular, since there were not always resident pastors. A Sunday-school is con- nected with it. At present and for some time past regular services were held twice a month. The resident pastors were: Reverends Kenter, Huecker, Ziegler and Fuehrer; Reverends Haeusser and R. Fricke were non-residents, and Rev. Albert Maerz officiated at intermittent times during his stay in Waumandee.
2. St. John's Ev. Reformed Church at Fountain City.
This is a young congregation, although it numbers in its ranks some of my oldest friends, who are also of the earliest set-
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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 had 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 iny 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.
Rev. Alberoni A. Kidder was born at Wordsboro, Vt., Feb. 13, 1814, as the youngest son of Nathaniel Kidder, a farmer. He lived at home until 22 years of age, and had but limited opportun- ities for education. He taught school when 19 years of age, mar- ried in 1836 and began to study for the ministry in 1844, received license to preach in 1847, was pastor at Alexander, Genesseo Co., N. Y., and at Friendship, N. Y., for five years. Came to Eau Claire 1856 and organized the first Congregational Church in that city, being its pastor for six years. In 1861 he visited Mondovi and on the 17th of August organized the Congregational church of that place, of which Messrs. Thomas Dillon, Samuel Newton and wife, Luther Eager and wife, Mrs. Susan B. and Miss Hannah A. Waste were the first members. Public services were held on the following day, Sunday, August 18th, in the schoolhouse. In this school-
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house all three congregations used to meet as related above. For about six months Mr. Kidder held services on the Sundays allotted to his congregation until in Nov. 1862, Rev. J. M. Hayes, then at Durand, was commissioned by the Am. Home Missionary Society to take charge. Mr. Hayes resigned in 1864, Rev. Kidder resumed charge in 1866. The Methodists having with the assist- ance of $150 from this and the same amount from the Baptist Con- gregation, finished their church, the Congregationalists occupied it. for the first time on January 11th, 1868, Mr. Duty B. Allen acting as clerk. In 1869 the following persons were received into mem- bership: Misses Mary A. Fleming, Lizzie Rowe, Anna and Ida Hunter, Bertie Neal, and Anna M. Allen. Mrs. Martha Barrows, Messrs. Hiram Barrows, Joseph Fleming, Chas. F. Eager and F. H. Dillon. In 1870, the congregation built its church which was dedicated on the 30th of December of the same year. The follow- ing gentlemen were pastors after that: Rev. Kidder for six months, Rev. Wm. Lemon for three months and Rev. S. P. Wil- der for three months; Rev. Wm. Gordon 1872, Rev. J. S. Norris 1873, Rev. R. R. Radcliff 1875, Rev. W. B. Williams 1877 to 1880, Rev. A. Doremus 1881 to 83. From 1883 to 85 the church had no pastor, but since that time Rev. Kidder has acted as such.
Rev. Kidder preached at Durand from 1873 until 1883. He now resides at Eau Claire 324 Lake Street.
I hope that other churches in Mondovi and elsewhere will not accuse me of partiality for having given such an extended history of the Congregational Church and its spiritual founder. I do not want to excuse myselfabout it, but wish to express my thanks to Rev. Mr. Kidder for the materials furnished to the same, only re- gretting that I was not so liberally supplied with similar materials by some other reverend gentlemen.
UNITARIAN CHURCH AT GILMANTON.
The corporate title of this church is "Unitarian Society of Gilmanton." Its church edifice was completed in 1886, pursuant to the organization of the society in January of the same year. Its pastor is Rev. N. C. Earl. Regular services every Sunday at 11 p. m. The Gilmanton Temperance Union is connected with the Church. Rev. Mr. Earl, says in his report: The church is a Union Church, built by the people, and free for all dominations.
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The Methodists have held services in it once in two weeks for mearly a year."
CHURCHES, CONGREGATIONS AND RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES IN MODENA.
Although it would have been exceedingly gratifying to me to receive information of religious establishments in this town, I could not, in the absence of any public arrangements, apply for official information to any one. What I here state must, there- fore, be considered as true, only as far as my casual information extends, and any error should be charged rather to the want of authentic sources of information than to any other cause.
. The Norwegian part of the population belong all to the same religious denomination, of whose churches we spoke above. The (German part seem to be satisfied with private religious meetings and exercises of a Christian Evangelical character, but they have no close congregation and no church edifice. The American fam- ilies belong, as usual, to different denominations, of which the Methodist Episcopal seems the most numerous. For some time a preacher of this denomination was resident in the town. Of the incumbents of this pastorate I remember only a few by name, as Rev. John Holt, Rev. Massce, Rev. Yokom etc. Noticing that Rev. Nott had held religious services in Modena, I supposed that at present, or for some time past, no resident pastor had been ap- pointed for Modena, but I have learned from inquiry that there is a Modena Circuit for which at a late meeting of the West Wiscon- sin Conference Rev. Robert Smith has been appointed as the pas- tor of this circuit, and that he resides at Misha Mokwa. Possibly the towns of Maxville, Nelson and Canton are included in this cir- cuit. .
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