USA > Wisconsin > Racine County > Racine > Racine, belle city of the lakes, and Racine County, Wisconsin : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. I > Part 33
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After the destruction of the church by fire in 1866, the society purchased lots on the corner of Main and Seventh Streets, and in July of the same year the corner-stone of a new building was laid, Bishop Kemper of Kenosha officiating.
The other Episcopal societies in Racine are: Holy Ino- cents, Owen and Washington Avenues, Rev. Charles A. Cap- well; Immanuel, 1309 North Wisconsin, Rev. R. IL. M. Baker: St. John's Collegiate (Racine College), Rev. W. F. Shero; St. Stephen's, Prospect and Northwestern Avenues, Rev. R. C. Hindley.
EVANGELICAL
The First Church of the Evangelical Association of North America in Racine was organized in 1845 by Rev. M. Hauert. The original members were as follows: John Niebergall, class leader; Barbara Niebergall, Henry Yung. J. C. Schmidt, Cather-
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ine Schmidt, II. Hess, Mary Hess, P. Herzog, J. C. Hoffman. In 1847 the congregation constructed the first church, which was a small frame, in size 25 by 30 feet. In July, 1848, the church was dedicated. The membership at this time had grown to sixteen. In 1855 the building was enlarged by twenty feet. The second house of worship was erected by the society in 1870 on the old ground on Chippewa, between Seventh and Eighth Streets, adding a half lot to the property. The church building is now numbered as 725 Park Avenue.
The pastors who have served in the pulpit of this church are, in the order of their service: Revs. Matthew Hanert, An- dreas Nicolai, George Blank, Christian Lintner, J. G. Escher, Benjamin Epley, Christoph Kopp, S. A. Tobias, G. Fleischer, JJohn Riegal, George A. Blank, Christoph Angenstein, Oswald Ragatz, Israel Kuter, Henry Inelster, August Huelster, JJ. G. Escher, Ernest Schultz, Peter Massueger, F. Kurtz, J. M. Hammeter, F. W. Iluelster, C. F. Zimmerman, C. F. Finger, J. P. Viel, J. L. Stroebel, M. Wittenwyler, C. Schneider, C. F. Reichert, 11. Uphoff, C. Schneider, L. F. Emmert, IL. E. Erffmeyer, F. W. Umbreit, W. G. Raddats and William C. Uebele.
There is also the Chiesa Evangelical Italian Church in Racine, located at 1621 Albert Street, and in charge of Rev. G. Busacca.
JEWISH
The Jewish Church is represented in Racine by a single Society, organized in the '90s. This is the Congregation Sons of Inda, under charge of Rabbi Max Aronin. The temple is located at 810 Superior Street. There are about fifty members of this society.
LUTHERAN
The First German Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Racine was organized in 1848 by Rev. John Weinmann, a native of Wurtemberg, who lost his life in the burning of the steam- ship "Austria" on September 13, 1858. For the period of one vear the society worshiped in a district school-house until the latter part of the year 1859, when the first church edifice was dedicated. At that time the congregation numbered twenty families. The first trustees were: George Wustum, C. F. Bliss, Ernst Hueffner, Henry Anthes and Michael Schulz. The church belonged to the Wisconsin Synod. This is the mother church of
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all the German Protestant Churches in the City of Racine, as all the rest of them came into existence by separation from this original church. The church is in prosperous condition, with a good membership. It is in charge of Rev. Theodore Volkert at the present time.
The German Evangelical St. Paul's congregation began as a departing body from the First German Evangelical Lutheran Church, having been organized in March, 1873. The cause of this separation dates back to the establishment of the latter church, the founders of which, in their native country, belonged partly to the Evangelical and partly to the Lutheran Churches. About fifteen members became convinced that they should sep- arate from the church, which they did. Among the number were the following: A. Kaltenschnee, C. Brach, George Hergen, Messrs. Reitenmeyer, Sr., also Jr., F. Miller, Bliss, Lattich, Rapp and Baumann. The first religious services were held by the new congregation in the court-honse, Reverend Lamprecht, of Chicago, officiating. After the church had formed a connection with the Evangelical Synod of North America, Rev. S. Weber was called as the first pastor. In 1874 a house of worship and a parsonage were built on a lot previously purchased, located on Liberty Street.
The Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Racine was organized on August 22, 1851. There had been a considerable mumber of Lutherans settled in Racine from Nor- way and a number of them had been holding religions meetings previous to the organization. They soon desired a regular for- mation and accordingly a meeting was held at the house of John Larsen, which resulted in the organization. The following trustees were elected: John S. Bangs, John Larsen and An- drew Johnson. On January 15, 1852, a certificate of organiza- tion was filed. Rev. Ole Anderson, who was present at the above meeting, was selected as the first pastor of the society. In addition to the members already named, there were the fol- lowing in the first congregation: O. I. Halstad, Helge Simonsen, Endre M. Surly, Finkel Kinkelsen, Niels Olson, K. Knudsen Bonde and K. A. Ringheim. Steps had already been taken at the organization meeting toward the erection of a church build- ing. A lot was purchased on State Street, where Fish Brothers' Wagon Works were afterward located. By 1853 a meeting
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honse had been erected thereon and was being used by the society. In the spring of 1867 the church building was moved one block east, and in 1868 an addition was made to it at a cost of $1,200.00. In 1871 Rev. Adam Dan, a native of Denmark, at the time a missionary to Palestine. Jerusalem, was called to this pastorate and in July of the same year he was ordained. After having served for about one year, several members of the congregation considered that he was preaching doctrines in op- position to the Lutheran Church and the Confession of the con- gregation. An acensation of false doctrine was made against him. He opposed this charge and a schism resulted. When the members siding with Reverend Dan claimed the right to the church property a lawsuit ensued. The case was decided De- cember 12, 1874, and the pastor was found guilty of preaching false doctrine, but the party of the church in favor of him be- ing in the majority, the court gave them the property and the original name of the congregation. The defeated members, wishing to maintain the Christian and Intheran doctrines of the founders of the congregation, organized themselves into a separate society and formed a connection with the Conference of the Norwegian-Danish Church of America in 1875. Numerous pastors of that society served the new congreation. On January 13, 1877, the society was incorporated under the name of the Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Racine, Wisconsin, and on the 25th of Marsh the new church edifice was dedicated.
The Danish Evangelical Lutheran Emmaus Church of Racine was organized August 22, 1851, with twenty-four members, mostly from Norway. Rev. O. Andrewson was the first pastor. The church was built the same year and located on State Street, between LaSalle and Marquette. In 1855 the church was en- larged and a Sunday School organized. During the years 1860-3 there came a division in the society and the church building was sold. For some time the congregation was without religious services of any kind. On August 10, 1863, thirteen members of the congregation united and repurchased the church for $525.00 and the society was reorganized as a part of the Nor- wegian Synod. The old house of worship was sold in 1876 and a new brick edifice erected on Mound Avenue, costing $9,000.00. Then followed, a short time later, the trouble over the pastor,
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Reverend Dan, which is narrated in a preceding paragraph. The departing members formed themselves into a new congregation after the court finding that Reverend Dan's adherents owned the church property, and the latter continued under Dan's pas- torate. The new Emmaus Church was dedicated January 27, 1878.
The Evangelical Lutheran St. John's Congregation of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession was organized in Racine County on June 30, 1862, and was first served by Revs. Friedrich Loch- ner and Ferdinand Steinbach. The first members of the con- gregation were: Thimotheus Moritz, August Baumann, George F. Mohn, Andreas Reukauf, Peter Stoffel, Johann Kino, George Steel, George F. Schulz, JJohann George Friedrich, Johan George Rueck, Caspar Renkauf, JJohann Shoenleben, Carl Strauss, Jacob Hagerer, Johan Denis, Johann Stecher, Johann Herchenroeder, Joseph Ritter, Johann Foertsch and Traugott Florter. Rev. W. P. Engelbert was the first pastor of this church. On July 28, 1862, the congregation concluded to erect a school building, which they also used as a house of worship until November 18, 1866, when the new church building was dedicated. Connected with the church was the Evangelical Lutheran St. John's School, which was started by the pastor. A. O. Gertenbach was the first teacher, with forty scholars. The first school-house was superseded in 1877 by a two-story brick.
The other Lutheran Churches of Racine are: The Bethesda (Norwegian), State and La Salle Streets; Church of the Atone- ment. Wright and Quincy; Ennans ( Danish), Mound Avenue and Madsen Court, Rev. C. II. Jensen; Immanuel (German), High and Superior, Rev. Oscar Samuel; Immanuel (Danish), Oak and Lafayette, Rev. Michael O. Block: Our Savior (Danish), 1200 Racine, Rev. Julius N. Bing: Trinity Evangelical Lutheran, 1330 Milwaukee Avenue, Rev. F. C. Eseman: Zion (Norwegian), 423 Randolph, Rev. O. L. Torvik.
St. Peter's German Lutheran at Waterford was organized in 1860 with about forty members and in 1884 the society erected a large stone church, costing $2,000.00. The land upon which it stands was donated by Mr. Schentzenberg and in 1866 he made a claim to the church. The congregation brought suit against him and in the same year a judgment was rendered in favor of the church. The first minister to preach at this church was Rev. Englebrecht.
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METHODIST EPISCOPAL
The first Methodist minister to arrive in Racine was Samuel Pillsbury, who, in the fall of 1836, was sent to Root River Mis- sion by the Illinois Annual Conference. After coming here he lived on the east side of Main Street, near Seventh. However, prior to this time, there were Methodists here. The first four men to settle in Racine after Gilbert Knapp located his claim in November, 1834, were Stephen Campbell, William See, Paul Kingston and Edmond Weed, all devont Methodists. They came January 2, 1835. Harrison Fay and Mr. Newton arrived about the same time and for several months these men were the only Methodists here. There were other regular ministers who preached here before the coming of Pillsbury, but the latter was known as the first appointed preacher to this charge. Mark Robinson and Mr. See preached here at intervals. Robinson hailed from Milwaukee. The first account of a camp-meeting in Racine or vicinity is in the Argus of August 15, 1838. Almost all of the early preachers were circuit riders, among them being Daniel Slauson. According to reliable authorities, the people composing the first class at Racine were: Paul Kingston and wife, William See and wife, A. Filer and wife, and Stephen Camp- bell and wife.
It is supposed that the early Methodist Society here used a small log building, with benches, as a house of worship, but this knowledge has never been confirmed. Joseph Knapp constructed a house on the west side of Main Street, near Second, as a for- warding house. The Methodists rented this building in which to hold meetings. The houses of Jonathan M. Snow and Paul Kingston were utilized previous to the erection of this build- ing. Later the meetings were held in the old schoolhouse and in 1840, when the court-house was finished, the meetings were trans- ferred there. The erection of the Pearl Street building was ac- complished in 1845; the building was of frame, many of the oak timbers having been hewn at the Rapids and sledded down the river. The land was conveyed by deed by Benjamin B. Jones and his wife, Naney, under date of September 26, 1842, to Alan- son Filer, Daniel Slanson, William Bull, Edwin W. Smith and Albert G. Knight, in consideration of $75.00 in specie, lot 6 in block 24 of the original plat of Racine, in trust, that they should
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build thereon a house of worship for the church society. The building was 36 by 52 feet in dimensions.
At a meeting of the Board of Trustees, held February 28, 1870, it was resolved to sell the old church property and ereet a new church. This was done on November 5, 1870. A lot on the corner of Main and Eighth Streets was purchased April 1, 1870, of George Q. Erskine for $3,000.00. Building operations were begun and on June 25, 1870, the corner-stone was laid. The dedication occurred July 16, 1871. The completed building cost a little less than $40,000.00. On February 5, 1882, fire destroyed the greater part of the church, but it was immediately rebuilt and rededicated February 4, 1883. The church building was torn down in July, 1913, to make way for the present $60,000.00- structure, which was dedicated October 18, 1914.
The pastors of the First Church have been, in the order of their service: Reys. Sammel Pillsbury, Otis F. Curtis, Sahon Stebbins, Leonard F. Moulthrop, Henry Whitehead. James Mitchell, Milton Bourne. G. L. S. Stuff, Julius Field, Warner Oliver, Matthew Bennett. Abram Hanson, Alexander Pope Allen, Jonathan W. Putnam, C. C. Mason, Wesson Gage Miller, Caleb D. Pillsbury, Philo S. Bennett, A. C. Manwell, J. C. Robbins, Rufus H. Stinchfield, William H. Sampson, William Page Stowe, O. J. Cowles. J. W. Carhart, George Channing Haddock, A. P. Mead, F. S. Stein, Samuel Newell Griffith, Thomas Clithero, E. G. Updike, Hemy Faville, D. C. John, John E. Farmer. Ephraim L. Eaton, J. S. Lean, Henry P. Haylett, R. K. Manaton, William Rollins, William Preston Leek, Thomas G. Cocks, and C. F. Spray.
In the spring of 1909 the Methodists living in the southwest part of town began an agitation for a church or Sunday School in that neighborhood. On March 3, 1911, they decided to con- struct a church of their own and organize an independent society. The Grange Avenue Church is the result of this move- ment. The church building was dedicated February 4, 1912. The property is valued at $13,000.00.
In the early days there was a Welsh Methodist Church with a building located on the rear of the lot at 845 Villa Street, fronting on Ninth. between Park and Villa, at 514 Ninth Street. It was a small frame structure, 25 by 30 feet, and is now located at the northeast corner of Villa and Thirteenth Streets. Shortly
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after the war, however, this church dwindled and in 1867 was joined with the Welsh Calvinistic Church.
The Union Methodist Episcopal Church, or Second Church, was the ontgrowth of a Union Sunday School Association, which was begun and maintained by members of the Methodist and other Protestant churches of the city, at the corner of North Wisconsin and St. Patrick Streets, in a building which they pur- chased May 3. 1858. The deed of conveyance of the property tells that for $300.00 Albert G. Knight and Martin Clancy, with their wives, and Eliphalet Cram, conveyed the property to the trustees of the Fourth Ward Union Sabbath School Association, namely: Moses Adams, Thomas B. Talcott, Aaron C. Lyon, John Bull, William H. Jenks and Thomas Driver. There was occasional preaching in this building and the Sunday School was maintained until the fire of the spring of 1881, when the build- ing was leveled to the ground. The Union Mission was then given in charge of the Methodist Episcopal Church. h 1881 Rev. Thomas Sharpe was appointed pastor and in the same year the new church building was erected. In 1900 Union Church and Berryville were made one assignment. The following pas- tors have served: Revs. Thomas Sharpe, William C. Renter, E. J. Symons, L. H. Nickel, A. R. Grant, Otto Anderson, Zim- mermann, E. D. Kohlsted, T. H. Downs, W. Il. Leeter, E. Kaneen, Richard A. Levin and B. W. Kramer.
The Scandinavian Methodist Church had its first local preacher. Rev. Samuel Anderson, in 1853. Prior to this time a society existed, but no record exists of its history. The regular organization occurred in 1853. By 1855 a house of worship had been completed sufficiently for the use of the society and by 1861 it was finished. It was dedicated in the fall of the year. A $10,000.00 honse of worship was constructed in 1904.
. The Colored Methodist Episcopal Church of Racine was or- ganized about 1869 by Rev. John Melone.
The German Methodist Church of Burlington was organized in 1864 with Mr. and Mrs. Fred Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Ferdinand Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Kellar, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Selke, and a few others. A small brick church was purchased from the English members and used until 1874, when a large frame church was constructed. The first pastor was Rey. Herman Reichter.
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Trinity English Lutheran
German Lutheran Immanuel
Immanuel Baptist Park Avenue Evangelical CHURCHES OF RACINE
German Lutheran St. Luke's Episcopal
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The Methodist Church at Union Grove was organized prior to 1861, the date of the building of the church. Before this meetings had been held in the old school-house. The new church was supplied by cirenit riders, but in 1863 Rov. S. Ing came to the pulpit.
The Waterford Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1872 with about twenty members. Services were held in the Congregational Church for a few months, after which a church was built. It was of frame and cost $2,500.00. The first pastor was Reverend Painter, a student from Evanston, and he was followed by Reverend Halsey.
The German Methodist Church of Waterford was organized in 1871, also with twenty members.
The Yorkville Methodist Episcopal Church was established in 1840 by a party from Cornwall, England, among them being the Shephards, Moyles, Skewes, Rowes, Hays, Loeys, Lugg's and Foxwells. A church was built in 1842. A second church was constructed in 1856 and the present brick church in 1914. Rev. William Rollins was the first pastor.
PRESBYTERIAN
The First Presbyterian Church of Racine was organized on February 13, 1839, and consisted of twenty-one members, namely: Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Cary, Mr. and Mrs. Elias S. Capron, Mr. and Mrs. Heman Rice, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin G. Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Wells, Julius Cotton, Nelson A. Walker, Joel Sage, Mrs. Sylvester Mygatt, Mrs. J. P. Hurlbut, Mrs. Cyrus Nichols, Mrs. Sophronia L. Wells, Miss Susanna Traber and Miss Sarah C. Hall. The house in which the organ- ization meeting was held was located on the west side of Main Street, between Second and Third; it was originally designed for a store, but was used as a school-house. Rev. Cyrus Nichols, who had been preaching here and in Kenosha since the fall of 1836, moderated the meeting of organization and continued to preach in the church until April of the same year, when he was succeeded by Rev. N. Kingsbury. After the latter the following pastors served the church society: Revs. C. C. Cadwell, Hiram Foote, T. M. Hopkins, Z. M. Humphrey, George M. S. Blauvelt, Hawley, J. Ambrose Wight, C. J. Hutchins, Walter S. Alexan-
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der, Daniel E. Bierce, Eli Corwin, Charles S. Nickerson, George M. Colville, C. S. Nickerson.
Preaching was early held in the court-house and when this grew too small the society met in the second story of the jail. In the fall of 1842 steps were taken toward the erection of a church building and the finished building was dedicated in Feb- ruary, 1843. The corner-stone of the second house of worship was laid May 6, 1851, and the building dedicated on June 10, 1852.
UNIVERSALIST
The First Universalist Society in Racine was organized October 2, 1842. The meeting was held at the house of Luman Parmalee and the following were present: Amaziah Stebbins, Luman Parmalee, Ransom Cole, George Perkins, Reuben Chad- wick, Asa Palmer, Thomas J. Wisner, S. II. Norris, B. R. Per- kins, Jacob Ly Brand.
With the assistance of H. H. Watson regular services were held every Sunday in the frame school house until September 6, 1846, when Rev. A. C. Barry of Fort Plain, New York, was installed as pastor. Up to JJamary, 1847, sixty-nine members had signed the constitution. The original membership of the society numbered twenty-four. The society continued to hold services in the court-house until 1851, when a church building on Market Square was erected by them, and dedicated October 9, 1852. Some of the other early pastors of this church were Revs. E. Case, D. L. Webster. B. Mason, R. G. Hamilton, E. Fitzgerald, J. S. Fall, A. C. Fish, S. W. Sutton, H. M. Sinnons, Olympia Brown Willis. Rev. A. C. Barry served several terms as pastor. Rev. John W. Carter is the present incumbent.
MISCELLANEOUS
Other church societies in Racine are: The Holland Chris- tian Reformed, at 1329 Blake, Rev. P. W. DeJonge: Church of God, 3320 Lindermam Avenue, Rev. Charles R. Miller; Penta- costal Church of the Nazarene, Washington and Hayes Avennes, Rev. Ernest J. Fleming.
CHAPTER XX CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS
THE POOR FARM - COUNTY INSANE ASYLUM - SUNNY REST SANATORIUM - HOME FOR FEEBLE-MINDED - SAINT LUKE'S HOSPITAL - SAINT MARY'S HOSPITAL -TAYLOR ORPIIAN ASYLUM - OLD LADIES' HOME - CENTRAL ASSOCIATION.
In the early settlement of Racine County, the pioneers were nearly all people of hardy constitution, blessed with good health and used to hard knocks. While all were poor, they were willing to work, and those who needed assistance usually received all that was necessary from their neighbors. Consequently, it was several years before the question of caring for the unfortunate poor became one for consideration by the county authorities. Then a home for the indigent was established in the Village of Racine, to which all the poor, resident or transient, were sent.
THE POOR FARM
This system continued until 1851, when the Board of Super. visors decided to establish a county poor farm. On September 27. 1851, William Ilut and his wife conveyed to the County of Racine a tract of eighty aeres in Section 7, Township 3, Range 21, for that purpose. The land thus purchased by the county supervisors is situated in the Town of Yorkville, about three miles north of the Village of Union Grove. Subsequently Ezra Burchard donated forty acres adjoining, giving the county a farm of 120 acres. For more than three years after the purchase of the farm the poor continued to be cared for in Racine. In Feb- ruary. 1854, the Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution to erect suitable buildings on the farm, but no appropriation for the purpose was made until the following November, when the sim of $7,500.00 was appropriated. The poor house was opened in January, 1855, for the reception of panpers. At the same time the county was divided into three districts, from each of which a commissioner was appointed to look after the management of the institution. Julius Wooster represented the eastern district; C. K. MeEachron, the middle, and N. R. Norton, the western. This system of caring for the poor contimed until 1861, when
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the people in some of the towns objected, on the ground that they were paying more than their just proportion of the cost of main- tenance. A special meeting of the Board of Supervisors was held to consider the objections, and it was decided to adopt the town system of supporting the paupers, by which each town was to pay only for the support of its own. H. D. Morse, C. J. Bryce and George Herrick were appointed poor commissioners, with instructions to employ an overseer for the farm. This provision was not carried out, however, nutil 1863, when Thomas Graham was appointed overseer.
The buildings erected in 1854 are still in use, and it can be easily imagined that they are somewhat "behind the times." In April. 1916. Walter Petersen, chairman of the Board of Su- pervisors: Edward Malone, of Waterford: Robert Mutter and 1. O. Mann, of Racine, all members of the board, were appointed a committee to visit the county asyhuns for the insane and the poor houses at Madison, Elkhorn. Janesville and Waukesha. After making their visit, they reported that the Racine asyhim for the insane was superior in completeness and efficiency to any of those visited, but "there was not a single poor house in as bad condition as that of Racine Comty - that is, from the stand- point of buildings."
Concerning the report one of the Racine newspapers said editorially: "The committee appears to be unanimous in the opinion that the two institutions should be united. There was some talk about the poor house buildings being remodeled, but when the State Board of Control made the statement that the buildings would be condemned, this idea was dropped. Addi- tional land has been bought in connection with the Racine County Asyhim and at the next meeting of the County Board no doubt favorable action will be taken for the orection of new buildings and the removal of the poor farm, thus connecting the two institutions."
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