USA > Wisconsin > Washington County > Washington County, Wisconsin : past and present > Part 18
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Richfield .- St. Hubertus's Congregation .- This parish was or- ganized in 1846, and at once the erection of a log church was begun. It was a mission of St. Boniface's until 1854, when Rev. M. Pfeiffer took up his residence here. Under the ministry of Rev. Raess who
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came in 1875 the present church was built. A parochial school was added during the ministry of Rev. B. Weiher. Rev. P. Pape, who succeeded in 1892 had the tower built and the church fitted up in a more dignified way. Three societies, the Young Ladies' Society, the Ladies' Society, and the Young Men's Society exist within the con- gregation. The present priest is Rev. Ph. Wagner. St. Augustine's Congregation, also founded in 1846, is a mission of St. Hubertus's. The first church was built of logs, and was later replaced by a stone church.
St. Lawrence .- St. Lawrence's Congregation .- In 1845 the Cath- olic pioneers in this section were for the first time visited by a priest ; it was Rev. M. Heiss, who afterwards was consecrated archbishop of Milwaukee. It was Rev. Michael Obermueller who succeeded in having a church built, and Rev. F. X. Schraudenbach, the first resident priest, undertook the erection of a parochial school. Rev. Michael Deisenreiter who came in 1861 enlarged the church and provided it with an organ and two bells. During the administration of Rev. Martin Weiss, from 1865 to 1881, the present larger church, and also a parsonage, were built. His successor, Rev. N. Thill, had a new schoolhouse erected, and also provided the church with three bells. The school is taught by Sisters of St. Agnes of Fond du Lac. The societies of the congregation are: St. Lawrence's Benevolent Society for men, St. Mary's Society for married women, and St. Rose's So- ciety for young ladies. The present priest is Rev. P. Burelbach.
St. Michaels .- St. Michael's Congregation .- This congregation was founded in October, 1846, and the first church was erected in the year following under the direction of Rev. F. X. Schraudenbach. In 1853, Rev. M. Beittner had another church built. Around 1860 a parochial school was established. The present schoolhouse was built during the ministry of Rev. Karl Grobschmit who came in 1877. The teachers are Sisters of St. Francis. The present church edifice of solid brick, 45x100 feet, with a tower 130 feet high, was erected at an expense of $12,000 during the pastorate of Rev. Peter H. Welbes who succeeded in 1882. At present Rev. Jos. Beyer has charge of the congregation. In 1894 an elegant parsonage was built and in 1896 the interior of the church was decorated with fresco paintings. The societies are: St. Michael's Benevolent Society for men, the Altar Society for women and St. Rose's Society for young ladies. The Congregation of St. John of God in the town of Farmington is a mission of St. Michael's. Until 1877 it was visited by priests from Barton and Schleisingerville.
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Schleisingerville .- St. Peter's Congregation .- Prior to the organ- ization of this congregation the Catholics of Schleisingerville and vicinity were occasionally visited by missionaries who happened to come their way. The services were held in different private homes. When in 1856 a little log church had been built, the congregation was administered to by priests from St. Lawrence and Barton. These conditions lasted for nine years, until in 1865 Rev. Deisenreiter be- came the first resident priest. Rev. Peter Mutz who came in 1870 had the log church enlarged and a parsonage built. In 1892 under the ministry of Rev. Karl Grobschmit, the present church, a stately brick structure, 113x49 feet, was erected at a cost of $19,300. It was con- secrated May 1, 1893, by the late Archbishop Katzer of Milwaukee. The church has three finely carved altars, and fresco paintings. The basement contains a chapel. The tower rises to a height of 138 feet and has three bells. The schoolhouse was built during the pastorate of Rev. Paul Geyer who arrived in 1881; the parochial school is taught by Sisters of St. Francis. In 1912 an elegant parsonage cost- ing over $7,000 was erected. The societies of the congregation are : St. Mary's Society, organized in 1894; the Ladies' Society, organized in 1892; and St. Peter's Benevolent Society. The present minister is Rev. W. B. Bruecker.
West Bend .- Holy Angel's Congregation .- A remarkable thing about this congregation is that although it has been a mission for about forty-four years it is today the second largest parish in the county. As far back as 1849 the Catholics of West Bend and vicinity were visited by missionaries who said mass and administered the sacraments in private homes. In that year Rev. Beitter who was sta- tioned at St. Lawrence began to attend to the mission at West Bend. In 1853 the first church, a frame building, was completed. It was but 24x34 feet in size, and stood a block south of the present church. In 1862 a bell was purchased. It was the first church bell that rang in the village, and inspired the editor of the local paper at the time to put this in type: "What a seeming change does the first bell give a place! Many of our generous citizens recently donated something towards paying for a bell for the Catholic church; and last Saturday (Oct. 18) one from St. Louis, which cost $220 and weighs over 600 pounds, was placed in the belfry. It is rung at 6 in the morning, at noon, and at 6 in the evening July 10, 1866, the corner stone of the present church was laid. It was completed in the follow- ing year, save the steeple. The material is brick, and standing high, it is a conspicuous edifice. It was consecrated October 20, 1882. For
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many years the old church was used for a parish school. From 1870 till 1888, Rev. M. Ruckengruber of St. Mary's in Barton was the missionary, and under his direction, in 1880, the present parochial schoolhouse with dwelling rooms for the teachers was built. It cost $7,000, and has four rooms. The school has eight grades, and four teachers who are Sisters of Notre Dame. In 1882 Rev. Ruckengruber had the church repaired and a fine steeple added, which is 125 feet high. The church cost close to $20,000. When in July, 1893, Rev. Peter J. Stupfel who from his charge in Barton had administered to the congregation since 1888 became the resident priest, it ceased to be a mission. In 1894 a commodious parsonage was built at an expense of $6,000. Six societies exist within the congregation, namely: St. Peter's Benevolent Society, a branch of the Cath. Aid Society, Holy Angel's Court, C. O. F., a Ladies' Court, C. O. F., St. Anne's Society for women, and the Young Ladies' Society. The first resident priest, Rev. Stupfel, is also the present priest of the congregation, having served continually since he took the charge.
Evangelical Lutheran
Addison, Town .- St. Peter's Congregation .- The organization took place in 1851. Among the first members were the Rosenthal and the Kirchner brothers, Roecker, Faber, Fromm, Baumgartner, and Wer- nicke. The present church was erected in 1872. The ministers were in succession: Revs. Denninger, Hilbert, Thiele, Klauss, Lescow, Stephen, and Petri. The present pastor is Rev. Wm. Weber. He also has charge of Zion's Congregation in the town of Wayne, also founded in 1851. Prominent among the first members of this congre- gation were the Pamperin brothers, Bartelt, Wolf, Kerber, Benedum, Gruetzmacher, Meyer, and Schleicher. The church was built in 1862. The successive ministers were the same as above.
Hartford .- Peace Congregation .- About the year 1864 the Luth- erans of Hartford organized a congregation. Among the charter members were: E. Mueller, Albert Hacket, August Werner, L. Evert, and Louis Laubenstein. The first trustees were: Christian Haas, Fred Lamp, John Voss, Fritz Abert, and Fritz Duehring. Rev. Albert Opitz was the first pastor. In 1863 a brick church was built costing $1,500, and subsequent improvements were made to the amount of $1,000. The present church building, erected in 1897, is the third since the organization of the congregation. The enrollment is 180 families. The pastor is Rev. Adolph von Rohr.
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Jackson .- Christ's Congregation .- Organized August 28, 1899, Most active among the first members were Fred Prochnow, Louis Bitz, Chas. Eggert, John Froehlich, and H. Haufschild. The church, the first Lutheran place of worship in the village of Jackson, was built in 1900, and dedicated October 7, of the same year. The first pastor was Rev. R. Grabau. The present minister is Rev. H. F. Guse.
Jackson, Town .- Immanuel's Congregation .- The property of this congregation which was organized in 1847 is situated three miles southeast of the village of Jackson. It consists of a church, parson- age, schoolhouse, cemetery, and of twenty acres of good land, of which ten acres are wooded. Among the first members were the Bu- blitz, Heckendorf, Groth, Hillmann, Kurth, Fraedrich and Liesner families. The church was built in 1874. It is a noble Gothic struc- ture of brick, with a spire eighty feet high, and can seat nearly 300 people. The congregation is a member of the German Lutheran Sy- nod of Missouri, Ohio and other states. In the years 1876-1880 vehe- ment controversies broke out among the members of the congregation, resulting in a considerable reduction of the enrollment. But it has since rallied and gained much of its former vigor. In the first years of its existence the congregation was served by pastors from Milwau- kee, viz: Revs. Ernest Keil, Friedrich Lochner, and Ottomar Fuer- bringer. The first resident pastor was Rev. J. H. Jox ( 1858-1865) ; then came in succession Revs. Alexander Stamm, Hermann Meyer, Albert Kaemmerer, and Hermann Schmidt. During the vacancies pastors from Kirchhayn and Salters preached and administered the sacraments. The present officers are: Elders-Hermann Utech, Ernest Hillmann, and Karl Kurth; trustees-Henry Kurth, Bernhard Fraedrich, and Karl Kurth; treasurer-Ferdinand Fraedrich. Since 1901, Rev. Victor Theodor Destinon has charge of the pastorate. He was born July 21, 1848, at Glückstadt, Germany, attended German universities, and took the examination in philology in the university of Greifswalde. He came to America, and in 1884 graduated from the Concordia seminary at St. Louis, Mo.
Kewaskum .- St. Lucas's Congregation .- It was in 1863 when this congregation was founded. Among the first members may be men- tioned : John Klein, Sr., C. Meilahn, Sr., Wm. Schaefer, and Ernest Wendorf. The church was built in 1870. The membership is 80. Rev. F. Greve is the pastor, having had charge of the congregation for the past 27 years.
Kirchhayn .- Congregation to the Star of David .- The founders of
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this congregation belonged to the earliest settlers in the eastern part of the town of Jackson. The organization was perfected in 1843. Among the first members were: F. Heidtke, Joh. and G. Kressin, Rahn, G. Ziemer, Wm. Ehlke, Joh. Woldt, G. Tischer, F. Bublitz, J. Eggert, and Rusch. The first church, a log house, was built in 1844, and was also used as a schoolhouse. In 1848 the second church was built; it was likewise a log house, but larger. The third church, a stately edifice of quarry sandstone, 86x41 feet ground space, was erected in 1856. The church property covers eighty acres of fine land. Another schoolhouse was built of stone in 1866, and in 1900 a modern brick schoolhouse was erected. The parochial school is at- tended by 80 to 100 children, and since 1902 has two teachers. In 1895 a pipe organ was bought and in the same year the congregation, being one of the oldest Lutheran congregations in the state, cele- brated the 50th anniversary of its organization. The present member- ship is 110. The first pastor was Rev. A. Kindermann. The succeed- ing pastors were : Revs. L. Habee, F. Eppling, and Z. Stiemke. Since 1892 Rev. A. W. Keibel is administering to the congregation.
Newburg .- St. John's Congregation .- The organization took place April 9, 1859. Some of the first members were: John Brunns, H. Wilkens, H. Yahr, M. Geidel, F. Seidemann, J. Bloecher, F. Zinke, J. Schmidt, T. Seidemann, and G. Zinke. The church was built in 1861-1862. The congregation was a charge of the West Bend pas- tors until 1904, when Rev. W. Mahnke, who holds the ministry since, became resident pastor. In 1909 a parochial school was established, which is taught by a female teacher. The church property com- prises also a parsonage.
Salter .- Trinity Congregation .- This congregation was organized February 21, 1866. Prominent among the first members were : Chris- tian Hennig, Wilhelm Schroeder, Karl Rathke, Wilhelm Kringel, and Friedrich Gaenzer. The church was built in 1879. The congregation has a parochial school. The present minister is Rev. Ferd. Otto.
Schleisingerville .- The "German Evang. Lutheran Congregation of Schleisingerville, Wis.," was organized in 1875. The first pastor was the Rev. Albert Opitz, now deceased. Some of the first members were John Lau, Sr., John Lau, Jr., Martin Bassler, Frank Hoffmann, John Klier, G. F. Roth, Jacob Oelhafen, and August Borgmann. Until 1886, divine services were held in private houses and in a public hall. In that year a substantial brick church was erected. Soon after the organization, Rev. Opitz was succeeded by Rev. Chr. Probst of Hart- ford, who served the congregation in conjunction with his parish in
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Hartford till 1909. In that year a new parsonage was built, and Rev. F. Ave-Lallemant became the first resident pastor, the society having become independent of the sister-church at Hartford. After the de- mise of Rev. Ave-Lallemant in 1910, Rev. H. Auerswald was called to the pastorate. The congregation is in a flourishing condition; it supports a parish school, and at present numbers 60 families.
West Bend .- St. John's Congregation .- Among the first settlers of West Bend were Lutherans, and they about 1850 joined with the settlers of the same faith in the town of Trenton to organize the Ger- man Evangelical Lutheran Society. Some of the first members were Carl D. Wilke, Carl, Fritz and Wilhelm Schroeder, Ludwig Ottmer, and H. Treviranus. Others who subsequently joined were Carl Kars- ten, F. Kahl, W. Schmidt, W. Hildebrand, Joachim Niemann, John Althaus, Henry Voss, F. W. Mueller, and F. Kesting. The first pas- tor was Rev. Heis. He remained until 1853, when the congregation divided, the members in the town of Trenton building for themselves a log church on Ottmer's farm. For many years services in West Bend were held in the schoolhouse of District No. 2. November 16, 1858, the congregation was incorporated as the "German Evangelical Lutheran St. John's Society, of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession." In 1859 the society joined the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Wisconsin and other states. The first pastor who resided in West Bend was Rev. H. Roell. Under the ministry of his successor, Rev. G. Vorberg, the present handsome brick church was completed and dedicated December 15, 1864. Rev. Vorberg's charge embraced also the Emanuel's congregation at Trenton, St. John's at Newburg, and a congregation in the town of Farmington. A parochial school was established in August, 1872, and in September following the school- house was erected. The present pastor, Rev. E. Hoyer, came in 1883. Under his ministry an addition to the church was built, and the par- sonage remodelled. The present trustees are: Wm. Peters, Edw. Hagner, Albert Bloedorn, John Ahlers, and Ludwig Schloemer. Un- til 1905 Rev. Hoyer had also charge of St. John's at Newburg. The latter congregation since is served by a resident pastor.
Evangelical
Ackerville .- St. Paul's Congregation .- The imcomplete records of this congregation show that it existed in 1859; it probably was organ- ized several years before that date. Of the first members may be mentioned : Lorenz Guth, Peter Guenther, Georg Kroehler, Phil.
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Lehner, John Albrecht, and Phil. Kurtz. The first church, a log house, existed in 1862, for the records tell of repairs that became necessary in that year. The present church was built in 1874. The pastor is Rev. F. W. Krueger. He also administers to the spiritual wants of St. John's Congregation in the town of Polk. In 1852 twelve fam- ilies joined in founding that congregation. Of the first members only two, Geo. Mayer, Sen., and John Schmidt, are still living. In 1854 the first church was built of logs. The parsonage was put up in 1862; it is still existing, but is not used. In 1895 the present brick church was built. Fifteen pastors have served the congregation up to now, and it numbers 35 members.
Dheinsville .- Christ's Congregation .- As early as 1844 this congre- gation was founded. The founders were Ph. Dhein, Sr., William Wasmuth and Andrew Wetterau. They came to this country with their families in 1842, and for the first few years their chief object was to establish a home for themselves and their families. Ph. Dhein was the first one in these parts, and he was of great help to those who followed after him. He assisted the newcomers in every way, and accompanied them together with the land agents to procure land which could be had at that time for a dollar an acre, so-called "school land" for even less. A rude log schoolhouse was selected for the first meet- ing place of the pioneers, where only for three months in the year the children were taught, and that, as one of them stated, out of an old spelling book. After the three months had elapsed, they were so much older, "but no wiser." A Rev. Schmidt, with whom Mr. Dhein became acquainted, came out from Milwaukee and served the settlers with the word of God at an interval of four weeks. The news of the first religious meeting in the old schoolhouse, a mile west of the present Christ church, spread over the surrounding country, and ere long other settlers came and expressed their desire to join the sturdy Germans in their worship. Women came, carrying their babies with them, and the schoolhouse soon proved too small. The Weimars and the Meyers, and brothers of Ph. Dhein, as well as seven brothers of the Klumbs, and a large family of Kraetsches and Dixes were added to the faithful band. In the early '50s a church was put up where the Christ church now stands. Here the pioneers met to worship their God and exchange their experiences during the week. Soon afterward the present stone church was built and dedicated in 1861. After Rev. Schmidt died, Rev. Fleisher was called, and he served the people for several years. He was succeeded in 1860 by Rev. Binner. Steadily the congregation increased, and January 1, 1868, Rev. C. Ruegg of
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Madison, Wis., was selected as their pastor. They had then increased to some seventy heads of families. He served the people until June 17, 1895. Since then several pastors were called, and at present the Rev. G. Klein has charge of the ministry.
Erin, Town .- St. Paul's Congregation .- This congregation was founded in 1840, when a log church was built. Jacob Loew, Henry Loew, John Loew, Jacob Sneider, and George Hoffman were among the first members. When in 1880 Jacob Loew gave three acres of land for the site of a church and a cemetery, a new edifice was erected. The old log church was torn down.
Fillmore .- St. Martin's Congregation .- In 1861 a number of ad- herents of the Protestant creed came together to organize a congre- gation. Prominent among them were: Jak. Plaum, Gottl. Schuster, C. Bormann, C. Degnitz, E. Klessig, G. Jaehnig, and W. Beger. The first church was built in 1862. In 1891 a new substantial church was erected. The pastors who served the congregation were: Revs. Vor- berg, Gausewitz, Frank, Grunewald, Barth, and Brunn. The first two were ministers of the Lutheran Wisconsin Synod; the others, includ- ing the present pastor, Rev. H. Erber, belong to the Evangelical Synod of North America. St. John's Congregation in Silver Creek, Town Farmington, is also a charge of Rev. Erber. It was organized in the early days by English and German people as a Free Baptist association, but since 1905 it is an Evangelical congregation. Some of the first members were: Andreas Kraetsch, Ed. Woog, John Meisner, O. Plaum, C. Morgewroth, and Haentze. The year in which the church was built is not known.
Germantown, Town .- St. John's Congregation .- The church, situ- ated in Section 35, was built in the early '40s. The charter members were Straub, Herboldt, and Gilbert. The congregation is at present in a very thriving condition, and numbers between seventy and eighty families. Many pastors came and went since it was established. The present pastor is Rev. Theodore Schuh .- Zoar's Congregation, in the same town, was founded May 21, 1895, when the trustees were selected. They were: U. Huber, president; Wm. Meyer, secretary ; Peter Bast, treasurer; Val. Hoelz, Louis Boecker, and J. Bast, Sr., June 16, the place which was donated by Louis Boeker was formally dedicated as a site for the church and parsonage, and July 7, the cor- ner stone was laid. Sixteen heads of families signed the constitution, and upon taking a vote, the name of Zoar was chosen for the church. October 20, the church was dedicated. The Rev. C. Ruegg was unani-
Vol. I-14
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mously selected as pastor, and up to this time has continuously served the congregation which enjoys a steady growth.
Hartford .- St. John's Congregation .- The organization took place in January, 1874. Among the first members were : Ch. F. Lohr, John Schroeder, Adolph Spaeth, Geo. Laubenstein, Louis Laubenstein, and L. Kissel. The first church was bought from the Universalist Congre- gation. In 1907 a splendid brick church was built. Two years ago the congregation installed a fine pipe organ, half of the costs of which Mr. Andrew Carnegie paid. The present pastor is Rev. Dr. E. A. Kuhn .- Zion's Congregagtion .- Organized in 1862. Among the char- ter members were: Nick Hosig, Michael Reik, John Steiner, and An- ton Fischback. The first church was built in 1864. The present church edifice dates from 1885. The pastor is Rev. H. H. Brockhaus.
Jackson, Town .- Peace Congregation .- In 1852 a number of Ger- man settlers of the towns of Jackson and Polk founded a congrega- tion and named it "Evangelical Protestant United Congregation." A constitution was framed and adopted April 20, 1852, and Gottlieb Hammel donated the grounds for a cemetery and a church, in the northwest corner of Section 18, town of Jackson. A log church was built in the same year. The first board of directors consisted of Jacob Theurer, Fred Anspach, and Peter Theobald. Among the first mem- bers were: F. W. Nolting, Franz Martin, John Hoffmann, John Roll, Henry Dannenfelser, Fred Eberly, Dietrich Schmahl, David Jenner, Andrew Martin, Andrew Ziegler, Joseph Katz, Philipp Pfeil, Philipp Mayer, John Nauth, Peter Faber, Anton Feige, Gottlieb Schatz, Gott- lieb Rosenthal, Frederick Kraemer, John Kissinger, Franz Konrad, Christ Herman, Peter Becker, Jacob Gumm, George Koenig, Jacob Moersfelder, Adam Spuhler, Conrad Bolhalter, Peter Weckmueller, Peter Koelsch, Nikolaus Hermann, Heinrich Hembel and Jacob Jung. The incorporation took place March 20, 1859. From 1851 to 1867 the congregation was served by ministers of various denominations, Evangelical, Presbyterian, Congregational, and Episcopal, as Protes- tant pastors were scarce at the time. Each minister was engaged for but one service and received his pay after it was over. Some of the ministers were: Schmidt, Biener, Fleischer, Krantz (a carpenter who as a side line did some preaching), and Bickel. From 1867 to 1912 it was served by resident Reformed ministers. In 1878 the present church was erected. In 1882 another constitution was adopted in which the name was changed to "Evangelical Reformed Congrega- tion." The first resident pastor was Rev. Hinske. He was, in 1870, succeeded by Rev. F. P. Leich who served for 28 years. In 1904 a
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difference of opinion among the members brought on a heated denom- inational controversy which in 1912 was settled by the State Supreme Court, whereupon a number of families together with the pastor, Rev. Wm. C. Zenk who served since 1907 separated and founded a new congregation of the Evangelical Reformed creed. The others were again taken into the folds of the Evangelical church, to which the con- gregation belonged in the beginning. They have at present no regular minister.
Kewaskum .- Peace Congregation .- In 1898 this congregation was founded, and in the same year the church was built. The first officers were : Karl Doms, president; L. D. Guth, secretary ; Christ. Schaefer, Sr., treasurer. The pastors who have served were: Revs. R. Grune- wald, A. Franke, and H. Erber. The present trustees are: Christ. Schaefer, Jr., president; L. D. Guth, secretary; Aug. Schaefer, treas- urer: The congregation has an enrollment of 108 families. The pres- ent pastor is Rev. F. Mohme.
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