McLeod County, Minnesota - Chapter 26: Rural Churches, 1917

Some of the important churches of the county are located in the rural districts. It was the intention of the compilers of this work to give a short history of each of these churches, with a review of the influence these churches have had on the social and economic life of the people in their respective communities. 'To this end, letters have been addressed to people prominently identified with the various congregations. The responses have been but few, and therefore this chapter, though containing much valuable information, does not cover the entire field. The omissions must be laid to the doors of the members of the congregations themselves and not to the publishers who have made every effort to secure the desired information,

The Evangelical Lutheran Zions Congregation, town of Lynn, was organized September 29, 1895, with 13 members as follows: Rev. F. Koehler, John Schmidt, F, Plath, C. Ewald, August Schmidt, Edward Rettmann, F. Marx, Ed. Schmidt, B. Mallow, John Plath, Carl Plath, John Poelchow, J. Vorbeck. The first services of the church were held in that year at the public school house in district 75, by Rev. F. Koehler, of Hutchinson, Minn. The church edifice, 24 x 36, was erected in the year 1895 at the center of the west side of section 15, and the dedication took place in the following winter. The parsonage, 26 x 26 x 16, was erected in 1903. The parochial school house, 20 x 28 x 12, was built in 1915 and dedicated October 31, 1915. In the last 20 years the following members have been elders and trustees: John Schmidt, F. Plath, Ed. Rettmann, E. Ewald, C. Froemming, S. Dallmann, William F. Kaelke, John Reckow, C. Plath, H. Bunke, Ed Schmidt, Jul. Sitz, William Frank, John Poelchow, R. Raether. The treasurers have been: C. Ewald, F. Plath, J. Vorbeck, F. Marx, Ed. Schmidt, John Schmidt, C. Froemming, H. Bunke, Jul. Sitz, R. Beilke. Secretaries: Hermann Schlueter (16 years), H. Bunke and G. Weindorf. The pastors of the congregation were: Rev. F. Koehler, September, 1895, to December, 1898; Rev. G. I. Frit- zke, January, 1899 to October 4, 1903, during which time the parsonage was built; Rev. Julius Frick, October 11, 1903, to June, 1914, and Rev. J. Bauer, from August 30, 1914, to the present time. The first births in the congregation were: 1895, Minne Martens; 1896, Fritz Vorbeck, Otto Schmidt, Sarah Markwardt, Emma Rettmann, Hulda Schmidt, Fritz Marx, Rosa Maahs and Carl Bunke. The members of the first confirmation class, in 1896, were: Alb. Vorbeck, Max Rettmann, Emma Plath and Ella Plath. The first marriages were (1896) : William Duesterhoeft and Hulda Rettmann; 1897, Jul. Sitz and Helena Streich; 1899, Alb. Ewald and Mathilde Griebenow. The first deaths were: 1899, William Laabs; 1901, Ernst Schmidt, Michael Schmidt, Joh. B. Streich, Joh. F. Reinke; 1904, Joh, Loek. The congregation has at present 260 members, including 160 communicant members, 50 voting members and 56 families.

The German Lutheran church in Acoma township is one of the oldest churches in MeLeod county, having organized as early as 1865 by 15 persons, both men and women. The Rev. Henry Braun, now living retired in Hutchinson, was the first pastor, remaining until 1871, in which year he accepted a call to Big Woods, Scott county. His place was filled by Rev. Johannes Hunzicker, who was pastor for about one year. The latter's successors were: Rev. Richter, two years; Rev. Carl Ruprecht, three years; then Rev. Henry Braun, who returned and had charge of the congregation for 15 years, or until 1892. The Rey. Christian Albrecht then became the pastor and has SO remained up to the present time. The original building, a Primitive structure, after a few years was found to be too Small for the congregation, and about 1869 or 1870, under Mr. Braun's first pastorate, a new church was built, 35 x 50 feet, with belfry tower 12 by 12 feet, the latter being furnished With two bells costing $430. The total cost of the building With furnishings, not including bells, was $2,300. In 1888 a ne new school house was erected, the old one, built many years before, being torn down, This new building, 24 by 40 feet in Size, cost $400, materials and labor being much cheaper then than at the present time. At the time the new church Was built there were 75 members, which number has since been Mereased to 125. On the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Society special services were held, which proved of great Interest and were largely attended.

some of the settlers of that faith, The first church was built in 1870, five miles northwest of Hutchinson, the charter members consisting of William Froemming, August Pagels, William Nass, John Schultz, H. Harmening, John Hartwig and Karl Stahl. H. HE. Linse was the pastor. The church has maintained its existence up to the present time and is now served by Rev. R. M. Mueller, who, like previous pastors of this denomination, serves also the Evangelical churches in Hutchinson city and Hassan Valley township, residing in Hutchinson.

St. Peter's Lutheran church, of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, of Missouri, Ohio, and other states, is located in Bergren township, a mile and a half west of Lester Prairie, The first services were held in the log cabin of C. Thiel, located near the present site of the church, and were presided over by the Rev. Mr. Boesche. In September, 1871, the church was organized, the charter members being: C. Schmalz, C. Thiel, W. Kuhlmann, F, Seefeldt and Aug. Seefeldt. In the following year the first building, a log structure, was erected for worship on the site of the present edifice. This was in use until 1886, when it was replaced by a more pretentious frame building. In 1898 the latter was struck by lightning and burned to the ground, but in the same year the present edifice was erected, which is a good-sized building, with belfry, and seating accommodation for 300 to 350 people. The parsonage was built in 1902. Among the prominent members of the church at the present time are Aug. Tonn, J. Froh, William F, Kuhlmann, Ernst Breyer, Eroald Breyer, Herman Quast, Arnold Hoernemann, Charles Seemann, William Machemehl, William Schmalz, H. G. Kuhlmann, William Dammann and F. Brecht. The following pastors have served the church since 1874: Rev. Mr. Ruediger, 1874 to 1886; Rev. J. Mueller, 1886 to 1899; Rev. G. Buescher, 1899 to 1912; Rev. Walter Baumhoefener, 1912 to the present time. In 1886, at the time the first frame building was erected, the congregation divided, some of the members erecting a new building near the site of the home church. This, a year or two later, they moved to the village of Lester Prairie, which was just incorporated, and it is still standing in that village, regular services being held there.

The Church of God, located in section 13, Bergen township, was organized about 1886 or earlier. The last regular pastor was Rey. Charles A. Blanchette, whose pastorate terminated in 1915, since which time services have been held only at irregular intervals.

Bergen township, was organized previous to 1872. The Rev. Mr. Dahl, of Minneapolis, serves the church ag pastor. Martin Nielson, of Plato, is director.

The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church at Brush Prairie, Bergen township, was organized March 3, 1870, by Rev. Peter Carlson, then pastor of the Swedish Lutheran church at Carver, Minn. The organization was effected in Andrew Burtman's home and the following persons joined as charter members: John Johnson and wife, Frank Nyman and wife, Carl A, Anderson and wife, Chrisoffer Anderson and wife, S. M. Sorenson and wife, Andrew Bjorkman and wife, August Stark and wite, Carl Stark and wife, Frank Stark and wife, Jonas M, Burtman and wife, Jonas Peterson, and Gustav Bjorkman, in all 22 communicant members and their children. Rev. John 8. Nelson, pastor of the Swedish Lutheran church at Watertown, Minn., was called to preach one Sunday every month until the following Synodical meeting. This call was extended and Rev, J.S. Nelson served as pastor until in the fall of 1874. Rev. Jonas Alm, pastor of the Swedish Lutheran church at Watertown succeeded Rev. J. S. Nelson in January, 1875, and served until 1883. He was suceeded by Rev. J. S. Ryding, who Served to 1885. He was succeeded by Rev. L. J. Lundquist, who was pastor until 1893. The next pastor was the Rev. P. P. Hendenstrom, who served to 1895. He was succeeded by Rey. E. J. Werner, whose pastorate terminated in 1900. Rev. P. E. Berg served from 1905 to 1906, when the congregation was dissolved. The church was built in 1873. There was never 4 sufficient number of Swedes in this locality to assure a prosberous growth of the church, and when the members one after another left the community, the congregation was dissolved. There was never any parsonage and the church had Services once a month only. The church belonged to the Augustana Synod of Swedish Lutheran denomination.

: A Bohemian Lutheran church was started at an early date in the southern part of Hale, just across the line from Rich Valley, which members of that church attended from the adjacent parts of Hale, Rich Valley, Winsted and Bergen townships, and in which services are still held.

_ About 1872 the first church (German Lutheran) was built in section 33, Helen, and services are still held here, the Rev. G. Fischer being the present pastor. Later another German Lutheran church was built, in section 2, of which the present pastor is the Rev. R. Zwintsche.

Hassan Valley, was built in 1879, under the supervision of Rev. J. Kienholz, The charter members were John Ulrich, Carl Hagen, Paul Heitz, John Luiten, H. Tasche, Carl Malchow and Fred Malchow, with their families. This church, with the one in Hutchinson city, and that in Acoma township, is served by Rev. R. M. Mueller, of Hutchinson.

The Evangelical Lutheran St. Matthaus Congregation in Penn township was founded in the year 1865, the pastor being the Rey. Fachman from Henderson, who served the congregation every four weeks. In 1867 the Rev. Nordeck was called to fill the pastorate and accepted, arriving in Penn township in December of that year. In 1868 the congregation began to erect a church building, which was completed in the year 1872. In 1873, Rev. Nordeck having resigned the pastorate, the Rev. Mr. Freese was called and served the church until 1875, when he also resigned, His successor was Rev. H. Albrecht, who served until 1879. He was followed by Rey. S. Vollmer, who resigned in 1884, the Rev, W. Mueller being his successor. In 1888, Rev. Mueller having resigned, the Rev, W. Gebhard was called and remained pastor of the church until 1891, when, on his resignation, Rev. Geo. Diemer took charge of the congregation and is still the pastor. In 1892 the congregation erected a new church building, 36 by 70 feet; a year later a parochial school house, and in 1896 a new parsonage, 30 by 34 feet. At this time (1916) over 100 families belong to the congregation,

St. Matthews Church (German Evangelical Lutheran), of Round Grove township, was organized 28 years ago, or about 1888. At first it was a preaching station organized from Rev. Geo. Diemer's congregation. The first regular pastor was the Rev. J. Vollmer, after whom came a long succession of pastors, including Rev. Wuebben, Gehrke, Rev. Schlagenhaufen, Rev. Langholz and Rev. Carl Haerle, who is the present pastor. The congregation numbers about 75 families,

A German Evangelical Lutheran church was established in section 16 over 20 years ago, the congregation numbering 13 families. Services were continued for about 18 years, after which, about four years ago, the congregation broke up, some of the members returning to older congregations, For a time the church had local pastors, being afterwards served by supplies.

The Evangelical Lutheran St. Matthaus Congregation of Round Grove township was founded by Rev. W. Mueller in 1885. In 1889 the congregation called the Rev. B. Ehrvald as pastor. Rev. K. Harle, of Stewart, is now the pastor in charge.