Door County, Wisconsin - Chapter 22: History of Door County Churches, 1917

Chapter 22: History of Door County Churches

The religious history of Door County begins in the year 1853. In that year a small congregation of Scandinavian Moravians, organized in Milwaukee four years previously, with its pastor settled at Ephraim. From the first Sunday in May, 1853, until the present time this congregation has almost every Sunday met together in divine worship.

About 1860 the Belgians of Union and Brussels organized into two congregations, St. Mary's and St. Michaels. Two or three years later the Methodists, Moravians and Catholics of Sturgeon Bay organized congregations and obtained local pastors.

During the next ten years very few new organizations were effected. Since 1871, however, the organization of new congregations has continued steadily until there now are fifty-three religious organizations in the county.

The people of Door County are very religious, there being no less than 13,968 church members ' out of a total population of 18,711, 'This means that more than 75 per cent of the population are affiliated with some church. These are divided as follows:

Many of the churches of Door County are of very beautiful design and very substantial workmanship. Among these may be mentioned in particular the Catholie Church in Sturgeon Bay, the Lutheran Church at Kolberg and the Catholic churches at Maplewood and Brussels and Egg Harbor.

Following is a brief synopsis of the history of each church arranged according to the age of the congregation. It was first intended to present a sketch of each congregation to be submitted by the pastor of the same but as the material submitted was too voluminous it was necessary to condense it.

1853. Organized in Milwaukee in 1849. Moved to Fort Howard in 1850. Moved to Ephraim led by its pastor, A. M. Iverson, in 1853. First church was built in 1857 and dedicated December 18, 1859. This church is still in use and is the oldest church in the county. Also the oldest church of continuous service in Northern Wisconsin. Reverend Iverson served the congregation with great fidelity for fifteen years. Was succeeded in 1864 by Rev. J. J. Groenfeldt, another of the county's most active pioneer preachers. The present pastor is Rev. Samuel Groenfeldt, a son of the above, who also serves the Sister Bay Moravian Church. The church has a membership of 111. The number of adherents is now about 200. During the summer months the church enjoys a very large patronage by summer tourists. 'The value of the church property is about ten thousand dollars.

ices. He was an ardent idealist and often taking his texts from the sublime scenery and majestic elements around him, preached rousing sermons. Quite a revival resulted with many baptisms. A church was organized "which in the beginning had most of its membership among the people of Rock Island. John Boone was chosen deacon but no permanent pastor was obtained for many years. Later a church was built on Washington Island and a resident pastor was in charge at intervals. The church has a pastor at present but 1 have been unable to obtain any information from him.

1860. This congregation began to receive regular services about 1860 from Father Edward Daems, the first priest in the Belgian settlement and the man who caused the settlement to be located in this part of Wisconsin. The same year Alexander Evrard donated three acres of land to the Diocese for the erection of a church. A small log church was erected the same year. In 1874 a new frame church was built with a parochial school attached. In 1884 a parsonage of brick was built. Up to this time the church had been served by priests from Rosiere and the Bay Settlement. The first resident priest was Rev. L. Stevnart.

On December 12, 1890, the church and school were totally destroyed by fire. A new church was built the next year which is still in use. A large parochial school building was also erected in 1894. This and the church are under the care of three sisters who live in the school building and are paid by the congregation. A new parsonage was built in 1910. "The value of all the church property is $10,000, which is a very conservative estimate. "The church has 2 membership of ninety families or 580 persons.

In 1893, at the suggestion of Rev. Alph Broens, invitation was sent to Holland to send priests of the Premonstratension or Norbertine Order, commonly called White Fathers to America, to take charge of the parishes in the Belgian settlement. The first band to arrive in America came the same year, consisting of Rev. B. H. Pennings, Rev. Lambert Broens and Brother Servatius. Reverend Pennings was appointed for St. Mary's in Union and his parish included Brussels and Gardner. In 1898 Father Pennings established a branch of the order in West De Pere. A college was built there and this is now the headquarters of the order in America. Reverend

1860. This church is located in the southern part of Brussels and is not affiliated with St. Mary's of Union but with St. Hubert's at Rosiere, 144 miles distant. It was organized about 1859 or 1860 and a small church was built. The congregation numbers thirty-five families or about two hundred persons. The present church was built in 1875. Its present value is about six thousand dollars.

1862. This congregation was organized in 1862 and for ten years was served by Father Bernier of Peshtigo who had many hard journeys across the bay and through the woods to reach his little flock. The congregation was then served by priests from Sturgeon Bay. A church was built in 1874. The first resident priest was Rev. J. O'Laughlin. This congregation is now affiliated with Sister Bay. It has a membership of 450. The church property is worth about two thousand dollars.

1863. In the winter of 1863 Elder William Stevens of Kewaunee held a series of religious meetings in Sturgeon Bay in what is now known as the C. M. Whiteside residence. As fruit of this labor a congregation of Methodists was effected and a regular pastor, Rev. B. M. Fullmer, was assigned in the fall of 1863. He also for a time served a small congregation at Fish Creek which has since been dissolved. In 1866 two lots for the site of a church were donated by Henry Schuyler, Sr., and the erection of a church was begun. The church was completed and dedicated September 13, 1868. This church had a tower 100 feet high which was later cut down. It is now used as a feed store.

A new and very substantial church building was erected in 1899 under the vigorous leadership of Rev. G. C. Carmichael. When the church was dedicated on October 22, it still had a debt of $3,300.

This debt, however, was wiped out on the day of the dedication and a balance left in the treasury. At the time of its erection it was the handsomest church on the peninsula. The congregation numbers 191 members, having about five hundred adherents. It also has a parsonage. The value of the church property is about fifteen thousand dollars. The present pastor is E. J. Symons who also serves a congregation at Jacksonport.

1864. The first members of this church were originally members of the Moravian congregation which settled at Ephraim in 1853 and received occasional visits from its pastor, Rev. A. M. Iverson. A congregation was loosely organized in 1862 but was formally organized January 80, 1864, when articles of incorporation were filed. A church building had been started in 1857 but after raising a few logs the work was discontinued. In 1864 the work on the same building was resumed and the church was completed. This building is now used for the church parlors. A new church was erected in 1880. The present value of the church, including a parsonage, is $10,000. It has about four hundred adherents. The present pastor is Rev. E. F. Helmich who also serves a congregation in the southern part of the Town of Sturgeon Bay.

1865. In the year 1865 the first Catholic settlers, though scattered over a large territory, decided to establish a parish at Sturgeon Bay. The first entry we find in the church record reads: "Paid for the place to J. Lavassor, $66." The "place" was a four acre tract in, what was then, a wilderness, but is now the flourishing little City of Sturgeon Bay. On this spot the first church, a frame building 35 by 45 feet, was erected in the year 1865. The people built this church as best they could, being only occasionally visited by priests from Kewaunee, Ahnapee and Rosiere.

In 1869 Rev. Ferdinand Stern was appointed first resident priest. He was followed by Rev. John Adelaar, January 1, 1872. January 14, 1872, the church which up to this time had been a mission was dedicated.

Vs Of St. Joseph'S Catholic Church, Sturgeon Bay Old And New Vie

He was succeeded on the 8th of November by the Rev. G. J. Pellegrin, who remained in charge until September 9, 1887, when the present pastor, Rev. Alph. Broens, took up the work. The old frame church was still doing service at that time.

In the year 1888 the parochial school was established. The brick school building, which at that time was considered quite a pretentious structure, was dedicated on the 2d day of October.

Ground was broken for the brick church, which was to replace the frame church building, on the 2d of August of the same year, and on the 3d of October the cornerstone was solemnly blessed. Work was resumed in the spring of the next year and pushed vigorously so that the church could be dedicated on the 6th of October. This church was 40 by 90 feet in dimension. The steeple was completed in 1891. In the summer of 1900 the sanctuary and sacristies were added, making the total length of the building 110 feet. A new parsonage was started in 1903 and completed in 1904.

On Easter Sunday of that year a new parish was organized, on the west side, but in spite of these additions to the church and the division of the parish, it soon became evident that a larger and safer building was becoming an absolute necessity. This important step was decided upon in December, 1907, and a building fund started for this purpose. In the fall of 1908 part of the foundation walls were built and this work was continued early in the spring of the year 1909 so that the cornerstone could be laid on the 2d of May. During this year the main auditorium was completed and the old church razed, so that all building materials could be utilized in the new building, thereby reducing the cost of the building.

On Sunday, November 28, 1909, the first services were held in the new church. Work on the interior of the sanctuary was continued during the winter months and the following year saw the entire building completed. This church, measuring 65 by 154 was dedicated November 14, 1910. It is one of the most stately and pleasing church buildings in the state.

The church property includes a block of twelve lots, five buildings and furniture and is conservatively estimated to have a present value of $100,000. The congregation numbers 300 families and there are 225 pupils in its parochial school. The present pastor is Rev. Alph. Broens who has served the church since September 9, 1887, being the dean of Door County pastors. He has written a

On September 13, 1916, the parish celebrated its golden jubilee, the entire city taking part in the celebration. Former members of the parish gathered from all parts of the country, and the grand jubilee service was graced by the presence of two bishops and fiftytwo priests.

Most of the islanders at that time were fishermen. He placed before them the project'of building a church. At once a subscription towards that end was started and all responded generously. Reverend Kitwood interested others in the project. Mr. Bert Ranney gave an eighty acre tract of land on which to build the church; Mrs. B. Franklin donated the bell; others gave material to the amount of $250 and the rest was given by the people of the island. Reverend Kitwood came back to the island in 1865, in which year the church was built. He preached in the church for several years and also visited St. Martins Island and Rock Island.

He was succeeded by a number of pastors who all, including Reverend Kitwood, were paid by the Bethel Seamen's Friends Society. They received $800 per year, the people of the island giving what they could toward this salary. Since 1876 no pastors have been sent by the society and no congregation has been organized. It has, however, been much used by visiting ministers and Bethel Church has an interesting history. Since 1888 John Malloch has regularly conducted a Sunday school in the church.

1866. The first Catholic Church in the Town of Gardner was the St. John the Baptist Church built in 1866. For the very interesting subsequent history of this church and its rival, the St. Joseph Church, see the account given in the chapter on the Belgian Settlement.

The church has a membership of eighty-two persons and its church property is worth about five hundred dollars, including the land. It is served by Rev. J. J. Gloudemans of Union, who also serves Brussels.

1868. The beginning of the German M. E. congregation dates from about 1868, when Rev. Geo. Linsenmeyer, a Colporteur, held meetings in schoolhouse of District No. 3, Nasewaupee, where the congregation was first organized as a mission charge.

On November 13, 1874, John Sorenson of Sturgeon Bay deeded to the trustees, Fred Kruger, Adam Heilman, Geo. Senft, Fred Aarlt and Chas. Schreiber, the present church site, and the building of the first church was undertaken under the direction of Rev. Geo. Dilling, then pastor.

An adjoining lot was bought in 1902 and a parsonage was built under the direction of Rev. Wm. G. Schmidt, at which time also this became a separate charge.

In April, 1911, the church was destroyed by fire, and a new one, built on the same site during the summer, was dedicated in November, 1911. The value of the church property is $15,000. The number of members at present is 65; adherents, 100.

1871. Father Ferdinand Stern of Algoma in 1871 established the Mission of "The Holy Name of Mary" in the Town of Forestville. In 1880 a church was built two miles north of Forestville and the congregation continued to be served by the priest from Algoma until 1901. In this year Rev. Joseph Hammer was appointed first resident pastor and a parsonage of brick was built the same year at Maplewood, two miles north of the old church. With remarkable energy the congregation the same year undertook to build a new church of large dimensions and beautiful design on the hill east of Maplewood, where Joseph Zettel gave four acres of land for a site. 'This church was completed and dedicated December 17, 1901, and is a most imposing edifice.

November, 1903. Under his pastorate a parochial school was opened. He was followed by Rev. L. Blum in December, 1905. The present pastor, Rev. Francis L. Geier, took charge on September 6, 1910, and has promoted the interests of the church energetically.

Clay Banks And Forestville

1872. On January 29, 1872, a congregation by the name of the Tanum Evangelical Lutheran Congregation was organized in the house of G. J. Anderson. This was the first Lutheran congregation organized in Door County and is the mother of a number of other congregations which have since been set off from the original organization. The first resident pastor was Th. Schesvold, who came in 1876. A church was built about 1874, which was replaced by a larger structure about 1882. April 13, 1883, it was decided to divide the congregation, the western half taking the name of Forest Evangelical Lutheran. About the same time another part of the congregation withdrew and organized the Bay View Norwegian Lutheran Church.

The Tanum and Forest churches have always been served by the same pastor and have a membership together of 547. Besides the two churches they also own a parsonage and a forty-acre farm used by the pastor. The value of all the church property is about twelve thousand dollars. The present pastor is Rev. O. N. Jordheim.

As these two congregations were originally one and have always been served by the same pastor in churches only 315 miles apart, they have been treated as one in this record.

1874. The history of this congregation reaches back into the days of early pioneer life. After being for some years under the spiritual care of the Rev. C. F. Keller of Rankin, Kewaunee County, a small number of German Lutherans in the year 1874 organized themselves under the name given above. The first resident pastor ` was the Rev. A. G. Doehler, who entered upon his duties in the fall of 1875. Soon after his arrival the first parsonage was built, a small frame church having been constructed some time previous. After fourteen years of service Reverend Doehler was succeeded by Rev.

Norwegian Lutheran Church, Sawyer

Aug. Luebkemann, whose pastorate also lasted fourteen years. Under his leadership in the year 1891 a new church was erected at a cost of $4,000.00. In November, 1903, Rev. G. H. Berger, the present pastor, took charge of the congregation. The year following a new parsonage was built at a cost of $2,700.00, and in 1912 the congregation erected a modern schoolhouse, the cost of site and building being about $2,400.00. The approximate value of the entire church property at the present time is $12,000. The numerical strength of the congregation is about 600 souls and 112 voting members. Believing like all true Lutherans in the basic American principle of the complete separation of church and state which excludes religion from the public school, the congregation has from the beginning maintained a parochial school for the Christian education of its children. For thirty-eight years the pastors in a self-sacrificing spirit have devoted a large portion of their time and energy to the work in this school, but since the fall of 1913 salaried teachers are being engaged for it. Besides religion all the branches of a common school are being taught. The congregation is connected with the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other states.

1874. This church was organized in 1874 by Rev. J. Rohde of Algoma who celebrated mass a few times each year. After 1876 it was a mission of Sturgeon Bay. Under Rev. E. Blume's pastorate in 1878 a church was built. The value of this church is about four thousand dollars. It has a membership of 240. The priest lives in Baileys Harbor and he also serves the church at Egg Harbor.

16. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AT SISTER BAY 1874. This church is served jointly with Baileys Harbor. The priest lives at the latter place. It has a membership of 125. 'The church property is worth $1,000. The congregation was organized in 1874 and for a long time mass was celebrated in Andrew Roeser's house.

The next year a class was organized of eight members (heads of families). A church was built the same year and a resident pastor obtained. In 1877 a parsonage was built. For a time the church enjoyed an excellent growth and in 1879 there were 100 voting members. It later declined in membership, however, having at present only twenty-five voting members or about seventy-five adherents. The value of the church property is about two thousand dollars. This church has had no less than twenty-two regularly appointed pastors. The name of the congregation is Emanuel's Church and it belongs to a German denomination whose official name is The Evangelical Association.

1875. No definite information has been gained about this congregation. It is composed of Belgian Catholics and has a membership of about two hundred. The church property is estimated to have a value of $6,500. It is served by a priest of Kewaunee County.

Ephraim

1876. Lutheran services were held at Ephraim at various times during the '60s. Mr. Peter Peterson, a former merchant of Ephraim, was the promoter of this and by his help a congregation was organized in 1876. In 1882 a church was built and also a parsonage. For many years afterward the church had resident pastors and a good membership. When the State Park lands were purchased by the state about 1910 about one-half of the congregation was compelled to move away. Since then the church has languished, having at present only about fifty adherents. It is now served by the pastor of the Ellison Bay Church. The value of the church property is about six thousand dollars.

1876. This congregation was organized in 1876 by Rev. E. Blume of Sturgeon Bay. The church was built in 1878 and stood two miles south of Egg Harbor. It was a mission of Sturgeon Bay until 1889 when it became a mission of Jacksonport. With the help of Rev. E. Hugenroth a new church was built in 1889. In 1911 a new very beautiful church was built in the Village of Egg Harbor and the old building was torn down. The value of the present church is about ten thousand dollars. The membership is about three hundred. The priest lives at Baileys Harbor and he also serves Jacksonport. à

1876. This congregation was organized September 15, 1876. 'The church was erected the same year. Rev. L. F. Huber was its first pastor. This congregation being small, has had many pastors, staying only for a year or two with the exception of Rev. W. Kuesel who served the church from 1885 to 1908, when he died at his post. The present pastor is Rev. C. F. Stubenvoll. The congregation has a voting membership of 35 and about 180 adherents. The church property is valued at about $4,000.

1876. In the winter of 1876 Elder H. W. Decker, a Seventh Day Adventist minister, held revival services in Fish Creek. His labors were successful and on May 1, 1876, thirty-five persons were baptized into the Adventist Church by immersion at the mouth of the creek. Shortly afterward a church was built. The Adventist denomination has but few resident pastors, therefore this church has had only occasional visits by traveling elders. It has a membership, including children of about thirty-five. The value of the church property is about seven hundred dollars.

1876. This church was organized in the spring of 1876 by Elder H. W. Decker. Among the most active first members of this church were Mrs. John Campbell, Mrs. Joseph Campbell, Mrs. John Leathem and Albert Templeton. John Leathem gave the congregation a lot whereon a church was soon built. The present membership is about sixty including children. The congregation has no ordained pastor, but Dr. G. F. Hilton serves as local elder. This little congregation is a very self-sacrificing one, paying a tenth of all their income to the church. Besides that they have also for some time maintained at their own expense a missionary in Korea. This year (1917) more than a thousand dollars will be raised for missionary work. The value of the church property is about one thousand dollars.

1877. The work that led to the organizing of this congregation began in the year of 1868, when A. Seaquist started a house to house Sunday school. Shortly after he was joined by John Anderson, who also preached. A regular Baptist Church consisting of eight members was organized in July, 1877, by Rev. R. P. Ekman. The congregation was without a pastor until 1881, when Rev. Chas. Wassell took up the work, which he continued for twenty-five years. Under his efficient leadership and due to his perseverance, the church experienced a steady growth.

The first church building was constructed in 1882. In 1902 the congregation had outgrown this building and an addition was built nearly doubling the seating capacity. In 1905 a parsonage was built at the cost of $1,800, A new, larger and modern church edifice was built in 1916. The same year a church building was bought at Newport, where regular services were held. The congregation has now a property worth $12,000.

From the beginning the congregation has partaken liberally in both home and foreign missions, charities and temperance work. 'The congregation has raised about forty thousand dollars for the work in the local field and elsewhere. Great emphasis has been laid on evangelism and Sunday school work. The school has a present enrollment of over two hundred. The success of this branch of the work is largely due to the efforts of Axel Anderson, who previous to the present year had served effectively as superintendent for thirty years. A grandson of the man who in 1868 began the Sunday school work, John R. Seaquist, was then elected superintendent.

Since the organization of the congregation nearly 400 members have been received. The present membership is 165 (350 adherents). The church has had four different pastors: Chas. Wassell, 1881-1906; L. J. Olson, 1907-1910; A. E. Carlson, 1910-1914. The present pastor, Erik Anderson, took up the work in 1914. Two men have gone out from the church into active Christian work, Rev. Chas. Palm, for many years one of Illinois' prominent Sunday school workers, and Rev. J. P. Erikson, now engaged in Sunday school work in the State of Washington. A third man, Prof. David E. Carlson, has prepared for the ministry, but through illness has been hindered from active work. This is one of the healthiest churches in the county and is famous for its large and excellent choir.

1877. This congregation is a mission of St. Mary's Union (viz., the pastor of Union has charge of this church). First church built in 1877 under guidance of Father Paradis who was a resident priest in Gardner. Frame building. Two acres property donated by Alexis Franc. This church was later enlarged. Church services were in charge successively of the priests of Gardner, Union and Rosiere, but for many years since 1885 has been attended to by the Union pastor.

A new church was built in 1909 for $12,000 under the present pastor, Rev. J. J. Gloudemans of Union. It is a beautiful building in gothic style. The church has a membership of 80 families or 450 persons. The value of all church property is $13,000.

1877. About 1877 a Methodist congregation was organized at Jacksonport. It has a small church valued at $500 and a membership of 39 (90 adherents). At one time it had a resident pastor but is at present affiliated with the M. E. Church in Sturgeon Bay.

1878. Zion congregation was organized July 13, 1878. The pioneer work in the congregation was done under the leadership of Rev. C. O. Olander, who was the first Swedish Lutheran pastor in Sister Bay.

"Though the congregation is composed of Swedish people, it has for many years affiliated with the Norwegian Lutheran Church, there being no other Swedish Lutheran congregation on the peninsula. They have contented themselves with services conducted by Norwegian speaking pastors.

served by Rev. J. J. Groenfeldt, late pastor of the Moravian Church. Since then they have been-served by Lutheran pastors residing at Ephraim, until the present pastor, who serves them from Ellison Bay. The congregation numbers about fifty persons. The value of the church property is about one thousand five hundred dollars.

Creek

1878. Through the energy of Mrs. Sarah Jeffcot and Mrs. L. M. Griswold an Episcopal congregation was organized in Fish Creek in 1878. An unfinished dwelling was bought and remodelled, the result being the picturesque church which still stands in the center of the village. For a time a resident pastor conducted regular services but the congregation is now dissolved. "There is now only one member left. Lately the church has again come into use by being patronized in summer time by tourists. Rev. Horatio Gates, an Episcopalian clergyman residing at Ephraim, has since 1913 conducted weekly services in the church during the months of July and August. The church property is worth $1,000.

1878. An Episcopalian congregation was organized in Sturgeon Bay in 1878. After a time it practically ceased to exist but was revived in 1913 by Rev. Horatio Gates of Ephraim, who conducts services occasionally in a hall. The congregation has no church. It numbers about twenty adherents.

1881. This congregation was organized by the Sturgeon Bay pastor, the Rev. Christian Madsen, in the house of John Johnson on the 18th day of October, 1881, with a charter membership of six. The name Shiloh Scandinavian Moravian Church was after a short discussion agreed upon and thus it was later incorporated. Besides Pastor Christian Madsen, 1881-1889; Samuel Groenfeldt, 1889-1910; Wm. H. Vogler, 1910-1914; Edward F. Helmich, 1914-, served the church. The total membership is 118. The congregation owns a neat church building, which is valued at $3,000.

1881. The organization of this church dates back to 1881 and was brought about by the Rev. Aug. Doehler of Forestville, Wis., but the incorporation was delayed until 1887. 'The church was not built until 1888. At the present time, 1917, the congregation numbers 42 families, about 200 persons. It is served by the pastor of the Sawyer Lutheran Church, Rev. Fred Schuman. The church property is worth $4,000.

1882. Hope Congregational Church of Sturgeon Bay was organized as the "Hope Congregation" in Lawrence Hall, April 4, 1881. In August, 1883, the name of Hope Congregational Church was adopted as the society now passed under the care of the Congregational denomination. The nine charter members were: Mrs. Anna Packard, Mrs. Aimee B. Smith, Mrs. Ellen Thorp, Mrs. Anna Allen, Mrs. Russell, Mrs. Mary Prescott, Miss Louise Prescott, Dr. J. G. Hendricks, and Rev. G. W. Prescott.

Special mention should be made of the fact that the real beginning of the organization was in 1879, when Mrs. M. A. Schuyler, who was then a resident of Sturgeon Bay, applied in person to the church headquarters in Chicago asking to have a missionary sent here. As a result of this appeal Rev. G. W. Prescott was sent here and the early suecess of the church is largely attributable to his efforts and unselfish service, he having worked in the bank so that his salary as pastor might go to the building of a new church. The lot on which the church was built was given by the Sturgeon Bay Lumber Company, of which A. W. Lawrence and C. M. Charnley were members. The building was completed in 1888 and the Rev. Mr. Prescott preached his first sermon in the new church the first Sunday in December.

The cost of the original church was about $9,000. Improvements have been made making the total cost of the building about $12,000. A very good manse was built during the pastorate of Rev. Lucien C. Osgood at a cost of $3,000 and a fine church organ purchased. The church has 350 adherents. The value of all the church property is estimated at $17,000.

The church has had a steady healthy growth and late in October, 1916, Rev. Joseph S. Morris after 51% years of successful work in the Grace Church of Two Rivers, accepted the call of the Hope Congregational Church and the work continues to grow and broaden.

1882. The Church of the Holy Nativity, Jacksonport, was started in August, 1882, by the Rev. W. R. Gardner, who was the general missionary of the Diocese of Fond du Lac. The congregation consisted of people who came from Canada. The church was built in 1886, the first service being held July 25th of that year. 'The Rev. O. S. Prescott preached the sermon.

'The Rev. W. R. Gardner had charge of the mission up to October, 1886. The Rev. E. R. Sweetland succeeded him, and remained until 1889. In August, 1889, the Rev. Joseph Jameson became the vicar of the mission and has been in charge since. The church and farm are worth about six thousand dollars. There are about forty communicants and about eighty adherents.

1883. The Bay View Lutheran congregation was organized October 30, 1883. Rev. C. F. Magelsen, of Manitowoc, made regular visits to the settlement at Clay Banks and visited the Norwegian Lutherans in the towns of Sturgeon Bay and Nasewaupee. Rev. L. M. Bjorn, his predecessor, had begun the work, but no organization was attempted in Sawyer until October 30, 1883. Nine families were then enrolled.

In the year 1903 a number of families with the consent of the mother church organized a separate congregation, five miles northwest of Sawyer in what is now called the Hainesville district of the Town of Nasewaupee. The sixteen families located four to six miles south of Sawyer, still form a part of the Bay View Church, but have erected their own house of worship, which is known as the Mount Olive Church. In 1917 the Bay View Congregation numbers some 55 families, 350 persons. The first church was built in 1885 at a cost of $1,200. That church was found too small, and a modern structure was built in 1903 at a cost of $7,379.94.

'The Mount Olive Church belonging to the same congregation was built in 1903 at a cost of $1,530. The present pastor, Rev. E. 'T. Rogne, has served the church since the beginning of 1911. A parsonage, located on the Little Sturgeon Road, was built in 1900 at an approximate cost of one thousand six hundred and fifty dollars. The Bay View Church has three active ladies aids societies which have done much to defray the heavy expenses.

1883. In 1883 Miss Mary Adell, a Quaker evangelist came to Sawyer and held a series of meetings. Some of the residents there, notably Ole Johnson and Nels Torstenson, were Quakers from Stavanger, Norway, and were very anxious to assist in this work. As a result of her labors eight or ten families accepted the Quaker faith and organized themselves into a congregation. The first church was built in 1885 and Josiah Hoskett, a local carpenter, was their religious leader. He later became a recognized minister of the gospel. In 1902 an imposing church of dressed stone was built. This was accomplished largely through the generosity of Messrs. Termanson and Jenson, the owners of the Sturgeon Bay Stone Quarry, who gave the necessary stone to the church. The church has had a number of pastors staying but a brief time. Among them can be mentioned Rev. Q. B. Stanfield through whose energy the new church was built. The present value of the church property is $7,500. It has about seventy-five adherents.

The parish was organized by Rev. E. Blume, pastor of St. Joseph's Church, Sturgeon Bay, in the year 1884. In the same year the Rev. E. Blume was transferred to another charge, and the Rev.

G. Pelligrin was appointed his successor. The congregation was incorpoarted under the state laws of Wisconsin with Mr. Jos. Nuesse as secretary and Mr. John Meyer as treasurer. In the fall of 1885 the church was completed and blessed.

In September, 1887, the Rev. A. Broens was appointed pastor of Sturgeon Bay. He continued to visit Sevastopol as mission until the spring of 1889 when the Rev. B. Hugenroth was appointed pastor of the missions of the peninsula with residence at Jacksonport. In 1889 the rectory was erected at Sevastopol and Father Hugenroth changed his residence to Sevastopol, attending Baileys Harbor, Jacksonport, Egg Harbor, and Sister Bay as missions.

Since the time of Rev. B. Hugenroth the following priests served as pastor of SS. Peter and Paul's Church: Rev. Fathers F. X. Steinbrecher; J. Hennes; F. Kroll; G. Brunner; C. Ulrich; L. Van de Castle; J. Diss, O. M. I.; M. Jaekels.

Under the pastorship of Rev. L. Van de Castle the church was enlarged and improved. The value of the church property is about seventeen thousand dollars.

'The congregation when organized counted some 60 families. At present its membership numbers 110 (about 600 adherents). 'The parochial school is in connection with St. Aloysius Institute as described in the following article.

St. Aloysius Institute

The beautiful school alongside of SS. Peter and Paul's Church is known as St. Aloysius Institute. It was built under the direction of Rev. B. Hugenroth in 1892. The object of the institution was to have a parish school and at the same time to take in children as boarders, who lived in the distant missions, in order to pive them a Christian education. 5

The institution is at present in charge of four Sisters of St. Francis of the Convent of Bay Settlement. The pastor of the parish is chaplain of the institution. The institute has accommodations for fifty boarders and fifty day-scholars.

The school is furnished with the best modern equipment. It has individual chair desks; steam heating system; electric light, ete. The institution has two organs and two pianos, to which the music scholars have free access. In the past year 16 per cent of the total number of school children studied music.

1885. Some time in 1880 a spiritualistic medium from Green Bay by the name of J. B. Everts, began to hold meetings and seances in the house of his brother-in-law, Mr. J. G. Dalemont. A number of proselytes were won to the faith, particularly in the year 1885 when a dramatic situation prompted about forty families to leave the Catholic Church and join faith with the Spiritualists. The events leading up to this wholesale defection are told in the chapter on the Belgian Settlement. A church was built in 1888. One of the converts, Mr. Alexander Dewarzegar, discovered within himself supernatural healing powers and became recognized as a medium of intercourse with the spirit world. He was therefore chosen to occupy the position of pastor. The congregation is also frequently visited by traveling mediums of great repute able in various ways to pierce the veil of the great unknown. 'The church property is worth about $1,500. There are about 300 local adherents.

1885. The history of Trinity Lutheran Church dates back to Sunday, February 1, 1885. The congregation was organized that day. Both Swedish and Norwegian people were interested in this work and took active part. Today the two nationalities are about equally divided. Some years ago a number of German families were also joined to the congregation. These now represent nearly onethird of the present membership.

'The location of the church building was determined when John Ellison donated a tract of land to the congregation on which to build their church. Preparations for building were well under way the first year. In the summer of 1886 the work was completed for a place of worship.

The congregation has enjoyed a steady growth from year to year. At the present time the membership is composed of fifty-five families, numbering about three hundred persons.

Eight pastors have served in the congregation. These are the Reverends Olson, Juhlin, Lawrence, Kennell, Kluxdahl, Juvland, Fjeldsgaard, and Mason.

1886. The earliest date in the history of St. Paul Lutheran Church is January 26, 1886. On that day the families living in the Juddville distriet assembled in the Juddville schoolhouse for the purpose of organizing a Lutheran congregation. The congregation was given the name of the great apostle, St. Paul.

'The first officers of the congregation were elected as follows: Secretary, Henry Olson; trustees: Otto Anderson, Ole Haltug, and Henry Olson.

From its beginning up to the year 1900, the congregation continued to use the schoolhouse as a gathering place, having as yet no church edifice. The present church building was erected in the year 1900. The ground on which it stands, was donated to the congregation by Otto Anderson. On May 11th the same year, the cornerstone was laid. This service was conducted by Rev. J. C. Reinertson.

The Ladies Aid of the congregation deserves mention for their substantial support in the days the church was built. A good proportion of the funds expended were contributed by them.

Nine pastors have served St. Paul congregation. "Their names are given in the order in which they have served: Olson, Wiebel, Juhlin, Kennell, Kluxdahl, Lawrence, Juvland, Fjeldsgaard, and Mason.

The church at the present time is bilingual, with alternating Norwegian and English services. The membership is made up of Norwegian, Swedish and German people and numbers about seventy-five persons. The value of the church property is $2,000.

1886. Lutheran missionaries visited this section at an early date, but no congregation was organized until 1886, when the Rev. Christian Doehler of Algoma, Wis. united the Lutherans and built a small log church. In 1888 A. Vogt, the first resident pastor arrived, but remained only one year, after which this field was served by the pastor of the Sawyer Church. In 1892 the congregation joined the Parish of Jacksonport and Baileys Harbor, but made arrange- ments to be served again by the pastor of the Sawyer Church in 1901. A new and modern church building was erected in 1904 on an imposing hill and is visible for miles around. At the present time, 1917, the congregation numbers 66 families, 350 persons. The value of the church property is $4,000.

1888. In 1888 the Church of the Precious Blood was organized by the Reverend Villatte. He was a French clergyman who for some years previously conducted an energetic proselyting campaign among the Belgian Catholics of Gardner. By financial assistance from sympathizers in the East a large church was built, also a guild hall and a manse. It was also Mr. Villatte's plan to build a college on the grounds but this plan was not realized, as Mr. Villatte was shortly afterward excommunicated for usurping a bishop's title. Since then the church has languished but still has a resident vicar, the Rev. Louis Lops. The value of the church property is $10,000. It has thirty communicant members.

1888. The Germans of Jacksonport are largely from Thuringen, Saxony, the birthplace of Luther, and therefore took very kindly to the preaching of the Lutheran faith. 'This was first done by a theological student by the name of Artachek. He effected an organization in 1888 which took the name of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church. For some years the congregation was served by Rev. J. Kaiser of Bay View. Through his energy a substantial church was built in 1889 in West Jacksonport. In 1892 Rev. Emanuel Brackebusch arrived and became the first resident pastor. He served the congregation very faithfully for ten years, preaching in Baileys Harbor, Egg Harbor, Jacksonport, Whitefish Bay and Sevastopol. He was succeeded in 1902 by Rev. John Dowidat. In this year a building was bought in Jacksonport for a parsonage. Following him came Rev. F. Wendt in 1905, Rev. Ed Bardtke in 1910 and Rev. E. F. Sterz, the present pastor, in 1917. The congregation numbers 85 families (500 adherents). The church property is valued at $5,500. The pastors of this church also serve the Lutheran congregation at Baileys Harbor. They also conduct a school for the religious instruction of the children in both charges.

1891. This congregation was organized in 1891 by Dr. J. Kaiser, after a number of the neighboring Lutheran pastors had ministered to the spiritual wants of the scattered Lutheran settlers. Services were held in private houses, until the growing numbers made it necessary to provide for a larger meeting-place. The Norwegian Lutherans offered their German brethren the use of their church until the Germans were in condition to provide for a church of their own. The congregation was incorporated with eight families, the first board of trustees being Louis Branning, Sr., Herman Klitzke, and Jacob Wiesner, Sr. The church was built and dedicated in the fall of the year 1891. The growth of the congregation was slow but steady, numbering at the present time, 1917, 103 families (500 persons). It is affiliated with the Ev. Luth. Synod of Wisconsin and other states. The parsonage was erected in 1896.

The following pastors have served this congregation: J. Kaiser, 1891-1892; M. Kionka, 1893-1898; E. Schulze, 1899-1904; Fred Schumann since 1904. The twenty-fifth anniversary in 1916 brought the largest crowd of people to Sawyer ever seen here.

In order to provide more room for the growing congregation an addition to the building and a basement with central heat have been decided on and will be carried out this year, 1917. The church property is valued at $10,000. `

1892. The Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 1892 with Rev. Emanuel Brackebusch of Jacksonport as first pastor. This congregation has been served by the Lutheran pastors of Jacksonport since then. A church was built in 1894. The congregation numbers about two hundred adherents. The present pastor, Rev. E. F. Sterz, has also opened an English Lutheran field in and around Baileys Harbor.

for sale, a number of members and friends united to purchase the building. Twenty-three members of the Ephraim congregation living in closer vicinity to Sister Bay were transferred to this newly organized congregation. In 1915 during the pastorate of Rev. Samuel Groenfeldt the Moravian Church in Liberty Grove which had not been in use for several years was added to the little log church, forming the main audience room with the log addition as a wing part, and a small kitchen. This improvement, which represented an outlay of about one thousand dollars, including a gift of $475 received from the church extension board, was provided for practically within a year. The church is affiliated wtih the Ephraim charge, and the outlook for growth is encouraging. The property is valued at least at three thousand dollars. This charge has been served by the Ephraim Moravian pastors since its organization. The congregation reported a membership of 62 in 1916 (about 150 adherents).

1903. In 1908 it was decided to create a separate congregation out of that part of the Bay View Lutheran Church (Norwegian) which lived in Hainesville. This new congregation took the name * of the Hainesville Evangelical Lutheran Church and in 1904 built a neat little brick church at a cost of $4,000. Fifteen families, all living within a radius of a mile from the church, are members of the congregation. The church has been served by the Revs. T. T. Ove, Edward Hegland, L. L. Masted and E. T. Rogne - all pastors of the Bay View Lutheran Church with which it continues to be affiliated. The church has ninety-one adherents.

1904. This congregation, originally a part of St. Joseph's in Sturgeon Bay, was organized as a separate corporation in March, 1904. A church and parsonage were built in 1905. "This church draws its membership from Sawyer, Clay Banks and Nasewaupee and has a membership of 112 families or about 650 adherents. Its incorporated name is the Church of Corpus Christi. Its pastors were: Rev. Fr. Peters, 1904-1907; Rev. C. Hugo, 1907-1908; and Rev. H. Pfeifer, 1908 to the present time. A parochial school is conducted in the basement of the church five days in the week. It

1905. In 1905 several families in Gibraltar previously belonging to the German Evangelical Church in Liberty Grove (see number 17) organized themselves into a separate congregation which took the name of Zion Evangelical Church. A church was erected the same year at a cost of $1,200. The church has a voting membership of twenty-six and about fifty adherents. It has been served by the pastors of the parent church.

1908. This congregation was originally a part of the Lutheran Parish of Forestville. The congregation had a separate church building known as the "little brown church" west of Forestville. Just a mile away in the Village of Forestville was later built the present church of St. Peters congregation. It was therefore decided to build a new church near Kolberg, about six miles northwest of Forestville and by so doing a new congregation was practically created. This was done in 1908 and a very beautiful church was erected under the guidance of the first pastor, Rev. F. Eppling of Algoma. He was succeeded in 1913 by the present pastor, Rev. Edmund Hinnental. The value of the church is about $15,000. There is also a parsonage worth about $5,000. There are about 300 adherents.

1915. The Baptist Church of Fish Creek is principally the result of the Sunday school work devotedly carried on by Mrs. C. A. Lundberg for more than twenty years. Through her initiative a small band of Baptists - all women - was gathered together and organized into church fellowship in February, 1915. Although the little congregation numbers only eleven members, they resolutely went to work to build a church. In this work, also, Mrs. Lundberg was the tireless leader. The church was built in the summer of 1917 and was dedicated Sunday, September 2, 1917. This very attractive church was built at a cost of $3,450, of which all but $200 was paid before dedication. The church has not yet had a pastor and the entire work

In Egg Harbor a Union Church has been built (in 1917) and almost completed, due chiefly to the energetic labors of Mrs. H. F. Eames. No congregation has been organized but a Sunday school is maintained. .

Besides the churches and congregations above described there have been several other congregations that have died out. One is the German Baptist Church near Kolberg. Its church building is still standing. Another is the Methodist Church on Washington Island which until recently had a resident pastor. The Free Baptists near Sister Bay and the German Moravians of Liberty Grove have both disbanded and their buildings have been used in the construction of the Scandinavian Moravian Church near Sister Bay. The German Moravian congregation of Jacksonport has like its affiljated sister congregation in Liberty Grove also ceased to exist. There is also a German Evangelical Church (also called the German Methodist) in Jacksonport which is practically extinct. It has a church which was built in 1886 and is at intervals used by the pastor from Liberty Grove.