Langlade County, Wisconsin - Chapter 28, 1922

Chapter 28

There can be no law without a lawmaker. The finite mind of man cannot explain the phenomena of nature about him. Knowing that system, general order and law, which governs nature, prevail, men of every race believe in some supreme being.

The advent of Christianity into Langlade County is co-temporary with its first settlements. As early as June, 1878, when Langlade County was a forest primeval, the Rev. Jesse Cole, a Methodist Episcopal preacher, drove through the Twin Valley townships and stopped in the little forest group of cabins, preaching the tary of State, June 26, 1882, by L. W. Bliss, W. H. Wheeler and B. F. Dorr. The church was erected on the present location and was dedicated on September 9, 1883. The dedicatory sermon was delivered by the Rev. J. D. WiUard of Appleton. The church has been remodeled and an addition placed on the south end since. Pastors thus far have been: Rev. A. D. Adams, Deacon J. Tibbits, Rev. Henry Ketchum, Rev. C. C. Camphell, Rev. William Pease, Rev. P. H. Ralph, Rev. Jesse Sarles, Rev. William Reese Dixon.

The First Congregational Church

gospel from the door of Baker's shanty. Rev. Cole had been through the vicinity in 1877 and prayed with a party of landseekers on the banks of the Spring Brook, which was then bordered with giant forest trees. Rev. Phillip St. Louis, born April 15, 1848, at Little Chute, Wisconsin, made a visit to Phlox in 1879. Much of his journeys from Menasha to Phlox and Antigo, his mission villages, were made afoot. The first established church in Langlade County was erected in Phlox, Norwood township in 1881.^

Congregational Church

1. In 1830 mass was celebrated in F. A. Deleglise's log cabin, now preserved on the library grounds. Many Antigo settlers attended mass in the old cabin.

In the summer of 1915, the interior of the church was refinished. A handsome pipe organ was installed at that time also. The parsonage is just south of the church and is a two story frame structure.

Methodist Episcopal

The Methodist Episcopal Church was erected in 1883 and on June 24, 1883, the Rev. E. L. Eaton, of Madison, dedicated the edifice. A parsonage was erected in 1895, when the second M. E. Church was erected. The Methodist church was then built in its present location. The present parsonage was erected during the pastorship of the Rev. W. A. Hall. The first M. E. Church is now used as the Polish Catholic Church.

Unity Evangelical Church The Methodist Episcopal Church

THE UXITV E\AXGELICAL CHURCH The present edifice has been in charge of Rev. Carl Xagel since July 1. 190S, church was organized in December ISOO with eighteen charter members. The parsonage and church hall are shown in this picture.

Fredrick Kaske and Phillip Wessa. The new church took for its name "Deutsche Evangelische Einigkeits Geminde" or Unity Evangelical Church. The first sonage is separated from the church by the old parsonage, now used as the Unity Church Hall. Pastor Carl Nagel has been in charge of the church since July

St. Hv.Acixth'S Catholic Church St. John'S Church

On May 2, 1880, Rev. Father St. Louis said Mass in the humble log dwelling of Frank A. Deleglise, pioneer and founder of Antigo. Father St. Louis nurtured his Antigo mission from Phlox, with a spiritual eye until in 1882, the Catholic population increased such in An- tigo that a church was erected, completion of same being in 1882. Rev. Peter Lockman succeeded Father St. Louis. He was succeeded by Rev. Father John Seubert, under whose administration the present edifice was begun in 1884, the first church having burned to the ground on September 2, 1883. The first resident pastor was Rev. A. N. Buschle, who came to Antigo in 1885. He was followed in 1886 by Father William Takken and during his first services in Antigo, the St. John's church was completed. The parsonage was also erected in 1886. Father Takken died May 5, 1893, and was succeeded by Rev. Father Conrad Saile of Wilkesbarre, Pa. Father Saile has proven a worthy successor to Father Takken. During the thirty years that Father Saile has been in charge of St. John's congregation he has seen it progress to such

St. Mary'S Catholic Church

St. Mary's Catholic Church located at the intersection of Lincoln Street and Third Avenue, was erected in September, 1901. The approximate cost of erecting the edifice was $10,000.00. The first priest was the Rev. Father Frank Kohler, who v/as followed by the Rev. Father Emanuel Kobat. He passed away while at this charge and was succeeded by the Rev. Father J. G. Vorlichek, who is still in charge of the parish.

St. Hyacinth'S Church

The parish of the St. Hyacinth Church was established on May 1, 1895. The Rev. L. Starostzick was the first appointed Pastor. He was succeeded by the Rev. Father Bieniarz, who, as assistant to the Rev. Father C. F. Saile, organized St. Hyacinth's church. Catholic organizations connected with the church are: St. Stanislaus Kostke Society, St. Hyacinth's Society and Holy Rosary Confraternity. Pastors serving the congregation thus far have been : Rev. L. Starostzick, 1895; Rev. J. C. Bieniarz, 1895-1899; Rev. Quirinas Zielinski, 1899-1907; Rev. Lad. V. Stefaniak, 1907- 1912; Rev. S. A. Warzynski, 1912-1916; Rev. T. Malkowski, 1916-1919; Rev. V. Pruc, 1919-1921; Rev. P. Sokol, 1921, who was succeeded in September, 1922 by Rev. Fr. Bemowski.

Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church

In 1883 the Rev. C. Purzner came to Antigo and organized from the little band of Lutherans in the village, the Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church. He conducted services in private residences. Rev. Purzner was followed in 1884 by the Rev. H. Daib, under whose pastorate much progress was made. In 1887, the first frame edifice was erected. The resolution calling for a structure 26x40 was adopted by the congregation in April, 1887. The first church served until 1902, when the present church was erected at a cost of approximately $5,000.00. The church was dedicated October 19, 1902, with services conducted by Rev. F. L. Karth of Synco, Rev. 0. List of Wittenberg and Rev. John Ebert of Birnamwood. The latter directed a sacred concert during the evening dedicatory services. The building committee consisted of Carl Fuss, Ferdinand Ebert and Joseph Hensel. The architect was A. F. Gruenhagen of Oshkosh, Wis.

The first parsonage was erected on Eighth Avenue, west of the church. In November, 1919, the present parsonage was purchased at a price of $5,000.00.

The Pipe Organ was installed in the church August 1, 1915, at a cost of $2,600.00. Dedicatory services were conducted by Rev. E. Englebert of Birnamwood, while an organ recital was given by Prof. H. M. Hahn of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Pastors of the church have been: Rev. C. Purzner, 1883-1884; Rev. H. Diab, 1884-1889; Rev. P. Cuechke, 1889; Rev. A. Grimm, 1891-1919; Rev. 0. Neuman, August, 1919-1922. Rev. Neuman was in Antigo as a student in 1901-1903. The Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church is located at the corner of Eighth Avenue and Lincoln Street.

First Baptist Church

The First Baptist Church Society of Antigo was organized in May, 1883. The first meeting of the society was held at the old county court house. The people of the Baptist faith held their first services in the old Fourth Ward School, the Odd Fellows, Good Templars Hall, and the old Herman Hall, until the present church was erected.

The Baptist church was dedicated on March 17, 1887, during the pastorate of the Rev. J. Staley. The church cost $5,008.73. It was completely remodeled in 1919, a stone foundation and a basement dining room being added. Pastors of the Baptist Church were as follows : Rev. W. L. Cook, Rev. J. J. Staley, Rev. A. C. Brown, Rev. J. H. Fairchild, Rev. Brinsted, Rev. Theo. Hansen, Rev. Jos. Malley, Rev. Hansen, Rev. Arthur Irving, Rev. Charles La Reau, Rev. N. F.

The First Baptist Church

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH Which was dedicated in 1887. The church was completely remodeled in 191i). The Baptist Church has been organized in Antigo since May, 1883.

Zion Evangelical Church

The Zion Evangelical Church was organized in Antigo on May 19, 1888. The organizers were: Rev. M. Ganeche, Fred Miller, John Walch, Fred Boettcher and Ferdinand Bothie. The church is located at the intersection of Seventh Avenue and Edison Street. The congregation has no resident pastor, a student pastor coming from Appleton to preach each Sunday. Records as to when permanent pastors were here are not to be found.

Episcopal Church

On January 3, 1883, the Rev. Brown, made a visit to Antigo and conducted Episcopal services. The Rev. Fathers 0. S. Prescott and L. D. Hopkins visited Antigo during 1887 to 1890, inclusive. Rev. W. R. Gardner, D. D., visited Antigo on October 11, 1883 and conducted Episcopal services in the present Polish Catholic Church. In 1885, the Rev. J. Jameson held services in a hall located on the southeast corner of Superior Street and Fifth Avenue. The Right Rev. Hobart Brown conducted his first services in Antigo in the Odd Fellows Hall. This was January 3, 1886.

The Zion Evangelical Church

The first church was a frame structure located on Milton Street near the present resider.ee of Dr. C. B. Baker. The church was moved from its first location to the corner of Sixth Avenue and Clermont Street. The Episcopal church was called St. Joseph's until 1908, when the name was changed to St. Ambrose.

The present St. Ambrose Church was built by contractor J. W. Otis and completed July 14, 1908 at a cost of $10,748.00. The corner stone was laid amid impressive ceremonies under the auspices of the Grand Lodge K. of P. on August 18, 1908, with Bishop Coadjutor Weller of Fond du Lac as the guest of honor. St. Ambrose Church is built of hard head granite in fifteenth century architectural design.

The Christian Science religion was founded by Mary Baker-Eddy, who was born in New Hampshire in 1821 and died in 1910 at Boston, Mass. The first church was established by her in 1879.

meetings in the Odd Fellows Hall before the erection of their new edifice at the corner of Superior Street and Seventh Avenue on the site of the old Fred Herman Planing Mill of pioneer Antigo history. The church was formally opened Dec. 13, 1921.

Seven Day Adventists

The Seven Day Adventists, while a small congregation, is one of the oldest religious organizations in Antigo. Elder Charles Herman, the first Sheriff of Langlade County, erected the first Seven Day Adventist Church, corner of Eighth Avenue and Superior Street. It is still standing. The edifice was sold to in Antigo in January, 1895. The original members of the church were: E. R. Horn, Mrs. Wm. Heckman, Charles Anderson, (all still residents in the county) George Doersch, John Dexheimer, Mr. Luedke and Fred Miller. First meetings were held in the old G. A. R. Hall, standing then where the Greisch building is today. The founders of the church in Antigo then held meetings at residences of members. Rooms were used in the I. O. O. F. building for five years prior to erection of the present church. The Antigo society of the church was incorporated on May 27, 1916 by W. H. Fuller, Minnie H. Palmer, Lenora Gelbke, E. F. Horn and Ernest Hirt. The Christian Scientists held their the Jewish people of Antigo in 1909. The Seven Day Adventists then erected a church in 1910 on Eighth Avenue costing $1,700.00. The church has thirty-five members at the present time. The officers are : George Stamper, Deacon; Charles Georgeson, Elder; E. A. Sage, Treasurer.

Kahaal Adaas Yesiu

The Kahaal Adaas Yesiu, (Jewish Congregation) was dissolved on August 11, 1915. The synagogue is located at the corner of Eighth Avenue and Superior Street. It was purchased from the Seven Day Adventists in 1909.