Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Washington County, Wisconsin

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Evangelical Lutheran

St. Peter's Congregation

Location: Town of Addison

The organization took place in 1851. Among the first members were the Rosenthal and the Kirchner brothers, Roecker, Faber, Fromm, Baumgartner, and Wernicke. 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 congregation 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.

Peace Congregation

Location: Hartford

About the year 1864 the Lutherans 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.

Christ's Congregation

Location: Jackson

Organized August 28, 1899, Most active among the first members were Fred Prochnow, Louis Bitz, Chas. Eggert, John Froehhcli, 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.

Immanuel's Congregation

Location: Town of Jackson

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, parsonage, schoolhouse, cemetery, and of twenty acres of good land, of which ten acres are wooded. Among the first members were the Bublitz, Heckendorf, Groth, Hillmann, Kurth, Fraedrich and Liesner families. The church was built in 1874. It is a noble Gothic structure of brick, with a spire eighty feet high, and can seat nearly 300 people. The congregation is a member of the German Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other states. In the years 1876- 1880 vehement 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 Milwaukee, viz: Revs. Ernest Keil, Friedrich Lochner, and Ottomar Fuerbringer. 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, Berrihard Fraedrich, and Karl Kurth; treasurer — Ferdina,nd Fraedrich. Since 1901, Rev. Victor Theodor Destinon has charge of the pastorate. He was born July 21, 1848, at Ghickstadt, Gemiany, 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.

St. Lucas's Congregation

Location: Kewaskum

It was in 1863 when this congregation was founded. Among the first members may be mentioned : 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.

Congregation to the Star of David

Location: Kirchhayn

The founders of 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 attended 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, celebrated the 50th anniversary of its organization. The present membership is no. The first pastor was Rev. A. Kindermann. The succeeding pastors were : Revs. L. Habee, F. Eppling, and Z. Stiemke. Since 1892 Rev. A. W. Keibel is administering to the congregation.

St. John's Congregation

Location: Newburg

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 pastors 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 comprises also a parsonage.

Trinity Congregation

Location: Salter

This congregation was organized February 21, 1866. Prominent among the first members were : Christian 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.

German Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Schleisingerville, Wis.

Location: Schleisingerville

The church 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 Hartford, who served the congregation in conjunction with his parish in 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 demise of Rev. Ave-Lallemant in 19 10, 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.

St. John's Congregation

Location: West Bend

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 German 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 Karsten, F. Kahl, W. Schmidt, W. Hildebrand, Joachim Niemann, John Althaus, Henry Voss, F. W. Mueller, and F. Kesting. The first pastor 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 schoolhouse was erected. The present pastor, Rev. E. Hoyer, came in 1883. Under his ministry an addition to the church was built, and the parsonage remodelled. The present trustees are: Wm. Peters, Edw. Hagner, Albert Bloedorn, John Ahlers, and Ludwig Schloemer. Until 1905 Rev. Hoyer had also charge of St. John's at Newburg. The latter congregation since is served by a resident pastor.

(St. John's)

Location: West Bend

Source: History of Washington and Ozaukee Counties, Wisconsin; Western Historical Company; 1881; pg. 406

The German Evangelical Lutheran Society was started by a few of the earliest German settlers of West Bend and Trenton. Among the first members were Carl D. Wilke, Carl, Fritz and Wilhelm Schroeder, the Schroeder family, Ludwig Ottmarand H. Treviranus. Subsequently newcomers were added to the society, among whom were Carl Karsten, F. Kahl. W. Schmidt, Job Premlia, W. Hildebrand, Fried Braumann, Joachim Nieman, John Althaus, Hen Voss, Fr. W. Mueller, F. Resting and others. Rev. Heis was the first Pastor, and remained in charge of the society till 1853. At that time the society divided, and the members from the town of Trenton built themselves a block church on Ottmar's farm, where they still continue to worship. The West Bend portion of the society continued to worship in the schoolhouse of District No. 2, till the church was built in 1864. November 16, 1858, the church was incorporated as the "German Evangelical Lutheran St. Johannes' Society, of the unaltered Augsburg Confession," Rev. II. Roell, President; Wilhelm Schmidt, Secretary. In 1859, the society joined the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Wisconsin and other States.

The Pastors have been: Rev. Heis, till 1853; Rev. Oswald, of West Bend, till the fall of 1855; Rev. Koshler, of Addison, till spring of 1858; Rev. H. Roell, who took up his residence in West Bend, where he remained till December, 1863. He was succeeded by Rev. G. Vorberg, who, on December 15, 1864, dedicated the new brick church, in which the society have ever since worshiped.

The charge of Rev. Vorberg embraced in addition to the West Bend society, the Emanuel's Church, at Trenton; St. Johannes', at Newberg, and a church in Farmington. He was succeeded by Rev. Earl Gauzewitz, in December, 1865, who remained in charge till March, 1872, when he was dismissed at his own request. June 31, 1872, Rev. Ernst Mayerhoff, the present minister, was called to the pastorate of the societies of West Bend, Newberg and Trenton. He was installed August 11, 1872.

A parochial school was established in August, 1872, and the schoolhouse was built in September, 1872. H. Denninger is the present teacher, and the scholars number about one hundred.

The church bell was dedicated September 1, 1872. The present membership of the West Bend society is 126, and the three societies above named, under the charge of the present pastor, embraces 572 souls, admissible to the Holy Supper of our Lord.