Early Settlers Brought Their Religion With Them

In Hanover Township

Religion played a prominent role in the lives of our early settlers. Lutheran church services in Hanover Township were begun in 1873 or 1874 by the Rev. Gottlieb Haar, a pastor and missionary for the Lutheran Church who was stationed in the town of Denison from 1872 to 1882 and in Grant Township from 1882 to 1884, In the beginning, the Rev, Haar held the services in the homes of the few Lutheran families who were then living in Hanover Township, and later he preached in the country schoolhouses. The services were delivered in High German, the language of the early churches of the community. An Evangelical Lutheran Congregation was organized in Hanover Township and St. John's Lutheran Church in the town of Charter Oak trace their beginnings.

St. Paul's Luteran Church in Hanover Township--the subject of this brief discussion--was organized in 1877 under the direction of its first pastor, the Rev. Gottlieb Haar. The first elders of the church were William Blunk and August Schultz,

A cemetery was platted on the church grounds in 1877. The first burial in the cemetery was made on February 17, 1878, the deceased laid to rest being Mrs. Friedrich (Wilhelmine) Neubaum. A Christian Day School for young children was started in 1878. While the common school subjects were taught in the English language, religion was taught for many years in the German language.

From Schleswig Leader February 21, 1974

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