ST. PETER'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF OCHEYEDAN.

This church was organized and a parsonage built in 1901. The presiding pastor is E. Fiene, who is also principal of the parochial school. The trustees are C. E. Miller, A. Menkens and V. Walther. The vestrymen are John Rusche, Herman Wassmann and August Arends and C. E. Miller. Mr. Miller is president and Mr. Arends secretary. The church has twenty-two voting members and one hundred and ten communicating members.

The preaching is in German every Sabbath with the exception that once in every two months the sermon is in English. The pastor is the principal and teacher of the school of about twenty-five pupils. The course of study includes the Lutheran religion, bible history, German language and common school branches. The church and school are supported by subscription.


THE GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH OF SIBLEY.

Before the first Congregational church of Sibley built its new church in 1896, it sold its old building, which was still a good substantial structure, but not large enough, to the German Lutherans of Sibley and vicinity. Rev. O. C. Biermann, of Viola township, who officiates also in Viola township and at Harris, serves the three congregations. He lives in Viola township where the church owns a manse. The Lutheran church of Sibley is in a flourishing condition


THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF HORTON TOWNSHIP.

The first German Lutheran settlers of Horton township came in 1883 from Will county, Illinois. They were Fredrich Glade, Henrich Pinkenburg, August Palenski and Diedrich Wassmann. Wilhelm Noehren and Karl Griep followed in 1884. On Ascension day, May 22, 1884, the Rev. J. D. Hesse, at that time pastor at Hull, Iowa, preached the first German Lutheran sermon in the old Methodist church, then standing on the D. Wassmann place, one mile north and one-half mile west of Ocheyedan. From this date he preached once a month, or as often as was possible, until 1886, when H. Wind, a student from Concordia College, Springfield, Illinois, assisted him, taught school during the winter, and preached. This marked the beginning of the German parochial school of Horton township.

On April 17, 1887, the congregation was organized and a constitution adopted. Since that time it has been known as the Evangelical Lutheran church. The first signers of the constitution were H. Pinkenburg, H. Rusche, Christ Bremmer, August Bremer, Karl Griep, D. Wassmann, Fred. Glade, Chr. Pope. Fr. Kruetzel, August Palenske and Wilhelm Noehren. The first trustees were Fred. Glade, H. Pinkenburg and D. Wassmann. The secretary was Wilhelm Noehren and the treasurer was Chr. Bremer. John Schinnerer was installed as first resident pastor on July 31, 1887. In 1888 the first church and parsonage was built. Fred Glade donated five acres and Karl Griep three acres of land for church and school purposes. In 1892 Rev. Schinnerer answered a call to Michigan and Rev. B. J. Ansorge took charge. In 1896 Rev. Ansorge resigned and Rev. Chr. Daeumler, of Sanborn, Iowa, was called. While he was pastor the German Evangelical Lutheran St. Peter's church was organized in 1901. This church built a new building in 1902 at a cost of forty-three hundred dollars. The corner stone was laid April 20, 1902, and the new church was dedicated August 3ist of the same year. On the day of dedication only six hundred dollars remained unpaid. While Rev. Daeumler had charge of the congregation, he had two assistants, A. Kraft and F. Budi. In February, 1908, Rev. Daeumler followed a call to Oklahoma, and on November 1st, of the same year, the present pastor, D. W. Laugelett, was installed by Rev. A. Meukeus, of Ocheyedan.

The Lutherans in Horton township established a parochial, or church school, before the congregation was organized and have maintained it ever since. The reason for establishing and maintaining church schools is because they feel it is their duty to instruct their children in the Holy Word of God and make them good Christians. While the Sunday school is good they feel that it is not enough. At the same time they believe if they succeed in making them true Christians they have the very best citizens of the United States. They believe with Daniel Webster, one of the greatest statesmen and orators America has ever known, when he said in his famous Plymouth oration, "Whatever makes men good Christians, makes them also good citizens." And Gladstone, the world renowned statesman of Great Britain, often said, "Try to make good conscientious Christians of your children, and Great Britain will be well satisfied with them as citizens." That is the avowed true spirit that animates the Lutheran congregation. That is the reason they affirm for establishing and maintaining their parochial schools. They desire to give their children the "pearl without price"—the Christian religion—and make them thereby the very best citizens of this country. At times this school has had an enrollment of more than forty names, but at present there are only twenty-one names on the roll.

The voting members of the church number thirty-three at the present time. The present trustees are August Clans, George Ostermann and Conrad Brerner. The German church, since its organization, has always been one of the most important matters among the Germans in Horton township. If by the teachings of the church and school they can make the growing generation as good citizens as the present generation, then the country may certainly be well satisfied.


THE GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH OF VIOLA TOWNSHIP.

Viola township received quite an influx of German Lutheran farmers about twenty-five or thirty years ago. Wherever these people settle one of the first things considered is church privileges. Many of the older of these settlers do not understand the English language very well, hence they feel the need of a church wherein the preaching will be in their mother tongue.

As early as 1890 the question of a Lutheran church for Viola township and vicinity was discussed, and 1892 a church society was founded. Services were held in a school house at first and in 1895 a building was erected on section 22, on the northwest corner of the farm of Fred Attig. A parsonage was built in 1900, to which an addition was made in 1912.

The first members were John Redinius, Fred Rubow, Gerd Behrends and Herman Timmermann. The first minister was Rev. Beathke, who preached in a school house occasionally as the settlers were coming in. Rev. W. Dieter came in the fall of 1892 and resigned in 1894. He is now located at Hosmer, South Dakota, officiating in a country charge. Rev. Ludwig G. Weinerich accepted a call and was installed in December, 1894, and resigned in November, 1895. He is now a pastor in Germany. Rev. C. Wandertich then held the charge a short time. Rev. F. Chworowsly served as pastor from 1897 to 1902. He is now at Jackson, Minnesota. Rev. John Bauermann served from 1902 to 1905 and is now at Ramona, South Dakota. Rev. L. Wiedner came in 1906, died at Harris, Iowa, in the summer of 1907 and is buried in the Sibley cemetery. Mrs. Wiedner died in 1913 and is also buried in the Sibley cemetery. Rev. John Linden served from August, 1907, to March, 1911, and is now at Daykin, Nebraska. Two of his children are buried at Little Rock. Rev. O. C. Biermann came May 1, 1911, and is still in charge of the churches of this denomination in Viola township, Harris and Sibley.

The first baptismals were Bertha Bechmann, dead; Martha Bechmann, the wife of William Kleve; Fred Carl Pieper, now at Rushmore, Minnesota, and Anna Redenius, now Mrs. John Luttermann. The first couple married were William Boesse and Minnie Rubow. Mr. Boesse is now located at Trosky, Minnesota. His wife died in 1910 and is buried at Sibley. The first funeral was that of Henry Julius Nachtigal, who was born November 9, 1846, and died March 20, 1893. This church is located in a rich community, and should prosper and grow as time passes.

From the 1914 Past and Present of O'Brien and Osceola Counties

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