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.


Osceola County Iowa Genealogy - The IAGenWeb Project