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PAROCHIAL SCHOOL

There was a parochial school conducted in connection with the church from 1887 to 1940.

PRESENT DAY PARISHIONERS

Among the present day parishioners are descendants of families identified with the church from the beginning. They are: Otto Nathan, Henry Schroeder, William Nathan, Elmer Nathan, Walter Nathan, Norman Nathan, Otto Eucker, Bernard Kohl, Walter Gross and Alvin Gross.

ST. PAUL'S LUTHERAN CHURCH

St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church is located nine miles northwest of Monroe, Nebraska, in Monroe Township.

This church is a member of the Northern Nebraska District of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, and is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Missouri Synod of Missouri.

HISTORY OF CHURCH

The St. Paul's Lutheran congregation of Monroe Township was organized in 1890 to serve the Lutherans in that vicinity.

EARLY PARISHIONERS

Among the early parishioners were: Martin Mohr Sr., John Mohr Sr., Herman Lammers, Herman Wein, and Frank Ditmer.

CHURCH INCORPORATED 1908

The first church was built in 1900, but it was not formally incorporated until 1908. The annual meeting of the congregation was held January 12, 1908, at which time the following trustees were elected: Henry Brandt, Herman Weyne, and George Lindauer. The articles of incorporation of the St. Paul's German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Monroe Township were filed for record at the Platte County Court House on March 10, 1908.

PASTORS

The St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church has maintained a mission status throughout the years since its inception, and has been served by supply pastors of churches in the Humphrey vicinity belonging to the Northern Nebraska District of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, and affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Missouri Synod of Missouri. From 1 it was supplied by Reverend Bernhardt Meschke, a pastor of the Missouri Synod from Fullerton, Nance County, Nebraska.

CHURCH OFFICERS

The church officers for 1947 included: Fred Kaufmann, Chairman; John Schreiber, Secretary; George Mohr, Treasurer; and John Mohr, Elder.

1947 MEMBERSHIP

Other families on the membership rolls for 1 were those of: Jake Mohr, Martin Mohr, Hugo Nissen, Ed. Rieken, Adam Schreiber, J. C. Filbert, N. Brandt, and G. Kruse.

GRACE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

The Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church is located in Platte Center, Nebraska. This church is a member of the Northern Nebraska District of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, and is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Missouri Synod of Missouri.

ORGANIZATION AND INCORPORATION

In 1940, the Grace Evangelical Lutheran Congregation was organized with the Reverend A. D. Holm as pastor. The membership of this congregation included those belonging to the Lutheran faith who lived in Platte Center and its immediate vicinity, the majority of whom formerly held membership in the Zion Lutheran Church three miles west and one mile north of Platte Center.

Reverend A. D. HoIm, the pastor, called a meeting of the congregation to formally incorporate the church. According to the record of this meeting held on October 22, 1941, the formal name of the church was the Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, Platte Center, Nebraska; and the church was placed under the jurisdiction of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri Northern Nebraska District. The total sum of indebtedness to be assumed by the congregation was placed at ten thousand dollars. Three officers were appointed to serve until the first church election. They were: Ernest Fisher, President; Edmund Arndt, Vice-President; and Edward Arndt, Treasurer.

The signers of the articles of incorporation were the twelve members of the congregation who were present at this meeting. They included: Walter Gertsch, Edward Arndt, Henry W. Janssen, William Hems, Paul E. Osten, William Janssen, A. F. Going, Oscar Arndt, Merlin Grossnicklaus, Elmer Hems, Elmer Hoerle, and Herbert Arndt. The articles were filed for record in the Platte County Court House by Ernest Fisher and Edmund Arndt on November 10, 1941.

Besides the names listed in the articles of incorporation, other parishioners and donors were: C. L. Martensen, Walter Arndt, Ruben Arndt, William Hems, Charles Grossnicklaus, Louis Goedeken, and Wallace Tessendorf.

THE CHURCH BUILDING

The present church building was formerly the Episcopal Church of Genoa, Nebraska. This church was purchased and moved to Platte Center, Nebraska, in the fall of 1944.*

The church was rebuilt and dedicated for services on October 12, 1945.

PASTORS OF THE CHURCH

Pastors who have served the church since its inception were: Reverend A. D. Holm, 19401942, and Reverend S. W. Holstein, 1942 to 1949.

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* Elmer Hems was killed enroute when he fell under the moving equipment.

BETHANY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

The Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church is located in Walker Township, southwest of Lindsay, Nebraska.

EARLY HISTORY

The Bethany Lutheran Church is the oldest Danish Lutheran Church in Platte County. It had its beginning in 1879, when the Bethany Evangelical Congregation was organized for worship on November 13. At first, the group met in the homes of their members.

The church was built in 1887, and remodeled in 1899. It still stands and has been in use for worship for over sixty-three years.

Early parishioners included: Jens Brandt, Hans Nelson, Hans J. Johnsen, Peter Buhl, Lars Anderson, Nels Jensen, Andrew Petersen, and Peter Petersen. They are all now deceased.

According to the records, the first Church Trustees were: H. Christensen, J. B. Kock, and P. Christensen. The first pastor was Reverend O. E. Torgerson.

On November 28, 5922, the Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Congregation held a meeting at the home of H. Christensen to incorporate the church.

On motion of Reverend Torgerson, Peter Christensen was elected secretary. The name of the church was to be the Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church.

On a motion, H. Christensen was elected as trustee for a three year term. On motion, J. B. Kock was elected for a two year term, and P. Christensen was elected to serve for one year.

On a motion, the resolution was adopted that on the expiration of the terms of office of the church trustees and regularly thereafter, successors should be duly elected for terms of three years.

On a motion, it was decided that said church organisation (sic) should always remain in accordance with the Lutheran doctrine and the Word of God, the Holy Bible, both the Old and New Testament, and the principle for doctrine and manner of having. They also accepted the three oldest symbols: Apoltoliké, Niceneke, and Alkonanske,* also the unchangeable Angsburgske** confession and Luther's small catechism as a correct representative of the gospel.

These motions and the Articles of Incorporation were signed by Reverend O. E. Torgerson, the pastor, and Peter Christensen, the clerk. The papers were filed for record at the Platte County Court House on November 28, 1882.

Other early pastors of the church included: Reverend Udahle, Reverend J. J. Dalbo, Reverend P. P. Thisted, Reverend J. P. Jensen, Reverend J. Marccessen and Reverend A. R. Rasmussen.

The first membership of the church numbered fifteen voting members. In 1915, there were twenty-four voting members and sixty-seven in the parish.

For many years, the church has had a supply pastor.

In 1948, the parishioners included: Anton Petersen, Herman Christensen, J. C. Petersen, Ferd Pearson, Dwain Christensen, Kenneth Hansen, Berndt Olson, Mrs. William Thomazin, Richard Christensen, and L. P. Hansen.

In connection with the Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church, in January, 1934, the Bethany Cemetery Association was organized. The Articles of Incorporation were signed on January 8, 5934, by: Marius Nelson, Bemdt Olson, Emil Hauge, R. W. Christensen, E. R. Rasmussen, and Herman Christensen.

The congregation was active in 1949 and services were held on special occasions at the church.

ST. ANGSAR'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

St. Ansgar's Evangelical Lutheran Church is located at Rosenborg, in Section 11. Walker Township.

EARLY HISTORY

The early history of this church dates back to 1884, when a group of Danish people met and organized a congregation on October 14.

It was in the early years of 1870 that the first group of Danes emigrated from Denmark and formed a settlement on the prairies in Walker Township, at Rosenborg. The settlement and the inland post office were both named Rosenborg.

These early settlers were members of the Danish Lutheran Church in Denmark, and they missed the church privileges in their new home. They were a devout and Christian people, who were used to worshiping on Sundays -- storing up on the day of rest with spiritual food for the week of hard labor. When the prairie offered them much hard labor and no spiritual food, they came to feel that life was drudgery and no joy. They felt the common need of fellowship by sharing their pains and pleasure, sorrow and joys. That, they felt, could best be done by devoutly bending their heads and folding their hands in common prayer around a common altar.

The first mission services held among the Danish people at Rosenborg was by a Norwegian minister, Reverend K. C. Bodholt. Reverend Bodholt began his missionary work in Nebraska among the Danish people in Hamilton County, and in the fall of 5882, started the first mission services at Rosenborg.

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*Apostles Nicene and Athanasian Creeds.
**Apostle's.

Two years later, on October 14, 1884, the Danish Lutheran congregation of St. Ansgar's was established, and Reverend K. C. Bodholt acted as its pastor.

FIRST PASTOR

In 1887, St. Ansgar's Church secured its first resident pastor, the Reverend P. Kjolhede.

CHARTER MEMBERS

Some of the charter members, and early day parishioners who were donors for the building of the new church were: Jens Christensen, Hans Jorgensen, Soren Samuel Sorensen, Peter Buhl, Christian Sindal, Christian Henricksen, Erik Eriksen, Christian Buhl, Andreas Andersen, August Nielsen, Nikkel Sorensen, Jens Christian Nielsen, Made Andersen, and their families.

In 1948, only one charter member was left of those early settlers: Mrs. Anne Elisabeth Andersen, the daughter of Jens Christensen. Mrs. Andersen was born in Denmark in 1874, and was five years old when she moved to Platte County with her parents.

CHURCH BUILDING

In 1888, work was begun on the construction of a new church. It was completed and dedicated for services on August ii, 1889.

PASTORS

Reverend P. Kjolhede served as pastor of St. Ansgar's Church for six years, from 1887 to 1894. During this time, the congregation increased from eighteen or nineteen contributing members to forty.

From 1894-1901, Reverend N. C. Strandekey served as pastor. He returned later and served another seven years, from 1918 to 1925.

Other pastors of St. Ansgar's Church included: Reverend C. C. Sorensen, 1901-1903; Reverend N. P. Hald, 1903-1908, and again from 1925-1927; Reverend R. Jensen, 1908-1911; Reverend J. Borgaard, 1911-1913; Reverend J. J. Lerager, 1913-1918; Reverend N. Nielsen, 1928-1929; Reverend J. L. J. Dixen, 1929-1934; and in 1947, Reverend Vagn Duus.

NEW CHURCH

Due to the growth of the congregation, a new church to accommodate members was built and was dedicated on September 24, 1911. For a period of forty-five years, from 1887-1932, the Danish language was used exclusively in the church services. Beginning in 1932, the Danish and English services were alternated.

FIRST CHURCH BOARD

The first church board of which a record can be found was in 1887. The members of the board were: Erik Eriksen, chairman; Soren Sorensen, secretary; and Hans Jorgensen, treasurer.

The board in 1934 consisted of: Carl Jakobsen, Sigurd Jensen, Karsten Clausen, Hartwig Andreasen, Herluf Christensen, and Henry Thomsen.

On September 22 and 23, 1939, a district meeting was held at St. Ansgar's Church, and pastors of the nearby churches were included on the program.

PRESENT DAY PARISHIONERS, 1947-1948

Among the oldest parishioners in 1947 and 1948, were: Mr. and Mrs. Henry Henricksen, Mr. and Mrs. Anders Andersen, Peter Damgaard, Mrs. C. W. Jensen, Mrs. Laurits Jorgensen, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Thomsen, Marinus Nielsen, Marinus Christensen, Mrs. Carl Jacobsen, Anton Christensen, Mrs. Jens Peter Christensen, Mrs. Anders Christensen, and Mrs. Niels Thomsen.

In the late 1940's, joint church services were held at St. Ansgar's for the congregation of St. Ansgar's and the members of the Bethany Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church, also of Walker Township.

SALEM SWEDISH LUTHERAN CHURCH

The Salem Swedish Lutheran Church is located in the Salem Community, in the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section , Township 19, north of Range 4, west. The church is four and one-half miles north, and west of Rosenborg.

EARLY HISTORY

The Salem Lutheran Church is one of the older churches of this territory. It is the mother church of the Zion Lutheran Church of Newman Grove and of the Augustana Lutheran Church of Genoa.

The history of this Swedish church dates back to the year 1878. The purpose of the origin of the religious society was to hold and manage property for the benefit of the Swedish Lutheran Church. The first sod church was built in 1879,

EARLY MEMBERS

The early parishioners and donors of the Salem Lutheran Church included: Andrew Anderson, John E. Blomquist, Carl G. Jacobson, P. August Jacobson, and Frank Soderberg.

CHURCH INCORPORATION

The formal articles of incorporation were filed for record at the Platte County Court House on August 2, 1881. They read:

At a meeting of this church, held January 3, 1881, at the church, the following persons were present: John Blomquist, N. D. Anderson, C. E. Carlson, W. D. Carlson, John Newman, Andrew Anderson, Hans Peterson, August Egman, Charles Grip, Peter Johnson, Lars Jacobson, Oscar Eng, Peter Anderson, S. G. Panrard, Ludwig Swenson, Erik Sodergren, S. E. Nelson, H. C. Knudson, Jonas Eng, August Jacobson, C. Jacobson, John Swenson, J. P. Johnson, Lars Anderson, Ole Olson, Gus Wallgren, Henry Anderson, J. Anderson, Oscar Blomquist, John Hendrickson, C. Erik Grip, A. G. Rockstrom, C. W. Nelson, Per G. Alberg, and C. J. M. Samuelson. Reverend Elias Peterson was chosen chairman of the meeting and John Blomquist, clerk.

It was voted that the society be called "Evangelical Lutheran Salem Congregation." John Blomquist, P. W. Carlson, and August Jacobson were elected trustees. Filed for record August 2, 1881.

A new church was built in 1901 to replace the first church. In 1944, a record of the complete constitution of the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church was filed in the Platte County Court House, dated November 16, 1944.

In 1947, the pastor of the church was Reverend Carl O. Carlson.

GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH

In the church history of Columbus, three groups trace their inception back to the early German Reformed Church established here in 1872. These groups are: the Independent, Evangelical Protestant Church, the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, and the United Evangelical Lutheran Church.

This German Church was identified with the early life in the community, and its ministers served a large portion of the German and Swiss population.

The first congregation of this early church included in its membership a German Reformed group and a Lutheran group which united for worship, and were served by ministers from the Reformed and Lutheran Churches.

CHURCH INCORPORATED

It was on Christmas Day, December 25, 1872, that the first meeting of the German Reformed Church congregation was held. Three trustees were elected at this meeting. They were Henry Gass, Andreas Mathias, and Christ Gisen. Henry Gass was elected clerk of the meeting. The formal articles of incorporation were filed for record at the Platte County Court House on June 30, 1873.

Plans for the first church construction were made in 1873.

EARLY MEMBERS

Andreas Histroy (sic) of 1882 names some of the early members as Vincent Kummer, Jacob Ernst, Andrew Mathias, Michael Schram, and John Stauffer. Phillips History of Platte County, 1915, also lists the name of Jacob Louis.

The articles of incorporation filed in June, 1873, list Henry Gass and Christ Gisen, who with Andrew Mathias, were the first church trustees.

There were approximately twenty charter members in this first organization with Reverend F. Dieckman of Omaha as its first pastor. The German Reformed Church was dedicated on October 4, 1874. Reverend Dieckman remained as pastor for two months, and was succeeded by Reverend Abraham Schueck, who remained until 1876. He was followed by Reverend Fredrich Hullhorst, who remained until 1878. Reverend Fredrich Hullhorst was succeeded by his brother, Reverend C. Hullhorst, who was the pastor from 1878 through 1882.

Following Reverend Hullhorst, the church was served by Reverend Fleisher and Reverend Schultz. From 1894 to 1899, Reverend DeGeller was the pastor. Reverend Richard Neumarker, D. D., served the church from 1899 to 1925; and Reverend F. Albin Heinz was the pastor from 1925 to April 29, 1928.

INDEPENDENT EVANGELICAL PROTESTANT CHURCH

On April 3, 1887, fourteen years after its organization, the German Reformed Church congregation at a regular meeting resolved by a two-thirds vote to change the name of the corporation from German Reformed Church to German Independent Evangelical Protestant Church of Columbus, Nebraska. These articles were signed by David Schupbach, secretary, and filed for record at the Platte County Court House two years later, on March 23, 1889.

On January 30, 1927, the record shows that the name of the church was again changed, this time to the Independent Evangelical Protestant Church of Columbus, Nebraska. Paul A, Jaeggi signed the articles on January 29, 1928. They were witnessed by P. F. Luchsinger, and filed for record on February 1, 1928.

GROWTH IN MEMBERSHIP

On January 30, 1928, a meeting was held to start a building fund for a new church. The numerical growth of the church had increased rapidly until the church

facilities were inadequate for the congregation. Three committees, acting jointly as a building committee, were authorized to procure tentative plans for a new church, and also for remodeling and enlarging the present building. The committees appointed included: First Committee: Fred Oppliger, chairman, Otto Rudat, J. C. Ernst, and Emil Mueller. Second Committee: Jacob Kupp, chairman, William Durkop, George Schwank. Third Committee: A. C. Flatow, chairman, Adolph Hoge Jr., Carl Glur, and Fred Staub.

At this meeting, the Reverend F. Albin Heinz, pastor since November, 1925, submitted his resignation to take effect April 29, 1928. There were two hundred twenty-seven voting members and four hundred eighty-seven communicants in the church at that date.

LUTHERAN GROUP FORM CONGREGATION

In February, 1928, sixty members of the Independent Evangelical Protestant congregation decided to separate from that church and form a new Lutheran congregation with the tenets of the United Lutheran Church in America. This change in the membership of the Independent Evangelical Protestant Church made it possible for the remaining members to continue services in their church.

PASTORS SINCE 1928

The Reverend J. Steger became the pastor in 1928, and remained until 1941. Reverend M. L. Seybold was the pastor from ii to 1947. Reverend Joseph H. Mayer became pastor June 12, 1947.

CHURCH STATISTICS

From the records of the Independent Evangelical Protestant Church:

Total number of baptisms up to 1946 --- fourteen hundred forty-five.
Total number of confirmants to 1946--- seven hundred seventy.
Total number of marriages to 1946 --- three hundred sixty-eight.
Total number of burials to 1946 --- six hundred fifty-eight.
Longest pastorate by Reverend R. R. Neumarker, 1899-1925
Next longest by Reverend J. Steger, 1928-194!.

Present organization with approximate membership:

Fifty-two men and one woman served in the Armed Forces during World War II.

RAISE CHURCH FUND

In September, 1946, the Independent Evangelical Protestant Congregation started to raise a fund of $20,000 to remodel the church sanctuary. Julius Ernst was chairman of the Building Committee, and Louis Blaser, chairman of the Finance Committee.

CHURCH ACTIVITIES

In 1949, Adolph Schupbach was the choir director, and Mrs. Adolph Schupbach was the superintendent of the children's division of the church school. Miss Irene Mueller was secretary of the Central Nebraska Regional Youth Fellowship of the Evangelical and Reformed Church. Leroy Mueller and Wayne Schild, alternate, represented the congregation on the United Christian Youth Committee of Columbus.

CHURCH OFFICERS

The administrative work of the Evangelical Protestant Church is vested in the church council of which William Nyffeler was president in 1949. The other members of the council included: Richard Coffey, Edward Mueller, Sam Luchsinger, Walter Garbers, Harold Oppliger and Mrs. Felix Uhlmann, who had served as treasurer of the congregation since i

CELEBRATES 75TH ANNIVERSARY

On November 2, 1947, the Independent Evangelical Protestant Church celebrated the seventy-fifth anniversary of its founding. At this anniversary service, the Reverend Allan O. Miller, Professor of Theology at the Eden Theological Seminary, delivered the sermon. The anniversary dinner was served at noon in the Swiss Hall south of town, and in the afternoon a fellowship program was held.

This church has undergone a series of name changes during the seventy-five years of its existence. These name changes are closely allied with and are significant of the history of the church at different periods of time.

In January, 1947, this church joined the Evangelical and Reformed Church, a national church body with over seven hundred thousand members. The Evangelical and Reformed Church is a union of the general synod of the Reformed Church in America, and the Evangelical Synod of North America. Therefore, since January, 1947, the status of the Evangelical Protestant Church is no longer Independent.

TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH

The Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church is located at 2207 Eleventh Street in Columbus, Nebraska. This church is a member of the United Lutheran Church in America, and a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of the Midwest of Nebraska.

CHURCH DATES FROM 1928

The history of the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church dates back to March 4, 1928, when a meeting was held for the purpose of organizing a new Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in Columbus. This meeting was attended by more than sixty persons from Columbus and vicinity. The first church officers included Carl Rohde Sr., President; Emil Held, Vice-President; Emil Mueller, Secretary; and William L. Boettcher, Treasurer. Those present signed the agreement to be members of the congregation.

Three committees were appointed to further the work of the organization. The Membership Committe in-

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