HISTORY OF

 ZION AMERICAN LUTHERAN CHURCH

1864 - 1964

The history of our congregation dates back to 1862. We owe the beginning of our congregation to Pastor Jacob Hoffman. It is with his words that we begin the historical sketch of our congregation.

I, Pastor Jacob Hoffman visited the Lutherans in Clark County first in the year of 1862 on Ascension Day and once every four months until 1865. Then Pastor Estel was called to help me out whenever he could until 1867. After that Pastor Estel took care of his members alone until February 1868. Pastor Friedrich came to help out. I, Pastor Hoffman and Pastor Friedrich exchanged and I went and helped out in November 1868, August 1869 and April 1870.  These Lutherans had begged through another pastor, Pastor Lochner, that they would like to get God’s Word and also Lord Supper.

The first Services were conducted in a farm house located on land now owned by Armin Moh.

Augustus R. and Mary N. Gray and Henry L. and Annie E. Norton sold to John Riedel, Frederick Sternitzky and Frederick Yankee, Trustees of the German Evangelical Lutheran Congregation the S.E.¼-N.E.¼-12-24-1W for the sum of $60.00. Dated the 24^th

day of January 1863. This was in the Town of Lynn at that time.

            On December 25, 1864 a few Lutheran families banded together and incorporated a congregation which was called "Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lynn Township”.  Lynn and Grant Townships were originally known as Lynn.  The following families had gathered together: Andreas Rausch, George Kleinschmidt, Friedrich Sternitzky, Carl Sternitzky, Friedrich Yahnke, Friedrich Gerber, Johann Riedel, Gottlieb Garbisch, Carl Schlinsog, Christian Dietrich and Conrad Dell.  The first deacons elected in 1864 were: Johann Garbisch, Carl Schlinsog and Carl Sternitzky.  The first trustees were: Friedrich Yahnke, Carl Sternitzky and Johann Garbisch.

            In 1868 Pastor Friedrich of Fall Creek and Eau Claire took Pastor Hoffman’s place in serving the congregation, alternating in this work with Pastor Estel.  Pastor Friedrich made the fifty mile trip from Fall Creek to Grant Township on horseback.  Because of the poor roads the members of Zion Church had to walk to church, some of them a distance of seven or eight miles to every service.

            On October 31, 1870 August Scholz, Frederick Gerber and Gottlieb Garbisch, Trustees of the Evangelical Congregation sold to Gottfried Fiedler the following land: S.E.¼-N.E.¼-12-24-1W for the sum of $350.00.  This now was in the Town of Grant.

            Fredrick Brown of Pennsylvania received patent May 3, 1858—signed by Pres. James Buchanan.  Fredrick Brown assigned to James McIntosh this land: S.W.¼-S.W.¼-12-24-1W.  James McIntosh assigned this land to John McIntosh. John McIntosh and Elizabeth McIntosh by their attorney, James Lynch, to Trustees of the Zion Congregation Church of the Augsburgishe Confession for the sum of $350.00 – dated March 30, 1870.

            Shortly before its organization the congregation purchased the present forty acres of land on which the first church, a log structure, was built.  This church was not erected until 1871, when the first resident pastor, Pastor J. H. Witte was called.  At this time a four room parsonage was built.  It was to be 18 ft. x 26 ft. – also 1½ stories high.  A kitchen should be attached the size of 14 ft. x 18 ft.  A contract was made with Gottlieb Wischulke to furnish some of the lumber for the minister’s house.  The price was to be ten cents a running foot.

            In 1872 it was decided to build a barn 20 ft. x 40 ft. to use for horses.  Each member was to bring a load of logs from the church woods to be used in building the barn.  It was to be built north of the parsonage.  At this time it was also decided to have a “klingebeutel”.

            [Transcriber’s note: klingelbeutel is German for an offertory-bag or collection-bag for collecting donations during church services.  They are still used in churches in Germany.  It is called this because of the bell-like sounds the coins make as they fall in the bag.]

            Pastor Witte served until 1876.  After Pastor Witte came Pastor Fisher, who served the congregation for seventeen years.  He was called and they offered him $250.00, free house rent and 20 cords of wood.  He was suppose to get enough hay from the church land to keep and feed two cows for his use, if he so wished.  He was installed as our pastor July 5, 1877.

            In 1877 the plan of the frame church was shown by Daniel Riedel.  The size of the church was to be 28 ft. x 46 ft. x 16 ft.  Some people gave lumber for building the church and some gave money.  Pastor Fisher held services at Neillsville, Loyal and Nasonville several times a year.

            In 1880 the first frame church burned.  In the spring of 1881 was the time set to build the new frame church – 28 ft. x 50 ft. x 18 ft.  It was decided to build a tower on it.  Daniel Riedel again was asked to draw the plans.  The church was to be ready by October 15^th 1881.  His wages were $2.00 a day.  Daniel Riedel built the new church for the price of $436.00.  He was to paint the church in the spring of 1882 for the price of $45.00.  They planned on asking Prof. Schmidt and Pastor Allwart for the dedication of the church on October 30, 1881.

            In 1882 the congregation split due to the controversy over predestination.

            In 1884 they bought an organ for $189.00.  Henry Fisher was the organist and was paid fifty cents for each time he played the organ.

            In 1886 it was decided to build a school house, 24 ft. x 40 ft. x 12 ft.  The lumber was to come from the church woods.  To build a hall in the new school-house 8 ft. wide.  The cost of the school was $336.00

            In 1892 Gustav Roessler was to make six new benches two inches thick.  The price was not to go over 90 cents a piece.

            In 1894 Pastor Fisher was called to a church in Iowa.  A student pastor by the name of Oertel helped out until we got a new pastor.  On December 15, 1894 Pastor Jursco came.  That year Mission Festival was held in the church woods.

            In 1895 plans were made to get a large church bell weighing 1200 pounds.  Gustav Roessler was to ring the church bell for $15.00 a year.  On Saturday evening he was to ring it for 15 minutes.  The verse on the bell is from Jeremiah 22 verse 29.  “O earth, earth, earth hear the word of the Lord.”  The cost of the bell was about $400.00.

            In June 1897 it was planned to have a Christmas tree for the first time for the coming Christmas.

            In February 1898 the new songbooks came from Ohio and were used for the first time Pastor Jursco asked to be released as he was sick. They decided to rent the church land woods to Heinrich Beer for $5.00 for the summer.  Pastor Wm. Hummel was installed August 28, 1898.  During Rev. Hummel’s pastorate the Ladies Aid was organized.

            In 1899 the expense for tinning the ceiling and walls in the church, paint, labor, molding and other material was $352.42.  A storm had done a lot of damage to the roof of the pastor’s house and school – also to the barn.  It was decided to build a new barn 30 ft. x 40 ft.

            In 1901 Pastor Hummel was called to Elm Creek, Texas.  Pastor P. H. Haas came the end of March 1901.  The barn was finished in 1901.  During Pastor Haas’s five years as pastor of the church a parochial school was started.  Leo Moench was called as teacher.  His salary was to be $250.00 year.  In 1906 Pastor Haas asked to be released as he had a call to Petersburg, Australia.

            On July 10, 1906 Rev. Reiff came to serve our congregation. During Pastor Reiff's time the church building was somewhat enlarged and remodeled into the brick veneer building that is still in use.

In January 1914 it was decided that the members who wanted to build sheds for their horses by the church could do so.

In 1922 Mrs. Blake, a sister of Fred Riedel, donated $500.00 to build a fence around the cemetery in memory of her brother, Fred Riedel.  

In 1927 Pastor Reiff asked to be released as he had a call to Stettin, Wis.  He wanted to accept as there it was still all German.

Pastor Buth came in August 1927.  At this time it was decided to have English services twice a month.

A special meeting was called in August 1929 and plans were made to sell the teacher's house to Walter Moldenhauer for $500.00.

            In the year of 1938 it was voted to put in electric lights.  The vote was 12 yes and     2 no.  It was decided to celebrate our Diamond Jubilee the last Sunday in June of 1939.

In 1944 Pastor Leonard Domke was installed as our pastor. At this time it was voted to put in a water system and bathroom at the parsonage.

In 1945 the envelope system was started.  The parsonage was insulated.

In 1946 they tore down the old garage, woodshed and chicken coop and built a new garage for the parsonage.

In 1948 the church was remodeled and Nuwood was put on.

In 1951 the Baldwin Electric organ was purchased. The cost was $2475.00 with the old organ traded in.

In 1952 Pastor Domke was released. The oil furnace in the parsonage was installed--also a water heater for the parsonage.  An oil burner was installed in the furnace at the church. On July 15, 1952 Pastor John H. Jacklin was installed as pastor.

In 1953 a sink was installed in the basement of the church.

In 1955 the rest rooms and water system were installed in the church.

In 1956 Pastor Jacklin left.  Pastor Marvin Beninga was installed as our pastor.  

Portals of Prayer were purchased for the members this year.  The 5-D program was inaugurated.

In 1957 we started using ushers to usher out the people after the service.

In 1958 we started using the new song books.

In 1960 Pastor Beninga leaves us. Pastor Evan Dieck becomes our pastor.

            In 1961 the basement was fixed and fluorescent lights were installed.  A furnace room was built onto the N.E. corner of the church.  Two new oil furnaces were installed.  The kitchen was enlarged.

            In 1962 the basement ceiling was tiled.  Our church was robbed in December.  It is estimated that around a thousand dollars was taken.

            The church trim and steeple were painted in 1963.  The ground was landscaped around the steps and sidewalks were put in.

            We will celebrate our centennial on June 14 and June 21, 1964.

 Pages 4 -10 of the Zion American Lutheran Church

1864 - 1964 Centennial Book.

Return to Table of Contents.

Transcribed by James W. Sternitzky PhD in 2006.

**This Clark Co., WI Internet Library, ALHN & AHGP website is dedicated to the free sharing of information by researchers, local historians, genealogists and educators.  Because of our non-profit status, submissions are not to be used for profiteering of any kind.   Our representatives cannot accept gratuities beyond the basic expenses (i.e. postage, copying, courthouse or rental fees) for obtaining requested information.  We reserve the right to ban the involvement of anyone who intentionally disregards these policies.  Promotion of research services or publications is not permitted on these pages, or by our representatives without the prior endorsement of the site overseers.  If you need professional help, we recommend contacting an accredited genealogist.   Please show your appreciation for this database by Becoming a Clark County History Buff or making a contribution to our Support Fund and Perpetual Preservation Account to help keep this Clark Co., WI database freely available on the World Wide Web and free from commercial enterprise.

*** This copyrighted Clark Co., Wis. genealogy and history material is used on this nonprofit site with permission of the submitter.  Contact us if you are personally aware of anyone using this submitted data inappropriately.  It may not be copied and posted on any commercial genealogy sites such as Family Tree Maker or the merged companies Ancestry.Com/RootsWeb/MyFamily or sold for personal profit.