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EARLY RECORDINGS
The first recorded baptismal service included a
group of nine children, five of whom were of the
Bryner family of Humbird and four Rhyner children
of Hewettville.
The earliest confirmation class in the congregation
was composed of a brother and sister, John Bryner
and Anna Bryner Hart, both of whom are still members
of the church. They were confirmed on April 7, 1907.
The first marriage ceremony to be performed in St.
John’s church united Elizabeth Bryner and Vincenz
Babler, On December 26, 1901.
The first funeral service was conducted on April
27, 1908, when one of the charter members of the
church was laid to rest, Mrs. Maria Schumacher.
All of these services were performed by Rev. Schroer,
who has since gone to his spiritual reward.
CHARTER MEMBERS OF ST. JOHN’S CHURCH
John Schumacher Frederick Theiler
Maria Schumacher, Elsie Theiler,
Ernst Schumacher, Gottlieb Marty,
John Byner, Bertha Marty,
Katharine Bryner, John Michael,
George Laffe, Jacob Eisenhart,
Elisa Laffe, Elsie Eisenhart
Laying of the CornerStone
Almost on the eve of publication, after having searched
diligently but in vain for some details of the laying
of the cornerstone, we were indeed happy to receive
the following clipping from the Rev. H. G. Schmid.
We are surely grateful for this timely bit of thoughtfulness.
“The corner stone of the new German reformed Church
was laid on Thursday afternoon, in the presence
of a large congregation, according to the rites
of the church. The sermon for the occasion was preached
by Rev. Jacob Stucki, India Missionary of Black
River Falls. The text was from I Peter 2:5-6, “Ye
also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual
house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual;
sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ,”
and the sermon was a strong and masterly address
along the thought of those two verses.
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The corner stone, which is appropriately inscribed,
was laid by the pastor of the church, Rev. H. G.
Schmid. In the receptacle was placed current church
and Sunday School periodicals, a catechism, a Bible,
church history to date, a list of the members of
the church.
St. John’s Entertains Classis
During the ministry of Rev. David Grether, this
small congregation was host to the Sheboygan Classis,
which at the time was one of the largest classis
in the Northwest Synod. Forty-two churches, with
a total membership of about 6,000 were represented
at this meeting. The classis covered a wide territory,
extending from Humbird to Sheboygan and from Elmore
in Fond du Lac county to Green Bay and Wausau. Thirty-one
ministers and 16 elders were in attendance. A number
of the visitors expressed the fact that they thought
St. John’s of Humbird had the finest and most romantic
location of any church they had yet seen. Many of
them climbed the bluff directly behind the church
and enjoyed the remarkable view from there.
Women’s Guild Entertains
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The local Women’s Guild entertained the Wausau Regional
Guild in May, 1948, while Rev. Hohmann was serving
us. Also during this time this community was privileged
to hear the excellent concert given by the Polyhymnia
Choir of Elmhurst College in Illinois. This is Mrs.
Hohmann’s Alma Mater.
Other special musical events in our church in years
past were a concert by the Fort Wayne Children’s
Home Band, the Mission House Trio, and very recently
by the Men’s Chorus of Zion Church in Neillsville.
Reminiscing
With apologies to Rev. Schmid, may we quote an interesting
portion of a personal letter recently received.
Speaking of the laying of the cornerstone he continued,
“Do you remember the shower of rain that came during
the services of the cornerstone laying? First Rev.
Stucki preached in the rain, and after we had both
gotten wet, someone kindly handed me an umbrella,
which I held over him while he finished the latter
half of his sermon. The rain was needed so badly
for it was a dry summer, but it came so inopportune
at the time. I do not remember where the umbrella
came from, for no one had expected rain that afternoon.”
Rev. H. G. Schmid was guest speaker when St. John’s
church celebrated the 25th and 35th anniversaries.
We deeply regret the fact that he is unable to be
with us on this occasion of our 50th anniversary.
Taken from an early church record: “The salary for
Rev. Schroer consisted of a free will offering taken
at the close of each service, which was given to
him for travel expenses. Rent per year for the first
church building used, was $5.00.”
Dedication
Taken from Humbird Enterprise, March 21, 1914
March 15, 1914, the dedication of the new German
Reformed church took place. The dedication began
at 9 o’clock Sunday morning at the old building.
After bidding farewell to the old home the congregation
proceeded to the new edifice. Here Rev. H. G. Schmid
dedicated the church, “German Reformed Church of
St. John.”
Following the dedication Prof. Frank Grether gave
the address as to why the church was needed.
Rev. J. Stucki then talked upon the use of the church,
thus closing the morning services. This was followed
by a dinner in the church basement given by the
ladies of the church.
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At 2 o’clock the first afternoon address was given
by Rev. O. Saewart of Greenwood. Rev. Grether then
gave a talk showing how the church might be desecrated
and warning against it.
Following the address several musical numbers were
rendered. After which lunch was again served.
At 8 o’clock the last address was given by Prof.
Grether, these services were given in English. Music
entertainment was rendered by the male quartet,
choir and soloists.
It is with pride and pleasure that we herewith present
a likeness of our only son of the congregation,
the Rev. John M. Michael, who graduated from the
Mission House Seminary in 1935.
He is the son of our local postmaster and only resident
charter member, John Michael. His wife and the wife
of rev. V. D. Weidler are twin daughters of the
congregation, formerly the Misses Lena and Bertha
Baumgartner.
Rev. and Mrs. Michael have two children, David and
Lois. At present they are located at Bremen, Indiana,
where rev. Michael is pastor of First Church, 320
Center St.
 |
 |
Rev. Ralph
Kluge
Student Pastor
June to Sept., 1949
Brillion-Reedsville, Wis. |
Dr. Robert I. Brigham
Supply 1950
Director of the Division of
Humanities |
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Notes of Interest
It is significant that the first treasurer and the
first secretary elected to this congregation, namely,
John Michael and Gottlieb Marty, are the only charter
members still living.
Among our faithful servants:
Mrs. R. A. Creviston served as organist for nearly
thirty years, until she moved with her husband and
daughter to Eau Claire to make her home.
