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ST. JOHN’S REFORMED CHURCH
Bell from the
Humbird Lutheran Church
Rang for the first time,
Thursday, 18 Dec 1913.
----Source: Humbird
Enterprise, Humbird Wis., pg. 1, 17 Dec 1904
Rev. John Schneller, of Eau Claire, held services in the Lutheran Church here
last Sunday.
----Source: Humbird Enterprise (Humbird, Clark Co., Wis.)
02/23/1929
This congregation, now the largest of the three in Humbird,
had its beginning in 1899, when Rev. Dalmus, of Stratford, Wis., came here to
perform pastoral duties. In the spring of 1900, Rev. Schmalz, then of
Greenwood, Wis., now gone to his eternal reward, performed pastoral duties here
and saw to it that the Sheboygan Classis made definite arrangement to serve
Humbird regularly from the Stratford parish.
The first Sunday School sessions were held in the building
now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Archie Fradenburg.
Rev. H.W. Schroer, pastor of the Ebenezer Church at
Stratford, began pioneer missionary work here on the 12th of
September, 1900, and preached here every fourth Sunday. He at that time also
served a congregation at Columbia (Clark Co., Wis.). At the present time he is
pastor at Norfolk, Neb. On Dec. 9th, 1900, a meeting was called for
the purpose to organize the congregation. The Constitution was adopted and the
congregation organized with 14 communicant members.
On Dec. 30th, 1900, the first regular meeting of
the congregation took place and was held in the home Mr. Gottlieb Marti. The
following officers were elected: Elders – John Schumacher and John Bryner, Sr.;
Deacons – John Michael and Gottlieb Marti. Preaching services were held from
the beginning in the church building of the Seventh Day Adventist congregation,
the building in which Mr. and Mrs. E. Bleiler are living. It was decided to pay
the sum of $5.00 a year for use of the church, and the Elders were asked to see
to it that sufficient wood was on hand. In the evening of the same day the
Consistory had its first regular meeting and elected Mr. Gottlieb Marti as
secretary and Mr. John Michael as treasurer. A free-will offering was collected
every time services were held, and given to the pastor for his traveling
expenses. Mr. G. Marti was elected as the first Sunday School Superintendent,
when he moved away from Humbird, Mr. John Bryner took his place for several
years, then Mrs. Jacob Baumgartner, Sr. was elected and served for a number of
years. Since 1915 Mr. Jacob Trachsel was Superintendent, and served in that
capacity until the congregation called a pastor of their own, when he was asked
to take those duties and responsibilities, Mr. Trachsel still remaining as a
teacher and showing great interest in the work.
In June 1901 the congregation was accepted as a member of
the Sheboygan Classis, and thereby became a part of the Reformed Church in the
United States. In that same year it was decided to pay their pastor $50.00 per
year for his services. The congregation sought to serve the Swiss and the
German people of the community with preaching service, services being conducted
in the German tongue. The congregation grew slowly, gaining members chiefly
from Swiss families moving her from Green County, Wis.
In the summer of 1907, the congregation bought the church,
in which they have been worshipping, from the Seventh Day Adventists. They also
purchased the location of the present church, in the same year. Money for these
two purchases was collected here at Humbird and at Green County. In 1908 the
pastor’s salary was raised to $60.00 a year. In the spring of the same year, a
petition was sent to Sheboygan Classis, to divide the parish consisting of
Stratford, Neillsville and Humbird because the Neillsville and Humbird
Congregations wanted more services. But this petition was not granted by
Classis.
Rev. H.W. Schroer resigned as pastor and closed his work on
the 18th of Oct. 1908. Later in the same year the pastor’s salary
was raised to $75.00. Rev. Jacob Stucki, Winnebago Indian Missionary at Black
River Falls, supplied this congregation with preaching service, until Rev. H.G.
Schmid accepted the call from this parish in July 1909. He served Humbird, ever
third Sunday, with afternoon preaching services.
In November 1910, another petition was sent to Classis, and
permission was asked, for Neillsville and Humbird to separate themselves from
the Mother Church at Stratford. If service could be had every two Sundays, even
if in the afternoon, the congregation promised to pay $200.00 towards the
salary. This petition was granted by Classis, and Rev. Schmid moved to
Neillsville the 8th of March, 1911, serving Neillsville and Humbird
to a better advantage.
Time came when the old church was too small to accommodate
the growing congregation. Finally in the spring of 1913 it was decided to erect
a new church edifice, on the property near the Humbird bluff, bought in 1907.
The church was built out of cement blocks. On Sept. 4th, 1913, the
corner stone was laid. On the 15th of March, 1914, the church was
dedicated to God, to serve the people of Humbird and community with divine
services. Much of the work was done by the members. The members of the
Consistory and the carpenter, Mr. Kretschmer, consisted the building committee.
The building cost about $4,500.00. All could be paid at the time of dedication
except $1,000.00.
The Ladies Aid, “Frauen-Verein”, which was organized during
Rev. Schroer’s term, was always an organization of “busy bodies.” At the time
the church was built, they bought and paid for the following: Window shades,
carpets, pulpit and pulpit chairs, pulpit bible, furnace and the 1200-pound
bell. This was purchased for $583.00.
In 1915 Rev. Schmid resigned as pastor of this parish to
take up work at Potter, Wis., and is now located at Plymouth, Wis. In February
of the same year, Student David Grether was called as pastor. He accepted the
call, and after graduating from the Mission House Seminary moved to Neillsville,
as the next pastor. During this year the congregation raised their share of the
pastor’s salary to $225.00.
Up to the time of separation from the mother church at
Stratford, this parish consisting of three congregations received financial aid
to the extent of $50.00 per year from the Board of Home Missions. After the
separation Stratford became self-supporting. Neillsville and Humbird, upon
recommendation from Sheboygan Classis, received aid to the extent of $250.00.
In 1925, the 25th Anniversary of the founding of
this congregation was celebrated in connection with the annual Harvest Home and
Mission Festival, Rev. H.G. Schmid being the speaker.
The church register shows the fist 25 years of the
existence of this congregation: 25 funerals, 20 weddings and 115 baptisms.
During the period 146 people were taken up as members, of whom 64 were confirmed
here, but through moving away, deaths and the erasure of a number of names,
there was a net membership of 95 communicant members. The congregation now paid
$600 pastor’s salary.
In November 1925, Rev. Grether closed his work her to moved
to Indiana, where he is now serving the Lord. In the same month Rev. Caleb
Hauser became the pastor of this charge, and served Humbird until Sept. 30th,
1926, when Humbird separated from Neillsville. Rev. Hauser remained pastor of
the Neillsville congregation while Humbird called Rev. E.F. Menger from Fremont,
Wis., to serve as their pastor. He assumed his duties here on Oct. 1st,
1926, and is serving here at the present time.
At the time Humbird separated from Neillsville and called a
pastor of their own, they had to see about a parsonage. A small but very
beautifully located building was found near the church, and purchased by the
Ladies Aid with the help of a $1,200.00 check from the Forward Movement. The
congregation promised to pay $900.00 for pastor’s salary. In the fall of 1926 a
two car garage and woodshed were erected. In the summer of 1927 extensive
repairs were made to the parsonage.
In the early summer of 1927, the Woman’s Missionary Society
was organized. They meet every moth. After the devotional program they make
things. The past year they have made handkerchiefs, washcloths, etc. A nice
Christmas box was sent to the Winnebago Indian school at Neillsville.
The Ladies Aid has done faithful work ever since organized,
always willing to do their share. In late years a number of members have been
talking about re-decorating the interior of the church. This last summer
definite action was taken. A committee was appointed to go ahead with the
preliminary work. Bids were received for the job, and the contract let to Mr.
Emil Gruhlke of Fairchild, Wis. All the woodwork, except the furniture,
received one or more coats of varnish. The floor was scraped and given two
coats of varnish. The walls and ceiling were painted with a much lighter color
than what it was, ivory for the ceiling and silver gray for the wall. Everybody
was well pleased with the fine job Mr. Gruhlke made. This work cost the Ladies
Aid the sum of $240.00.
In the Sunday School, excellent work is done by a fine
group of teachers. They endeavor to bring the scholars to a saving knowledge of
their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We have now 59 scholars enrolled, with
seven teachers.
At the present time the congregation numbers 111
communicant members. They now have their fifth pastor. They have had nine
different elders and eight different deacons. A class of seven young people are
taking instructions for confirmation.
All the services are conducted in
the English language except preaching is German every other Sunday.
English was first introduced in 1915 when Rev. D. Grether accepted the call.
St. John's
Lutheran (German Reformed) Church, 3 Feb 2012
photo furnished by
St. John's Jubilee
Booklet [Cover]
[1] [2]
[3] [4]
[5] [6]
[7] [8]
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[11] [12]
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