The History of Immanual United
Church of Christ
Furnished by
Betty Wehrmann Comstock
Translated by Albert
Wehrmann in 1988 from the
Blue Sheboygan Classis:
Seventy Fifth Anniversary Book
In the spring of 1870 John Vollrath, Henry Decker, Henry
Schwarze, including their families left Franklin County, Wisconsin. Their
destination was Clark County, Wisconsin where they wanted to establish in the
woods a new home. The trip to here was rough. You could only travel so far as
Humbird by rail. The remaining 35 miles would be by wagon. In one area they
all had to get off the wagon. The horses could hardly pull the empty wagon. On
June 1st they arrived at their destination. They wanted to establish
their new home . close to where the church now stands. which was still in the
woods. you could see many nice evergreens.
The three families the first summer they lived together in
a log house that had been abandoned. The first summer they grew the nicest
potatoes without plow or drag. There was very little clearing. The price of
land was $5.00 an acre. Railroads were not established yet on trails through
the woods one could travel to Greenwood.
In the same year the brothers John and Herman Schwarze.
One year later Frederick Decker and family. In the year 1872 Frederick Buker
came by horses and wagon from town Herman. He bought a tract of land and built
a house the same fall. In the fall of the same year. Henry Humke arrived.The next year Ludwig Noah,
August Beilke, and their families. In the year 1874 Henry Fravert arrived. They had to bare many hardships we
do not know. It took work, determination to cut the trees, to prepare the land so they could seed and harvest.
They knew men lives not be bread alone. Many came out of Immanuel's Congregation in Town Herman and were Lipper.
When they came here they did not forget their God. It was their need in their new homes not to forget their beliefs.
In their houses they built it with Bible and songbook on Sundays they gathered in the Deckers School House (Now the school the Amish use.)
where a sermon was read by Henry Schwarze. Yet the people were without a house of God, without a shepherd and care of souls.
One member was of the opinion if no congregation would be formed he would leave the area but a wish to form a congregation would be soon fulfilled.
In the year 1873 Pastor Schoepfle came from LaCrosse., Wisonsin to preach in Decker School House. Through the grace of God already on 11th of January
1874 thru the urging of the pastor organizing would become a reality. Following names were found in a church book as organizers John and Phillip Vollrath
, August and Adolph Noah, Henry Humke and later Henry Schwarze, Fred Buker, Henry Decker, August Beilke, Fred Decker, Ludwig Noah and wives. Out of those
Will Vollrath and Herman Schwarze from the beginning shared. Pastor Schoepfle served the congregation now and then he was absent so there reading services held.
The congregation was formed but they had no house of God it was not layed aside it went smoothly on with the help of the Lord
Already in the year of organizing 40 acres of land were purchased. The purchase price was $160.00 and was paid right away.
So then a two story log house was built. The first story as a parsonage, the second story as a church and school house.
Pastor Schoepfle served them until year of 1878 they called Pastor Brungar who had studied at the Mission House.
He held his first service on Christmas 1878.
At this time the young congregation had acquired 40 acres of land, built a two story log house, dug a well and built a barn and 30 new members were received.
The services were well attended. They advanced well under his leadership, although in year 1882 he resigned to enter another field of work.
His follower was pastor Venker who was doing mission work in Marathon County.
The congregation at this time had 20 families as members. Pastor Venker writes about his tasks in Clark County. His predecessor had preached in various places. He gave Greenwood three Sundays out of four church services and Sunday School. Two Sundays out of four in the afternoon 4 miles east of Greenwood and on other Sunday 18 miles southeast of Greenwood and on the fourth Sunday afternoon 10 miles Straight South from the church in afternoons in Neillsville.
| 