EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF HORTON TOWNSHIP.
The first German Lutheran settlers of Horton township came in 1883 from
Will county, Illinois. They were Fredrich Glade, Henrich Pinkenburg,
August Palenski and Diedrich Wassmann. Wilhelm Noehren and Karl Griep
followed in 1884. On Ascension day, May 22, 1884, the Rev. J. D. Hesse,
at that time pastor at Hull, Iowa, preached the first German Lutheran
sermon in the old Methodist church, then standing on the D. Wassmann
place, one mile north and one-half mile west of Ocheyedan. From this
date he preached once a month, or as often as was possible, until 1886,
when H. Wind, a student from Concordia College, Springfield, Illinois,
assisted him, taught school during the winter, and preached. This marked
the beginning of the German parochial school of Horton township.
On April 17, 1887, the congregation was organized and a constitution
adopted. Since that time it has been known as the Evangelical Lutheran
church. The first signers of the constitution were H. Pinkenburg, H.
Rusche, Christ Bremmer, August Bremer, Karl Griep, D. Wassmann, Fred.
Glade, Chr. Pope. Fr. Kruetzel, August Palenske and Wilhelm Noehren. The
first trustees were Fred. Glade, H. Pinkenburg and D. Wassmann. The
secretary was Wilhelm Noehren and the treasurer was Chr. Bremer. John
Schinnerer was installed as first resident pastor on July 31, 1887. In
1888 the first church and parsonage was built. Fred Glade donated five
acres and Karl Griep three acres of land for church and school purposes.
In 1892 Rev. Schinnerer answered a call to Michigan and Rev. B. J.
Ansorge took charge. In 1896 Rev. Ansorge resigned and Rev. Chr.
Daeumler, of Sanborn, Iowa, was called. While he was pastor the German
Evangelical Lutheran St. Peter's church was organized in 1901. This
church built a new building in 1902 at a cost of forty-three hundred
dollars. The corner stone was laid April 20, 1902, and the new church
was dedicated August 3ist of the same year. On the day of dedication
only six hundred dollars remained unpaid. While Rev. Daeumler had charge
of the congregation, he had two assistants, A. Kraft and F. Budi. In
February, 1908, Rev. Daeumler followed a call to Oklahoma, and on
November 1st, of the same year, the present pastor, D. W. Laugelett, was
installed by Rev. A. Meukeus, of Ocheyedan.
The Lutherans in Horton township established a parochial, or church
school, before the congregation was organized and have maintained it
ever since. The reason for establishing and maintaining church schools
is because they feel it is their duty to instruct their children in the
Holy Word of God and make them good Christians. While the Sunday school
is good they feel that it is not enough. At the same time they believe
if they succeed in making them true Christians they have the very best
citizens of the United States. They believe with Daniel Webster, one of
the greatest statesmen and orators America has ever known, when he said
in his famous Plymouth oration, "Whatever makes men good Christians,
makes them also good citizens." And Gladstone, the world renowned
statesman of Great Britain, often said, "Try to make good conscientious
Christians of your children, and Great Britain will be well satisfied
with them as citizens." That is the avowed true spirit that animates the
Lutheran congregation. That is the reason they affirm for establishing
and maintaining their parochial schools. They desire to give their
children the "pearl without price"—the Christian religion—and make them
thereby the very best citizens of this country. At times this school has
had an enrollment of more than forty names, but at present there are
only twenty-one names on the roll.
The voting members of the church number thirty-three at the present
time. The present trustees are August Clans, George Ostermann and Conrad
Brerner. The German church, since its organization, has always been one
of the most important matters among the Germans in Horton township. If
by the teachings of the church and school they can make the growing
generation as good citizens as the present generation, then the country
may certainly be well satisfied.
