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         The German Evangelical Zion Church was organized in 1859 or ’60, at the grove, three and one-half miles south of the village, with Rev. Mr. Haertlin as first Pastor. He was followed successively by Rev. C. F. Off, for seven years; Rev. Mr. Jennrich, four years; Rev. W. Wahl, one and half years; Rev. J. Swartz, the present Pastor, one year.

         Services were held at the grove until 1877, when an elegant frame church was erected in Louden, at a cost of $2,000. At that time, also the lots and their present parsonage and school house were purchased for $1,200.

         There is a membership of fifty-eight members. Services are held in the German language. Sabbath school is held with Rev. J. Swartz, Superintendent, and a day school is conducted by Rev. Mr. Swartz. This has been held regularly for seven years, the school having a Winter attendance of forty-nine, and in Summer, seventeen. A tuition of fifty cents per month is charged.

         The German Evangelical Lutheran congregation was organized in 1871, and their church built in the same year, at a cost of $4,000. The school house and parsonage are valued at $1,200.

         As the two German churches are somewhat similar in belief and the distinction not generally understood, it may be interesting to note that while Zion’s Church belongs to the Evangelical Synod of North America, the other belongs to the Evangelical Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other States, one of seven or eight similar synods, called, collectively, the Synodical Conference of North America. The latter accept the Confession of the Lutheran Church contained in the Book of Concord of 1580, embracing the Augsburg Confessions, Apology for the same, Schmalcaldich Articles, larger and smaller Catechism and Formula Concordia.

         Rev. H. Englebrecht, now of Chicago, was the first Pastor at Louden, and, at the time of organization, there was a membership of about thirty-five families. Following him was the present Pastor, Rev. J. H. Brammer, who came in October, 1873, from Denver, Colorado.

         The present membership is forty-five families. School is kept by the Pastor in a school house belonging to the society. There is an attendance in Winter of about forty-five, and in the Spring of thirty-five.

         The Trustees of the Society are H. Wendt, H. Wiebel and H. Licht; Deacons (or Forstelier), Carl Kreinbring, H. Kroeger and F. Sieling. Services are held in the German language.

         Methodist.—The first religious services were of the Methodist denomination, held in No. 1 School House, one and a half miles southeast, by Rev. .Mr. Gil- . . .

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. . . ruth. He was followed by Rev. Mr. Amos. The first Methodist Church was built in Louden in 1861, Rev. A. J. Kynett, Presiding Elder. The first occupant was Rev. J. M. Hedges. Pastors: 1861-63, D. C. Worts, J. M. Hedges; 1863-64, W. R. Blake; 1864-65, J. G. Demmett, P.E.; J. L. Paine, G. R. Manning, Pastors; 1865-66, J. L. Paine, A. Brunson and ____ Evans; 1866-67, R. W. Keeler, P.E., R. G. Hawn, Pastor; 1867-68, E. Miller, P.E.; R. G. Hawn, Pastor; 1868-70, J. Newton; 1870-71, Esdras Smith; 1871-72, J. F. Baker, Pastor, J.S. Anderson, P.E.; 1872-73, E. G. Waite; 1873-74, Smith Aldrich; 1874-75, A. M. Smith; 1875-76, W. F. Parton, P.E.; A. M. Smith, Pastor; 1876-78, Rev. W. O. Glasner, the present Pastor.