of
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| History of Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume I, 1911, pages 339-340
GERMAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The beginning of the German Methodist Episcopal church of Muscatine is left somewhat in darkness for the reason that some of the first records were lost. But it was about the year 1845 when the first German Methodist preacher came here in the person of Rev. L. S. Jacoby, D. D., and after visiting with the German people and preaching for them several times he made arrangements, he being a district superintendent, to have a preacher come to hold services for them. About the first part of the year 1847 Rev. Schutze was placed in charge of the Muscatine mission. He was an intelligent and eloquent young man and soon gained the confidence of the German people. He was successful in bringing a small company together and organizing the German Methodist church. The next year he was sent to Burlington, being succeeded in Muscatine by Rev. John Mann. He in turn was followed by Rev. John Plank, who was a popular pastor among his people. His successor was Rev. Korfhage. By this time several appointments were added to Muscatine, which became a circult and included Wilton Junction, Wapello, Iowa City and Illinois City. This greatly enlarged the field of labor, making it a very difficult task for the minister to supply them, as the only way to reach them in that primitive time was by horse and saddle. Up to this time the meetings were held in private houses. Five years after the organization of the church at Muscatine, Rev. Henry Fiegenbaum was sent as pastor. He was a very energetic man and in 1852 succeeded in raising enough money to build a church. At the time of the dedication his report was: "Cost of church, $1,049.95; money collected, $983.10; debt, $64.85." Among the leading members at that time were Conrad Mark and Henry Giesler. Later on Muscatine was again made a station, also the other appointments, Iowa City, Wapello and Wilton Junction, in connection with Pine Mills. Rev. Conrad Bernventer was the first pastor after Muscatine was made a station. The membership was increasing to such an extent that it became necessary to prepare for the erection of a new and larger church. Rev. Henry Schulte, the successor of Rev. Bernventer, had the honor to build the new church and to buy a parsonage, which together cost $7,000. About the year 1892 the present parsonage was built, while Rev. G. E. Heidel was serving as pastor of the church. He was succeeded by Rev. Henry Ross, and during his administration the new addition to the church was built and other improvements made at a cost of nearly $4,000. In the fall of 1908 the church was again renovated. The old windows were replaced by the present ones of cathedral style, the walls were newly decorated and frescoed and the woodwork revarnished, giving it on the whole, a very fine appearance. Other pastors who have served the church are: Revs. Frederick Martin, Carl Shuler, Jacob Haas, John A. Salzer, Peter Helwig, John M. Winckler, Frederick Prusberger, Henry Schulte, a second time, Jacob Haas, a second time, Carl Schneider, William Winter, Henry Lahrmann, Christ Peisch, Phil Kuhl, Henry Nanmann, Philip Nanmann, Louis Keck, Louis Harmel, Carl Thalenhorst, G. E. Heidel, A. H. F. Hertzler, Henry Ross, C. E. Baumgarten, and W. C. Schultz, who is the present pastor. The church now has a membership of 204, a Sunday school numbering 130, Epworth League 60, a brotherhood of 48, a Ladies' Aid Society of 60 and a Ladies' Missionary Society of 28 members. Six or seven young men from this church have gone out into the ministry.
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