A Brief History of St. Martin Lutheran Church - Belle Plaine
(Note: If anyone knows the origins of this article, I would be happy to list the author)
This part of the state was one dense forest and wide swamps. Between the yars 1830 and 1850, the white population in the Wisconsin Territory increased from 4,000 to 300,000. After 1846, great numbers of farmers, immigrants from Europe, settled in this region. In 1836, the Territory of Wisconsin was established. Green Bay, by virtue of numbers and historical background, had the strongest claim as a site for the new capitol, but was bypassed for the small town of Madison, by reason of its central location. Settlement, henceforth, was to come mainly from overland, from the East, south of of Lake Michigan.
1843 - 1863 Settlers carried supplies and mail by means of hand-powered boats up the Wolf River to Shawano four times a year on high water in the spring. Steamboats ran from Oshkosh on and from Lake Winnebago, and the way was made to New London. In 1854, a tote road was built from Shawano to New London. Supplies came by tote teams until a railroad came to Shawano in 1884, the most important event in connecting Shawano with the outside world. Land was sold so cheaply that those who were able, with willing hands and energy, could carve out and develop a farm by their industry and effort. It was, however, no easy life. In order to cultivate and plant the soil for supplying the necessary food, millions of feet of the finest hardwood, cedar, and pine were burned by the settlers. It was a very difficult task to roll the trees and stumps on huge piles to burn them. The axe and the hoe were familiar companioins as patch after patch of land was cleared of stumps and of stones.
Shawano County was incorporated February 16, 1853. The electors of Belle Plaine came together October 20, 1858 for the purpose of organizing a town. Jobs were offered for pole bridging and for cutting and clearing a strip for a highway.
This was the scene as our Lutheran pioneers, one after another, or in groups, became a part of the growing community. As it is related, "Shawano at times hummed and howled with brawls, fights, and wild tales of assorted characters and lumberjacks. There were those, too, who had the 'One Thing Needful' in mind. How in this remote area would faith be maintaned, and how would their children be baptized and nurtered in the Christian faith? If we are surprised at the willingness of these pioneers to take up the simple and laborious life of that day, we certainly are to be thankful for their example of faith in giving the Word of God the proper emphasis in their daily life. Such a faith shames the indifference, the inaction, and the disloyalty to Christ's Word which often enough becomes apparent in our later and more convenient day. 'The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the Word of our God shall stand forever.'"
"What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mindful of the Word of the Savior, amid all the hardships of the day, the people approached neighboring pastors, requesting help in establishing services, in giving instruction to the young, and in administering the Sacraments.
The Rev. Frederick Ruhland of Oshkosh, Wi consented to help to minister to the needs of the people as time permitted and to baptize the children. He made long and difficult trips through the dense and mosquito-plagued forest partly by the Wolf and Embarrass Rivers, and partly by foot or by ox-wagon.
After only a few trips in 1858, Pastor Ruhland could see the potential of starting a congregation here in the Northwoods. It was organized as St. Martin Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, Belle Plaine, Shawano County, WI. The first constitution, drafted by Pastor Ruhland, bears the date: October 23, 1959.
Services at first were held in a private home, on a farm to the east of the present parsonage, but somewhat later, the public schoolhouse was used for this purpose. Most of the members were too poor at the first to buy oxen or horses, and so practically all traveling was done on foot. Nevertheless, the testimony is given from these early settlers that they eagerly attended the divine service. Neither the weather, nor the condition of the roads, nor the distance from the church, kept these faithful forefathers from attending divine worship. Strengthened in the inner man, they would wend their way homeward. "What happy and blessed days whese were despite poverty and afflication!" writes Pastor Karpinsky in his history fo the first fifty years.
1868 - A clean, legal title was obtained for the property of the present church building. But there were burials in our cemetery before this date.
Pastor Ruhland was here for a very short time. He returned to Germany and became the president of the Saxon Free Church in 1876. On a visit to our country, when his son was entering the seminary here, he was killed in a railroad ferry accident. He was only 43 years old. Widely known, there were many memorial services for him.
The second pastor was Rev. J.N. Beyer, right out of the Fort Wayne Seminary in 1860. He served Readfield and also St. Martin. He served until 1863.
A number of the St. Martin members were in the Civil War. The present parsonage land was purchased at this time. Also in 1863, the first resident pastor was called. Rev. Beyer was released from his work at St. Martin due to illness. Shortly after, Rev. Beyer died of smallpox.
The third pastor was Rev. Peter Dicke. He was installed as pastor in June of 1863. He was also the Pastor of Bethlehem Church, Pella.
Rev. Dicke was one of the great circuit riders of his day. When he arrived, partly because of the ongoing Civil War, the congregation was in poor circumstances. The little log cabin church remained in an unfurnished state for two and a half years. In 1869, they finished their first church which would stand until 1907, when the present structure was built.
In 1865 when the troops returned from the Civil War, a fruitful spiritual season became apparent. This quietly permitted the zealous missionary-pastor to undertake his missionary explorations, the ingathering of scattered Lutherans, and the founding of congregations. Also at this time a number of members of St. Martin withdrew in order to organize St. John Lutheran Church of Belle Plaine. For many years our two congregations formed one parish, served by the same pastor.
After Pastor Dicke, 10 pastors followed to St. Martin Lutheran Church:
This part of the state was one dense forest and wide swamps. Between the yars 1830 and 1850, the white population in the Wisconsin Territory increased from 4,000 to 300,000. After 1846, great numbers of farmers, immigrants from Europe, settled in this region. In 1836, the Territory of Wisconsin was established. Green Bay, by virtue of numbers and historical background, had the strongest claim as a site for the new capitol, but was bypassed for the small town of Madison, by reason of its central location. Settlement, henceforth, was to come mainly from overland, from the East, south of of Lake Michigan.
1843 - 1863 Settlers carried supplies and mail by means of hand-powered boats up the Wolf River to Shawano four times a year on high water in the spring. Steamboats ran from Oshkosh on and from Lake Winnebago, and the way was made to New London. In 1854, a tote road was built from Shawano to New London. Supplies came by tote teams until a railroad came to Shawano in 1884, the most important event in connecting Shawano with the outside world. Land was sold so cheaply that those who were able, with willing hands and energy, could carve out and develop a farm by their industry and effort. It was, however, no easy life. In order to cultivate and plant the soil for supplying the necessary food, millions of feet of the finest hardwood, cedar, and pine were burned by the settlers. It was a very difficult task to roll the trees and stumps on huge piles to burn them. The axe and the hoe were familiar companioins as patch after patch of land was cleared of stumps and of stones.
Shawano County was incorporated February 16, 1853. The electors of Belle Plaine came together October 20, 1858 for the purpose of organizing a town. Jobs were offered for pole bridging and for cutting and clearing a strip for a highway.
This was the scene as our Lutheran pioneers, one after another, or in groups, became a part of the growing community. As it is related, "Shawano at times hummed and howled with brawls, fights, and wild tales of assorted characters and lumberjacks. There were those, too, who had the 'One Thing Needful' in mind. How in this remote area would faith be maintaned, and how would their children be baptized and nurtered in the Christian faith? If we are surprised at the willingness of these pioneers to take up the simple and laborious life of that day, we certainly are to be thankful for their example of faith in giving the Word of God the proper emphasis in their daily life. Such a faith shames the indifference, the inaction, and the disloyalty to Christ's Word which often enough becomes apparent in our later and more convenient day. 'The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the Word of our God shall stand forever.'"
"What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mindful of the Word of the Savior, amid all the hardships of the day, the people approached neighboring pastors, requesting help in establishing services, in giving instruction to the young, and in administering the Sacraments.
The Rev. Frederick Ruhland of Oshkosh, Wi consented to help to minister to the needs of the people as time permitted and to baptize the children. He made long and difficult trips through the dense and mosquito-plagued forest partly by the Wolf and Embarrass Rivers, and partly by foot or by ox-wagon.
After only a few trips in 1858, Pastor Ruhland could see the potential of starting a congregation here in the Northwoods. It was organized as St. Martin Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, Belle Plaine, Shawano County, WI. The first constitution, drafted by Pastor Ruhland, bears the date: October 23, 1959.
Services at first were held in a private home, on a farm to the east of the present parsonage, but somewhat later, the public schoolhouse was used for this purpose. Most of the members were too poor at the first to buy oxen or horses, and so practically all traveling was done on foot. Nevertheless, the testimony is given from these early settlers that they eagerly attended the divine service. Neither the weather, nor the condition of the roads, nor the distance from the church, kept these faithful forefathers from attending divine worship. Strengthened in the inner man, they would wend their way homeward. "What happy and blessed days whese were despite poverty and afflication!" writes Pastor Karpinsky in his history fo the first fifty years.
1868 - A clean, legal title was obtained for the property of the present church building. But there were burials in our cemetery before this date.
Pastor Ruhland was here for a very short time. He returned to Germany and became the president of the Saxon Free Church in 1876. On a visit to our country, when his son was entering the seminary here, he was killed in a railroad ferry accident. He was only 43 years old. Widely known, there were many memorial services for him.
The second pastor was Rev. J.N. Beyer, right out of the Fort Wayne Seminary in 1860. He served Readfield and also St. Martin. He served until 1863.
A number of the St. Martin members were in the Civil War. The present parsonage land was purchased at this time. Also in 1863, the first resident pastor was called. Rev. Beyer was released from his work at St. Martin due to illness. Shortly after, Rev. Beyer died of smallpox.
The third pastor was Rev. Peter Dicke. He was installed as pastor in June of 1863. He was also the Pastor of Bethlehem Church, Pella.
Rev. Dicke was one of the great circuit riders of his day. When he arrived, partly because of the ongoing Civil War, the congregation was in poor circumstances. The little log cabin church remained in an unfurnished state for two and a half years. In 1869, they finished their first church which would stand until 1907, when the present structure was built.
In 1865 when the troops returned from the Civil War, a fruitful spiritual season became apparent. This quietly permitted the zealous missionary-pastor to undertake his missionary explorations, the ingathering of scattered Lutherans, and the founding of congregations. Also at this time a number of members of St. Martin withdrew in order to organize St. John Lutheran Church of Belle Plaine. For many years our two congregations formed one parish, served by the same pastor.
After Pastor Dicke, 10 pastors followed to St. Martin Lutheran Church:
Pastor Wilbert Werling came in 1958. He left the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in 1966 and joined the Evangelical Lutheran Synod with the support of the St. Martin congregation and remained their pastor until he retired. St. John congregation stayed with the LCMS and called their own pastor. Rev. Paul Schneider became pastor in 1973. In June of 1976, the congregation was accepted into membership of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Rev. Michael Krentz served the church from 1980 to 1983. Rev. John Smith was here from 1983 to 1993. The new addition was constructed on the front of the church in 1991 to make it handicapped accessible. This added a larger narthex, bathroom, elevator, meeting rooms and storage. Rev. Robert Sawall served as vacancy pastor for a little over 2 years, until Seminary candidate Erik Gernander was installed July 28, 1996 and served until Sept. 30, 1999. Rev. Richard Russow was vacancy pastor Oct. and Nov. of 1999. St. Paul Lutheran Church, Clintonville, WI then desired to call their own pastor, so St. Martin called Rev. Richard MacKain and he served from Nov. 1999 until his death Aug. 6, 2002. Rev. Gerald Free and Rev. Leonard Pankow served as vacancy pastors until Rev. J. Kincaid Smith was installed Feb. 16, 2003. He served until Aug. 29, 2004. Again Rev. Free and Rev. Pankow served until Rev. John Smith was called back to St. Martin and installed Sept. 19, 2004.