History
In 1859, the year after the organization of the Township of Belle Plaine, the settlement organized its first church. The people petitioned some of the nearest Lutheran pastors to serve them. The Rev. Ruhland of Oshkosh consented to make the long and difficult journey to this place. The trip was made partly by water on the Wolf and Embarrass rivers, and partly on foot or by ox-wagon. Frequently these wagons were lubricated with fish which could easily be taken from the streams abounding with fish at that time. The wagons were homemade, simple cross sections of logs serving as wheels.
On such a trip through the dense forest and swamps, myriads of mosquitoes would, of course, welcome the wayfarer. Pastor Ruhland, who was accustomed to order and comfort, chided these people for having moved into this wilderness, an act which he considered very foolish. The little group of people gathered together by this pastor, organized as St. Martin's Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, Belle Plaine, Wisconsin. The first constitution bears the date October 23, 1859. The charter members were: Carl Raash, Martin Preusz, Carl Reisner, F. Jaeckel, G. Mielke, H. Eckert, F. Degener, Carl Retzlaff, Christian Retzlaff, C. Manteufel, C. Bartelt, W. Retzlaff, J. Klickmann, C. Schewe, F. Tappendorf and F. Kirschberg. The first services were held at the home of Carl Reisner. A little later the congregation used the public schoolhouse for its services. This was a log building erected on the spot where the parish hall now stands. |