- REV. H. H. BRAUKHAUS. Few historical topics are more replete
with interest than the story of
- the development and growth of the church upon the frontier,
when the minds and energies of men and women alike were concentrated
chiefly upon material growth, and brawn usurped the place of
piety. It was in such soil (far from fertile) that the Evangelical
Association first dropped its seed, prayerfully, perhaps fearfully.
The primal gatherings of the denomination were held in one of
the early school houses, Rev. J. SILL being the first preacher.
He was stationed at New Glarus, Green county, but found time
to minister, as occasion required, to the spiritual needs of
the mission at Monroe. He was succeeded by the Rev. L. BUEHLER,
under whose direction a Sunday school was organized in 1858,
the first church edifice being erected two years later. This
structure was primitive, alike in its exterior and in its furnishings;
its cost exceeding $160. The sum seems ridiculously small, yet
it must be borne in mind that the amount named covered only the
cost of material, the labor of erection being cheerfully and
gratuitously rendered by willing hands. It was the first church
to be erected in Monroe where the truths of the Gospel were proclaimed
to the people in the German tongue. The members of the church
were liberal in their conception of the niceties of creed, and
broad in their treatment of their fellow Christians. They esteemed
their brethren of the Lutheran Church, and for a time all dwelt
in spiritual harmony, the comparatively small number of German
families virtually necessitating a community of religious effort,
and a homogeneity of worship. Little by little, however, the
numerical strength of the Lutherans increased, and the members
of this sect erected their own house of worship, thus virtually
separating themselves from their former colaborers in the religious
field. The history of the denomination in Green county is, however,
full of interest. After Mr. SILL's time, services were conducted
at the mission by Rev. L. BUEHLER, and the first resident pastor
was the Rev. T. VON WALD, who remained for two years, followed
by the Rev. Andrew TARUNTZER, and after one year Rev. J. G. ESSLINGER
succeeded him, and he in turn was followed by Rev. W. F. SCHNEIDER,
whose pastorage extended over one year. He was a man of ripe
learning, and subsequently became connected with the publishing
house of the denomination, and continued to sustain that relation
until his death. During his term of service here a new church
building, costing $1,800, was erected, which was dedicated by
the presiding elder, Rev. C. A. SCHAKE. After Mr. SCHNEIDER's
departure in 1864, Rev. J. G. ESSLINGER returned. Succeeding
pastors were Revs. C. F. FINGER, William HUELSTER, and J. M.
HAMMETTER. the last named was succeeded by Rev. L. BUEHLER, in
1871, and he was followed by Rev. J. C. BRENDEL, in 1876. In
the spring of that year the first Conference of the Association
was held in Monroe. Rev. H. UPHOFF followed, remaining three
years, when he gave way to Rev. Peter HELD, and he in turn to
Rev. C. GRUEN, who remained for only one year, being sent by
the Conference as a home missionary to California. He was followed
by Rev. C. LAHR, who is now living in retirement at Judd, Monroe
county. Then came Rev. P. SPEICH, at present pastor of a church
at Milwaukee, and he was succeeded by Rev. N. H. MESSERSCHMIDT,
the present Presiding Elder of the Illinois Conference. His pastorage
began in 1891, and during its continuance the present church
(the third built by the congregation at Monroe) was erected,
the membership having increased to 232. Rev. C. C. WELLSO came
after Mr. MESSERSCHMIDT. Rev. M. GAURKE followed him, and both
these gentlemen are now stationed at Milwaukee. Mr. GAURKE was
succeeded by the present pastor, the Rev. H. H. BROCKHAUS. The
present church membership numbers 270, and the church itself,
under the devoted zeal and piety of the eloquent clergyman who
is its spiritual head, is in a most flourishing condition, and
a potent element for good in the community. The congregation
owns a commodious house of worship and a good parsonage.
- Frederick BROCKHAUS, the father of Mr. BROCKHUAS, emigrated
from Germany, and
- settled in Brown Co., Wis., in 1845, and there the reverend
gentleman himself was born, in 1860. Both parents are yet living,
the father at the age of eighty and the mother, Mary BROCKHAUS,
ten years her husband's junior. Mr. BROCKHUAS received his early
educational training in the schools of Brown county, and was
educated for the ministry at the Northwestern College. His first
pastoral charge was at Forest Junction in Calumet county, Wisconsin,
where he remained for two years. The following year he was pastor
at Arlington, in this State, and afterwards spent two years at
Arcadia, three at Alma and four at Mauston. From the last named
place he came to Monroe in May, 1899.
- On Jan 6, 1886, Mr. BROCKHAUS was married to Miss Augusta
BARNETZKE, daughter of
- William and Johanna BARNETZKE, and seven children have blessed
their union - three sons and four daughters.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin,"
(c)1901 Union Publishing; pp. 528-529.
-
- Courtesy of Carol.
|