Seventy-Fifth Anniversary of Fredonia Church
To Be Observed at Jubilee Sunday

Abstracted from the "Sheboygan Press"
July 2, 1936

Fredonia -- Observing its 75th anniversary, the St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran church of Fredonia will hold its diamond jubilee services at the church on Sunday.

Complete preparations have been made, and a program has been arranged. At 9 a.m. on Sunday, the day of the special services, there will be English services with Profession Dr. William ARNDT, D. D., Ph.D. , of Concordia seminary, St. Louis, Mo., as the preacher.

The special German services will be held at 10:15 o’clock with Rev. A. E. NEES, pastor of the congregation from 1903 to 1909, and now in active work at Millington, Mich., delivering the festive sermon.

Social Activity

The afternoon will be given over to social activity, and the ladies of the congregation will serve both a dinner and also a supper for a nominal price.

In the evening at 7:30 o’clock, a German-English reunion service will be conducted for all those who were confirmed at St. John’s during the past 75 years. The Rev. Mr. NEES will deliver the English sermon, and the Rev. R. G. F. JAGOW, pastor, the German sermon. A roll call will follow the service and the choir and the children’s choir will sing appropriate songs to beautify the occasion. The pastor of the congregation, the Reverend Mr. JAGOW, extends a welcome to everyone.

At a time when an organization such as this one, a religious organization, which has contributed so much to civilization during the pioneering days, celebrates a birthday, it is well to review the history of that organization.

History of Congregation

St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran congregation of Fredonia dates as far back at 1846. That is 90 years ago when the country was just beginning to grow. It was not until 15 years later, after much effort on the part of these pioneering people that a log church was erected in 1861.

In 1846 a number of German immigrants settled in the vicinity of Fredonia. A few of these formed the nucleus of which, much later, sprang the St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran congregation of the town of Saukville. Services were conducted part of the time in the home of John LAUBENSTEIN, Sr. and part of the time in the district school house.

The first Lutheran pastor to administer to these people was the Rev. Mr. ROMANOVSKY of Milwaukee.

In 1849, the so-called fathers of the congregation secured an acre of land from A. E. BOESEWETTER for school and burial purposes. Due to the small number of members in the congregation and due to the primitive conditions, a frequent change of pastors resulted. The small band of pioneers was served from Random Lake, Grafton and Cedarburg, respectively. Services were seldom conducted every week, but the rule was every three or four weeks, and then many times not on Sundays, but on week-days.

First Church

It was in 1881, 75 years ago, that the congregation erected a log church 22 by 26 feet. It was located approximately three miles southeast of Fredonia off Highway 57, just across from the school house.

This year, 75 years ago, also marked the organization of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran congregation of the town of Saukville. The congregation shared its pastor with the congregations from Grafton and Cedarburg. From 1871 to 1872 a day school was maintained, and in 1874, a parsonage was erected. The necessary piece of property was received gratis from Henry SCHARDT. The congregation then received its first resident pastor, the Rev. K. A. MEYER, who served for seven years, preaching and also teaching the day school.

It was in the year 1875, that the congregations joined the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other states. In 1885, the congregation made a wise and prudent move by erecting a new church building in the village of Fredonia to replace the log church. Eleven years later this building was enlarged to its present size, at which time a steeple was added and a well-sounding bell of approximately 1,000 pounds was hung into it. The church building also housed the school room, and the school was taught by graduates or students.

Present Parsonage Erected

It was in 1903 that the present parsonage was erected. During the years 1881-1903 the congregation did not have its own resident pastor, but was served by men from Cedarburg. In 1903, however, the second resident pastor of the congregation, the Rev. A. F. NEES was called, who until 1909 served the congregation preaching and teaching. During his time, the church was renovated, the present pews installed and gasoline chandeliers replaced the kerosene lamps.

The successor to Reverend Mr. NEES was the Revered Mr. BUENGER, who served from 1909-1916 and then resigned from the ministry. He was succeeded by the Reverend Mr. FISCHER, who also resigned from office after serving from 1916-1919.

The next fourteen years marked a time of advancement, activity and growth. The Reverend Mr. GRAF was the man who labored diligently and conscientiously until the time of his death, May 24, 1933. During his activity, the parsonage was enlarged.

Sixtieth Anniversary

In 1921, the congregation observed its 60th anniversary in Slinger hall, Waubeka. Years 1925 and 1926 mark the time of the erection of the present school building at a cost of $6,200. The lot on which the school stands was obtained from John WIESE for $500 by a few members and presented to the congregation as a gift. In the spring of 1933, the church was decorated and the beautiful colored windows, a gift of Mr. WIESE, were installed.

The Reverend Mr. GRAF, whose health had been undermined after he had preached and taught for nearly fourteen years, performed his last official act May 21, a confirmation of a class of four. The follow Wednesday he was called to his reward.

Rev. JAGOW Begins

The present pastor, the Reverend JAGOW, followed and began his work in September of 1933. The school taught by the pastor was extended to the eighth grade, and was taught by Miss MARTIN of Kewaskum from 1934 to 1935, and is now being taught by Teacher H. J. PANNING, a graduate from the Theological Seminary for teachers at River Forest, Ill. In November of 1933, the congregation dedicated a two-manual rebuilt Schaefer pipe organ at a cost of $900.

An active ladies’ aid, a mixed choir and a young people’s society contributed much toward the life of the congregation.

The congregation is enjoying a nominal growth. Services are being conducted every Sunday morning in German and English.