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A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE KETTLE MORAINE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 1852—Present English
and Scotch settlers arrived in this area in 1842 to stake their claims
on the new frontier. They found a beautiful country covered with
forested land and a network of Indian trails bordered by many lakes and
rivers. The settlers began to put up makeshift shanties covered with
slabs of bark and bundles of hay. John Johnson who had come here in
1840 built a dam and a saw mill to make timber for the settlers' homes.
This little settlement was now called Johnson's Mill. By 1843 many of
the settlers had purchased land from the government for $1.25 per
acre. The Norwegian immigrants began calling Johnson's Mill by the name
of Newberg The new pioneers hungered for community worship and some
social life. Ministers of any denomination were welcome as long as they
could speak the English language. The Methodists sent preachers into
the frontier settlements. A man known as "Good Elder Wheelock" of the
Methodist Episcopal faith came on foot to preach to the people in their
homes, to bring them news, and to comfort the sick. In 1843 a
log schoolhouse was built high on the hill east of the Coonamawac
River. On April 15, 1852, the Presbyterian Church of Newberg was
organized by fifteen members of Scotch and English descent living in
the Newberg and North Lake area. Three ministers, one Presbyterian, and
two Congregational, led the organization of this church The members
held their worship services in the log schoolhouse. In 1845 John
Ferguson gave land for a church. When the church did not materialize,
the land was then used for a cemetery, which is the current Stone Bank
Presbyterian Cemetery. John Ferguson gave land for the original church
which was built near the log school. This building was dedicated on
March 4, 1858. A post office was established and the name of the
village Newberg was changed to Stone Bank. In 1855 the Church
accepted the Confession of Faith at the Covenant of the Milwaukee
District Convention In 1858 a home missionary began to serve the
church. In 1874 a pastor from the Delafield and Ottawa Presbyterian
Churches began to supply the Stone Bank church . In 1867 John Ferguson
was sent to the Milwaukee Convention to seek dismissal so the church
could join the Milwaukee Presbytery. After 20 years of steady growth, a
new and larger church was built further back on the church lot. While
Elder John W. Mason was attending a meeting of the General Assembly in
New York in May, 1896, a bolt of lightning struck the church, ripping
off the spire, breaking the windows, breaking the sides, and piercing
the stove pipe with a dollar size hole. The shock was so great it broke
some of the windows in the schoolhouse across the road, and kitchen
windows in the Mason house below the hill. Pieces of wood were
scattered over the surrounding countryside, and a big hole was left in
the ground by the gate of Larson's field across the road. A committee,
consisting of B. Boorman, James Miles, Ingelbert Peterson, R.D. Mason,
and W.J. Foster, was appointed to take care of the repair of the
church. Thomas Fulmer rebuilt the church and steeple for $357.52. The
church was painted, new opera style seats were purchased, and
wallpapering, carpeting, and plastering were redone. The insurance
company paid $560 for the repair of the church. A large center door
which opened to enter down the aisle, was put in for the convenience of
funerals held at the church. This repaired church served
the congregation until 1972. The church was then sold along with the
North Lake Presbyterian Church to help finance the building of the
Kettle Moraine United Presbyterian Church. The early settlers who once
travel by foot or horse and buggy to that little log schoolhouse to
hold their worship services on Sunday, would be very proud to see the
accomplishments and progress of the generations that followed after
them over the century."And Jesus said to him ...all things are possible to him who believes." Mark 9:23 The
Stone Bank and Delafield Presbyterian Churches shared the services of a
minister beginning in 1874 and continued for 78 years. Ottawa and North
Lake Presbyterian Churches were part of this parish for a short period
of time. Due to poor roads and slow travel, most of the members who
lived in North Lake and the surrounding area withdrew their memberships
from the Stone Bank Presbyterian Church to organize a Presbyterian
Church in North Lake in 1903 .In 1953 the Delafield Congregation
voted to have a minister of its own. The Stone Bank and North Lake
churches, unable to support ministers on their own, began making plans
for a joint parish served by one pastor. In 1960, a resident pastor was
installed to serve both churches. In January, 1961, the two
congregations voted to merge, the future Kettle Moraine United
Presbyterian Church was the result of this joint merger.A
"Service of Union" was held on August 6, 1961 for the newly organized
Kettle Moraine United Presbyterian Church. A
building committee was
organized and plans were made for a financial campaign. Eighteen acres
of land was purchased and a manse was built in 1963 on the front parcel
of land off Hwy K. Both the North Lake and Stone Bank Churches were
sold in order to finance the building of the church. A beautiful new
church was built and dedicated in 1973. An addition was added to the
church and dedicated in November of
1993. (compiled from "History of the Presbyterian Church of Stone Bank," by
Isabelle Miles.)
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF NEWBERG
(Organized —April 15, 1852)
On
April 15, 1852, the Presbyterian Church of Newberg was organized by 15
charter members, including families of English and Scotch settlers who
had arrived in Johnson's Mill and the North Lake areas as early as
1842. The first church was built for a cost of $390 and dedicated on
March 4, 1858, on land donated by John Ferguson. The debt was retired
by the rental of pews for $4-6 a year.
In 1858 the little
village of Newberg's name was changed to Stone Bank. After 20 years of
steady growth, a larger church was built on the back of the church lot,
for a total cost of $1,200. This church was dedicated, debt free, on
December 27, 1878. People came to church in ox carts along muddy trails
or walked for miles across the fields. Each Sunday the church was
filled for Sunday School and worship services. Strict obedience was
required in the church discipline and no work was allowed on Sunday.
They would neither buy nor sell on the Sabbath. No "nonsense" games
were played. The first church was heated by a pot belly stove; a
furnace was installed in the second church. The furnace smoked so badly
that 2 stoves were installed in the back of the church In
1896 a bolt of lightning struck the church causing such severe damage
the church had to be rebuilt. These early churches were built with the
help of many of the men who donated time and money. ChurchOriginal
Church Struck by Lightning
May 6, 1896
While Elder
John W. Mason was attending a meeting of the General Assembly in New
York in May, 1896, a bolt of lightning struck the church, ripping off
the spire, breaking the windows, breaking the sides, and piercing the
stove pipe with a dollar size hole. The shock was so great it broke
some of the windows in the schoolhouse across the road, and kitchen
windows in the Mason house below the hill. Pieces of wood were
scattered over the surrounding countryside, and a big hole was left in
the ground by the gate of Larson's field across the road
A
committee, consisting of B. Boorman, James Miles, Ingelbert Peterson,
R.D. Mason, and W.J. Foster, was appointed to take care of the repair
of the church. Thomas Fulmer rebuilt the church and steeple for
$357.52. The church was painted, new opera style seats were purchased,
and wallpapering, carpeting, and plastering were redone. The insurance
company paid $560 for the repair of the church. A large center door
which opened to enter down the aisle, was put in for the convenience of
funerals held at the church. This repaired church (shown on the right
hand side—with pillars that were added in 1950 through a gift) served
the congregation until 1972. The church was then sold along with the
North Lake Presbyterian Church to help finance the building of the
Kettle Moraine United Presbyterian Church.
The early settlers who
once travel by foot or horse and buggy to that little log schoolhouse
to hold their worship services on Sunday, would be very proud to see
the accomplishments and progress of the generations that followed after
them over the century.
"And
Jesus said to him ...all things are possible to him who
believes." Mark 9:23 suppers were held by the ladies
of the church to raise money.
Members
from the North Lake area began to withdraw their memberships from the
Stone Bank Presbyterian Church in 1903, in order to organize a
Presbyterian Church in North Lake.
A new educational unit was built with classrooms for the Christian Education Department. TheOriginal Church Struck by Lightning
May 6, 1896
While
Elder John W. Mason was attending a meeting of the General Assembly in
New York in May, 1896, a bolt of lightning struck the church, ripping
off the spire, breaking the windows, breaking the sides, and piercing
the stove pipe with a dollar size hole. The shock was so great it broke
some of the windows in the schoolhouse across the road, and kitchen
windows in the Mason house below the hill. Pieces of wood were
scattered over the surrounding countryside, and a big hole was left in
the ground by the gate of Larson's field across the road
A
committee, consisting of B. Boorman, James Miles, Ingelbert Peterson,
R.D. Mason, and W.J. Foster, was appointed to take care of the repair
of the church. Thomas Fulmer rebuilt the church and steeple for
$357.52. The church was painted, new opera style seats were purchased,
and wallpapering, carpeting, and plastering were redone. The insurance
company paid $560 for the repair of the church. A large center door
which opened to enter down the aisle, was put in for the convenience of
funerals held at the church. This repaired church (shown on the right
hand side—with pillars that were added in 1950 through a gift) served
the congregation until 1972. The church was then sold along with the
North Lake Presbyterian Church to help finance the building of the
Kettle Moraine United Presbyterian Church.
The early settlers who
once travel by foot or horse and buggy to that little log schoolhouse
to hold their worship services on Sunday, would be very proud to see
the accomplishments and progress of the generations that followed after
them over the century.
"And Jesus said to him ...all things are possible to him who believes." Mark 9:23 churches
of Stone Bank and North Lake began to discuss the formation of a joint
parish. On August 4, 1957, a joint congregational meeting approved a
resident pastor. The future Kettle Moraine United Presbyterian Church
was soon to become a reality.
Original Church Struck by Lightning
May 6, 1896
While
Elder John W. Mason was attending a meeting of the General Assembly in
New York in May, 1896, a bolt of lightning struck the church, ripping
off the spire, breaking the windows, breaking the sides, and piercing
the stove pipe with a dollar size hole. The shock was so great it broke
some of the windows in the schoolhouse across the road, and kitchen
windows in the Mason house below the hill. Pieces of wood were
scattered over the surrounding countryside, and a big hole was left in
the ground by the gate of Larson's field across the road
A
committee, consisting of B. Boorman, James Miles, Ingelbert Peterson,
R.D. Mason, and W.J. Foster, was appointed to take care of the repair
of the church. Thomas Fulmer rebuilt the church and steeple for
$357.52. The church was painted, new opera style seats were purchased,
and wallpapering, carpeting, and plastering were redone. The insurance
company paid $560 for the repair of the church. A large center door
which opened to enter down the aisle, was put in for the convenience of
funerals held at the church. This repaired church (shown on the right
hand side—with pillars that were added in 1950 through a gift) served
the congregation until 1972. The church was then sold along with the
North Lake Presbyterian Church to help finance the building of the
Kettle Moraine United Presbyterian Church.
The early settlers who
once travel by foot or horse and buggy to that little log schoolhouse
to hold their worship services on Sunday, would be very proud to see
the accomplishments and progress of the generations that followed after
them over the century.
"And Jesus said to him ...all things are possible to him who believes." Mark 9:23
"For where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of them." Matthew 18:20 |
May 6, 1896
While
Elder John W. Mason was attending a meeting of the General Assembly in
New York in May, 1896, a bolt of lightning struck the church, ripping
off the spire, breaking the windows, breaking the sides, and piercing
the stove pipe with a dollar size hole. The shock was so great it broke
some of the windows in the schoolhouse across the road, and kitchen
windows in the Mason house below the hill. Pieces of wood were
scattered over the surrounding countryside, and a big hole was left in
the ground by the gate of Larson's field across the road.
images/
A
committee, consisting of B. Boorman, James Miles, Ingelbert Peterson,
R.D. Mason, and W.J. Foster, was appointed to take care of the repair
of the church. Thomas Fulmer rebuilt the church and steeple for
$357.52. The church was painted, new opera style seats were purchased,
and wallpapering, carpeting, and plastering were redone. The insurance
company paid $560 for the repair of the church. A large center door
which opened to enter down the aisle, was put in for the convenience of
funerals held at the church. This repaired church (shown on the right
hand side—with pillars that were added in 1950 through a gift) served
the congregation until 1972. The church was then sold along with the
North Lake Presbyterian Church to help finance the building of the
Kettle Moraine United Presbyterian Church.
The early settlers who
once travel by foot or horse and buggy to that little log schoolhouse
to hold their worship services on Sunday, would be very proud to see
the accomplishments and progress of the generations that followed after
them over the century.
"And Jesus said to him ...all things are possible to him who believes." Mark 9:23 | NORTH LAKE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
(Organized March 12, 19O3)
The
people who lived in North Lake and the surrounding area were members of
the Presbyterian Church in Stone Bank from 1852— 1903. The members
began to withdraw their membership from the Stone Bank Church in order
to build their own Presbyterian Church in North Lake. On March 12,
1903, the First Presbyterian Church of North Lake was organized in the
Town Hall after a series of evangelistic meetings conducted by Rev.
J.C. Strand and Rev. Samuel McComb of Stone Bank and Delafield. There
was 18 members present at the first meeting.
A lot was donated by
Mr. O.T. Monstead for a church, but due to insufficient funds the
church did not materialize. In 1912 theimages/ lot was sold. In 1917 another
attempt was made to build a church. The Sunday
School and Church
services were begun in 1923, and for 20 years, this small group of
Presbyterians held their Sunday worship services in the Town Hall of
North Lake.
Mr. Gifford Ruby, a student from Beaver Dam High School
was obtained to teach Sunday School and to preach. Mr. Ruby was so well
received that plans were made at once for a real church building. Under
the leadership of Mr. Ruby, the donation of land by Mr. Hans Nelson and
Miss Monstead, and gifts of time and money, the church was built for at
a cost of $7,500. It was dedicated on Sunday October 16, 1927. The
Ladies Aid and the Men's Club of the church were vital and strong
working forces for the church over the years.
After Mr. Ruby
graduated from Carroll College in 1928, the church was supplied by
Carroll College students, and Mr. E. Ben Weinke, Registrar at Carroll
College, who served the church for 3 years until 1960. After much
consideration on August 4, 1957, the two congregation of North Lake
and Stone Bank voted to share a resident pastor. In 1960, a called was
extended to Rev. Homer Roberts and he was installed as the pastor of
the two churches. The future held many new and exciting endeavors, but
it would take many meetings and committed leadership with God's
guidance for the merger of the Stone Bank and North Lake Presbyterian
churches, (compiled from an article by Mrs. Alice M. Hayes- 1960)
"For everything there is a season; and a time for every matter under heaven ..."
Ecclesiastes 3:1 |
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