Zion Evangelical & Reformed Church History
1854-1959
Swiss families from Switzerland came to the Prairie du Sac area as early as 1842. They were of the Reformed Church. Religious meetings were held in homes. They soon felt they needed a pastor. They wanted one to come from Switzerland but could not raise the money for his passage. They finally found a Reformed pastor named Flori, who lived in Dubuque, Iowa. He came and preached on Sundays. Then they learned there were German pastors of the Evangelical Association of North America. They sent for Reverend Mueller, who served for one year. For the next five years, up to 1850, two other pastors, Reverend Hauert and Reverend Linter, conducted services. In 1846, a Sunday School was established. It was held in a little cabin on the Valentine Accola farm for 20 children.
Many people didn’t want to give up the Reformed faith; and when plans for building a union church in 1846 were made, the Reformed members wanted to include building a school with the church. The project was dropped, the Reformed share was bought, and the Ragatz Church was built. (The Salem Evangelical Church on PF, now known as Salem United Methodist, which is no longer in use.)
In 1854, a parcel of land was bought. A small wooden steepleless church was built on it. The congregation was organized as Evangelical Reformed under Reverend Spangler. He, also, tried to organize a church in Sauk City but failed. In 1865, the congregation decided to join the German Reformed Synod of North America. In October 1865, the church met for the first time with the name, Second Evangelical Reformed Congregation of Prairie du Sac. Reverend Brecht served the congregation for a time as Pastor of the Prairie du Sac church and the church in Sauk City. In 1867, he resigned from the Sauk City church and became pastor of the Prairie du Sac church for the next 24 years.
In 1883, it was decided a new church was to be built. It was dedicated on September 21, 1884.
In January of 1910, the name of the church was changed to Zion Reformed Congregation. Until 1919, all services were in German and the change to English was made very gradually.
The last pastor to serve Zion was Reverend Herbert Feierabend. On Sunday, August 23, 1959, Zion’s 101 members became part of the First Evangelical and Reformed Church in Sauk City.
Their church was sold in August 1959 and moved to Water Street in Sauk City and is now the Calvary Baptist Church.
Following are the names of some of their members who joined us in 1959 and still worship here: Evelyn and Ruth Accola, VaLera Accola, Arline Frommung, Lucinda Gruber, Chuck Henning, Ellen Henning, Lilah Sprecher, Ron Lipka, Emily Fuchs, Shirley Moely, Edsel and Caroline Steuber, Doris Steuber, Doug Steuber, Kleo Harris, Anna and Merton Zick, Joe Matousek, Don Diske, and Dorothy Moely.
Written in 2008 - A Historical Piece - From the 150th Anniversary Committee
Pastors who served zion Evengelical & Reformed
18??-1855 Rev. Spengler
1855-1860 Rev. Knosptel
1860-1863 Rev. John Lenhardt
1863-1865 Rev. Zuecher
1865-1865 Rev. John J Brecht
1865-1866 Rev. Laupy
1867-1890 Rev. John J Brecht
1890-1893 Rev. E R Hinske
1893-1895 Rev. Knie
1895-1900 Rev. Peter Dyken
1900-1903 Rev. August E Hamann
1903-1908 Rev. Henry Grieb
1908-1910 Rev. H C E Fischer
1910-1918 Rev. Carl F Dahn
1918-1919 Rev. Frederick W A Sawitsky
1920-1923 Rev. Julius J Bussian
1923-1934 Rev. Adolph Ruehlman
1934-1943 Rev. Frank Settiage
1945-1948 Rev. Harold Kratzat
1950-1954 Rev. Valerius Schultz
1955-1957 Rev. Herbert Feierabend
Rev Harold & Evelyn Kratzat
Rev Valerius Schultz, Zion 100th Anniversary, Aug 1 1954
Rev Herbert Feierabend
Rev Wilson Bixler
Zion Evengelical & Reformed Church at its 100th Anniversary, Aug 1 1954
Zion Evengelical & Reformed Church 'moving' on its way to become the Sauk City Baptist Church, Aug 1959
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Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church
It is with great pleasure that we welcome into our midst the members of a congregation five years older than ours. This church was also begun by Swiss immigrants who came into the area as early as the summer of 1842. Some of these families were the Ragatz, the Leizers and the Valentine Accolas. On April 4, 1854, a parcel of land was acquired from Mr. Clavadatscher and also a portion from C. Moely. This land was probably the south half of the present cemetery in Town Prairie du Sac. A small wooden steepleless structure was built. When this structure became inadequate it was dismantled and parts sold at auction.
A young man by the name of A. Wolf located near the Accolas. The new Church was built on a portion of the former Wolf homestead and therefore this Church was often referred to as the "Wolf Church".
These people wrote to Switzerland asking that a Reformed minister be sent out, but they could not raise the money for his passage and so no minister came. A Reformed Pastor, named Flori, from Dubuque, Iowa came and preached one Sunday, but did not stay.
A Rev. Mueller of the Evangelical Association of North America conducted regular services once a month for more than a year. A Sunday School was founded in 1846 for about 20 children. These services were held in a little building on the Valentine Accola farm.
The congregation was finally organized as the Evangelical Reformed Religious Group under the direction of Rev. Spengler of Switzerland. He was followed in 1855 by Rev. Knoepfel who served five years. Rev. Lenhardi served the congregation from 1860 to 1863, when Rev. Zuecher came. Rev. Zuecher resigned in 1865 and the congregation became convinced that they merited the help and protection of the Synod. On September 24, 1865, at a congregational meeting, presided over by Rev. J. J. Brecht, it was decided by majority vote to join the German Reformed Synod of North America and that a constitution be offered. The constitutional committee consisted of the following: Rev. J. J. Brecht, Christian Grass, Valentine Accola, Ulrich Von Wald and Carl Jubal. On October 10, 1865 this constitution was adopted and they requested admission to the Sheboygan Classis. Rev. Leupy was called and served for ten months. On October 16, 1865, the congregation met for the first time under the name of Second Evangelical Reformed Congregation of Prairie du Sac. After this Rev. J. J. Brecht of the First Reformed Congregation at Sauk City served both of these congregations. Rev. Brecht was followed by Rev. Hinske.
The present church was built in 1883. On January 23, 1910 the church became known as the Zion Reformed Congregation of Town of Prairie du Sac. On January 8, 1911 the church received its charter.
The church was served from 1893 to 1957 by the following Pastors: Rev. Knie, Rev. Peter Dyken, Rev. Aug. E. Hamann, Rev. Henry Grieb, Rev. H. C. E. Fisher, Rev. Carl F. Dahn, Rev. Frederick W. Sawitsky, Rev. Julius Russian, Rev. Adolph Ruehlman, Rev. Frank Settlage, Rev. Harold Kratzat, Rev. Valerius Schultz and Rev. Herbert Feierabend.
After Rev. Feierabend left the Synodical Council could find no Pastor for Zion Church, which therefore voted to become a part of the First Evangelical and Reformed Church at Sauk City. Upon the permission of the Synodical Council authorizing the transfer of the entire Zion membership to First Evangelical and Reformed Church of Sauk City, they became part of this congregation on Sunday, August 23, 1959, the Rev. W. M. Bixler, officiating.
