Bears Grass Church - Near Augusta Wisconsin, Fall Creek Wisconsin, and Foster Wisconsin.
Saint Peters Lutheran Church Destroyed by fire on August 21 2015
It was also known as The Bears Grass Church near Augusta Wisconsin
Blake Bichanich, a resident, lost lost his life in the fire
The old church was sold in 2011 and converted to a private residence in 2012 by Mr. Bichanrich
This Evangelical Lutheran Church was de-sanctified in 1996 by it's parent Congregation, The Augusta Wisconsin Grace Lutheran Church, in Augusta Wisconsin because of declining church attendance and the need for extensive maintenance and repairs. The church served the Augusta Wisconsin, Fall Creek Wisconsin and Foster Wisconsin areas from the late 19th Century to the end of the 20th Century.
Click a picture to see a larger view. (10 images)
You can see an interior shot showing the
Alter in this 1939 Confirmation Class of John Knuth
Local Rural Neighborhood churches once served a vital need in communities where transportation was limited and families, particularly farm families were large. Those time gradually passed with the change from a rural society to an urban society. See some pictures of the Area, set in the center of America' Dairyland
You can see the St Peters Altar and part of the inside of the Church as is was in 1939 by a confirmation photo graph of the Confirmation of John Knuth, the youngest Son of William and Minnie Knuth
History of Bears Grass Area, 1855 - 1948
Article Used with permission from WebGen
Bears Grass in the early days was wild burnt-over brush lands which made
cultivation on a large scale impossible until the difficult task of
clearing the land had been accomplished. However, the accomplishment was
not realized until after many years of continuous grubbing, hoeing, and
tilling. Therefore, today we find our land very productive and in a high
state of cultivation. Farmers at first specialized in grain farming but
have since changed to dairying and the use of modern machinery as; hay
balers, combines, choppers and corn pickers, which are beginning to
replace old machinery and methods.
One of the earliest pioneer families to come to this wild land during
the covered wagon days was Patrick and Clarissa Herrick who, prior to
their coming here in 1855, had lived in Pennsylvania and two years in La
Crosse County. They purchased 300 acres of land, their original
homestead being now owned by their grandson, Harlow Herrick (1949). It
was purchased in 1858 for $2.15 an acre from the United States
Government, being school and university land.
Their son, William H. Herrick took over the homestead in 1865. There
Patrick and his wife Augusta Stubbe Herrick who had lived on a farm
adjoining the Herrick homestead spent the remaining years of their
lives. Mr. Herrick served the district as clerk on the school board for
many years.
Mrs. Herrick was also a devoted Christian and a life-long member of the
Lutheran Church, attending regularly and as long as she was able to be
about. She was skilled in the art of rug making and other handiwork,
caring for a flower garden for which she was widely known.
Their son, Harlow, and his wife Doris, took possession of the homestead
in 1921 and are the present occupants.
Another known pioneer settler of this community was August Sell who
purchased his pioneer homestead from Julius Frase, Nov. 8, 1881. May 2,
1895 Mr. and Mrs. Edward Sell took over the homestead. They were also
active members in the church and community and always ready to lend a
helping hand.
Mr. and Mrs. Ewald Sell are the present occupants of the Sell homestead
having had it in their possession since June 10, 1937.
One great-great-great-grandchild and two great-great-grandchildren of
Patrick Herrick, attending the Bears Grass School at present are:
Patricia Erdman, Roger and Donna Herrick. Great-grandchildren of August
Sell now attending are Shirley, Donald and David Sell.
Others that have lived most of their lives in this community are Wm.
Swanke, Mrs. Paulina (Henke) Sell (both deceased), Mrs. Alvina (Lissock)
Honadel and Mrs. Louise (Schacht) Kunert.
Many other families besides those already mentioned have lived in this
community for over half a century or prior to 1910 are Erdmann's, Dehnke,
Moldenhauer, Bremel, Volbrecht, Kuehn, Block, Elbert, Messerschmidt,
Kunert and Stubbe.
As this area became populated, a church was erected on the sight near
the present school facing the east. That church was rough lumber
structure stripped with batten, unpainted and erected on high blocks.
The interior walls were made of sand, straw, and plaster, being
white-washed at intervals when necessary.
The land for the new and present church was donated by Theodore Block
just diagonally across the road from the old church site. The new
structure was erected in 1893 by Mr. William Neibuhr, contractor of Fall
Creek and Mr. Fred Henke, carpenter with the congregation donating their
assistance with needed. The first marriage solemnized in the new church
by the Rev. Otto Broem united Henry Erdman and Otelia Block.
The Rev. Frederick of St. Johns, Town of Lincoln, served the people of
Bears Grass until a regular pastor was called. The following pastors
have served Bears Grass:
F. W. Ruedeger H. F. Proehl
H. Bruss H. Stute
Otto Broem Otto List
Henry Mueller Chester L. Thalacker
The people of this area also provided for the education of their
children. In reviewing record books, it was found that prior to 1874
districts No. 5, 4 and 2 must have been connected in some way as John
Schofield Dist. No. 2 (Lincoln Valley View) was paid the sum of $22.50
on March 4, 1875 for division of property and E. Stevens, Dist. 4
(Rodell) was paid the sum of $76.50 for division of property. Heretofore
those districts must have been united. Records show Bears Grass began in
1874 with a special meeting. Carl Schwanke was paid the sum of $20.00
for part of the present school site. The officers elected at that time
were:
Ludwig Quast, director for a term of one year,
Erdman Fredrick, treasurer for a term of two years, and
Herman Frase, clerk for a term of three years.
The original school building, an old structure, stood about twenty feet
west of the present building and faced the south. It was a one room
school and had seats made of pine boards which were very uncomfortable
and in general were too large for the children. It was heated by an old
box stove with a big round sheet iron dome on top of it to furnish more
heat. It was about four feet long and as high as a man is tall. A
humorous incident related of one man teacher who would put his feet up
on the stove at recess time and noon, chewed tobacco and spit the juice
under the stove on some bricks that were there to prevent the heat from
the stove from setting the floor on fire.
In 1875 the sum of $175 was raised by special tax for teachers wages and
$41.75 was added to above amount for the purchase of fuel and other
necessary expenditures. School was taught three months during the winter
term commencing in November or January as the board saw fit and two
months during the summer beginning in April or May depending on the
condition of the roads.
In 1876 school was in session six months, three months during the winter
and three months during the summer.
In 1880 school was in session seven months.
In 1889 Alfred Herrick, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Herrick, had the honor
of being the first pupil to graduate from the Bears Grass School. Miss
Anna Smith was the superintendent, who gave the examination in Augusta
to all candidates in the territory neighboring Augusta.
July 1, 1895, $200 were raised toward building a new school.
In 1897 school was in session eight months. Peter Fetter of Augusta
built the present school and furnished all material except plaster for
the sum of $469. Wm. Swanke, Ernest Lissack, Henry Bremel and Michael
Moldenhauer were on the building committee. Wm. Swanke and Fred Schadler
were on the committee to inspect building material. August Schiefelbein
delivered the necessary stone. The old school building was sold to Emil
Hanselman who lived on his father's farm about two miles south of the
school. He used the lumber to build a shop where he made bee hives and
other equipment for his bee yard. Mr. Hanselman now lives in Augusta and
still is in the bee supply business and keeps bees (1949).
Alfred Herrick taught the last year in the old school and the first year
in this new school. That year the children gave a program to raise money
to buy the bell that was erected on the north end of the present
building. That bell has been in use ever since.
In 1911 Herlanda Erdman and Theresa Stubbe were the next two pupils to
graduate from the Bears Grass School. Records of graduates were not kept
after that.
July 9, 1928 another parcel of land was purchased from Wm. Swanke to
enlarge the playgrounds. Baseball being the favorite sport, therefore
more space was needed. Many pupils after graduating, continued to excel
in baseball and other forms of athletics.
In 1939 the school was wired for electricity making possible the use of
modern conveniences and devices.
February 1946 the oil burning heating unit was installed and the
interior redecorated, making it more comfortable and pleasant for pupils
and teacher.
Records also showed that the district provided for the cleaning of the
school house, chimney and stove pipes since its organization in 1875.
Among the other early settlers we notice the following: S. B. Kidder,
Nicholas Matz, Uriah Harrington, Henry Stevens, Eli La Grave and Chas.
Shong. The Shong farm is still operated by a descendent, Richard Shong.
Albert Knuth purchased the former La Grave farm. Lorain Schroeder,
Lowell Stevens and Paul Wolfgang live on what was known as the Stevens'
farm.
These early settlers saw the need of an education for their children so
a log school house was built on the southeast corner of the present Wm.
Harke farm. No records could be found of that school.
The minutes of the meeting of September 28, 1874 show that it was voted
to raise $400 toward building a school house on the site of the present
Rodell School. The minutes of following meetings show that from time to
time needed repairs were made. At the meeting of July 24, 1897 it was
voted to add twelve feet to the south end of the schoolhouse.
We noticed that the box type stove was used until 1907 when it was
replaced by a heating plant.
In 1874 the school term consisted of five months, three of which were
the winter term and two the summer term. It was usually voted to have a
male teacher for the winter term and a female teacher for the summer
term.
It was voted in 1897 to have a term of eight months divided as follows:
two and one half months fall term, three months winter term, and two and
one half months spring term. The minutes of the meeting of July 7, 1924
show that the voters favored a nine months term.
In the minutes of July 1, 1889 it was voted that the clerk keep the
books at his house and if the children wanted a book they should come to
his house and bring the money and pay for the book. At every meeting the
clerk should give the account of the books bought and sold. Eight years
later or in 1897 it was voted to have free text books.
In 1876 the schoolhouse was cleaned twice a year which was at the
beginning of each term. As the terms grew longer it was cleaned more
often.
The minutes of 1881 show that it was voted to use the schoolhouse for
religious purposes.
The present school building was built in 1915. It is heated by a
furnace. In 1945 electricity was installed. From time to time new
equipment is added and necessary improvements made to keep it
up-to-date.
Photo of the Bears Grass Students, 1916
Bessie F. Greene of Altoona was the first teacher in the new school. She
is now Mrs. P. R. Knobel and lives in St. Paul. In answer to our letter
she wrote:
"Yes, I was the first teacher in the new school. I began my teaching
career there September 27, 1915. Lots of pleasant memories there for
me."
Records show that she taught here for three years.
Erna Voechting of Fall Creek was the last teacher in the old school
house. Teachers having taught here since 1874 are:
TEACHER and YEAR
Nettie Day 1874 Ernest G. Herrell 1886
Alice A. Hubbard 1875 Chas. E. Ketchum 1887
George W. King 1875 Diana Dighton 1887
Nellie Snow 1876 S. C. Stevens 1887
Rosa Devlin 1877 Abbie Spencer 1888
Martha Hutchinson 1878 Nellie O'Brien 1888 - 1889
Freeman Works 1878 - 1880 Wm. L. Vallean 1889
Bertha E. Himebauch 1880 Charity Prutsman 1890
No Record 1881 Isa Bullis 1891
Ella Barnes 1882 Gay Warren 1891
Wm. P. Hathaway 1882 E. W. Woodford 1892
Sarah A. Gilbert 1883 Ethel Furguson 1892
Julia Muzzy 1884 Kate Livermore 1892 - 1894
S. C. Stevens 1884 Grace Smith 1894 - 1895
Ida Campbell 1885 Alice Richards 1895 - 1896
S. C. Stevens 1885 Florence Dickey 1896 - 1897
The first census discloses the following names familiar to many:
BOYS and Girls
Albert Thiel Emilie Erdman
August Schecht Emilie Thiel
William Schwanke Pauliene Thiel
Gustav Schwanke Hulda Thiel
Emery Warnke Wilhelmiene Brummund
Leopold Lambrecht Emilie Brummund
Albert Quast Emilie Lambrecht
Robert Biegel Hulda Lambrecht
John Rick Paulina Henke
Herman Thiel Henriette Schacht
Edward Thiel Ida May Howe
Nelson Howe Rhoda Howe
Emil Henke Cora B. Howe
In the early history of the school, records show teachers were hired for
the winter term preferring male teachers and another was hired for the
spring or summer term preferring female teachers. Records show the
following teachers taught the Bears Grass School:
TEACHER and Term
Laura Smith 1875 - 3 mo. Maud Carbina 1906 - 1908
Laura Smith 1876 - 2 mo. Minnie Nichols 1908 - 1909
Emilie Smith 1876 - 2 mo. Bertha La Marche 1909 - 1911
Helen Bride 1876 - 1877 Harriet Roach 1910 - 1911
Daniel S. Roberts 1877 August F. Lange 1911 - 1912
Jennie Limbacker 1878 - 1879 Carl Pettis 1912 - 1913
Flora E. Richardson 1879 - 1880 Susanna Zank 1913 - 1915
A. E. Hays 1881 Elsie Toy 1915 - 1916
Emma Tainter 1881 Elsie Frase 1916 - 1919
Wm. Roberts 1882 Mae Kierstead 1919 - 1920
Emma Richardson 1882 Mable Frase 1920 - 1921
Wm. Evens 1883 Clara Markham 1921 - 1922
Florence Chadbourne 1884 Emma Stubbe 1922 - 1924
L. J. Artis 1884 - 1885 Dorothy Huston 1924 - 1925
Florence Chadbourne 1886 Lillian Peterson 1925 - 1926
Hattie Hewitt 1886 - 1887 Gladys Bagley 1926 - 1927
Mary Logan 1888 Sophie Knudtson 1928 - 1929
Eugene Pfund 1889 - 1890 Mary Knudtson 1928 - 1929
Samuel Finger 1890 - 1891 Naoma Steen 1929 - 1931
Carrie Works 1893 Gretchen Alf 1931 - 1932
Grace Caldwell 1894 Emma Stubbe 1932 - 1933
Cora Shong 1894 Sylvia Wegnen 1933 - 1935
Milo Sulhvan 1894 Edna Schauer 1935 - Feb. 1938
Harry Eaton 1895 Mrs. Cecelia Seig Feb. - Jun. 1938
Foster Polley 1895 - 1896 Dorothy Biesterveld 1938 - 1939
Alfred Herrick 1896 - 1898 Juel Johnson 1939 - 1940
Harry Eaton 1898 Louise McCann 1940 - 1941
George Livesay 1899 - 1900 Lucille Grohn 1941 - 1942
Frank Strader 1900 - 1901 Ruth Osborn 1942 - 1943
Flora West 1901 - 1902 Dora Johnson 1943 - 1944
Isabelle V. Towne 1902 - 1904 Mrs. Lucille Korth 1944 - 1945
Mayme Roach 1904 - 1905 Mrs. Clara Honadel 1945 - 1948
Bessie Shong 1905 - 1906
In reviewing the past records available, it was found that the following
have served the district in the different offices. Three generations of
Bremels served the district as Treasurer:
CLERK -
TREASURER -
DIRECTOR
Herman Frase Erdman Friedrick Ludwig Quast
Wm. Herrick Carl Schwanke Michael Lambrecht
Adolf Lambrecht Herman Biegel Friedrick Schedler
Fred Munchow Theodore Block E. A. Lessack
G. E. Elbert F. Schadler Leopolt Lanbrecht
John Volbrecht Emil Stubbe H. Kunert
Henry Block Henry Bremel Herman Biegel
Emil Stubbe Henry Strasburg A. G. Erdman
Hilary Elbert Herman W. Bremel Julius Honadel
Delbert Stubbe Werner Bremel Ed. Kuehn
Theodore Erdman
Past and present officers are to be complimented on preserving record
and minute books for future reference.
We wish to thank all who have in anyway helped to compile this history.
Present scholars of the Bears Grass School -- Donald Volbrecht, Marlene,
Marlys and Roger Dehnke, Shirley, Donald and David Sell, Duane and Diane
Rugotzke, Roger and Donna Herrick, Henry Frank, Jane Messerschmidt,
Patricia and Deanna Erdman, and Mrs. Clara Honadel, teacher.
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church
Bears Grass Wisconsin near Augusta Wisconsin, The
Church was de-sanctified in 1996. Most congregants
now attend the
Grace Lutheran Church in Augusta Wisconsin
A photo of the interior of the St. Paul's church with the confirmation class of 1939 can be found here
A History of Bears Grass Area by Bears Grass School Students, 1949
keys:
Bears Grass, church, Augusta, Wisconsin, Fall Creek, Foster, Evangelical, Lutheran, de-sanctified, parent, congregation, Augusta Wisconsin, declining, attendance, 1900s, maintenance, served, Fall, Creek, century, St Peter, Bears, Peters, St Peters, Eau, Claire, County, Class, confirmation, Depression, prosperity, War, John Knuth, Knuth, age, row, miles, subsidiary, prosperous, interior, Alter, Local, rural, Neighborhood, churches, communities, transportation, families, farm, society, urban, pictures, set, America, Dairyland, Altar, photo, graph, youngest, son, William, history, permission, early, burnt-over, cultivation, scale, land, 1800s, tilling, productive, state, Farmers, grain, farming, dairying, modern, machinery, hay, balers, combines, choppers, corn, pickers, old, earliest, pioneer, covered, wagon, Herrick, Pennsylvania, Crosse, purchased, acres, original, homestead, owned, grandson, acre, united, States, Government, school, university, wife, Stubbe, adjoining, spent, district, clerk, board, Christian, life-long, skilled, rug, handiwork, garden, possession, present, settler, community, Frase, lend, occupants, June 6, great-great-great-grandchild, great-great-grandchildren, Erdman, Great-grandchildren, lives, Swanke, Henke, deceased, Honadel, Schacht, Kunert, Dehnke, Moldenhauer, Bremel, Volbrecht, Kuehn, Elbert, Messerschmidt, populated, rough, lumber, structure, stripped, batten, unpainted, sand, straw, plaster, white-washed, donated, road, erected, Neibuhr, contractor, carpenter, donating, marriage, solemnized, Broem, Frederick, Johns, Town, Lincoln, people, regular, pastor, pastors, Ruedeger, Proehl, Bruss, Stute, Mueller, Thalacker, education, record, books, districts, Schofield, Dist, Valley, paid, March, division, property, Stevens, Rodell, records, special, Schwanke, officers, elected, Quast, director, term, year, Fredrick, treasurer, building, stood, room, pine, boards, stove, round, man, related, teacher, recess, tobacco, spit, bricks, heat, fire, tax, wages, purchase, fuel, expenditures, taught, months, winter, January, summer, session, pupil, graduate, Smith, superintendent, examination, candidates, territory, neighboring, Fetter, built, material, Lissack, Schadler, committee, Schiefelbein, stone, sold, Hanselman, build, hives, equipment, yard, bee, bees, children, program, raise, money, bell, pupils, parcel, playgrounds, sport, space, baseball, athletics, wired, electricity, oil, burning, redecorated, pleasant, chimney, pipes, organization, settlers, Kidder, Matz, Harrington, Charles, Shong, operated, descendent, Grave, Schroeder, Wolfgang, live, log, Harke, meeting, vote, repairs, plant, male, female, divided, spring, book, pay, bought, schoolhouse, religious, furnace, up-to-date, Students, Greene, Altoona, Knobel, teaching, Voechting, Herrell, Hubbard, Ketchum, King, Dighton, Snow, Devlin, Spencer, Hutchinson, O'Brien, Vallean, Himebauch, Prutsman, Bullis, Barnes, Warren, St Paul, Hathaway, Woodford, Gilbert, Furguson, Muzzy, Livermore, Campbell, Richards, Dickey, census, names, boys, girls, Thiel, Schecht, Warnke, Brummund, Lambrecht, Howe, hired, Carbina, Nichols, Marche, Bride, Roach, Roberts, Lange, Limbacker, Pettis, Zank, Toy, Tainter, Kierstead, Richardson, Markham, Chadbourne, Artis, Huston, Peterson, Hewitt, Bagley, Logan, Knudtson, Pfund, Steen, Alf, Caldwell, La Crosse, Wegnen, Sulhvan, Schauer, Eaton, Seig, Polley, Biesterveld, Johnson, McCann, Livesay, Grohn, Strader, Osborn, Towne, past, offices, generations, Bremels, Schedler, Munchow, Lessack, Lanbrecht, Biegel, Strasburg, Delbert, Werner, minute, reference, scholars, Sell, Rugotzke, congregants, attend, Student, 法輪功, Falungong, 李洪志, June 4, 6月4日, 天安门广场, Tiananmen, Square, Patrick Herrick, Clarissa Herrick, Harlow Herrick, United States Government, William H Herrick, Augusta Stubbe Herrick, Eau Claire, Lutheran Church, Doris Herrick, August Sell, Julius Frase, Edward Sell, Ewald Sell, Patricia Erdman, Roger Herrick, Shirley Sell, Donald Sell, David Sell, Wm Swanke, Paulina Henke Sell, Alvina Lissock Honadel, Louise Schacht Kunert, Theodore Block, William Neibuhr, Fred Henke, Rev Otto Broem, Henry Erdman, Otelia Block, Rev Frederick, F W Ruedeger, H F Proehl, H Bruss, H Stute, Otto Broem, Otto List, Henry Mueller, Chester L Thalacker, E Stevens, Carl Schwanke, Ludwig Quast, Erdman Fredrick, Herman Frase, Alfred Herrick, Wm Herrick, Anna Smith, Peter Fetter, Abbie Spencer, Ernest Lissack, Henry Bremel, Michael Moldenhauer, Fred Schadler, August Schiefelbein, Emil Hanselman, Herlanda Erdman, Theresa Stubbe, S B Kidder, Nicholas Matz, Uriah Harrington, Henry Stevens, Eli La Grave, Chas Shong, Richard Shong, Albert Knuth, Alice A Hubbard, La Grave, Lorain Schroeder, Lowell Stevens, Paul Wolfgang, Wm Harke, Bessie F Greene, P R Knobel, Alice Richards, Erna Voechting, Nettie Day, Ernest G Herrell, Bertha E Himebauch, Charity Prutsman, Chas E Ketchum, Diana Dighton, E W Woodford, Ella Barnes, Ethel Furguson, Florence Dickey, Freeman Works, Gay Warren, George W King, Grace Smith, Ida Campbell, Isa Bullis, Julia Muzzy, Kate Livermore, Martha Hutchinson, Nellie O'Brien, Nellie Snow, Rosa Devlin, S C Stevens, S C Stevens, Sarah A Gilbert, Wm L Vallean, Wm P Hathaway, Albert Thiel, Emilie Erdman, August Schecht, Emilie Thiel, William Schwanke, Pauliene Thiel, Gustav Schwanke, Hulda Thiel, Emery Warnke, Wilhelmiene Brummund, Leopold Lambrecht, Emilie Brummund, Albert Quast, Emilie Lambrecht, Robert Biegel, Hulda Lambrecht, John Rick, Paulina Henke, Herman Thiel, Henriette Schacht, Edward Thiel, Ida May Howe, Nelson Howe, Rhoda Howe, Emil Henke, Cora B Howe, A E Hays, August F Lange, Bertha La Marche, Bessie Shong, Carl Pettis, Carrie Works, Cecelia Seig, Clara Honadel, Clara Markham, Cora Shong, Daniel S Roberts, Dora Johnson, Dorothy Biesterveld, Dorothy Huston, Edna Schauer, Elsie Frase, Elsie Toy, Emilie Smith, Emma Richardson, Emma Stubbe, Emma Tainter, Eugene Pfund, Flora E Richardson, Flora West, Florence Chadbourne, Foster Polley, Frank Strader, George Livesay, Gladys Bagley, Grace Caldwell, Gretchen Alf, Harriet Roach, Harry Eaton, Hattie Hewitt, Helen Bride, Isabelle V Towne, Jennie Limbacker, Juel Johnson, L J Artis, Laura Smith, Lillian Peterson, Louise McCann, Lucille Grohn, Lucille Korth, Mable Frase, Mae Kierstead, Mary Knudtson, Mary Logan, Maud Carbina, Mayme Roach, Milo Sulhvan, Minnie Nichols, Naoma Steen, Ruth Osborn, Samuel Finger, Sophie Knudtson, Susanna Zank, Sylvia Wegnen, Wm Evens, Wm Roberts, Michael Lambrecht, Adolf Lambrecht, Herman Biegel, Friedrick Schedler, Fred Munchow, E A Lessack, G E Elbert, F Schadler, Leopolt Lanbrecht, John Volbrecht, Emil Stubbe, H Kunert, Henry Block, Henry Strasburg, A G Erdman, Hilary Elbert, Herman W Bremel, Julius Honadel, Ed Kuehn, Theodore Erdman, Donald Volbrecht, Marlene Dehnke, Marlys Dehnke, Roger Dehnke, Duane Rugotzke, Diane Rugotzke, Donna Herrick, Henry Frank, Jane Messerschmidt, Deanna Erdman
