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This article appeared in the October 14, 1926 issue of the "LaGrange Citizen" newspaper.

LOCAL CHURCH PARENT OF 9

 Immanuel Lutheran Church Has Been Built 59 Years; One of Earliest in District

 The beautiful and dignified church which stands near the corner of Twenty-second street and Wolf road, in Proviso, is familiar to all the residents of this district.  It stands in a group of trees, next to the old church yard.  Its spire gives the finishing touch to a country landscape.

Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran church has stood for fifty-nine years on the present site.  Its history is intimately bound up with that of the district around for miles.  Conditions have changed since its founding, but its scope of service has remained the same.

In the early fifties the little German community which had gathered in the district mainly looked toward the Lutheran church at Addison for their religious life.  At that time the region was still in the pioneering stage.  The fields had been turned to the plow for only a short time.  Deer, wild turkey, prairie chicken and other game was abundant, sometimes making inroads on the crops.  Wild geese and ducks furnished many a meal.

Game Still Plentiful

The little creeks were full of fish.  It is related that two boys were able to fill a sack with two seinings.  The wild pigeon, now entirely extinct, came in huge flights, and when at night they settled in the trees, branches were broken by their weight.

The old fashioned winters of which older persons now speak, were in their prime.  The children who attended the church school at Addison, a distance of eight or ten miles, made it on foot, and many times the drifted snow covered the tops of the fence posts.  Thaws and freezes gave it a heavy crust which sometimes broke under the weight of the little bodies and there was difficulty in getting the little ones back to the surface again.

4-hour Walk to School

 The school session at Addison began at ten o'clock in the morning, and the local children left at six to be there on time.  In bad weather the trip was a nightmare.  For this reason and the fact that the district was growing, the community realized the need for other arrangements.

In 1852 nine families joined to form a school district.  The founders had among them Henry Mesenbrink, Heinrich Degener, Friedrich Meyer, Friedrich Degener, Friedrich and Heinrich Volberding, Wilhelm Mandel, Christian Puscheck and Heinrich Evers.  Because of the fact that there was a single Frenchman living in the district which was predominantly German, the district was called "Franzosenbusch," or as it was translated, the "Frenchman's Bush."  The Addison congregation termed it the "Southern District."

H. Degeners' First School

Sessions began in the home of Heinrich Degener.  There for three days a week Teacher Bartling gave instruction, and after him came "Teacher Hahn.  There were 15 pupils.  In the latter part of 1852, 40 acres of land were purchased for a church and school, and the site now occupied by the fine school building was selected as the place for the first structure.  In the spring of 1853, the school was built.  The old building is still standing, across from the present parsonage.

The first carpenter was "Father Meyers.  He contributed his time, and others gave the building material.  The building erected had two rooms, in one of which the teacher lived and the other served as the school room.  One of the early teachers, Mr. Kirchner, had a large family.  The children, when it came time to go to bed slept in a loft in which the feed for the cattle and horses was kept.  The hay served as a couch, and it is related that  the youngsters enjoyed it immensely.  Kirchner, while a good farmer, working the 40 acres of church ground, was said not to be a good musician, and had difficulty in learning the choir.

The new soil, not long under the plow, produced unbelievable crops. The corn stalks grew twelve feet high.  From an acre of the church land, Kirchner took 300 bushels of potatoes.

The new school house naturally served as a religious home.  Rev. Brauer would come over and once in a while preach there on Sunday afternoons.  His successor, Rev. Franke, did the same.  In winter he gave Bible lessons.  Still for confirmation the children went to Addison.

Install Minister

A group of Proviso men, among whom were John Schulz, Friedrich Haase, Friedrich Weiss, August Heidorn, Heinrich Ehrenpfot, Heinrich Runge, Seigfried Kolb, C. Seegers and C. G. Puscheck saw the need for a church and backed it. In 1857 the Addison congregation was petitioned for release, which was granted. The second school house was built on the north-west corner of the 40-acrea track and the first minister, the Rev. C. Meyer, was called. On December 18, 1858, he was installed. 

Among those who petitioned for release from the old church were C. Spannueth, F. Hoermann, Christian Erich, H. Nebel, L. Wiebe, F. Andermann, W. Boeger, Christian Thiele, H. Mesenbrink, Sr., H. Roehrs, L. Ridder, H. Bergman, G. Sternitzsky, Christian Mandel, H. Fager, F. Rathe, M. Schuth, Herman Birgdorf, Christian Weiss, F. Roehrs, H. Dicke and W. Wesemann. The names are familiar ones in the community. 

The community, while small, was at this time like one family. The aims and the results were all recognized by each member. The first parsonage was built in 1859, and the same year saw the synod of Missouri and Ohio take them in. 

Gave Men to Civil War 

The period of disturbance, the Civil war, took its toll, with several members of the congregation among the regiments of the North which fought. The Hirman McClintock post of LaGrange, the local G.A.R. organization, enrolled their names among its members. 

In 1861 Kirchner left, and Mr. Herpolheimer, followed by Fred Rix, in 1864 Pastor Meyer came, succeeded by Rev. Zucker. The present church was started in 1867. Its cost was $10,208.90. Apparently among the men who helped in its erection was an efficient and orderly bookkeeper. At this time the congregation numbered 50 families, and at the end of Rev. Zucker's pastorate 75 more had been added. 

When Mr. Zucker accepted another call his place was taken by the Rev. John Strieter, whose name is known to many of the present generation. He occupied the pulpit for 29 years. 

Parent of Many Other Congregations

During his pastorate with congregations of LaGrange, Willow Springs, Lyons, Melrose Park, Maywood, Forest Park and Hinsdale were added. By the forming of these new bodies, and other reasons the membership had dwindled to 16, from a high peak of 165 families. 

The present minister, Rev. H. Roehrs, came in 1905 since which time he has continuously occupied the pulpit. On October 31 he will complete 40 years in the ministry. He has sent three sons to the ministry: Paul, Norwood Park; Gerhard, at Egelland, North Dakota; and Walter at Western Springs. Besides these two other sons are in the music business in Forest Park. These are Martin and Alfred. The Western Springs church is an offshoot of the parent church.

The church has been extremely fortunate in its long life. No disasters have marked its history. Its work is shown in the new and prosperous congregations now in the neighborhood. 

The present school is conducted by H. Fikinscher, who has occupied the position of teacher since 1907.  

This article appeared in the October 14, 1926 issue of the "LaGrange Citizen" newspaper