The Harris Centennial
Harris --The past 100 Years

Churches
Page 71-74

Presbyterian Church Organized
Written by Mrs. E. L. McFarland

The Presbyterian Church was organized about 1900. Services were held in a schoolhouse, which was located on the corner where the Arlyn Rubsams now live. A new church was built about 1902, on the corner of Main and Lawton. It later was disbanded, sold for a residence, and later burned.

Harris United Methodist Church

The First Methodist Church was located three miles West of what is now the city of Harris. Fairview Class, (a Bible class), held services there and in 1873, was organized by John Webb of Sibley, of the Osceola Circuit. He served as pastor for a few years, followed by several others until 1898, when Rev. Peck served and the new church was built in Harris. It was dedicated on July 19, 1899.

Ministers serving the church in the next several years were D. M. Simpson, A. S. Dean, T. Buley, L. R. Echardt, Frank Whiting, H. P. Peterson, H.J. Richards, D. D. Tower, L. M. Moody, and W. N. Bump. Rev. Joseph Pickersgill served from 1915 to 1917. It was during this time, January 30, 1916, that the church burned.

Rev. O. P. Mueller served from 1917 to 1919. During this time the present church was built and dedicated February 9, 1919. The present parsonage was also built at that time and dedicated in March of 1919. Rev. W. E. Whitlock came in 1919, followed by Rev. H. A. Reyman and Rev. F. E. Leazer, Rev. J. S. Hutchings was pastor from 1922 to 1928. Next came Rev. R. A. Grisby, Rev. O. W. Brand, Rev. J. L. Ralston, Rev. A. J. Barkley and Rev. M. F. Underhill. Rev. Harold Dayton served as pastor from 1944 to 1948, during this period extensive improvements were begun, including a full basement with kitchen, and dining room. restrooms, etc. The old upstairs kitchen and dining area were converted to Sunday school rooms. The improvements were completed while Rev. E. E. Pencook was pastor. The next six pastors were Rev. Lawrence Hawes, Rev. Wesley Frank, Rev. Darrell Draper, Rev. Gale Hawhee, Rev. Harold Butts, and Rev. Roy Hoover, who came the summer of 1976.

In 1976 major remodeling began for the church, resulting in the removal of the bell tower, entrance to the South, and construction of an entrance on the West, with ramps to both the basement and worship area. This addition was carpeted, as was the sanctuary and two overflow rooms. Extensive work was done in the sanctuary, including the removal of the Nu Wood paneling and dividers, the lowering of the ceiling, insulating of the side walls and ceiling, new speakers for the public address system, new wiring and lighting fixtures and controls, new oak doors and trim. A new suspended cross with indirect lighting to compliment it, a mounted cross on the exterior, with attractive lighting fixtures for the entrance, a new bell tower near the West entrance, new stained glass windows with plastic storms, and new coat hangers mounted on the south wall of the entrance. Since that time the United Methodist Women have had two restrooms installed in the basement area, folding doors divide the basement area, and the kitchen was also renovated and new paneling, cupboards, counter tops and lighting were installed.

The Rev. Stanley Mueller was pastor from 1979 until his death in August 1983.

Dr. Robert Stemme filled in until our present pastor, Rev. Gordon Vickery, came in December 1983.

In 1984 the East Sunday School rooms were redone with new curtains, paint, carpet and the dinette was completed, also a new air conditioner was added for the sanctuary. In the spring of 1988 the pastor and men of the church remodeled the basement dining room and family room, adding insulation, new paneling, lighting, carpet and air conditioner.

Gifts to the church, in memory of a loved one, have made most of these things possible.

The present membership is 160.

St. John’s Lutheran Church Organized in March 1901
Written by Mrs. Irvin Bergman, Church Historian

The St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Congregation was organized March 6, 1901, under the leadership of the Rev. C. Daumler. Services were first held in the schoolhouse, which had been moved into Harris, and stood on the corner where Arlyn Rubsam now lives. After about a year, services were held in the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Burrows, which was above the blacksmith shop.

In 1903, the present building was erected and Pastor Charles Miller, who was pastor of the Ocheyedan congregation, served Harris for a short time.

In 1904, the congregation joined the Iowa Synod and Pastor Wm. Schroeder, who lived in Viola Township, served the church. Services were held once every three weeks and he would drive a horse and buggy from Viola Township on Saturday and stay at the Abbe Miller home.

The first confirmation class in the church was confirmed on April 3, 1904, with the following members: Lou Stahly, Elmer Stahly, Ed Stahly, John Stahley, Anotone Miller, Fred Wentler, Tena Miller (Mrs. John Bergman), Mary Ecks (Mrs. Abraham), and Emma Beeler (Mrs. Wentler).

The first resident pastor was the Rev. Chris Bunge, a young unmarried pastor who lived with his parents in the Albee house. Pastor Smith and Pastor Widner served for a short time.

From 1907 to 1911, Pastor Feistner, a retired pastor, served the congregation. Pastor and Mrs. Feistner lived where Mrs. Wm. Immens now lives.

After this, various pastors served the dwindling number of church families. In 1919, the congregation joined the Missouri Synod and Rev. E. J. Kallsen organized a class of three adults in the vicinity. He was called and accepted the call with the condition that all services would be held in the English language.

The Ladies Aid was organized in 1941, with 21 members, and joined the L. W. M. L. in 1943.

The present church was renovated in 1943, and the new furnace and basement added in 1948.

Pastors serving since Rev. E. J. A. Kallsen retired are: Rev. Alfred Allmann, 1958-63; Pastor W. Hamilton, 1963-64 as vacancy pastor, was installed July 5, 1964.

Mrs. John Bergman is the only present member of the church who was here when the church was organized.

At present, 77 communicant members comprise the congregation.
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Update: Reverend Gerald Buss continued to serve until 1969. Pastors serving the church since 1969 are: Rev. Wendel Hamilton (Lake Park) 1969-1970, Rev. Blakey (Hartley) vacancy Pastor July 1970 – January 1971, Rev. August Roessler served January 1971 to January 1975, Rev. Wayne Brinkman (Ocheyedan) vacancy Pastor January 1975 to January 1976, Rev. Roland Going January 1976 to January 1977, Rev. Noel Koss (Horton Township) vacancy Pastor January 1977 to January 1978, Rev. Robbin Tisdale January 1978 to August 1981, Rev. Allen Brutlag (May City) vacancy Pastor August 1981 to March 1982, Rev. William Marten March 1982 to October 1988, Rev. Robert Trueblood (Ocheyedan) vacancy Pastor October 1988.

In the fall of 1988, Mrs. E. J. Wehrspann of Spirit Lake translated our secretary’s minutes written from 1901 to 1916. They were written in German. The translation to English revealed some interesting facts.

Some of the first members of Harris St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran congregation were Abe Miller, R. Albrecht, H. Rehborg, George Ihnen, Frank Harms, H.A. Miller, G. Lorg, H. Lichstsinn, A. Rehborg, Frederick Furhman, F. Borneking, Sr., R. Borneking, Jr., Julius Worm. In 1903: Alex Stahly, Edwin Krall, Wm. Wentler, Martin Ziehr, Henrich Wentler, Rudolph Ziehr. 1904: Albert Bergman and John Stricker. 1910: Albert Ahnen, Jake Miller and John Bergman.

In 1901, the pastor’s salary was $100.00 per year. In 1901, members of the congregation, for a fee of $10.00 were obliged to have their children confirmed.

In 1915, the congregation voted to continue services in the evening to see if there was enough interest to change. Services in English started in the early 1920’s, when Reverend Kallsen (of Horton Township) began serving our church.

The church interior walls originally were plastered and then wallpapered. A large pot-bellied stove stood in the middle of the nave on the North side and kerosene lamps in wrought iron brackets used for night services were placed on the window trim.

Sometime later a dug out was made under the central part of the church and a coal-burning furnace was installed. There was one large register in the middle of the church floor. In 1943, the walls of the nave were redecorated with wallboard.

In 1948 and 1949, the church was raised, and a basement dug, the front entrance rebuilt and steeple removed. An oil-burning furnace was added at this time. A small kitchen was installed, water and sewer connection made, and indoor toilet facilities added.

The digging of the basement, building of the cupboards, plumbing and painting was done with volunteer labor.

An addition to the church was made in 1968. Melvin Pauling was chairman of the building committee, which planned the enclosing of the main outdoor entrance, adding of a mother’s room/classroom, an enlarged lobby and remodeled entrance to the basement.

The original church pews were refinished, new windows installed and painting of church interior was done in the early 1970s. Basement room dividers were added in 1975.

In 1984, sidewalks were poured in front of the church. The church exterior was painted in 1987.

At present there are 81 communicant members.

St. John’s Ladies Aid membership is 18.

Sunday school enrollment is 15. Mrs. Dick (Stella) Stahly is Superintendent.

Vacation Bible School has an attendance of 25 to 30 preschool through sixth grade children, Mrs. Bob (Connie) Brons, Superintendent. Wade Brueggeman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Steve Brueggeman, is the only 1969 confirmed.

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