Rev. Hermann Wilhelm Fiegenbaum

The German Methodist Episcopal Church

by Rev. Wm. Schwind

HIGHLAND¹

It was in the year 1836 when some of the leading minds in the Methodist Episcopal church in the United States deemed it practicable to establish a domestic mission among the Germans. The movement, though slow at first in forming congregations, met with ultimate success and was carried on by the church with much zeal and activity. From Ohio and Pennsylvania where it began it spread westward.

As early as 1845, the Rev. Wm. Hemminghaus, a German Methodist preacher, went from Mascoutah, St. Clair county, to Highland, to preach to the Germans then residing there. He was one of the early pioneer preachers among the Germans in Illinois, and died at Beardstown while yet young.

He was succeeded in 1846 by Rev. Chas. Koeneke, and the first society was organized in that year. Some of the first members were, Michael Molet, John Zimmermann, Philip Gruen, J. Miller and C. Kluge. As it soon appeared necessary to have a house for worship, a deliberative meeting of the society was held on the 14th of December, 1846, which decided that a church should be built; but owing to circumstances it was not accomplished until a few years later.

Rev. Charles Koeneke was succeeded by Rev. Louis Kunz in 1847. Rev. Wm. Fiegenbaum² followed in 1848. In the fall of the same year the building of a church was commenced and carried on until it was under roof. Its completion was delayed till the following spring. It was dedicated on the 26th of June, 1849, by Rev. Henry Koeneke, presiding elder. The church is 40 by 30 feet, two stories high, with steeple and bell. The lower story was built of rough stone; the upper story was built in partnership with the American Methodist, which relation is still sustained. Its value is about $2,000. It is still used for public worship and is of interest to many yet living who often went to Highland at those times to attend quarterly meetings which always were of great interest. Some of the first members were, F. Kandert, J. Kirsher, Gallus Rutz, Henry Becker, J. Kaeser, Charles Grundenberg, and C. Britt. The mission at that time already embraced a large territory and many appointments. It included Edwardsville, Fosterburg, Staunton, Looking Glass Prairie, Beaver Creek, Blackjack, Smooth Prairie, Silver Creek, Ridge Prairie, The Bluffs, Moro and Upper Alton. The membership in the whole field of labor numbered 67 at the time the church was dedicated. Rev. Wm. Fiegenbaum was in charge of the mission with two assistant preachers.³ They were Rev. J. Keck and Rev. Herman Koch, who is now President of Central Wesleyan College, Warrenton, Mo. The latter taught school at Highland, besides preaching regularly at several appointments.

Great and exhausting were the labors of those early pioneer preachers, but they felt themselves equal to almost any emergency. With heroic devotion to their work and self-denying determination, they shared the hardships and difficulties of the early German settlers. They were on horseback almost every day, seeking the lost sheep of the house of Israel, preaching in log cabins, school houses, and where ever they could get any hearers, many or few, to teach them the way of righteousness, expecting very little compensation but what the great Shepherd might please to give them at the great day. And their labors were not in vain. Many persons became converted and rejoiced in the experience of a new life.

When in the year 1849 the Cholera broke out, eight to ten persons died almost every day at Highland. Rev. Wm. Fiegenbaum was stopped on his rounds for fear he would spread the disease. But then he went to nurse the sick and dying, often day and night, for two months, administering faithfully to their bodily and spiritual wants. After that he resumed his labors and was eminently successful in building up the societies in Madison county. Several years later a new church was built at Beaver Creek, where a society still exits. Most of the above mentioned appointments are still places for public worship; they are either formed into separate organizations or connected with other charges.

The early history of Highland church is of more special interest, as it was the nucleus from which sprung most other societies in the county. Of its later history I have little knowledge. Its present membership is 70. It carries on two Sabbath-schools of about 100 scholars, 16 officers and teachers.

In March 1847, Brother Wilhelm Fiegenbaum came to Brunswick, Mo. as its first missionary, to seek out the Germans and preach the gospel to them. The first worship service was held in a cow shed.⁴

page 64

Wilhelm Fiegenbaum, who at age 82 as a superannuated member of the St. Louis German Conference spends his evening years in Edwardsville, Ill. communicates in a few lines the following about his effectiveness in the area of our conference: "The Chariton Mission, later the Brunswick and Carrolton Mission, was begun in March 1847. Glasgow, Brunswick, Carrolton, as well as German settlements in the area, were visited. In 18 months about 65 people joined the church and in Brunswick and the area around Carrolton churches were built by the 'young candidate' of the name of Father Köneke. From September 1854 to September 1856, I was active as the presiding elder of the Missouri District, which stretched from Jefferson City through Kansas and a corner of Nebraska along both sides of the Missouri River. In 1875, I was sent to Oregon, Mo., where I served for one year."

page 20