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Note: 1858�1958 ? Violent storms, impassible roads, portages over streams, clearing of land, threat of wild animals, famine during drought . . . these were just a few of the hardships endured by the pioneer founders of Immanuel Lutheran Church back in the year 1860 when they migrated from Hanover, Germany to this vicinity. For several years after these forefathers settled here in Proviso their thirst for religion took them by team and sometimes even by foot to church services in Addison, ten miles away. Confirmands also had to trek these weary miles many a day to obtain instruction in doctrine. Before long, however, these men saw their need for a school in the immediate locality. In 1852, Henry Mesenbrink, Henry and Frederick Degener, William Mandel, Frederick Meyer, Christian Puscheck, Frederick Volberding and Henry Evers obtained permission to form a school district here which would be a branch of their congregation at Addison. Three times a week classes were held for the fifteen pupils in the home of Henry Degener. Before the end of the year, these settlers purchased the original forty acres owned by the congregation and erected the first school house, containing two small rooms. One room was used for classes the other as living quarters for the first resident teacher, Mr. Hahn. Now and then, on Sunday afternoons, Pastor E. A. Brauer and later Pastor Franke, would make the trip from their church at Addison and hold services in this first school building. Confirmands however, still had to walk to Addison twice a week for instructions. On May 14 1858, still feeling the lack of adaquate facilities, the founders of the school district together with J. Schulz, F. Haase, F. Weiss, August Heidorn, Henry Ehrenpfort, Henry Etunge, Siefried Kolb, Christopher Seegers, and Carl Puscheck petitioned the congregation at Addison for permission to organize a separate congregation in Proviso. As they pledged adherance to the genuine doctrine of the Evangclical Lutheran Church, their request was gladly granted. On November 14, 1858 the congregation was organized. Additional members received at this time were C. Spannuth, F. Hoermann, C. Erich, H. Nebel, L. Wiebe, F. Andermann, W. Boeger, C. Thiele, H. Mesenbrink, Sr., H. Roehrs, L. Ridder, H. Bergmann, G. Sternitzky, C. Mandel, H. Jaeger, J. Rathe, M. Schuth, H. Burgdorf, C. Weiss, F. Roehrs, H. Dieke, and W. Wesemann. Rev. Carl Meyer was installed as the first resident pastor. He boarded in the home of one of the members until a parsonage was built in the following year. His salary was $300 plus fees for official acts and also the use of the land. No record is found of the teacher's salary, but he did receive $10 over and above his salary for acting as "Vorsaenger" or song-leader at the services, plus an additional 50 cents per year for the same duties at funerals. The first elders of the church were Carl G. Puscheck, W. Mandel and Siegfried Kolb. The former was also treasurer and the latter were collectors. Some voting members in 1868 paid an entrance fee of 825.00. All contributors were assessed according to classes, whicll method was later abolished as being against the spirit of New Testament Christian freedom. Needy pupils of the day-school received books gratis and paid nothing for tuition. Already in 1859 the congregation became a voting member of the Missouri Synod, Henry Degener being the first lay-delegate. In this year the Proviso pastor began a preaching station at Lyonsville, now called Willow Springs and in 1860 at Harlem, now called Forest Park. Newcomers, before attending communion, were examined concerning their faith. Men attending communion for a year without joining as voting members were barred from communion until they took this step. In 1862 it was resolved that the pastor with the elders hold preliminary meetings to discuss all matters coming before the regular business meetings of the congregation. In 1866 also it was decided to build our present church, retaining the old building for a school. The building committee consisted of Frederic Weiss, August Heidorn, Henry Evers, Henry Volberding Christian Thiele and Henry Mesenbrink. The money for the church was to be raised not by class-assessments but by voluntary contributions. The building was begun in 1867 and the completed edifice was dedicated on July 19, 1868. The cost was $10,209.90. The corner stone contains a nickel, a dime, a quarter, and a half dollar, a copy of the Lutheraner, the Abendschule, the church constitution, the history of the congregation, and a list of all the members. Pastor Carl Meyer gave the farewell address in the school. Pastor A. G. Franke read the dedicatory prayer. The dedication sermons were preached by Pastors A. Wagner and A. Reinke of Chicago. An additional school district called the West-District was founded in 1870. Mr. Wm. Eggers was the first teacher. At this time the congregation also decided to buy a pipe-organ. The last resolution in the first book of minutes was to unite the school congregation with that of the church. This union was effected in 1873. A Christenlehre or Catechism hour at this time was held on Sunday afternoons. A special resolution was passed that High-German (not LowGerman) was to be used in the business meetings of the church. During the years 1864 to 1873 the congregation had grown from fifty to one hundred and twenty-five families. The summer school vacation lasted from July 15 to August 15. Another followed from October 1 to October 15, on account of farm work. In this year our congregation became a member of the Addison Orphan Home association. The Proviso members obtained their mail on Sundays at the church. Later it was distributed at the school several times a week. Every owner of a shed near the church was required to pay 10 cents rent per annum. The class-assessment system was abolished in 1878. The present cemetery was dedicated in 1880.
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