La Crosse Area Genealogical Society

The 1882 History of Houston County states that there were eighteen members of the German Methodist Episcopal Church when it was organized on May 2, 1858. Fourteen were: John Lottes, G. Koehle, J. Koehle, Eliza Knecht, Dina Koethe, Emilie Brenner, Barbara Heidel, Andrew Hartmann, M. Bertch, Anna Lottes, O. Koethe, Catherine Koehle, Christine Hammer, & J. Diedemeyer. However, the earliest record book lists only five who joined on that date. Because the book lists all the As on one page, Bs on another, etc. and some of the dates are out of order, ir may be that this list was copied from earlier lists. The German Circuit included Pine Creek, Crooked Creek, Union Ridge and Hokah. Some of the member are from the other churches on the circuit.

The church records list only six members who joined on May 2, 1858: Andreas Hartmann, Friederike Hartmann, Christine Hammer, Oscar Koethe, Anna Lottes and Jacob Niedermeyer. John Lottes who is on the list of eighteen members did not join until November 10, 1861. Emilie Brenner who is on the list was not listed in the membership book at all; but, there is an Emilie Brenner listed on a 1903 list for the Hokah Mission as published by the German Conference.

English Methodist also existed in the area and the Hokah group joined the German Congregation when many of their members followed their jobs with the railroad to Wells, Minnesota.

This list may help you to pinpoint the location of your relatives in a certain time period.

Other information given in the records includes name of minister, when and how removed, and remarks, such as when died or where they went when they left. For further information, contact Houston County Historical Society, 104 History Lane, Caledonia, MN 55921 or Rev. Lora Sturm, 1781 Chicken Ridge Road, La Crescent, MN 55947.

The Hokah United Methodist Church congregation is celebrating its sesquicentennial this year (2003).

https://sites.rootsweb.com/~wilacgs/HokahUMChurchMem.htm
Last updated 30.8.2003