In the year 1858, a colony of German settlers bought farms in what is
now Grand Rapids Township. These settlers came from Germany to start a home
here.
They, having been reared in religious homes of course, desired to
rear their families likewise.
The country being new, there were, of
course, no churches in the community so they drove with team and wagon to what
is now Peru, thirty miles away to attend church. They went on Saturdays and
returned on Mondays.
Not being satisfied with this way of worshiping
they began to think of making plans for building a church. Meanwhile they
arranged to have services in a schoolhouse, eleven miles west of where the
present Grand Rapids M. E. church stands. A minister came there and preached on
Sundays. In 1859 they had a minister, Jacob Maas, who worked faithfully among
the people and had eleven conversions. This little group increased until in 1875
they had ninety-two full members and twenty-two probationers.
On April
29, 1860, this little band, with the help of a few friends, bought ground and
began to plan the building in earnest, which was completed in 1861, with Rev.
Feistcorn presiding. The pastors of these times only received from three hundred
eighty-five dollars to five hundred dollars per year.
During this time
this little congregation also bought and built a parsonage for their minister,
and 1880 to 1881, a group of members, numbering thirty-two, came from Garfield,
Illinois to join them.
In 1885 Reverend William Roegge came to take the
pastorate. He remained until 1888. During this time to Pillion, Nebraska. Some
went to Kansas and others to Iowa. This left only a small number to carry on the
work of the church. Among this number were two young men who had come from
Germany in 1871, both of whom answered the call of the ministry. They both went
to Galena, Iowa, to prepare themselves.
One, Mr. C. J. Loty, being a
successful minister, holding pastorates at Burlington, Iowa, and at other
points, a few years ago retired from service, and moved to Grand Ridge,
Illinois. Here he died in November, 1931 leaving a family of six sons, two of
whom entered the ministry, and four daughters, two of whom married ministers.
The other, J. H. Rapp, also took up pastorates at various points in
Iowa. He is still living. He was present and spoke a few words at the funeral
services of Mr. C. J. Laatz.
Extracted 08 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from Stories of Pioneer Days in La Salle County, Illinois, by Grammar Grade Pupils, published in 1932, page 69.
| Lee | DeKalb | Kane |
| Bureau |
 |
Kendall |
| Putnam | Grundy | |
| Marshall | Woodford | Livingston |
