Paster J.E. (I.E) Wuebben 1894-1900

Paster Carl H. Kowalske 1900-1942

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St. Paul’s congregation was served by seminary students the first few months in 1900 until Pastor Kowalske completed his Theological training at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. In June of 1900, Pastor Kowalske accepted the call to the German Evangelical Lutheran Church at Stewart, Minnesota. Installation service for Pastor Kowalske was held September 2, 1900. Eager to fulfill his mission, Pastor Kowalske gave his introductory sermon on September 9, 1900. Pastor Kowalske’s starting salary was about $500.00 per year.

With the leadership of Pastors Wuebben and Kowalske, the church had outgrown its first church building. Some wanted the new church to be built where the Catholic church is today, but after much discussion and Pastor Kowalske’s influence the final decision was made to build a new church in the Southwest part of Stewart.

A frame building 30 X 72 feet was to be built starting on May 1, 1 902, with an estimated completion date of September 1, 1902 - cost approximately $3000.00. Upon completion the old church and lot were to be sold. The building committee consisted of Fred Hochsprung, Gottlieb Lipke, and Gustav Kottke. The lots were purchased from Fred Forcier. Construction continued and by June 13, 1902, the foundation for the new church was laid. Realizing the rapid progress thus far, Pastor Kowalske, Fred Hochsprung and Gustav Kottke went to Shakopee to order interior furnishings for their new church. By June 23, 1902, the frame work was up. With much determination and effort by September their goal was reached and the new church was completed at a total cost of $4,000.00.

Dedication of St. Paul’s German Evangelical Lutheran church was held on September 28, 1902.
9:30 A.M. Valedictory Service conducted by Pastor Kowalske
10:30 A.M. Dedicatory Service conducted by Dr. H. Ernst, St. Paul
2:00 P.M. Rev. Schlagdenhaufen and Rev. E. Knorr conducting the service
7:00 P.M. English Service conducted by Rev. Hahbergen, Shakopee

The Buffalo Lake Choir assisted in all services. The estimated offering for the day was $100.00 St. Paul’s congregation now proudly could come to worship in their new, larger church with a beautiful altar centered with the statue of Christ, his outstretched open hands welcoming all. The new church included a pulpit, baptismal font, kerosene lights, palm trees, everything necessary for a church including a coal burning stove, thermostatically regulated by sitting closer when cold and moving away when hot.

The pump organ was purchased in 1903 by the Ladies Aid. The old church and lot were sold to Otto Hackert but were used for a short time for catechism and church needs. September of 1902, the congregation voted to start a German school. Pastor Kowalske was to be in charge with a salary increase of $100.00 for teaching. On January 6, 1 903, school was started using the old church until the spring of 1903, then renting a room from William Grams for $4.00 a month.

In 1904, when the old Catholic church building was for sale it was purchased by St. Paul’s for catechism classes. Only after dismantling and renovating according to Catholic church laws, was possession given. In 1 905 this building was placed on the north side of the church. St. Paul’s now functioned much easier with the church, school and pastor’s home near each other.

Paster Kowalske's first years of residence were in the A.H. Wilson home. November 28, 1903, they moved into the George Trojan home north of the church school. Wanting a home of their own on July 15, 1907, Pastor Kowalske purchased from William Lestico the house and Lot 11 E - Stewart Townsite across from the church. On July 15, 1910, Pastor Kowalske sold this home to the congregation for $1600.00. This was the congregations first parsonage.

Until 1909, the church board consisted of a Trustee, Secretary and Treasurer. In 1909 the congregation elected the first elders of the church, Gustav Wick, Ludwig Becker and Fred Dovenmuehle.

On September 23, 1910, Pastor Kowalske was honored for ten years of pastorate. The ministers conducting the service were: Rev. George Diemer, Penn., Rev. G. Cornils, Gaylord, Rev. P. Rick, Arlington, Rev. W. Prigge, Winthrop, Rev. C. Langholz, Fernando, Rev. L. Kittner, Brookfield, Rev. H. Kruell, Hector, and Rev. R.A. Schmidt, Buffalo Lake giving the anniversary message These pastors presented Pastor Kowalske with a twelve volume set of Martin Luther’s works. Gottlieb Lipke, on behalf of the church, presented Pastor Kowalske with a generous check. Pastor Kowalske expressed his appreciation for the generosity to those who attended his anniversary. Over 400 people were served a banquet meal at the Woodman’s Hall.

This group of believers had grown from fifteen to seventy-five families. In these first sixteen years this congregation had built a new church, school and parsonage. In 1912 a kitchen was built onto the parsonage and as modern facilities became available water was installed about 1913. Electricity was added in 1915. Gertrude Klammer, Pastor Kowalske’s daughter, remembers well how much those additions to their home were appreciated. Another improvement to their church happened about 1915 when an entrance was made into the basement of the church and a furnace was added. The pipe organ, which is still being used at Brookfield Lutheran Church, was purchased around 1920. The organ was built between 1909 and 1913 by the Hiners Organ Company of Pekin, Illinois.

Pastor Kowalske’s first years of ministry were by walking or horse and buggy. The buggy ride was always a great time for the family to enjoy a ride. Adverse weather conditions didn’t stop Pastor Kowalske’s commitment to his congregation, commenting to his family, “If someone needs me, I must be there".

Improving his means of transportation, the congregation purchased a new Ford car from Hanson & Company for about $440.00 and later also a Pontiac car.

In 1938 a major interior improvement was undertaken. The church now had electric lights, the palm trees were removed and the pastor’s study behind the pulpit was lowered. A memorial was given to the church about this time in the Lord’s Supper Plaque on the altar. The Ladies Aid purchased new pews for $1200.00 and the other redecorating totaled $800.00

St. Paul’s continued to worship in their traditional way, most services in German until 1918 when the congregation ratified to have an English service. Men sat on the right side of the church and women and children on the left. All business was conducted by the men only, the ladies were active in the Ladies Aid with their meetings, socials and fund raisers. Christmas was a special time for young and old alike. There was always a Christmas tree in the church, the first years decorated with wax candles. With electricity installed in 1915 the risk of fire was eased.

On July 12, 1940, Pastor Kowalske was honored for his forty years of service to the church. Morning services as well as afternoon services were held. The congregation presented him with a purse of cash and much gratitude.

Pastor Kowalske died in 1942 the following is his obituary.

Thousands Attend Funeral Services For Rev. Kowalske
Respected and Well Known Local Pastor Was 64 Years Old

Funeral services for the late Rev. C. H. Kowalske, pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran church in Stewart, were held last Friday afternoon in the were Reverends Geo. L. Matthiae of Gaylord, W. F. Ken of St. Paul, H. W. Krull of Platteville, Wisconsin, W. E. Diemer of Penn township, and Dr. W. E. Welke of St. Paul.

The church was filled to its utmost capacity by outside ministers,by local parishioners, and by relatives and friends of the deceased pastor. The church school was also filled, and hundreds stood outside. Loud speaker service enabled all to hear the several ministers. Interment was in the church cemetery, the church council consisting of Otto Witte, Herbert Fleisch, Ed Studer, Win. Beich, Art Klitzke and John Stockman serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were the twenty-six ministers who attended the services in a body.

The huge attendance and the many beautiful floral offerings attested to the popularity of Rev. Kowalske. He was a member of the Minnesota Conference and the American Lutheran Synod.

Deceased was born at Nagel, province of Posen, Germany, October 17, 1878, and came to America at the age of two years with his parents who settled at Ann Arbor, Michigan. He received his preliminary education there and at the age of 17 years entered Luther Seminary in St. Paul where he received his theological training. He graduated in June, 1900, and accepted a call to fill the Lutheran pastorate at Stewart September 9, 1900. Since then he has been pastor of this congregation, seeing it grow to its present size and being the main instigstor in the erection of the present church edifice shortly after his coming here. He had also served as pastor at Brownton for a number of years.

His death occurred at the Community hospital in Hutchinson last Tuesday morning at 8:20, the cause being a cerebral hemorrhage. Rev. Kowalske had evidently fallen in the basement of his home Monday evening, and upon being found was rushed to the hospital. He did not regain consciousness at any time.

His marriage to Miss Bertha Fischer of St. Paul took place in that city April 23, 1901. Three children survive the union, as does his wife. The children are Major Oscar C. Kowalske, now in Bataan Peninsula in the Philippine Islands and probably with Gen. MacArthur's forces there, Mrs. C. F. (Ruth) Eastland of St. Paul, and Mrs. L. C. (Gertrude) Klammer of Hutchinson. The daughters and their families were here for the final services, but Major kowalske, of course, could not be reached. Other relatives from out-of-town present at the services were Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Lewin and Sons John and Richard, Mr. and ‘Mrs. August Fischer, Henry Kroenke, Mrs. Carrie Kroenke and Mrs. Ed. Ritte of St. Paul, Mrs. Chas. Howard of St. Paul Park, and Miss Rosella Lenander of Parkers Prairie. Hundreds of friends from nearby communities also attended.

Clergymen here for the services were Reverends C. Matthiae of Gaylord, H. Krull of Platteville, Wis., W. Ken of St. Paul, W. Diemer of BrowntOn, E. Kaiser of Brookfield, G. Bents of Fernando, G. Pilgrim of White Bear Lake, E. Kunz of Gaylord, W. Mueller of New Auburn, M. Fisher of Springfield, W. Striepe of Arlington, P. Haupt of Belle Plaine, M. Knoll of Bismarck, H. Appel of Buffalo Lake, W. Hennig of Canby, K. Graf of Howard Lake, W. Heidtke of Hector, A. Bunge of Henderson, H. Werner of MankatO, A. Eisner of Marietta, J. Wipperman and C. Herrewig of Morgan, F. Meske of Morris, P. Mueller of Winthrop and Dr. E. Welke of St. Paul.

Rev. Kowalske was well and most favorably known throughout this section of Minnesota, was a speaker of note, and had always been very active in his chosen profession. His passing is sincerely regretted in all circles and his leadership will be greatly missed in his work and in his home.