Early Lutheran Immigration to Wisconsin. 
289 
« 
EARLY LUTHERAN IMMIGRATION TO WISCONSIN.* 
By KATE A. EVEREST. 
The first immigration of Germans to Wisconsin in large numbers was 
that of the so-called Old Lutherans of Pomerania and Brandenburg, who 
came between 1839 and 1845, as a result of the attempt by King Frederick 
William IV., of Prussia, to unite the Lutheran and Reformed faiths. 
My purpose is to sketch the history of that movement with the emi¬ 
gration that followed and the forming of several German settlements in 
this state. 
Philip Schaff divides the history of the Lutheran church into five 
periods. The first reaches from the Reformation to 1580, the date of the 
adoption of the Book of Concord; the second from 1580 to 1700, when the 
doctrinal system was defined in opposition to Romanism, Calvinism and 
the milder forms of Lutheranism; the third period reaches from 1700 to 
* 
the middle of the eighteenth century, and is the time when. Pietism was 
exercising its moderating influence; fourth, the period of Rationalism, 
which reached the higher circles, the clergy, and the universities, and 
created a revolution in theology; fifth, the period of the revival of evan¬ 
gelical theology and religion at the third centennial of the celebration of 
the Reformation in 1817.1 
From Reformation times there had been attempts to reconcile the fol¬ 
lowers of Luther with those of Melancthon and Zwingli, but the year 
1580 marks their failure. In that year the Book of Concord was adopted 
which strictly defined the Lutheran faith in distinction from both Cal¬ 
vinism and the milder forms of Lutherism represented by Melancthon.J 
The controversy had been carried on hotly by the followers of each 
reformer. At his death, Melancthon said, “ For two reasons I desire to 
to leave this life: first, that I may enjoy the sight which I long for of the 
son of God and of the church in Heaven; next, that I may be free from 
the monstrous and implacable hatred of the theologians.” [| 
* For informat 1 on in regard to the Wisconsin communities, I am indebted to the pastors 
of the churches: Rev. Gram, Rev. E. Pankou, Rev. R. Grabau, Rev. A. W. Keibel, of Wis¬ 
consin, and Rev. Philip von Rohr, of Minnesota, also to Dr. Falge, Mr. Blumenfeld and 
others v ho have generously given me the information at their disposal.— K. A. Everest. 
t Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, article. “Lutheranism.” 
X Brockhaus Conversations — Lexicon. Vol. XI, article ‘Union. ’ 
II Gardiner’s “ Thirty Years War.” p. 13. 
19—A. & L. 
