But the two German churches, located in the rural section of the Clayton-Orleans area were once highly active and were as flourishing as any religious organization of their time. The question has often been asked as to why there were two German churches located within hailing distance of each other in this open country section. Descendants of those pioneer Germans tell today that they think it was just the different view-point of the pioneers. One faction were first of all Lutherans and insisted that the ritual and rules of that Fatherland church be used and followed. The other faction demanded a more spontaneous religion, with freedom to voice their �Amens� during the service and a stricter manner of living as to dress and thinking.

Be that as it may, we know that the German Evangelical Lutheran Church was formed on March 11, 1841. This church became commonly known as the �German Lutheran.� The second German Church was formed in the fall of that same year under general title of �The Evangelical Association,� but spoken of as the German Evangelical church. In its later years it seemed to have been spoken of as the German Methodist. But its very title gives its reason for being formed with the evangelistic ideas as the major line of work. It was the only church of its kind ever formed in Jefferson county and at one time, according to older Germans now living, Germans came from as far away as in western New York to attend its special services.

Mrs. Ida Baltz Heyl, Clayton street, Lafargeville, has historical notes telling of this second church, as she attended the meetings there. Strangely enough, her next door neighbor, Mrs. Annie Beckwith, whose parents were Kissels, has the records of the first German church.

The German Evangelical church was formed Dec. 21, 1841, and was named the German Evangelical Association of Clayton. John Dorr donated the land for this church and it was well over the Clayton-Orleans town line, and so was known as a Clayton church. The first German church was located almost on the town line, but in Orleans. Again the people made use of the school house of District No. 20, to perfect their organization and their church was located not so far away from the school building, on a rise of land just north of the German cemetery.

This Evangelical society started with much zest for they had 60 members to begin with. The first trustees were Valentine Dorr, Andrew Baltz and John Haller. Their first pastor was Rev. Charles Hummel. Records show that the religious services were held in the �German school house� until the building was erected and that the building was plain and rather roughly built. Descendants of the pioneers tell that the members were what we would now term as narrow in their beliefs. That they choose to dress exceedingly plain, much said one, �as the �Hook-and-Eye� Baptists.� No musical instrument was permitted in the church and a strong partition was built through the center to separate the men from the women.

The services were held in German and 9 o�clock seemed to be the hour set by the pioneers as the time for the first service Sunday. German families, with oxen hitched to lumber wagons, would come slowly over the rough roads to this service and reach the place mostly on time with eight to ten children in the wagon. The women would take out big baskets filled with good things to eat and at noon would gather for the refreshments and a social time. The afternoon service would start at 2 to which all would remain. Sunday was an outstanding day for the entire membership in religious uplift and renewing of friendships. Huge sheds, or low barns were built for the oxen and horses of later years, and one elderly German of today tells that so large was the attendance that a caller would stand at the door and announce to the people within the coming up of the rigs when the service was over. Especially would this be true in cold or bad weather so the women and their families would not have to stand outside and wait for their rigs.

This church seemed to have reached its greatest prosperity in the late 1860�s and early 1870�s. A Sunday school was started early in the history of the church. Frank Weckesser was superintendent of the Sunday school during its flourishing days. At this time he was on the board of trustees with John Haller and Michael Lehr. Rev. H. Horn served the church as pastor at about this time.

In the spring of 1880 the church burned, but the members set themselves to the task of building a new structure. The younger gernerations were plainly in the leadership for they secured an organ for the new church. The records seem to indicate that leaders in the congregation were such men as John and Henry Haller, Peter Dorr, George Haas, Andrew Baltz and S. Eiss.

It was when the churches in the German Settlement were flourishing that Peter Kissel and William Gillette, took subscriptions for a fence to be built around the German cemetery, the land having been given by John LaFarge.

Time was making changes in the German Settlement. Some of the farms were changing hands. But the greatest change resulted in the younger people associating with young people of other churches in the villages of Lafargeville and Depauville and other places. Some began attending these village churches, which might be nearer to their homes. Services in the German Evangelical church were now held only once a month and at last only at long intervals. At last the building was sold to the late E. W. Dickson of Lafargeville, who razed the structure and sold the materials to such as desired the lumber. Today wild grape vines and berry bushes mark the spot where the old church stood, once the scene of crowded congregations that echoed to the fervent exhortations of devout leaders. Only a few are left to tell of the golden days of the religious life of the pioneer Germans and these (--------illegible------)