Johannesthal
In 1874 eight families settled near Martin Creek, eight miles west of Freeman. (These families included: Johann Schempp, Fritz Mutschelknaus, Philipp Holzwarth, Andreas Bertsch, Christian Delzer, Christian Auch, Gottlieb Delzer, Jacob Schatz & Johannes Schatz.). From 1873 to 1877 worship services for Johannesthal congregation were conducted in Christian Delzer’s home. In 1877 the first Johannesthal Reformed Church was built in the settlement, named Die Johannestal Kirche (section 34 of Wolf Creek Township). A cemetery was built close to the church soon after. A lone four sided marker lists Rosina Auch’s children who all died of scarlet fever in 1886. In 1902 a new church was built. (was later moved to Heritage Hall Museum grounds in Freeman).
In 1874, the ss Hammonia brought the first group of Hutterites to America.
One of the first Hutterite settlements began on the east bank of Silver Lake. In the spring of 1875 the colony decided to move the settlement to Wolf Creek in the James River Valley to use the power of running water.
The communal living Hutterites settled along the James River (eight miles west of Freeman.) A group of non communal Hutterites who had lived in Hutterdorf settled near Freeman on government land. In 1875, a group led by Paul Tschetter from Neu Hutterthal, came to the area and settled along Wolf Creek.
