The
History of Nekoosa UCC
 “The
place of the Rapidly running waters!” Thus, the native-American name,
Nekoosa. Gently nestled along the mighty Wisconsin River, both the town of Nekoosa and the Nekoosa
United Church of Christ have their roots in the bustling paper mill industry
of the late nineteenth century. Azel W. Patten of
Appleton, a prominent Wisconsin businessman who was both a stockholder and a
director in the Nekoosa Paper mill, understood the importance of a solid
spiritual life of the workers in his mill and of their families. He donated
land for a congregational church and provided the community with a completely
furnished and ready to worship building.
The building was completed and dedicated
December 17, 1893. Rev. William Kilbourne of Grand Rapids (now, Wisconsin
Rapids) was the presiding minister. Guest ministers
included Rev. Homer W. Carter of Beloit, WI, and Rev. George C. Haus
of Madison, WI. The first Sunday School was organized
on the same day. The early history of Nekoosa began with the French traders
and backwoodsmen who came through this region; then settling in what was
known as “Point Basse”. Early conflicts
between European settlers and the Black Hawk Indians resulted in the death of
Chief Nekoosa. It was shortly after this last battle that the  name of the settlement was changed from “Point Basse” to “Nekoosa” in honor of the chief.
The first sawmill was built by Daniel Whitney
in 1831. It was located on the east bank of the river by the ferry landing.
In those early days there were two
ferries that served traffic across the river. One was near the present
business center and was called the "Upper Ferry". The other, called
the "Lower Ferry" was a cable ferry and was located about a half
mile below the mill at the site of Historic Pointe Basse.
The ferries were replaced with a steel bridge in 1917.
Nekoosa as a community had its beginning in
1893 with the establishment of the Nekoosa Paper mill. It was in this same
year that Mr. Patten made his generous gift to the Congregational Church,
beginning the faith journey that continues today. The church records show
nineteen new members added to the roles in September of 1894, and an
additional eight members in 1895. This is the same year that a Ladies Aid
Society was formed, which continues today as UCC Women United. A hundred
years later (1993) the congregation numbered close to 400 members.
 In 1901, Rev. Benjamin E.
Ray threatened to resign if the church did not build a parsonage. The parsonage
was built next to the church in the same year. Rev. Ray stayed, but not for
long, as the 1903 Annual Report announces his departure. The land comprising
the two lots officially became the property of the congregation on September
23, 1902 when the deed was presented to the Trustees with the signatures of
T. E. Nash and L. M. Alexander.
The church record shows
that the first nine pastors to serve the Congregational Church were each here
for a very short time. The 100th Anniversary booklet stated that this was due
to the fact that they were always the last to get paid and that they were
sometimes not paid at all. This changed with the arrival of Rev. C. A. O'Neil
on Easter Sunday of 1915. He served the congregation for 34 years, and is
credited with greatly increasing the membership while making numerous
improvements to the property. Finances also improved, and the record shows
that his paycheck was provided him, in full, in a timely manner.
One of the ministers who served for only a short period in Nekoosa was the
Rev. William H. Short. He and his wife, Caroline, arrived in July of 1906 and
soon delighted the congregation with the birth of their son, Frederick
Wallace Short. Rev. Short eventually left the active ministry to work toward
the formation of the League of Nations. In
1979, his son Frederick published "The Man Behind The League of
Nations"; an account of his father's early years in church ministry
(including his short time in Nekoosa) and his later work in helping to form
the international organization that became the predecessor to the United
Nations.
September of 1957 saw
the construction of the new Educational wing, reflecting the growth of the
congregation and the importance of Christian Education. Until this time Church School classes were held in the
sanctuary of the old building. The educational wing was the first building
project since the parsonage in 1901. The Ross property next to the church was
also purchased; providing space for a parking lot and the eventual
construction of the new church.
1957 was also a landmark year for two other events. It was in 1957 that the
Rev. John Steinberg, son of Harvey and Mary Jane Steinberg, was ordained to
the Christian Ministry. He was the first member of
the congregation to be called to full time service in the church. It was also
the year that the Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and
Reformed Church voted to become the United Church of Christ. This began a
process in which each congregation of the Congregational Christian churches
would study, pray and eventually vote on participation in the union. It was
in 1962 that the congregation officially voted to join the newly formed
denomination; becoming the Nekoosa United Church of Christ.
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