St. Martin’s parish in Ellis (16 miles long and 10 miles wide) embraces the townships of Sharon, Hull and New Hope in Portage County and Bevent in Marathon County. In pioneer days it extended as far as Arnott and Buena Vista in Portage County.
The first parishioner is not known since there are no church records dating to 1857 but records in the Stevens Point Land Office mention government assignments of land to the following before that date: John Phillips Nov. 29, 1853; Andrew Warren 1853; Erasmus Allen, 1853: Patrick Laughlin, 1853; William Earle, 1853; George Mitchell, 1854; Charles Dael, 1854; Owen Fehley, 1854; Hugh Black, 1854; Michael Sweeney, 1854; John Beck, 1854; Richard O’Keefe, 1854; Heffron, 1854; Joseph Oesterle, May 8,1855; William Steffanus, Oct. 1855; Patrick Wilson, 1855: Mike Doyle, 1855; Charles Dineen, 1855; James W. Page, April 1856 and Jacob Helbach, 1856.
.Joseph Oeaterle was the first to build a shack one mile northeast of Polonia. He took up his claim on May 8, 1855 and proceeded to occupy it. His purpose was to hunt, trap and fish and his selection was made for this purpose. William Steffanus took up his claim in October of the same year and proceeded to occupy it, building a shack for a home. These two men were actually the first to live in the Town of Sharon on their claims. Peter Eiden came a year or two later. By that time there was talk of building a church. Mr. Eiden donated the church grounds. In 1857, St. Martin’s was erected; a structure 20x30 feet made of lumber donated by these eager, sincere people. A box stove was used for heating purposes. The benches were planks laid over a substantial support on the ends. The furnishings were simple and crude. This building was in use eight years. By 1865 this church became too small to house the ever-increasing members and a larger building was erected. How devoted to the sacrifice of the mass were these pious souls of the pioneers? Lumber and labor was a small consideration as compared to the compensation received in taking part in the divine services. These pioneers were also builders. Theirs was not the thought for today, but for the future. When we closely examine the details of the present structure, built in 1865, we can readily understand why it can defy the elements after all these years.
These hardy, rugged, determined people came with the purpose to force this timbered land to yield and at once set out to clear and break the rich soil of decayed vegetation to develop the farms of the district. During the winter months the farmers entered the logging camps to secure financial needs.
The spiritual needs of the people were attended to by the few priests who had for their field of labor the whole state of Wisconsin. The first priest recorded was Father Godhardt, a Franciscan Father, stationed at St. Mary’s Parish at Fort Winnebago (city of Portage). He labored on the upper Fox and Wisconsin Rivers. making trips to Berlin, St. Marie, Montello, Kingston and into Portage County.
Originally this district belonged to the diocese of Milwaukee. In 1868 the diocese of Green Bay was formed with 31 priests to take charge of 15,387 square miles and a Catholic population of 50,000 scattered through it.
Knowing the facts before us we can readily understand that the priests could only attend each church once or twice a month, also keeping in mind that the means of travel was either by stage, ox-team or canoe.
When a priest came the young people notified the parishioners of his presence and the place and time of mass in the morning. This was done on foot, guided by the light of a kerosene lantern. Confessions were heard before mass and communion was distributed during mass. After this a short instruction was given and the children who had not been baptized were then baptized. These pioneers were deeply religious. Upon the arrival of the priest all work was suspended, while all, the old and young, attended to their spiritual welfare.
With the stationing of Father McGee in, 1856 as the first resident pastor at St. Stephen’s Church in Stevens Point, services began for the St. Martin’s congregation on a regular basis. Father John Stehle took Father McGee’s place in 1857 continuing these circuit services, often traveling to Ellis on foot when ox-teams were not available.
In October 1858 the Rev. Nicholas Stehle, a brother of Rev. John Stehle, came to Stevens Point to work among the people of Portage County until 1860 when Rev. John Polak came to administer to the spiritual needs of the people. The congregation then was composed of German, Irish, French and a few Polish families. Father Polak did much to induce the Polish to settle in Portage County.
This account of the pioneer settlement of the community of Ellis in Sharon Township and of the parish of St. Martin has been excerpted from the Diamond Jubilee booklet of St. Martin’s Church 1857-1932, compiled by Miss Winnifred M. Wysocki in 1932.