Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-10-25

d., IL.
Some Interesting Facts.
On November 20, 1853, the follow
ing members signed the constitution,
containing SO articles, establishing
'St. Johns German Evangelical Lu-
theran Church.:
John II. Ostendorf, Jacob Schro-
der, d. Biemann, H. Knee, II. Tajen.
Martin c. Wendelken, Elmer CapDel-
mann, Ernest Bressen, |. w. f.
Struhs, Fritz Wald, John Huskamp,
Jacob Schroeder, John NJ. Hencken,
J. II. Kleinbeck, f. Leopold, Jacob
Busch, Henry Bahntje, Catherine d.
Bulwinkel, G. III. Troeber. w. d.
Bruggerman, Hanke Gissel, j. c.
VonLehe, G. II. 'Hepe, John p. Nei-
buhr, f. Meier, Ludwig Marx, John
Bremer, c. I'll. Ludemann, Augustus
BrenEecke, Johannes Kruse, Conrad
Brandt, Conrad Joost, G. H. d. Kra-
mer, T. H. Koldemorgen, T.. Wiebens,
T. S. Kollmorgen.
The colony of Germans out of
| which the Lutheran congregation
| grew came to this up-country from
Charleston under the direction OF the
German Colonization Society. The
leaders in this enterprise were Capt.
John A. Wagner, Christopher F.,
Seeba, Claus Buwinkel, J. G.. Henckel
and Jacob Schroeder. or the 81 first
settlers there is not one now living in
Walhalla. Nearly all-if not all
have passed away.
The original purchase for coloniza-
tion purposes was 1859 acres for
$27. 900. The survey Of the town was
made by Tyre B. Mauldin in 1850,
and the first house was built the
same year by D. Biemann on the site
where the old Biemann Hotel now
stands. That was typical log
cabin. Settlers soon moved in from
Charleston and built homes along
Main street. This is wide street
t12O feet), and at one time had
three rows Of beautiful shade trees.
In 1868 Walhalla became the
county seat Of Oconee county and
settlers, other than German, moved
ill.,
There was no railroad in The early
days, and Anderson. S. c., Augusta
and Athens, Ga, we're the nearest
markets. The material needed from
outside sources was. therefore, not so
easily and quickly obtained
The first officers Of the town, in
1855, were John II. Ostendorf, In
t"ndant; Herman Fajeu, Jacob
Schroeder, John w. f.. Thompson,
Henry Bahntge, Herman Knee and
John NJ. Hencken, Wardens. John
N. Hencken was clerk of Council
II. p. Thode was President Of the
German Settlement Society in 1853.
There were seven members of the
first Church Council in 1853, inclnd-
ing the pastor. The following were
elected at that time: Rev. C. F.. Ban
sinner, president; G. NJ. D. Cramer,
secretary; C. Sahlmann, treasurer;
II. G. Rochau, G. II. Korber, II. Fa-
jen. G. H. Hesse.
The members Of the council in the
Lutheran church at present are:
John A. Ansel, chairman; w. d.
! Lady, 0. Fl. Schumacher. Jr, II. G..
Meiburg, elders: II. T. Ritter, G. d.
Schumacher, r. II. Kaufman, II. w.
Brandt, deacons.
Before the organization OF the
Lutheran church, DR.. Lewis Muller,
Of Charleston, visited here and per-
formed pastoral duties abont May,
1852, as the baptismal records show.
The first pastor and organizer Of
the congregation was Rev. c. f. Ban
sinner.
On May 28, 1859, the present
church edifice was raised. The tim
bers used we're from the original for
est and many were taken from the
land adjoining and still owned by
the church. Only the best material
was used, and inside as well as out
side, Is yellow heart pine The tim
bers seem as sound to-day as when
they were placed 55 years ago. The
framing of the church was hewn by
members, and John Kaufman was
foreman of the work. 1t Is a well
propOrtioned church, with splendid
acoustics, and with a seating capac-
ity sufficient for some years Of future
healthy growth. The congregation has
no debts, and owns, in addition to the
church and four acres Of land with it,
a parsonage in the most desirable
section Of town, recently remodeled
and enlarged. They believe in the
Gospel of Work"-.that IL O. man
will not work neither should he eat.
The friends who come amongst them
at this Synodical gathering will find
them like the faith they confess-the
simplicity Of the Gospel as it is in
Christ.
The Transformation.
While the older German people in
the congregation naturally love the
mother tongue they generously ac-
ceded to the necessity Of preaching
the Gospel in the language OF their
children. No other of the larger
Protestant churches in this country
has had the ponderous task of trans
planting itself into new land and a
new language as has the Lutheran
church. While this Transformation