The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1919-09-20
St. Johns Lutheran Church Review SevenFve Years of its History
With Special Religious Anniversary Beginning Sunday Morning

The seventy-fifth anniversary of the
founding Of ST. Johns Lutheran
church will be celebrated tomorrow
with special services in which the
Revs. Henry Wickemeyer of Michigan
City and A. ]. Feeger of Dayton, for
mer pastors, will preach
The Revs. NJ. Grabeman and w.
Nordsieck, former members of ST.
Johns. will deliver addresses Tues
day evening, and the Rev. Charles
Loehr, also a confirmed member of
the church, will deliver an address
Sunday evening. The demobilization
of the service flag will take place
Thursday evening. The program for
the services tomorrow, Tuesday and
Thursday follows:
Sunday school, George kauper, Sup
erintendent, 500 a. m; German jubi-
lee service, 1000 a. m. speakers, Pas
tors H. Wickemeyer and A. J. Feeger.
2:3O p. m, brief addresses by Pastors
Wickemeyer, Feeger, Specht and Nick
las.
English jubilee service, 700 p. m,
speaker. Pastor c. Loehr.
Sacred concert with brief addresses
by Pastors w. Graveman and w
Nordsick. Tuesday, 7:30 p. m.
Decentralization of the service flag,
Thursday, 7:3O p. m.
The history of St. Johns church
dates back to the early sos of the last
century, when German emigrants
from Osnabruck, Hanover, settled in
Richmond. There was no Lutheran
church here. The first child to re-
ceive baptism was John Lefker, son
of Mr.. and Mrs. Harry Lefker. A
Reformed pastor by name of Zumpe
served the early settlers.
Beginning with July 8, 1912, the
church records show that the Rev.
John c. Schulze served the congrega-
ton. He solemnized the first mar
riage recorded in the church book
that Of Christopher Katman and
Margaret Menke, September s, 1912.
The influx of emigrants was so
great that the early Lutherans organ
lied a congregation on the first Ad-
vent Sunday in 1874, with the Rev.
Mr.. Schulze as pastor. Services were
held in a public school building at
Fourth and B streets
Brick Church Built.
A lot was later purchased on South
| Fourth street for S125. In 1S46 a
brick church 31x42 was erected. John
| II. ESSemeyer was tne contractor. ltS
cost was $500 The pews were rough
boards fastened to logs.
The original constitution was signed
by the newly elected vestry. consist
ing of Christopher Schowe, John Pet
erson, Eberhardt H. Menke, Gerhardt
H. Juergens, Diedrich Hoehne and
| Christopher Juergens. Other signers
were William Schulz. Herman H
Schowe, Eberhardt H. Fraumann, John
Adam Schnelle, Clamor H. Vette, Hery
w. Rosa, Eberhardt H. Eggemeyer
Bernhardt H. Knollenberg, John H
Won dem Felde (Feldman), John D
Sittloh, John H. Eggemeyer, Gerhardt
H. Juergens, Herman H. Klute, John
H. Schowe, Gerhardt H. Schnelle, Johr
Hill, Gerhardt c. Vette, John B. Slit
loh, John H. Hanfeld, John B. Igle
mann, Bernhard Wellekamp, Johr
H. Knollenberg, Herman H. Kemper
John H. Knollenberg, Gerhardt H
Kruevel.
The Rev. Mr.. Schulze resigned ir
1S4S and was followed by the Rev
J. G. Thesis, who did valiant service
during the cholera epidemic of 1S49
During his pastorate the church was
remodeled and bell purchased. He
also organized the parish school. The
Rev. Carl Shadow served from 1856 to