St. John's
Lutheran Church |
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St. John's
Lutheran Church |
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The St. John's Lutheran Church was organized in Iron Mountain, Mo., in August, 1870. The first pastor to serve this newly-founded congregation was Rev. Herman Flacksbart, who lived in Pilot Knob and served both churches. He accepted a call to another church in 1876, and Rev. C. G. Obermeyer from Farmington was the pastor for one year.
In 1877, Pastor H. Bremer came to Iron Mountain where he made his residence and also served Pilot Knob. He was succeeded by Rev. R. Smukal, who accepted another call after five years of faithful ministry. Rev. O. Pfaffe served from 1889 to 1893. During these sixteen years, the pastors also conducted a parochial school. During the next four years, 1893 to 1897, there was no resident pastor, and the congregation was served by Rev. A. L. Rohlfing of Farmington and Professor Ludwig Fuerbringer of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis.
In August, 1897, Rev. J. H. C. Fritz established a congregation in Bismarck, where the majority of the Iron Mountain members were then living, and the services in Iron Mountain were discontinued. The church building was moved from Iron Mountain to Bismarck and was ready for use in the spring of 1899.
During this time, Charles Leggett operated hardware store, lumber yard and undertaking establishment in Bismarck, and the Lutheran School met in rooms above his business. Services were held for a time in the Union Church. When the church building was moved to Bismarck, both services and school classes were held there.
Rev. H. Schlesselman was pastor from 1901 to 1908, after which there was a vacancy for another five years. During this time the congregation was served by Concordia seminary students and Prof. Fuerbringer.
Pastor C. E. Brandt lived in Ironton and held services in Bismarck in 1913 and 1914. He was succeeded by Rev. H. C. Harting, who made his home in Flat River. He was called to another church in 1920, and in 1921 Rev. E. C. Pardieck came and remained here until 1930. Rev. O. W. Faszholz succeeded him the same year and served until 1937. Rev. L. C. Niemoeller came to Bismarck after graduating from Concordia Seminary in 1937 and remained until 1941.
Rev. H. G. Halter was pastor from 1940 to 1949, and Rev. W. M. Gauger in the years 1949 to 1951. Rev. H. G. Halter, who had accepted the call to the Flat River church in 1949, served as the vacancy pastor in 1952. In 1953, Rev. Henry DeQuinn was the pastor, to be succeeded by Rev. W. C. Wesche, who remained until 1959.
Rev. Herman Kramer was called to the Ironton and Bismarck churches in 1960 and served until 1964. The present pastor, Rev. Charles Gunderman, was installed in 1965, and he and his family reside in Ironton.
Originally, services were conducted in the German language, but this was decreased until finally German services were discontinued in 1929.
On August 11, 1940, the congregation held a special celebration commemorating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the church at Iron Mountain.
At the Thanksgiving service in 1949, a celebration was held to mark the 50th anniversary of the moving of the church from Iron Mountain. Dr. J. H. C. Fritz, who was the main speaker, was the pastor at the time the Bismarck congregation was organized.
The basement, which was built in 1950, was dedicated on January 28, 1951.
Charter members at the time of the organization of the congregation in Bismarck who are still members of St. John's congregation are Mrs. Olive Trauernicht, Mrs. Emma Dace, Mr. T. A. Van Herck, Miss Esther Schulz and Mrs. Ilo Schulz.
While removing the rock foundation of the St. John's Lutheran Church of Bismarck, workmen came across the cornerstone, encased in which was a wooden box containing a German catechism, copy of the Lutheran Witness, the official church paper, bearing the date of August 22, 1899, constitution of the Missouri, Illinois and Ohio Synod, dated 1888, Lutheran hymn book, report of the Synod meeting of the Western District, and a letter which was postmarked at Farmington, Mo., however the date was not legible as the letter was mildewed. The other documents were as well preserved as at the time they were placed in the cornerstone.
The building was erected in Iron Mountain 75 or more years ago, and after being used there as a house of worship by the Lutherans of that town and community until 1899, it was dismantled and the material hauled to Bismarck by wagon by a Mr. Wren and the church was rebuilt that fall, and has been in use for 51 years in Bismarck.
At the present time a basement is being placed beneath the church and the rock foundation replaced with one of concrete blocks. The basement will be used by the Ladies Aid Society of the church for meetings, suppers or other functions that the society may hold.
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