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LUTHERANS TO OBSERVE SILVER ANNIVERSARY
Trinity Lutheran Church of This City Founded September 1, 1908. Edifice Built The Same Year
[Published in THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, St. Francois Co. MO, Fri. Sept. 29, 1933]

Next Sunday Trinity Lutheran Church of Flat River will observe its twenty fifth anniversary with a morning service at 10:30 in which Rev. W. Peterson of Farmersville, Ill., a former pastor of the local church, will preach, while the afternoon address will be delivered by Rev. P. List of St. Louis. With invitations extended to all former members, next Sunday's observation promises to be a homecoming for this church. A brief history of this organization will be read at the close of the morning service.

A perusal of the records of this church shows that, like other organizations, it was an inauspicious beginning, dating back to the turn of the century. Then it was that Rev. A. Rohlfing of Farmington, made a brief survey of this territory and subsequently conducted services in various homes. Those were not the days of rapid transportation when it was possible to make a trip to the county seat in a few minutes. The road, unworthy of the compliment, linking Flat River and Farmington was often unfit for vehicle traffic. Rev. Rohlfing would, therefore, frequently come to the little town of Flat River in circuit rider fashion.

With the number of attendants at the home gatherings growing, it was deemed expedient to rent a hall, more centrally located. The place chosen was Level's Hall, the site now occupied by Campbell Furniture Co. This was used as a church home till 1903 when the structure burned. Of those who were identified with this movement from its very inception, two are still active members of the Flat River church. Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Giessing.

Six charter members signed the constitution: Chas. Houser, W. P. Giessing, W. Fischer, A. Schramm, Henry Schramm and George Meyer. According to the certificate of incorporation, dated Sept. 1, 1908, the official name of this organization was "Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Congregation U.A.C., in and about Flat River, St. Francois County, Missouri."

The first resident pastor was Rev. O. Motuschka, whose tenure of pastorate was from August, 1901, to October, 1902. His present charge is Pittsburg, Kansas. He was succeeded by Rev. F. Schroeder who came in September, 1903 and served this congregation for nearly three years. At his arrival the church property consisted of exactly 19 hymnals, the pews and the piano, all other things having been destroyed by fire. Rev. Schroeder is now in Brooklyn, New York.

In September, 1906, the little flock was once more supplied with a resident pastor, Rev. W. Peterson, who like his two predecessors was a recent graduate of Concordia Seminary. The church school, established by Rev. Schroeder, was successfully continued by Rev. Peterson. Its enrollment ranged between forty and fifty. After Rev. Peterson's removal in December, 1909, the church was without a local pastor for several years. Students from the St. Louis Seminary would conduct bi-weekly services, but this arrangement proved unsatisfactory and so in 1914 Rev. H. Harting, of the Seminary graduating class of '14 was assigned to the field. He remained in Flat River six years almost to the day. The present pastor has served this church since 1923. During these ten years, the church has shown its greatest growth. Rev. Keisker has not only served his church efficiently as pastor, but he has served the community loyally as a citizen and his friendship among members of all denominations speaks for his neighborliness and kindliness.

In a previous paragraph the statement was made that the first place of worship was destroyed by fire. The next improvised church home was the club room above Fisher's Store, the present location of the Littleton Building on West Main. After an occupancy of one month, this building was reduced to ashes. Services were then held in a hall above Buckley's Store in St. Francois. After these frequent removals, sentiment was under way to secure a church building. Accordingly in November, 1904, the lot was acquired on which the church edifice now stands and the house on the rear of lot was converted into a chapel. In 1908, the present building was erected. The parsonage was purchased in 1923.

The following are officers of the church: F. Reuter, president; W. P. Giessing, vice president; J. Schmidt and Noah Meyer, Elders; Chas. Schmidt and Harry Stange, Trustees; W. A. Schramm, secretary; Henry Thomsen, treasurer.

A Ladies Aid was organized in 1915, of which Mrs. F. Thomsen and Mrs. F. Reuter are charter members.

Organization of the Sunday School took place in 1908. The young peoples society joined the International Walther League on July 18th of this year.

Lutheran Church

Published by THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, St. Francois Co. MO, in a special edition for FLAT RIVER DAY, Saturday, Aug. 1, 1936:

Not phenomenal, yet substantial--these four words apply summarize the accomplishments of this church. Organized soon after the turn of the century, Trinity Lutheran Church has contributed its quota to the progress of this community. An ivy-covered church building, erected in 1908, and a parsonage, purchased in 1923, constitute the physical equipment of this organization.

Trinity Church has been served by five resident pastors: Rev. O. Matuschka, now at Pittsburg, Kan., 1901-02; Rev. F. Schroeder, now at Brooklyn, N.Y., 1903-06; Rev. W. Peterson, now at Farmersville, Ill., 1906-09; Rev. H. Harting, now at Emma, Mo., 1914-20; Rev. W. Keisker, has been pastor since 1923. It is significant that each of these five men came to Flat River on completion of their theological course at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and that Flat River consequently was the first charge for each of these men.

*Clara Mae Twomey was born to Lawrence Adolph Twomey and Bertha Mayes Twomey, however, she was raised from infancy by Lawrence Hood and Bernice Armbruster Hood of Flat River, Missouri, who she considered to be her parents.  Bernice, who played the organ for many years at Trinity Lutheran Church,  was a daughter of William "Henry" Armbruster and Mattie Sizemore Armbruster.  After Mattie died, Henry married Olie Flieg.  After Henry died, Olie married and outlived George Boatright.  Lawrence Hood was a first cousin of Alvin Hood, owner of Hood's Funeral Home of Flat River.  They were both grandsons of Aaron Lee Hood.  Family history provided by Larry Smith, son of Clara Mae (Twomey) Smith.

The following article concerning the dedication of the New Trinity Lutheran Church in Flat River, as well as the photos below, were contributed by Larry Smith of Concord, California.  He believes this article  was published either in late December 1951 or very early January 1952.

Dedication Services At New Trinity Lutheran Church

Dedication services were conducted at Trinity Lutheran Church, 309 Taylor Ave., Flat River, on Sunday, Dec. 23.  Two services were held in which Pastor Herbert Halter, the local pastor, conducted the first service and Pastor Herbert Rose, preceding pastor conducted the second service.

A most unusual thing happened fifteen minutes before the morning service when a moving van drove up with a new electric Everett Orgatron organ for the congregation, -a gift of a friend to the congregation.  The organ could not be used for the morning service, but in the afternoon service, Prof. M. W. Mueller, organist for the Farmington Lutheran Church, played the organ for the service.  All of the members are happy over this wonderful gift.

The congregation assembled in the basement of the new church before the morning service after which they marched to the door of the new church where the dedication ceremony took place in which the contractor, Walter Brockmiller, handed the key to Pastor Halter, who then unlocked the door.  After proper prayer, the congregation entered the sanctuary where the dedication service was conducted.

    Lawrence Coleman, little son of Mr. and Mrs. Edice Smith, was received into the Kingdom of God through Holy Baptism.  The church was filled to capacity for both services, showing that many friends came to worship with the members of the congregation.  Among the visitors were Walter Brockmiller and his family; Mr. And Mrs. Carl Westmeyer, foreman of the work; Mr. And Mrs. Andrew Hahn, plumber and heating man for the work; and some of the other workers and a number of friends from Farmington and the surrounding community.

Pastor Halter based his remarks on the text, Luke 2:10, showing how the Christmas festival and dedication could very well be combined.

Pastor Rose in the afternoon service based his remarks on Luke 2:14, and commended the congregation for its wonderful house of worship and showed the different phases of the congregation’s activities that would be carried on in this new house of worship.  In the afternoon service many visitors were again present, among whom were Pastor E. C. Pardieck of Farmington and Pastor W. Dierking of De Soto.   Pastor Dierking spoke a few words of congratulation as the visitor of the Iron Mountain Circuit, of which this congregation is a member.  Former Pastor H. C. Harting, since he could not be present, sent a letter of congratulation which was read after the afternoon service.  Pastor Keisker, also a former pastor, sent a telegram of congratulations which arrived too late to be read.

After the afternoon service a lunch was served by the ladies in the church basement at which quite a number of members and friends and visitors were present.

The Lord has greatly blessed this congregation and it is the prayer of the congregation that He will do so in the future.

The congregation invites others to worship with the members in this new church.  Sunday School and Bible class at 9:30 with regular Sunday service at 10:30 a.m.

H. G. Halter, Pastor

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