Chickasaw County Iowa

Historical Background of Zion Lutheran Church

The origin of this congregation dates back to the year 1869, when the pioneer preacher of these parts, Rev WACHTEL of West Union, and later of New Hampton, began his travels through Chickasaw and Howard Counties to contact those who were of the Lutheran faith, gather them in groups and dispense to them the Word and Sacraments. These meetings were held in country school houses. It might be said that this congregation had its beginning in the school house two miles north of town. It stands to reason, however, that a pastor who had such distances to travel and so many congregations to care for could serve them only at long intervals. Things changed when the Great Western, which at that time was called the Chicago, St Paul and Kansas City, built through here and established the station at Alta Vista in 1886. More German Lutherans moved in and what was more natural than that the congregation should move from the country school house into town.

At this point, Rev H. WIEGAND comes into the picture. At that time he was stationed at Riceville, and hearing that this congregation had had no services since July 1886 on account of the serious illness of Rev WACHTEL, he gladly accepted an invitation to come here and preach. It was in November of that year that he began. There were 13 families at that time and they offered him a salary of from $150 to $160. Services were held in the public school house which stood on the present site of the SCHULTZ's Hardware store and Linden Park.

Just exactly on what day the congregation was organized we have not been able to ascertain. From the information available it must have been in the first part of 1887. It was organized under Rev WIEGAND and the first officers were:

• Wm BANDLE
• John WESTENDORF
• Charles JOACHIM (secretary and treasurer)
• Fr WOLLWAGE

In addition to these, the following were charter members:

• Herman SCHULZ
• Conrad ERION
• Wm GLIENKE
• Henry GLIENKE
• Ernest GLIENKE

The first church was built in 1889 on the land donated by Wm VICK.

Rev WIEGAND preached the farewell sermon in the school house on the dedication day, June 30^th.  Rev LANDGREBE preached the dedication sermon.

The first child to be baptized in the new church was Henry Albert GLIENKE, oldest son of Wm. GLIENKE. That was March 28^th 1890.

The first class was confirmed in the new church April 10^th 1892; and the first person confirmed was Herman DIENO.

The first couple married in the new church was Michael WHITNEY and Christine OHAM.

The first funeral was that of Herman August RADTKE on July 4^th 1890.

Incorporation papers were filed January 28^th 1889.

Rev WIEGAND remained until the fall of 1889, when he accepted a call sent to him from Richfield. Rev PROTTENGEIER of New Hampton undertook to serve the congregation until Christmas, when Candidate Theo John PLESS was sent out to take care of the congregation, from the seminary in Dubuque. The congregation numbered 23 families at that time. In addition to Alta Vista, Rev PLESS also served Saratoga and later on also Davis Corners and Maple Leaf.

In 1892 a Ladied Aid was organized on June 2^nd with 28 members.

In 1895 the parsonage was built on a lot next to the church, which had been bought from Wm VICK, at an expense of $1,000.

By this time the congregation had increased sufficiently so that when Rev PLESS had to resign on account of impaired health in April 1897, it felt able to call its own pastor in the person of Rev George SCHROEDER. After Rev SCHROEDER had labored here only about a year, Rev J. WESTENBERGER was called on July 3^rd 1898.

On October 23 the congregation decided to build an addition to the parsonage, 16x28, which should serve as a kitchen and school room. After being here eight years, Rev WESTENBERGER resigned on September 6^th 1906, and Rev F.W. KNAPPE of Preston, Iowa was called.

In 1908 the congregation spent about $1048 to enlarge the church, acquire art glass windows and install a furnace. The Ladies Aid provided a new altar, pulpit and other fixtures at an expense of $500, a church bell was purchased for $250 in 1910 and dedicated May 29^th.

On November 23^rd 1913, Rev KNAPPE preached his farewell sermon and his successor was Rev P. SCHUCHARD. He served until October 4^th 1914, when he resigned, and the following Sunday October 11^th 1914, the congregation recalled Rev KNAPPE, who was installed by Rev MATHIAS of Maple Leaf, November 29^th.

Rev KNAPPE's pastorate was for two years. Then Rev J.J. HABERAECKER of Arlington, S.D. was called. He arrived on July 11^th 1917. This was a period of great tribulation, when the use of the German language even in Divine service was all but forbidden, so Rev HABERAECKER got permission from the congregation to attend the English Lutheran Seminary at Maywood, Illinois, even though he could hold services here only every two weeks. It was the period of great tribulation also because of the so-called Spanish influenza, which disrupted many a family and kept the funeral bell ringing.

In 1919 the parsonage was modernized. Plumbing and a heating system were installed.

On December 6^th 1925 Rev HABERAECKER made known to the congregation that he had received a call to the congregation at Kewanee, Illinois, and he was inclined to accept. Whereupon the congregation gave him his release. On February 24^th 1926, Rev A.F. KARSTEN of Correctionville, Iowa wsa called. He arrived April 12^th 1926.

The congregation decided on May 29^th that they would rather build a new church than a schoolhouse, if the funds could be raised. A committee was appointed to solicit pledges. On May 30^th the committee reported that $16,000 had been pledged and it was unanimously decided to build. Ground for the new building was broken on June 7^th. The church was completed and dedicated on December 12^th. After all the bills were paid, $832.92 remained in the building fund, the greater part of which was used to decorate the church in April and May 1928.

In January of 1937 the church services were set, with German service on every first Sunday of the month, and all other services to be in English.

An important change became effective in the congregation at the business meeting of April 9^th 1954; Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church decided to join together with St John's Lutheran Church of Boyd, Iowa. New church service time schedules became effective, and Pastor BRANDT immediately began serving both congregations.

With the year of 1961 and the merger of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church, the American Lutheran Church and the Evangelical Lutherna Church into one body, known as The American Lutheran Church, it was unanimously voted upon at the annual meeting to adopt the new constitution of The American Lutheran Church.

Summary of clergy who have served Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church up through 1962:

• Rev Ed WACHTEL
• Rev H. WIEGAND
• Rev PROTTENGEIER
• Rev Theo John PLESS
• Rev George SCHROEDER
• Rev J. WESTENBERGER
• Rev F.W. KNAPPE
• Rev P. SCHUCHARD
• Rev F.W. KNAPPE (second term)
• Rev J.J. HABERAECKER
• Rev A.F. KARSTEN
• Rev K.J. HODUM
• Rev C. BOSHOLM
• Rev Henry MUELLER
• Rev H.J. BRANDT
• Rev Karl WELTNER
• Rev George L. HANUSA
• Rev William CARTER

Source:
Zion Lutheran Church Anniversary Booklet
Seventy-fifth Anniversary ~ 1887 - 1962
Date: 26 Aug 1962
pages 5 - 10 (selected paragraphs)