On February 21, 1874, 18 families met to organize our beloved St. John’s Evangelical Church under the direction of Rev. P Hagemann.
Many of our current members are descendants of this original group. A five-acre lot was obtained and plans immediately began for a church building with living quarters for the minister in the rear of the 30’x40’ structure. There was plenty of room for a cemetery and pasture for the minister’s horse and cow, as well as many fruit trees, grapes and beautiful iris and peonies planted by succeeding pastors.
Rev. David Kurz was installed as our first pastor. In 1889 the membership had grown so much that a parsonage was built with enough room to accommodate religious instruction.
The following year, the church was enlarged. In 1897, a schoolhouse was built to the south of the parsonage. Rev.
J Fisher taught religious instruction in German. The school continued its teaching until 1918, when Iowa Governor Harding issued a proclamation which forbade speaking German in public, which at that time included churches. The school house was later remodeled into a dwelling, then used as a hog house.
The original foundation can still be found if you know where to look. After World War I, under the leadership of Rev. Fischer our current church building was built with a 95’ steeple.
Shortly after the December 1922 dedication, the gorgeous Kilgen pipe organ was installed. It was the pride and joy of Edna Drape, who was our cherished organist for 80 years! T.
