USA > Iowa > Bremer County > Sumner > The centennial story of St. John Lutheran, Buck Creek, R.R. 2, Sumner, Iowa > Part 1
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1875 to
St. John
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1975
Lutheran Church Buck Creek, Iowa
3
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Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 with funding from Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
https://archive.org/details/centennialstoryo00unse
The American Lutheran Church Office of the President
422 South Fifth Street Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415 612-338-3821
July 6, 1975
St. John Lutheran Church
R. R. 2
Sumner, IA 50674
Dear Friends in Christ:
On behalf of the congregabons of The American Lutheran Church and for myself personally , I send you fraternal greetings on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of your congregation.
The American Lutheran Church looks with appreciation and joy upon your work and witness over the years and is grateful to the Lord of the church for your partnership in the Gospel .
In this time of celebration, you will be looking back and ahead -- back over this period of grace under God and honoring the memory of those who lived and labored among you. You will be looking ahead to the new bme of grace and opportunities to preach and to do the Gospel.
The God who has blessed you so richly in the past will continue to lay his hand of blessing upon you.
Sincerely ,
.
David W. Preus President
the american lutheran church
iowa district
FIRST THE BLADE, THEN THE EAR, THEN THE FULL CORN IN THE EAR **
Mark 4 26
April 28, 1975
St. John Lutheran Church (Buck Creek) R.R. 2 Sumner, Iowa 50674
Dear Members of St. John Lutheran (Buck Creek) of Sumner, and Pastor and Mrs. Allan Stoa and family:
One hundred years of ministry in which so many have been blessed by God, is certainly something to celebrate. I am sure this is an exciting year for all the members of the congregation, as you recall the early history and the heritage that is yours from your forefathers. It is so good that we do take time out to remember and to thank God for these things in our personal relationship to him, and as a congregation related to each other.
The people of God that make up the Church, particularly here in the Iowa District, greet you in this year and rejoice with you. I Minister hope you will not only recall the past and thank God for it, but that this will be an opportunity to take another good look at your mission - your reason for being a congregation - that you will look ahead - seek God's help and recommit yourselves to the great mission that God has assigned to his people on earth. with the Gospel to each other, share it with those in your commun- ity, live your Christian life, and support the work of missions all over the world.
It is a great task God has given us, but a thrill to be a part of it. Celebrate with joy, thanksgiving and in the spirit of re- commitment:
Sincerely, 7
Bruno Schlachtenhaufen President
ds
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Kirsten
Pastor Stoa
Kirk
Mrs. Stoa
Kari
Maren
Leif
St. John Lutheran Church (Buck Creek) RR 2 Sumner, lowa 50674
Phone: (515) 224.8182 Rev. Allan J. Sloa
1875-1975
To the Buck Creek Congregation
CENTENNIAL GREETINGS!
We are indeed very happy to be a part of this congregation. Our family thanks you for your continued love and kindness expressed to us. We truly feel that we are in the midst of a great people!
Your spirit has been one of friendship, fellowship and cooperation around the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Not only have we had the opportunity to minister to you, but you have ministered to us. We have experienced a mutual exchange of the factors that excite faith, mold character, and determine destiny. To you, the Buck Creek congregation, the Stoa family shall always be grateful.
As we celebrate this centennial with you, we are mindful of the words of Jesus Christ:
"Here the saying holds true; One sows and another reaps. I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor; others have labored, and you have entered into their labor." - John 4:37-38
Yes, here the saying holds true. We who minister to you today are the benefactors of other pastors and their families who labored before us. For this we must give our gratitude to God; and irrespective of who sows or reaps, it is God who gives the increase.
These years we have been with you has been our opportunity. We trust that our ministry to you, and the community, has been and shall be of such a nature that others who may follow shall reap from what we have sown.
Forever in Christ,
Pasta (11 Stra
Pastor and Mrs. Allan Stoa Kirsten, Kari, Maren, Kirk and Leif
CHRIST JESUS IS OUR CORNERSTONE CHOSEN AND PRECIOUS
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Chrismon Tree
Since 1971, the Christmas tree in our church has been decorated with Chrismons, which not only contribute much to the spirit of worship in this Holy Season but a beautiful way to glorify God.
Chrismon is a combination of the parts of two words, CHRISt and MONogram. A Chrismon is just that, a monogram or symbol of Christ. Because Christmas is a celebration of Christ's Festival, the designs are limited to those that refer primarily to Him.
All Chrismons are made in combinations of white and gold. White, the liturgical color for Christmas, refers to our Lord's purity and perfection; gold, to His majesty and glory. We point to the Christ as the Light of the World by using tiny lights on the tree.
Easter Cross
A unique way to use the Christmas tree is to cut off all the branches and use the trunk for a cross at Easter. This reminds us that Christ died for us.
During Lent the cross stands bare. On Good Friday it is draped in black with a circle of thorns. On Easter morning it is draped in white and decorated with white lily buds and greenery.
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Centennial Prayer
We pray for the remembrance of the past and for the visions of the future. We pray for all who strive to keep communication open between the old and the new, and for all who seek to live in love. We pray for the older and the younger, who find it difficult to understand one another. We pray for all who feel they are misunderstood. Lord, let us reflect on the past, but let us dedicate ourselves to the future. Help us to keep the Light of Your Grace burning in the hearts and lives of St. John of Buck
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Creek.
Amen.
Congregational Prayer
Lord, Thou has been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hast formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting Thou art God. For a thousand years in Thy sight are but yesterday when it is passed, or as a watch in the night. Thou dost sweep men away; they are like a dream,
like grass, in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it fades and withers. For all our days pass away under Thy wrath, our years come to an end like a sigh. So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
-From Psalm 90
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A Century of Growth and Grace
Theme: Christ Jesus is our cornerstone; chosen and precious.
God's grace has made possible the celebration of a 100th Anniversary.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ has been proclaimed, the sacraments have been administered and the Word of God has been proclaimed. Through these means of Grace, people have received the love and forgiveness of God.
A church is the visible symbol of a God who dwells on earth among men. It is the workmanship in wood and stone of men and women who live inwardly in dwellings not made with hands, whose builder and maker is God.
This congregation, through these many years, can state the words of Paul in all clarity: "So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." (Eph. 2:19-22).
In these 100 years of God's love to this congregation we want to state ... Jesus Christ has been the cornerstone chosen and precious . . . and may Jesus Christ be the chosen and precious cornerstone in future generations.
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Sacraments
CHRIST JESUS IS
OUR CORNERSTONE
CHOSEN AND
PRECIOUS
is ?
4 Taux .
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Teaching
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Preaching
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Praising
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Index
Years of Growth
1
Hi-Lites
10
Sons and Daughters of the Congregation
11
These Happy Golden Years 12
Christian Education -
The Confirmation of Youth
14
Sunday School
15
Parochial School 20
The Church Council
21
The ALCW
22
The Brotherhood
24
Luther League
25
Music Department 26
Baptisms
27
Confirmations
34
Burials
39
Marriages
41
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11
Ir
LE
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11
Ir
1
Years of Growth
We dedicate this historical sketch to the Founders of St. John Lutheran Church, Buck Creek, whose love of God inspired them to found a congregation. To all those whose time and talents, generous gifts and devoted labors have supported this congregation in its endeavors for Christ and His Kingdom;
And to those who love and serve St. John Lutheran today, to the generations to come, and to those who will be called on to carry her standard into the future.
- Early Beginnings of Buck Creek -
Rev. Paul Bredow, 1873-1875
Rev. Bredow was born in Guelzon, Russia, in 1839 and trained in the Mission School at Neuendettelsau, Bavaria, Ger- many. He emigrated to America in 1861 and served many congregations in Wisconsin and Iowa before coming to St. John's of Maxfield Township in 1872. He founded many congre- gations in Bremer County, in addition to the one here at Buck Creek.
In the 1850's, the pioneering founders of St. John Lutheran Church immigrated from the area of Mecklenburg, Germany, and established a settlement along the Buck Creek.
The Reverend Paul Bredow, of Maxfield Church, was the first Lutheran pastor to preach to these people. In the following paragraphs are some of the thoughts of Rev. Bredow as he remembers his early missionary activities among the German Lutheran immigrants here at Buck Creek. They are taken from a book of his memoirs that was published in 1904.
"When I came to Maxfield, my Union neighbor (i.e. a pastor of the Reformed-Lutheran Union) was (periodically) preaching in the German settlement along the Buck Creek, to people that were exclusively Lutheran. A year later he left his congregation and thus also the preaching place at Buck Creek.
"For that reason on a day in February, 1873, I drove to this community and made house calls at which I invited the people for the next Sunday (Sexagesema, the 2nd Sunday before Lent) to a Lutheran service in the so called Marsh School. This school was about 12 miles from
Maxfield. The service was well attended. I preached on the Gospel of the day, the Parable of the Sower, and did not fail to proclaim Dr. Martin Luther as a real sower. At the close of the service I did not ask whether they wanted me to come again, but simply announced another service in two weeks. At this point someone in the congregation (Father S.) arose and said that he had nothing against my preaching but the former (Union) pastor had promised before he left that he would send them a pastor. I answered that perhaps the pastor had promised more than he could fulfill. Besides, I was willing to withdraw, if the promised pastor came and the people desired to have him. In the meantime, I would be willing to preach here in the presupposition that people came to hear me. There proved to be no need to worry-about the arrival of the Union pastor. The concern came from another unexpected source. After about a year, during which I had regularly conducted fortnightly services at Buck Creek, I had gathered together almost all the settlers of that locality, including several members of the Missouri Congregation at Maxfield that had settled in the Buck Creek area. Pastor Kanning operated with these and planned to set himself in the nest that I had prepared. For this purpose he announced services in the same school in which I had preached. By various means he was able to gain a following.
"I did not desire to generate a quarrel and chose another school, situated close to the farm of Karl Sell, which was 14 miles away, to which those people came who did not want anything to do with Pastor Kanning. Even after this, the notice appeared in the German paper in Waverly with the following content: "That the Evangelical Lutheran Congregation at Buck Creek desired to build a church and that interested people should assemble at a given time and place. Pastor Kanning, at this time Pastor of the congregation.' The lumber for the new church was purchased. This had a very discouraging effort on the small group that attended my services; for it was argued that the few Germans living here could hardly call one pastor, to say nothing of two. This seemed reasonable, but it did not convince me. Trusting in the Lord and in the rightness of my cause, I continued to preach there, sometimes to few hearers. As I was driving to Buck Creek one Sunday afternoon, the thought struck me: 'How long will
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Years of Growth
you have to continue this hopeless treck for services at Buck Creek?' The answer was soon to come. Having arrived at the school, I noticed to my surprise the presence of an old settler, a Mr. F. M., who had hitherto stayed away from my services. At the close of the service he came to me and said that he did not consider it right that Pastor Kanning sought to take the congregation, which I had gathered, away from me, and if I gave my permission he would confer with the other settlers and decide whether it would not be advisable to have one congregation and to support me. I had no reason to refuse my consent to this. Now there followed a time of unusually severe snow storms so that the roads were impassible. I could drive 28 miles in an afternoon and conduct a service, yet, when I tried on a week day to make the trip and investigate how matters stood, I could only go half-way. I could truly commit everything to my Lord in earnest, persistant prayer. Five or six weeks passed before I could conduct another service there. Then I learned the following facts. Mr. M. had visited all the German Lutherans that were interested in a church and had come to an agreement that on a certain day they would assemble in the Marsh School and discuss the question: 'Do we want to establish a congregation of the Missouri Synod, or the Iowa Synod?' But neither Pastor Kanning nor I were to be invited to the meeting so that the decision would be without the influence of either pastor. For this reason I had no knowledge of the meeting. But Pastor Kanning was notified by his friends, and arrived in due time. He believed that the decision could only be in favor of his synod and declared everyone a 'fool' who would not accept the decision. Great care was exercised in the voting. A voting roster was set up and the number of votes cast compared with the number on the roster. This tallied. But when the votes were counted there were two more votes for the Iowa Synod than for the Missouri Synod. When the result was announced, Pastor Kanning jumped on the school bench and thundered (Remember, he who had previously branded everyone a fool who would not side with the majority) with a loud voice against the 'false Iowa Synod', adjured all present for the sake of the salvation of their souls to guard against the 'false prophets of the Iowa Synod' and declared emphatically that he and his adherents would not agree to the decision. The excitement was so great, that, as a faithful friend told me, it almost came to physical violence in which Pastor Kanning would have been the main object. The Lord, however, did not let it come to such an outbreak of the flesh.
"That's how matters stood when, after a long delay, I came back to my preaching place. 'What should happen now?' Even though Pastor Kanning had spoken so boldly at the meeting, our opponents had lost all courage to continue the church building and privately sold the lumber among themselves. And the majority of those who favored our Synod thought that now they had done their duty. I announced a meeting in the home of Mr. L. M., whom I had confirmed, as well as his wife, and they had very little confidence in my plea to begin building at once. I declared that now the time had come for decisive action. If we desire success, let us
go forward in God's name. Articles of Incorporation were adopted. After everyone made a pledge for the new church, he was handed a list with the instruction to seek additional pledges from his friends for the building of a Lutheran Church. I promised also to be active for the cause in my own congregation. And the Lord blessed our efforts beyond expectations. Mr. Louis Buhr, who has since gone to eternal rest, gave several acres of land for the church and parsonage. The members found a cordial reception and I could collect about $125.00 in my (Maxfield) congregation. Thus the church could be built.
"But if the gathering of a congregation at Buck Creek was to succeed, it was imperative that there would be services on Sunday mornings. For that I needed a suitable assistant. After explaining the situation to the Synodical President, I requested and received such help in the person on Candidate of Theology, W. Adix. He arrived at my home one February evening in the year 1875. I was delighted that he was sent because I had no doubt that, as a Mecklenburger, he would be most acceptable to the people of Buck Creek, who also were mostly from Mecklenburg, and at least were low-German.
"When I review all these experiences, my heart is filled with praise and thanksgiving to the faithful God of whom the Psalmist says: 'The Lord preserveth the simple; I was brought low and he helped me.' (Ps. 116:6) And when I look at the congregation and church at Buck Creek, I must exclaim even today: 'It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassion fails not. They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness.' (Lam. 3:22, 23) To Him above the glory."
Rev. Wm. Adix, 1875-1897
In the fall of 1874, Rev. Bredow felt it was time to organize a congregation here at Buck Creek. He contacted the President of the Iowa Synod, the Rt. Rev. G. A. Grossmann, requesting an assistant. Can- didate William Adix of Wartburg Theological Seminary arrived here to help him in February of 1875. Candidate Adix was born in Mecklenberg, Germany, as were most of the people who had settled in the Buck Creek area.
For the next few months, Pastor Adix stayed at the Bredow parsonage at Maxfield, riding horseback to Buck Creek to conduct
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1
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Years of Growth
services. After the Articles of Incorporation were taken out, a Constitution was drawn up and signed by three men: Fred Poehler, G. Wolff, and Louis Buhr, the latter donating the land on which the church was built. A Call was then extended to Pastor Adix at a salary of $250.00 a year. He accepted and was ordained and installed by Rev. Bredow on Cantata Sunday of 1875.
He then made his home in the small Carl Sell residence where he had a room 8 by 10 feet, set off from the other rooms by a curtain. This was his living quarters, bedroom and study.
Wedding picture of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Buhr, married on March 20, 1873. Mr. Buhr donated the land for our church and is also one of the three men who signed the original consti- tution. Many, many descen- dants of Mr. Buhr belong to this congregation including 14 grandchildren: Mrs. W. H. Tegtmeier [Martha Westen- dorf], Herman Westendorf, Louie Westendorf, Werner Westendorf, Reinhardt Buhr, Arnold Buhr, Alfred Buhr, Wilbert Buhr, Melvin Buhr, Leonard Schnadt, Elmer Schnadt, Mrs. Erhardt Haar [Leota Schnadt], Allen Buhr, and Ernest Buhr. Also mem- bers of our church are 28 great grandchildren, 28 great-great grandchildren, and 12 of the 6th generation.
Plans were immediately made to erect a parsonage and a church. The church was completed by late summer. It was a plain building, 30 x 40 feet without a steeple. Since the carpenter could not be paid much, the interior was roughly finished. The top of the altar had been smoothed with a common ax. But it was a house of God, adequate for gathering a congre- gation.
Dedication Services were held on the 21st Sunday after Trinity of
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1875. A Farewell Service was conducted in the Sell school house, where services had been held by Rev. Blessin of Crane Creek. Then an Entrance Into and Dedication Service for the new church was conducted under the leadership of Rev. Adix, with Rev. Bredow giving the dedication address and President Grossmann preaching the sermon.
Up to the time of the dedication, 14 families made up the membership of the congregation, although 20 families took part in the service.
By November of 1875 the parsonage had been built and completed. It was a simple structure, 16 x 20 feet with an 8 foot ceiling, without paint or chimney. A stove pipe through the roof emitted the smoke from the stove. Part of the new parsonage was made to serve as a school house, which did not allow for bedroom facilities, so the family spread straw ticks on the floor for sleeping. The school room was also used by Mrs. Adix to prepare meals while school was in session. This was also the beginning of the Christian Parochial School here at Buck Creek.
During these early years of the Buck Creek Congregation, Rev. Adix saw the need to minister to others. Realizing that there were several Lutheran congregations in existence around Sumner, but none in the town of Sumner, he organized St. John's Lutheran Society there.
For many years Rev. Adix served St. John's in Sumner alone, until, in 1887, he engaged the services of Rev. Herman Bredow, son of Pastor Paul
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Years of Growth
Bredow, to act as his assistant at the Sumner Church. Rev. Bredow was to look after the building, teach the children during the winter months and conduct regular religious services every Sunday. Before this, the services were only held every two weeks, because of Rev. Adix's duties here at Buck Creek. In 1888, the Sumner Congregation elected Rev. Bredow as their regular pastor, leaving Rev. Adix more time to devote to his country congregation.
In the course of the years, St. John enjoyed such a sound, steady growth, reaching a membership of 80 families, that by 1891 it became necessary to enlarge the church. It was lengthened by 30 feet on the west end, and a 90 foot steeple was built to hold a beautiful sounding bell.
The enlarged church was re-dedicated on the 24th Sunday after Trinity, November 8.
Prior to this time, a school building 20 x 30 feet had also been built to the north of the church, to better facilitate the educational program of the church. A post office was also incorporated in the school for a number of years, with Rev. Adix serving as postmaster.
The old parsonage-school was expanded and remodeled by adding two rooms, the one measuring 16 x 24 feet, the other 16 x 20 feet.
At the completion of his 23 years of service here, Rev. Adix accepted a Call, resigning in September of 1897, to serve as Super- intendent, "Warsenvater," of the Orphans Home at Andrew, Iowa.
Rev. Fred Schedtler, 1897-1913
On October 17 of 1897, Pastor Schedtler of Bennington Township was called as Rev. Adix's successor. He accepted and was installed by Rev. Adix on December 5 of the same year.
It was during Rev. Schedtler's pastorate that the congregation felt the need to erect a shelter for its horses, that so faithfully brought them to worship Sunday after Sunday. So in 1899, a large stable was built, into which each could drive his team in inclement as well as good weather.
This stable remained until 1945, when, through disuse, its shelter was no longer needed and it was removed.
In the year 1900 the Buck Creek congregation observed its 25th
Anniversary. To better express its feelings, and to render praises to God for "His Goodness and Mercy," the congregation pur- chased and had in- stalled a pipe organ, for the sum of $800.00. This organ still serves us today, although it has been rebuilt and improved three times since then.
In 1902, seeking to extend God's Kingdom, Pastor Schedtler helped to organize the Grove Hill Congregation, just south of this vicinity.
In the year of 1912, Buck Creek decided to cease functioning as an independent congregation, and thus affiliated itself with the former Iowa Synod.
Since the time Pastor Wm. Adix began his school with 15 pupils, the Christian Parochial School had grown steadily. Already in 1879 it had grown to between 40 and 50 pupils. For five successive years the number of children exceeded 70, once reaching 77. So in the last year of the pastorate of Rev. Schedtler, it was decided that a parochial teacher should be called so all subjects of the public school could also be taught.
In October of 1913, after serving Buck Creek for 16 years, Pastor Schedtler accepted a Call to Hope Church near Westgate, Iowa.
Old school north of church with Rev. Schedtler at the back.
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Years of Growth
Rev. Henry L. Adix, 1913-1926
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