Buck Grove Baptist Church

REINDERS, DENEUI, VAN DORNUM, DALMAN, PALFENIER, JOHNSON, JANZEN, LOWER, KLATT, ROSE, LUIKEN, HARTMAN, GAST, FRERICHS, EILERS, TRAMPE, VOSS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/11/2010 at 12:27:21

Baptist Church

Although the beginning of the First Baptist church at Steamboat Rock has not been definitely determined, it is thought that about the year 1869 a small nucleus of believers began meeting in a school house six miles north of Steamboat Rock with a Brother Reinders as their preacher.

At about the same time, a group of German Baptists from the "Ostfriesen Baptist church of Silver Creek, Ill.," now known as the Baileyville Baptist church, migrated to Iowa and settled in Grundy county in a section known as Pleasant Valley township, located about four miles south of Aplington.

Preaching services were soon begun in the "Dreyer" school house as a mission of the Silver Creek church. Brother Reinders and several other families also moved to this vicinity and in December, 1874, this mission organized into an independent Baptist church and became known as the "Pleasant Valley German Baptist church." This church became the spiritual mother of the Steamboat Rock church.

A mission of this church was soon established at Steamboat Rock and because of the distance to Pleasant Valley, the members found it difficult to attend the services there with any degree of regularity. Thus arose the need for an independent church at Steamboat Rock.

Thus on Nov. 18, 1876, seventeen spiritual pioneers with letters of dismissal from the Pleasant Valley church founded the German Baptist church of Steamboat Rock. The complete list of these 17 members was not preserved.

For the first year and one-half, the church was served by Brother Albert Van Dornum, who saw the membership grow to 41. In June 1878, the Rev. P. J. DeNeui was called as pastor on a salary of $200 a year and with the understanding that he was also the conduct services at regular intervals at both Buck Grove and Schneiderman's school house.

Brother Van Dornum continued to serve the church during the Sundays when Brother DeNeui was at the other stations. In February, 1885, it was decided that Brother DeNeui should give full time service to Buck Grove while Brother Van Dornum should serve the Steamboat Rock church.

In the fall of 1887, Brother H. Dalman was called as pastor and on June 24, 1888 he was ordained by the church. A preaching mission was established during this time at Hubbard.

On Jan. 21, 1888, a Ladies' Aid Society was organized. The Sunday school was organized in 1889.

Steps continued to be taken toward the erection of a church. A lot was purchased for $60 and after gathering materials for several years, construction began in the spring of 1889. The original building on the present site, was dedicated July 7 and 8, 1889. Total cost was $2,409.10.

On Sept. 8, 1889 the Buck Grove church organized as an independent church, and as nearly as has been ascertained, 36 members withdrew to form that church.

The church underwent a revival during World War I and in 1917 a large wing to the west was added to the original building. It was also at this time that the English language was introduced, beginning a trend which eventually brought about the complete discontinuance of the German language about 18 years ago.

From December 1936 to December 1940, the Rev. H. Palfenier served as pastor, a new south addition was built to the church, providing Sunday school facilities.

It was also during these years that the name of the church was changed from the German Baptist church to the First Baptist church of Steamboat Rock.

The Rev. Louis R. Johnson, a son of the church and a grandson of one of the former pastors, the Rev. E. C. Janzen, served in an interim capacity from September, 1951 to January 1952, when the present pastor, the Rev. Frederick Y. Lower, began his pastorate.

The need for a new church building at Steamboat Rock became apparent in 1946, and a building fund was started in that year.

A definite building program was discussed in early 1952. Approximately $15,000 was in the building fund at that time.

Then in early 1953 a planning committee was appointed. Members were Ben Johnson, Max Klatt, Henry Rose jr., Peter Luiken, Mrs. Harold Luiken, and Mrs. Harold Hartman. A canvassing committee composed of Alfered Gast, John Frerichs, Tom Eilers, and William Trampe, was also appointed.

Christie Voss, Sibley contractor, was secured by the planning committee and it was decided to accept the recommendation of that group to follow the general construction plan of the Sibley church.

The razing of the old church began April 27, 1953 and the construction of the new church followed immediately. Much of the labor was donated by members of the congregation.

Then on Oct. 18, 1953, a cornerstone laying ceremony was held.

During the time of construction Sunday services were held in the high school auditorium; week day meetings were held at the parsonage or at the American Legion hall. Three months after the razing of the old church, the first meeting was an evangelistic service of the new building. That first meeting was an Evangelistic Service with Dr. Bruce K. Blunt of Kansas City, Kan.

Dedication of the new $60,000 church took place in early February, 1954. There was a three day program.

--Hardin County Index (Eldora, Iowa), 27 May 1955