Klar Diary 1864
1864 and Postscript of John Klar's diary
1/1 Fiercely cold. 28 to 30 degrees below zero. (After 1863 Klar seems to have concentrated his efforts in Wheatland.)
1/3 Lecture and prayer meeting.
1/10 Filled my regular appointment at Wheatland.
1/17 Filled my regular appointment at Wheatland, 10 a.m.
1/24 filled my regular appointment at Wheatland in the morning.
1/31 Filled my regular appointment at Wheatland in the morning.
2/7 Filled my regular appointment at Wheatland in the morning.
2/14 Filled my regular appointment at Wheatland in the morning,
2/21 Filled my regular appointment at Wheatland. Matthew 7:24
2/28 filled my regular appointment at wheatland. Luke 11:14
3/6 Filled my regular appointment at Wheatland. John 6:1-15
3/13 Filled my regular appointment at Wheatland. John 8:46-59
3/20 Filled my regular appointment at Wheatland.
3/24 Maundy Thursday services.
3/25 Good Friday services and confirmands’ examination.
3/27 Filled my appointment at Wheatland in the morning. Festival of Christ’s Resurrection. Mark 16:6
3/29 Easter. Preached with freedom to a numerous company. Administered the Communion to 53 communicants. Baptized Friedrich, son of John H. and Florentine Riedesel. Born 7/23/64, Spring Rock, Tp., Clinton Co., Iowa. Sponsors: Franz Schneider and Amalia Schneider. Baptized August, son of John Rudolph and Amalia Koch. Born…..(Klar left two lines blank for date of birth and place, but forgot to record it.) Also confirmed ten young persons and thereby received them into full fellowship of the Congregation: John A. Riedesel. Hermann Landwehr, Heinrich Klahn, Wilhelm Charles Christian Hagen, Mary Klahn, Louisa Wilhelmina Mohr, Mary Sophia Landwehr, Anna John, Caroline Schneider, Maria Homrighausen.
4/2 Baptized the three children of John Fredrich and Susanna Richstein. All born in Spring Rock Tp., Clinton Co., Iowa. George Rudolph, born 12/19/59. Albert Sigel, born 4/2/62. Charles Franklin, born 2/12/64.
4/3 Filled my regular appointment at Wheatland in the morning. John 20:19-23
4/10 Filled my regular appointment at Wheatland in the morning. 1 Peter 2:21-25
4/17 Filled my regular appointment at Wheatland in the morning. John 16:16-23
4/24 Being unwell we held a prayer meeting. Baptized Anna Susanna, little daughter of Franz Homrighausen and Anna Elisabeth, his wife. Born 11/6/63, Spring RocK Tp., Clinton Co., Iowa. Sponsor: Susan Riedesel. (Townships referred to in book include: Liberty, Sharon, and Spring Rock in Clinton County: Centre, Inland, Rochester, and Springfield in Cedar County.)
4/30 Preached the funeral sermon of Edward Barber, son of Charles and Cynthia Barber. He was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., 4/27/1818. One of eleven children, five brothers, and six sisters. He served as a soldier in the Mexican War. He was married two months before his time of service expired to Lydia Holzappel, with whom he lived about 17 year. He was father of 8 childre, 6 of whom survive. He died of consumption which he contracted about 5 years ago. Aged 46 y. Peace to his ashes. John 11:25.
5/1 Filled my regular appointment at Wheatland in the morning. John 15:26-30
5/8 Filled my regular appointment at Wheatland in the morning. John 15:26-27
5/15 Whitsunday. (another name for Pentecost) Filled my regular appointment at Wheatland in the morning. John 14:26
5/22 Read the Discipline. (The By-Laws of a German Reformed had a rather extensive section containing article that prescribed and prohibited specific social and spiritual behavior.)
5/29 Filled my regular appointment at Wheatland at 10 a.m.
6/5 Filled my regular appointment at Wheatland at 10 a.m. 1 Peter 5:6-11
6/12 Fillled my regular appointment at Wheatland at 10 a.m. Luke 5:1-11
6/19 Filled my appointment at Wheatland at 10 a.m. Matthew 5:20-23. Baptisms: Mary Sophia, daughter of George and Wilhelmina Schneider. Born 3/10/64, Spring Rock Tp., Clnton Co., Iowa. Sponsors: Sophia Wetter and Kate Klar. John, son of John and Cathrine Moehrchen. Born 5/3/64, Spring Rock, Tp/. Clinton Co., Iowa.
6/26 Prayer Meeting at John Moehrchen’s house.
7/3 Filled my regular appointment at Wheatland. Mark 8:11-12. Prayer Meeting at c. Schneider’s.
7/4 (Beginning with this date, 16 funerals for infants and children were held in two months. The cause of these deaths seems to have been an epidemic of scarlet fever.) Preached the funeral discourse of Harriet Isabella, daughter of David s. and Ann Eliza Bullock. Born 6/11/1856, Sharon Tp., Clinton Co., Iowa and departed this life Saturday, 7/2, aged 8 y. 21 d. She was the grandchild of Rev. Monroe. Revelation 5:9.
7/5 Performed the funeral obsequies of Maud, little daughter of Norman and Sarah Phillips. She was born 6/15/63, Liberty Tp., Clinton Co., Iowa, and departed this life 7/4/64, aged 1 y. 19. Matthew 9:25.
7/9 Performed the funeral obsequies of Hattie Maria, daughter of Layton Cowville and Harriet Ann Bently, born 2/2/61 in Wheatland, Iowa, and departed this life 7/8, aged 3 y. 5 m. 6 d. Revelation 7:17
7/11 Filled my regular appointment in Wheatland at 10 a.m. Romans 12:23
7/13 Performed the funeral obsequies of Wilhelmina, daughter of Franz and Anna Elizabeth Homrighausen, aged 7 y. 7 m. 13 d. 2 Samuel 1:1-3
7/18 Buried Herman, son of Karl and Sophia Ebert.
7/24 Buried the child of Nicolas and Maria Heisingo. Same day preached the funeral sermon of the Ebert and Heisingo children. Herman, son of Karl and Sophia Ebert, born 11/3/61, Clinton Co., Iowa. Died 7/17, aged 2 y. 8 m. 14 d., Scarlet Fever. Two children of the family are buried in Germany and five with the parents survive. Funeral text: 1 Kings 17:23. Wilhelm Friedrich Karl, son of Nicolas and Maria Heisingo, born 10/21/63 and died 7/21/64, aged 9 m. Two preceeded him. Same as above. (Scarlet Fever)
8/7 Filled my regular appointment at Wheatland in the morning. Revelation 1:4. Prayer Meeting at Samuel Acker’s in the afternoon.
8/10 Baptized the two children of the widow, Bertha Wendelborn. Klaus Julius Karl, born 9/16/60 in Cedar Co., Iowa, Paul Heinrich Theodor. Born 6/26/62 in Clinton Co., Iowa. Sponsors: The Mother and Grandmother. Others were present.
8/12 Buried the little daughter of Heinrich and Wilhelmina Holdman. Discourse to be spoken on following Sabbath.
8/14 Preached the funeral discourse of F. H. Holdman’s child as stated above. 1 Peter 1:24
8/21 Preached the Harvest Sermon in Wheatland, Iowa. Psalm 65:10. Collection $9.20. Baptized Franz, son of Ernastus and Cathrine Holmes, born 7/10/64, Spring Rock Tp., Clinton Co., Iowa. Sponsors: Sophie Wetter and Anna Elizabeth Homrighausen. Afternoon service held at John Koch’s house.
8/24 Filled my regular appointment at Wheatland. Afternoon service held at Brother F. Schneider’s.
8/29 Attended the funeral service of Elizabeth, little daughter of George and Maria Risse, born 11/29/63, aged 8 m. 28 d. Text 1 Peter 1:24
8/30 Baptized Anna Elizabeth, daughter of George D. and Florentine Schneider. Born 8/7/64, Springfield Tp., Cedar Cp., Iowa. Sponsor: Elizabeth Riedesel.
9/3 Preached the funeral discourse of father George Schneider, born in Wunderthausen, Prussia, 11/18/02, aged 51 y. 9 m. 13 d. He was the son of George Ludwig and Kathrina Elizabeth Schneider of Germany. He was one of 8 children, three brothers and five sisters. He was baptized in infancy and at a mature age. According to the rites and customs of the German Reformed Church, he was confirmed. At the age of 21 he was married to Louisa Florentine Wetter. He was father of 10 children, and there are 36 grandchildren. He emigrated to America in 1848. Residing some years in Ohio, he removed to Iowa in 1852, and purchased the residence where he departed this life to go to his home among his fathers. The departed was one of the founders of the Wheatland German Reformed Congregation of which he was a ruling Elder and a consistant member. He adorned his profession by a goodly walk and converation. Rev. Florey baptizied, confirmed, and married father Schneider. We sustain in his departure a severe loss. Hebrews 9:27
9/3 Afternoon of the same day. Attended the funeral absequies of Klaus Julius Karl, son of Heinrivh Wendelborn, deceased, and Bertha Wendelborn, his widow, aged 4 y. and several days.
9/4 Preached the Funeral Sermon of John: Franz Samuel: and Conrad Klar; ages 5, 3, and 1, the children of Heinrich A. and glorentine Schneider. John was born 2/24/59 and died 9/3/64. Age 5 y. 6 m. 9 d. Franze Samuel was born 1/18/61 and died 8/23/64. Aged 3 6. 7 m. 5 d. Conrad Klar was born 1/10/63 and died 8/23/64. Aged 1 y. 7 m. 13 d. the last two were put in one grave. John was buried 9/4 by the side of the others. These children were brought to the Lord in Holy Baptism. They have very soon followed the two children who preceeded but several years. This family has in the course of a little over 4 years buried 5 children. They are now childless. Text: Job 1:21
9/8 Attended the obsequies of Paul Heinrich Theodor, son of Heinrich deceased, and Bertha Wendelborn his widow. Born 6/26/62 and died 9/7/64, aged 2 y. 2 m. 11 d. In the afternoon of the same day, Baptized Emma Emelie, infant daughter of Max and Kathrine Stuhr, born 3/24/64, Spring Rock Tp., Clinton Co., Iowa. Sponsors: Joachim and Margretha Arntied and Charlotte Landwehr.
9/11 Attended the funeral rites of the above infant, Emma Emelie, aged 5 m. 15 d. Afterward preached the united funeral discourse of Emma Emelie Stuhr and the two children of Heinrich and Bertha Wendelborn in the Church in wheatland. Text: Luke 18:16
9/18 Attended the annual meeting of Classis at Wilton Junction, Iowa. Returned home that same Sabbath.
9/25 Unwell. Changed public preaching into prayer meeting. Afternoon prayer meeting held at Brother George Wetter’s. Considered the matter of my drafted members and started a subscription for substitutes.
10/2 Spent Sabbath at Davenport. During the week procured the release of my drafted member by procuring substitute. (The drafted member for Civil War duty is not mentioned.)
10/9 Filled my regular appointment at Wheatland in the morning. John 4:223-23 (Klar must have given a series of sermons based on this text. It is his text for the next five weeks.)
10/16 Filled my regular appointment at Wheatland at 10 a.m. John 4L 23-
24. An afternoon Prayer Meeting was held at Brother L. H. Riedesel’s.
10/23 Filled my regular appointment at 10 a.m. John 4:23-24. Baptized Franz gustav and Kathrina Wilhelmina Dorothea, children of Theodor and Wilhelmina Gerken. Franz Gustav, born 8/18/61, Kathrina Wilhelmina Dorothea, born 4/21/64. Sponsors: Franz and Kathrina Schmidt. An afternoon Prayer Meeting was held at Ludwig Riedesel’s.
11/6 Inclement weather.
11/13 Filled my regular appointment at Wheatland in the morning. John 4: 23024. An afternoon Prayer Meeting was held at F. Homrighausen.
11/20 Filled my regular appointment at Wheatland in the morning. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11. The Sabbath School is thriving.
11/24 Attended the funeral services of Wilhelmina, daughter of Ludwig and Caroline Derr, died 11/23/64 with croup. Aged 7 y. 2 m. 3 d. This is the third child which this family is called to mourn. Funeral sermon to follow.
11/27 Filled my regular appointment at Wheatland in the morning. Text: Luke 21: 1-24. Baptized John Phillip, son of H. A. Schneider and Florentina, his wife, born Spring rock Tp., Clinton Co., Iowa. Sponsors: Phillip Schneider and Susan Riedesel.
12/1 Attended the funeral services of Heinrich Christian Franz Blocker. He died of dropsy, aged 60 y. 2 m. 26 d. He was born in Holstein. His parents were Michael and Helena Blocker. He was married twice and had 18 children. Only 5 are living. Genesis 47:9.
POSTSCRIPT
The last entry in the book was made December 1, 1864. The remaining four pages are filled with financial matters; church debts, members’ giving, mortgage payments, loans from church members, etc. When Klar’s chronology of events reached these pages, he began using a new book, and since he was in Wheatland only a few more months, this book probably went with him to Ohio, Just as our recently discovered book begins with two pages of events from his Tarlton charge in Ohio, so a church in Navarre, Ohio, may have records of Klar’s last months of service in Wheatland.
May the gospel that John Conrad Klar and his band of loyal followers proclaimed in Wheatland continue to resound to the honor and glory of God and to the end of the age.