Iowa County Cemetery Stones and History 1844-1975 (manuscript) by Pauline Lillie

                              Zion Reformed Church 


Location: 8 miles west and 2 miles south of Williamsburg, Iowa.  Pilot town-
          ship,  79, Section 17, on Hwy. 52. This report complied by Mrs.
          Harold Joseph, Williamsburg, Iowa, on January 31, 1976.

    On July 1, 1888, Zion's Reformed congregation in Pilot township was or-
ganized in the Omaha Ridge schoolhouse with 33 charter members. (Incorporated
March 13, 1889). The following men served as the first consistory: Elders - 
John Hilfker and Carl Voss; Deasons [sic] - Henry Gorsh and Jacob Bauer; Trustees -
Frederich Roggentien, Ferdinand Dietrich and Carl Voss.  The charter members
were: Mr. and Mrs. Friedrich Wiedemeier, Mr. and Mrs. Ferdinand Dietrich,
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Voss, Mr. and Mrs. Joachim Siems, Mr. and Mrs. Jokob Bauer,
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Gorch, Mr. and Mrs. Gottlieb Faas, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Schmidt,
Andreas Faas, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Sandhoff, sr., Mrs. and Mrs. Ernest Knock,
John Hilfiker, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Schultz, Ludwig Roggentien, Friedrich Gorsh,
Mr. and Mrs. Friedrich Roggentien, Mr. and Mrs. Max Decker, Mrs. Henry Goettsch,
and Mr. and Mrs. John C. Kelting.

    Approximately two acres of land in Pilot township was purchased from a
W.B. Holbrook and Ida K. Holbrook on March 13, 18889 [sic]. Zion Congregation built
their church building on this tract in 1890 and dedicated it to the Triune God.
Later a small addition was added to the building.

    Licentiate Rev. Andrew Hocker was sent from the Home Mission Board in to
this field as a missionary by the former Northwest Synod of the Reformed Church.
in the U.S. Rev Hocker began his ministry here July 5, 1887. Previous to the
building of the parsonage, Rev. Hocker roomed in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Chris-
tian Harther (present Carl Lindsay home). After serving this parish for 11 years
Rev Hocker left May 1, 1898.  The Rev. Samuel Elliker was called to serve and
was installed July 3, 1898.  Zion's church organized a Ladied Aid society with
18 charter members on Feb. 2, 1909[1 struck-thru]. Sometime prior to 1923
electricity was brought to both churches and parsonage.

    In 1923 an obervance was held in honor of the Rev. and Mrs. Elliker who
had served the congregations for 25 years.  A joint picnic dinner was held on
the Charles Schumann lawn (now the Dale Schafbuch home), after the Sunday morn-
ing service in St. Paul church.

    The German language was used in the church school until 1918.  It was then
decided to discontinue it in preference to English.  A compromise was made for
the adults by having the Sunday divine worship message in English three Sundays
and in German the fourth.  Rev. Elliker's wife, Amelia, contributed much to the
musical program of the churches. She procided organ music as well as vocal ren-
ditions for worship services, weddings and funerals.  After faithfully serving
this parish for slightly more than 230 years, the Rev. and Mrs. Elliker left this
charge Oct. 4, 1928.

    Rev. Harold Snitker was installed as the pastor of this charge Sept. 30,
1928.  He was married during his menisterial leadership here and served these
churches less than two years before leaving Aug. 1, 1930 to accept a parish in
Buffalo, New York.

    Rev. L.A. Moser was then called and come to serve the charge Nov. 2, 1830.
The Rev. Moser's family moved into the house now occupied by Mrs. Lillie Steffen
while the present parsonage was being built in 1931.  At a later date, the Rev.
Moser willingly gave his time and efforts to build the rear porch of the parsonage
His wife, Melda, was a leader in the Ladied Aid and Sunday school as well as
frequently giving a helping hand.  Rev. and Mrs. Moser left Oct. 1, 1937 after
having served 7 years.  The Reformed church was merged with the Evangelical Synod
of North America in 1934 and became known as the Evangelical and Reformed Church
    Rev. John Schlamp served the parish from Nov. 1, 1937 until January 1944.
On June 26, 1938, the 50th anniversary of the founding of these churches was
observed.  Three services were held for this occasion.  The Rev. S. Elliker spoke
in the fornoon at St. Paul church.  A bountiful noon meal was served on the
parsonage lawn at noon.  rev. Harold Snitker spoke in the afternoon at St. Paul
church. In the evening, rev. L.A. Moser addressed both congregations at Zion
church.  Following the death of his wife, the Rev. Schlamp was given a leave of 
absence during the summer of 1940. Ronald Kley, a student form Mission House college.


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served the charge during this period.  Under Rev. Schlamp's competent leader-
ship, Zion church was remodeled in 1941.  This included an addition, a base-
ment, the interior redecorated, new pews and communion table, light fixtures
and a new heating plant.  A dedication service was held Nov. 9?, 1941 with Rev. 
John Seidler as the speaker.

    Zion's Ladies Aid society voted to become active in the work of the 
Women's Gild of the Evangelical and Reformed church on Feb. 12, 1942.

    Rev. Schlamp remarried in 1943 and in January, 1944, he resigned due to
poor health.  The Rev. John Seidler, then at Melbourne, Rev. Frederick Haag,
then at Eden church at Cedar Rapids and Rev. E. Jasmann then at Oskaloosa
supplied frequently during a 16 month period with out a pastor.

    The Rev. and Mrs. Emanuel Jasmann and their two children, Charlotte and
Dwight came to this charge of June 1, 1945.  He served for 18 years at the
time of the 75th Anniversary in 1963.

    By the action of the Iowa Synod in 1946, St. John Evangelical and Reformed
church, Marengo, was dissolved and the property sold.  These transactions were
under the direction of Rev. E. Janmann.  Due to the fact that Genoa Bluff is
becoming unknown as a landmark, St. Paul and Zion churches became known as the
Marengo charge.

    A Spiritual Council visitation program originated in 1945, in which the
pastor and elders visit each home in the membership during the fall of each year.
Union mid-week Lenten, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Good Friday services were
started and held alternately in the two churches.  Catechism and confirmation
classes were commenced in 1947.  All-church banquets for high school graduates
have been held alternately in the two churches since 1946.  Zion had a Young
People's society which met on Sunday nights. A Golden Years society originated
early in Rev. Jasmann's pastorate.  This includes the members of advanced years
(70 years and older and their spouses). They are honored at a union Sunday morn-
ing worship each year.

    In memory of Betty Margaret Smith, a Memorial fund was established in
Zion church June 21, 1949.  To date this fund has place the following memorials
in the church:  Electric Organ, Baptismal Font, Chancel Dossal Cloth, Church
Hymnals and Book of Living Memorials.  In 1958 Zion church built a choir loft
and redecorated the interior of the building.  Services had been conducted on
alternating Sundays in the two churches for 72 years. Services each Sunday in both
churches were originated in July 1960.  One service is held at 9:00 a.m. and
the other at 10:30.  Zion has 79 members enrolled in Sunday school, and the
Zion Guild has 46 members.  This charge has one distinction from many other
churches; having had only 6 pastors during their 75 years.  Todate, Zion church
has a communicant membership of 157 and 56 baptized but unconfirmed members.
Mrs. Catherina Kelting was the last charter member of Zion church at her passing.

    In 1957, the Evangelical and Reformed churches merged with the Congregational
Christian churches and became the United Church of Christ.

                              Memoirs
    Charles Goettsch recalls that the dimensional lumber for the original
Zion church was hauled from town by members of the church to the Henry Goettsch
home.  Ferdinand Dietrich then came by horse and cart to measure and saw the
lumber.  This lumber was then hauled to the church grounds and the members
volunteered to help Mr. Dietrich set up the building. Charles Goettsch furnished
electricity from his personal plant for Zion Church until the R.E.A. came in 1941.

    Lillie Kelting reports that on May 20, 1888, 11 persons ranging in age from
2 1/2 months to 22 years were baptized at the home of John and Catherina Kelting.
They were Katherine Magdalena, Emma Louise, Minnie Margaretha, Johann Christian,
Franz Wilhelm, George Martin and August Joachim Heitmann (all children of
Joachim and Katherina Kelting Heitmann), Bertha Katharina and Theodore Heinrich
Fredrickksen, Anna Marie Kelting and Clara Katherina Langlas.

    Charles Goettsch says that he and his brother, John were the first janitors
of Zion church.  Their salary was $8 per year plus the hay off the church ground.
They cleaned the cemetery once a year for the hay.  Charles was also Rev.Elliker's
driver.


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                                                                      p.3

    Many members recall that during the remodeling of Zion church, March
1941, the building was jacked up in order to dig the basement.  On a Saturday
evening a storm moved the building over and broke one of the mover's strings.
Needless to say, no church services were held the next day. Many willing
hands helped repair the damage.

     Many members recall that the seating arrangement in both churches was
for the men to sit on one side and the ladies on the other.  At communion
services the men were served first, then the ladies.

     Lena Goettsch says that her mother-in-law, Mrs. Henry Goettsch, was the
first woman to invite a group of church women to her home. This was the be-
ginning of the Ladies Aid in Zion church.

*The above information was compiled from a booklet printed in 1963 to cele-
brate the 75th Anniversary of Zion United Church of Christ and St. Paul United
Church of Christ, E. Jasmann, Pastor, 1888 - 1963.  Compiled by Mrs. John
Stevenson.

*1900 Atlas p. 23, cemetery and church is listed on either the August Malinsk?
farm on the Carl Schmidt farm.  The schoolhouse is further south about ½ mile.

1915 Atlas p. 23.  This on the Ray Van farm.  In section 17, west end with
church located.  A school is doen [sic] on the south corner.


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