In late July 1868, the family of Anton and Emilie Warnke and their only daughter, Louise Maria, age six, emigrated from Germany to America. They settled first
at White Cloud, Mills County, a frontier settlement. Here they made their home for two years. Anton was a shoemaker by trade, making boots and shoes, besides repairing them.
In those days money was scarce, but they saved their earnings wherever they could. When his leather supplies ran low, Mr. Warnke would leave his home early in the morning
and walk to Council Bluffs where he purchased the leather and other needed supplies. They were shipped by stagecoach to White Cloud. However, Anton would walk home again.
This family was close friends to the clergy. Anton would make arrangements for a pastor to conduct services. He would then send his daughter, Louise, who was then around
14 years old, on foot to tell the other Lutherans when services would be held. The pastor would stay at Anton’s home, sleeping on a bed in the shoe shop.
Rev. Lud Hannewald, pastor of Louisville, Nebraska, organized St. John’s Lutheran Church July 20, 1878. He thus brought together German immigrant families,
some of whom came to this country as early as 1864, and continued to come for about 30 years. Family names of the early days were Warnke, Leu, Pontow, Menschel,
Shiefelbein, Donner, Zanders and others. Rev. Hannewald served St. John’s until 1879 when he accepted a call elsewhere. During this vacancy and necessity arose
requiring the services of a Lutheran pastor; Rev. P. Rupprecht came to their aid in 1883. Also, Rev. A. C. Doreffler served St. John’s at various times in 1884
and the early spring of 1885. A call was sent to Rev. H.V.W. Brandes, pastor of the Lutheran Congregation near Clarinda, Iowa. He accepted the call and served
both congregations until 1886 when he accepted another call and moved. This vacancy lasted four years with pastors A.C. Doerffler, Candidate Shaner, and Theo Steege
serving here occasionally.
Sometime during the spring of 1890 the Lutheran Church at Imogene, Hastings, and Big Grove, consolidated into one parish. “Big Grove” thus named, because of the many
oak trees in that vicinity is now the town of Oakland, Iowa. These congregations called a graduate, G. Haack, from Concordia Lutheran Seminary, Springfield, Ill. He was
26 years old and with him came his bride of a few months. They lived in the parsonage at Imogene until 1896 when he accepted a call to Nebraska.
In 1902 the Imogene congregation disbanded because the Lutheran families moved elsewhere. Oakland and Hastings continued as one parish. Together they purchased a
house in Oakland for a parsonage.
In these early years church services were held in private homes and the Golden Hill School until about 1900 when a new schoolhouse was being built. From then
on services were held in the Benton School until a new church building was erected.
St. John’s Lutheran Church was built in 1912, during the pastorate of Rev. Ehlers, and dedicated to the service of the Triune God, on Nov. 24 of that year.
The building committee members were: August Leu, Anton Pontow, Emil Leu, and Max Leu.
In 1920, St. John’s made a proposal to the Oakland congregation that the parsonage in town be sold and that either Oakland or Hastings build a parsonage next to
the church. Oakland gave their consent for Hastings to build. In October the parsonage was completed. Thereafter, St. Paul’s at Oakland was served from Hastings. The
building committee for the parsonage was: Oscar Leu, Herman Knop, and Anton Pontow.
During the pastorate of Rev. Lang, St. John’s joined the Missouri Synod in 1921. Otto Leu was the first delegate to represent St. John’s at the Iowa District
of the Synodical Conference, convening at Newhall, Iowa, August 24-30.
On July 20, 1923, St. John’s celebrated its 50th Anniversary on the Hugo Pontow farm, one half mile south of the church, in the shade of three large, wide spreading walnut
trees. Guest speakers were former pastors. In the morning, Rev. G. Haack preached his sermon in German, and in the afternoon Rev. A. Sene preached the sermon in English.
An abundant noon meal was served to those present who came far and near.
In 1924, electric lights were installed in the church. Otis Lang, the pastor, would preach at Oakland Sunday morning and if it was possible for him to get back in time,
evening services were held at St. John’s. Also, during Rev. Lang’s pastorate, the constitution was revised and translated into the English language.
Finally Oakland and Hastings agreed to be separate and for each to have their own pastor. Rev. O. E. Weiss was called to be St. John’s resident pastor.
During his pastorate the basement of the church was excavated, the interior of the church redecorated and the church and the parsonage were repainted. A young people’s
organization (Walther League) was organized in the congregation soon after the installation of Pastor Weiss. At first their meetings were held in the home of the members.
After the church basement was finished meetings were held there. Pastor Weiss also started a mission in Glenwood, which grew into the Trinity Lutheran Church.
In 1946, Rev. Paul Glahn accepted the second call extended to him by St. John’s thus beginning the longest pastorate. The congregation celebrated its 75th Anniversary.
In the late 40’s and early 50’s the old original church building, built in 1912, was overcrowded with chairs in the aisle and entry every Sunday morning. The decision was made to
enlarge and remodel, and in August 1952, work was begun. Work continued throughout the fall and winter with most of the labor furnished by the building committee: Edwin Leu, Carl Seipold and Everett Knop, and many members who generously donated their time. The sanctuary was ready for use for Easter Sunday, 1953 and was dedicated to the Glory of God on May 3 with Pastor O.E. Weiss and Pastor G.W. Lobeck delivering the morning and afternoon sermons. Among some of the improvements were an electric organ, new furnishings, new light fixtures, modern kitchen and restrooms.
Pastor Glahn was instrumental in organizing the Ladies Aid, Oct. 17, 1951. This organization was given assistance by purchasing needed things for the church, caring for the library, being in charge of altar flowers, remembering the sick and elderly, etc. In Nov. 1960 the Ladies Aid voted to join the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League.
Rooms for Sunday School Classes were formed by the addition of folding doors in the church basement in 1959. Prior to Pastor Frederick Kreutz’ pastorate in 1960, the
parsonage was given a major renovation. In 1971 a new gas heating system was installed in the church.
- Among the firsts on record:
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Baptized- Augusta Emilie Pontow, born July 16, 1873, baptized Sept. 15, 1873
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Marriage- Adolph Leu & Louise Warnke, Nov. 12, 1878
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Confirmation Class- Mar. 29, 1885
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Anna Warnke, born Feb. 19, 1870
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Wm. Louis Pontow, born Oct. 14, 1869
- 1873 Statistics 1973
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Baptisms-370
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Marriages-100
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Confirmed-301, (87 were adults)
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Burials-92
Additional information
A permanent church was built in 1912 on land donated by August Pontow five miles northwest of Hastings. In 1920, Oakland and Hastings decided
to sell the parsonage in Oakland and Hastings was given consent to build a parsonage next to the church, Emil Pontow donated the land for the building site.
During the period of World War I the German community once again experienced the persecutions from which they had fled during the past one-half century.
During this stressful time, the English language was introduced as the only language to be used in the church services. Because the people were God fearing
and since silent prayers have no language barriers, the situation abated until after the war. Then again the German language was used in church on a limited
basis and finally after the tenure of Rev. H. P. Dahl in 1936, it was dropped completely.
The 1950’s were banner years for float parades at the county fair. St. John’s usually tried hard to present a worthy float. The fellowship and pride of
exhibition meant more than prize-winning awards. And the following was added to the 1873-1973 information when St. John’s Lutheran Church celebrated its 125th
Anniversary 1873 –1995.
In 1973, St. John’s celebrated a memorable centennial. The congregation was honored to have Dr. Ellis Nieting, Iowa District West President, as speaker for the morning
service and Dr. J.A.O. Preus, President of the Lutheran-Missouri Synod, as speaker for the afternoon service. Thirty years after the 1953 addition another dedication was
held April 10, 1983 for an enlarged narthex and a new meeting room in the basement which was built under the guidance of Glen Knop, Albert Pontow and Edwin Leu. Harold
Seipold submitted much of the exterior architectural design. Also a ramp was built to make an easier entrance to the facilities for the handicapped.
In 1990, eight feet of living space was added to the west end of the parsonage, new windows and new carpeting were installed, the interior painted and the entire outside
received new siding.
New roof on the church steeple-white aluminum shingles, also the ornament and crown at the top of the spire was refurbished and painted in 1992. Also that year,
Allen and Rosa Scheel purchased oil-burning candles for the church altar. The parsonage roof was stripped on both sides and new shingles were put on, all in two days in 1996
and on two different occasions the parking area from the road to the church sidewalk was blacktopped. The following year the church furnaces were replaced with two pulse furnaces.
At the July 5, 1998 voters’ meeting, Mr. And Mrs. Lester Knop offered to pay for the air conditioning of the upstairs of the church. This was enjoyed at our July 12th
Confirmation Rededication Anniversary Service.
All these needs and helps are greatly appreciated for our location of gathering around the Lord’s work. As our numbers have decreased, there is
the need of each one doing more to keep the full-time self-supporting congregation in operation as the Lord grants us time and opportunity.
~ Transcribed by Debra (Leu) Smith, great-great granddaughter of Anton Warnke, from the church anniversaries pamphlets and directories
and from the "History of Mills County, Iowa" 1985.
In late July 1868, the family of Anton and Emilie Warnke and their only daughter, Louise Maria, age six, emigrated from Germany to America. They settled first
at White Cloud, Mills County, a frontier settlement. Here they made their home for two years. Anton was a shoemaker by trade, making boots and shoes, besides repairing them.
In those days money was scarce, but they saved their earnings wherever they could. When his leather supplies ran low, Mr. Warnke would leave his home early in the morning
and walk to Council Bluffs where he purchased the leather and other needed supplies. They were shipped by stagecoach to White Cloud. However, Anton would walk home again.
This family was close friends to the clergy. Anton would make arrangements for a pastor to conduct services. He would then send his daughter, Louise, who was then around
14 years old, on foot to tell the other Lutherans when services would be held. The pastor would stay at Anton’s home, sleeping on a bed in the shoe shop.