History of the
German Evangelic Lutheran Salems Church
Wilton, Wilton Township
Muscatine County, Iowa
by Eleanor B. McCleary

In 1853 Pastor Veitz, who lived in Muscatine, held services for Lutherans in a schoolhouse at the “settlement” two and one-half miles south of Wilton. By 1856 Pastor Kiesel, also of Muscatine, held services in the town of Wilton in the roomy house of Mr. Schwartztreiber. A congregation of about one dozen families was organized n December 1856. In the summer of 1857 a church 24x24 ft. was built on a lot, which was donated by Benedict Maurer. [Wilton, Moscow and Yesteryear - Wilton Lutheran Church History, page 173]

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On file at the Muscatine County Recorders’ Office, Muscatine County Record of Town Lots, Book T, pages 56 and 57
Mourer to Ev. Lutheran Congregation Wilton, Deed

This Deed, made the Thirteenth day of July A.D. 1857, between Benedicht Mourer & his wife Elizabeth Mourer of the first part, and The Evangelic Lutheran Congregation in and around Wilton, in Muscatine County, Iowa, of the second part, Witnesseth: That the said party of the first part for the consideration of One Dollars, the Receipt whereof is herby acknowledged, do by these presents, Grant, Bargain, Sell and Convey, unto the said party of the second part, their heirs and assigns forever, the Following described Real Estate, lying and being situate in the county of Muscatine and State of Iowa, To Wit: as follows, A certain Lot of ground laying & being part of said Benedicht Mourer’s Farm, Joining a Lot on the south of Thos. H. Fishburn, which is the place of beginning, & running Sixty feet East along said Fishburn’s Lot, & from thence Running North, One hundred & forty feet, & from thence running West Sixty feet, & from thence running South One hundred and forty feet to place of beginning. To have and To hold said premises above described unto the said party of the second part, Their Heirs and assigns forever. And the Said Benedicht Mourer & his wife Elizabeth Mourer will forever Warrant and Defend the Title against all person whomsever; and the said Elizabeth Mourer, wife of Benedicht Mourer hereby Relinquishes all her Right of Dower in and to the foregoing described Premises. In Testimony Wereof, The said party of the first part have hereunto Set their hands and Seals the date first above written

Benedicht Mourer
Elizabeth Mourer

State of Iowa Muscatine County} SS
Be it Remembered, That on the Thirteenth day of July A.D. 1857, before the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for said County, personally appeared Benedicht Mourer & his wife Elizabeth Mourer to me personally known to be the identical persons whose names are affixed to the foregoing Deed as granters and acknowledged the instrument to be their voluntary act and deed. Witness my hand the day and Year above Written


Thos. H. Fishburn, N. Public
Filed for record March 18, 1858 at 2 O’clock P.M.

Muscatine County Record of Town Lots, Book T, pages 57 and 58
These Articles of Constitution of German Ev. Lutheran Salems Church Wilton

This congregation assumes to itself the powers of organizing, holding and disposing of any property it may obtain by grant, purchase or other legal means, and as such by other powers as may be consistent with its general nature and Objects as a Corporation for Religious purposes, Among the adopted Articles in the Constitution of the German Evangelical Lutheran Salems Church in Wilton, Muscatine Co., Iowa, are the following Articles unalterable vis:

Art I. II. X C ---------

Art I. The name of the German Ev. Luth. Congregation in Wilton Muscatine, Co. Iowa, is Salem’s Congregation, and the meeting House is called Salems Church.
Art II. The Congregation also believe, that all the Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament are, the only “infallible Rule of Faith and Practice, and that the doctrines of them are aptly” expressed, in the unaltered Augsburg Confession which they acknowledge as their Symbolical Book.
Art. X C. As long as three (or more) numbers who have the Right to rule of the German Ev. Luth. Church in Wilton, Muscatine Co. Iowa, are adhering in faith and practice to this Church Constitution, they shall have the Right and power to take in possession all the property and Real Estate of the congregation with this condition, That they endeavor to preserve it under ministered for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in North America

Filed for Record March 18,1858 at 2 o’clock PM
Jnoss. Lucas, Recorder of Muscatine County by Robt. Williams, Deputy

According to the Muscatine County Auditor’s Office this church property was described as being in North Wilton, Block One occupying Lots One and Two. Looking at the 1874 map of North Wilton, one may see the church location on the corner of Wate and Cedar streets.

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In 1863 a house was purchased to serve as a parsonage. Four years later it was sold and a new parsonage was built on the church lot. The same year the small church was moved from its site and a brick church was built in its place. By this time the congregation had increased to 40 families. One room in the parsonage was used for school purposes and the pastor served as the teacher.

The brick church and the parsonage were destroyed in the big Wilton fire of August 24, 1874, which consumed about half the business district. Within a year a new school and parsonage were built and a frame church was under construction.

While attending a Synodical session in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1875, Pastor Strobel decided to leave the Iowa Synod and join the Missouri Synod. The congregation had not joined any synod up to that time. Pastor Strobel informed the congregation of his action and no objection was raised.

Not long after, however, a disturbance took place which resulted in the division of the congregation. A part of the congregation followed Pastor Strobel and formed a new group which accepted the name Zion. Salem congregation then formally joined the Iowa Synod and called its own pastor. [Wilton, Moscow and Yesteryear, Wilton Lutheran Church History, page 174]

The Articles of Incorporation for the German Evangelical Lutheran Zion Church of Wilton, Iowa may be found in the Muscatine County Book B of Incorporations, page 61 & 62. The index records the transaction as Lutheran Church of Wilton, Articles of Incorporation, filed for record on May 10, 1882. North Wilton map of 1899 shows the Lutheran Church located in Block 17 at the corner of E. Prairie and Maurer St.

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In 1943, after a survey of the congregation was conducted by the officials of the Lutheran Iowa Synod, it was decided that that this church be disbanded. The size of the congregation could not support the maintenance of a building and the salary of its pastor. Some people joined the Zion Lutheran Church in Atalissa while others went to the Zion Lutheran Church in Wilton.

The real estate held by the church was given to the retiring, Reverend Ernest Holtz and his wife. He had been the pastor there for twenty years. The following record of the transaction is on record at the County Recorders’ Office:

Muscatine County Record of Town Lots, Book 105 page 476, File No. 4256
German Evangelical Lutheran Salem Church of Wilton Jct., IA to Holtz, Ernest et ux

Warranty Deed. Filed for record the 13th day of November, A.D. 1943, at 1:25 o’clock P.M. Ida E. Grimm, Recorder

This Deed of Bargain and Sale, Made and executed this 23rd day of October A.D., 1943 by and between German Evangelical Lutheran Salems Church of Wilton Junction, Muscatine County, Iowa, By its Trustees, Ed Marolf and John L. Marolf, Party of the First Part, and Ernest Holtz and Catharine Holtz, husband and wife, Wilton junction Muscatine County, Iowa, Parties of the Second Part.


Witnesseth: that Whereas, at a certain Congregational Meeting where more than three-fourths (3/4) of the members of the Congregation of said Church met in General Assembly on July 4, 1943, and Whereas, a Resolution was unanimously adopted that said church should be dissolved and its real estate disposed of, and it was voted unanimously that said Trustees be and are hereby authorized to execute proper deeds conveying the same.


Now, Therefore, in consideration of the sum of One Dollar and other valuable considerations—Dollars, in had paid, by the said Parties of the Second Part, the Receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, has granted and sold and does by these presents, Assigns forever, the following Real Estate lying and being situated in the County of Muscatine and State of Iowa, to wit:
Lot Two (2) Entire and all of Lot One (1) excepting the West One Hundred (100) feet thereof all in Block One (1) in North Wilton, an Addition to Wilton, Muscatine County, Iowa, The intention being to convey An Absolute Title in Fee to said Real Estate including any Right of Homestead had therein.


To Have And To Hold the premises above described, with all the appurtenances thereto belonging, unto the said Second Parties, their heirs and assigns forever. The said German Evangelical Lutheran Salems Church of Wilton Junction, Iowa, hereby covenanting for its heirs, executors and administrators, that the above described premises are free from any encumbrance, that it has full right, power and authority to sell the same, and it will Warrant And Defend The Title unto the said Second Parties, their heirs and assigns, against the claims of all person whomsoever lawfully claiming the same, except as about stated.


And the said German Evangelical Lutheran Salems Church of Wilton Junction, Iowa hereby releases and relinquishes all right of any description had, owned, or in expectancy in and to the foregoing described premises. In Witness Whereof the said Party of the First Part by its Trustees, whose signatures appear hereto have set their hands and seals by authority of and in pursuance of a resolution heretofore set forth.


Dated this 23rd day of October, 1943
Ed F. Marolf
John L. Marolf
Trustees of German Evangelical Lutheran Salems Church of Wilton Juction, Iowa.

State of Iowa
County of Muscatine } SS.
On this 23rd day of October A.D., 1943, before me a Notary Public in and for the County of Muscatine and State of Iowa, personally appeared Ed Marolf and John L. Marolf, Trustees of the German Evangelical Lutheran Salems Church of Wilton Junction, Iowa, which executed the above and foregoing instrument, who being by me duly sworn, each for himself, did say that they are the Trustees of said Church, that and instrument was by them signed and sealed on behalf of the said Church, by authority of its members and each of them acknowledged the execution of said instrument to be the voluntary act and deed of said Church, by it and each of them voluntarily executed.
In Witness Thereof, I have hereunto signed by name and affixed my Notarial Sea this day and year last above written.


F. A. Martin, Notary Public in and for Muscatine County, Iowa

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According to James Batchelor, long time resident of Wilton and member of the Lutheran Church, in 1944 the church building was dismantled as much as possible. Any salvageable material, windows, bells, etc. was sent to a Lutheran mission congregation in Sabula, Iowa. A home was then built on the lot at 115 Wate Street West. Members of the Holtz family lived there until the property was sold in the Fall of 1995.

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Page created May 7, 2009 by Lynn McCleary