St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Craig, Iowa

In the year 1911 the families of Craig desired to start a congregation and have their own church property.  Since the funds were not available, they used the Eastman schoolhouse.
In Feb. 1911, an abandoned Methodist church building was purchased for $650 and in May it was moved to where the present church is located. 
In September the congregation erected an eight-room parsonage, at a cost of $3,000.  Rev. Vollmar was the first resident pastor.  The membership numbered 21 souls.  In 1916 the debt on the church property was paid in full with the help of the Ladies Aid and Luther League. 
In 1924 construction was begun on the new church.  The entire cost of the of the church was $25,000.  In 1927 the congregation adopted the articles of incorporation.  The church council drew up rules and regulations for the maintenance of the cemetery.
The interior of the church was decorated in 1940 at a cost of $900.  The exterior of the church and the church parlors were painted and new linoleum purchased for the church aisles.  Because of the improvements a special reconsecration was held.
In 1942 the congregation became a member of the American Lutheran Church.  In the year 1945 the congregation joined the Pension Plan.
The 25th anniversary of the dedication of the church was observed in 1949.  A Wandscheer furnace was purchased and also carpeting for the chancel and sacristy and rubber tile laid in the narthex of the church. The Senior Choir purchased new robes with the aid of memorials.  The kitchen was enlarged and remodeled.
~Source: Atlas—Plymouth County Iowa, published circa 1966

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St. John’sAmerican Lutheran Church – Craig, Iowa  (Grant Township)

St. John’s Lutheran Church of Craig, Iowa, had its humble beginning in the year 1911 when an abandoned Methodist church building was purchased.  The dedication services took place on July 23, 1911.  The founders of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church were:
Herman Eilers
Herman Eggebrecht
Herman Frerichs
F. D. Helgens
Chs. Johnson
Everet Johnson
John H. Johnson
Arthur Kallsen
F. H. Oloff
Carl Oltmanns
Henry Pereboom
Louis Plueger
Chris Rickert
Jurgen Schmidt
Albert Winfeld
Louis J. Winterfeld.
Many of the descendants of these men are members of the present day congregation (in 1976.)
In September 1911 the first resident pastor, Rev. Johannes Vollmar, moved into the new parsonage.  He resigned in 1922 due to ill health.  In 1923 Rev. Wm. Zibell accepted the call to Craig.  In 1924 construction of the new church was completed.  Work on the new church was begun.  On July 21 a tornado leveled the building before it was entirely completed.  It was reconstructed and dedicated on December 7, 1924 during a raging snowstorm.  During Pastor Zibell’s ministry, the congregation doubled.  He left in July 1935.  Rev. L. G. Hannerman of Palmer, Iowa, then accepted the call to serve St. John’s congregation. 
The interior of the church was decorated in 1940.  A special reconsecration was held.  Rev. Hanneman accepted a call to a mission in Texas and left in October.  Rev. Voelker of Waverly was installed in November 1940.  In 1942 the congregation became a member of the American Lutheran Church.        
~Source: Pictorial Atlas Plymouth County Iowa, Bi-Centennial 1776-1976