The story of our Church’s history will be like a "Time Machine" which will have at least 52 stops, one for every week of the coming year. I hope these stops will not just inform but strengthen our faith.
(Note – much of the information to prepare this article was taken from a book entitled Venne in America, written by Udo Thorner.)
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Stop 50: Were the church’s roots Evangelical or Lutheran? Both titles are on the cornerstone.
Stop 49: Did St. John help to establish other churches?
Stop 48: History is filled with exciting moments, curious moments and very difficult moments.
This capsule falls in that third category. In 1927, Mr. Albert Hackman, a widower in our congregation lived at home with is 4 children; daughter Elma, from his first marriage age 20 and 3 younger children from his second marriage; Elnora (age 7), Harold (age 5) and Bernice (age 3). Elnora the oldest daughter was caretaker for her younger siblings but on April 29, 1927, Elma died of tuberculosis. Her father, living along Pearl Street, grieved her death and made a tragic decision. The next day he took his three younger children on a walk in the evening; he took them to Laughery Creek, tied them to himself and drowned all three of them with him in his sorrow. A funeral with four caskets was held in our sanctuary 4 days later on May 3, 1927. Rev. Stroehlein led this most difficult service. According to other members, he looked to the congregation and quoted the Gospel when he said, “Let He who is without sin cast the first stone.” Such tragedies in the life of churches remind us that while we cannot read others actions, we should pray for vigilance in the renewed hope of showing support when another comes up against hardships which may be beyond their resources. God bless all churches when they pray for courage to see each other's losses and minister in Christ’s name.
Stop 47: Where did the immigrants come from?
The great majority of immigrants came to America from Germany through the northern German ports of Bremen or Bremerhaven. They landed in Baltimore or New Orleans. They came to pockets of their own countrymen from Europe: Huntersville from the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany – Dover, Indiana was founded by immigrants from Ireland – St. Nicholas was founded by immigrants from Offenburg in Baden, Germany – New Alsace, Indiana from Alsace an area on the border between Germany & France (then a part of France). In these early immigrant days, little towns just a few miles apart spoke different languages, observed very different customs and became the basis for the
patchwork quilt which is America.
Stop 46: Has St. John’s been involved with work camps?
St. John’s has organized two specialized work camps. One in 1998 and one in 2005 to respond to 2 natural disasters (the flood along the Mississippi in St. Louis in 1998 and following Katrina in New Orleans in 2005). In both situations we contacted the UCC Churches in the disaster areas who were considering serving as work camp sites for volunteer helpers. We provided to 2 churches, the labor and materials to install showers for the work campers in their facilities. Work campers can work hard if they know they can have a good shower at the end of the day. We may soon be called to provide a service again. Many members and friends have joined us to make these work camps possible. Such events are faith - in work boots.
Stop 45: Where did the immigrants begin their trip to the new world?
The vast majority of German immigrants sailed from a small port named Bremerhaven. Between 1830 & 1974 over 7 million Germans left from this port for the new world. When local merchants realized the market to these people leaving for the new world, they decided to focus on immigrant’s needs. By the 1840’s, 30,000 Germans were leaving from Bremerhaven yearly. Bremerhaven was a town of less than 4,000 inhabitants. Today there is a new museum in Bremerhaven which shows the immigrants experience including a simulation of leaving the port on a ship bound for America. There is a church in the harbor built many years before the migration where special services were held for passengers on the night before they were leaving on a two-to-three-month journey to a new world and new life. People can still attend such services with beautiful choral, instrumental music, and inspiration. Let us move “Ever Forward With Christ.”
Stop 44: What happened at St. John’s on September 27, 1903?
Let’s turn the clock back to Sept.27, 1903. This Sunday was “a day of Celebration and Thanksgiving” here in this sanctuary. There were several reasons for this celebration:
Stop 43: Rev. & Mrs. Stroehlein - part 2:
The Stroehlein’s served St. John’s from 1921 – 1952. She had a beautiful voice and the two often sang duets in church and at weddings. They both believed in the value of health foods and shared that knowledge with others. Mrs. Stroehlein, would pass along food recommendations like “a little red, a little green, a little garlic in-between.” Even in his later years, Rev. Stroehlein would challenge church youth to a contest in which he would stand on a Batesville phone book (very thin) and touch his fingers to the floor. Rev. Stroehlein had a depth of faith which helped to encourage many of our members. Rev. & Mrs. Stroehlein also established the Father & Sons and Mother & Daughters banquets which they began in the parsonage many years ago.
Stop 42: How did Rev. Ernst & Clara Stroehlein meet?
Rev. Ernst Stroehlein and his wife, Clara, who served at St. John’s for 31 years, met in a very unusual way. After attending Eden Theological Seminary, Rev. Stroehlein took a very difficult first charge working with the Evangelical Churches (the Synod) in Cincinnati in 1918. This was the time a terrible flu epidemic that eventually claimed 3 times the number of deaths caused by World War I. Rev. Stroehlein was called by the churches to help with the greatly increased number of funerals caused by the flu pandemic. At one of the funerals Rev. Stroehlein conducted, a young woman named Clara from Carthage, Ohio attended the service. Mrs. Stroehlein told me that in later years Rev. Stroehlein would remember that service and say of it “out of death came life.” She always called him “Reverend.” They were called to St. John’s in 1921. Their marriage lasted over 60 years until his death in 1981.
Stop 41: What happens when we try to trace our roots way back?
The church building in which we gather was dedicated on August 5, 1860. We are thankful for this heritage. We can also take it back further. The church which many of our founders came from in Venne Germany, is celebrating its 925th birthday. It was established in 1087. This church was started before the Protestant reformation and has been pulled in both directions over the years. The name of this church is Walpurgas Church. It is named for a woman recognized as a Christian Saint. She was recognized as a protector against evil spirits. In the German calendar, the night of April 30th is Walpurgas’ nacht (Walpurgas’ night). Walpurga was a Christian missionary who came to Germany with her brother, St. Boniface, who are credited with converting many of the German tribes from paganism to Christianity.
Stop 40: Reminiscing?
Twenty-five years ago, a daughter of our congregation, Rev. Lois Koester Happe (daughter of Betty Koester) spoke at our church’s 150th Anniversary (July 26, 1987). Her words on her journey of faith carry our story today and bear repeating.
Stop 39: What is the meaning of symbols on old tombstones?
The symbols on old tombstones are there to tell us something about the lives of loved ones. Here are a few examples:
Stop 38: How does progress change the church?
Pastor, Rev. Gustan Wulschleger served St. John’s from 1889-1901 and helped to establish the Men’s Fellowship, the Women’s Guild, a Mission Society, and several other fellowship organizations. At this time most of the members were farmers and farming was a very demanding labor-intensive work for the whole family. Yet we find that during the time when Rev. Wulschleger served St. John’s, it was also the period when farming equipment (planting, harvesting, transport, etc.) came into regular use in this area. People began to have a bit more free time in new activities at their church. As surely as progress effects the church, the church effects progress. Rev. Wulschleger and the congregation became aware of fellowship needs in this congregation and responded with ministries to help with those needs. Pray that we can continue to be aware of our members’ needs and abilities in our future.
Stop 37: The church services were held in the German language, when did that change to English?
During World War I there was a suspicion that the American German speaking people could be cooperating with the enemy (Germany). Many German words like Sauerkraut were changed to the more English “liberty cabbage.” In 1914 Rev. Arndt became pastor. A graduate of Eden Theological Seminary, he was fluent in German and English. As he became pastor, St. John’s decided to divide worship services between German and English having 2 English services a month. From 1922, when Rev. Stroehlein came, until 1940 there continued to be one German service a month. As World War II began, the use of German in worship ended. God’s Word moves through languages and time, but it still is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.
Stop 36: When did our first Church Picnic begin?
We cannot determine exactly when the Church Picnic began, although there is evidence it has been around since the 1870’s. The picnic was begun as a reward for the children attending Sunday school. They would receive several free tickets to use to play the games (cat stand, fishpond, etc.). An outdoor bowling alley was set up for adults. Boys, like Elmer Narwold, were pin setters – bales of hay served as back stop for the bowling balls. A large metal trough with ice held glass bottles of pop. Ice cream was always a mainstay of the Picnic. Folks had many benches on which to set and talk. The schoolteachers from our school were usually in attendance. Elmer remembers his Sunday school teacher not only taking attendance on Sunday morning, but checking who brought their Sunday School book from home for class.
Stop 35: What is the history of our homemade ice cream?
One of the things our picnic (4th Saturday in July) is famous for is our homemade ice cream. The usual homemade ice cream maker makes 5 quarts of ice cream, whereas our machines make 5 gallons each. We bought 2 new machines from an Amish hardware store in Loudon, Ohio. The store had a phone, but it was located outside the store on a pole which is keeping with the Amish customs dealing with electricity. Sometimes we would have to let is ring for 10 minutes to get an answer. A batch of five gallons of ice cream takes about 35 to 40 minutes to make. A 5-gallon batch contains 30 eggs, and we usually make about 40 batches. The ice must be hard frozen (10 days or more at about 20 degrees below zero).
Stop 34: Was our church involved in the Civil War? (Part 2)
The men of the church prepared to defend our local railroad bridge from a raiding party under the command of Confederate General John Hunt Morgan. No battle occurred when anticipated. Continuing with Part 2...
Several days later a group of men on horseback entered Huntersville. The two-story brick house directly across the street from our main entrance, was then a restaurant. (The hitching posts where they tied their horses are still there serving as rose trellises.) The men tied up their horses and went inside. The owner quickly recognized the men by their accents and manners as southerners. After seeing the menu, the Owner (afraid his business would be shot up), humbly suggested there was a much better restaurant east in Batesville. The raiding party relieved him by leaving for Batesville. In Batesville was the Boehringer Hotel (S.E. corner of Boehringer & Main). The hotel had carrier pigeons on the roof to deliver messages to Cincinnati. After looking at the hotel menu and finding nothing particularly to their liking, they came back outside. Morgan Men liked squab (pigeon); they shot several of the carrier pigeons and delivered them to the hotel’s cook. They were prepared, Morgan’s men seemed to enjoy them and then rode off without incident, except for (excuse me) leaving a bad taste in the resident's mouth.
Stop 33: Was our church involved in the Civil War?
During the Civil War a confederate force led by General John Hunt Morgan made a number of raids into southeastern Indiana. Glenn Meyer said that they stopped at his grandmother’s house, smelled bread baking and asked for the bread from her oven – politely of course. Rumor was that this raiding party was headed toward Huntersville/Batesville to blow up a railroad trestle. The men of St. John’s gathered at the church with their weapons. A decision was to be made about whether all the men should go to defend the trestle or to send several of their best sharpshooters. All the men decided to defend the bridge. They guarded the trestle all night long. No rebels appeared, but one defender fell off the bridge. But the raiders did come some days later to Huntersville.
Stop 32: What is the story of our Church clock?
The clock was donated by a gift from the will of John Dietrick (Herman) Thie who was born in Germany in 1837 and was married on December 5, 1887, to Sophie Krieger. He passed away on June 1, 1902, at the age of 66 years 8 months and 7 days. Mr. Thie’s generous bequest was used to purchase the Seth Thomas model 15 tower clock. The purchase price was $525 which was equivalent to the total wage for a craftsman for one year. According to Lloyd Larrish, the craftsman who restored the clock in 1988, there are only three of these model 15 clocks in regular use in this country. It was installed in May of 1903 and dedicated during a day of celebration and thanksgiving on September 27,1903. When the clock was restored in 1988 and under the generosity of the family of Orlando and Essie Schorr, the sons of Flora & Edwin Borchelt and the church renovation fund, Mr. Larrish asked for six people to train in clock maintenance, two retired, two 30- or 40-year-olds, and two youth (age 10-12) because people need to be trained in each generation. The clock may easily last several hundred years.
Stop 31: In summary, what is the history of the UCC?
The United Church of Christ came into being in 1957 with the union of two Protestant denominations: the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches. Each of these was, in turn, the result of a union of two earlier traditions. The Congregational Churches were organized when the Pilgrims of Plymouth Plantation (1620) and the Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Colony (1629) acknowledged their essential unity in the Cambridge Platform of 1648. The Reformed Church in the United States traced its beginnings to congregations of German settlers in Pennsylvania founded from 1725 on. Later, its ranks were swelled by Reformed immigrants from Switzerland, Hungary and other countries. The Christian Churches sprang up in the late 1700s and early 1800s in reaction to the theological and organizational rigidity of the Methodist, Presbyterian and Baptist churches of the time. The Evangelical Synod of North America traced its beginnings to an association of German Evangelical pastors in Missouri. This association, founded in 1841, reflected the 1817 union of Lutheran and Reformed churches in Germany. Through the years, other groups such as American Indians, Afro-Christians, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, Volga Germans, Armenians, and Hispanic Americans have joined with the four earlier groups. In recent years, Christians from other traditions, including the Roman Catholic Church, have found a home in the UCC, and so have gay and lesbian Christians who have not been welcome in other churches. Thus, the United Church of Christ celebrates and continues a broad variety of traditions in its common life.
Stop 30: Our congregation came from the Evangelical Church, who are they?
Most of the German Evangelical churches in America were established first either by (1) immigrants who organized a church and later sought clergy (like St. John’s) or (2) by Missionary groups and Pastors sent from Germany to establish new churches. For the first four years (1836-1840) our congregation met in homes worshiping weekly having circuit rider pastors as often as possible. The word “Evangelical” today generally means a conservative, fundamentalist faith. In those days “Evangelical” simply meant “of the Gospel.” Our congregation worshiped in the German language for nearly its first 80 years and saw itself as a place where German Protestants could gather. English began to be our language of worship around 1914 when German American relations were deteriorating. The Evangelical Churches united with Reformed Churches in 1934, establishing the Evangelical and Reformed Church in America. The Reformed Church, these four church bodies – Congregational, Christian, Evangelical and Reformed – were merged in 1957 to become the United Church of Christ whose slogan is from John Chapter 17. It is Jesus Prayer asking God to help the Churches - that they all may be one.
Stop 29: Who was the second of our 4 main groups?
In the late 1700’s and early 1800’s, a group of Christian churches sprang up on the American Frontier calling themselves Disciples. They grew up largely in Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois. The group focused on modeling the First Century Church including ordination for men and women. The Christian Church started Union Christian College which has now become Merom Conference Center. Union Christian College was the first co-educational, interracial Christian College west of the Alleghenies (Pennsylvania). It has a proud tradition of serving forward thinking Christians in each generation.
Stop 28: Who was the first of our 4 main groups?
The first of the four groups that became the United Church of Christ was the Congregational Church, also known as the Puritans of New England. They left England because their independent natures clashed with the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. They left Europe in 1620 on the Mayflower and are known as the Puritans. They established the Mayflower Compact in 1620 on a covenant to live and work together. They came for a new life and an opportunity to practice their faith in Christ as the only true head of the Church.
Stop 27: What groups of churches make up the United Church of Christ:
The United Church of Christ is a union of 4 denominations plus some independent churches that share a vision of Christ and missions. The four main groups are:
Stop 26: What were the items used for communion in the past?
The earliest bread plate was probably handmade from within the congregation. Early communions were shared from a common cup – later versions used the bread and wine trays. Trays were introduced largely for health reasons, including preventing the spread of infection such as the flu epidemic of 1918. The Christian theologian, Karl Barth, wrote that we are to live in “a community with the bible in one hand and today’s newspaper in the other.” “God is Still Speaking” is a motto the United Church of Christ considers important for its present and future.
Stop 25: Where is Jagersdorf? Right Here!
The village of Huntersville, named Jagersdorf by Heinrich Bunte and anglicized soon afterwards, was laid out in 1841 around the St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. The church itself had been formed by agreement of the German Protestant landholders in the vicinity who had organized their community in a discussion group while still living in Cincinnati. They agreed a church was necessary and jointly purchased 62 acres for that purpose. The town was later built on the land sold by the congregation, and a church and parsonage were built without having a minister available. Although religious separatism created social boundaries that were as important to settlers as they had been on the Continent, outside the core area of the villages, Protestant and Catholic families lived among one another. Too much emphasis can be given to religious segregation with this area. Checking the present-day membership rolls of community churches, both Catholic and Protestant, reveals that the same family names appear on both lists.
Stop 24: Where were the first services held before the church was built?
In the first four (4) years of the congregation’s life before they had any church to worship in, the congregation would rotate having services in the homes of members. As often as possible, these services were conducted by circuit rider preachers. As Pastor, I feel a special kinship with such traveling ministers, Pastor John Alonzo Johnston, was one of them. He served Christian churches in Crawfordsville, Darlington and Greencastle, Indiana. In 1840 St. John’s built their first log church and hired their first pastor.
Stop 23: How was it to learn inside a one room schoolhouse?
Children listened to their classmates in upper classes to prepare for what was ahead and the lower classes to review what they had already heard. One of the older students was paid to start the wood stove by 7:00 AM and get the building ready in the morning for class at 8:00 AM. Of women teachers – as late as 1915 – the rules included, “you may not smoke cigarettes, wear bright colors, or dye your hair. Also, women teachers must wear at least their dress no shorter than two inches above the ankle. Also, for the men teachers, “any teacher who smokes, frequents pool halls, or gets shaved in a barber shop will give good reason to suspect his worth, intention, integrity and honesty.” -- from “Rules for Teachers” 1915.
Stop 22: What were the various names of our church?
Our church started out as St. John’s Evangelical Church. There were many of these churches in Cincinnati, they were largely focused on service ministries. The other dominant protestant denomination was the Lutherans. In 1846 the church called a Lutheran Pastor, Ernst August Schuermann. He asked the congregation to change the church’s name to St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. The congregation agreed to this change, but four years later, Pastor Schuermann, in line with a strict Lutheran tradition of that day, wanted to install a confessional booth in the church. Our congregation would not accept this so Rev. Schuermann moved on to a church in Iowa. The church’s name continued as St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church which meant, a broad welcome to all Protestants and new Christians in the area. Later mergers brought our congregation into the Evangelical & Reformed Church and then the United Church of Christ.
Stop 21: Who was the first long term Pastor of St. John’s?
Rev. Heinrich Dolle was the first long term pastor of St. John’s Huntersville Church. He served as pastor from 1852 –1877. He, his wife and their 13 children lived in the old parsonage which sits between the church and the present parsonage. The foundation of the old house is still visible in dry summer months. One of Rev. Dolle’s granddaughters was present with us for our 150th anniversary in 1987. She was then in her 80’s.
Before being called to our church, Rev. Dolle had been recruited to serve in Cincinnati where extra pastors had been recruited to conduct funerals of the families whose members died from the Cholera epidemic. The old phrase “Cleanliness is next to Godliness” applies to cities like Cincinnati where improvements in sanitary conditions helped to stop the epidemics. Rev. Dolle served as Pastor when our present sanctuary was built in 1860.His grave is in the old part of our cemetery marked later by a granite headstone purchased by his children and grandchildren. He died early one Sunday morning, on the 25th anniversary of his ministry at this church. Our lives, like the Dolle family, often contain sadness as well as joy in unpredictable sequence.
Stop 20: How long did it take to get to America?
Nicholas Henry Haverkotte, one of our church founders, was born in Germany in 1803. When he came to America in 1832, accompanied by his mother and sisters, their ship was at sea for 13 weeks. They landed in Baltimore, Maryland and came by flat boat to Cincinnati. They stayed in Cincinnati for 3 years to earn enough to be able to purchase land and to save funds to help to become one of the founding families of our church. Mr. Haverkotte was a millwright and a carpenter and so used his talents to help him fund his journey to America. Other founders who were farmers helped tend the grape vines for large vineyards in Cincinnati like the “Garden of Eden”, later known as Eden Park. For many immigrants the trip to find a home in America took four years or more - journeys of the heart sometimes take a very long time.
Stop 19: Huntersville (before it became part of Batesville).
Map available at church
Stop 18: What does Lent mean?
In many Christian Churches, including ours, the tradition of lent has been shared for many generations. Each year, between Ash Wednesday and Easter there are 40 days (not counting Sundays). These 40 days are set aside to be a period of self-examination, repentance and soul searching. The forty days are like the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert wilderness dealing with temptation before his ministry actually began. Some Christians decide to deny themselves something specific during Lent. This is to remind us that Jesus chose to deny himself many things to be able to accomplish our redemption. Some people chose to take on a new challenge or learning to discipline their spirits. I hope that Lent is a meaningful spiritual journey for you.
Stop 17: “Cast your bread upon the waters and it will return unto you many fold” (Ecclesiastes 11)
Consider what was once done with $77.50. This is the amount pooled by our first members to purchase land for our church. In November 1836, these immigrants purchased 62 acres from the United States Government with a deed signed by President James Monroe. It was an investment in a dream. The dream was of a community in the wilderness; a place for a church, a school, a burial ground and room to grow. In 1840 they built their first log church with shared labor, a building 36’ long, 24’ wide and 15’ high (about as wide as a two-car garage and 1½ times as deep). From small and shared beginnings, like a log church, a child born in a manger, or even $77.50, God can bless those who believe and act on their beliefs.
Stop 16: In those old pictures why are the people frowning or looking so sour?
The early photographs took much longer to develop than pictures today. Men & women usually had to have a brace put against the back of their head to keep it immovable. The part of the face which usually moves the most is the mouth. A consistent smile could not easily be sustained for the full minute or more required to take a picture. Consequently, the mouth in such pictures came out as a blur. Photographers asked people not to smile or it would ruin their pictures. Looking at those old pictures may lead us to believe people had little to smile about then. Maybe the technology had just not caught up with a smile.
Stop 15: What would you put in such a chest?
The Wooden Chest in front of the church is an immigrant chest from the late 1830’s owned by the family of Mrs. Clara Stroehlein (wife of former Pastor, Rev. Ernst Stroehlein). Mrs. Stroehlein’s family had come with this chest from Germany; note only one chest like this was allowed per family. What would you put in this chest if you were preparing a voyage of more than 2000 miles? This question certainly makes us consider what is most important to us. The German Bible was usually one of the first items included. From the Bible the scriptures include, “Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Its words will I hide in my heart that I might not sin against God.”
Stop 14: Immigrants, why come to southeastern Indiana?
Our countryside reminded them of their homes in Germany. The Ohio River reminded them of the Rhine River of their homeland. Also, after the first wave of settlers arrived, they came because of “chain migration”. This is the tendency when moving to a new world, to go to a place where you know someone or have family already there. Most of these Germans wore wooden shoes – another thing they could make from wood. Between 1830 – 1840 half of the confirmation age youth in the area of Venne immigrated with their families to America. It sounds like what we might do if we were in their “wooden” shoes.
Stop 13: What requirements were asked of the members?
In the first church document, dated November 1, 1836, families who were planning to become a part of this new church community were challenged to buy land close to the church property between 1836 & 1838 and to begin donating labor (one day per month) or giving $.50 (relative cost of land = $1.50 per acre). This donation was called “dues” and this commitment to pay dues was to begin on November 1, 1838. In this way the congregation began to gather their resources to build a church and to pay for “circuit rider” preachers who may have served several congregations. Faith often has small beginnings to move toward greater things.
Stop 12: Have you ever heard of the Brinkmann House?
Johann Friedrich Brinkmann (1799-1882) from Venne also appears as an outstanding figure in the history of the region of Batesville. He came to America in 1851, arriving October 21 in Baltimore, on the ship “Ocean” and in 1852, went to Ripley County. Although he did not rank among the founders of St. John’s parish in Huntersville, he became an important member and
businessman. In 1865, he opened a large Hotel-Restaurant in Batesville that was named the Brinkmann-House and later renamed the “Sherman House” to honor the civil War General. Brinkmann was thereby one of the few Venne rural settlers in the Mid-West who did not earn his living from farming.
Stop 11: Do you know the difference between ringing & tolling a Church bell?
Here at our church, for many years before radio, TV and other modern communication, our church bells would be sounded on the evening following the death of a church member to alert the whole community. The bells told the age of the person who had passed on:
Stop 10: How long did it take to get to Huntersville from Cincinnati?
Huntersville – directly on the south border of Franklin County abutting Ripley County. This settlement area was easily reached in little more than a day's travel time on the Ohio River (assumedly to Lawrenceburg), and finally on foot, about 25 miles (40 km) in the northwest direction. Apparently, the organizational effort to settle there and found a parish was privately initiated rather than from the sponsoring Cincinnati congregation. Many of the approximately 30 individuals who wanted to settle there had come from the Osnabruck, Venne, and Diepholz area and had met in the home of a wealthy merchant of English origin in Cincinnati, Nicholas
Longworth, whose heart lay with the well-being of the German immigrants.
Stop 9: “Keeping” Christmas.
Christ’s birth has been celebrated in many ways over the years. Late in the Middle Ages, Germans & Scandinavians placed an evergreen tree inside their homes to show their hope in the promise of spring. For Christians the “evergreen” also provided a symbol for new life in Christ. The Christmas tree was brought to America during the Revolutionary War by German (Hessian) soldiers who came to fight with the British. Our sanctuary was 10 years old (1870) before Christmas became a national holiday in America. That happened under President Ulysses S. Grant. Until 1870, Schools in Boston were open on Christmas Day and sometimes children were expelled for staying home. Christmas traditions change – keeping Christ at the center is a Christian’s responsibility.
Stop 8: Military service in Germany and in America.
In Germany, young men between the ages of 20-27 had an obligation for three years of military service. If they left before age 20, they faced no such requirement. If they wanted to leave between ages 20-27, they had to find someone to serve in their place. The substitutes were paid for their service by the one who was being required to serve. Often older brothers, who had served, wrote to parents to get younger brothers out of the country before their 20 birthdays. The German army was close to slavery. Many of those who left Germany were not avoiding a civic responsibility, they later volunteered for service during the American Civil War. They must have felt they had more of a purpose in fighting for their future here.
Stop 7: Where did the term “over the Rhine” come from in Cincinnati?
For a number of transportation reasons, over 30% of all Germans who came to America came to or thru Cincinnati. In 1840 the population of Cincinnati (46,000) was 8% German. By 1850, the German population had increased nine times and was 27% of the total population. Most of these Germans needing modest housing costs were concentrated in an area east and south of what is today Central Parkway. At that time Central Parkway was not there, it was the Miami-Erie Canal. Many people of non-German background named this canal “the Rhine” and so the community “Over the Rhine” was named. While the name was to make fun, the Germans took it on as a badge of honor reminding them of a great river in their homeland. The area had several German newspapers, choral & gymnastic societies. For many reasons the Germans, while admired for their work ethic, were sometimes made fun of or feared as different. It has seldom been easy to be an immigrant.
Stop 6: Conditions for marriage:
This is an example of how immigration occurred, but these people were not directly members of St. John’s.
As conditions for granting a marriage license, the community representative could demand proof that the couple intending to marry was healthy, able to work, owned a cow and would be able to lease a cottage as tenants. In the year 1848 the community representative from Vorwalde, Johann Friedrich Buente (1783-1862), denied granting a marriage license to a couple because the criteria could not be met. Shortly after that, his house was totally destroyed by fire; the family lost their house and home, goods and livestock, but managed to save their own lives. Still today, the descendants of the Buente family assume that the then angry would-be-groom used arson as his weapon of revenge.
Stop 5: A tradition from our past is being revived.
In pioneer days, when Sundays came, one member of each family had to stay home to protect the granary. The woods were so deep that animals, including herds of squirrel (often 200-600 squirrels), could rapidly descend from the forest and empty a granary in an hour or so. The one family member who stayed home would have a shot gun handy to scare off hungry animals. Members lived close to church. To include those “standing guard,” in the Worship service, the bells would be rung twice when the Lord’s Prayer was prayed. This allowed the “guards” to bow their heads and pray the prayer with their church and families. It is a tradition worth carrying on!
Stop 4: Where did the church name “Evangelical” come from?
During Germany in the 1600-1800’s there were many struggles and battles between Catholics & Lutherans. In 1819 the King, over much of northwest Germany, decided he wanted no more religious conflict between Catholics & Protestants. Within his borders, he forced the first real merger of two very different churches and created the Evangelical church (Evangelical comes from the Greek word meaning “good news”). This new church was, by his direction, highly focused on service ministries including creating hospitals, orphanages, and even homes for the aged. It even contained the first women’s order for nurses, known as deaconesses, who were the first protestant order similar to catholic nuns. This church came to America with immigrants, founding Deaconess Hospitals, Children’s homes like Brooklawn, and homes for the aged like the Altenheim in Indianapolis, carrying the Gospel into the lives of everyday people.
Stop 3: The Peasant Dissolution Ordinance.
In the area of Germany (Hannover, Osnabrueck) a very significant event happened on July 23, 1823. The Peasant Dissolution Ordinance was enacted. Up until this time peasants (small farmers) names were included on the property deed of the landlord meaning they were really owned along with the real estate. This new law reversed nearly 500 years of medieval feudal law which kept the common people as literal slaves. One song of the people written at this time longing for a new future:
“Here we are only slaves of the farmers, there we drive in golden coaches.”
Stop 2: Why is there such an abundance of handcrafts (weaving, sewing, crocheting, woodworking) in this area and in our history?
Back into medieval times the farming families in Northwest Germany received food from the land, but their main source of cash was from the sale of crafts including some of the world’s finest linens. Linens from Germany were inspected by their government for highest quality. In the early 1800s the industrial revolution which included huge looms in England, undercut the German market for fabrics. Families had lost their cash crop. From 1815 – 1829 linen prices dropped by one-half. Also, the price paid to farmers was down to 1/7 of previous highs. This caused many to look toward America. The handcrafts of our area are not just beautiful they are a reminder of a time when such crafts were a vital part of the income and survival of families.
Stop 1: The hardships in the land from which our founders came.
In the decades before our founders came to America, many hardships hit the people of Germany. 1815 became known as “the year without a summer”. A huge volcano eruption of Mount Tambora spread a huge ash cloud over the northern hemisphere. The sun was so blocked out that there were hard freezes throughout the summer. For 4 years there was a famine. Most farms were quite small, 8-10 acres, with all of that to be inherited by the oldest child. Younger siblings had to fend for themselves. Word from America brought promise of hard work, but land that people could buy from 40 to 200 acres. Dreams of new lands and possibilities lay ahead.
(Note – much of the information to prepare this article was taken from a book entitled Venne in America, written by Udo Thorner.)
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Stop 50: Were the church’s roots Evangelical or Lutheran? Both titles are on the cornerstone.
- When the congregation was formed in Cincinnati in 1836, they were assisted in writing their constitution by several German evangelical pastors. The Evangelical churches were protestant and very social action oriented creating children’s homes, hospitals and homes for the aged wherever they settled.
- In the 1830’s & 40’s most congregations in our area were served by traveling pastors (circuit riders) who served several congregations.
- In the 1840’s our church became large enough to support a full-time pastor. Most of these pastors were either Evangelical or Lutheran and some tried (with varying success) to move St. John’s into their own denomination. One pastor attempted to install a confessional booth in the church, but the congregation rejected this move and he soon moved on. This open heritage has prepared the way for our church to examine its heart and to be the ecumenical welcoming congregation it is today.
Stop 49: Did St. John help to establish other churches?
- In the 1840’s St. John’s helped to establish St. Paul’s Crossroads because many members south of Batesville wanted a church closer to their homes.
- In 1850, St. John’s donated $50 to help a new congregation at Peppertown build their new church, St. Nicholas. Their building still stands but the congregation has closed.
- In 1897 a group from St. John’s departed to establish St. Marks Church which is on West Pearl Street. These members wanted all services in English. St. John’s continued with a mixture of German and English services.
- Churches exist by missions, as a fire exists by burning. May we look to opportunities to plant and grow churches and move “Ever Forward with Christ”.
Stop 48: History is filled with exciting moments, curious moments and very difficult moments.
This capsule falls in that third category. In 1927, Mr. Albert Hackman, a widower in our congregation lived at home with is 4 children; daughter Elma, from his first marriage age 20 and 3 younger children from his second marriage; Elnora (age 7), Harold (age 5) and Bernice (age 3). Elnora the oldest daughter was caretaker for her younger siblings but on April 29, 1927, Elma died of tuberculosis. Her father, living along Pearl Street, grieved her death and made a tragic decision. The next day he took his three younger children on a walk in the evening; he took them to Laughery Creek, tied them to himself and drowned all three of them with him in his sorrow. A funeral with four caskets was held in our sanctuary 4 days later on May 3, 1927. Rev. Stroehlein led this most difficult service. According to other members, he looked to the congregation and quoted the Gospel when he said, “Let He who is without sin cast the first stone.” Such tragedies in the life of churches remind us that while we cannot read others actions, we should pray for vigilance in the renewed hope of showing support when another comes up against hardships which may be beyond their resources. God bless all churches when they pray for courage to see each other's losses and minister in Christ’s name.
Stop 47: Where did the immigrants come from?
The great majority of immigrants came to America from Germany through the northern German ports of Bremen or Bremerhaven. They landed in Baltimore or New Orleans. They came to pockets of their own countrymen from Europe: Huntersville from the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany – Dover, Indiana was founded by immigrants from Ireland – St. Nicholas was founded by immigrants from Offenburg in Baden, Germany – New Alsace, Indiana from Alsace an area on the border between Germany & France (then a part of France). In these early immigrant days, little towns just a few miles apart spoke different languages, observed very different customs and became the basis for the
patchwork quilt which is America.
Stop 46: Has St. John’s been involved with work camps?
St. John’s has organized two specialized work camps. One in 1998 and one in 2005 to respond to 2 natural disasters (the flood along the Mississippi in St. Louis in 1998 and following Katrina in New Orleans in 2005). In both situations we contacted the UCC Churches in the disaster areas who were considering serving as work camp sites for volunteer helpers. We provided to 2 churches, the labor and materials to install showers for the work campers in their facilities. Work campers can work hard if they know they can have a good shower at the end of the day. We may soon be called to provide a service again. Many members and friends have joined us to make these work camps possible. Such events are faith - in work boots.
Stop 45: Where did the immigrants begin their trip to the new world?
The vast majority of German immigrants sailed from a small port named Bremerhaven. Between 1830 & 1974 over 7 million Germans left from this port for the new world. When local merchants realized the market to these people leaving for the new world, they decided to focus on immigrant’s needs. By the 1840’s, 30,000 Germans were leaving from Bremerhaven yearly. Bremerhaven was a town of less than 4,000 inhabitants. Today there is a new museum in Bremerhaven which shows the immigrants experience including a simulation of leaving the port on a ship bound for America. There is a church in the harbor built many years before the migration where special services were held for passengers on the night before they were leaving on a two-to-three-month journey to a new world and new life. People can still attend such services with beautiful choral, instrumental music, and inspiration. Let us move “Ever Forward With Christ.”
Stop 44: What happened at St. John’s on September 27, 1903?
Let’s turn the clock back to Sept.27, 1903. This Sunday was “a day of Celebration and Thanksgiving” here in this sanctuary. There were several reasons for this celebration:
- From the estate of an active devoted member, Johan Dietrick Thie the church received a gift of $500 which the church used to purchase our present Seth Thomas Clock.
- The “Young Peoples Society” had been working toward the goal of providing new church pews. These are the church pews we still use today.
- The present stained-glass windows were dedicated as a gift from the women of the congregation.
- Services centered around the powerful words of the Psalms which read “O Give Thanks unto the Lord for He is Good and His Mercy Endureth Forever.”
Stop 43: Rev. & Mrs. Stroehlein - part 2:
The Stroehlein’s served St. John’s from 1921 – 1952. She had a beautiful voice and the two often sang duets in church and at weddings. They both believed in the value of health foods and shared that knowledge with others. Mrs. Stroehlein, would pass along food recommendations like “a little red, a little green, a little garlic in-between.” Even in his later years, Rev. Stroehlein would challenge church youth to a contest in which he would stand on a Batesville phone book (very thin) and touch his fingers to the floor. Rev. Stroehlein had a depth of faith which helped to encourage many of our members. Rev. & Mrs. Stroehlein also established the Father & Sons and Mother & Daughters banquets which they began in the parsonage many years ago.
Stop 42: How did Rev. Ernst & Clara Stroehlein meet?
Rev. Ernst Stroehlein and his wife, Clara, who served at St. John’s for 31 years, met in a very unusual way. After attending Eden Theological Seminary, Rev. Stroehlein took a very difficult first charge working with the Evangelical Churches (the Synod) in Cincinnati in 1918. This was the time a terrible flu epidemic that eventually claimed 3 times the number of deaths caused by World War I. Rev. Stroehlein was called by the churches to help with the greatly increased number of funerals caused by the flu pandemic. At one of the funerals Rev. Stroehlein conducted, a young woman named Clara from Carthage, Ohio attended the service. Mrs. Stroehlein told me that in later years Rev. Stroehlein would remember that service and say of it “out of death came life.” She always called him “Reverend.” They were called to St. John’s in 1921. Their marriage lasted over 60 years until his death in 1981.
Stop 41: What happens when we try to trace our roots way back?
The church building in which we gather was dedicated on August 5, 1860. We are thankful for this heritage. We can also take it back further. The church which many of our founders came from in Venne Germany, is celebrating its 925th birthday. It was established in 1087. This church was started before the Protestant reformation and has been pulled in both directions over the years. The name of this church is Walpurgas Church. It is named for a woman recognized as a Christian Saint. She was recognized as a protector against evil spirits. In the German calendar, the night of April 30th is Walpurgas’ nacht (Walpurgas’ night). Walpurga was a Christian missionary who came to Germany with her brother, St. Boniface, who are credited with converting many of the German tribes from paganism to Christianity.
Stop 40: Reminiscing?
Twenty-five years ago, a daughter of our congregation, Rev. Lois Koester Happe (daughter of Betty Koester) spoke at our church’s 150th Anniversary (July 26, 1987). Her words on her journey of faith carry our story today and bear repeating.
- “I know that I was brought to this community as an infant, still capable of open-eyed wonder, for baptism. I know that in due course I was brought here to receive the community’s understanding of what it means to be part of the great river of faith, the river that has flowed with strength and with power, with gentleness and with whispers, with spectacular rapids and wonderful pools of calm and stillness. And I know that at the appropriate moment, I made ‘the good confession’ at my confirmation, I know this, not because I wonder it myself, but because all of it took place ‘in the presence of many witnesses’ within a community of faith, within this congregation. And although this church has carried many names in the last 150 years – Evangelisch Lutherische Johannes Kirche, St. John’s Evangelical Protestant church, St. John’s Evangelical & Reformed Church, St. John’s United Church of Christ – I have confidence that the power of those witnesses has been, is, and will be effective in supporting me and all whoever pledge allegiance to Christ in this place. For though the name is modified, leadership comes and goes and faces change and age, the church, the community, is the never-ending well of faith, the course of the living water that bears the promise of life for us. We may, we must, as I do often, return to that well to renew and replenish ourselves whenever we have need. In that memory and in that promise, I rejoice.”
Stop 39: What is the meaning of symbols on old tombstones?
The symbols on old tombstones are there to tell us something about the lives of loved ones. Here are a few examples:
- Anchor: Steadfast hope
- Tree trunk: The brevity of life
- Broken column: Early death
- Cross, anchor, and Bible: Faith, hope and charity
- Dove: Purity, love, the Holy Spirit Lamb: Innocence (usually on a child’s grave)
- Ivy: Faithfulness, memory, and undying friendship
- Rooster: Awakening, courage, vigilance
- Six-pointed star: The creator (here is another meaning for our 6-pointed star window)
Stop 38: How does progress change the church?
Pastor, Rev. Gustan Wulschleger served St. John’s from 1889-1901 and helped to establish the Men’s Fellowship, the Women’s Guild, a Mission Society, and several other fellowship organizations. At this time most of the members were farmers and farming was a very demanding labor-intensive work for the whole family. Yet we find that during the time when Rev. Wulschleger served St. John’s, it was also the period when farming equipment (planting, harvesting, transport, etc.) came into regular use in this area. People began to have a bit more free time in new activities at their church. As surely as progress effects the church, the church effects progress. Rev. Wulschleger and the congregation became aware of fellowship needs in this congregation and responded with ministries to help with those needs. Pray that we can continue to be aware of our members’ needs and abilities in our future.
Stop 37: The church services were held in the German language, when did that change to English?
During World War I there was a suspicion that the American German speaking people could be cooperating with the enemy (Germany). Many German words like Sauerkraut were changed to the more English “liberty cabbage.” In 1914 Rev. Arndt became pastor. A graduate of Eden Theological Seminary, he was fluent in German and English. As he became pastor, St. John’s decided to divide worship services between German and English having 2 English services a month. From 1922, when Rev. Stroehlein came, until 1940 there continued to be one German service a month. As World War II began, the use of German in worship ended. God’s Word moves through languages and time, but it still is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.
Stop 36: When did our first Church Picnic begin?
We cannot determine exactly when the Church Picnic began, although there is evidence it has been around since the 1870’s. The picnic was begun as a reward for the children attending Sunday school. They would receive several free tickets to use to play the games (cat stand, fishpond, etc.). An outdoor bowling alley was set up for adults. Boys, like Elmer Narwold, were pin setters – bales of hay served as back stop for the bowling balls. A large metal trough with ice held glass bottles of pop. Ice cream was always a mainstay of the Picnic. Folks had many benches on which to set and talk. The schoolteachers from our school were usually in attendance. Elmer remembers his Sunday school teacher not only taking attendance on Sunday morning, but checking who brought their Sunday School book from home for class.
Stop 35: What is the history of our homemade ice cream?
One of the things our picnic (4th Saturday in July) is famous for is our homemade ice cream. The usual homemade ice cream maker makes 5 quarts of ice cream, whereas our machines make 5 gallons each. We bought 2 new machines from an Amish hardware store in Loudon, Ohio. The store had a phone, but it was located outside the store on a pole which is keeping with the Amish customs dealing with electricity. Sometimes we would have to let is ring for 10 minutes to get an answer. A batch of five gallons of ice cream takes about 35 to 40 minutes to make. A 5-gallon batch contains 30 eggs, and we usually make about 40 batches. The ice must be hard frozen (10 days or more at about 20 degrees below zero).
Stop 34: Was our church involved in the Civil War? (Part 2)
The men of the church prepared to defend our local railroad bridge from a raiding party under the command of Confederate General John Hunt Morgan. No battle occurred when anticipated. Continuing with Part 2...
Several days later a group of men on horseback entered Huntersville. The two-story brick house directly across the street from our main entrance, was then a restaurant. (The hitching posts where they tied their horses are still there serving as rose trellises.) The men tied up their horses and went inside. The owner quickly recognized the men by their accents and manners as southerners. After seeing the menu, the Owner (afraid his business would be shot up), humbly suggested there was a much better restaurant east in Batesville. The raiding party relieved him by leaving for Batesville. In Batesville was the Boehringer Hotel (S.E. corner of Boehringer & Main). The hotel had carrier pigeons on the roof to deliver messages to Cincinnati. After looking at the hotel menu and finding nothing particularly to their liking, they came back outside. Morgan Men liked squab (pigeon); they shot several of the carrier pigeons and delivered them to the hotel’s cook. They were prepared, Morgan’s men seemed to enjoy them and then rode off without incident, except for (excuse me) leaving a bad taste in the resident's mouth.
Stop 33: Was our church involved in the Civil War?
During the Civil War a confederate force led by General John Hunt Morgan made a number of raids into southeastern Indiana. Glenn Meyer said that they stopped at his grandmother’s house, smelled bread baking and asked for the bread from her oven – politely of course. Rumor was that this raiding party was headed toward Huntersville/Batesville to blow up a railroad trestle. The men of St. John’s gathered at the church with their weapons. A decision was to be made about whether all the men should go to defend the trestle or to send several of their best sharpshooters. All the men decided to defend the bridge. They guarded the trestle all night long. No rebels appeared, but one defender fell off the bridge. But the raiders did come some days later to Huntersville.
Stop 32: What is the story of our Church clock?
The clock was donated by a gift from the will of John Dietrick (Herman) Thie who was born in Germany in 1837 and was married on December 5, 1887, to Sophie Krieger. He passed away on June 1, 1902, at the age of 66 years 8 months and 7 days. Mr. Thie’s generous bequest was used to purchase the Seth Thomas model 15 tower clock. The purchase price was $525 which was equivalent to the total wage for a craftsman for one year. According to Lloyd Larrish, the craftsman who restored the clock in 1988, there are only three of these model 15 clocks in regular use in this country. It was installed in May of 1903 and dedicated during a day of celebration and thanksgiving on September 27,1903. When the clock was restored in 1988 and under the generosity of the family of Orlando and Essie Schorr, the sons of Flora & Edwin Borchelt and the church renovation fund, Mr. Larrish asked for six people to train in clock maintenance, two retired, two 30- or 40-year-olds, and two youth (age 10-12) because people need to be trained in each generation. The clock may easily last several hundred years.
Stop 31: In summary, what is the history of the UCC?
The United Church of Christ came into being in 1957 with the union of two Protestant denominations: the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches. Each of these was, in turn, the result of a union of two earlier traditions. The Congregational Churches were organized when the Pilgrims of Plymouth Plantation (1620) and the Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Colony (1629) acknowledged their essential unity in the Cambridge Platform of 1648. The Reformed Church in the United States traced its beginnings to congregations of German settlers in Pennsylvania founded from 1725 on. Later, its ranks were swelled by Reformed immigrants from Switzerland, Hungary and other countries. The Christian Churches sprang up in the late 1700s and early 1800s in reaction to the theological and organizational rigidity of the Methodist, Presbyterian and Baptist churches of the time. The Evangelical Synod of North America traced its beginnings to an association of German Evangelical pastors in Missouri. This association, founded in 1841, reflected the 1817 union of Lutheran and Reformed churches in Germany. Through the years, other groups such as American Indians, Afro-Christians, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, Volga Germans, Armenians, and Hispanic Americans have joined with the four earlier groups. In recent years, Christians from other traditions, including the Roman Catholic Church, have found a home in the UCC, and so have gay and lesbian Christians who have not been welcome in other churches. Thus, the United Church of Christ celebrates and continues a broad variety of traditions in its common life.
Stop 30: Our congregation came from the Evangelical Church, who are they?
Most of the German Evangelical churches in America were established first either by (1) immigrants who organized a church and later sought clergy (like St. John’s) or (2) by Missionary groups and Pastors sent from Germany to establish new churches. For the first four years (1836-1840) our congregation met in homes worshiping weekly having circuit rider pastors as often as possible. The word “Evangelical” today generally means a conservative, fundamentalist faith. In those days “Evangelical” simply meant “of the Gospel.” Our congregation worshiped in the German language for nearly its first 80 years and saw itself as a place where German Protestants could gather. English began to be our language of worship around 1914 when German American relations were deteriorating. The Evangelical Churches united with Reformed Churches in 1934, establishing the Evangelical and Reformed Church in America. The Reformed Church, these four church bodies – Congregational, Christian, Evangelical and Reformed – were merged in 1957 to become the United Church of Christ whose slogan is from John Chapter 17. It is Jesus Prayer asking God to help the Churches - that they all may be one.
Stop 29: Who was the second of our 4 main groups?
In the late 1700’s and early 1800’s, a group of Christian churches sprang up on the American Frontier calling themselves Disciples. They grew up largely in Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois. The group focused on modeling the First Century Church including ordination for men and women. The Christian Church started Union Christian College which has now become Merom Conference Center. Union Christian College was the first co-educational, interracial Christian College west of the Alleghenies (Pennsylvania). It has a proud tradition of serving forward thinking Christians in each generation.
Stop 28: Who was the first of our 4 main groups?
The first of the four groups that became the United Church of Christ was the Congregational Church, also known as the Puritans of New England. They left England because their independent natures clashed with the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. They left Europe in 1620 on the Mayflower and are known as the Puritans. They established the Mayflower Compact in 1620 on a covenant to live and work together. They came for a new life and an opportunity to practice their faith in Christ as the only true head of the Church.
Stop 27: What groups of churches make up the United Church of Christ:
The United Church of Christ is a union of 4 denominations plus some independent churches that share a vision of Christ and missions. The four main groups are:
- Congregation Church – from England separatist, known as Puritans.
- Christian Church – largely American Pioneer churches, mainly in Indiana and Kentucky.
- Reformed Churches – many signers of the Declaration of Independence, German and other immigrant families.
- Largely German Protestants.
Stop 26: What were the items used for communion in the past?
The earliest bread plate was probably handmade from within the congregation. Early communions were shared from a common cup – later versions used the bread and wine trays. Trays were introduced largely for health reasons, including preventing the spread of infection such as the flu epidemic of 1918. The Christian theologian, Karl Barth, wrote that we are to live in “a community with the bible in one hand and today’s newspaper in the other.” “God is Still Speaking” is a motto the United Church of Christ considers important for its present and future.
Stop 25: Where is Jagersdorf? Right Here!
The village of Huntersville, named Jagersdorf by Heinrich Bunte and anglicized soon afterwards, was laid out in 1841 around the St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. The church itself had been formed by agreement of the German Protestant landholders in the vicinity who had organized their community in a discussion group while still living in Cincinnati. They agreed a church was necessary and jointly purchased 62 acres for that purpose. The town was later built on the land sold by the congregation, and a church and parsonage were built without having a minister available. Although religious separatism created social boundaries that were as important to settlers as they had been on the Continent, outside the core area of the villages, Protestant and Catholic families lived among one another. Too much emphasis can be given to religious segregation with this area. Checking the present-day membership rolls of community churches, both Catholic and Protestant, reveals that the same family names appear on both lists.
Stop 24: Where were the first services held before the church was built?
In the first four (4) years of the congregation’s life before they had any church to worship in, the congregation would rotate having services in the homes of members. As often as possible, these services were conducted by circuit rider preachers. As Pastor, I feel a special kinship with such traveling ministers, Pastor John Alonzo Johnston, was one of them. He served Christian churches in Crawfordsville, Darlington and Greencastle, Indiana. In 1840 St. John’s built their first log church and hired their first pastor.
Stop 23: How was it to learn inside a one room schoolhouse?
Children listened to their classmates in upper classes to prepare for what was ahead and the lower classes to review what they had already heard. One of the older students was paid to start the wood stove by 7:00 AM and get the building ready in the morning for class at 8:00 AM. Of women teachers – as late as 1915 – the rules included, “you may not smoke cigarettes, wear bright colors, or dye your hair. Also, women teachers must wear at least their dress no shorter than two inches above the ankle. Also, for the men teachers, “any teacher who smokes, frequents pool halls, or gets shaved in a barber shop will give good reason to suspect his worth, intention, integrity and honesty.” -- from “Rules for Teachers” 1915.
Stop 22: What were the various names of our church?
Our church started out as St. John’s Evangelical Church. There were many of these churches in Cincinnati, they were largely focused on service ministries. The other dominant protestant denomination was the Lutherans. In 1846 the church called a Lutheran Pastor, Ernst August Schuermann. He asked the congregation to change the church’s name to St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. The congregation agreed to this change, but four years later, Pastor Schuermann, in line with a strict Lutheran tradition of that day, wanted to install a confessional booth in the church. Our congregation would not accept this so Rev. Schuermann moved on to a church in Iowa. The church’s name continued as St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church which meant, a broad welcome to all Protestants and new Christians in the area. Later mergers brought our congregation into the Evangelical & Reformed Church and then the United Church of Christ.
Stop 21: Who was the first long term Pastor of St. John’s?
Rev. Heinrich Dolle was the first long term pastor of St. John’s Huntersville Church. He served as pastor from 1852 –1877. He, his wife and their 13 children lived in the old parsonage which sits between the church and the present parsonage. The foundation of the old house is still visible in dry summer months. One of Rev. Dolle’s granddaughters was present with us for our 150th anniversary in 1987. She was then in her 80’s.
Before being called to our church, Rev. Dolle had been recruited to serve in Cincinnati where extra pastors had been recruited to conduct funerals of the families whose members died from the Cholera epidemic. The old phrase “Cleanliness is next to Godliness” applies to cities like Cincinnati where improvements in sanitary conditions helped to stop the epidemics. Rev. Dolle served as Pastor when our present sanctuary was built in 1860.His grave is in the old part of our cemetery marked later by a granite headstone purchased by his children and grandchildren. He died early one Sunday morning, on the 25th anniversary of his ministry at this church. Our lives, like the Dolle family, often contain sadness as well as joy in unpredictable sequence.
Stop 20: How long did it take to get to America?
Nicholas Henry Haverkotte, one of our church founders, was born in Germany in 1803. When he came to America in 1832, accompanied by his mother and sisters, their ship was at sea for 13 weeks. They landed in Baltimore, Maryland and came by flat boat to Cincinnati. They stayed in Cincinnati for 3 years to earn enough to be able to purchase land and to save funds to help to become one of the founding families of our church. Mr. Haverkotte was a millwright and a carpenter and so used his talents to help him fund his journey to America. Other founders who were farmers helped tend the grape vines for large vineyards in Cincinnati like the “Garden of Eden”, later known as Eden Park. For many immigrants the trip to find a home in America took four years or more - journeys of the heart sometimes take a very long time.
Stop 19: Huntersville (before it became part of Batesville).
Map available at church
Stop 18: What does Lent mean?
In many Christian Churches, including ours, the tradition of lent has been shared for many generations. Each year, between Ash Wednesday and Easter there are 40 days (not counting Sundays). These 40 days are set aside to be a period of self-examination, repentance and soul searching. The forty days are like the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert wilderness dealing with temptation before his ministry actually began. Some Christians decide to deny themselves something specific during Lent. This is to remind us that Jesus chose to deny himself many things to be able to accomplish our redemption. Some people chose to take on a new challenge or learning to discipline their spirits. I hope that Lent is a meaningful spiritual journey for you.
Stop 17: “Cast your bread upon the waters and it will return unto you many fold” (Ecclesiastes 11)
Consider what was once done with $77.50. This is the amount pooled by our first members to purchase land for our church. In November 1836, these immigrants purchased 62 acres from the United States Government with a deed signed by President James Monroe. It was an investment in a dream. The dream was of a community in the wilderness; a place for a church, a school, a burial ground and room to grow. In 1840 they built their first log church with shared labor, a building 36’ long, 24’ wide and 15’ high (about as wide as a two-car garage and 1½ times as deep). From small and shared beginnings, like a log church, a child born in a manger, or even $77.50, God can bless those who believe and act on their beliefs.
Stop 16: In those old pictures why are the people frowning or looking so sour?
The early photographs took much longer to develop than pictures today. Men & women usually had to have a brace put against the back of their head to keep it immovable. The part of the face which usually moves the most is the mouth. A consistent smile could not easily be sustained for the full minute or more required to take a picture. Consequently, the mouth in such pictures came out as a blur. Photographers asked people not to smile or it would ruin their pictures. Looking at those old pictures may lead us to believe people had little to smile about then. Maybe the technology had just not caught up with a smile.
Stop 15: What would you put in such a chest?
The Wooden Chest in front of the church is an immigrant chest from the late 1830’s owned by the family of Mrs. Clara Stroehlein (wife of former Pastor, Rev. Ernst Stroehlein). Mrs. Stroehlein’s family had come with this chest from Germany; note only one chest like this was allowed per family. What would you put in this chest if you were preparing a voyage of more than 2000 miles? This question certainly makes us consider what is most important to us. The German Bible was usually one of the first items included. From the Bible the scriptures include, “Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Its words will I hide in my heart that I might not sin against God.”
Stop 14: Immigrants, why come to southeastern Indiana?
Our countryside reminded them of their homes in Germany. The Ohio River reminded them of the Rhine River of their homeland. Also, after the first wave of settlers arrived, they came because of “chain migration”. This is the tendency when moving to a new world, to go to a place where you know someone or have family already there. Most of these Germans wore wooden shoes – another thing they could make from wood. Between 1830 – 1840 half of the confirmation age youth in the area of Venne immigrated with their families to America. It sounds like what we might do if we were in their “wooden” shoes.
Stop 13: What requirements were asked of the members?
In the first church document, dated November 1, 1836, families who were planning to become a part of this new church community were challenged to buy land close to the church property between 1836 & 1838 and to begin donating labor (one day per month) or giving $.50 (relative cost of land = $1.50 per acre). This donation was called “dues” and this commitment to pay dues was to begin on November 1, 1838. In this way the congregation began to gather their resources to build a church and to pay for “circuit rider” preachers who may have served several congregations. Faith often has small beginnings to move toward greater things.
Stop 12: Have you ever heard of the Brinkmann House?
Johann Friedrich Brinkmann (1799-1882) from Venne also appears as an outstanding figure in the history of the region of Batesville. He came to America in 1851, arriving October 21 in Baltimore, on the ship “Ocean” and in 1852, went to Ripley County. Although he did not rank among the founders of St. John’s parish in Huntersville, he became an important member and
businessman. In 1865, he opened a large Hotel-Restaurant in Batesville that was named the Brinkmann-House and later renamed the “Sherman House” to honor the civil War General. Brinkmann was thereby one of the few Venne rural settlers in the Mid-West who did not earn his living from farming.
Stop 11: Do you know the difference between ringing & tolling a Church bell?
Here at our church, for many years before radio, TV and other modern communication, our church bells would be sounded on the evening following the death of a church member to alert the whole community. The bells told the age of the person who had passed on:
- To ring a church bell means to swing the whole bell until the clapper strikes the bell from inside. The bell would be rung once for each decade of the person’s life.
- To toll a church bell means that a separate hammer strikes the outside of a bell which is at rest at the time (a more muted sound). This practice, used even in Europe, is the basis for the title of Hemmingway’s Novel “For When The Bell Tolls”. The bell would be tolled for each individual year beyond the decades. (Example; if the person was 62, the bell would ring 6 times and toll 2 times).
Stop 10: How long did it take to get to Huntersville from Cincinnati?
Huntersville – directly on the south border of Franklin County abutting Ripley County. This settlement area was easily reached in little more than a day's travel time on the Ohio River (assumedly to Lawrenceburg), and finally on foot, about 25 miles (40 km) in the northwest direction. Apparently, the organizational effort to settle there and found a parish was privately initiated rather than from the sponsoring Cincinnati congregation. Many of the approximately 30 individuals who wanted to settle there had come from the Osnabruck, Venne, and Diepholz area and had met in the home of a wealthy merchant of English origin in Cincinnati, Nicholas
Longworth, whose heart lay with the well-being of the German immigrants.
Stop 9: “Keeping” Christmas.
Christ’s birth has been celebrated in many ways over the years. Late in the Middle Ages, Germans & Scandinavians placed an evergreen tree inside their homes to show their hope in the promise of spring. For Christians the “evergreen” also provided a symbol for new life in Christ. The Christmas tree was brought to America during the Revolutionary War by German (Hessian) soldiers who came to fight with the British. Our sanctuary was 10 years old (1870) before Christmas became a national holiday in America. That happened under President Ulysses S. Grant. Until 1870, Schools in Boston were open on Christmas Day and sometimes children were expelled for staying home. Christmas traditions change – keeping Christ at the center is a Christian’s responsibility.
Stop 8: Military service in Germany and in America.
In Germany, young men between the ages of 20-27 had an obligation for three years of military service. If they left before age 20, they faced no such requirement. If they wanted to leave between ages 20-27, they had to find someone to serve in their place. The substitutes were paid for their service by the one who was being required to serve. Often older brothers, who had served, wrote to parents to get younger brothers out of the country before their 20 birthdays. The German army was close to slavery. Many of those who left Germany were not avoiding a civic responsibility, they later volunteered for service during the American Civil War. They must have felt they had more of a purpose in fighting for their future here.
Stop 7: Where did the term “over the Rhine” come from in Cincinnati?
For a number of transportation reasons, over 30% of all Germans who came to America came to or thru Cincinnati. In 1840 the population of Cincinnati (46,000) was 8% German. By 1850, the German population had increased nine times and was 27% of the total population. Most of these Germans needing modest housing costs were concentrated in an area east and south of what is today Central Parkway. At that time Central Parkway was not there, it was the Miami-Erie Canal. Many people of non-German background named this canal “the Rhine” and so the community “Over the Rhine” was named. While the name was to make fun, the Germans took it on as a badge of honor reminding them of a great river in their homeland. The area had several German newspapers, choral & gymnastic societies. For many reasons the Germans, while admired for their work ethic, were sometimes made fun of or feared as different. It has seldom been easy to be an immigrant.
Stop 6: Conditions for marriage:
This is an example of how immigration occurred, but these people were not directly members of St. John’s.
As conditions for granting a marriage license, the community representative could demand proof that the couple intending to marry was healthy, able to work, owned a cow and would be able to lease a cottage as tenants. In the year 1848 the community representative from Vorwalde, Johann Friedrich Buente (1783-1862), denied granting a marriage license to a couple because the criteria could not be met. Shortly after that, his house was totally destroyed by fire; the family lost their house and home, goods and livestock, but managed to save their own lives. Still today, the descendants of the Buente family assume that the then angry would-be-groom used arson as his weapon of revenge.
Stop 5: A tradition from our past is being revived.
In pioneer days, when Sundays came, one member of each family had to stay home to protect the granary. The woods were so deep that animals, including herds of squirrel (often 200-600 squirrels), could rapidly descend from the forest and empty a granary in an hour or so. The one family member who stayed home would have a shot gun handy to scare off hungry animals. Members lived close to church. To include those “standing guard,” in the Worship service, the bells would be rung twice when the Lord’s Prayer was prayed. This allowed the “guards” to bow their heads and pray the prayer with their church and families. It is a tradition worth carrying on!
Stop 4: Where did the church name “Evangelical” come from?
During Germany in the 1600-1800’s there were many struggles and battles between Catholics & Lutherans. In 1819 the King, over much of northwest Germany, decided he wanted no more religious conflict between Catholics & Protestants. Within his borders, he forced the first real merger of two very different churches and created the Evangelical church (Evangelical comes from the Greek word meaning “good news”). This new church was, by his direction, highly focused on service ministries including creating hospitals, orphanages, and even homes for the aged. It even contained the first women’s order for nurses, known as deaconesses, who were the first protestant order similar to catholic nuns. This church came to America with immigrants, founding Deaconess Hospitals, Children’s homes like Brooklawn, and homes for the aged like the Altenheim in Indianapolis, carrying the Gospel into the lives of everyday people.
Stop 3: The Peasant Dissolution Ordinance.
In the area of Germany (Hannover, Osnabrueck) a very significant event happened on July 23, 1823. The Peasant Dissolution Ordinance was enacted. Up until this time peasants (small farmers) names were included on the property deed of the landlord meaning they were really owned along with the real estate. This new law reversed nearly 500 years of medieval feudal law which kept the common people as literal slaves. One song of the people written at this time longing for a new future:
“Here we are only slaves of the farmers, there we drive in golden coaches.”
Stop 2: Why is there such an abundance of handcrafts (weaving, sewing, crocheting, woodworking) in this area and in our history?
Back into medieval times the farming families in Northwest Germany received food from the land, but their main source of cash was from the sale of crafts including some of the world’s finest linens. Linens from Germany were inspected by their government for highest quality. In the early 1800s the industrial revolution which included huge looms in England, undercut the German market for fabrics. Families had lost their cash crop. From 1815 – 1829 linen prices dropped by one-half. Also, the price paid to farmers was down to 1/7 of previous highs. This caused many to look toward America. The handcrafts of our area are not just beautiful they are a reminder of a time when such crafts were a vital part of the income and survival of families.
Stop 1: The hardships in the land from which our founders came.
In the decades before our founders came to America, many hardships hit the people of Germany. 1815 became known as “the year without a summer”. A huge volcano eruption of Mount Tambora spread a huge ash cloud over the northern hemisphere. The sun was so blocked out that there were hard freezes throughout the summer. For 4 years there was a famine. Most farms were quite small, 8-10 acres, with all of that to be inherited by the oldest child. Younger siblings had to fend for themselves. Word from America brought promise of hard work, but land that people could buy from 40 to 200 acres. Dreams of new lands and possibilities lay ahead.
