First Zion Lutheran Church
400 2nd Ave NE
Elgin, Grant County, North Dakota 58533
400 2nd Ave NE
Elgin, Grant County, North Dakota 58533
First Zion Lutheran Church Elgin, North Dakota
Although served by Ohio Synod pastors before, the First Evangelical Lutheran Zion Church of Elgin, North Dakota, was organized in 1909 by Visitator F. Braun of the Iowa Synod. It was served by Pastor Gustav Adolph; under whose leadership the first church was erected in 1910.
Pastor George Landgrebe served from 1911 to 1936, under whom the parsonage was built in 1911, and the church enlarged in 1926. Pastor Ernst Wiedenhoefer served from 1936 until his death in 1946. He was buried in our cemetery. Pastor G. Durkop followed but stayed only a year. From 1949 until 1954 Pastor John Hoyer served, during which the church was remodeled in 1953. At present the congregation is served by Pastor R. Lang.
Info from - back of First Zion Lutheran Church plate
Although served by Ohio Synod pastors before, the First Evangelical Lutheran Zion Church of Elgin, North Dakota, was organized in 1909 by Visitator F. Braun of the Iowa Synod. It was served by Pastor Gustav Adolph; under whose leadership the first church was erected in 1910.
Pastor George Landgrebe served from 1911 to 1936, under whom the parsonage was built in 1911, and the church enlarged in 1926. Pastor Ernst Wiedenhoefer served from 1936 until his death in 1946. He was buried in our cemetery. Pastor G. Durkop followed but stayed only a year. From 1949 until 1954 Pastor John Hoyer served, during which the church was remodeled in 1953. At present the congregation is served by Pastor R. Lang.
Info from - back of First Zion Lutheran Church plate
Zion American Lutheran Church
Zion American Lutheran Church was founded by immigrant German Russian Lutherans even as the town of Elgin was founded. It was founded to meet their spiritual needs and to witness the community around it. That basic purpose remains as the congregation celebrates its 75th Jubilee in 1985.
Pioneer Missionary H. Dralle was the first missionary sent by the Iowa Synod to bring the Gospel to the scattered settlers in this area. Rev. George Zink preached in the area as early as 1897, followed by Rev. Wm. Klein in 1898, who stayed for two years. Rev. FJ. Doyen came in 1909 and conducted services in many places in the area, living in Elgin from August 1911 to May 1914. Other pastors that came were Pastor A. Schormann, Rev. Ferdinand Rink, Pastor Gustav Adolph, Pastor August Kelpe.
Services were held in a schoolhouse one mile east of Elgin. At a meeting on October 31,1909, it was voted to build a church and parsonage as soon as the city were laid out. The size of the church was 28' by 42' with a 12' altar niche and a 66' steeple. The 30 members pledged to cover the cost of the material, which was purchased from Waechter Lumberyard, Glen Ullin on a three-year payment plan.
The congregation was incorporated as the "Erste Evangelisch Lutherische Zion Gemeinde" of Shanley, Morton County, North Dakota. The building of the parsonage was postponed until April of 1910. In October of 1911 the parsonage was completed. On April 18, 1913, the bell was put into the 66' steeple with the aid of horses. The 450-pound bell was of the best grade of metal with a low B flat tone and was equipped with a fire gong. The bell was used until 1980 and will be used again as soon as a new bell tower is built for the new church. In June 1914, the members donated money to purchase a new pump organ. In 1917 the congregation was debt free. In 1926 the church was enlarged with an addition of 28' by 40' on the north end with a full basement.
On August 16, 1911, Rev. George C. Landgrebe arrived, sent by the Missionary Committee. He served for 25 years until January of 1936. The first children to be baptized in the new church were Christine Werner, daughter of Jacob and Karoline Werner and Martha Dietz, daughter of Edward and Elizabeth Dietz on August 27,1911 and the first funeral was held September 6, 1911, for Frederich Martel. The first marriage was Daniel Tietz and Rosina Ganthner. The first confirmation was on March 31, 1912, for 11 confirmants.
On March 28,1936 Pastor Ernest Widenhoefer accepted a call to the congregation. Until this time worship services were held only in the German language. In 1937 the need for English services was evident because more and more members were added to the congregation who could not speak or understand the German language. The worship services in the English were increased as the years went by although the meetings and the minutes were recorded in German until 1951. On June 24,1945 St. John's Pretty Rock congregation voted to merge with Elgin.
After the death of Pastor Widenhoefer in 1946, Rev. Rudolph Heupel and Rev. Wm. Gevers held services alternately until Pastor George Durkop accepted a call arriving on January 20, 1947, and served until September 1948. During his pastorate a Kilgen pipe organ was installed. During the vacancy of a regular pastor, Rev. Ervin Weeland from Mott and Student Pastor Roland C. Jacober from New Leipzig held services until Student Pastor Emil Dochter filled in until December of 1949 when Pastor John E. Hoyer accepted the call. During his pastorate extensive alterations and an addition to the church were undertaken. The front entrance was extended to the south and the basement was completed to include a kitchen and extra room for Sunday School classes.
Rev. Roland Jacober and Student Pastor Arthur H. Schmitt served the congregation until Pastor Reuben C. Lang came in 1955. In 1956 Rev. Lang left for a teaching position at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota. Student Pastor Edgar Kraemer, Rev. Lloyd Ziebarth, Rev. Roland Jacober, Rev. Rudolph Heupel and Rev. Dietrich H.R. Bergstadt filled in until November 17,1957 when Pastor Ernest H. Haacke was installed as pastor. During his ministry a new parsonage was built in 1959. Hope Lutheran (Stone Church) north of Elgin merged with Zion Lutheran Church in 1957. On May 29, 1957, Elmer Sprecher son of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Sprecher was ordained. Peace Lutheran from Heil and Trinity Lutheran north of New Leipzig were discontinued and some of their members joined the church during this time and brought with themselves a most valuable contribution to the congregation. In August of 1960 Rev. Haacke retired.
On August 7, 1960, Rev. Eugene Ketterling accepted the call to serve the congregation. After the congregation became part of the newly merged American Lutheran Church, the constitution was revised, and the name of the congregation formally changed to Zion American Lutheran Church of Elgin.
Rev. L.R. Schulz came to Elgin on March 1, 1969, as a Visitation Pastor. He faithfully served and continued his work with Rev. Donald Schumacher until January 1, 1977. Rev. Eugene Ketterling served until February 1971.
Pastor Donald Schumacher accepted a call and came to Zion in 1971. In 1966 the Jacob Wolf family donated land in the northeast part of Elgin to build a new church, however it wasn't until 1978 that the congregation voted to build the church. Several proposals for the construction of a new church were rejected by the members between 1966 and 1975.
When the community of Elgin was faced with raising a substantial amount of money to erect a new hospital and nursing care facility, the congregation donated $60,000.00 from its building fund to help make possible the present Jacobson Memorial Hospital Care Center. It was an investment in the community which was consistent with the concern for the total well-being of people, a concern which the Church has had since New Testament times.
Dreams of a new church building did not die with the virtual depletion of the building fund. In 1978 the congregation voted to erect a new church on the property donated by the Wolf family. The new church facility provides space for worship in a beautiful setting and affords suitable areas for educational and fellowship needs of the congregation. On Christmas Eve of 1980 the congregation gathered for its first worship service and the dedication of the completed structure took place on May 31, 1981. This well constructed and energy-efficient building, which is completely modern, yet dignified and extremely functional, will enable the congregation to bring the changeless Gospel to a changing world, and that was the purpose for which its founders organized the congregation. To God alone be the glory, and to the congregation be the blessings that flow from the Word and Sacraments.
Info from Elgin Diamond Jubilee 1910-1985 North (pages 99-101)
Zion American Lutheran Church was founded by immigrant German Russian Lutherans even as the town of Elgin was founded. It was founded to meet their spiritual needs and to witness the community around it. That basic purpose remains as the congregation celebrates its 75th Jubilee in 1985.
Pioneer Missionary H. Dralle was the first missionary sent by the Iowa Synod to bring the Gospel to the scattered settlers in this area. Rev. George Zink preached in the area as early as 1897, followed by Rev. Wm. Klein in 1898, who stayed for two years. Rev. FJ. Doyen came in 1909 and conducted services in many places in the area, living in Elgin from August 1911 to May 1914. Other pastors that came were Pastor A. Schormann, Rev. Ferdinand Rink, Pastor Gustav Adolph, Pastor August Kelpe.
Services were held in a schoolhouse one mile east of Elgin. At a meeting on October 31,1909, it was voted to build a church and parsonage as soon as the city were laid out. The size of the church was 28' by 42' with a 12' altar niche and a 66' steeple. The 30 members pledged to cover the cost of the material, which was purchased from Waechter Lumberyard, Glen Ullin on a three-year payment plan.
The congregation was incorporated as the "Erste Evangelisch Lutherische Zion Gemeinde" of Shanley, Morton County, North Dakota. The building of the parsonage was postponed until April of 1910. In October of 1911 the parsonage was completed. On April 18, 1913, the bell was put into the 66' steeple with the aid of horses. The 450-pound bell was of the best grade of metal with a low B flat tone and was equipped with a fire gong. The bell was used until 1980 and will be used again as soon as a new bell tower is built for the new church. In June 1914, the members donated money to purchase a new pump organ. In 1917 the congregation was debt free. In 1926 the church was enlarged with an addition of 28' by 40' on the north end with a full basement.
On August 16, 1911, Rev. George C. Landgrebe arrived, sent by the Missionary Committee. He served for 25 years until January of 1936. The first children to be baptized in the new church were Christine Werner, daughter of Jacob and Karoline Werner and Martha Dietz, daughter of Edward and Elizabeth Dietz on August 27,1911 and the first funeral was held September 6, 1911, for Frederich Martel. The first marriage was Daniel Tietz and Rosina Ganthner. The first confirmation was on March 31, 1912, for 11 confirmants.
On March 28,1936 Pastor Ernest Widenhoefer accepted a call to the congregation. Until this time worship services were held only in the German language. In 1937 the need for English services was evident because more and more members were added to the congregation who could not speak or understand the German language. The worship services in the English were increased as the years went by although the meetings and the minutes were recorded in German until 1951. On June 24,1945 St. John's Pretty Rock congregation voted to merge with Elgin.
After the death of Pastor Widenhoefer in 1946, Rev. Rudolph Heupel and Rev. Wm. Gevers held services alternately until Pastor George Durkop accepted a call arriving on January 20, 1947, and served until September 1948. During his pastorate a Kilgen pipe organ was installed. During the vacancy of a regular pastor, Rev. Ervin Weeland from Mott and Student Pastor Roland C. Jacober from New Leipzig held services until Student Pastor Emil Dochter filled in until December of 1949 when Pastor John E. Hoyer accepted the call. During his pastorate extensive alterations and an addition to the church were undertaken. The front entrance was extended to the south and the basement was completed to include a kitchen and extra room for Sunday School classes.
Rev. Roland Jacober and Student Pastor Arthur H. Schmitt served the congregation until Pastor Reuben C. Lang came in 1955. In 1956 Rev. Lang left for a teaching position at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota. Student Pastor Edgar Kraemer, Rev. Lloyd Ziebarth, Rev. Roland Jacober, Rev. Rudolph Heupel and Rev. Dietrich H.R. Bergstadt filled in until November 17,1957 when Pastor Ernest H. Haacke was installed as pastor. During his ministry a new parsonage was built in 1959. Hope Lutheran (Stone Church) north of Elgin merged with Zion Lutheran Church in 1957. On May 29, 1957, Elmer Sprecher son of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Sprecher was ordained. Peace Lutheran from Heil and Trinity Lutheran north of New Leipzig were discontinued and some of their members joined the church during this time and brought with themselves a most valuable contribution to the congregation. In August of 1960 Rev. Haacke retired.
On August 7, 1960, Rev. Eugene Ketterling accepted the call to serve the congregation. After the congregation became part of the newly merged American Lutheran Church, the constitution was revised, and the name of the congregation formally changed to Zion American Lutheran Church of Elgin.
Rev. L.R. Schulz came to Elgin on March 1, 1969, as a Visitation Pastor. He faithfully served and continued his work with Rev. Donald Schumacher until January 1, 1977. Rev. Eugene Ketterling served until February 1971.
Pastor Donald Schumacher accepted a call and came to Zion in 1971. In 1966 the Jacob Wolf family donated land in the northeast part of Elgin to build a new church, however it wasn't until 1978 that the congregation voted to build the church. Several proposals for the construction of a new church were rejected by the members between 1966 and 1975.
When the community of Elgin was faced with raising a substantial amount of money to erect a new hospital and nursing care facility, the congregation donated $60,000.00 from its building fund to help make possible the present Jacobson Memorial Hospital Care Center. It was an investment in the community which was consistent with the concern for the total well-being of people, a concern which the Church has had since New Testament times.
Dreams of a new church building did not die with the virtual depletion of the building fund. In 1978 the congregation voted to erect a new church on the property donated by the Wolf family. The new church facility provides space for worship in a beautiful setting and affords suitable areas for educational and fellowship needs of the congregation. On Christmas Eve of 1980 the congregation gathered for its first worship service and the dedication of the completed structure took place on May 31, 1981. This well constructed and energy-efficient building, which is completely modern, yet dignified and extremely functional, will enable the congregation to bring the changeless Gospel to a changing world, and that was the purpose for which its founders organized the congregation. To God alone be the glory, and to the congregation be the blessings that flow from the Word and Sacraments.
Info from Elgin Diamond Jubilee 1910-1985 North (pages 99-101)