(284.177336 
 Sa24o 
 
 I 100 Years, St. Paul's Evan- 
 gelical Lutheran Ch., Dixon 
 
 
ILLINOIS HISTORICAL SURVEY 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2012 with funding from 
 
 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/100years1848194800stpa 
 
^,<fo 
 
 ears 
 
HUSKS HISIOSICAl SURVEY 
 
Dedication 
 
 TO 
 
 Jesus Christ, 'The Church's One Foundation," 
 and to all those faithful, God-inspired, 
 courageous souls — who, despite all vicissitudes 
 and discouragements, followed Him and gave of 
 themselves unstintingly to the establishment 
 and maintenance of this church, whose One 
 Hundredth Anniversary we commemorate — this 
 booklet is gratefully and reverently dedicated. 
 
 1848 — 1948 
 
The Pastors 
 
 The Reverend George J. Curran 
 
 The Reverend Luther H. Cooperrider 
 
 Two 
 
The Church 
 
 Where Worship and Fellowship are Combined in the 
 Making of Christian Character 
 
 Three 
 
The Message 
 
 GOD. "In the beginning God created the 
 heavens and the earth." This is the first 
 statement of the Bible and the basic 
 teaching of its message. It is approved 
 by a thorough study of the natural or- 
 der; it is affirmed by great scientists; 
 and the intuitive thoughts of man some- 
 how ever return to it. It is the attesta- 
 tion of faith that God not only created 
 man, but that He calls man by His Gos- 
 pel, enlightens him by His gifts, sancti- 
 fies and preserves him in true faith. 
 
 THE BIBLE. It is the inspired Word of 
 God. For in the Scriptures "holy men 
 of God spake as they were moved by the 
 Holy Spirit." The Bible is our text book 
 for Christian faith and life. In it we 
 find the truth about God, His plan of 
 salvation, and the Christian way of life 
 The thought of the accompanying great 
 hymn is one example of the influence 
 of God's Word in man's life. The church 
 becomes the bearer of its wisdom, its 
 truth and its light, that these may be 
 central in our lives. 
 
 SIN. Although God has created man in 
 His own spiritual likeness, He endowed 
 him with freedom of will and choice. 
 But man has not lived up to God's will 
 and way. "All have sinned and come 
 short of the Glory of God." This sin 
 is the source of our world's sorrow. It 
 causes trouble among men, and by 
 reason of it each human soul, in his 
 natural state, is lost. 
 
 SALVATION THROUGH CHRIST. God 
 does not forsake man, even though man 
 sometimes forgets God. "God so loved 
 the world, that He gave His only begot- 
 ten Son that whosoever believeth in 
 Him might not perish but have ever- 
 lasting life." God removes us from sin 
 by His Grace, bestowed upon us through 
 Christ. By repentance of sin and by 
 faith in Christ our Saviour, each scul 
 may come to the saving knowledge of 
 our Lord Jesus and be made a new man 
 in Him. 
 
 THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. At birth we 
 were born according to the flesh. At 
 baptism we are "born of the water and 
 of the spirit" for our "growth in grace," 
 our "strengthening in faith," our "pa- 
 tience in suffering" and for the "blessed 
 
 O Word of God Incarnate 
 
 O Wisdom from on high, 
 
 O Truth unchanged, unchanging , 
 
 O Light of our dark sky! 
 
 We praise Thee for the radiance 
 
 That from the hallowed page, 
 
 A lantern to our foot-steps, 
 
 Shines on from age to age. 
 
 hope of everlasting life." Growth in the 
 Christian life comes through the study 
 of God's Word, evidenced not so much 
 by what we learn as by what we be- 
 come. Faith is strengthened by fellow- 
 ship with God in prayer, worship and 
 Holy Communion. Patience in suffer- 
 ing is a mark of Christian service, for we 
 learn from Christ it matters not so much 
 what happens to us as what we do about 
 it. Through God's Word and a living 
 faith we feel the presence of the Divine 
 Spirit which gives us strength to over- 
 come the hindrances confronting us in 
 an imperfect world. Through active 
 faith in the Saviour, who is the "Resur- 
 rection and the Life," the Christian has 
 the assurance that death is not the end, 
 but for him it shall be the fulfilment of 
 an eternal fellowship with God. 
 
 THE CHURCH. The physical evidence of 
 the fellowship of God's presence with 
 man is the church. It is the "ecclesia" 
 or gathering together of believers and 
 our hopes are strengthened by the 
 knowledge that through faith we are 
 united with all who believe in Christ or 
 have believed. We join ourselves to- 
 g3ther not only to receive but also to 
 serve in advancing the kingdom of Gcd's 
 love. Jesus centers his teaching around 
 "the kingdom of God." Twice, in Mat- 
 thew 16:18 and 18:17, Christ speaks cf 
 the church, and very definitely, as the 
 fellowship and organization through 
 which the Kingdom of Gcd can be estab- 
 lished in men's hearts and actions. 
 Through the Church, the Means of 
 Grace — the Word of God and the Sacra- 
 ments — have been brought to each gen- 
 eration. 
 
 THE WORLD. In the field of the world 
 we are to sow the seed of God's truth 
 that it may influence the lives of men 
 as "leaven" to help men live on a true 
 and wholesome level of human conduct. 
 Through the great missionary program 
 of the church, the Command of Christ is 
 carried out, "to go into all the world 
 and make disciples of all men." In a 
 world confused by doubt, darkened by 
 sin and despair, we are to let our lights 
 so shine that others may see and glorify 
 God. That the world may have light, 
 and love, and peace, "Brighten the cor- 
 ner where you are." 
 
 Four 
 
The Church In History 
 
 The Church from Thee, her Master, 
 Received the gift divine, 
 And still that light she lifteth 
 O'er all the earth to shine. 
 It is the golden casket 
 Where gems of truth are stored; 
 It is the heaven-drawn picture 
 Of Thee, the Incarnate Word. 
 
 Five 
 
The Lutheran Church 
 
 The history of the Christian Church is 
 a pertinent story of God's people on earth. 
 It had its humble beginning in the chosen 
 twelve and these other early followers who 
 listened to the teaching of the Galilean, of 
 whom it was said "Never man spake like 
 this man ... He speaketh as one having 
 authority and not as the scribes . . . Truly 
 this is the Son of God." 
 
 We find the background of the Church 
 in the Old Testament scriptures. We point 
 to the Day of Pentecost as the time of its 
 organized beginning. From Jerusalem it 
 spread across the Roman Empire and into 
 Europe. In spite of persecution it spread 
 its influence into the western hemisphere 
 and almost all the world. It carried the 
 lights of learning through the Dark Ages 
 into the Renaissance. When abuses and 
 evils crept into its life, the Reformation 
 movement restored its true teachings and 
 practice.. 
 Lutheran Church Forrr.ed in Reformation 
 
 "Pro-testus" is the Latin expression "for 
 truth." In the 16th century, those who 
 sought to correct the abuses of the Roman 
 Church and to reestablish true worship, 
 were given the name Protestant. They pre- 
 tested against error and "for truth." 
 
 In 1517, Martin Luther, a monk and 
 teacher in the University of Wittenberg. 
 Germany, posted his Ninety-five Theses 
 protesting against unscriptural practices of 
 the Church. In the conflicts which fol- 
 lowed, Luther presented the Lutheran Re- 
 formation principles of Justification by 
 Faith, the Sole Authority of the Scriptures, 
 and Freedom of the Christian Conscience 
 
 Luther's Large and Small Catechisms 
 of 1529, and the Augsburg Confession, 
 signed in 1530, became the best known and 
 accepted doctrinal statements of the Luth- 
 eran Church. As the movement spread, the 
 political and ecclesiastical power of the 
 Church and the Holy Roman Empire were 
 broken. Followers of Luther became known 
 as Lutherans, and the Lutheran Church 
 spread through Central and Northern Ger- 
 many, and the Scandinavian countries. 
 
 Lutheran Immigrants Come to America 
 
 When the immigrants from these coun- 
 tries came to America, many brought the 
 
 Lutheran faith with them. The first Luth- 
 erans to come were the Swedes who came 
 to what is now Delaware, in 1619, one year 
 before the Pilgrims. During the next cen- 
 tury Lutherans came to the Colonies, and 
 especially to Pennsylvania. Henry Mel- 
 chior Muhlenberg, a Lutheran pastor sent 
 from Germany in 1742, took the leadership 
 in ministering to these Lutheran pioneers, 
 and in 1748 at Philadelphia, he organized 
 the first Lutheran Synod in America, known 
 as the Ministerium of Pennsylvania. The 
 motto of this energetic father of American 
 Lutheranism was "Ecclesia Plantanda" — 
 "The Church Must Be Planted." Other 
 Lutheran groups were formed, most of 
 which were united into the General Synod 
 about 1821. Later the General Council and 
 the United Synod South were organized. 
 
 United Lutheran Church Organized 
 
 Lutheran immigrants continued to come 
 to America and the church grew and moved 
 westward. In 1918 these three groups 
 merged and founded the United Lutheran 
 Church in America, the largest Lutheran 
 body in the United States and Canada. 
 Other immigrants from the Scandinavian 
 countries were settling in the central and 
 north-central states. They worshipped in 
 their mother tongue, and set up their own 
 church organizations, thus establishing the 
 Norwegian, Danish, Augustana, or Swedish, 
 and Finnish churches. German immi- 
 grants coming to western New York, Ohio 
 and Iowa also organized Synods, which in 
 1928 formed the American Lutheran 
 Church. German immigrants coming to 
 Missouri and some other mid-western states 
 formed the Missouri Synod. 
 
 Lutheran Foreign Missions 
 
 The father of our Foreign Mission work 
 was Dr. Christian Frederick Heyer, who 
 was sent by the Ministerium of Pennsylva- 
 nia to India in 1841 to establish the first 
 Lutheran Mission there. Our Church new 
 does mission work in six foreign fields 
 through the devoted labors of 71 ordained 
 missionaries, 77 unordained missionaries, 
 (not counting wives of missionaries) and 
 over 4,000 native workers. The Lutheran 
 Church in the United States is the third 
 largest Protestant denomination in Amer- 
 ica, while it is the largest Protestant Church 
 in the world. 
 
The First Lutheran Church in Dixon 
 
 In the spring of 1828, a French Indian 
 half-breed and interpreter settled here, 
 erected a cabin en the bank of the river, 
 and established the first ferry without mo- 
 lestation from the Indians. Ogee's wife was 
 a Pcttawattcmie and his relations and cus- 
 toms were allied with these people, so he 
 was permitted to abide in peace and con- 
 duct his ferry. John Dixon had induced 
 Ogee to build this ferry to accommodate 
 the United States mail, which he was car- 
 rying from Pecria to Galena. In April of 
 1830. Mr. Dixon bought the ferry and moved 
 his family here. The city which soon be- 
 gan to develop took his name. Mr. Dixon 
 was regarded as the "redman's friend." 
 They called him "Na-chusa," a contraction 
 of Nadah-Churah-sah — ( head-hair- white ) . 
 Industries, business establishments, social 
 life and religious life became a part of the 
 still sparsely settled community. 
 
 Congregation Organized 
 
 On August 20, 1848, sixteen persons, 
 gathered for worship in a barn belonging to 
 John N. Burket, east of Dixon, formally 
 ^rgam'z^d a congregation to be known as 
 the First Evangelical Lutheran Congrega- 
 tion of Lee County, Illinois. The original 
 minutes of that organization began: "Pur- 
 suant to previous notice, a meeting was 
 hfiM after preaching on the 20th of August, 
 1848, in the barn of John N. Burket for 
 tlvj purpose of organizing a congregation." 
 
 The Reverend Jacob N. Burket. who 
 was the minister, presented the constitu- 
 tion which the congregation adopted. This 
 constitution provided for the election of 
 a council to be composed of the pastor, two 
 elders and four deacons, and endowed the 
 council with power to appoint a secretary 
 and treasurer for the church. The formula 
 for the government and discipline of the 
 Evangelical Lutheran Church published by 
 the General Synod was adopted, insofar as 
 it did not conflict with the congregation's 
 constitution. 
 
 The Reverend J.. L. Stroh, Ogle counts 
 Illinois, who was an important personage 
 in the organization, also had held preach- 
 ing services with this congregation, and 
 after the church's formation, assisted in 
 the serving of the Lord's Supper. 
 
 Records of the communicants in the 
 first years of the church's organization 
 were kept. On October 28, 1848, the names 
 were recorded of eleven members, and five 
 members from other Lutheran congrega- 
 tions who received the Lord's Supper. 
 
 The edifice which served as a place of 
 worship was a barn, medium-sized, forty 
 by sixty feet, with oak frame, hand-hewn, 
 and pine siding hauled from Chicago, the 
 nearest market. 
 
 In 1849 Reverend Burket reported to 
 Synod two churches, eighty communicants 
 
 Rev. Jacob Neff Burket 
 
 and four Sunday Schools. Oregon, as well 
 ps other points were served by him. He 
 preached his farewell sermon for the Dixon 
 congregation on August 25, 1850. 
 
 The membership of the congregation 
 had grown, and the need for a Sunday 
 School organization was apparent. With 
 William Young as superintendent, the first 
 Sunday School for the First Evangelical 
 Lutheran Congregation of Lee County was 
 started. 
 
 The Gravel Schoolhouse, a small build- 
 ing en the Burket farm, a quarter-mile 
 from their home, became the next meeting 
 place for the Lutheran congregation. The 
 schoolhouse, made of large stones and 
 gravel, plastered over on the outside, had 
 small windows and was furnished with 
 unfinished, unpainted pine benches, each of 
 which would seat a dozen children. 
 
 The Reverend Ephraim Miller. DD.. serv- 
 ed as pastor from May 4, 1851, to April 18, 
 1852. Reverend Miller had come to Illi- 
 nois from Pennsylvania in 1841, began con- 
 ducting the Hillsboro Academy in 1843, 
 and had done much missionary work be- 
 fore coming to Dixon. 
 
 The Reverend Charles Young served as 
 pastor at the Gravel Schoolhouse from May 
 9, 1852, until August 12, 1853. Once in four 
 weeks the services were conducted in Ger- 
 man. Sunday school services, however, were 
 always in English. Reverend Young with 
 
 Seven 
 
his family and relatives had traveled in 
 wagons to Illinois from the East. 
 
 Name Changed 
 
 The name of the congregation was offi- 
 cially changed by the adoption of resolu- 
 tions m a meeting on November 12, 1853, 
 to "St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church 
 of Leo County and State of Illinois." Other 
 resolutions made the elders, deacons and 
 presiding pastor the trustees of the congre- 
 gation and authorized the recording of the 
 organization in the recorder's office at 
 Dixon. 
 
 The German portion of the congrega- 
 tion on this same day, withdrew to organize 
 its own church, and called Reverend Charles 
 Young, their former pastor, for their minis- 
 ter. This separation lasted until about 
 1870. 
 
 The names of the English members 
 were recorded anew on December 26, 1853, 
 with William Uhl, pastor, as name 101 on 
 the list. Reverend "Uhl, whose untiring ef- 
 forts had much to do with the building of 
 the First Church, was pastor from 1853 
 to 1855. 
 
 First Building 
 
 The "First Church," which was begun 
 during the summer of 1854 and dedicated 
 on September 31, 1855, was a brick struc- 
 ture built on the west side of Crawford 
 Avenue, at a cost of $4,u00. The expense 
 was so low because the pastor did much 
 of the work himself. 
 
 The parsonage was erected the follow- 
 ing year at the corner of Fourth Street, 
 just south of the church. The church was 
 a plain building of red brick with four win- 
 dows on each side and two on each end. It 
 had a steeple and bell. The main entrance 
 was reached by a long flight of wooden 
 steps. The basement floor, in three rooms, 
 was on the ground level. 
 
 Preaching and Sunday School services 
 were held in the room upstairs, reached 
 from the entrance through a narrow vesti- 
 bule with two doors, one leading to each 
 aisle. The pews were square, pine seats 
 painted white. 
 
 The walls were plain white plaster, with 
 lamps attached at sides of the room. 
 The chancel was at the west end of the 
 church. The high pulpit, with a lamp on 
 either side, almost hid the minister when 
 he was seated behind it. The room was 
 heated with two wood stoves. 
 
 There was a small organ — a rarity in 
 those days — and a choir of at least four, 
 who used the seats south of the chancel on 
 the balcony in the rear of the room above 
 the entrance. They had hymn books with 
 words only, and other books with the 
 tunes. The music, it is said, helped the 
 church attendance. 
 
 The Reverend Harbaugh was the first 
 pastor in the new church, serving from 
 July 29, 1855, until July 27, 1856. 
 
 Reverend William Uhl returned as pas- 
 tor in September, 1856. The Northern 
 Illinois Synod held its Sixth Annual Con- 
 
 Church in 1898 
 
 vention in the new church on October 8, 
 1856. The president, S. W. Harkey, in his 
 report, spoke in appreciation of St. Paul's 
 pastor and the "neat brick edifice." Rev- 
 erend Uhl's second pastorate closed in 
 1858, but he returned to live in Dixon in 
 1860, when he gave freely of his time and 
 means in church work at St. Paul's and 
 elsewhere. 
 
 The membership of St. Paul's increased 
 to 152 during the pastorate of the Rev- 
 erend John L. Guard, from 1858 to 1861. 
 He had four preaching stations in 1858. 
 There was a "blessed season of grace" dur- 
 ing the winter of 1858-1859, with baptisms 
 and confirmations recorded in '60 and '61. 
 Reverend Guard preached occasionally in 
 the first house of worship built by St. 
 John's in Sterling — "the little white church 
 in the locust grove," then beyond the city 
 limits. 
 
 The years of 1862 and 1865 formed -an 
 anxious period for the church, and the 
 records of the church during that time 
 are few. The Reverend J. R. Keiser served 
 as pastor during these difficult years. 
 Many young men who were to be earthly 
 guides of the church were at the front in 
 the war and a large number of old leaders 
 had also gone, some never to return. One 
 of the latter was William Young, the first 
 superintendent of the Sunday School. He 
 was wounded in the war and died in a 
 hospital in Washington before its close. 
 
 The increasing congregation, after the 
 Civil War, found the old First Church in- 
 adequate and the site unsatisfactory. At 
 a meeting March 1, 1867, William Uhl 
 offered a resolution that a committee be 
 appointed to secure subscriptions and get 
 plans for a new church and sell the old 
 building. The next January, Dr. Paine's 
 lot on the corner of Second and Hennepin 
 was purchased as a site for the new 
 church. The old building was torn down 
 in 1879. The congregation met in the 
 
 Eight 
 
Court House after their old home was sold 
 until the new church was ready for use. 
 
 As built in 1868, the present church 
 was a neat brick structure, 42 by 80 feet, 
 two stories high, with the auditorium 
 above as now. It cost $14,664.81. The 
 church was dedicated February 14, 1869. 
 Reverend G. A. Bowers, of Hillsboro, 
 preached the dedicatory sermon. 
 
 The Reverend Abraham A. Trimper was 
 pastor of St. Paul's during the building 
 of the church, from 1865 to 1870. The 
 Northern Illinois Synod held its annual 
 convention of 1869 in the new church. 
 "Father Trimper" resigned the Dixon pas- 
 torate to visit churches in the interest of 
 the new college at Carthage. 
 
 In 1870 the English and German con- 
 gregations reunited after having separate 
 organizations for sixteen years. A revised 
 constitution was adopted by the congrega- 
 tion April 7, 1872. A. C. Specht became 
 secretary of the Church Council May 4, 
 18 (6, and was one of its officers until 
 Unristmas, 1886. 
 
 In 1874 Dr. O. B. Blackman became 
 superintendent of the Sunday School and 
 was a leader in the church for over thirty- 
 six years. During the fall of 1874, gas 
 lamps were installed in the church, re- 
 placing the old side oil lamps, and the 
 Sunday School benches were exchanged 
 for chairs. The first Synod Sunday School 
 Convention was held in Dixon December 
 7-9, 1875. The twenty-eighth Annual Con- 
 vention of the Northern Illinois Synod 
 and the first session of the Woman's Mis- 
 sionary Society were held in Dixon Sep- 
 tember 12, 1878. From 1878 to 1885 
 steady growth of both church and Sunday 
 School was made, as well as improvement 
 in congregational and Sunday School sing- 
 ing, under Rev. L. L. Lipe, a good song 
 leader. Miss Mary Fleck, who taught the 
 youngest children in Sunday School for 
 over twenty years, resigned in 1886. She 
 died in 1892. 
 
 A Sunday School Institute held by the 
 Synod July 17-18, 1887, at Governor Char- 
 ters' place, north of Dixon, became the 
 Rock River Assembly. The Northern Il- 
 linois Synod held its fortieth Annual Con- 
 vention at Dixon in 1890. 
 
 Anniversary services were held Novem- 
 ber 12, 1893, celebrating twenty-five years 
 in the present church building, and forty- 
 five of church organization. Seventy new 
 members were added to the church in 1894, 
 the largest number ever received in any 
 one year up to that time. June 2, 1895, 
 Pastor Ruthrauff resigned, having been 
 elected President of Carthage College. 
 Turn of the Century 
 
 At the turn of the century, in 1898, the 
 Golden Jubilee was celebrated. Three of 
 the former pastors participated in the cele- 
 bration. They were Rev. S. S. Waltz, D.D., 
 Rev. L. L. Lipe, and Rev. J. M. Ruthrauff, 
 D.D. 
 
 As a part of the celebration, the church 
 
 Rev. Carl B. Caughman 
 
 building was renovated. On the east the 
 addition, 25 by 40 feet and two stories high, 
 provided additional space for Sunday School 
 and other church activities. Another wing 
 constructed on the west, provided space for 
 the organ and choir. The space below was 
 to be used for the Sunday School library 
 and a class room. Dr. Blackman had 
 started the first library. In the auditorium, 
 stained glass windows replaced the plain 
 glass. All of them were memorials. The 
 pipe organ was installed at this time and 
 the interior decorated. All of this cost 
 approximately $7000. 
 
 Rev. Thomas F. Dornblaser, D.D., was 
 pastor from 1895 to 1903. He is remem- 
 bered for his learned views on many sub- 
 jects and his tours of the Holy Land and 
 European countries. He was succeeded by 
 Rev. W. L. Rutherford, whose ministry was 
 also a very active and aggressive one. His 
 sincerity is indicated in yearly letters to 
 the congregation. Quote "For proper ad- 
 vancement, prestige and power in the work 
 of the church, we must have improvement 
 in every line according to ability. The 
 beauty of the Lord's house should proclaim 
 as a silent witness the honor and glory of 
 God. A growing church is an advancing 
 church." 
 
 The progress of the church was marked 
 by an ever increasing attendance and mem- 
 bership. In 1898 there were 462 members. 
 In 1904 the church joined with other Dixon 
 churches to sponsor a revival meeting un- 
 der the direction of Evangelist William A. 
 Sunday, a fiery-tongued orator and leader 
 
 Nine 
 
in the Held of evangelism. The records 
 3ay that 176 members were received into 
 St. Paul's church that year, bringing the 
 ■moiled membership to 626, of whom over 
 500 were regular communicants. This was 
 the most ever received in one year. An- 
 other banner year of that period was 1906 
 when ~>1 members were received. In 1905 
 the Local expense amounted to $2963.47. It 
 is interesting to compare this amount with 
 that of today. In this year the first teach- 
 er-training class was graduated at the 
 Assembly Auditorium. The Young Ladies 
 Missionary Society was organized this 
 same year with five charter members. It 
 is interesting to read that in 1907 the Coun- 
 cil was instructed to purchase 15 tons of 
 coal, at $3.75 a ton. The duplex envelope 
 system of giving was started in 1907. In 
 this same year needed repairs were made 
 to the parsonage and church, amounting 
 to $1466.21. Five years later hardwood 
 floors were laid in the auditorium. Soon 
 after this the pipe organ was rebuilt at a 
 cost of $1150, and on February 14, 1914, 
 a recital was given. 
 
 In October, 1908, St. Paul's Church was 
 host to the Synod of Northern Illinois. The 
 following year the 16th Biennial Conven- 
 tion of the Woman's Home and Foreign Mis- 
 sionary Society of the General Synod met 
 in Dixon to celebrate its 30th anniversary. 
 
 Rev. F. D. Altman, D.D., served as pas- 
 tor from 1910-1919. He was recognized as 
 a scholar and his advancing ideals will long 
 be remembered. It was said "His work 
 was a blessing in spiritual things and a 
 great help in things material." 
 
 In 1917 building improvements were 
 again needed. The outside of the building 
 was given a coat of stucco, and the interior 
 was redecorated and an indirect lighting 
 system was installed. All of this was ac- 
 complished for a total cost of $5839.42. It 
 is very interesting to note that in all the 
 programs of renovation, the congregation 
 did not have to go into debt. The people 
 gave generously, not only of their money, 
 but of their time, energy and talents 
 
 During the third quarter of a century, 
 several names stand out. In the records 
 we find that Mrs. A. J. Kay and Miss So- 
 phia Andres were elected as the first dea- 
 concesses. Miss Nellie Moyer was the first 
 organist. Mrs. W. E. White's name appears 
 as the originator of the Cradle Roll in 1907. 
 In 1910, 96 names were on the Cradle Roll. 
 Mr. Theodore Moeller's name as Elder 
 Emeritus is also found in these records. For 
 thirty years Mr. C. Gonnerman acted as 
 treasurer of the church, retiring from this 
 office in December, 1915. The next year 
 Samuel Hoon completed 26 years as secre- 
 tary of the Sunday School. 
 
 The death of Dr. Orville Blackman in 
 1910 and that of Dr. A. L. Miller in 1911 
 saddened the people of Dixon. Dr. Black- 
 man had been a member of the council and 
 an active worker in the church and school 
 from 1873. Dr. Miller was an elder in the 
 council, a director of Carthage College and 
 
 Rev. Lloyd W. Walter 
 
 the Rock River Assembly, and treasurer of 
 the Nachusa Children's Home. In this pe- 
 riod many other members were responsible 
 for building and establishing our fine and 
 effective congregation. 
 
 Upon the resignation of Dr. Altman in 
 1919, the congregation called Rev. Lloyd W. 
 Walter. The reception for the new min- 
 ister was held in January, 1920. 
 
 Thus the third quarter of a century 
 drew to a close. The people of the church 
 left the fruits of their labors to posterity. 
 They had built their church upon a Rock. 
 With the help of God it had endured for 75 
 years. 
 
 Like the fabled character of old who 
 couldn't see the woods for the trees, so we 
 are apt to think little progress has been 
 achieved during the past twenty-five years; 
 it is too close for clear perception. That it 
 has been made is fully established by the 
 remarks often heard from older members 
 of the church. "Really there are so many 
 new faces in church, I hardly feel at home," 
 or "I used to know everyone on a Sunday 
 morning, and now I scarcely know the half 
 Df them." This bespeaks growth. We are 
 not condoning an ignorance of our fellow 
 church-members but we do say our church 
 is growing. The figures substantiate this 
 conclusion. In 1923 there were 891 Bap- 
 tized members, 688 Confirmed members 
 and 556 Communing members. In 1948 
 there were 1591 Baptized members, 1216 
 Confirmed members and 863 Communing 
 members. A glance at the history is re- 
 
 Ten 
 
vealh.^; not only is it a record of achieve- 
 ment, but it gives us warnings in points 
 where we have drifted with the tide and 
 not realized that we were losing ground. 
 
 The year 1923 was a notable one. We 
 read that the history of St. Paul's Church 
 was first put in permanent form; the Jun- 
 ior Department of the Bible School was or- 
 ganized, with Miss Eleanor Powell, super- 
 intendent; a Teachers' Training class of 
 ten was graduated; forty children were 
 promoted from Junior to Intermediate 
 Dept., and the school roll of Oct. 1, 1923, 
 was 430. The largest attendance during 
 the year was Nov. 18th, called Jubilee Sun- 
 day, when the record shows 384. It is 
 amusing to read that a telephone was to 
 be installed. It has become so much a 
 part of our church life, we don't remember 
 the time when it wasn't there. The big 
 event of the year was the Diamond Anni- 
 versary, with its celebrating programs. In 
 this year the Altar, Lectern and Lectern 
 Bible were given in memory of Anna M. 
 Walter. 
 
 In 1924 another innovation appeared, 
 the sand table for the Primary Dept. Rev. 
 L. W. Walter attended the World Sunday 
 School Convention and visited Palestine, 
 Kenneth Hurst supplying during his ab- 
 sence. At this time the church was sup- 
 porting Rev. Carl B. Caughman in India. 
 For their promotion project, the Junior 
 Dept. in 1925 gave an elaborate pageant 
 entitled, "The Summer Christmas Tree," 
 and realized through the offering taken at 
 this performance $110.00, all of which was 
 sent to Rev. Caughman together with 43 
 lbs. of clothing and 100 lead pencils for use 
 as gifts at the Christmas celebration in 
 India. 
 
 In 1926 another pageant was given and 
 the offering of $44.00 was sent to Rev. 
 Caughman. A class of 12 was graduated 
 in Teachers' Training. Mrs. Louisa Powell, 
 a Sunday School teacher for over 50 years, 
 and a deaconess in St. Paul's Church for 
 over 28 years passed away May 26th. 
 
 Two new pianos mark the year of 1927, 
 one the gift of Mrs. Ellen Nosworthy to the 
 Bible School; the other, the gift to our 
 church from the Zion Lutherans, at the dis- 
 solution of their congregation. 
 
 In 1928 gold pins were given to 62 mem- 
 bers of the Bible School for meritorious 
 attendance, and the choir appeared in 
 robes. 
 
 In 1929 Mrs. Maud Chiverton presented 
 the congregation with five sets of beauti- 
 ful paraments, the exquisite embroidery be- 
 ing some of her own art. The gift was a 
 memorial to her parents, Mr. and Mrs. 
 George Bruner, faithful members of St. 
 Paul's. 
 
 100% Family Sunday was observed in 
 1930 and we read that the prize went to 
 the Charles Helfrich family who had eight 
 present. 
 
 In 1931 the Bible School purchased 50 
 folding steel chairs for its own use and 200 
 
 Common Service Books for use in the 
 church. On Oct. 4th the Intermediate De- 
 partment was organized with Mrs. Alice 
 Hoban, Supt. On Nov. 17th the 84th birth- 
 day of O. L. Clymer was observed and Mr. 
 Clymer was presented with a beautiful 
 Bible. Nov. 26th brought the passing of 
 Mrs. Mary L. Kay, organizer and teacher 
 of the Sunshine Class for 40 years. 
 
 The first reunion of Confirmands was 
 held on Palm Sunday, 1932. 
 
 1934 was an eventful year with a fare- 
 well for the Harvey Currens family, going 
 out as missionaries to Liberia, Africa; the 
 first Mother and Daughter Banquet held on 
 May 8th and sponsored by Congress 16 Mis- 
 sionary Society; also the first Home Com- 
 ing at Nachusa, an event in which St. 
 Paul's took a most active part, and which 
 was attended by over 4000 people. 
 
 Sept. 27th Mr. Owen Clymer passed 
 away, with a record of over 60 years as a 
 teacher and officer in Sunday School, many 
 of which were spent in St. Paul's. Mr. 
 Clymer was also a Councilman of long 
 standing. 
 
 In 1935 the State Missionary Congress 
 was entertained in Dixon. On August 31, 
 1935, Mrs. Mary Trein passed away, after 
 a life-time of faithful service in St. Paul's 
 church. In her will she had provided for 
 a gift of $1000 as a start toward a fund for 
 chimes to become part of a new organ. 
 Her family memorialized her in 1938 with 
 a gift to the church of the Altar Candle- 
 sticks and Offering Plates. 
 
 Repairs and improvements predominate 
 the records of 1936. The orchestra plat- 
 form was built; a new roof, costing over 
 $1200.00 was put on the church, and a 
 blower system furnace installed at a cost 
 cf over $2000.00. 
 
 St. Paul's News, a monthly synopsis of 
 church items made its appearance in 1937. 
 The new kitchen and Beginners' rooms were 
 built in 1937 and the Bible School rooms 
 were painted. 
 
 Decoration of the church auditorium 
 was carried over into 1938 and several me- 
 morials were given, all of which were for- 
 mally dedicated in 1939. These included the 
 Altar Cross, in memory of Stanley Hansen, 
 by his parents, the F. A. Hansons; the Altar 
 Missile Stand, in memory of Sarah E. Win- 
 ters, by her husband; the Baptismal Font, 
 in memory of Charles, Ida and Mary Ruef, 
 by John Ruef and the Candlesticks and 
 Offering Plates mentioned above. Mrs. H. 
 L. Wadsworth's Sunday School class pre- 
 sented the Altar Flower Vases at this same 
 time. Dr. Franklin L. Gruber, then Presi- 
 dent of Maywood Seminary, was the speak- 
 er at this dedicatory service. 
 
 1941 brought an unusual event, the cele- 
 bration of his 100th birthday by Dr. T. F. 
 Dornblaser. Flowers and felicitations were 
 sent to this former pastor who was mak- 
 ing his home with his daughter in Chicago. 
 The end of this year brought the war 
 
 Eleven 
 
clouds and the first of our men were off 
 to camp, a total of 172 going from our 
 church into the service, 139 of whom were 
 actual members, and 9 of whom made the 
 supreme sacrifice. 
 
 In 1942 the two beautiful framed flags 
 and the electric clock we now enjoy in the 
 Sunday School were given. 
 
 Mrs. H. L. Wadsworth's class gave the 
 large service flag to the church in 1943, 
 and Mr. Wiekey's class furnished Bibles 
 for each recruit as he left. A new kitchen 
 was built at the parsonage, costing $2137. 
 
 1944 brought many losses by death. 
 Among them was that of Miss Anna L. 
 Geisenheimer, long active and g3nerous 
 to St. Paul's. Her will left $5000 to the 
 church, $10,000 to the Nachusa Home, and 
 $500 each to the Aid Society and the Mis- 
 sionary Society. On September 10th, Dr. 
 L. W. Walter passed away after having 
 served this congregation since December 
 1, 1919. He was memorialized by the 
 church through a contribution of $2565 to 
 the new Men's Dormitory at Carthage Col- 
 lege, where one room will be known as the 
 L. W. Walter Room. This is a fitting trib- 
 ute as Dr. Walter had been granted an hon- 
 orary doctorate from Carthage College in 
 recognition of his long service as Chairman 
 of the Student Aid Fund Committee of the 
 Illinois Synod. 
 
 On February 1, 1945, Rev. George J. 
 Curran began his pastorate here. One of 
 his first ministerial acts was to conduct 
 the funeral service for Mrs. Otto Beier, 
 another long-time faithful member of St. 
 Paul's, who died on February 18th. In 
 July of that year the congregation voted to 
 make plans for a new church building as 
 a Centennial objective for 1948. A building 
 committee was chosen and a campaign for 
 funds was launched in the fall. This has 
 now netted about $85,000 in cash, with ad- 
 ditional pledges totaling $106,000. Present 
 abnormal building conditions will delay for 
 some time the erecting of the new church. 
 Therefore it was decided by the congrega- 
 tion in July of 1948 to clean and redecorate 
 the old one. This was completed in time 
 for the Centennial Celebration in October. 
 
 In 1946 Walter E. White, Clarence 
 Wickey and John Martenson who retired 
 from the Church Council after having 
 served over 25 years, were elected Hon- 
 orary Councilmen. Mr. White was also 
 made Honorary Suporintendent of the Sun- 
 day School, having faithfully served as 
 Superintendent over 30 years. He was pre- 
 sented with a gift from the Sunday School. 
 
 Another councilman who served a long 
 term of service was Harry Moore, who was 
 called to his eternal reward the eve of the 
 annual congregational meeting, January 12, 
 1948. 
 
 In 1947 a 16mm sound-projector and 
 loud-speaker was presented to the church 
 by a group of 19 individuals. The Progres- 
 sive Class gave a film-slide projector and 
 the Christian Helpers Class gave a screen. 
 This Visual Aid equipment has provided en- 
 
 joyment and the means for modern in- 
 struction, especially in the young people's 
 department. During the Christmas season 
 a very attractive Manger Scene with life- 
 size figures was erected outside our church. 
 This flood-lighted scene and the amplified 
 Christmas music attracted much atten- 
 tion. 
 
 The year 1948 has brought anniversary 
 celebrations and activities in all lines. 
 Early in the year an Eastman movie cam- 
 era was given to the church by Mrs. James 
 Pankhurst, and was used for the first 
 time at the Father-Son Banquet in Febru- 
 ary, starting a Centennial film of impor- 
 tant events throughout the year. On May 
 9th the Junior Department held a special 
 service in the Bible School, in recognition 
 of their 25th anniversary as a department, 
 giving $50 to the New Building Fund. On 
 May 23rd the congregation celebrated the 
 20th anniversary of Pastor Curran's ordina- 
 tion, with a special service in the evening 
 at which time Dr. H. D. Hoover of Gettys- 
 burg Seminary, a former teacher of Pas- 
 tor Curran, was the speaker. Dr. Hoover 
 made a most impressive address which will 
 long be remembered by all who heard him. 
 We question, however, if the professor from 
 Gettysburg Seminary held as much inter- 
 est for the congregation as did a certain 
 young student from Maywood Seminary, 
 Luther Cooperrider. Everyone except the 
 Curran family knew what Mr. Cooperrid- 
 er's part was to be and it was this that was 
 so interesting, for he was presenting to 
 Pastor Curran the congregation's surprise 
 gift of a fine new Chevrolet, waiting on the 
 front lawn of the church for inspection. 
 Another gift to the church was made in 
 June when the Christian Helpers Class pre- 
 sented a new vacuum cleaner. 
 
 Early in 1948, little banks were given 
 to the Primary children. They were to 
 save their special offering until October 
 for the New Building Fund. On Septem- 
 ber 26th when the banks were returned, 
 they totaled $55. 
 
 A very important group in the congre- 
 gation is LOYAL (League of Young 
 Adult Lutherans). In the fall of 1945 when 
 the young men began to return from the 
 war, the young ladies of the Service Club 
 arranged a "welcome home" party. This 
 mixed group organized in January, 1946, 
 has steadily grown. LOYAL does 
 many fine things. They sponsor the Youth 
 Leagues, helping them in many ways. They 
 provide a parent-teacher tea each fall for 
 the High School League. They sponsor a 
 Christmas dinner and party each year for 
 the Nachusa Lutheran Home for Children. 
 This year they underwrote the making of 
 a Centennial Movie of important events in 
 the congregation. Officers are: Geo. Wey- 
 ant, President; Erda Glessner, Vice Presi- 
 dent; Irene Hubbard, Secretary; Gerald 
 Emmert, Treasurer. Meetings are the first 
 Wednesdays at 8 p. m. Martin Tayman 
 was the first president and Ed Cornils was 
 the second. 
 
 Twelve 
 
LOYAL 
 
 On June 13th, 1948, Rev. Luther Cooper- 
 rider married Miss Lois Rosbrook, of St. 
 Paul's, Dixon, and in July, 1948, Rev. Cocp- 
 errider became pastor of St. Paul's, Na- 
 chusa, and part time youth pastor at Dixon, 
 giving two days a week to the Dixon work. 
 
 The Children of the Church, ages 6 to 
 12, our week day Christian Education 
 group, meets Wednesday afternoons at 3 :45. 
 Leaders this year are: Mrs. Lyle Wade, 
 chairman; Mrs. Rodney Breunlin, Mrs. 
 Harry Wade, Mrs. Robert Anderson, Mrs. 
 George Baker, and Mrs. Vernon Swan. 
 Last year's chairman was Miss Carol 
 Schroer and Mrs. Wm. Wickey the year 
 before. 
 
 During the summers of 1938 and 1939 
 two young men, William Kmet and Richard 
 Jobman served as student pastors of St. 
 Paul's, as did Rev. Cooperrider in the sum- 
 mer in 1947. Rev. Kmet is now pastor of 
 Good Shepherd, Oak Park, and Rev. Job- 
 man is pastor of Havelock Lutheran 
 Church, Lincoln, Nebraska. 
 
 The actual date of the congregation's 
 Centennial was observed on August 20th 
 
 with a full page of pictures and a resume 
 of the history and activities in the Dixon 
 Evening Telegraph, and a special anniver- 
 sary sermon by Pastor Curran on August 
 22nd. The program of the final activities 
 of the celebration of this Centennial, which 
 will occupy most of the month of October, 
 will be found elsewhere in this booklet. One 
 of the outstanding events will be the his- 
 torical pageant, prepared and directed by 
 Miss Hazel Hecker, with the cooperation 
 of many faithful members of St. Paul's. 
 
 We have climbed the hill of history but 
 it has been a useless expenditure of effort 
 unless we look ahead to the promised land. 
 The past is largely the product of godly 
 ancestors, whose fidelity and earnestness 
 have built and preserved what should mean 
 so much to us. The future is in our hands. 
 Will those who scan the chronicles of the 
 next one hundred years be moved by our 
 sacrifices and devotion? Nay, more than 
 this, — will the Master say "Well done," as 
 He reviews the records ? Can He say, "good 
 and faithful servant" to each one of us? 
 
 Children of the Church 
 
 Thirteen 
 
Our Church Today 
 
 It floateth like a banner 
 
 Before God's host unfurled; 
 
 It shineth like a beacon 
 
 Above the darkened world; 
 
 It is the chart and compass 
 
 That o'er life's surging sea, 
 
 Mid mists and rocks and quicksands, 
 
 Still guides, O Christ, to Thee. 
 
 Fourteen 
 
The Congregation 
 
 The congregation of St. Paul's consists 
 of confirmed members of which there are 
 1216. There are 863 communing members 
 who have communed at least once during 
 the year, most of whom constitute the ac- 
 tive membership. The governing body con- 
 sists of the pastor and 15 deacons, elected 
 by the congregation at the annual meeting. 
 The deacon's term of office is three years 
 and five are elected each year. The "model 
 constitution" is the governing law of the 
 church. The pastor and at least one lay 
 delegate represent the congregation at the 
 annual meeting of the Illinois Synod of the 
 United Lutheran Church. 
 
 Confession of faith and membership in 
 the Christian church are essential to spirit- 
 ual life and growth, and necessary for the 
 advancement of God's kingdom. Family 
 worship and personal devotion are encour- 
 aged continually. Every member is urged 
 to avail himself of the joy and blessing 
 derived from regular worship and the re- 
 ceiving of the Lord's supper. The work of 
 the church is financed by the regular con- 
 tributions of its members. We here desire 
 
 to give special mention to two groups oi 
 members : 
 
 John Burket 
 Mary Burket 
 John Moyer 
 Elizabeth Moyer 
 Philip Mowrer 
 Mary Mowrer 
 Catherine Grow 
 Nathan Hetler 
 
 CHARTER MEMBERS 
 
 Aug. 20, 1848 
 
 Catherine Hetler 
 Jacob Shoop 
 Catherine Shoop 
 Nancy Smice 
 Lydia Cortright 
 Catherine Parmer 
 Magdalene Klintik 
 Mary A. M. Burket 
 
 50 
 
 Alma J. Moeller 
 Bert Robinson 
 William Trein 
 Amelia Menton 
 Lillian Gonnerman 
 Retta Slothower 
 Mae Rasch 
 Maud Chiverton 
 Emma Schmidt 
 Lulu Slothower 
 Caroline Slothower 
 Jay W. Atkins 
 Carrie Hill 
 
 YEAR MEMBERS 
 
 October 1948 
 
 Olive R-'ffe^berger 
 Seavey Moeller 
 Annette Gonnerman 
 David Shank 
 Louise Meyers 
 Clara Woodyatt 
 Laura E. Long 
 Harry Stephan 
 Hannah Miller 
 Kate Ortgiesen 
 Francis M. Hughes 
 Minnie Unangst 
 Martha Gleim 
 
 The Church Council 
 
 Front row: Herbert Smith, William Lieving, Repair Fund Treas.; C. J. Johnson, Benevo'ence Treas.; Rev. 
 Geo. Curran, Geo. Weyant, Secretary; Harry Wade, Treas.; Charles Hallouist, Vice President; John Bohn- 
 stie". U~per row: Leon Mille", Kenneth Brerton, Kenneth G~o r s, Edgar Deets, Clyde Carson, Ivan 
 
 Wakely, Stewardship Chairman; William Wickey, Edward Fisher. 
 
 Harry A. Moore passed to his eternal reward January 12, 1948. 
 
 The Building Committee 
 
 In July, 1945, the congregation voted 
 to have the council make preparation for 
 the building of a new church and begin 
 raising funds. A Findings Committee, ear- 
 lier appointed, had conferred with archi- 
 tects who advised building rather than re- 
 modeling. F. N. Lundholm, Geo. Weyant, 
 John Bohnstiel and Shirley Wickey, in 
 addition to those named on the Building 
 Committee, comprised the Findings Com- 
 mittee. F. A. Hanson, the first chairman 
 and finance chairman, moved to Iowa and 
 was replaced by Wm. Wickey. Earl Au- 
 
 man moved to Freeport and was replaced 
 by Spencer Johnson. Arnold Lund resigned 
 because the nature of his work keeps him 
 out of town so much that he felt he could 
 not adequately serve. He was replaced by 
 Lillian Peterson. The present committee is : 
 Merton Memler, chairman; Wm. Wickey, 
 Raymond Schmidt, Alice Meppin, Mrs. Geo. 
 Christiansen, Lillian Peterson. C. J. John- 
 son. Herbert Smith. Spencer Johnson Erda 
 Glessner is treasurer and Violet McWethy 
 is financial secretary. This committee is 
 to carry on the program of raising funds 
 and making plans. 
 
The Sunday School 
 
 To teach the Word of God, and develop 
 Christian character is the work of the Bible 
 School, which is the great feeder for the 
 church. Teachers endeavor to instill a love 
 of God in the hearts of the children, to lead 
 
 those children to an acceptance of Jesus 
 Christ as their personal Saviour, to stimu- 
 late them to Christian standards of living 
 and finally to fit them for service in the 
 church and in life. 
 
 
 •», MB*- k 
 
 Miss 
 
 Shirley 
 Ferris 
 
 Beginners' Department 
 
 Wickey, superintendent. Teachers are Donna Dogwiler, Mary Ellen Rosbrook, Mrs. 
 Walker, Mrs. Ed Bollman, Mrs. Ted Hughes, Georgia Curran and Lois Rosbrook. 
 
 '■'■. 
 
 Primary Department 
 
 Mrs. Kenneth Gross is superintendent, succeeding Mrs. Harold Peterson. Teachers are: Mrs. 
 Geo. Weyant, Mrs. Kenneth Brierton, Mrs. Layton Ebersole, Mrs. Wm. Worley, Mrs. A. G. 
 Akerman, Miss Ruth Bollman, Miss Mane Moore. Assstants: Mrs. Dan Fritz, Mrs. Spencer 
 Johnson, Mrs. Merle Ciew, Mrs. Geo. Stiles, Mrs. Harold Scho'l and Goldie Grube. Miss Myrtle 
 
 Shaffer is department secretary. 
 
To give specialized training the School 
 is divided into the following departments: 
 Adult and Youth, Intermediate, Junior, Pri- 
 mary, Beginners, Nursery and Cradle Roll. 
 General officers are : Superintendent, Theo- 
 dore Hughes; Honorary Superintendent, 
 
 " 1 u 
 
 h 
 
 Walter White; Assistant Superintendent, 
 Spencer Johnson; Secretary, Mrs. Marian 
 Van Metre; Assistant Secretary, Miss Ger- 
 trude Cornils; Treasurer, August Hallquist; 
 Historian, Mrs, Bessie Schultz. 
 
 Junior Department 
 
 Miss Eleanor Powell is department superintendent. Teachers are: 
 Mrs. Charles Hank, Mrs. George Kieffer, Mr. Wm. Nordstrom, Mr 
 
 Mrs. Lyle Wade, 
 Edward Thomas. 
 
 Pianist; Miss Lois Ortgiesen, Secretary. 
 
 Mr. Elwood Schmidt 
 away to school. 
 
 Mrs. Kenneth Barnhart, 
 Mrs. Harriet Breunlin, 
 worked in this department also until going 
 
 I k m 
 
 Intermediate Department 
 
 Mrs. Ralph Cross, superintendent. Teachers: Russel Hallquist, Mrs. John Grobe, Mrs. Don McWethy, 
 Dorothy Drake, Herbert White, Rosemary Springer, secretary. 
 
 Young People and Adults 
 
 Youth teachers: Erda Glessner, Mrs. August Hallquist, Dan Ortgiesen, Leon Miller, Harry Herbst. Adult 
 
 teachers: Mrs. Gerhardt Siemens, Mrs. Geo. Christiansen, Mrs. Carl Woessner, Mrs. H. L. Wadsworth, 
 
 Mrs. Clyde Carson, Mrs. Harry Wilson, Charles Hallquist, Clarence Wickey, Martin Tayman. 
 
 Seventeen 
 
Young People's Activities 
 
 The young" people's activities center largely in the Youth Leagues. Their meetings 
 are held each second and fourth Sunday evening from 6 to 8 o'clock and comprise lunch, 
 recreation and devotions. There is a Senior League fcr High School age and above. 
 There is also an Intermediate League for 6th, 7th and 8th grades. Rev. Cooperrider is 
 advisor for the Seniors and Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Auman are leaders for the Intermediates. 
 
 Executive Board 
 
 The Executive Board: Elwood Schmidt, Rosemary Springer, Lucille Stahl, Russel Ha'lau'st, Patricia 
 Kenny, Richard Miller, Rev. Luther Cooperrider. 
 
 Luther League 
 
 Officers: Russel Hallquist, President; Dona'd Mem!er, Vice Presdent; Joanne Harden, Secretary; R chard 
 Miller, Treasurer; Mary Ellen Rosbrook, Pianist. Department chairmen are Gerald Wakely, Irene Stahl, 
 
 Lois Ortqiesen, Bob Clark, Morrison Miller. 
 
 Intermediate League 
 
 Officers: Verne Paxton, acting President; Roger Bucka'oo, Secretary-Treasurer; Gay'ene Carlson, Pianist. 
 
 Eighteen 
 
The Choirs 
 
 i i $ t I II 
 
 The choirs of our church serve in an important way in the worship services and special seasons. There 
 is always need for those who have talent and are interested in this work. Mrs. George Curran has been 
 the director the past three years. Mrs. Dwight Chapman is the efficient organist and has faithfully 
 played for more than thirty years, part of which time she also directed both Junior and Senio- Choirs. 
 Those who sang in the Senior choir this year are: Lois Ortgiesen, Georgia Curran, Patricia Leggett, Mrs. 
 Curran, Gloria Slothower, Irene Stahl, Lulu Worley, Emma Stiles, Marguerite Woodyatt, God e Grube, 
 Irene Hubbard, Harriett Breunlin, Jeanne Kieffer, Violet McWethy, Lois Cooperrider, Elwood Schmidt, 
 Russell Hallquist, Dan Fritz, Spencer Johnson, Henry Smith, Wm. Nordstrom, Luther Cooperrider, 
 Elaine Ommen, Erda Glessner, Bob Heckman, Marie Moore. 
 
 The Intermediate Choir was started in the fall of 1946 and is for girls age 11, through freshman year 
 
 in high school. Those who sang this year are: Mary Ellen Rosbrook, Pat Warner, Carol Wakeley, Mary 
 
 Wakeley, Beverly Beier, Nancy Wolfe, Gailene Carlson, Janet Sleasman, Shirley Tucker, Ila Radke. New 
 
 members are being received in a!! three choirs this fall. 
 
 Th Junior Choir is for ages 7 to 11. Those who sang this year are: Roger Wade, Kenneth Swan, Dean 
 Newman, John Stiles, Aaron Johnson, Eddie Saari, Patty Fritz, Bonnie Anderson, Georgiana Stiles, Myrtle 
 Fritz, Dorothy Beauseigneur, Joanne Ortgiesen, Judy Bohlken, Donna Heckman, Sara Lynn Ebersole, 
 Carol Hand, Frances Tucker, Leota Ortgiesen, Judy Stults, Dolores Newman, Brenda Swan, Barbara Wade, 
 Eve'yn Rhodes, Diane Chandler, Phyllis Hufford, Leanne Ebersole, Marjorie Johnson, Beverly Bowers, 
 
 Barbara Weiser, Kay Lund. 
 
 Nineteen 
 
Women J Activities 
 
 All women of the church are invited 
 into the varied activities for women. Be- 
 sides the four auxiliaries pictured here, we 
 have several women's classes of the Sun- 
 day School who render splendid service. 
 The Sunshine, E. R. B. and Golden Rule 
 
 classes serve the women, while the young 
 women have the Progressive and the Chris- 
 tian Helpers classes. A few cf the fine 
 things done by these groups have been 
 mentioned in the history. Each of these 
 classes has contributed to the New 
 Church Building Fund also. 
 
 The Aid welcomes all women of the 
 church, for the scope of service is exten- 
 sive. They render service through the 
 kitchen and dining room to countless com- 
 munity groups. They are also generous in 
 their offerings and time. The Aid and these 
 women's classes have sent scores of boxes 
 with food and clothing to Pastor Lenke's 
 family and parish in Holstein, Germany. 
 They have also sent a great many boxes to 
 Lutheran World Relief. In the last two 
 
 years they have purchased a beautiful 
 silver tea and coffee service, silver nut 
 dishes and lace table cloth, to be used for 
 receptions, teas and church social meetings. 
 To date, the Aid has contributed $3100 to 
 Che New Church Building Fund. Officers 
 are: Mrs. Clara Traynor, President; Mrs. 
 Harry Fulfs, Vice President; Mrs. Wm. Wor- 
 ley, Secretary; Mrs. Herbert Smith, Treas- 
 urer; Mrs. Fred Enichen, Corresponding 
 Secretary. 
 
 Deaconesses 
 
 Twelve ladies are elected annually by 
 the congregation, to the Board of Dea- 
 conesses. They assist the pastor in calling 
 on the sick and needy and in inviting new 
 folks into the fellowship and service of the 
 church. They care for the Altar at all 
 times and have special care of the para- 
 ments and communion appointments. In 
 these duties they render an invaluable serv- 
 
 ice to their church. The present Board of 
 Deaconesses consists of Mrs. Herbert 
 Smith, chairman; Miss Lillian Kcerper, sec- 
 tary; Mrs. Walter White, Mrs. Jessie Fol- 
 lett, Mrs. Wm. Worley, Mrs. Harry Moore, 
 Mrs. Ray Cramer, Mrs. Howard Sweitzer, 
 Miss Bernice Good, Mrs. Alois Dogwiler, 
 Mrs. Wm. Lieving and Mrs. Wm. Meyer. 
 Lillian Koerper was absent from picture. 
 
 Twenty 
 
Grace Cooper Walter Missionary Congress 
 
 "A daily gift, a daily prayer, that all 
 the world our Christ may share," is the 
 keynote of the work of the Missionary 
 Society. All funds go outside the local 
 congregation into the various forms of 
 missionary activity, comprising evangelis- 
 tic, medical, industrial, educational and so- 
 cial missions. Not only is support given to 
 those already in the field, but an effort is 
 made to inspire worthy young men and 
 
 women to consider the call of missions, 
 and to support all with prayers. The eve- 
 ning group meets at 7:30 p. m. on the sec- 
 ond Tuesday of each month and is directed 
 by the following officers: 
 
 President, Miss Eleanor E. Powell; 
 Vice-President, Miss Lillian Koerper; Sec- 
 retary, Mrs. Spencer Johnson; Treasurer, 
 Mrs. Kenneth Gross; Corresponding Secre- 
 tary, Mrs. Donald McWethy. 
 
 Woman's Missionary Society 
 
 World wide is the scope of the Woman's 
 Missionary Society. It's programs are 
 both inspirational and educational. Not 
 only is study connected with the monthly 
 meetings, but timely missionary book re- 
 views augment the fund of information 
 which the Missionary women glean in re- 
 gard to the needs of the world, and the 
 spread of the gospel. Two branches en- 
 
 deavor to reach the women of the church. 
 The one meets at 2:30 p. m. on the second 
 Thursday of the month and is headed by 
 the following officers: 
 
 President, Mrs. Lloyd W. Walter; Vice 
 President, Mrs. Bert Ortgiesen: Secretary, 
 Mrs. Robert Fulton; Treasurer. Mrs. Harry 
 Wilson; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. 
 John Bohnstiel. 
 
 Twenty-One 
 
Men V Activities 
 
 Brotherhood 
 
 The men of the church are invited to 
 participate in the work of the Brotherhood. 
 They meet monthly for discussion of timely 
 topics in the service of the church. They 
 annually sponsor the Father and Son ban- 
 quet and serve the Mother and Daughter 
 banquet. They have contributed $100 to 
 the New Church Building Fund. They are 
 contributing $150 to the revolving loan 
 fund of Synod. Last year under the lead- 
 ership of Herbert Smith, a mercy fund was 
 started and a wheel chair was bought for 
 use without charge to members of the 
 church. It has been in constant use. A pair 
 of crutches has also been given. The men 
 have cooperated and cleaned the entire 
 downstairs of the church this year. The 
 Brotherhood sponsors Boy Scout Troop 89. 
 Kenneth Barnhart is scout master, assisted 
 by Larry Burrs and a committee from the 
 Brotherhood with Dan Fritz as present 
 chairman. During the year Lyle Wade, 
 Ray Paxton, Roy Zickhur, Morris Ros- 
 brook, John Grobe, Elwin Slothower and 
 Wm. Nordstrom have served on the scout 
 committee. All men are invited to join in 
 the fellowship and service of this group. 
 Officers are: Ray Paxton, President; 
 Spencer Johnson, Vice President; Leon Mil- 
 ler, Secretary, and Elmer LeFevre, Treas- 
 urer. 
 
 Two organized Bible classes also do 
 much for the church. The Good Fellow- 
 ship class is composed largely of younger 
 men. They have interesting monthly meet- 
 ings and sponsor the Sunday School or- 
 chestra, led by Mr. Earl Senneff. They 
 have contributed $600 to the New Church 
 Building Fund. They do many fine things 
 for the Nachusa Home for Children, includ- 
 ing an annual dinner for the boys, followed 
 by an interesting program for them. Har- 
 old Boyer is President and Harry Wade is 
 Secretary-Treasurer. The Big Brothers' 
 
 class is another class of men who have 
 done fine things for our church. The mem- 
 bership is more largely among the older 
 men of the church and concentration is 
 on the Sunday Bible study. They partici- 
 pate in giving Youth Camp scholarships 
 and other encouraging activities for future 
 leaders. They have also given to the New 
 Church Fund. Claude Sweitzer is Presi- 
 dent; H. L. Wadsworth, Vice President; 
 Frank Hughes, Secretary, and John Mar- 
 tenson, Treasurer. A new and interesting 
 project of the men last year was the spon- 
 soring of and the erection of the outdoor 
 Manger Scene in front of our church dur- 
 ing Christmas season. Mr. C. J. Johnson 
 provided the Stable materials. Mr. Fred 
 Meinke made the life size figures, a real 
 work of art. Ray Zimmer provided the 
 transformer and lighting equipment and a 
 number of men assisted in erecting it. 
 Christmas music was broadcast through 
 the amplifying system provided by Harri- 
 son Chevrolet Co. 
 
 Outside Christmas Manger 
 
 Twenty-Two 
 
Called to the Colors 
 
 Servicemen in World War I 
 
 (Those marked "M" were members of the church, * were killed in service) 
 
 
 
 Arthur Altman 
 
 (M) 
 
 Frank Altman 
 
 (M) 
 
 Guy Ankeny 
 
 (M) 
 
 Ed. Baldwin 
 
 
 Claude Berkey 
 
 
 Glen Beckingham 
 
 (M) 
 
 Leo Blass 
 
 (M) 
 
 Ed. Bott 
 
 (M) 1 
 
 John Bott 
 
 (M) 
 
 Byron Brooks 
 
 (M) 
 
 Clyde Carson 
 
 (M) 
 
 Dan Coakley 
 
 
 Myron Cummings 
 
 (M) 
 
 Clyde Emmert 
 
 (M) 
 
 Walter Fallstrom 
 
 (M) 
 
 Dudley Friedline 
 
 (M) 
 
 Earl Fruin 
 
 
 Lloyd Fruin 
 
 
 Robert Fulton 
 
 (M) 
 
 Wylie George 
 
 (M) 
 
 Alva Hefley 
 
 (M) 
 
 Arthur Hefley 
 
 
 Lee Hefley 
 
 
 Lloyd Hubbard 
 
 (M) 
 
 George LeFevre 
 
 (M) 
 
 Clyde Lenox 
 
 (M) 
 
 Carl Kling 
 
 (M) 
 
 Louis May 
 
 
 Arthur Martenson 
 
 (M) 
 
 Arthur Mensch 
 
 (M) 
 
 Howard Metzler 
 
 
 Howard McCleary 
 
 
 Ed. McKnight 
 
 
 Clarence McPherson 
 
 
 Leon Miller 
 
 (M) 
 
 Herman Nelson 
 
 (M) 
 
 Elmer Peterson 
 
 (M) 
 
 Frank Robinson 
 
 (M) 
 
 John Rosbrook 
 
 
 Morris Rosbrook 
 
 
 John E. Ruef 
 
 (M) 
 
 James Schrock 
 
 (M) 
 
 Sterling Schrock 
 
 (M) 
 
 Herbert Smith 
 
 (M) 
 
 Walter Smith 
 
 (M> 
 
 Jake Snyder 
 
 
 Harold Spencer 
 
 
 Theodore Spencer 
 
 (M) 
 
 Ralph Spielman 
 
 
 Charles Whitford 
 
 (M) 
 
 James Whitford 
 
 (M) 
 
 Wilbur Wilhelm 
 
 (M) 
 
 Men and Women in Service During World War II 
 
 Dean Adams 
 
 
 Robert L. Adams 
 
 
 Edward O. Anderson 
 
 (M) 
 
 Jay Donald Atkins 
 
 
 Ned G. Auman 
 
 (M) 
 
 Herbert O. Auman 
 
 (M) 
 
 Hubert O. Auman 
 
 (M) 
 
 Warren Baker 
 
 (M) 
 
 George H. Baker 
 
 (M) 
 
 Wilbur Eugene Bates 
 
 (M) 
 
 John H. Bellin 
 
 (M) 
 
 Arthur L. Benson 
 
 (M) 
 
 Stanley Bollivar 
 
 (M) 
 
 George H. Breeding 
 
 (M) 
 
 Donald E. Bremer 
 
 (M) 
 
 Vincent C. Bremer 
 
 (M) 
 
 Richard Brown 
 
 (M) 
 
 Robert L. Buckingham 
 
 (M) 
 
 James O. Buckingham 
 
 (M) 
 
 Donald F. Campbell 
 
 (M) 
 
 Donald J. Carlsen 
 
 (M) 
 
 Keith Clark 
 
 (M) 
 
 Charles W. Clinker 
 
 (M) 
 
 E. R. Chytraus 
 
 (M) 
 
 Ronald Cooper 
 
 (M) 
 
 Robert E. Considine 
 
 
 William R. Cooper 
 
 (M) 
 
 Robert S. Cottle 
 
 (M) 
 
 Edward L. Cornils 
 
 (M) 
 
 Melvin Cory 
 
 
 Dale L. Cramer 
 
 (M) 
 
 Morris Cornstubble 
 
 (M) 
 
 Erwin H. Dalke 
 
 (M) 
 
 Edgar Deets 
 
 (M) 
 
 Russell E. Denison 
 
 
 Paul E. Dewey 
 
 (M) 
 
 Charles A. Drake 
 
 (M) 
 
 Neal Denison 
 
 (M) 
 
 Robert Dogwiler 
 
 (M) 
 
 Donald W. Edwards 
 
 (M) 
 
 Russell E. Eller 
 
 (M) 
 
 Theodore Eller 
 
 (M) 
 
 Edward Emmert 
 
 (M) 
 
 Howard Edwards, Jr. 
 
 (M) 
 
 Robert R. Fischer 
 
 (M) 
 
 Bert C. Fish 
 
 (M) 
 
 Harry W. Fish 
 
 (M) 
 
 Max Fordham 
 
 
 Norman Fritz 
 
 (M) 
 
 William R. Frye 
 
 (M) 
 
 Earl A. Genz 
 
 (M) 
 
 Glen E. Genz 
 
 (M) 
 
 Leroy O. Genz 
 
 (M) 
 
 Edward Gerdes 
 
 (M) 
 
 Orville H. Gerdes 
 
 (M) 
 
 Kenneth Gross 
 
 (M) 
 
 Paul R. Grube 
 
 
 August V. Hallquist 
 
 (M) 
 
 Robert J. Hanson 
 
 (M) 
 
 Kenneth A. Hasselberg 
 
 (M) 
 
 Thomas H. Hasselberg 
 
 
 Frank A. Heaton 
 
 (M) 
 
 ^rnnk A. Heckman 
 
 (M) 
 
 Robert L. Heckman 
 
 (M) 
 
 Gerald E. Heid 
 
 
 Harold Helfrich 
 
 (M) 
 
 LeRoy Helfrich 
 
 
 William F. Helfrich 
 
 (M) 
 
 Robert L. Hess 
 
 (M) 
 
 Lester A. Hill, Jr. 
 
 (M) 
 
 John Fred Hofmann 
 
 (M) 
 
 L. A. Hoogenstyn 
 
 (M) 
 
 Bryce Hubbard 
 
 
 Dudley S. Hubbard 
 
 
 Benjamin C. Hucker 
 
 (M) 
 
 Theodore J. Hill, Jr. 
 
 (M) 
 
 George Ide 
 
 (M) 
 
 Henry M. Jensen 
 
 (M) 
 
 John J. Jensen, Jr. 
 
 (M) 
 
 Kenneth L. Johnson 
 
 (M) 
 
 Ralph Johnson 
 
 (Mt 
 
 Lester G. Kieffer 
 
 (M> 
 
 Donald Kieffer 
 
 (M) 
 
 Walter C. Knack, Jr. 
 
 (M) 
 
 B. Wilson Koon 
 
 (M) 
 
 FrHng Knutson 
 
 (M) 
 
 Glenn W. Landers 
 
 (M) 
 
 Walter A. Lengel 
 
 (M> 
 
 Miles B. Lonergan 
 
 (M) 
 
 James B. Marshall 
 
 (M) 
 
 Fred L. Martenson 
 
 (M) 
 
 Fred E. Meinke. Jr. 
 
 (M) 
 
 Don N. McBride 
 
 (M) 
 
 Earl H. Meurer 
 
 
 Daniel E. Miller 
 
 (M) 
 
 George E. Miller 
 
 (M) 
 
 Donald E. Miller 
 
 (M) 
 
 Leo B. Miller 
 
 (M) 
 
 Robert W. Miller 
 
 (M) 
 
 Donald A. Moore 
 
 (M) 
 
 Robert Meppen 
 
 (M) 
 
 La Verne McMillion 
 
 <M> 
 
 Warrren Needham 
 
 (M) 
 
 Wayne Needham 
 
 
 William I. Nordstrom 
 
 (M) 
 
 Gordon Ommen 
 
 (M) 
 
 Wi!-on B. Ortgiesen 
 
 (M) 
 
 Carol I. Pace 
 
 (M> 
 
 Rivmond O. Paxton 
 
 (M> 
 
 Robert B. Pelsma 
 
 
 nimer Peterson 
 
 (M) 
 
 William P. Pontius 
 
 
 Wayne Pope 
 
 (M) 
 
 Henry C. Raffenberger 
 R. R. Raffenberger 
 Otto L. Randall 
 Marion V. Rees 
 Arthur W. Reynolds, 
 Dean W. Ruggles 
 H. Mark Salzman 
 lone E. Salzman 
 Stanley W. Schrock 
 Elwood Schultz 
 Henry W. Schumacher 
 Homer Scott 
 Donald E. Shaffer 
 Cyril M. Shank 
 John O. Shaulis, Jr. 
 George R. Schuck 
 Russell W. Shuck 
 Elmer Shilling 
 William K. Short 
 Harvey Smith 
 Scott W. Smith 
 John D. Sodegren 
 Orlando E. Spangler 
 Reinhardt Stahl 
 Orien L. Stein 
 Vernon W. Stein 
 Jason W. Stanley 
 Arnold K. Swan 
 Vernon E. Swan 
 Clifford L. Swanlund 
 Kenneth Stanley 
 Martin A. Tayman 
 Edward L. Thomas 
 Raymond Toot 
 William V. Utter 
 Carol Vickery 
 Harry D. Wade 
 Robert M. Wadsworth 
 I^eRoy J. Wagner 
 Ferris J. Walker 
 Helen C. Walker 
 Lloyd W. Walter. Jr. 
 Claude H. Welker 
 William Wadsworth 
 Robert Wirth 
 Walter White, Jr. 
 Harry E. Wickey 
 William K. Wickey, Jr. 
 Loren C. Wilson 
 Raymond E. Wirth 
 Wayne Wolfe 
 Richard Woodyatt 
 Wm. F. Worley 
 Raymond E. Worsley 
 Don E. Youngmark 
 David Youngmark 
 Howard C. Zentz 
 Donald E. Zoeller 
 
 Jr. 
 
 (M) 
 (M) 
 (M) 
 (M) 
 (M) 
 
 (M) 
 (M) 
 (M) 
 (M) 
 (M) 
 (M) 
 
 (M) 
 
 (M) 
 
 <M> 
 (M) 
 (M) 
 (M) 
 (M) 
 (M) 
 (M) 
 (M) 
 (M) 
 (M) 
 (M) 
 
 (M) 
 
 (M) 
 (M>< 
 
 (Mt 
 (M) 
 (M) 
 (M) 
 (M) 
 (M) 
 (M) 
 (M> 
 (M) 
 (M) 
 (M) 
 (M) 
 
 <M> 
 
 <M> 
 (M> 
 
 Twenty-Tlirec 
 
Called to the Church 
 
 Rev. Theodore S. Rees 
 
 Two sons of the congregation are serv- 
 ing in the active ministry of the Lutheran 
 Church. Theodore S. Rees is pastor of St. 
 Mark's Lutheran Church, North St. Paul, 
 Minnesota. He received his higher educa- 
 tion at Carthage College. University of 
 Minnesota, and Northwestern Lutheran 
 Theological Seminary at Minneapolis, re- 
 ceiving the B.D. degree in 1930. He was 
 pastor of First English Lutheran Church, 
 Winnipeg, Canada, 1929-1938; pastor of St. 
 John's Ev. Lutheran Church, Beaver Dam, 
 Wisconsin, 1938-1942, and pastor of St. 
 Mark's, North St. Paul, since 1942. Besides 
 his pastorate, he has served the church at 
 large in a number of synodical and inter- 
 denominational committees and boards. 
 Among them, director of Lutheran Welfare 
 Society of Minnesota; member of Consulta- 
 tive Committee of Family Service in Winni- 
 peg; Secretary of Central Conference of 
 Northwest Synod; Secretary of Winnipeg 
 Ministerial Association; treasurer and busi- 
 ness manager of the Lutheran Lake Camp 
 Board of Central Conference and chairman 
 of the Lutheran Receiving Home Commit- 
 tee. Mrs. Rees is a graduate of Carthage 
 College also. They have three children, 
 Marthetta Joann, 18; Mary Jayne, 15, and 
 Theodore Joseph, 11. 
 
 Paul R. Bollman is pastor of St. Paul's 
 Lutheran Church, Oregon, Illinois. He re- 
 ceived his higher education at Carthage 
 College, Northwestern Seminary at Min- 
 neapolis, and Chicago Lutheran Seminary 
 at Maywood, receiving his B.D. degree 
 from the latter institution in 1929. He was 
 ordained by the Illinois Synod, May 23, 
 
 r > 
 
 ** m 
 
 Rev. Paul R. Bollman 
 
 1929, and has served this Synod his entire 
 ministry to date. His pastorates have been 
 at Loogootee, 1928-1930; Vandalia-Loogoo- 
 tee, 1930-1932; Unity, St. Louis, 1942-1945; 
 St. Paul's, Oregon, since 1945. In the gen- 
 eral work of the church he has served as 
 secretary of Southern Conference 5 years; 
 as Southern Conference president 3 terms; 
 on Carthage College Board 1 term; and 
 other local offices in social and ministerial 
 service. He was married in June, 1929, to 
 Grace Johnson, also a former member of 
 St. Paul's, Dixon. They have one daughter, 
 Lois, a junior in High School. 
 
 Wilson White, son of Mrs. Katherine 
 White, earlier affiliated with St. Paul's 
 Sunday School, later went into the Evan- 
 gelical ministry and is serving the Evan- 
 gelical and United Brethren Church at Bon- 
 field, HI. 
 
 Dana C. Johnson, born 1865, and 
 brought up in St. Paul's church, received 
 his higher education in Wittenberg College, 
 and Hamma Divinity School, graduating 
 in 1897. He served only a brief time in 
 Cincinnati, Ohio, and was called to his 
 eternal reward at the age of 33, in 1898. 
 
 Edwin Bollman was born 1858 and re- 
 ceived his higher education in Carthage 
 College and Hamma Divinity School. 
 He was ordained in St. Paul's, Dixon, 
 October 19, 1890. He served parishes at 
 Forreston, 111.; Pearl City, 111.; Davenport, 
 Neb.; Wilber, Neb.; Wolbach-Ericson, Neb.; 
 Effingham, Kan.; Oxford Jet., Iowa; Wal- 
 ton, Neb.; Benedict, Neb.; as well as in 
 general committees of the church. He 
 passed to his eternal reward Nov. 25, 1933. 
 
 Twenty-Four 
 
Our Church Tomorrow 
 
 Oh make Thy Church, dear Saviour, 
 
 A lamp of burnished gold, 
 
 To bear before the nations 
 
 Thy true light, as of old; 
 
 O teach Thy wandering pilgrims 
 
 By this their path to trace, 
 
 Till, clouds and darkness ended, 
 
 They see Thee face to face. 
 
 I wenty-Five 
 
The Ministry 
 
 of the 
 Church 
 
 "Except a man be born of water and 
 of the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom 
 of God." 
 
 Worship God in the beauty of holi- 
 
 "Preach the Word. Be instant in sea- 
 son and out of season." 
 
 f* t jtm^^k-% M 
 
 V 
 
 % , 
 
 "// thou wilt confess with thy mouth 
 . . . and believe with thine heart . . . thou 
 shalt be saved." 
 
 "We are all one body, even as we par- 
 take of this one bread and drink of this 
 one cup." 
 
 Twenty-Six 
 
"Marriage is a holy estate, ordained of 
 God, and to be held in honor by all." 
 
 "And they went from house to house 
 . . . continuing steadfastly in the Apostle's 
 doctrine." 
 
 "God is our refuge and strength, a very «o death, where is thy sting ? O grave, 
 
 present help in trouble." where is thy victory ?" 
 
 "Be not slothful in business, but fervent "Praise God with stringed instruments 
 
 in spirit, serving the Lord." and organs." 
 
 Twenty-Seven 
 
Christian 
 
 The Individual 
 
 The Home 
 
 The Church is the Body of Christ. It is 
 therefore a living body. A living body is 
 constantly making new growth, not only 
 for replacement but for advancement. It 
 is a substantial body, founded upon the 
 sturdy, rocklike faith of a fearless convic- 
 tion of truth, "Thou art Christ, the Son of 
 the living God." Because of this unwaver- 
 ing sturdiness, we are assured that the 
 gates of hell shall not prevail against the 
 Church. Its continued strength, however, 
 does depend on us. We are the defenders 
 of the faith, not merely by arguing for it 
 with our lips but by the faithful enlistment 
 of our lives in greater usefulness for win- 
 ning souls to the Christian way of life, 
 where they may learn the truth about God. 
 
 One of the saints prayed: "Sanctify us 
 by Thy Truth, Lord, for Thy Word is 
 truth." Through education the Church 
 strives to enlighten people and impress 
 upon them the importance of truth. For the 
 fulfillment of Christian truth and responsi- 
 bility, young people are challenged to 
 Christian leadership in their chosen service 
 of life at home or abroad. 
 
 The Church must grow. The individuals 
 within the Church must grow in Christian 
 grace and understanding. In our Bible 
 School, our church uses the most modern 
 educational materials and methods. In the 
 church worship we try to provide inspiring 
 music and impressive messages from God's 
 Word. Through faithfulness in worship, 
 Bible study and prayer, there is created the 
 desire for cheerful expression of faith 
 through Christian service. 
 
 The Church must grow in numbers. 
 Through these 100 years St. Paul's has 
 grown substantially but her responsibility 
 grows with her numerical power. There- 
 fore, members are constantly urged to in- 
 vite others to attend church and find hope 
 in God, for "he who winneth souls is wise." 
 
 The Church should improve its equip- 
 ment to better serve the needs and inter- 
 ests of each generation. Our church home 
 should be no less attractive than our fam- 
 ily home. Through our Centennial im- 
 provement program we have brightened 
 the interior of our church and made it 
 more serviceable for the immediate future. 
 The New Church Building Fund solicits 
 the support of every member, so that when 
 building conditions become more favorable, 
 the money will be ready to build the kind 
 of church home that will enable this con- 
 gregation to provide a greater ministry to 
 larger numbers of children, youth, and 
 adults. Our Building Committee desires 
 your interest and suggestions. 
 
 Growth in service is the desire of our 
 church. To further this desire, we trust 
 that every member of St. Paul's will dedi- 
 cate anew his prayers, his presence, his 
 gifts and his service, that the balanced 
 growth of the church today may assure a 
 better church of tomorrow. 
 
 Twenty-Eight 
 
Growth 
 
 The Individual 
 
 Direction is important in each individ- 
 ual life. In the Bible is stressed the need 
 fcr guidance, and direction. "Train up a 
 child in the way he should go" is one ex- 
 ample. A response from the heart is ex- 
 pressed in "I was glad when they said unto 
 me. 'L^t us go into the hcuse of the Lord'!" 
 
 The individual grows physically by the 
 use of good food and exercise. He grows 
 mentally by using his mind, wrestling with 
 the pr blems placed bsfore him. He grows 
 in faith and fervor by worship and fellow- 
 ship with God in prayer and the study of 
 His Word. We must grow as Jesus grew 
 "in wisdom and stature and in favor with 
 G^d and man " Through a program of 
 education and inspiration, the church 
 makes a vital contribution to the Christian 
 growth of the individual. 
 
 The Home 
 
 "My home is my castle," says one great 
 leader. The Christian home begins when 
 two lives are joined in wedded love. The 
 home is the bulwark of strength in every 
 community. No nation is stronger than its 
 homes, and no home is greater than the in- 
 dividuals who live in it. 
 
 Home is where God's honor dwells. Here 
 the influence of Christ's unfailing love must 
 be felt. Here children are to obey their 
 parents, in the Lord, and parents are not 
 to provoke their children to anger. In the 
 home, foundations of understanding are 
 laid and wholesome personalities are devel- 
 oped into Christian citizenship. 
 
 The Community 
 
 The Community is that larger neighbor- 
 hood where hearts are tied together in a 
 social relationship. It offers opportunity for 
 physical sustenance through business and 
 toil, where no man lives to himself but all 
 are dependent upon one another. 
 
 In the community, citizens provide 
 schocls for education, hospitals and institu- 
 tions of mercy, social and recreational cen- 
 ters and the security of community gov- 
 ernment. 
 
 Active churches are the undergirding 
 units of life for the maintaining of good 
 standards of living. 
 
 The World 
 
 "In Christ there is no East or West!" 
 Christianity is world-wide in its scope and 
 purpose. Christ's great commission to His 
 disciples in the closing days of His life on 
 earth was to "make disciples of all na- 
 tions." By Christian missions, the Church 
 strives to enlighten the world through His 
 Word and ennoble it by Christian lives. The 
 ter^s. "Church World Service" or "Luther- 
 an World Action" are not mere titles, but 
 here are united in living demonstrations 
 the loving acts of Christian souls extended 
 to enemy and friend alike, in the name of 
 Jesus, that tomorrow there may be a better 
 world. 
 
 The Community 
 
 ^ 
 
 Jhe 
 
 WORD 
 ENLIGHTENS 
 
 the 
 
 WORLD 
 
 The World 
 
 Twenty-Nino 
 
Carthage College 
 
 St. Paul's congregation serves far be- 
 yond the boundaries of Dixon, in the insti- 
 tutions of the church at large and in the 
 mission fields of America and abroad. 
 Members of the congregation participate 
 in this larger work thru their loyal support 
 of the whole program of the Church. 
 
 Through our Benevolent Offerings, we 
 support world service. A portion of the 
 Benevolence is used by the Illinois Synod 
 and the institutions on its territory, and 
 other portions are used by the various 
 
 Serving Beyond 
 
 Boards and Committees to carry on the 
 work of the Church in its farther reaches. 
 Nachusa Lutheran Home for Children, Car- 
 thage College, and Chicago Lutheran Semi- 
 nary at Maywood are institutions in our 
 own Synod. In the work of Home Mis- 
 sions, we join with other congregations 
 through the annual Property and Lot Fund 
 as well as through a part of our regular 
 Benevolences to establish new churches in 
 
 Nachusa Home 
 
 Maywood Seminary 
 
 new communities as they grow and the 
 need for a church is found. In the cause 
 of Foreign Missions, we join with congre- 
 gations in all Synods of the United Luther- 
 an Church to bring the Gospel of Peace to 
 Nations still in the darkness of heathen- 
 dom. We share in the young people's work 
 through a budgeted part of Benevolence for 
 the furthering of the Luther League. Our 
 church had the privilege of being host to 
 the Illinois State Luther League Conven- 
 tion in August, 1947. In October, 1948, as 
 a part of this Centennial, we were hosts to 
 
 Thirty 
 
Our Parish 
 
 the Northern District Rally, each time ac- 
 commodating about 300 young folks. From 
 the Church House at 231 Madison Ave., 
 New York City, comes the direction of 
 most of the work of the United Lutheran 
 Church. Here the president, Dr. Franklin 
 Clark Fry, and the Secretary, Dr. F. Ep- 
 pling Reinartz, have their offices. Here 
 also are the offices of Social Missions, 
 American Missions, Foreign Missions, Lay- 
 man's Movement for Stewardship and the 
 offices of the National Lutheran Council. 
 In this National Lutheran Council, our 
 United Lutheran Church is affiliated with 
 other Lutheran bodies for a closer unity in 
 
 the work of our church in America; and 
 through the Lutheran World Federation, 
 for greater effectiveness in the work of 
 the Lutheran Church in the world; in Lu- 
 theran World Relief, Orphaned Missions 
 and general rehabilitation. All Lutheran 
 groups, except the Missouri Synod, unite 
 in this work as well as in Lutheran Student 
 work. 
 
 The Church House, 
 231 Mad'son Ave., New York 
 
 A Typical Foreign Mission Field 
 
 ILLINOIS STATE IUTHER LEAGUE CONVENTION 
 
 AUGUST, 2.* 3,, 1947 . .&IXOH. «*LU»01S 
 
 Thirty-One 
 
CENTENNIAL PROGRAM 
 
 October 3 Centennial Communion. 
 
 8 a. m. Meditation by Pastor Curran. 
 
 10:45 a. m. Meditation by Rev. Wilbur Currens, Missionary in Africa. 
 
 7:30 p. m. Meditation by Paster Curran. 
 
 October 10 — Youth Sunday. 
 
 3 p. m. Northern District Luther League Rally. 
 
 Speaker: Rev. Luther Cooperrider. 
 7 p. m. Speaker: Student Rudolph Markwald, from Germany. 
 
 October 17 — Centennial Service. 
 
 7:30 p. m. Speaker: Dr. Jcseph Sittler, of Maywood Seminary. 
 
 October 21 — Centennial Pageant, in Loveland Community House, 7:45 p. m. 
 Cast of 100, directed by Miss Hazel Hecker. 
 
 October 24 — History Service, 7:30 p. m. 
 
 Speaker: Rev. Paul Bollman, pastor of St. Paul's, Oregon, 111., a son of 
 
 the congregation. 
 Last fifty years of history read by Hazel Hecker and Eleanor Powell. 
 
 October 27 — Centennial Family Banquet, at the Masonic Temple, 6:30 p. m. 
 
 Speaker: Rev. Theodore Rees, Pastor of St. Mark's, North St. Paul, 
 Minn., a son of the congregation. 
 Moving Picture of the Centennial Year. 
 
 October 31 — Choir Vesper Service, at 4:30 p. m. 
 
 Sacred music by the three choirs, Mrs. Geo. Curran, director. 
 
 Mrs. Dwight Chapman, organist. 
 
 CENTENNIAL COMMITTEES 
 
 Herbert Smith, chairman Bert Robinson, Henry Jensen, Walter White, Clarence 
 Wickey, William Trein, Claude Sweitzer, Charles Hallquist, C. J. Johnson, Eleanor 
 Powell, John Martenson, Mrs. Bessie Schultz, Lyle Wade, Arnold Lund, Sidney Buck- 
 aloo, William Wickey, Harry Wade, Ruth Bollman, Clyde Carson, Mrs. Wm. Wickey, 
 Mrs. George Weyant, Herman Rasch, Edgar Deets, Dan Fritz, Mrs. Ralph Cross, Miss 
 Hazel Hecker. For the front cover we are indebted to Mr. Fred Meinke. 
 
 We are indebted to the Pastor of the First Lutheran Church, St. Joseph, Missouri, 
 the Rev. Reno Frobenius, and the leaders of that church for the general idea of our 
 Centennial Book. Their fiftieth anniversary book afforded much help. 
 
 Tnirty-Two 
 
Membership Business Directory 
 
 These business men of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Dixon, 
 
 Illinois, hereby signify their support for the publication 
 
 of this Centennial Book. 
 
 George H. Beier 
 
 BEIER BAKERY 
 Dixon, Illinois 
 
 L A. Erickson 
 
 Automobile Repair Shop. 
 90 Ottawa Ave. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Frederick Benson 
 
 AUCTIONEER 
 Harmon, Illinois 
 
 Horner Erzinger 
 
 ERZINGER'S SHOE STORE 
 109 First St. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Robert Bollman 
 
 DeKalb Hybrid Seed Corn 
 Harmon, Illinois 
 
 Harry Fulfs 
 
 FULFS BROS. 
 Confectionery Store 
 
 114-116 N. Galena Ave. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Clyde Carson 
 
 DIXON OIL CO. 
 
 812 Dement Ave. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Charles Hallquist 
 
 PIT RUN GRAVEL 
 
 for Concrete Work 
 R. F. D. No. 2 Dixon, 111. 
 
 Ray Carson 
 
 Phillips 66 Service Station 
 76 Peoria Ave. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Fred Hand 
 
 Central Grocery Store 
 119 Galena Ave. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Peter Christiansen 
 
 DIXON CO-OPERATIVE CO. 
 
 7th St. and Depot Ave. 
 
 Dixon, 111. 
 
 Harry Herbst 
 
 Greeting Cards and Candy 
 519 Depot Ave. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Russell Cooper 
 
 COOPER'S D-X SERVICE 
 
 77 Peoria Ave. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Frank W. Hughes 
 
 F. W. HUGHES & SON 
 
 General Contractors 
 
 1223 Chestnut Ave. Dixon, 111. 
 
Henry M. Jensen 
 
 GENERAL CONTRACTOR 
 910 Brinton Ave. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Henry Lohse 
 
 Nursery and Landscaping 
 
 West on Alt. Rte. 30 
 
 Dixon, 111. 
 
 C- J. Johnson 
 
 BUILDING CONTRACTOR 
 1303 Peoria Ave. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Arnold V. Lund 
 
 Dixon Evening Telegraph 
 Dixon, Illinois 
 
 R. W. Kerchner 
 
 GENERAL CONTRACTOR 
 
 619 N. Jefferson Ave. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Carl Matson 
 
 Bowman Bros. Shoe Store 
 121 W. First St. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Lyle B. Klapprodt 
 
 Local Grain Hauling and 
 
 Livestock Hauling to Chicago 
 
 PHONE K663 
 
 1243 N. Galena Ave. Dixon, III. 
 
 Lyle Melvin 
 
 MELVIN FUNERAL HOME 
 202 E. Fellows St. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Walter C. Knack 
 
 and Confectioneries 
 
 Wholesale Cigars, Tobacco 
 
 501 W. First St. Dixon, 111. 
 
 William F. Meyer 
 
 Eldena-Dixon Co-Operative Co. 
 7th St. & Depot Ave. Dixon, 111. 
 
 C. R. LaBudde 
 
 Plant Supt. Lakeshire-Marty Co. 
 Division of Borden Co. 
 
 Dixon, Illinois 
 
 Joe Miller 
 
 BOYNTON-RICHARDS CO. 
 107 First St. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Elmer LeFevre 
 
 INSURANCE 
 216 May Court Dixon, 111. 
 
 Donald Moore 
 
 MOORE'S DONUT SHOP 
 904 W. First St. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Rudolph Lindstrom 
 
 CARPENTER 
 S. College Ave. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Russell McClanahan 
 
 MAC'S ZEPHYR SERVICE 
 
 Gas for Less 
 319 W. Everett St. Dixon, 111. 
 
John McCIanahan 
 
 Chicago Avenue Grocery 
 506 Chicago Ave. Dixon, 111. 
 
 H. M. Rasch 
 
 A. L. Geisenheimer & Co. 
 DRY GOODS 
 Dixon, Illinois 
 
 Raymond Ommen 
 
 OMMEN'S GROCERY 
 609 W. 3rd Dixon, 111. 
 
 Olaf V. Rees 
 
 PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT 
 
 121 Galena Ave. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Rollfe Ommen 
 
 OMMEN'S GARAGE 
 330 W. Everett St. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Clayton Rhodes 
 
 Clayton Rhodes Feed Service 
 117 Peoria Ave. Dixon, 111. 
 
 E. C. Ortgiesen 
 
 Livestock and General Trucking 
 
 Local and Chicago 
 
 Phone W1720 
 
 321 Sherman Ave. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Larry Santleman 
 
 Motorola Car Heaters 
 
 Expert Auto Repairing 
 
 Truman Court Dixon, 111. 
 
 Clarence Paulsen 
 
 DIXON HATCHERY 
 
 River St. and Hennepin Ave. 
 
 R. E. Schmidt 
 
 F. X. Newcomer & Company 
 
 INSURANCE - BONDS - REAL 
 
 ESTATE - LOANS 
 
 Dixon, Illinois 
 
 Charles Perry 
 
 LIFE INSURANCE 
 215 Morgan St. Dixon, 111. 
 
 J. Fred Hofman 
 
 MAYOR 
 
 John Hofman, Heating - Air- 
 
 Conditioning - Sheet Metal Work 
 
 77 Galena Ave. 
 
 Albert Petersen 
 
 PETERSON HEATING CO. 
 Ill Hennepin Ave. Dixon, 111. 
 
 George C. Scott 
 
 SWISSVILLE GROCERY 
 901 Palmyra Ave. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Victor Peterson 
 
 PETES COFFEE SHOP 
 93 Hennepin Ave. Dixon, 111. 
 
 John W. Selgestad 
 
 O. SELGESTAD & SON 
 
 Millwork 
 
 209 E. First St. Dixon, 111. 
 
J. O. Shaulis 
 
 ATTORNEY AT LAW 
 124% Galena Ave. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Carl W. Woessner 
 
 Mid-Continent Petroleum Prod. 
 
 J. I. Case & New Holland 
 
 Farm Machinery. 
 
 368 W. Everett St. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Herbert F. Smith 
 
 GENERAL CONTRACTOR 
 Dixon, Illinois 
 
 Wayne Wolfe 
 
 Barriage Appliance Store 
 109 E. First St. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Claude Sweitzer 
 
 Eastern Dist. Mgi\, Puritan 
 
 Laboratories, Des Moines, la. 
 
 721 Chicago Ave. Dixon, 111. 
 
 George J. Wolford 
 
 WELDING - MACHINISTS 
 RADIATORS 
 
 512 Chicago Ave. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Gerry Swendsen 
 
 DIXON MILLS, Inc. 
 602 Depot Ave. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Wiclcey Barber Shop 
 
 Clarence Wickey - W. Wickey 
 Harry Wickey 
 
 403 W. First St. Dixon, 111. 
 
 A. J. Tedwell 
 
 Real Estate & Insurance 
 123 y 2 Galena Ave. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Paul Young 
 
 NELSON GARAGE 
 
 Nelson, Illinois 
 
 Arthur Tofte 
 
 TOFTE & PIERCE 
 
 Standard Service 
 
 302 Galena Ave. Dixon, 111. 
 
 R. J. Zimmer 
 
 KRA-KRAFT DISPLAYS 
 
 Outdoor Advertising 
 610 Second St. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Geo. O. Weyant 
 
 DIXON FLORAL SHOP 
 117 E. First St. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Harold L Scholl 
 
 Farm Machinery Sales 
 1516 First St. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Foster Whitman 
 
 Heating & Sheet Metal 
 
 Contractor 
 
 911 Peoria Ave. Dixon, 111. 
 
 Herman Benson 
 
 Eldena & Dixon Co-Op. Co. 
 Seventh St. and Depot Ave. 
 
JV{ 
 

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 
 
 284 177336SA240 C001 
 
 100 YEARS 1848-1948 DIXON? ILL. 
 
 01 
 
 2 025277218