ST. PAUL'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN
also known as
KORNTHAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

Union County Illinois Genealogy Trails

Kornthal Church to Celebrate 50^th Anniversary

Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter 

Kornthal church will celebrate its 50^th anniversary on Sunday, May 12, and arrangements have been made for jubilee services on an elaborate scale.  Rev. Geo. Meier, a former pastor, will preach at 10 a.m. in German, Rev. John Goebel in German at 2:30, and Rev. Baumgartner in English afterwards.  Everybody invited.  Diner will be served at noon on the church lawn.

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Saturday, 10 May 1907)

 
Church Jubilee

Golden Anniversary of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran

Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter 

The people of Kornthal celebrated a most interesting event last Sunday, being the 50^th anniversary if the establishment of their church.  The day was very pleasant and there was a large attendance.  At least 250 persons sat down to the splendid dinner served under the trees on the church lawn at noon, and it was made the occasion of glad social reunion as well as deep spiritual rejoicing.

Rev. Henry Kumpf of Altenburg, Mo., preached in German in the morning, Rev. Mr. Baumgaertner of New Memphis, Ill., in English at 2:30 in the afternoon, followed by Rev. August Goebel of Compton, Ill., in German.  Mr. Goebel is a son of a former pastor of the church and his father sleeps in the Kollehner cemetery.  The son left here nearly 30 years ago and revisited the old scenes with interest and enjoyment.  His mother is still living.

But one of the original members of the church, Mrs. John M. Grieb, is living and she was present.  Mrs. Grieb’s years are many, but she is in fairly good health.  Of course for her many sad and painful memories as well as pleasant and tender ones cluster around this old church.  She was presented with a book as a souvenir of the occasion.

The pastor, Rev. F. Preu, read a brief history of the church, its organization and the men prominent in establishing it.  It has been a most potent influence of good in Union county, and it is not too much to say that its influence is felt far and wide throughout the United States, for Kornthal has children in many different states.  We are indebted to Mr. Preu for the following notes.

St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran church at Kornthal was founded in 1857.  The first pastor was a man named Huegel.  Then followed one Nestmann, who preached in 1857-58; then H. Hempeler, in 1859-60; Johann Heckel, 1860-66; Christian Staiger, 1866-68; Karl Hoerig, 1869-74; Johann Baumgaertner, 1875; J.G. Oehlert, 1875-78; Johann Goebel, 1878-79; Friedrichzur Muehlen, 1879-81; Candidat Sigmund Fritschel, 1881; Johann Doerfler, 1881-82; Geo. Meier, 1883-93; Friedricy Preu, 1893-07.

To the congregation belong 33 families and six single persons, or 124 communicants and 151 souls.  In the 50 years of its existence, 296 children were baptized and 279 confirmed.  There have been 69 marriages and 160 funerals.  A total of 12,397 persons took the holy communion.

The church is prosperous, and its people are loyal to it, their county, state and nation.

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Saturday, 17 May 1907)

Surprised Their Pastor

Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter 

            Rev. and Mrs. F. Preu of the German Evangelical Lutheran congregation at Kornthal were made the subjects of a great surprise on Thursday evening of last week, when at 7:30 o'clock the church bell began to ring and simultaneously a large crowd of people filed into the church yard.  Besides the families constituting the congregation the following members of the Southern Illinois Conference of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Iowa and other states, of which Mr. Preu is the president, had arrived:  Rev. H. Kumpf of Altenburg, Mo., Rev. V. Geissendoerfer of Pocahontas, Mo., Rev. G.M. Streetz of Metropolis, Ill., and Rev. J.G. Baumgaertner of New Memphis, Ill.  The object of this secretly planned meeting was to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of Mr. Preu's pastorate.  The surprise was complete.  During the service Rev. Mr. Streetz and Rev. Mr. Kumpf officiated.  The latter delivered the anniversary sermon, which was much appreciated by all.  After the services the brethren of the conference presented their much respected president with a beautiful library table upon which the elders of the congregation placed the substantial gift of a silver card plate heaped full of silver dollars.  After this presentation all were served with delicious ice cream, cake, and fruit.
            It was near midnight when all departed, expression the conviction that the evening was enjoyably spent.  May Rev. Mr. Preu be granted 25 years more in his blessed calling and may the kindly spirit manifested between pastor and congregation on this occasion prevail for many years to come. 

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Saturday, 22 May 1908)

Called to Wisconsin Pastorate

 Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter

The following is from an Oshkosh, Wis., paper:

The cut shown herewith portrays Rev. F. Preu, who has taken charge of the Evangelical Lutheran Zion church on Sawyer avenue in West Algoma.  (The photograph was not printed in the Jonesboro Gazette.)  Mr. Preu will preach his first sermon tomorrow morning.

Mr. Preu had charge of a congregation at Elma, Ia., for a year.  Previous to answering the call extended to him from the Elma congregation, he was pastor of a church at Jonesboro, Ill., for seventeen years.  He was educated in Germany, his native land, but was ordained in this country.  He did mission work in the North and South Dakota for over ten years, taking up that task in 1882 when that section of the middle west was sparsely settled.  He endured many hardships in that work, but his success won recognition for him.  He organized many parishes in that district.  One parish that he had charge of, grew so rapidly that it was divided into twelve parishes.  For several years he was the only Lutheran missionary in North Dakota.

Mr. Preu was introduced to the members of his new congregation at the church last Sunday evening by Rev. George M. Weng, and he spoke for a short time.  The church was prettily decorated with flowers and the newly organized choir under the direction of Mrs. Weng sang several selections.

Mr. Weng, pastor of Christ's church on Church street, had charge of the Zion church from the time of its opening until Mr. Preu arrived.  Mr. Weng preached at the Zion church at 8 o'clock each Sunday morning and again at Christ's church at 10 o'clock.

The Sunday services at the Zion church will be held at 10 o'clock each Sunday morning.  Sunday School will be held at 9 o'clock.  There will be no evening services at the Zion church during the summer months.

Mr. Preu was accompanied to this city by his wife and they have taken up their residence at 298 Dove street.

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 7 Jul 1911)