The First One Hundred Years (1869-1969)

The earliest history of our congregation goes back to 1853. It was in that year that a small group of pioneer Lutherans organized the "Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Adams County, Illinois." For several years services were conducted in a log house which was rebuilt to serve as a church. Soon a number of members living west of Golden requested their Pastor, Rev. J. T. Boetticher, to conduct services for them in Golden, or Keokuk Junction, as it was then called, because the long drives to South Prairie were not only an inconvenience but really a hardship. Rev. Boetticher gave his consent and conducted services regularly from 1867 to 1868 in a school house and in the C. B. & Q. Depot. Needless to say, worshipping under such conditions proved to be very unsatisfactory, so the trustees investigated the possibility of purchasing a plot of ground in Golden on which they could build a House of Worship. They finally bought the plot of ground on which the church, parsonage, teacher’s residence, and the school stand today at a public auction for $105.60. Later an organization was affected with 53 charter members.

Soon the desire was expressed to separate from the mother congregation and become self-supporting. At a meeting, February 24, 1868 it was resolved to ask for a peaceful dismissal from the mother congregation. It was further resolved that the members would give up all rights and claims to the five acres in Clayton Township in exchange for the plot of ground in Keokuk Junction.

After the separation had been brought about peacefully, in full accord with the mother congregation, a new church was built in Golden in 1868 at a cost of $3,000. A parsonage was built in the same year at $800. The first trustees of the newly organized congregation were: G.H. Buss, Ontke Ihnen, and Johann Eigenberg.

On May 9, 1869 the new church was dedicated with the Rev. Boetticher officiating and being assisted by Rev. Reiss of Arenzville, Illinois and Rev. Kuhl of Carthage, Illinois. On the above date the first Pastor, Rev. J. Tjaden, was also installed. Rev. Tjaden remained with the congregation only a few months. After a vacancy of some time the congregation secured a new Pastor in Rev. P. Kleinlein of Nauvoo, Illinois, who took charge in 1870 and served the congregation for ten years. His labors were not in vain, for it was through his faithful service that the Lord blessed the up building of the congregation numerically and spiritually. During his time in 1873 the congregation was incorporated. The congregation, which originally was affiliated with the Illinois Synod under his guidance, became affiliated with the Iowa Synod and later with the Wisconsin Synod. In 1877 some of the members left the congregation and organized a congregation of their own in Golden, which is known as the Trinity Lutheran Church. In 1880 Rev. Kleinlein accepted a call to Menominee, Wisconsin. Rev. C. Zlomke became the next Pastor, but as his teachings and doctrine were not in union with that of the congregation, her was released November 15, 1882. Rev. F. W. A. Liefeld of Burlington, Wisconsin accepted a call to this congregation in 1883 and labored successfully for six years after which time he moved to Indiana.

The next Pastor, Rev. F. Alpers, also of Burlington, Wisconsin, served the congregation sixteen years, and then accepted a call to Carolina, Wisconsin. In 1905, Rev. A. P. Meyer was called and on October 15 of the same year was installed as Pastor of the congregation. During his time, the congregation purchased some property west of Golden, which was properly improved and devoted to the burial of the dead. It was during his time that the congregation decided to erect a new magnificent House of Worship. In 1910, Rev. Meyer was called as Professor as the head of the Pacific Seminary at Olympia, Washington. After due consideration, the congregation decided to comply with the wish of their Pastor and granted him a peaceful dismissal on June 12, 1910.

Rev. H. Lindemann was called as his successor and began his duties in August of 1910. Under his energetic guidance the congregation succeeded in completing its new House of Worship, which they were privileged to dedicate to God on September 17, 1911. Through his faithful service, the congregation enjoyed substantial growth. A new parsonage was built in 1915 and the Parochial School and teacher’s residence in 1920. A spirit of cooperation must have reigned and the congregation enjoyed the blessings of God, or it would never have been possible to build the present magnificent plant. In August 1923, Dr. Lindemann received a call from Woodville, Ohio, and after deliberate consideration her was granted a peaceful dismissal to take up his new duties in Woodville.

After a vacancy of a year, a call was extended to Rev. J. M. Johnson of Marshfield, Wisconsin. Rev. Johnson became the Pastor of the congregation in August 1924. During his pastorate, a new steam vapor-heating unit was installed in 1926. The interior of the church was redecorated in 1927. In 1934, the congregation officially joined and became a synodical member of the American Lutheran Church. In 1936, the cemetery was incorporated as a separate organization. March 5, 1939, the congregation joined the Pension Plan. In May 1940, Rev. Johnson asked for a peaceful dismissal to accept a call to Peru, Illinois. This dismissal was granted.

For the next several months, neighboring Pastors supplied the congregation until a call was extended to Rev. J. B. Achermann, of Belgrade, Nebraska. Rev. Ackermann was installed on November 3, 1940. In 1941, the congregation was engaged in a general repair program at a cost of almost 5,000. At this time the high steeple was also removed from the Church. In 1942, the American Lutheran Hymnal was adopted as the official hymnal of the congregation. In 1943, the congregation unanimously adopted a new constitution in the English language. Rev. J. B. Achermann served until May 1948, when he accepted a call to Sibley, Iowa.

Rev. Edward Keller was called and served from 1948 to July of 1951. On October 2, 1949, the 80^th anniversary of our Christian Day School was celebrated with special services in the morning and evening. Rev. H. Lindemann from Avoca, Wisconsin, preached in the morning, followed by a basket dinner and social gathering in the Community Hall. For the evening service, Rev. H. H. Landdeck from Davenport, Iowa was the speaker.

In July 1951, Rev. Keller moved to California and the congregation was served by Pastor William Klein of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Carthage, Illinois, until December 1952 (about 18 months) when Pastor E. F. Staehling accepted a call to be our Pastor, serving until 1955. Pastors serving since include:

Rev. C. G. Meyer 1955-1959

Rev. Conrad Grosenick 1959-1963

Rev. Frank A. Marks 1963-1965

Rev. Willis A. Yarian 1966-1972

During the winter of 1949-1950 the Church Basement was dug and finished off into Sunday school classrooms. Due to lack of students and difficulty in securing teachers, it was voted in January 1958 to discontinue the Christian Day School and to have a Vacation Bible School instead.

During the following years, the need for a home for the aged came to the attention of our Brotherhood, with the result that men from the churches in the Golden vicinity were invited to attend a meeting in our school basement on April 12, 1960. At which men from the Health Department and Public Aid spoke and stressed the need for such a home. At another meeting, on May 19, 1960, it was decided to go ahead in organizing a home for the aged and the name to be the Golden Good Shepherd Home. Two directors were to be elected by each of the four churches. The Golden Good Shepherd Home was incorporated on June 2, 1960, and the building was started soon after. The Home was dedicated on October 27, 1963 with 42 beds.

In 1961, the interior of the church was remodeled and redecorated, and a new organ built with 16 ranks and 929 pipes. The total cost was about $22, 000.

Pastor Grosenick visited some Lutherans in the Augusta are and was encouraged to hold worship services in Augusta. Permission was granted with the result that Faith Lutheran Church was organized and a building program started. The new Faith Lutheran Church was dedicated on June 7, 1964.

Since 1868, 1225 persons were baptized, 802 were confirmed, 450 received a Christian burial, and 263 couples were married.

To help in kingdom building, the congregation has a Sunday school, ALCM, 2 ALCW circles, a Young Married Couples Group, a Luther League, a Junior and Senior Choir, and a Sewing Circle.

Four sons of Immanuel Lutheran Church have been ordained into the ministry:

John Peters Ordained in June, 1917

William Ufkes Ordained in June, 1943

Paul Albers Ordained in June, 1953

Russell Mueller Ordained in June, 1957

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