Festschrift zum Fünfzig-jahrigen Jubiläum, 1868-1918
Fiftieth Anniversary Festival Book for St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church
In the school where Pastor Werner began, the number of students grew to 80. He was very strict. Even today, his former students remember the harsh use of his strict sceptre. He taught the children to be useful as well through all kinds of physical work. By the same token, they sang a lot in the school. In the second protocol which we have, dated September 26, 1875, we find that a pipe organ which had been part of the Chicago Exposition, had been bought from a Mr. Schlandecker for $850. The first organists, Liestmann and Blakenhan from Chicago, received their travel fare as remuneration. Now the congregation could have developed into a strong corporation if dissatisfaction and jealousy had not found its way among the members. Unfortunately, a certain tension between the pastor and a number of members became so strong that there was a split so that the original congregation became very weak and the number of students in the church school dropped to 40. It is true that on the 22nd of August, 1880, the resignation of the pastor was denied, but in September of the same year he repeated his resignation and soon afterward laid down his office. A committee consisting of Gustav Schroeder, Friedrich Lumpp, Carl Isermann, John Jarmuth and George C. Klehm called Pastor H. Wolf from Turner Junction, now West Chicago, who had preached here on occasion.
On 23 January, 1881, Pastor H. Wolf began his employment with a yearly salary of $450. He endeavored to guide the ship of the church into the right course by faithful work in church and school, by amending the constitution and by trying to move the congregation to join the Evangelical Synod. However, the application to accomplish this purpose was tabled. The confidence of the people was restored and the number of members grew. On the 4th of December, 1881, the church had 60 members, 34 owners and 26 renters. When at this time it was decided that a new stable costing $217 (16x24x12) be built, the owners were willing to pledge from $50 to $5 and the renters $2.50. John Ahrens at that time gave the congregation a present of a church seal. Even if some of the members weren't completely in agreement in this or that way, nevertheless at the same time the salary of the preacher was raised to $5000 and the beadle was promised $40 a year for his services. And 4 years later, in consideration of the fact that the pastor was teaching as well as spiritual leader, he was given a raise of $100 and at the same time new patented school benches and a reed organ were bought for the school and somewhat later hymnals of the Evangelical Synod were introduced. In order to enhance the services, under Pastor Wolf's capable direction, a choir trained diligently. Many women of the church choir improved their voices anew in a women's choir.
The first little bell, which also served to alarm people when there was a fire, had served its purpose for 20 years; then the desire arose, probably from hearing beautiful fourfold choir singing, to hear clear metallic sounds from the steeple. But because the steeple did not have enough room for two bells, it was decided on January 1, 1887, to add on to the tower and give it a correspondingly high point. This decoration of the church cost $531. Then two beautifully sounding bells were purchased from H. Stuckstede, St. Louis, Missouri, for the sum of $422.25. One had a weight of 1462 pounds and the other one 854.
Pastor Wolf, however, did not hear the beautiful sounds of the church bells for very long, because, on the 16th of June, 1880, he tendered his resignation. It was accepted with regret and best wishes, and on September 1st he took his leave. Soon after, on September 29, 1889, Pastor F. Müller moved in.
Member Portraits, page 12
| Mr. and Mrs. W. Guenther | Dan Biesman | Mr. and Mrs. C. Brandt |
| Mr. and Mrs. J. Tess | Mrs. Ladwig | Mr. and Mrs. J. Nickrenz |
Member Portraits, page 13
| Mr. and Mrs. J. Ahrens | Mrs. Elisabeth Meyer | Mr. and Mrs. C. Schroeder |
| Mr. and Mrs. J. Mueller | Mrs. Minnie Ruesch | Mr. and Mrs. C. Isermann |
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