St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (Otoe, Neb.) [RG4020.AM]

NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID

RG4020.AM:  St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (Otoe, Neb.)

Records:  1878-1956

Otoe, Otoe County, Neb.:  Evangelical Lutheran church

Size:  1 reel of microfilm

HISTORICAL NOTE

St. Luke’s Lutheran Church had its beginning in informal services held in settler’s homes during the late 1850s. By the late 1860s, St. Luke’s was formally organized and services were held in the District 4 school house, Otoe County. The church operated under the auspices of the Alleghany Synod of the Old German Synod and was served by traveling ministers including H.W. Kuhn of Omaha and John Groenmiller of Rockport, Missouri. In 1867 Rev. Eli Huber of Nebraska City began serving St. Luke’s on a regular basis.

From 1876-1880 St. Luke’s was affiliated with the old Nebraska Synod. The church was served by two pastors during these years: Rev. Peshau, 1876-1878; and Rev. Dietrich, 1878-1979. In 1880 St. Luke’s received a new pastor, Rev. Spriegel, who would remain until 1912. The Congregation erected its church building in 1882-1883, a meeting-house style structure with bell tower, and pane-glass windows. This structure seated 150 and served 50-60 families.

In 1902 some of the members left St. Luke’s to form the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Otoe. The two congregations became one parish in 1913, served by a single pastor, the Rev. Mikkelson. In 1914 St. Luke’s began shifting from German to English services, and by 1930, only one service each month was in the German language. By 1936 all services were in English.

In 1926 the church requested the Rev. Bold of the Delaware Lutheran Church to take over their parish, which brought the church into the Iowa Synod. In 1931 the Iowa Synod joined the Buffalo Synod to form the American Lutheran Church. In 1956 St. Luke’s was closed and soon after, the building was demolished.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

This collection consists of one volume, a church register, 1878-1956, of St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Otoe, Nebraska. The volume is contained on one reel of microfilm. Included in the register are records of baptisms, marriages, deaths, communicants, confirmations, and collections.

DESCRIPTION

Reel 1

Volume

1. 1. Church register, 1878-1956 including:
      
      
      
      Baptisms, pp. 2-56
      
      Marriages, pp. 60-63 and pp. 300-303
      
      Deaths, pp. 90-119 and pp. 260-166
      
      Communicants, pp. 120-252
      
      Confirmations, pp. 278-290
      
      Collections, pp. 340-354

ADDED ENTRIES:

German Evangelical Lutheran Church in Nebraska

Lutheran Church in Nebraska

Otoe (Neb.) — Churches

Otoe County (Neb.) — Churches

St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (Otoe, Neb.)

Revised 06-12-2009   TMM