Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church (Marysville, Neb.) [RG3977.AM]

NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID

RG3977.AM:  Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church (Marysville, Neb.)

Records:  1872-1970

Marysville, Seward County, Neb.:  Evangelical Lutheran Church

Size:  2 reels of microfilm

HISTORICAL NOTE

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church was founded in 1870 on Lincoln Creek, Seward County, 3 1/2 miles west of Staplehurst, in the small community of Marysville. The congregation shared its first pastor, the Rev. Theodore Gruber, with the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Middle Creek. In 1873, Zion was received into membership in the Missouri Synod joining the Western District. The following year the Rev. Jacob Seidel became the first resident pastor, and a church and parsonage were built. A school was added in 1884.

Since many of Zion’s members came from near Staplehurst, a sister congregation, Immanuel Lutheran Church, was organized there in 1888. Although Zion had two other sister congregations, Immanuel of Gresham and Immanuel of Rising City, Zion continued to grow in Marysville. When the Marysville mill burned down in 1915, the town began to decline. However, Zion maintained its membership and erected its present church building that same year. In 1966, Zion and Immanuel of Staplehurst merged forming Our Redeemer Lutheran Church of Staplehurst, which meets in the old Immanuel church building.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

This collection of records of the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church of Marysville, Nebraska, consists of eleven volumes and twenty-two architectural drawings on two reels of microfilm arranged in six series: 1) Minutes, 1901-1921; 2) Anniversary Booklets, 1920, 1945 and 1970; 3) Architectural Drawings, ca. 1915; 4) Architectural Specifications, ca. 1915; 5) Church Record, 1872-1966; and 6) Minutes, 1873-1962.

Portions of this collection were loaned for microfilming at two different times. The material on Reel 1, Series 1-4, was assembled during research to nominate the church building to the National Register of Historic Places. It consists of the volume containing minutes of meetings from 1901-1921, architectural drawings and specifications prepared in 1915 by the Lincoln firm of Berlinghof and Davis, and three anniversary booklets containing historical sketches of the church. This material was loaned for microfilming in August of 1979.

The material on Reel 2, Series 5-6 was loaned for microfilming in May of 1984. These volumes contain the record of memberships, baptisms, marriages, and confirmations from 1872-1966; as well as minutes of meetings from 1873 to 1966, except for the 1901-1921 volume which is on Reel 1 and the 1939-1958 volume which is missing. The minutes are written in German through 1938.

DESCRIPTION

Series 1 – Minutes, 1901-1921

Reel 1

Volume

1. 1. 1901-1921

Series 2 – Anniversary Booklets, 1920, 1945 and 1970

1. 1. Commemoration of jubilee of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1920 (in German)

1. 1. Commemoration of the diamond jubilee of the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1945

1. 1. Commemoration of centennial celebration of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1970

Series 3 – Architectural Drawings, ca. 1915

Approximately 22 sheets showing elevations, sectional plans, interior and exterior details, and floor plan

Series 4 – Architectural Specifications, ca. 1915

1. 1. Instructions for Bidders

1. 1. General Specifications

1. 1. Electrical Work Specifications

Series 5 – Church Record, 1872-1966

Roll 2

Volume

1. 1. 1872-1884

1. 1. 1884-1931

1. 1. 1931-1966

Series 6 – Minutes, 1873-1962

1. 1. 1873-1884

1. 1. 1884-1889 (for 1901-1921, see Roll 1, Series 1, Volume 1)

1. 1. 1922-1938

1. 1. 1959-1966

ADDED ENTRIES:

Architects — Nebraska

Architecture — Design and plans

Berlinghof and Davis, Architects (Lincoln, Neb.)

German Evangelical Lutheran Church in Nebraska

Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church (Staplehurst, Neb.)

Lutheran Church in Nebraska

Marysville (Neb.) — Churches

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (Staplehurst, Neb.)

Seward County (Neb.) — Churches

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church (Marysville, Neb.)

Revised 07-27-2009   TMM