Germania Community Churches

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The beautiful little church in the wildwood which is located seven miles northeast of Queen City, Missouri. St. John's is a shining example of what can be accomplished when a rural church has the enthusiastic support of devoted Christian laymen. 

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized on September 5, 1866, by Rev. John Schumacher at an assembly of member held at the home of Nicholas and Elizabeth Sloop. The first building, built in 1867, was frame, measured 24' by 36', and sat just northeast of the present site. During the 1870's a Germany Sunday School was organized. By 1885, it was half German and half English. Both German and English services were held as late as 1890. In 1903, during the pastorship of Rev. H. M. Brewer, plans for a new building were begun and 1903 G. W. Perry, F. A. Figge, Andrew Gottman, Louis Bergman and J. B. Snowbarger formed a building committee. The cornerstone was laid October 11, 1903 and the church dedication took place May 22, 1904. The new building was 20' by 40' with a 12' by 28' fronting annex with vestibule and steeple. The new church cost $2,400. 

The following is a list of pastors who have served St. John's Church, together with her charter members. 

Pastor's

John Schumacher, 1866-1870

H. Ehlers, 1871-1873

Charles E. Raymond, 1876-1877

Herman Julfs, 1878-1882

Joseph Focht, 1882-1884

F. B. Cunz, 1885-1886

Paul B. Holtgrove, 1886-1890

Henry Funk, 1892-1895

Carl Brimm, 1896

A. Martinus, 1897-1899

G. Wenning, 1899-1901

H. M. Brewer, 1901-1903

Oscar Woods, 1904

J. C. Jacoby, 1905-1909

C. J. Fester, 1909-1911

Alfonse A. Marohn, 1913-1914

J. F. Hershiser, 1915-1918

Herman Psicholz, 1922-1927

Arthur Althafer, 1928-1930

J. W. Ellis, 1936-1937

Charter Member's

Leonard Schafer

John Young

John Knittle

August Bergman

H. A. Leyhe

William Figge

John Wolf

John Snowbarger

John L. Wolf

Nicholas Arni

Leonard Schafer

Jacob Miller

Phillip J. Deierling

Wendel Deierling

Fred Grantler 

Paul Arni

John H. Miller

Christian Schupbach 

Jacob Schmitter

Jacob Snowbarger

Daniel Miller

Jacob Miller

Jacob Affoltor 

Adam Wohl

Gustave Riddle

Ernest Koch

Abraham Snowbarger

Nicholas Weis

John W. Deierling

Jacob Wolf

August Adam

The German Methodist Episcopal Church was located in Section 9, Township 65, Range 14, east and north of the Germania Cemetery, approximately six miles southeast of Lancaster.  According to the deed record (Book 12, page 66), the land was deeded to the Trustees of the German Methodist Episcopal Church from Henry and Rachel (Schafer) Leyhe on June 8th, 1869. The trustees at that time were: George F. Wilkey, B.F. Wilkey, Jacob Arney (Arni), John M. Koons (Coons) and Philip Beeler, and to their successors in office as trustees of said German Methodist Church Episcopal Church, for the purpose "to erect a house of Worship of all mighty God for the use and benefit of the said German Methodist Episcopal Church". 

The below article is from the, "Queen City Transcript", April 28th, 1905, Page 3, that speaks to the congregation meeting to build a new church. 

"Last Sunday was a good day with Germania Methodist.  Large congregations were in attendance both morning and evening.  A deep interest was manifest in the themes presented.  The children and a number of the older people of the church and community are desirous of having a Sabbath School organized.  This work is needed and should be had, for the young are crying for spiritual food.  It is hoped, and by many earnestly believed, that the work will be taken up by some consecrated persons who feel a desire to help "feed my lambs."  A new church is being talked of for Germania.  The present one has done service for many years but has reached that stage in its existence that its needs can only be met by a new building.  There are those planning for this enterprise now.  Every resident of the surround county should feel it a special privilege to assist movement for it brings a spirit of progress, thrift and religion into a community that enhances the value of every farm, secures the sacredness of the home and promotes purity of body, mind and soul.  The man that is no interested in such movements and who is not glad to contribute to such enterprises has but little interest in his own home and its surroundings, nor in that part of the kingdom which lies nearest him." 

The first building was replaced around 1908.   A list dated January 22, 1908, specifies:  We the undersigned agree to pay the amount opposite our names for the purpose of Building a Church on the lot where the Germania Methodist Church now stands. 

Charles Gardine          $20.00

A.G. Sweikert                  5.00

Mrs. G. A. Johnson           .50

G. A. Johnson               10.00

Note on the back of the list: "This is a list of the money mama collected to build the church, some of the names are so dim-can't make them all out, who they are. Of course there must of been some other folks collecting money too, for this wouldn't of payed for the church. I'm sorry we never got a picture of the church for it was a pretty building."

When the German Methodist Church closed, the property was sold to the cemetery association for $1.00 and other valuable considerations. A note on the back of a letter to the District Superintendent states: "This is the papers about the transfer of the church and land to the cemetery as they had to do it that way so the church could be sold. If I remember right it only brought $275 and the land $25, which wasn't much. Pape thought the lamps and bell were stolen--and New Hope got the seats, but they set a check for $100.

The organ and the German Bible also went to the New Hope Church, and when New Hope closed both items were donated to the Schuyler County Historical Society and can be seen at the museum. 

As of October 21, 1952, Trustees of the Germania Methodist Church were: William Snowbarger, Henry Yearns and Lowell Reidel. Stewards were William Snowbarger, Henry Years, Treasurer, Lowell Reidel, Mrs. Freda (Henry) Yearns, and Mrs. Lydia (Wm) Snowbarger. 

Pastor's (taken from Schuyler County Newspaper Articles)

1901-1903, J. J. Smiley

1904, H. F. Horsman

1905, C. C. Crickette

1931-1932, H. E. Heltner

1933, Rev. Hicks

1955-1956, James. A. Wall (from Kirksville)

Marriages

-Adolf and Mary Hoffman (September 05, 1880)

Funerals

-Mary (Weitzel) Craig (May 22, 1940)

Members

-Pauline Isophine (Coons) Gardine

-Frankie (Figge) Yearns

-Fred Gardine

-William & Lydia Snowbarger

-Freda (Heilen) Yearns

-Luticia (Craig) Everly

-Carl August Yearns