Genesee Valley Lutheran Church

Latah Legacy, Vol. 18. No. 1, Spring 1989 “Genesee 100 years”

The Genesee Valley Lutheran Church is the oldest and the first organized Lutheran Congregation in the state of Idaho. The beginnings of the church can be traced back to the first Norwegian settlers who migrated to the area north of Genesee. Establishment of a Lutheran Church was of prime importance to the newcomers. On March 17, 1878, the first service was conducted and a congregation formally organized under the name of "Our Savior’s Lutheran Church." This was 12 years before Idaho was admitted to statehood. A log church building was erected and dedicated in 1880.

A different group of Norwegian settlers organized a second church in the area in 1884. Their congregation, with different feelings and attitudes from the old country, chose the name "The Norwegian Lutheran Lebanon Congregation in the Genesee Valley." Their building was built in 1885.

Both congregations continued to grow and both built newer and larger edifices. Our Savior's built in 1889 and the Lebanon Congregation built in 1912. Relations between the two warmed and the young people made the first move toward a merger by holding a joint youth meeting. In June of 1917, three Lutheran bodies merged on the national level and this brought about the merger of the two churches in the Genesee Valley. The newer and larger Trinity building was selected for their new church home and the name "The Genesee Valley Lutheran Church" was selected. The building serves the present congregation today.

In the early days, the services were conducted in the Norwegian language. For some years, a pastor was shared with the Moscow parish, but since 1960 the congregation has shared a pastor with St. John's Lutheran Church, its sister congregation, in Genesee.

The Genesee Valley Lutheran Church is a beautiful and peaceful site, nestled among the rolling wheat fields of the Palouse. It is a testimony to a strong faith in God. The Genesee Valley Lutheran Church celebrated its 110th anniversary on June 5, 1988.

St John's Lutheran Church

Celebrating 100 Year of God's Faithfulness, Centennial History, St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1989

Early history of the St. John's Church Congregation is filled with color and romance. The people who eventually made up the membership came to a virgin land, new, wild, and wide open. Early in 1876 the first families of Lutheran background came into this territory. Among the first families of Lutheran background, and who eventually initiated the formation of St. John's congregation were: Christian Scharnhorst, George Bullwinkle, John Bottjer, Fred & John Schutte, Goswin Sievert, Carl Ebel and Claus R. Meyer.

These, and later others, came into strictly pioneer lands. This territory; homestead, pre-emption, and timber was given to the early settlers, and they could have 160 acres each. These forbearers of our congregation settled west of what is now known as Genesee. In fact, nearly the whole western country was settled by these pioneer bands of Lutheran people. They had left their native land of Germany as young people. The story of gold, free land, abundant opportunities and adventures plus militarism and crowded conditions in Germany motivated them to come. These pioneers broke soil, and it yielded well to the efforts of farming. They planted the grain, whipped out the full heads with flails and hauled it to the nearest port which was Lewiston. This trip took almost always two full days.

So it was that the first few endured the hardships of primitive time. They reared their families, wrote their friends to come and enjoy their new-found blessings. Ten years passed quickly. In these ten years the land was taken up rapidly as more families had moved in. The population of Lutherans became ten or twelve families by 1888.

They were a religious people, who brought with them the fear and love of God and the desire to bring up their children in the Christian Faith. Our people had no place except their homes in which to worship. They were conscious of their confirmation vows and gladly welcomed the first traveling Missionary of Lutheran Faith. Rev. Fruett came through this Idaho Territory in 1885. He conducted the first service here for our people in the German tongue at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Nebelsieck. As nearly as can be remembered, the following families were in attendance: Christian Scharnhorst, John Bottjer, Claus R. Meyer, Goswin Sievert, Carl Ebel, Fred Schutte, John H. Schmidt and C. Burger. Rev. Fruett conducted two or three services during his stay and then moved on. Two years passed before services were held again. This time Rev. F. A. Selle conducted a few services in the later part of 1887 at the homes of John Bottjer and Christian Scharnhorst. He then moved on.

In the fall of 1888, the Northern Pacific Railroad extended its railroad to Genesee. This was the main branch from Spokane, and caused the rapid growth of the early village of Genesee. The town grew to three hotels, several livery barns, five or six saloons, a bank, Levi & Rosenstein mercantile store, and other stores and places of business.

During this same time, Rev. Anton Horn, a missionary belonging to the Joint Synod of Ohio and Other States, was doing pioneer work in and around Spokane Falls. Another missionary, Rev. Heinrich Rieke, was sent from Wisconsin to do work in the Northwest. Prior to this there was no Lutheran Church of our Synod anywhere for hundreds of miles. These two men met with some of our people and decided that a meeting would be held in January 1889, with the German Lutherans of Genesee, in the hopes of founding a congregation. This meeting took place and thus marked the first official minutes of the present St. John's Lutheran Church. They read: The Book of Minutes of the Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Genesee, Latah County, Idaho Territory.

"In January, 1889, the Evangelical Lutheran citizens of German tongue called a meeting in Genesee Valley, Latah County, Idaho Territory for the 6th day of February, in order to found a congregation and in the future build a church in Genesee. NOTE: At this time Pastors A. Horn and Henry Rieke of Spokane Falls, Washington Territory, are visiting missionaries of the congregation."

In July 1890, the corner stone, designed by Mr. George Bullwinkle, was laid. It contained the early history of the church, a list of the charter members, a Catechism, Hymnal, Bible, and Confessional Books of the Church. In July of 1939, the box was dug out of the corner stone of the new church building and it was found that the contents had been destroyed by moisture.

The Church that was being built did not have a name, and the ladies of the congregation were asked to name the church. They chose, "ST. JOHN'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN." Mr. George Steltz was the builder of the first church. By November 1890, the church was completed. All but $400.00 was paid on the new building.

The building was consecrated by Rev. H. Rieke. Pastor P. Groschupf preached in the forenoon service, and Rev. Hein in forenoon and afternoon in the English language. A Scandinavian pastor also preached in the Scandinavian language in the afternoon. A noon day meal was served by the Ladies Aid of our church. This occasion will long be gladly remembered by our people. The offering was $38.85 of which $10.00 was paid to Rev. Hein for traveling expenses.

Thus the dedication of the first Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Joint Synod of Ohio is done on the 30th day of November 1890, and in the hope that other churches of our faith may soon be born.