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First Students of St. Paul’s College

 
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roger.pape
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 10:42 am    Post subject: First Students of St. Paul’s College Reply with quote

Under the leadership of Rev. Francis Julius Biltz of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Concordia, MO, approval was given at the 1883 convention of the Western District of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (or The German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and Other States as it was known then) to start a preparatory school in Concordia for the training of Lutheran ministers. Formal class instruction began on Jan. 3, 1884 in a rented house until a proper facility could be constructed on a four acre parcel purchased for the new school. (See photos below.) Under the instruction of Professor Andrew Baepler, the first class at “St. Paul’s Academy” consisted of three students, namely Karl Niermann, John Viets, and Martin Luetjen.

The following is a brief biography of those three students. Interestingly, two of them returned to Concordia upon retirement. They lived a block apart and within a block or two of St. Paul’s Church. Both died in their homes in Concordia and are buried in St. Paul’s Cemetery.

Karl Niermann –

Karl Heinrich Wilhelm Nierman (a.k.a. Charles) was born 9 Mar 1867 in Worden, Illinois, son of Heinrich Niermann and Sophie Blase. As a young child, his family moved to a farm in Johnson County, MO just south of Concordia, MO. He attended St. Paul’s Lutheran Elementary School and was confirmed at St. Paul’s in 1881.

After graduation from the Seminary, he accepted a call to New Orleans, LA. However, he returned briefly to Concordia to marry Renate Wilk, daughter of Teacher Wilhelm Wilk and Marie Bublitz, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Concordia, MO on 4 Jan 1892.

In the 1900 census he is listed as a minister living in New Orleans with his wife Renata, daughter Lydia (born Jul 1895 in Louisiana), and adopted son Emil Finke (born 1897 in Missouri). [Note. Emil's mother Wilhelmina Niermann Finke died 7 April 1899. On 30 Nov 1902, his father Fritz married Katherine Brinkhoff at St. Paul's Church and in the 1920 census, Emil can be found back living with his father and family on a farm in Grover Township.]

In the 1910 census, Rev. Niermann is listed as principal of Concordia College (now Concordia University Wisconsin at New Orleans-Metairie) living with his second wife Cora, three children Lydia, Henry and Irene, and three teenage "scholars" who were probably students at the college.

Renate died on 15 Oct 1905. Then on 21 April 1907, Karl married Cora Alice Georg, daughter of John Georg and Christine Sperlein. Cora was born in Maryland so one might suspect that this relationship was somehow connected with the school New Orleans.

Later, Rev. Niermann served as pastor in the Cole Camp, MO area for many years before retiring in Concordia, MO.

He died 26 Nov 1959 at 406 Bismark St., Concordia, MO.

John Viets –

John Conrad Viets was born 5 Jun 1868 in Lake Creek (Pettis County), MO, son of Claus Viets and Katherine Harms. On 4 Sep 1892, he married Anna Brase, also from Lake Creek, MO and daughter of Claus Brase and Gesine Mueller.

After graduation from the Seminary, he served congregations in various locations, including Stearns County, Minnesota and Benton County (Monsees), MO.

The 1910 census lists Rev. Viets as a farmer in Noble County, Oklahoma. According to grandson John Schnakenberg, he left the ministry in 1908 allegedly because of throat problems and bought a farm in Noble Co. The farm turned out to be over a large oil field which is still producing oil to this day. But in 1913, after mostly drought years, he left the farm and took a job as manager of the Lutheran nursing home in Des Peres, Missouri. (According to family legend, Rev. Viets was swindled out of the benefits of his land in Oklahoma by a former neighbor.)

Then in 1915 he moved to Ernestville, MO where he served as pastor at St. Matthews until he retired in 1931. In the 1920 census records, he can be found back living in Concordia, MO. After "retirement" he continued serve as assistant pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and other congregations in the area.

Rev. Viets died 4 Nov 1951 at 408 Gordon St., Concordia, MO.

Martin Luetjen –

Martin Johann Karl Luetjen was born 26 Feb 1869 in Freedom Township, Lafayette County, MO, son of Dietrich Luetjen and Henrietta Euling. St. Paul’s Lutheran Church records show that Martin was baptized on 28 Mar 1869 and confirmed in 1882.

He did not enter the ministry. On 8 May 1890, he married Dorothea (Dorette) Wolpers, daughter of Henry Wolpers and Caroline Hartman, at St. Paul’s Church. In the 1900 Freedom Township census records, he is listed as a farmer living with his wife Dorothea and six children. By 1910, Martin and Dora had moved with their seven children to Fremont County, Idaho where he continued farming.

Martin died 19 Sep 1920 and is buried in Squirrel Cemetery, Fremont County, Idaho.



1884Building.jpg
 Description:
First permanent building on St. Paul's College campus (completed in time for classes in the fall of 1884). Known for many years as the 1884 Building. Together with the second building adjacent to it (built in 1889-90), they were known as Founder's Hall.
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1884Building.jpg



FirstClassroom.jpg
 Description:
Rented house used as first classroom for St. Paul's College. Moved to the school's campus and now houses St. Paul's College Historical Society Museum.

Photo by twvisionary posted on Panoramio.
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FirstClassroom.jpg


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