St. Martins Evangelical Lutheran Church
submitted by Mary Smith
surveyed thru 1979



 

History
During the spring of 1879, Christ Elfert, Ludwig and Dorothea (Elfert) Plagmann arrived in Dakota territory to homestead in Taylor Township, Hanson County. 

Shortly after their arrival, the first Lutheran Church service to be held at the vicinity took place at Christ Elferts home conducted by Pastor Melcher, a traveling missionary.

Later that same year, John Elfert, his wife Dorothea, along with Carl and Karoline (Elfert) Schuldt homestead in the same area. There were followed by other Lutheran families. Another missionary Rev. Andrew Moeller served the group from 1879 to 1886. The first child to be baptized was Frieda Plagmann who was born in 1879.

In the year 1883 "Lehmanns' school house," Taylor township No. 3 was built, and the Lutheran church services were conducted in the school building. From 1885 to 1888 Rev. Laux served the mission station. 

Some time after their arrival to D.T. the Ludwig Plagmann gave a portion of their land to be used as a cemetery by the Lutheran group, as well as land for the parsonage and church at later time. In 1888 Pastor Waechter took charge of the group of Lutherans, and on October 7, 1888 there were organized into a congregation which was to have the name of St. Martins Evangelical Lutheran Church. The charter members were Christian Schuldt, Carl Schuldt, Carl Schulz, Carl Lehmann, Ludwig Plagmann, and Henry Schulz.

A new parsonage was built in 1891, and the first resident pastor was Rev. William Zabil, who served until 1898, when he was succeeded by Rev. Menger.

The congregation continued to held their church services at Lehmanns school until 1899, when a new church was built, under Rev. Roerig's pastorate. He served until 1905, when Rev. F. Freese became the pastor along with the St. Martins Lutheran Church in Clayton township, Hutchinson County for a time. He became the pastor of St. Peters exclusively in 1906.

St. Martins was served by the following pastors: Rev. W. Licht from 1906 to 1907; Rev. Hubert from 1907 to 1914; Rev. W. Lobranz 1914 to 1916; and Rev. Ed Dewald from 1916 to 1932. The German language was used almost exclusively until the time of World War I.

On March 9, 1931 the St. Martins Lutheran Church purchased a building and property in Alexandria, and the congregation moved to Alexandria where there was no Lutheran Church.

A group of Lutherans in Fairview Township, Hanson County and known as the "Fairview Congregation: decided to disband, and join the St. Martins Lutheran congregation.

Rev. Dewald continued to live at the country parsonage, while serve the church in town until 1932. He resigned after serving St. Martins Lutheran church for seventeen years.

Meanwhile, the church parsonage in Taylor Township was sold and moved to the Mayer ranch on the James River. The country church was sold to Sam Harbert, who tore it down, using the lumber to build a house west of Alexandria.

The majority of the land upon which the church stood went back to the John Plagmann farm, and others which were purchased from Carl Schuldt, was sold to August Schuldt. The St. Martins Lutheran cemetery remains in Taylor Township near the site, where the old church once stood.

The decision to move from the rural district, was because of dwindling membership. The move gave the congregation new life and growth.

Rev. Jurgens was the pastor until 1938, when Rev. Nitschke became the pastor of the Alexandria-Spencer churches. He remained until 1942, at which time Trinity Lutheran at Spencer SD decided to call a pastor of their own.

In January 1943, a joint meeting of St. Johns Lutheran Church of Emery, and St. Martins of Alexandria agreed to join congregations, in calling a pastor to serve both parishes. Candidate Carl Losser agreed to serve both congregations, and in July 1943, he was ordained and installed by the Rev. H. Luebke of Clayton. Rev. Losser was the pastor of the Emery-Alexandria congregations for the next ten years. During this time, a parsonage was purchased in Alexandria. Rev. Carl Losser married Lorraine, daughter of the George Heimans of Emery. In 1953 Rev. Losser and his family moved to Idaho.

That year, Rev. Robert Uttecht became the pastor of the Emery-Alexandria parishes.

The future pastors served both St. Johns and St. Martins Lutheran churches for many years.

 

ST. MARTINS EVANGELICAL GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH

CEMETERY INSCRIPTIONS 57-101-6 TAYLOR TOWNSHIP

Dittman, Herman A.                        No Monument
                                                         Born Sept. 2, 1894/Died June 23, 1912

Dittman, Betty Jean                       Betty Jean/Dec. 10-19, 1928

Dittman, Marvin                              Marvin W./March 5-10, 1932

Eichstaedt, Harry J.H.                    Henry JN/Son of H.L. & O.S. Eichstaedt/Died Jan 3, 1899/Age 1 mo.

Gall, Johann                                     Sogh Ou??/O. & P./Gall/Gest 1 Aug 1910
                                                          Uller 1 yr 6ms 5 ds

Hamann, Herrick                              Herrick Friedrick William/Son of Johann &
                                                           Minna Hamann/Born 8 March 1882/Died 9 April 1905

Hamann, Johann & Minna               Hamann/Johann/1841-1914/Minna 1841-1925

Heiman, Velma                                 Velma A./Born & Died Nov. 1922

Helling, Clarence                              Clarence Albert/Son of O.S. & Emma Helling/
                                                           Born Sept. 10, 1906/Died May 12, 1907

Helling, Hazel                                   Helling/Hazel 1924-1925
              Leona                                  1917-1917

Hornig, Sophia Barbara                    Sophia/Barbara/Horning/16 Juni 1901
                                                           Aller 71 Jahle 7 Monale

Itahn, Lidia M.F.                               Daughter of T.F. & J. Itahn/Gest 30 July 1910/2 yr. 3 mo. 18 ds.

Kissinger, Johanna R.                      Johanna R. Kissinger/Aug. 9, 1832/Aug. 26 1910

Kruger, Gottlieb                                Kruger/Gottlieb Kruger/Died May 31, 1897/Aged 42 yrs. 2 ms 3ds/
                                                           We knew  no Sorrow/Knew no Grief/Till Thy Bright Face was missed.

Lehmann, Maria                                Maria/Lehmann/24 Oct. 1851/Gest/29 Dez. 1943/Ruhe Sanft
                 Carl                                    Carl/Lehmann/Geb/11 Dec. 1845/Gest/14 Jan 1907
                                                            Ruhe Sanft

Licht, Bertha                                      Bertha Licht/Mother/Feb. 11, 1887/Mar. 25, 1927
           Emma                                       Mother/Emma Licht/1872-1910
           Hugo                                        Father/Hugo Licht/Sept. 30, 1890/Aug. 12, 1933

Marquardt, Anna                               No Monument (Funeral Director 1940-1940)
                    Fred                                 No Monument (Funeral Director 1928-1928)
Marquardt,                                         No Monument

Ollenburg, Lydia                                Lydia/Ollenburg/3 Aug 1843/Gest/30 Dec. 1893

Ollenburg, Martin J.                          Martin J/Ollenburg/Geb/10 Juni 1902/21 Maerz 1903

Plagmann, Anna                                 19 Jan 1989/19 Feb. 1895

Plagmann, Ludwig                              Ludwig Plagmann/Born May 2, 1846/Died April 15, 1934
                  Dorothea                           Dorothea Elfert/His Wife/Born July 24, 1849/Died April 6, 1912/
                                                             Their Memory is Blessed.

Ryberg, Mary                                     Mother/Mary Ryberg/1832-1920

Schuldt, Christian                                Christian/Schuldt/Geb/18 Nov. 1821/Gest/20 Oct. 1896
               Maria                                     Maria/Schuldt/Geb/9 Nov. 1821/Gest/29 Aug. 1905

Schuldt, Carl                                         Father/Sept. 13, 1849/Jan. 22, 1918
              Carolina                                  Mother/Nov. 19, 1852/June 26, 1922

Schuldt, Harold A.                                Son of/Mr & Mrs Aug. Schuldt/
                                                              Born Feb. 24, 1913/Died June 24, 1913

Schuldt, August                                    No Monument
                Meta                                     No Monument (Marker only 1888-1973)

Schuldt, Augusta                                  Scheutz/Augusta/May 27, 1858/Oct. 27, 1916
              Andrew                                   Andrew/Oct. 12, 1858/Jan 13, 1928

Schulz, Clara                                        Clara Schulz/Apr. 30, 1915/May 3, 1915/Daughter of/Henry & Emma
 
 


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