St. Paul - Chuckery

Celebrating 120 years of a Lutheran presence in Chuckery

In late 1891, many congregants of St. Johns-Neudettelsau appealed to their voters' assembly for the creation of a branch church site on the Darby Plains, near Chuckery. Travel to Neudettelsau had become cumbersome as Lutherans moved further onto the Darby Plains. The distance from Chuckery to Neudettelsau is ten miles, but before 1900 that distance may have as well been 100 miles. Poor roads with a horse the primary mode of transportation, left many German Lutheran families a tough choice in regards to religion and education. The families could attend church only when the roads were passable. And, many families chose to send their children to stay with relatives in the German Settlement during the winter months so that their studies remained uninterrupted.

On August 23, 1891 St. Johns Lutheran Church, Neudettelsau, Ohio voted to erect a branch church/school building south of Big Darby Creek near Chuckery. John Adam Rausch generously offered to give three acres of land to this cause. However, the choice of the location of this land was left to those Lutherans near Chuckery. The Chuckery Lutherans decided that they would need ten acres of land, so they decided to purchase an additional seven acres with their own funds. On March 14, 1892, the Plains Branch of St. Johns Lutheran Church purchased ten acres of land from John and Elizabeth Scheiderer at a price of $67.00 per acre. Chris Eickemeyer of Marysville was awarded the contract to erect the first building for this branch congregation.

The church/school building at Chuckery was dedicated on May 29, 1892. And, Reverend Werfelmann of St. Johns began to preach in Chuckery every third Sunday afternoon of each month. The Plains Branch of St. Johns sent forth its first call to the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in the summer of 1892. But, this call was denied as there were more calls than available ministers. The Synod asked St. Johns to wait another year before splitting the congregation.

Reverend Werfelmann began to teach school three days each week at Chuckery in the fall of 1892. He maintained this schedule through the fall and winter months, when it was possible. Miss Mathilde (Tillie) Scheiderer was hired to teach the spring term in 1893. She had the honor of being the first resident teacher of the Lutheran School in Chuckery. She was also the first woman teacher at the school. There would not be another woman teacher until 1967.

In the summer of 1893, St. Johns once again sent a call to the Synod for a minister. And, this time, the call was accepted by a ministerial candidate, Heinrich Carl Knust. On August 27, 1893, Reverend H. C. Knust was formally ordained by Reverend Werfelmann. On September 3, 1893, Reverend Knust gave delivered his first sermon at St. Johns Neudettelsau. On September 10, 1893, Reverend Knust and twenty six families who lived on the Darby Plains were granted a release from St. Johns. And, on September 17, 1893, St. Paul Lutheran Church at Chuckery was officially chartered.

Over the years, St. Paul Lutheran Church have always been intertwined. From its beginning, until 1902, the church and school shared one building. A separate church was erected in 1902. This building was dedicated on October 12, 1902.

In the early years, Reverend Knust served as both preacher and teacher at St. Paul. However, in 1906 a teacher, Carl W. Buuck, was hired. Until 1967, the school was served by just one teacher. This is truly remarkable given the fact that at peace enrollment there were over sixty children in grades 1-7. The original church/school building served the school until 1952. A new building was dedicated on March 15, 1953. While the new school building was being erected, school sessions were held in the old Chuckery Special School building.

There is much, much more to the St. Paul story! Please follow this blog while I discover more as St. Paul celebrates its 120th year. Also look for more information at www.stpaulchuckery.com.