100+ Years

Another group from this knife River area gathered in a schoolhouse two miles North of present-day Beulah to worship. This schoolhouse was often referred to as the Schnaidt School. A traveling pastor by the name of Johannes Mau came from Rhein, North Dakota, about 15 miles southeast of Beulah, to conduct the worship service on January 10th, 1914.

As documented in the January 10th, 1914, minutes “nach dem Gottesdeinst”, which means “after hearing God’s word 15 men, and we assume their wives, met with pastor Mau after the worship service to discuss incorporating as a congregation. It was decided that day to organize. A charter was written and signed by 15 men. A Constitution was adopted, and they were affiliated with the Iowa Synod. An interesting side note is that the town of Beulah had been established about a month earlier.

The following words are an excerpt from Zion's Diamond Jubilee book written by Tillie Dettman describing the backgrounds, beliefs, and traditions held by whom she calls "these Founding Fathers":

"America" was not what they had visualized it would be - the winters were long and extremely cold, the growing season was considerably shorter, there were no trees, just barren prairies. (They especially missed the fruit trees and vineyards because many German dishes were made with dried fruit, and they were used to making their own wine.) Again, like they had in Russia, they came together in little settlements and naturally they thought what was good enough for their forefathers for 100 years would be good enough for them here. They had given up so much: vineyards, orchards, warm climate and many friends and relatives, but they were determined that they would not give up their German heritage and would remain steadfast in the Lutheran faith and follow the church discipline of their ancestors. They considered this a mandate. They could cope with the different dialects and practices, but they could [not] and would [not] cope with the English language. They called their new church... Zion's Gemeinde.

Immediately after the January 10th organizational meeting, or perhaps later that same day, Pastor Mau was asked to serve this parish, and he accepted. This would be one of four parishes for Pastor Mau. The other three were Nisbet and Rhein in Oliver County, and Peace Lutheran Church, also known as Friedens Gemeinde, which was located 14 miles southwest of Beulah. However, after a short period of time, Pastor Mau resigned from the Nisbet and Rhein parishes, and served only the parishes of Zion and Peace. One can only speculate that there may have been certain conditions involved in Pastor Mau's decision, because, that very same spring of 1914, after the seeding was done, the men of Zion's, or Zion as it is called today, acquired property in the newly established town of Beulah and built a new parsonage for Pastor Mau. This parsonage was built on a lot just south of where a new church would be built in the coming months. The parsonage was finished and dedicated on August 30th, 1914. The total cost of the parsonage, as documented, was $800.00; the Peace Congregation agreed to bear one half of this cost.

The harvest was about to take place, and when that was finished, this small congregation decided they needed a church. The excavating for a basement began with horse-drawn scrapers, and soon they were setting forms and pouring concrete that was mixed in troughs with shovels and garden hoes. Wheelbarrows were not yet available, so they kept moving the trough to the area where the concrete was needed. Shortly after this, the lumber had to be hauled to the site, again with horses and wagons, and the carpentry began. The size of the church was 26 feet wide and 46 feet long with a small bell tower, and later a balcony. It has been recorded that charter member Emmanuel Mattheis was a very talented carpenter. He did much of the finish work and built the altar and pulpit in this very first church. The church was dedicated on November 15th, 1914. It was located at the site of the present-day Congregational Church in Beulah.

The German Minutes book verifies that the congregation held ten congregational meetings in1914.

Pastor Mau conducted five baptisms and one marriage during this first year.

What an accomplishment! Organizing a new congregation, building a new parsonage and a new church all in one year. Times were tough back in those days; families were large, and for many it was a struggle just to keep the family fed and clothed. One hundred years later, we can look back and thank God for these men and their families who saw this great need to build a house of worship. If we could ask them how it was that they were able to accomplish this, their answer would surely be that it was, "Mit Gottes Gnade"

- with the grace of God.

15 charter members were:

 1. Jacob Mauch

2. Karl Hilz, Sr.

3. Ludwig Sailer

4. John Sailer

5. Heinrich Becker, Sr.

6. Philip Becker, Sr.

7. George Schnaidt

8. Emmanuel Mattheis, Sr.

9. Adolf Schuh

10. Frederick Rueb, Sr.

11. Frederick M. Rueb, Jr.

12. Emmanuel Heth

13. John Fischer

14. Edward Kerner

15. William Niehuus

 All but one of these men's families had migrated from the Russian Ukraine.

The charter members are listed in alphabetical order followed by their spouses

Henry & Elizabeth (Voegele) Becker, Sr. - 1914 Charter Member

• 2nd Generation - Katharine (Becker) & Walter Keller

  • 4th Generation - Danny & Debra (Pfliger) Keller

    •   5th Generation - Katie (Keller) West

      •   6th Generation – Andie West

      • 6th Generation – Austin West

    • 5th Generation – Caleb Keller

  • 4th Generation – Debbie (Keller) & Dean Morast

• 2nd Generation – Henry Becker, Jr. & Alfa (Mueller) Becker

  • 3rd Generation – Randy & Sarah Becker

    • 4th Generation – Marshall Backer

    • 4th Generation – Patrick & Samantha Becker

      •   5th Generation - Charlette Becker

    • 4th Generation – Adam Becker

Philip Becker, Sr. & Rosina (Flemmer) Merkel - 1914 Charter Member

• No known descendants who are members at this present time.

John Fischer & Lydia (Brenner) Fischer – 1914 Charter Member

• 2nd Generation – Mary (Fischer) & Elhart Mutzenberger

  • 3rd Generation – Donald & Diane (Wagner) Mutzenberger

Emmanuel & Emilie (Heine) Heth – 1914 Charter Member

• No known descendants who are members at this present time.

Karl & Elizabeth (Heinle) Hilz, Sr. – 1914 Charter Member

• 2nd Generation – Carl & Ida (Schwetz) Hilz. Jr.

  • 3rd Generation – Helmuth & Helen Hilz

    • 4th Generation – Carey (Hilz) Van Pelt

      • 5th Generation – Erica (Van Pelt) & Aaron Petrowitz

        • 6th Generation – Austin Petrowitz

        • 6th Generation Kailynn Petrowitz

    • 4th Generation – Carla (Hilz) Harildstad

      • 5th Generation – Joe Harildstad

      • 5th Generation – Daniel Harildstad

      • 5th Generation – Eric Harildstad

• 2nd Generation – Gottlieb & Lydia (Benz) Hilz

  • 3rd Generation – Gordon & Linda (Hanks) Hilz

Edward & Emma (Weigum) Kerner – 1914 Charter member

• No known descendants who are members at this present time.

Emmanuel & Christine (Miller) Mattheis, Sr. – 1914 Charter Member

• 2nd Generation- Emil & Emilia (Geist) Mattheis

  • 3rd Generation – Oswald & Clara (Scheid) Mattheis

• 2nd Generation – Rudolph & Lydia (Wiedrich) Mattheis

Jacob & Maria Mauch – 1914 Charter Member

• No known descendants who are members at this present time.

William Niehuus – 1914 Charter Member

• No known descendants who are members at this present time.

Frederick & Charlotta (Schopp) Rueb, Jr. – 1914 Charter Member

• 2nd Generation – Fredrick M Rueb, Jr. (Also, A 1914 Charter Member)

Frederick M. & Elizabeth (Schlecht) Rueb, Jr. – 1914 Charter Member

• 3rd Generation – Herb Rueb & Ida (Weil) Rueb

  • 4th Generation – James Rueb & Linda (Schaper) Rueb

    • 5th Generation – James Rueb, Jr.

    • 5th Generation – Rhonda (Rueb) & Shawn Baker

      • 6th Generation – Heather Baker

      • 6th Generation – Cody Baker

    • 5th Generation – Robert Rueb

      • 6th Generation – Kaitlynn Rueb

      • 6th Generation – Korey Rueb

John & Magdalena (Kuntz) Sailer – 1914 Charter Member

• 2nd Generation – Andrew & Florence (Bates) Sailer

  • 4th Generation – Kimberly (Sailer) & Paul Schock

    • 5th Generation – Kennedy Schock

      • 3rd Generation – Gaylen Sailer

Ludwig & Salome (Erdmann) Sailer – 1914 Charter Member

• 2nd Generation – Jacob Sailer & Lillian (Schock) Sailer

George & Karoline (Burkhardt) Schnaidt – 1914 Charter Member

• 2nd Generation – Emil & Frieda (Fischer) Schnaidt

  • 3rd Generation – Larry & Sandi (Flemmer) Schnaidt

Adolph & Louisa (Goehring) Schuh – 1914 Charter Member

• No known descendants who are members at this present time.