Trinity Lutheran Church - SD
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N 43° 34.346 W 096° 55.238
14T E 667905 N 4826486
The "origin" of Trinity can be traced to the movement into Dakota Territory of Lutherans—German Lutherans—from Iowa, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, or wherever they had first stopped in their search for a new life.
Waymark Code: WMTXB
Location: South Dakota, United States
Date Posted: 10/11/2006
Views: 30
. The railroads carried them part of the way. Wagons or their own feet brought them the rest of the way. They left their native lands and family, suffered the loss of some of those they loved, found new loves, and carried their faith with them.
The Northwest District of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, began ministry to these families gathering in the Dakota Territory. In 1874 the Rev. John Doescher was commissioned to serve in the territory. The Rev. George Steinkamp notes in Prairie Faith, Pioneering People that Rev. Doescher reported he was serving twenty-six stations in eight counties with Yankton as his base. Among these stations was the Hartford area. In 1877 the Rev. Doescher left the territory to work in New Orleans. In 1879 the Rev. E. Fred Melcher was one of three candidates to be sent to the Dakota Territory to develop a ministry.
The Rev. Melcher became the pastor of Trinity, Heilbronn, and served that congregation until 1889. In that span of time he also served other areas including Hartford. As a result of the faithful labors of these two men, a congregation was organized in the East Wall Lake area.
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