Photograph of St. Paul’s Evangelical Reformed Church. Photograph contributed by Esther (Schmidt) Schreiber whose father, sister and three brothers are identified in the photo. The photo was taken by Franklyn S. Sowell, who was known as “The Photograph Man who Made Pictures Anywhere, of Anything, At Any Time”. Sowell had a studio in downtown Portland from 1911 to 1915.
Photographs taken in 1999 of the former St. Paul’s Evangelical Reformed Church and foundation stone
The St. Paul's Evangelical Church dates it’s beginning early in the year 1904 under the leadership of the Reverend Jacob Hergert, a minister serving under the Evangelical Synod of North America. The Reverend Jacob Hergert founded this church in 1904. Reverend Hergert served churches in Endicott and Walla Walla, Washington before moving to Portland.
Meetings were first held in a rental hall on Union Avenue. Under the leadership of Reverend Jacob Hergert, the congregation organized and began to plan for a Church building. The location chosen was the corner lot at NE 8th and Failing Streets where the present building still stands (801 NE Failing).
The original building constitutes part of the present structure which resides on a 5,000 square foot parcel of land. The congregation and church were incorporated as Die Deutsche Evangelische St. Paul's Kirche (The German Evangelical St. Paul's Church).
Reverend Jacob Hergert
Reverend Jacob Hergert served as Pastor of the Church from its inception until 1921, a total of 17 years. Reverend Jacob Hergert died in 1923. Reverend Hergert was listed along with his wife, Christina and son John, in the 1920 U.S. Census. Reverend Hergert immigrated to the United States in 1893 and was naturalized in 1899. He was born in Russia and his mother tongue was German and he could speak English. He was a Minister in the Evangelical Church. He died on December 1, 1923 at his home, 447 Failing Street. He was 64. He was buried at Rose City Cemetery by Pearson's undertaking parlor located at Russell St. and Union Avenue. At his death he left his wife Christina Elizabeth Hergert, sons Alexander, Solomon and John Edward and siblings Mrs. Anna Nagel, John, Adam, Henry, George (living in Russia) and Elias.
Reverend Elias (Eli) Hergert, born June 22, 1878 in Brunnental, Russia, was invited to succeed his brother Jacob. Elias Hergert did not accept this position until 1925. Elias Hergert was a teacher is Siberia before coming to the United States in 1908 with his wife Mary. In 1912 he entered the Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis and following graduation served the local St. Johns Evangelical and Reformed Church until 1916, when for a year he became a home missionary in Wyoming and Montana. He then held a pastorate in Fort Collins, Colorado, until 1925 before he became pastor at St. Paul’s church in Portland. Reverend Hergert had three sons, Elias Jr., Solomon, and Jacob and a daughter Mrs. Joseph Greenwald.
Rev. Elias Hergert, Anna Margaretha (Hergert) Nagel, and Rev. Jacob E. Hergert (brothers and sister). Photograph from Herbert L. Hergert
In the year 1938, the church was enlarged to its present structure under the leadership of Reverend Elias Hergert who was probably the proudest individual at the dedication services. The article below announcing the dedication service for the reconstructed church is taken from The Oregonian in 1939.
1924 Confirmation Class at St. Paul's Church in Portland. Rev. Elias Herget is seated in the center of the front row. Lea Henkel and Victor Wunsch are members of the confirmation class. Contributed by Kimberlee Henkel-Moody and Kris Zelinka.
REV. ELIAS HERGERT PROUD OF RECONSTRUCTED CHURCH
Reverend Elias Hergert
(This is one of a series of biographical sketches of prominent Portland clergymen that was included in the church pages of The Oregonian each Saturday, Sunday and Monday in 1939)
Probably the proudest individual at today's dedication services for the newly‑reconstructed St. Paul's Evangelical and Reformed Church (German) will be the Russian born pastor, Rev. Elias Hergert, who has made a habit of improvement of churches during his 25 years in the ministry.
Rev. Mr. Hergert was born on June 22, 1878, in Brunnental, Volga region in Russia. After receiving a preliminary education in that country he became a schoolmaster near Omsk, Siberia.
In 1900 he married Mary Elizabeth Liebrecht. They have three sons, Solly, Jake and Eli, all well‑known Portland athletes, and a daughter, Mary.
In 1908 the family answered the call of America and came to Portland, where Rev. Jacob Hergert, his a brother, was preaching.
In 1913 Rev. E. Hergert finished his course in the denominational Eden seminary in St. Louis. He was ordained on his birthday that year at Peace church (now St. John's church in the Sellwood district).
After 3 1/2 years at his Sellwood pastorate, Rev. Mr. Hergert moved to a mission field in Montana where he organized Christ church in Hardin, Montana in 1917. When be first built the church, seven families attended. One year later 35 families formed the congregation.
After two years in the Montana field he was called to Fort Collins, Wyo. where he remained seven years. In the first three years of his pastorate the congregation increased in size from 65 to 175. He recalls one great revival meeting in particular when 54 persons were converted.
In 1923 his brother died, leaving the St. Paul's church, which he had organized 18 years before, without a pastor. Rev. E. Hergert was invited but did not accept until 1925. He has been there ever since.
The Mural Canvas Painting 6 ft. high and 12 ft. wide, painted by a well-known Portland Artist, Colista Dowling was presented and dedicated on December 24, 1938 by the children of Mr. and Mrs. J. Erdman. The Mural hangs at the front of the church at the back of the Choir loft.
Don and Virginia wedding photograph on 2 July 1949 at St. Paul's Church. Virginia is the daughter of Mollie Henkel and John Weber. The mural mentioned above is shown in this photograph. Courtesy of Kimberlee Henkel-Moody
Reverend Elias Hergert served as pastor from 1925 to 1939 when he left to minister to a congregation in Lingle, Wyoming. He returned to Portland in 1943 on the advice of his physician to improve his health. Unfortunately his health did not return and he died on March 31, 1944. Reverend Hergert will be remembered for his pastoral works, poems, and often-used songbook “Der Koestliche Schatz” (The Valuable Treasure).
The church was known in the community as "Hergert's Church" after the Hergert brothers who founded and led this church for so many years.
Others who served as pastors following Rev. Hergert are as follows: Reverends A. Bitter, Fisher, F.W. Winkelman, K. Pheifer, E. Pfundt, J. Brown, H. Bock, H. Dymale, H. Schock, R. Maier, Theodore C. Strobel. Many other pastors served on occasion.
In the year 1949, two church members were excommunicated because the board members at that time, one of whom was Church Treasurer, Mr. G. Schmunk who wanted to turn our church to the Lutheran Synod. The Church Body overruled. The board and the two excommunicated members who had been firm in keeping the church were reinstated into membership and the church remained the St. Paul's Evangelical Reformed Church.
The former Church Chairman, Mr. E. Brill was asked by Church Chairman, Mr. J. Erdman shortly before his death, to promise to serve the remainder of his term of office and see to it that the church operate properly that it might prevail. Mr. Brill was later officially elected by the church membership and served as Chairman of the Church for approximately 10 years. Board members at that time were: Mr. C. Kurtti; Mr. G. Schmunk; Mr. J. Maier; Mr. J. Geis.
Mr. J. Erdman served as Church Chairman for 25 years or more. Both Mr. Erdman and Mr. Brill, though the membership was small even at that time, kept the church operating faithfully until both were deceased.
Under the leadership of Reverend H. Bock, the Easter week was chosen to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the church in the year 1955.
Reverend Strobel, who also pastored the Zion Congregational Church served St. Paul’s Church up to May 1, 1973, when he asked to resign due to ill health.
Under the leadership of Reverend Strobel, the Easter season of 1973 was again chosen for the selling and closing of the St. Paul's Evangelical Reformed Church 69 years after its inception.
Those responsible for the selling of the church building are as follows: Mr. G. Schmunk, church chairman of approximately one year, the church board; Mr. C. Kurtti, Mr. A. Miller and Mr. S. Miller.
The reason given for the selling of the church building was the decline in membership, only 21 in number.
At the closing date of the St Paul's Evangelical Reformed Church, the membership in alphabetical order are as follows: Mrs. L. Brill, Mr. and Mrs. C. Fries, Mrs. M. Fick, Mr. J. Geis, Mrs. A. Hergert, Mr. and Mrs. G. Koch, Mr. and Mrs. C. Kurtti, Mr. and Mrs. A. Miller, Mr. S. Miller, Mr. W. Miller, Mr. G. Schmunk, Mrs. M. Schaffer, Mrs. L. Schultheiss, Mrs. E. Schreiber, Mrs. 0. Schmidt, Mrs. R. Seibel, and Mrs. M. Yokel.
Ladies Aid Fellowship Circle members: Mesdames H. Adler, L. Brill, M. Fries, M Fick, A. Hergert, K. Kurtti, K. Koch, M. Miller, M. Meisner, M. Schaffer, E. Schreiber, 0. Schmidt, C. Starkel, L. Schultheiss, R. Seibel, E. Wold and M. Yokel. A total of 17 members and one Honorary Member; Mrs. A. Brehm.
After St. Paul’s was disbanded, it was discovered that the church records had been inadvertently destroyed.
St. Paul’s was called a “Lutheran” church by some. This common reference to that congregation as "Lutheran" may be because of the word "Evangelical". Most Lutheran churches had the word "evangelical" in their formal, legal name also. For instance, the fullname of Trinity is "Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church". In Germany, "Evangelisch" or evangelical (meaning: "of the Gospel" or "of the Evangel") is a synonym for the word "Lutheran". The "Evangelische Kirche" in Germany is the Lutheran church. Thus the possible confusion for German speaking peoples who came to America. [1]
The church is currently (as of January 2012) owned by the Gethsemane Church of God in Christ.
Pastors of St. Paul’s Church
Reverend Jacob Hergert |
1904-1921 Obituary for Reverend Jacob Hergert Der Kirchenbote 1924 PASTOR JACOB HERGERT Pastor Jacob Hergert, born August 15, 1859 in the Russian colony, Brunnenthal, died at Portland, Oregon on December 1, 1923 and was granted the opportunity, as we hope and believe, to celebrate the first Sunday of Advent in the eternal home. The Christian lives, in order to die, and dies in order to live. Reared by devout parents of Swabian roots, he served his Lord after reaching manhood as a teacher. In the year 1893, he was called to a German‑Russian Congregational listed church at Endicott, Washington to be their pastor. He responded to the call from 1894‑1897 and also served in Walla Walla later and other German-Russian establishments in the neighborhood. From Walla Walla he went to settle in Portland in 1904 in order to take over the young German-Russian St. Paul's Church which was one of our Synod. Here he had ample work and a promising field which was no idle stand to be excluded at a market place, for the German-Russian immigrant was important. He served them until his illness which entailed about two years. In the year 1877, the deceased married Miss Christine Lohrei, who was his beloved wife and during his illness, an untiring nurse. The union was blessed with nine children of whom three survive the father. In addition, five brothers and one sister mourn his passing. At his funeral service on December 5th, there appeared a silhouette of the future, a church in which a large number of pastors and church members of various designations attended. A wall of flowers and in spite of pouring rain, a mourning crowd who had barely room in half of the church, bore witness of his popularity. His wish: "Let me go, that I may see Jesus," meant: Do not weep! May tears flow also, the way Lord Jesus shed them over the thorns of sin; out of them the call of comfort wrestles itself free: "The Lord gave it, The Lord took it; The name of the Lord is loved." F. Schaer, Pastor Note: Other churches located in Washington which he served were: Evangelical Lutheran in Endicott and St. John’s church in Alkali Flat, (both from 1894‑1897); Zion Church in Walla Walla (1896-1904); Imanuel church in Packard (1899‑1902). At the 80th Anniversary of the Evangelical Congregational Church at Endicott, Washington on May 19, 1963. It was the second oldest Congregational Church in the State of Washington, according to the Pacific Conference books. In a booklet printed at the time of the anniversary, credit was given to Rev. Jacob Hergert for his written records of the church during his pastorate. It is recorded that the annual salary was $280.00 of which Endicott paid $150.00 and Akali Flat $80.00 and Colfax $50.00. The most sacrificial duty of a pastor was that he had to serve more than one of the churches, even as many as three or four. A case in point, Rev. Hergert, who was a resident minister at Walla Walla, had to come to Ritzville and serve Packard Imanuel church , 14 mile north of Ritzville. [2]
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Reverend Elias Hergert |
1925-1939 Obituary from Der Friedensbote ‑ St. Louis, Missouri - April 30, 1944 PASTOR ELIAS HERGERT On April 5th, the funeral of the deceased Pastor Elias Hergert who died March 31, 1944, created a very great interest and participation in the St. Paul's Evangelical Church in Portland and from there his body was taken to Rose City Cemetery. Rev. Hagelganz, a Congregational minister and a friend and fellow countryman of many years of the deceased preached in German while the local Pastor spoke in English. Altogether 9 Lutheran pastors and 6 clergymen from neighboring German Congregational churches were in attendance. He was born June 22, 1878 in Brunnental on the Volga River in Russia, grew up in the Lutheran faith and church and his confirmation (1893) through Pastor Stuher made an enduring impression on him. He married Maria Elisabeth nee Liebrecht in 1900. Six years later, with her and three children, he moved to the area of Omsk, Siberia in order to take a teaching position. But after losing his 3 children there on account of a diphtheria epidemic, he decided to follow his siblings who had come to America. Pastor Hergert and his family arrived in Portland, Oregon in January 1908 to make a second home. His brother Jacob was Pastor of the Evangelical St. Paul's Church, which was founded in 1904. After the deceased had completed a course of instruction in the Eden Theological Seminary at Webster Groves, Missouri, he was ordained in 1913 in a newly founded St. John's Lutheran Church in Portland and there he found his first Christian work among the Volga Germans. He served the following Volga German Churches: Sheridan, Wyoming; Hardin, Montana; Fort Collins, Colorado; St. Paul’s, Portland, Oregon from 1925 to 1939; and the last one at Lingle, Wyoming; which he then, through the advice of his physician, left in November 1943 in order to improve his health in Portland which did not happen. The doctor suggested that he enter a hospital where 1 1/2 days later on March 31, 1944, his death occurred at age 65 years, nine months and 19 days. Of his 10 children, three died in Siberia, three more in this country. Those who mourn his death include his widow, 3 sons: Elias with his family in Portland; Jacob and Solomon in the Coast Guard; and a daughter, Mrs. Joseph (Mary) Greenwald and her husband in Lingle, Wyoming; one brother, Adam in Portland; and a sister, Anna M. Nagel in Colorado; as well as 3 grandchildren. His own compatriots will remember his name a long time via his pastoral works among themselves and through his publishing and often‑used songbook “Der Koestliche Schatz” (The Valuable Treasure). Carl Pfeiffer, Pastor ______________________________________ From DIE WELT POST, 24 May 1917: Pastor Elias Hergert of Hardin MT has a brother in Russia name John George Hergert. Also a brother Jacob Hergert in Portland OR From DIE WELT POST, 9 May 1917: Pastor Elias Hergert moved to a new position in Fort Morgan CO from Hardin MT. From DIE WELT POST, 20 June 1918: The Travels of Pastor Elias Hergert: In 1916 I went with the Evangelical Synod of North America as a missionary to the states of WY, MT and Portland OR. My home was Sheridan WY. In the spring of 1917, many german people moved to SD, MT and WA. I then went to Hardin MT about 80 miles north of Sheridan. In 1917, I was called to Okeene OK. My brother, Pastor J. Hergert of Portland OR took the call to Farmer, WA (Farmington?) for the Iowa Synod. From DIE WELT POST, 6 March 1924 From Colorado and Russia I just received a letter from brother Carl Fritzler in which he told me that Peter Ehrlich and David Asmus are returning to Fort Collins. You will always be welcome here dear friends. You need not worry about work because there is plenty of work here. More Beets are to be planted this year than ever before and as I hear it, Beet workers get $25 per acre. Besides Beet work there is still much other work. The Union Pacific Railway Company is laying new tracks at the depot and at the freight warehouse and is building a new 18 mile long rail line for which it will need many workers. They say that the Gas which was discovered here will make Fort Collins as large a city as Denver. Since it brings me joy to see here and there reports of my dear village comrades, then I know that it is likewise a joy for others to read something and it is why I take the trouble to write, not only for the sake of Brunnentalers, but for everyone who is happy to hear from me. This report is owing to a person from Grimm by the name of Philipp Schuppe in Fond du Lac, Wisc., who recently sent me a donation for postage. Thank you brother Schuppe! And also brother Christian Fritzler has already made (a donation) which I highly treasure. Thank you friend Moechlinger for your report, from which I saw that the wife of the deceased Georg Hill has gone to her eternal rest. Mr. Adam Mueller can also be heard here and there, that is wonderful. I just learned from a newspaper that my brother, Pastor Jacob Hergert died and I assume that many of you do not know of his death. So I will only briefly report that it was in Portland, Ore., and that his funeral, on Dec. 5, was heavily attended. He reached the age of 64 years, 3 months and 16 days. He was married to Christine, nee Lehrei, who grieves with 3 sons, Alexander, Salome and Johannes. The forest of flowers and the huge attendance at his funeral are testimony of the great popularity of the deceased. Also dying recently in Portland, Ore., was old brother Georg Ditz, born in Brunnental, and the wife of Heinrich Melcher, who came from South Russia. May He who is risen comfort the survivors. Here is a copy of a letter from Pastor Grasmueck from Brunnental: The Distribution Committee was composed of: 1., Joh. Peter Becker, president of the Village Council: 2. Heinrich Weber, vice-president of the Committee for Mutual Aid: 3. Georg Hergert and Konrad Eckert, representing the relatives. I also took part in the distribution and strove to represent the interests of the poorest. In the name of those you helped by your efforts in this emergency, I bespeak to you and the kind donors, my deepest thanks. Greetings, J. Grasmueck, Pastor of Brunnental I still have $35 on hand which I will send off in the next few weeks, because after the sowing the emergency will be greatest and it will go directly there. How would it be, beloved Brunnentalers, if more of you would contribute so that I could send $50 again? Brother Geo. Hoffman in Hastings says: What $50.00? Let us send $100.00 again. Yes, dear brother, if our Brunnentalers all had as loving a heart as you, there would already have been much more than there has been up to now. Last week I had a visitor in the person of Mr. Conrad Beck from Billings, Mont., who recounted for me the following occurrence: He and Johannes Hein were sitting with Mr. Jakob Kaiser in the Shoemaker's workshop. A man entered with a rather nice coat over his arm which he wanted to sell for $6.00. Mr. Beck inspected the coat and said it was still good and worth the money. He said, "my son has such a coat." Mr. Hein bought the coat for $1.50. In the evening when Mr. Beck's son-in-law came home he asked Mr. Beck where his jacket was. Yes, he was searching for his coat! Then it dawned on Mr. Beck and the next morning he went to Mr. Hein and paid him?$1.50 and took his son's coat home with him. With greetings, Elias Hergert, Pastor |
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Rev. A. Bitter |
Reverend Bitter was born in the Volga colonies in Russia. He came to the United States in 1912 after having farmed for a short period in Russia and having served as a sergeant in the Russian army. Shortly after his arrival in the United States he entered the Redfield College in Redfield, South Dakota and later transferred to the Chicago Theological Seminary and the Eden Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. He was ordained in 1917 and served as pastor in O’Kwone, Oklahoma and in Portland before moving to the Wartburg Lutheran Church in Fresno, California in 1923. Reverend Bitter served as a pastor for 30 years before retiring at age 74. During the depression, when many members of his congregation were working for low salaries and or were unemployed, Rev. Bitter volunteered to have his salary cut in order that he might continue his work. [3] |
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Rev. F.W. Winkelman |
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Rev. K. Pheifer |
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Rev. E. Pfundt |
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Rev. J. Brown |
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Rev. H. Bock |
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Rev. H. Dymale |
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Rev. H. Schock |
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Rev. R. Maier |
Reverend Maier served the St. John church in La Crosse, Washington (1951-1955) and the Zion church in Lind, Washington (1955-1957). [4] |
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Rev. Strobel |
196X – 1973 Reverend Strobel served the Zion Church in Walla Walla, Washington from 1926-1929 and the Zion Church in Portland from 1948-1952. [5] |
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Endnotes:
[1] Electronic-mail message from Reverend Mark Hoelter <pastor@trinityportland.org>, Trinity Lutheran Church, Portland, Oregon dated September 25, 1999.
[2] History of the Pacific Conference of Congregational Churches of Washington, Oregon and Idaho, p. 6.
[3] Article from a Fresno, California newspaper. Date and page unknown.
[4] History of the Pacific Conference of Congregational Churches of Washington, Oregon and Idaho, p. 9.
[5] History of the Pacific Conference of Congregational Churches of Washington, Oregon and Idaho, p. 12.