Shortly after the beginning of the 19th century, groups of Lutheran families living in the Shenandoah valley of Virginia and nearby Pennsylvania began migrating westward to the newly formed state of Ohio. Many of these families settled on and near the "Flint Ridge" in Franklin township north of the National turnpike. The township itself consisted entirely of United States military lands which the national government had set aside as payments to the officers and soldiers who had served in the American Revolution.
Among these early settlers were Daniel Motherspaugh, John Feasel, Henry Burner, Jacob Row, Jacob and John Wilkin, Jacob Switzer (Swisher), George Ernst, Michael Fry and a Mr. Dustheimer. Some of these families were the organizers of St. John's Lutheran Church (the first Lutheran Church in Licking County). George Ernst and Daniel Motherspaugh were the first elders. There are, at the present time, several families who are direct descendents of these families.
Prior to their migration to Ohio, many of these families had be instructed in the Lutheran Faith by the Reverend Paul Henkel who was Pastor of the Lutherans living in and near New Market, Virginia. Pastor Henkel was the grandson of the Reverend Andrew Jacob Henkel who had migrated from Germany to America in 1717. In due time Paul Henkel became one of the outstanding pioneer missionaries of the early 19th century.
Pastor Henkel had six sons, five of whom he trained for the ministry. Sons Ambrose and Solomon established a print shop in New Market and published many Lutheran works such as Luther's Catechism. Phillip and David ministered in Tennessee and helped to organize the Tennessee Synod. Polycarp and Socrates labored in the south while Andrew ministered to the Lutherans in Ohio.
In 1810 Pastor Paul Henkel left New Market and traveled west in a two wheeled cart to establish congregations in central Ohio. In Perry and Licking counties he found members of the families he had known in Virginia. Moving on to other communities, he left his son Andrew in charge of the congregations he had organized Somerset. Gathering the Lutherans that had settled in the vicinity of Flint Ridge, in 1817 Andrew Henkel organized and became the first pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church which this year is celebrating its 175th Anniversary. St. John's is 14th in the list of the oldest congregations in the Ohio Synod.
Pastor Henklel served St. John's congregation until 1824 when he accepted a call to the Lutheran Church in Lancaster, Ohio. For about two years thereafter
the pulpit was supplied by Pastors John Wagenhals, Peter Schmucker (who then lived in Newark) and Charles Henkel who was serving the congregation in Somerset.
In the fall of 1826 Reverend Amos Bartholomew was called as Pastor and served for about eleven years. Since his resignation, in or about 1837, up to and including the present incumbent, the congregation has been served by at least twenty seven pastors and a number of supply pastors. Until this year 1992 Pastor J.L. Galbreath has served the longest pastorate, a term of 16 years. However, in March of this year, our present minister, Pastor Hansen, will be celebrating his 17th year as pastor of St. John's.
In 1784, during the pastorate of J. D. Nunemacher, the building erected in 1834 was repaired. In 1890 the pastor, C. W. Siffered appointed a committee to study the feasibility of either repairing the old structure or erecting a new one. Since the construction of a new edifice seemed impractical and no repairs were recommended, the mater was dropped until January 13, 1897. During the congregational meeting held that date, those present unanimously agreed that a new church building should be erected on the site of the then decrepit old building, at a contract price of $1237.40. At this meeting, Mr. Oren Cooperrider was appointed secretary of the congregation (Mr. Cooperrider frequently held this office throughout his long lifetime and was made an honorary member of church council when he voluntarily resigned, because of age in 1942.)
The old building was moved to the back of the lot so that the cornerstone of the new building could be laid on Sunday afternoon, July 4, 1897 with appropriate services by the pastor. In the cornerstone were placed a Bible, a number of books, synodical minutes, local newspapers and other items. The construction, which members and friends expedited by delivering the materials used, went forward so rapidly that the dedication of the structure was set for November 14, 1897. However , because of a incessant rain, the dedication had to be postponed until November 28 at which time the pastor announced that the remaining indebtedness had been covered by pledges and offerings even though adverse economic conditions prevailed in the nation. The total cost of the building and its furnishings is listed as $2113.04. As a note of interest, this amount is about the average offering received on a normal Sunday in 1992.
From the records extant it would appear that the furnishings of the new building consisted largely of pews which were just replaced recently, a pulpit in the center of the chancel, a quantity of straight back chairs, and other items. The auditorium was illuminated by kerosene lamps.
