Monroe in Monroe County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Lutherans In Monroe County

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 28, 2018

1. Lutherans In Monroe County Marker

Inscription.
German pioneers who began settling this area in 1828 formed Monroe County's first Lutheran church here in 1834. The Rev. Friedrich Schmid became their first pastor, traveling by horseback from Ann Arbor. The growing congregation incorporated as Zoar Church in 1838 and built a log church.

Trinity and Zion in Monroe, Holy Ghost in Raisinville, and Immanuel in Ida all developed from Zoar by 1849. Zoar became St. Paul's Lutheran in 1858, completing a one-room brick church here in 1860. The larger church built here in 1873 testifies to the enduring faith of this Lutheran country congregation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1828.

Location. 41° 53.204′ N, 83° 26.423′ W. Marker is in Monroe, Michigan, in Monroe County. Marker is on West Albain Road, 0.2 miles west of South Telegraph Road (U.S. 24), on the left when traveling west. Marker is located on the grounds of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, near the northwest corner of the building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4631 West Albain Road, Monroe MI 48161, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. LaSalle Township FD 9/11 Memorial (approx. 1.4 miles away); Airborne Memorial (approx. 2.4 miles away);

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Michigan: Historic Crossroads / Michigan: Twenty-Sixth State (approx. 2.4 miles away); Memorial Place (approx. 2.6 miles away); Michigan's Tribute to Kentucky (approx. 2.6 miles away); Monroe Pike (approx. 2.6 miles away); Indian Attack (approx. 2.7 miles away); St. John the Baptist Catholic Church (approx. 2.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Monroe.

Also see . . .
1. Early Lutherans in Michigan. The Michigan District Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 125 Years: 1881-2006 PDF:
In 1833, the Basel Mission Institute of Switzerland sent Friedrich Schmid “the pioneer Lutheran minister of Michigan,” as its first missionary to the United States. A newly ordained pastor from Wurttemberg, Germany, Friedrich Schmid arrived in August 1833 and led the first Lutheran service in Michigan inside a Detroit carpenter shop. Schmid is credited with founding some 20 churches in Michigan, including parishes in Monroe, Detroit, Plymouth, Ann Arbor and surrounding areas. (Submitted on August 15, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Lutheran Church in Michigan and Detroit. Historic Trinity website entry:
Rev. Schmid continued his missionary zeal from the Ann Arbor area. With the help of missionaries from the European

Lutherans In Monroe County Marker (<i>tall view; St. Paul's Church in background</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 28, 2018

2. Lutherans In Monroe County Marker (tall view; St. Paul's Church in background)

Societies, he established Lutheran Churches in Detroit, Monroe, Lansing, Marshall, Adrian, Grand Rapids, Sebewaing, Saginaw, Waterloo, Chelsea, Bridgewater, Northfield, Saline, Ypsilanti, Plymouth, Jackson and Wayne. Loehe’s men, Otto F. Hattstaedt in Monroe, Philipp Jakob Trautmannn in Adrian, Friedrich Lochner in Toledo, Friedrich August Craemer in Frankenmuth and F. K. Wyneken in Fort Wayne, were called to these parishes. Wyneken was the Pastor who got Loehe interested in the church in the U.S. (Submitted on August 15, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Lutherans In Monroe County Marker (<i>wide view; St. Paul's Church [west side] in background</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 28, 2018

3. Lutherans In Monroe County Marker (wide view; St. Paul's Church [west side] in background)

Church Entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, March 30, 2021

4. Church Entrance

St. Paul's Lutheran Church entrance with German stonework above circular window "St. Paul's Kirche 1904"

St. Paul's Lutheran Church (<i>front view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 28, 2018

5. St. Paul's Lutheran Church (front view)

St. Paul's Lutheran Church Cemetery (<i>located on church grounds</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 28, 2018

6. St. Paul's Lutheran Church Cemetery (located on church grounds)

One of many 19th century German headstones located within St. Paul's Lutheran Church Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 28, 2018

7. One of many 19th century German headstones located within St. Paul's Lutheran Church Cemetery

Credits. This page was last revised on March 10, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 15, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 398 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 15, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 4. submitted on March 30, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. 5, 6, 7. submitted on August 15, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.