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St. John's Sauers has been educating children since 1848 ...
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In mid summer 1848, Pastor Sauer persuaded the congregation to construct a school
building. We do not know for certain, but it is believed that Pastor Sauer first conducted school four days per week.
The first schoolhouse was constructed of native lumber, with fireplaces at either end of the building. Hand hewn benches ran the length of the building with an aisle through the center.
Five years later, in 1853, St. John's called its first teacher, J. Kaeppel, who remained until 1857. Mr. Kaeppel's parochial school instruction was interrupted during the three winter months by public school instruction, as well.
The joint public school-parochial school system functioned until 1856, when St. John's was able to raise its teacher salary sufficiently to pay an instructor who did not also have to teach in the public schools.
Heinrich Nolting was called as the school's teacher in 1857 and remained at St. John's for 35 years, until his retirement in 1892. In 1858, the congregation built a log house for his residence.
The first schoolhouse was constructed of native lumber, with fireplaces at either end of the building. Hand hewn benches ran the length of the building with an aisle through the center.
Five years later, in 1853, St. John's called its first teacher, J. Kaeppel, who remained until 1857. Mr. Kaeppel's parochial school instruction was interrupted during the three winter months by public school instruction, as well.
The joint public school-parochial school system functioned until 1856, when St. John's was able to raise its teacher salary sufficiently to pay an instructor who did not also have to teach in the public schools.
Heinrich Nolting was called as the school's teacher in 1857 and remained at St. John's for 35 years, until his retirement in 1892. In 1858, the congregation built a log house for his residence.
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A branch school, commonly referred to as
the "north district" was built in 1869 for children who had too great a distance to walk to the original school
built on church grounds. Wilhelm Baumgart operated the school in this district for 35 years, until
his death in 1904.