Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church had its beginning in April of 1843 when the Rev. Abraham Keller, assisted by the Reverends Jesse and George Achlusser, held what was called in those days a ‘protracted meeting’ in St. Paul’s church in the village of Osnaburg. A group of these people, among whom were John Moon, George Surnan, Isaac Woy, George Dull, David Schlusser, Sam Dengler, and Christian G. Kountze, being dissatisfied with conditions within the church, met with Pastor Keller in 1844 and formed a new congregation known as the United Evangelical Church which was later changed to Trinity Lutheran Church. The congregation held its services in what was known as the Union Church.
Lots 117, 118, and 119 were purchased on the southwest corner of Walnut and Market Streets, in the village of Osfiaburg, and work was begun on the new church, which was finally dedicated on Nov. 8, 1846.
Until 1&49, services were evidently conducted in German for in that year a pastor from Canton was secured to preach in the English language for the English-speaking members.
In 1866 Christian Kountze died. He had had plans made for the renovating of the church but was unable to carry them out: His wife, Margaret Kountze, carried out her husband’s plans, the cost being born by the estate.
In 1888 a new church building was started, being the gift of Augustus Kountze of New York City in memory of his parents. Christian and Margaret Kountze. Dedication services were held on Easter. March 29, 1891.
Mr. Kountze was born in Saxony where he learned the trade of a lace weaver. He came to this country when a young man and on landing in New York all the money he had was three Kreutzer, about two cents in our money. He immediately sought: work. He engaged in labor and accumulated a few dollars. With his limited means he commenced with a small bundle of notions; then with a pack, which he carried on his back, finally he could afford to buy a horse and wagon: He prospered and then settled in Osnaburg in about 1825 and opened a store. He was a man of strict integrity and accumulated a fortune.
When the church was being built, most of the building material including the stained glass windows and the organ came by train. When the train would stop at the church to unload, people were so interested they would walk over to the railroad to see what different items were arriving. Stone from the stone quarry on Varian Orchards property was used to construct the walls.
When the new organ was installed and the church windows were open, the organ could be heard for blocks away in the quiet little village.
A $’200,000 blaze ravaged the Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church on July 18, 1968. Irreplaceable stained glass windows, imported from Italy when the structure was built, were shattered by the intense heat. Their value was set at $100,000. A new $6,500 organ was installed a few months previous to the fire.
For 78 years the beautiful stone church housed the faithful Lutherans of the East Canton area.
After a decision to relocate the church, two weeks were spent in a search for the cornerstone in the old building – a search that finally ended in success but not without the aid of a metal detector.
A stone box yielding a small copper box was found in the northeast wall above the foundation, about 8 x 12 inches in size and about 6 inches deep. It was soldered shut.
Council members and Rev. Samuel Hays pried open the box and found, among other things, memorabilia of the Summer of 1888. The box, which had been made by the late John F. Moul, father of Mrs. Louis Meiser of 123 E. Nassau Steel. had preserved its contents perfectiy. An 1881 Bible looked new. Three Canton daily newspapers. The Evening Repository, June 27, 1888: The Daily Democrat. June 30, 1888, and The Advance, June 28, 1888 looked like they had just been printed. Other items in the box included a 12-page, script-written history of the Lutheran Church in Osnaburg for 1843 through June 1888′, pictures of Christian and Margaret Kountze, church founders in whose memory the present church was built; Lutheran literature including a hymnal with just words, no music, and four coins from that era.
The congregation voted to relocate in Lauisville where the Synod thought there would be a greater membership available. Groundbreaking ceremonies took place on Sun., Feb. 8, 1970, at 930 South Nickelplate Ave., Louisville, proposed building site.
First of a projected three units, the 5,400 square foot building wül contain a sanctuary and 9 classrooms.
Ministers who have served Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church :
1843-1845 Rev. Abraham Keller
1845-1846 Rev. C. C. Gunther
1847-1848 Rev. George Wolf
1849 Rev. D. H. Brittle (supply)
1849 Rev. Lawrence Riser
1850 -1852 Rev. S. Seachrist
1861-1863 Rev. Isaiah Delo
1864 Vacant
1865 Rev. George Stelling
1866-1868 Vacant
1868-1870 Rev. G. E. Moore
1870-1881 Vacant
1881-1885 Rev. G. S. Smedley
1886 Vacant
1887-1889 Rev. H. B. Winton
1890-1893 Rev. G. S. Smedley (recalled)
1893-1894 Rev. H. B. Winton (recalled)
1895-1898 Rev. S. T. Himes
1899-1902 Rev. G. W. Dunlap
1902-1905 Rev. J. J. Umberger
1905-1907 Rev. C. A. Boony
1907-1911 Rev. James Hedges
1912 Vacant
1913-1917 Rev. G. K. Allen
1917-1920 Rev. J. Dobbyn
1921-1925 Rev. G. K. Allen (recalled)
1925-1927 Rev. Howard Dunmire
1928-1936 Rev. J. A. Mensch
1936 Seminarian M. S. Lange
1936-1939 Rev. R, R. Highberger
1939-1942 Rev. H. J. Swingle
1943-1945 Rev. C. L. Warstler (supply)
1945-1949 Rev. Solomon Myers (supply)
1950 Vacant with supply
1951-1953 Rev. George Haynes
1954-1955 Rev. Paul Korntheuer
1956-1959 Rev. Paul Walthour
1959 Seminarian Ralph F. Kusserow (Summer)
1959-1966 Rev. Herbert F. Hamberger death
1967-1973 Rev. Samuel K. Hays
1973-present Rev. Donald R. Smith
Margaret Kountze
Christian Kountze
Osnaburg Historical Society 