First Called Lutheran Church pastor of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rogers City, Michigan.  The following is an English translation of a letter Rev. Bohn wrote of the history of St. John’s Church on the occasion of 50th Anniversary [August 1923]:

   “About the middle of June 1873m after I, Joseph A. Bohn, Pastor emeritus, passed my examination for the ministry successfully, a Call for acceptance was handed to me by my sainted professor, Dr. C. F. W. Walther.  This Call, consisting of a few lines, was worded about as follows,  “We, the subscribing Lutheran in and about Rogers City, Presque Isle County, Michigan, herewith, call Candidate Joseph Antonius Bohn, to be our pastor.  We obligate him to remain true to the sacred scriptures and to the complete list of confession writings of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.  We promise to provide him with temporal goods so that he will not suffer want.  Then there followed about eight names.  The rest of the names do not occur to me now, but I do remember that the name of Fredrick Horn was at the head of the list.  [I am sorry that I misplaced the Call.]  Mr. Horn was a leader in religious endeavor and besides the blessings of God, we must credit him that a Lutheran congregation came into being and that a Missouri Synod pastor was called.  It was he [Fredrick Horn] who went to Detroit and pleaded with Pastor J. A. Huegli, who then was president of the Northern District, made up of Michigan and Wisconsin.  Mr. Horn presented the spiritual needs of Lutherans in and around Rogers City and induced the president to send a Missouri Synod pastor up there.  [Mr. Huegli happened to be Mr. Fredrick Horn’s former pastor.]
   After I received and accepted the Call, I first made a trip to Kendallville, Indiana, to spend a few weeks with my parents before I went to my station.  I was barely fourteen days in Kendallville before I received notice from President Huegli, with the urgent appeal to go to my post at once, since an Iowa Synod pastor was active in starting a congregation there.  Immediately, I packed my bag and baggage and undertook the journey via Detroit, to Rogers City.  At the beginning of July, I arrived safely on the Steamer, Marine City.  Mr. And Mrs. Horn and several Lutheran inhabitants were on the dock to greet and receive me.
   Mr. Horn gave me cover and brought me to his house and gave me a room in the upper story facing the lake, which was to be my study and bedroom.  This was at the same time the bedroom of Mr. Horn’s two sons, Robert and Carl.
   Rev. Pastor Huegli had promised that as soon as possible, he would send a pastor to ordain and install me in my ministerial office, yet it took six weeks to do this.  Pastor Lohrmann of Lennox [Macomb County], Michigan, ordained and installed me at the Public School, at Rogers City.  Six week after coming to Rogers City, my books arrived from the Seminary at St. Louis, Missouri, but I nevertheless preached every Sunday at the Public School.  Mr. John Schaedig and Johanna Brege, both of Moltke, wished to be married.  For three suc- cessive weeks the bans were published, but since I was not yet ordained, the groom had to wait two more weeks since the state law prohibited performing the marriage without being ordained.
   A few days after my arrival, I contacted the Lutherans in the community and with the help of the Lord I succeeded in the summer of 1873 to establish four congregations, namely in Rogers city, Crawford’s Quarry, Belknap and Moltke.  Henceforth, I served these, so that on one Sunday, in the forenoon, I would preach in Crawford’s Quarry and in the afternoon at Rogers City.  Then on the next Sunday, I preached in Belknap and the following at Moltke in private homes, so that each congregation had services every three weeks.  The first three years, I visited outlying congregation on foot, because there was a lack of horses.  In this newly-cleared land which was covered with stumps, the farmer sowed his grain.  It was easier and cheaper to work with oxen because when they were not used on the field, they could find food and shelter in the woods.  The first year, I usually went on foot Saturday afternoon to Moltke and Belknap and returned on Monday.  But since I married in 1874, and my wife was afraid to stay two nights by herself and was often lonely, I usually got underway early on Sunday morning and returned on Sunday afternoon.
   Mr. Molitor was very much irritate when he heard that I also preached at Crawford’s Quarry, Belknap and Moltke and would like to have prohibited me from doing the same.  He intended that I should only preach in Rogers City and the farmers should nicely appear all slicked up with cane in their hand and their hat under their arm.  He no doubt thought he had a right to make such a request, since he had donated a lot at the outskirts of the city, toward Crawford’s Quarry.  He also had promised to furnish the lumber.  I refused most decidedly, and told him I did not want to become involved in his transactions and business affairs, and desired very much that he, Molitor, should let me have a free hand in my affairs, since I would know better than he what I had to do to live in peace with my conscience. 
   In the fall or late summer of 1873, the congregation at Rogers City passed a resolution to start building a church.  As much as Molitor was irritated that I did not give in to him, he still kept his promise and donated the property, church and the lumber.  Mr. Fredrick Horn was hired as builder and built almost the entire church with his own hands.  It took quite a while to complete the project, but as soon as I was under roof and the windows were installed, we moved in and immediately conducted our services there.

I will include the Minutes of the First Congregational Meeting, Aug 12, 1873:
  ‘The meeting today was opened by prayer by Rev. Pastor Bohn.
   It was then resolved that the Constitution be read.  The following paragraphs were accepted:  #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11.  Then we proceeded to the election of the elders.  The following were elected for the office of elder:  Fredrick Horn for three years and August Radke  for two years.  Also, a resolution in regard to the name of the new congregation was passed.  The majority cast their vote for the name St. Johannes Kirche.  The above minutes were accepted unanimously.  The meeting was closed with the Lord’s Prayer.   Signed:  Robert J. Horn, Secretary’
   After the four mentioned congregations were established, they held a joint meeting at Crawford’s Quarry in order to adjust matters of salary.  Three hundred fifty dollars [$350] was designated as a year’s salary.  This was payable, not from the day of my arrival, but from the day of the meeting.  So it happened, that I not only had to pay my fare from Kendallville, Indiana to Rogers city, but also for the first three months of my ministry I received no salary.  Since, however, Mr. Horn gave me board and room gratis, I suffered no want.  If Mr. Horn ever received any back pay from the congregation for the year he boarded me, I do not know, but I doubt it very much.  But good father Horn had such a warm heart for the mission, and was overjoyed that the good work of spreading the pure Lutheran Doctrine in Presque Isle County was progressing so nicely.  No sacrifice was too great and no effort too much.  He always kept a cheerful disposition.  Now his good will follow him, and the less he was rewarded here the more will be his gracious reward in heaven. 
[NOTE: Fredrick Horn died 14 June 1880]

In the fall of 1873, I also undertook a missionary journey to Alpena.  There I found a number of Lutherans who did not belong to the Iowa Synod congregation [St. Paul Lutheran – Alpena] or elsewhere.  I preached to them and visited them regularly during the winter and in the spring of 1874, we established a congregation of twenty voting members.  We again turned to President J. A. Huegli in Detroit for help and by his vigorous intercession he succeeded in getting a candidate from the St. Louis Concordia Seminary assigned to us.  Candidate Wilhem Burmester received and accepted the call in the summer of 1874 and was ordained and installed there by me and so my ministry in Alpena was ended. [NOTE: Rev. William Burmester married Anna Huegli, daughter of President J. A. Huegli]

Now I directed my entire attention to the four congregations in Presque Isle County.  Already, in the first weeks after my arrival in Rogers City, I endeavored to begin Christian Day Schools.  At first I conducted school one week at a time in various places.  Soon it became evident that little or nothing was being accomplished, thereby.  So I encouraged the parents at Belknap and Moltke to order primers, and as well as they might, instruct their children in reading and memorizing the text of Luther’s Small Catechism.  I also promised that later on I would make provision for the children, with this they were satisfied.  From now on, for out three years, I conducted Christian Day School only in Rogers City.  I also promised that later on I would make provision for the children who attended by the school-age children of Crawford’s Quarry.  I conducted this instruction for a time in the temporary courthouse across from Mr. Horn’s house; then for a time, in a room in the home of Mr. William Kitchen, later by Mr. Fredrick Bertram and family in a log house in the vicinity of the church on First Street.  Some of my first pupils were Mr. Paul Hoeft and Mr. Carl Horn.
   In the meantime the number of school-aged children in Belknap, ages fourteen and fifteen, had grown to forty, and I felt conscience-bound to train these more intensively.  After the people of Belknap built a log house next to the log church, my wife and I moved there in the fall of 1876.  From here I also served the other congregations.  About this time the Synod also furnished a horse so that because of the hazardous trips on foot, my health might not be ruined prematurely.  Now it was possible every Sunday to take care of two congregations, Belknap in the morning and Moltke in the afternoon, and next Sunday, Rogers City and Crawford’s Quarry the same way.  This arrangement continued for two years.

   Because of excessive hardships and exposure to moisture and rain and much talking in preaching, teaching and making calls, my throat began to suffer.  I complained President Huegli  concerning  my plight and asked for assistance, otherwise, I would have to discontinue my labors.  I also influenced Moltke and Rogers City to form one parish and to call their own pastor.  Again we did not meet with a refusal when we approached President Huegli.  A candidate from the Concordia Seminary in Springfield, Illinois, J. D. Druckenmiller, was provided for Rogers City and Moltke.  In the fall of 1878, he was ordained and installed in both congregations.  My salary was reduced to two hundred seventy- five [$275] dollars per year.

   As far as I was concerned, I remained at Belknap until the spring of 1880.  The people of Crawford’s Quarry moved to Section 12 about the same time and bought land there and settled.  Since the distance from there to Belknap was about two to two and one-half miles, I persuaded them to come to church there, so I could spare my throat.  From Belknap I also went to Posen where we had organized a congregation in 1874, and we served there every six weeks.  Despite the relief that was granted me, my throat trouble increased to such a degree that I thought, no matter how difficult it would be, to resign, and apply for another call.  I had received five different calls from other congregations, but since I was required to teach school at each place and I knew that my acceptance of them would not better the situation, upon the wish of the congregation, I returned the calls.  But where the need was the greatest, God’s help was the nearest.  Man’s extremity becomes God’s opportunity.  In the spring of 1880, I received a call from Frankentrost [Saginaw], Michigan.  The congregation there had a teacher, and since the physician whom I consulted and who examined my throat thoroughly was of the opinion that if I would spare my voice during the week and only preach on Sundays, it would be possible to regain my health.  I accepted the call and the congregation gave me a peaceful dismissal.  The opinion of the physician proved to be true, for in one year my throat was fully healed.

   The seven years up there  [Presque Isle County] were about the most difficult but also the most pleasing and most rewarding of my ministry.  There was toil and hardship in establishing and serving the congregations in Presque Isle County, yet they were my first love and I still have a tender spot in my heart for them.  I did not become homesick nor did I care to leave here.  The work agreed with me and I enjoyed it very much.  Once, while Rev. Burmester of Alpena was visiting with me while driving through the parish, he said to me that evening, ‘Man, how can you bear all this!’  At first I did not know what to answer, but then I said. “Hold out?  This work suits me exactly and I feel that I am very fortunate.  May God bless also in the future the dear congregation up there in Rogers City and other congregations and may he let them prosper to the Glory of His Name and for the salvation of many souls purchased with the blood of Christ. Amen’

  With the Apostle Paul, I can verily say and without exaggeration [2 Cor. 11: 26 ff]:  I was on journeys often, I was in danger in water, in Lake Huron and through the swamps, when there was much water, and in danger of robbers, in danger by the unbelievers, in danger in the deep forest and in danger among false brethren.  In weariness and labor, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and destitution; besides those things that come upon me daily in the care of all my churches.  Yet, I also wish honestly and humble to say, with the Apostle, ‘By the Grace of God I am what I am, His Grace bestowed upon me has not been in vain.’  How often when the waves were highest, His promise was my only comfort and stay. ‘My Grace is sufficient for thee; My Strength is made perfect in weakness.’”

Sola Dei Gloria  [To God All Glory Alone]
J. A. Bohn, Pastor emeritus
August 1923
   
       VVV
                ADDITIONAL NOTES ON REV. BOHN 
        

1850  born Joseph Antonius Bohn 17 January 1850 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 
d. 18 November 1922 Detroit, Michigan [72 years, 10 months, 1 day] Funeral: 21 Nov 1922 - St. John's Lutheran Church - Fraser [Macomb County], Michigan 

1864  entered Concordia Gymnasium [prep school] - Fort Wayne, Indiana 

1873  graduated Concordia Seminary - St. Louis, Missouri 

1873  10th Sunday after Trinity ordained into the Lutheran ministry and Installed as Pastor of  Rogers City, Crawford's  Quarry, Belknap, and Moltke [Presque Isle County], MI  by the  Rev. C Lohrmann 

1874  married Amalie Wilhelmine Lang, b. 25 Nov 1850 Williamsburg, New York - daughter of Julius Lang, at St. John's Lutheran Church of Kendallville, Indiana. 

1880  accepted Call to St. John's Lutheran Church - Frankentrost [Saginaw County], Michigan 

1891 accepted Call to St. John's Lutheran Church - Detroit, Michigan 

1894  accepted Call to St. Paul Lutheran Church - Fort Wayne, Indiana 

1896   became first pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church - Fort Wayne, Indiana 
accepted Call to St. John's Lutheran Church - Fraser, Michigan [son Philipp 
was the Assistant  Pastor] 1911  wife Amalie died in Fraser, Michigan 

1913  married Friedericke Falch 

1917  retired from the Ministry and son, Philipp, became Head Pastor of St. John's Church,Fraser,  Michigan 

1922  died 22 November 1922 in Detroit, Michigan.  Unknown where he is buried.  He was survived by his widow, 3 sons, 13 grandchildren, and 2 brothers  9 children were born to  Pastor and Mrs. Bohn.  5 Lived to dulthood.  1 became a Lutheran minister.   

   HOME