The following was known about Johann Ferdinand Lill from the Zion Lutheran Church – Alva, Oklahoma 100 year celebration book “Zion Lutheran Church 1899-1999 Alva, OK”:

“Johann F. Lill was born on September 24, 1874, in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from seminary in Springfield in the year 1898 and was ordained on October 2 of that a same year in Huntsville, Kansas. After a short pastorate, he served as a traveling missionary at Plevna, KS, Nashville, KS, Preston, KS, Stafford, KS, and Alva, OK. How many churches he might have helped organize remains uncertain. His term as a missionary was also brief as by the 23rd of September, 1900, he was serving as a pastor in Dubuque, Kansas. He resigned from the ministry in 1901. (His resignation is listed under “teacher”, so he may have served in a dual role). That is all that is known of Lill.”[1][2]

This chapter documents the results of a genealogical search for more information about Johann Ferdinand Lill that are summarized as a timeline of events.

1874 Birth

When Johann Ferdinand Lill was born on September 24, 1874, in Chicago, Illinois[2], his father, August Franz Heinrich Lill Sr, was 24 and his mother, Therese Reetz, was 19.

Cook County, Illinois, Birth Certificates Index, 1871-1922

Discussion

While no first name is given on the birth certificate document, we see from the following 1880 US Census that it is John.  And, from other documents his full given name is Johann Ferdinand.

1880 US Census

By 1880, John Lill’s parents and family had moved to Charter Oak, Iowa.

Marital Status: Single; Relation to Head: Son

1885 Iowa State Census

1895 Iowa State Census

1898 Graduation

 John F. Lill graduated from the Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, Illinois in 1898.  (From “Zion Lutheran Church 1899-1999 Alva, OK”)[2]

1898 Pastor – Huntsville, Kansas 

John F Lill was ordained October 2, 1898 at Huntsville, Kansas (From “Zion Lutheran Church 1899-1999 Alva, OK”)[2]

Translation

On behalf of the Honorable President Hafner, Candidate Joh. Lill on the 17th Sunday after Trinity was ordained and installed in the congregation by Huntsville, Kansas by the undersigned. H. Voss. Address: Rev. Joh. Lill, Plevna, Reno County, Kansas.[5]

Huntsville, Kansas is an unincorporated community in Reno County, Kansas, and is about 20 miles west of Hutchinson, Kansas.

1899 Traveling Missionary

After a short pastorate, Rev. Lill served as a traveling missionary at Plevna, KS, Nashville, KS, Preston, KS, Stafford, KS, and Alva, OK.  (From “Zion Lutheran Church 1899-1999 Alva, OK”)

A route connecting the mission churches based on current roads that Rev. Lill.could have taken is shown on the above map.  In 1898-1900 the roads were certainly different and the mode of travel would have probably been by saddle horse or horse and buggy. And it would have taken much longer than 3 hours to go the full distance.

1899 Zion Lutheran Church – Alva

The Zion Lutheran Church – Alva, Oklahoma was reportedly organized May 21 of 1899 under the leadership of traveling missionary Johann Ferdinand Lill.

Information Sources

Der Lutheraner, Volume 56, Number 17, 21 August 1900, pages 261-263 as translated by Fred Eggers. From a report of more than 1 1/2 pages entitled Oklahoma: According to Pastor Lill from Kansas, Alva, Woods County, which he had previously been serving, has called Candidate H. Meyer from this year’s graduating class. The congregation organized in Alva is one of 16 members, and there still about 10 families which can be hoped to join. The people are glad that a pastor in her midst, and want to build church and parsonage.. From Alva the new pastor is to be sent out in all directions. The prospects for success are very favorable, because there are many German Lutherans living in Woods County, as Pastor Lill reports.

Der Lutheraner, Volume 56, Number 20, 2 October 1900, page 315 as translated by Fred Eggers. Ordinationtent und Einführungen (Ordinations and Installations) On behalf of the Honorable President Hafner, Candidate Herm. Meier on the 13th Sunday after Trinity in his church at Alva, Kansas (sic), led by J. F. Lill.

1900 US Census

No 1900 US Census record has been found for John F Lill.  A record exists for John  Lill’s parents and family but John is not listed.  And, A record also exists for the parents of John Lill’s future wife’s family 

1900 Pastor – Dubuque, Kansas 

By 23 Sep 1900,  Rev. Johann Ferdinand Lill was a pastor at Dubuque, Kansas. (From “Zion Lutheran Church 1899-1999 Alva, OK”){2]

Information Sources

Der Lutheraner, Volume 56, Number 25, 25 December 1900, page 395 as translated by Fred Eggers: Ordinationtent und Einführungen (Ordinations and Installations) On behalf of the Honorable President of the Kansas District, Pastor Joh.Lill on the 15th Sunday after Trinity in his congregation at Dubuque, Kansas led by J. G. F. Kleinhans.

Der Lutheraner, Volume 56, Number 20, 2 October 1900, page 320 as translated by Fred Eggers: Veränderte Adreſſen (Changed Addresses) Rev. Jno. F. Lill, Dubuque, Russell Co., Kans.

The unincorporated community of Dubuque is located on the border of Barton and Russell Counties. It was Polish immigrants who settled the area following the Civil War. Volga Germans settled in the area shortly thereafter, coming from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa.

Most of the Volga Germans in the area attended there. A school was also built near the Lutheran Church. Only the cemetery remains across the road from the ruins of the Lutheran Church.

Information Source

The Center for Volga German Studies at Concordia University, “Dubuque, Barton/Russell County, Kansas”. Downloaded from http://cvgs.cu-portland.edu/immigration/united_states/kansas/dubuque.cfm on 13 Oc 2017.

1900 Marriage

Rev. Johann F. Lill married Rose Katherine Haas in on 12 Dec 1900, when he was 26 years old and his bride was 21 years old.

Name:	John F Lill
Gender:	Male
Event Type:	Marriage
Marriage Date:	12 Dec 1900
Marriage Place:	Various Counties, Montana; Illinois; Kansas
Spouse:	Rosa Haas
Church Name:	Immanuel
Church Location:	Russell, Kansas

Locations: Church: Russell County (near Dubuque), Kansas Groom: Dubuque, Kansas, USA; Bride: Plevna, Kansas, USA

Information Source

“U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1826-1945”;  Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) Archives; Elk Grove Village, Illinois, Ancestry.com Operations Inc, Provo, UT, USA, 2015. Downloaded 15 Oct 2017.

Johann Ferdinand Lill resigned as “Teacher”  in 1901 – he may have served in a dual role.  (From “Zion Lutheran Church 1899-1999 Alva, OK”)

Johann F. Lill lived in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1905.

Marital Status: Married; Address: 2719 Adel Street

John F Lill lived in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1906. Occupation: Laborer Cudahy Pkg Co, Address: 1605 5th.

John F Lill lived in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1907.Occupation: Laborer Palmer & Co, Address: 1605 5th

John F Lill is lived in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1908. Occupation: Laborer Palmer & Co,, Address: 515 Prospect

John F Lill is lived in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1909. Occupation: Clerk Palmer & Co,, Address: 515 Prospect

John F Lill is lived in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1910. Occupation: Clerk Cudahy Pkg Co,, Address: 515 Prospect

1910 US Census

Johann Ferdinand Lill lived in Sioux City, Iowa, on April 26, 1910.

Johann Ferdinand Lill lived in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1915.

Marital Status: Married; Occupation: Book Keeper, Standard Oil Company; Residence: 612 Pavonia

John F. Lill lived in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1916.  Occupation: Book Keeper, Standard Oil Company; Spouse: Rose K Lill; Residence: 612 Pavonia 

Johann F Lill lived in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1917. Occupation: Stock Clerk, Standard Oil Company; Spouse: Rose K Lill; Residence: 612 Pavonia

Johann F Lill lived in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1918. Occupation: Stock Clerk; Spouse: Rose K Lill Residence: 117 S Rustin

Johann Ferdinand Lill lived in Beadle County, South Dakota, on September 12, 1918. Present Occupation: Clerk Standard Oil Co.; Huron, South Dakota; Nearest Relative: Zena Lill, 117 So Rustin Ave., Sioux City, Iowa.

Discussion

John Lill is living in Huron, South Dakota and uses his employer as his address. And, he lists his oldest daughter, Zena Grace Lill, as his nearest relative who is living at 117 So Rustin Ave., Sioux City, Iowa.  Apparently, John Lill is separated from his wife and may be divorced.  In the 1920 US Census as shown below, John Lill’s wife lists herself as being divorced.

1920 US Census

No 1920 US Census record has been found for Johann Ferdinand Lill. However. the census record for his wife, Rosa Lill, was found. According to this, Rosa is divorced.

1920 • Sioux City Precinct 13, Woodbury, Iowa, USA

Residence Marital Status: Divorced

Joh F Lill lived in St Paul, Minnesota in 1923.Occupation: Watchman Illinois Steel Warehouse Co, Residence: St Paul, Minnesota [To Be Verified]

John F Lill lived in St Paul, Minnesota in 1926.Occupation: Watchman Illinois Steel Warehouse Co, Residence: St Paul, Minnesota [To Be Verified]

1936 Death

Several Family Trees in Ancestry state that Johann Ferdinand Lill died in 1936.  However, no supporting documentation has been found.

Where

Johann Ferdinand Lill lived in many locations:

Birth: 24 Sep 1874 • Chicago, Illinois; Residence: 1880 • Charter Oak, Iowa Residence: 1885 • Charter Oak, Iowa; Graduation: 1898 • Springfield, Illinois; Ordination:1898 • Huntsville, Kansas; Missionary; 1899 • Alva, Oklahoma; Marriage: 1900 • Dubuque, Residence: 1905 • Sioux City,  Iowa; Residence: 1908 • Sioux City, Iowa; Residence: 1910 • Sioux City, Iowa; Residence: 1915 • Sioux City, Iowa; Residence: 1916 • Sioux City, Iowa;; Residence: 1917 • Sioux City, Iowa; Residence: 1918 • Huron, South Dakota,

Future Research

1. Determine what Johann Ferdinand Lill Lill did after 1918.
2. Document the death and internment of Johann Ferdinand Lill.
3. In the 1880 US Census, both of John Lill’s parent’s birthplaces are listed as being born in Prussia. In the 1885 Iowa State Census, John Lll’s father and mother are listed as being from Germany. In the 1900 US Census, John Lifl’s father is listed as being born in Germany. In the 1910 US Census database record, John F. Lill parents birthplaces were transcribed as being from Holland – however the original census document shows their birthplaces as being “Hol-Duetch L”.  In the 1915 Iowa State Census record, John F. Lill lists his parents as being born in Holland. Possibly John Lill was trying to minimize his German heritage because WWI was in progress.  Further research on John Lill’s ancestors should resolve this issue.

Notes

1. See Chapter: Founding of Zion Lutheran Church – Alva
2. Fred M. Eggers forwarded the following response that he received from Mark J. Bliese of the Concordia Historical Institute, Saint Louis, MO for a request for any records on the education and service record of Rev. Johann Ferdinand Lill:  “John F. Lill was born Sep. 24, 1874 in Chicago, IL. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, IL 1898 and was ordained in Huntsville, KS on Oct. 2, 1898. He served there until Sep. 23, 1900, at which time he started serving in Dubuque, KS. He resigned from the LCMS ministry in 1901. That is all the data we have on him from our LCMS personal record card.”.  This confirms the information provided in the Zion Lutheran Church – Alva, Oklahoma 100 year celebration book “Zion Lutheran Church 1899-1999 Alva, OK”,  However, no mention is made of Rev.Lill serving as a traveling missionary.  Did Rev.Lill possibly serve as a traveling missionary at the same time as he was the pastor at Huntsville, KS?
3. Fred M. Eggers also forwarded a copy of an article “DUBUQUE, IMMANUEL’S. Just north of the southern border line of Russell county a colony of Germans settled in the seventies. Among these Rev. R. Erdtmann began preaching as early as 1879. On the 19th of October that year he organized Immanuel’s church at the small inland town of Dubuque. The charter members consisted of Messrs Robert Janne, George Kastorf, August Kluesener, Hermann Lucemann, Heinrich Knabke, Hermann Kluesener, Eduard Rahenkampf, Christian Hilgenberg, George Ansehurz and George Buhler and their families. The first trustees were August Kluesener, Christian AnsohnIctz and Dietrick Knabke. At first services were held In the homes of the members. Shortly afterward and during the pastorate of Rev. Erdtmann ground was obtained for a church and a cemetery. Plans were adopted for a structure 23 by 43 feet, of stone, and with a wooden tower, which was completed and dedicated. The building cost all told $2,000 and is without debt. In November, 1900 the congregation built a parsonage 28 by 30 feet, frame, and at a cost of $1,200. This was all paid for when completed. The congregation has a parochial school with an enrollment of 30 and a Sunday school with a similar enrollment. The cemetery is located opposite the church. The pastors have been as follows: Revs. It Erdtmann, 1883-93; Bracuhahn, 1893-6; H. Westphal, 1896; John Kteinhaus, 1896-1901; C. A. Mcnnenoh, 1901-4; Carl Martin, 1904-7; Friedrich Kasten, 1907. For some time the church was independent served by independent and Missouri Synod pastors. In 1901 it came within the influence of the German Synod of Nebraska in which it is at present enrolled. It has 104 communicant members and property valued at $2,675.” in a book by Ott, Rev. H.A. “A History of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Kansas”, Kansas Synod, 1907, p. 187.  There is no mention of Rev. Johann F. Lill in this article. However, as noted above, the Ordination and Installation of Rev. Johann F. Lill at the Dubuque, Kansas congregation is led by J. G. F. Kleinhans.
4. Der Lutheraner, Volume 54, Number 20, 4 October 1898 As translated by Fred Eggers, October 25, 2017
   Note: Rev. Hans Heinrich Christian Karl (Henry) Voss (1860-1939) was Pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Haven, Kansas from 1889 to 1900.
   A genealogical search for Johann Ferdinand Lill was made to provide a timeline of events in his life.  See the following chapter Johann Ferdinand Lill – Missionary.