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Rev. Conrad Ide

Rev. Conrad Ide, pastor of Zion Congregation, German Lutheran Church, was born in Jesberg, Province of Fritzlar, Hessen, Prussia, July 25, 1837.  At the age of seventeen he emigrated to America in 1854, locating in Detroit, Michigan. Three years later, in1857, he went to Clayton County, Iowa and entered Wartburg Seminary, an institute of learning conducted by the German Lutheran Synod of Iowa, from which he graduated in 1861. Soon after he was ordained a minister of the gospel in the church of his choice and received a call from a congregation in Marine City, Mich., where he remained eight years, and the six succeeding years he spent as pastor of a church in Ottawa Lake, Michigan. In the spring of 1874, he was called to the church in Iowa City, Iowa, continuing his pastoral duties there until 1879, when he accepted the pastorate of his present charge. As an evidence if Mr. Ide's devoted and successful labors in the ministry, it would be eminently proper to record some of the results of his life work.  Previous to locating here, he baptized and admitted to probationary membership six hundred twenty-five, confirmed in the church two hundred thirty-seven, married one hundred six couples and buried one hundred seventy-four of his parishioners. Since locating in Fayette County, He has baptized and admitted to probationary membership two hundred seventy-five, confirmed one hundred twenty-five and preformed the marriage and burial ceremonies as equal number of times, having joined in wedlock seventy-one couples and laid to rest seventy-one persons. This work makes a great total of nine hundred forty-five burials or an average annual work of thirty-six baptisms, sixteen confirmations, seven marriages and nine burials during his thirty years in the ministry.

Mr. Ide has been twice married. He wedded Miss Anna B. Prottengeier, daughter of Conrad and Barbara Prottengeier of Clayton County, Iowa. The marriage was solemnized November 10, 1861, and unto them were born ten children. The eldest, Conrad Sigmund, was born September 30, 1862, and was graduated in 1882, from the college at Mendota, Ill., his father's alma mater. Subsequently he attended the Upper Iowa University at Fayette, entering the senior class and was graduated in 1883. He was ordained a minister of the German Lutheran Church in 1881, and is now in charge of a congregation at Defiance, Ohio. 

In 1886, he married Miss Anna Kulman, of Toledo, Ohio. Emma was born October 15, 1864, and in 1883 became the wife of Rev. Albert Guetzuaff of Capac, Mich.; Minnie, wife of Rev. W, Nolting, of Harmony, Minn., was born November 25, 1866 and married in 1888; Mary was born September 25, 1868; Henry, born January 17, 1871 died the 10th of May, following; Katy was born May 13,1872; Gottfried born August 17, 1874, is attending school at Wartburg College; Bertha was born May 29, 1877; Gustave was born October 17, 1879; and Clara, born December 26, 1881, died in infancy.  The death of the mother of this family occurred December 27, 1881.  Mr. Ide again married June 12, 1883, his second union being with Miss Elsie Guetzlaff, daughter of Edward and Emma Guetzlaff, of Lawler, Iowa. Four children, all living, grace their union, Lydia, born March 26, 1881; Edward, November 1, 1885; and Albert and Lizzie, twins, born September 1, 1887.

Zion's Congregation, of which Mr. Ide has been pastor since 1879 was organized in the spring of 1858 by Rev. G. Grossmann and Profs. S. and G. Fritschel from Wartburg Seminary.  The following year the first minister, Rev Koeberle, was stationed here and in 1860 was succeeded by Rev. John Diendoefer, who in turn was succeeded in 1865 by Rev. H. Vogel.  In 1867, Rev. Edward Wachtel became pastor and in 1870 was followed by Rev. Fuenfstuck, who in 1872 was succeeded by Rev. Baumbach, who remained in charge until his death, which occurred in July 1879. In connection with the church us a parochial school with a building on the parsonage grounds, which the elements of the German language are taught to the children of the parishioners together with Bible history, church liturgy and the year and has been taught by Mr. Ide during his connection with the church.  From thirty-five to fifty children receive instruction in this school and enjoy the additional privilege of attending the public school in the neighborhood which is usually open during the vacation of the parochial school. Mr. Ide also has charge of a congregation known as the First Evangel Lutheran St. Paul's Congregation, in West Union, to which he preaches every second Sunday. He also organized churches in Banks and Bethel Townships in this county in 1880, the former being called Evangel Lutheran St. John's Church and the latter St. Peter's Church.  These congregations are now in charge of regular ministers, supplied by the German Lutheran Synod. Mr. Ide has been president of the Northern District Snynod of Iowa for the last nine years. Until 1889, the district comprised Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Dakota, but at the annual session of 1899, the territory was subdivided, leaving the present limits Iowa and Minnesota. It would be superfluous for us to add a word in regard to the usefulness of a man whose public life stands out before the people with the prominence of that of our subject. Few indeed are the ministers whose influence on the race have been greater than Mr. Ide's, as portrayed in the foregoing brief sketch.