C H U R C H E S
OF
Whiteside County
Bethlehem Lutheran
church and society was organized in 1870 the Lutherans of Swedish birth or extraction, with a membership originally of only eleven. Now there are fifty. Rev. Mr. Boomer is the pastor, and has two charges in addition to the one in Sterling. The church edifice is
small, but very neatly fitted up. The Sunday School has an attendance of twenty-five scholars, with John Lawson as Superintendent, assisted by four teachers
Source: Bent & Wilson History of Whiteside County 1877
The roll has been steadily increasing until it now reaches over forty. Services are held every Sabbath at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Rev. F. Luskey has charge of the church, in connection with one at Round Grove.
Source: Bent & Wilson History of Whiteside County 1877
The German Lutheran Church forms the German branch of the Lutheran church in Sterling, and was organized in 1874 with only six members.
This photo from the Sterling Standard 1896-97
St. John's Lutheran church is English, and was organized in 1854, with twenty members, but has increased to a
membership at present of over one hundred and fifty. The church edifice is a neatly constructed
and arranged building, as is also the parsonage belonging to the Society. Rev. E. Brown is the present pastor.
The Sunday School attached to the church numbers two hundred and fifty scholars, under the charge of R. J. Lipe as
Superintendent, assisted by eighteen teachers.
Source: Bent & Wilson History of Whiteside County 1877
