Rudolph G. Messerli Papers

Rudolph G. Messerli was pastor of Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Flaxton, North Dakota from 1912 - 1921. While serving in North Dakota, he was the editor of Der Reiseprediger of the North Dakota District. He was called to Trinity Lutheran Church and School, Oregon City, Oregon in 1921 as the founding pastor of that congregation. He drove from Flaxton, North Dakota to Oregon City, Oregon in his Model T. Ford. It took him 16 days. Included in this collection is the newspaper article from the Flaxton, North Dakota newspaper that discusses his trip. He served there until 1969. He was also the founding principal of Trinity High School and Elementary School in Oregon City, the only Lutheran high school supported by one congregation. He served as the editor of The Lutheran Messenger of the Northwest District. An accomplished violinist, he was the director of the Saint Louis Seminary Orchestra, Oregon City (Oregon) Elementary Schools Orchestra, and the Flaxton Choral Club of Flaxton, North Dakota. (This information was taken from the donor sheet prepared by Carlos R. Messerli.)