This is the tombstone of William and Elizabeth (Wendel) Heffner, located in row 1 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed: HEFFNER Elizabeth 1870-1965 William 1871-1920 Carl William Heffner was born 18 August 1871 in Blackcreek Township, Mercer County, Ohio, to Conrad and Margaret (Miller) Heffner. He was baptized 24 …
Category: Zion Lutheran Chattanooga
Feb 13
J.D. Gackenheimer–Zion Chatt’s First Minister
This week’s Tombstone Tuesday mentioned that George Heffner and Sophia Martin were married by Rev. J.D. Gackenheimer in 1851. Rev. Gackenheimer was a pioneer minister in this area and he was the first minister at Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga. Rev. Gackenheimer performed the Heffner/Martin marriage four years before Zion Chatt was formed in 1855 and …
Mar 15
Rev. August Affeld, Pastor at Zion Chatt 1896-1899
I recently received an e-mail from Danielle, who was seeking information about her great-grandfather, Rev. August Affeld. He was a Lutheran minister who served at Zion Chatt from late 1896-1899. She contacted me after she saw his picture in a 1897 confirmation photo that I posted here a few weeks ago. That photo is the …
Oct 21
Recollections of Chattanooga, Ohio
The following narrative was written by Rev. Reuben Valentine Smith in 1955. It is his personal account of his experiences as a pastor at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Chattanooga, Ohio, from 1899-1905. How I Came to Chattanooga It is my belief that Providence directs our lives and that God rules His Church, although the human factors by which His Will …

