How Frankenmuth, MI Began from a Lutheran Mission to Convert Chippewa Indians

Frankenmuth, Michigan

The ship Caroline carried fifteen hopeful missionaries to Michigan in 1845, but their grand plan to convert local tribes hit some snags. Turns out the Chippewa weren’t interested in German village life or Lutheran hymns.

Here’s what happened when cultures collided in the Saginaw Valley wilderness.

Frederick Wyneken’s Appeal Launches a Mission

German missionary Frederick Wyneken wrote to Lutherans in Germany in 1840 about problems facing German settlers in America. His letter described how pioneers in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan needed pastors, churches, and schools.

Pastor Wilhelm Loehe in Bavaria read this appeal and took action. He created a plan for a special colony that would serve two purposes – help German settlers and convert Native Americans to Christianity.

Pastor Wilhelm Loehe Recruits the First Settlers

Loehe chose Pastor August Craemer to lead the mission. Craemer was teaching at Oxford in England when selected for this role in 1844. Fifteen volunteers joined him, mostly farmers from the Neuendettelsau area in Bavaria.

During winter 1844-45, these future colonists met regularly to create rules for their new community. They promised to stay loyal to their Bavarian homeland and keep speaking German in America.

The Perilous Atlantic Crossing

The settlers left Nuernberg on April 5, 1845, traveling to the port of Bremerhafen. They boarded the sailing ship Caroline on April 20 and faced a dangerous 50-day journey across the Atlantic.

Storms forced their ship to sail around Scotland instead of taking a more direct route. Tragedy struck when two-year-old Margaretha Haspel died from smallpox during the voyage. Despite these hardships, the group remained committed to their mission as they finally reached New York on June 8.

Arrival and Establishing the Settlement

After reaching New York, the colonists traveled by steamboats, trains, and on foot to Michigan.

On August 18, 1845, they packed their belongings in an oxcart and walked 12 miles through wild forest to reach their destination. They chose a hilly area that reminded them of their German homeland.

The land required extensive clearing before they could build homes. This spot became Frankenmuth, a name that reflected both their origins and the courage needed to start this mission in the wilderness.

Building the First Church and School

The settlers quickly built a log cabin to serve as church, school, and pastor’s home. They placed this building at the center of their settlement and completed it before Christmas 1845. They named it St. Lorenz Church after their church back in Rosstal, Bavaria.

This building became the first Lutheran mission church aimed specifically at converting the Chippewa people. The structure symbolized their primary goal: bringing Christianity to Native Americans in Michigan.

Early Challenges of the Missionary Work

The settlers faced immediate problems in their mission work. They knew nothing about Indian culture, language, or customs before arriving. This lack of preparation made communication nearly impossible at first.

Pastor Craemer worked with Jim Grant, his half-Chippewa interpreter, to bridge the cultural gap. Meanwhile, many settlers got sick with malaria while clearing the forest.

Pastor Craemer’s Mission Approach

Pastor Craemer visited nearby Chippewa villages to build relationships with families. He ate their food and participated in their community life to gain trust. This personal approach helped him invite children to his mission school.

Many Chippewa children lived in the Craemer household, where Mrs. Craemer taught them Christian beliefs. Through these persistent efforts, Craemer baptized thirty-one Indians during his time in Frankenmuth.

The Arrival of New German Settlers

About 90 more German immigrants arrived in Frankenmuth during 1846. Unlike the first group, most newcomers came seeking better economic opportunities rather than missionary work.

This concerned Pastor Loehe back in Germany. The new settlers mainly came from the Altmuehl region in Bavaria. They were shocked by the primitive living conditions they found.

Challenges in Converting the Chippewa

The Germans struggled to change Chippewa customs to match their Lutheran beliefs. Native families gradually left the Frankenmuth area to find better hunting grounds away from the growing settlement.

By 1847, most local Indians had moved 30-80 miles west along rivers. Records show only about 35 Indians received baptism at St. Lorenz Church.

The Bethany Mission Expansion

Missionary E.R. Baierlein arrived from Germany in 1847 to help with outreach to distant Chippewa groups. Chippewa Chief Bemassikeh invited missionaries to teach in his village after visiting Frankenmuth.

Baierlein established a new mission in 1848 on the Pine River. He named it “Bethany,” meaning “house of misery” in Hebrew, because of the poverty he saw among the Ojibwe people there.

Visiting Frankenmuth

You’ll find Frankenmuth in Saginaw County, Michigan, about 90 miles northwest of Detroit. Visit St. Lorenz Lutheran Church at 140 Churchgrove Road to see where the original mission began.

The Frankenmuth Historical Museum on Main Street showcases exhibits about the 1845 missionary settlement.

For a deeper experience, drive 30 miles west to Bethany Lutheran Indian Cemetery in Gratiot County, the only remaining site of the Bethany mission.

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