The Rev. J. F. L. Bohnhoff, long-time pastor of the Trinity Lutheran Church of Valley City and parish pastor of churches in Oriska, Sanborn, and Zion was born. February 9th, 1871 in Shappsville, Illinois. His parents had immigrated to the United States from Germany and had settled in Illinois on a farm.
Rev. Bohnhoff, after finishing his elementary and high school schooling, attended the Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. His very first pastorage was also his only pastorage, that of Valley City. He arrived in Valley City in June, 1895 and spent the first night in a hotel where he was besieged by bedbugs and if there had been a train east the next morning, he would have taken it. However, he prudently remained and thus started a 48 year tenure.
Prior to the arrival of Rev. Bohnhoff, services in the German Lutheran faith had been held in the homes of the faithful and served by various missionaries or theological students. With his arrival, plans were laid to build a church and in 1897 it was completed.
Since Rev. Bohnhoff now had a steady position, he returned to Minnesota and married Albertine Frederick, of Afton, Minnesota, bringing her to a new home in Valley City.
There never was a set salary to begin with. Members brought garden produce and chickens and twice a year a salary was paid. The family bought a cow and two broncos and pastured them at the city pasture. The Children, when old enough, delivered milk each night for five cents per quart. With a cow and two horses, Rev. Bohnhoff had to don overalls to do the chores and take care of the manure pile.
As time went on, churches were built at Oriska and in the country. Sanborn used the Norwegian Lutheran church and the Cooperstown services were held in a school house near Jessie.
Since both Rev. Bohnhoff and his wife came from hilly country, the prairie made for some very lonesome days, especially for Mrs. Bohnhoff. To help the situation, trees were transplanted from the river banks to make the house more liveable. During. his 48 years of service, Rev. Bohnhoff baptized 1,597 people, confirmed 1,238 children, conducted 415 funerals and presided at 456 weddings. Although he preached three or four times a Sunday, Rev. Bohnhoff found time to be interested in civic affairs, serving as an Alderman on the city council and as President of the School Board for over thirty years. He was vice-president of the Dakota District of the Lutheran Church. He was instrumental in forming what is now known as the American Lutheran Church. He was granted an Honorary Doctor's Degree for his long service.
Rev. Bohnhoff died September 4, 1943.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 32