Two churches were organized in the area of Cleveland. The churches were served by the same pastor. In 1920, it was decided to merge the two congregations and build one church edifice in the village of Cleveland. They are now known as St. John - St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church.

St. John Ev. Lutheran was originally established in Hika in September 1860. A new church building was planned, and on 5 September 1861 the new building was dedicated. The first resident pastor was Paster H. QUEHL, who arrived in 1862 from Naperville, Illinois.

St. Peter, was established in 14 June 1863. Before the church was built on Union Road, church services were held in the school building of District #3 School. The congregation was affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod since 1868.

Pastor QUEHL was succeeded by C. DOWIDAT in 1868. He remainded there until 1875.
From 1875-1877 Pastor PIEPER served.
From 1877-1883 Pastor HAASE served.
From 1883-1887 Pastor JAEGER served.
From 1887-1933 Pastor SPRENGLING served the congregation until ill health forced him to resign.
From 1933-1950 Pastor E. BRAUN served. From 1950-1960 Pastor BODE served. From 1960-1967 Pastor Gerhard F. CARES From 1967-1969 Pastor Paul KNICKELBEIN From 1969-???? Pastor Henry F. KOCH

On 23 May 1920, St. John and St. Peter merged to form St. John-St. Peter Ev. Lutheran Church. The cornerstone for the new building was laid in 1922 with dedication on 25 June 1923. Below are histories of St. John's Church and of St. Peter's church as depicted in newspaper articles around the time of their perspective Golden Jubilees and Anniversaries.

ST. JOHN'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

From the Sheboygan Press September 2, 1910

Anniversary Observed

One of the most notable church celebrations the county has known was that of the golden jubilee of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran congregation at Centerville, which was participated in by Lutherans from all sections of the county, a number from this city attending. A correspondent gives the following account of the celebration:

Fifty years ago, in 1860, the congregation was founded, the first duly elected trustees then being F. GRUPE, John SACHSE, F.W. OTTO, Aug. MILL, Peter MARTIN, Henry POPPE. The first thing, which the newly founded congregation did, was to build a church. This church was dedicated on Sept. 5th, 1861. The first pastor, whom the congregation called, was the Rev. H. QUEHL from Naperville, Ill. The parsonage was built in 1863. When Rev. QUEHL left in 1869, to take charge of the Lutheran congregation in Manitowoc, Wis, the Centerville congregation sent a call to Rev. Chr. DOWIDAT, at that time a candidate for the ministry. In 1875 Rev. DOWIDAT accepted a call from the Lutheran congregation at Fort Atkinson, Wis. His successor at Centerville was the Rev. F. PIEPER. When he received the call, he was still a student of Theology at the seminary of the Missouri Synod at St. Louis, Mo. After finishing his studies and passing his examination he accepted the call and came to Centerville. In 1876 he went to Manitowoc, to take charge of the Lutheran congregation in that city. He was succeeded in Centerville by the Rev. Haase from Freedom, Outagamie County, Wis. The latter stayed with the congregation until 1886, when he left for Fort Atkinson, to take charge of the Lutheran congregation at that place. The congregation at Centerville now extended a call to Rev. C. JAEGER. When Rev. Jaeger accepted a call to Racine in the year 1887, Rev. Ph. Sprengling succeeded him at Centerville.

Until the year 1875 the pastor had charge of the parochial school. Since that year a teacher takes charge of the school. Among the teachers who have taught here, are the following: PAUTZ, EISELMEIER, now Professor at the German English Academy at Milwaukee, EGGEBRECHT, UNGRODT; the latter two now in charge of parochial schools at Milwaukee.

The congregation decided early in this year already, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its foundation. The 18th of this month was selected for this celebration and a general invitation was issued by the present pastor as a member of the committee on that purpose. Special invitations had also been sent to the neighboring Lutheran congregations in Town Newton and Town Mosel and their pastors. Altho(sic) the weather on the Sunday selected for the festival was not fair, a large number of visitors arrived from Town Centerville itself, from Manitowoc and Sheboygan, from Collins, Town Schleswig, Plymouth, Hilbert and some even from Milwaukee. The whole number of visitors was about 700. A large tent had been erected, where dinner and coffee were served to all present at the festival. The work of decorating the church for this occasion in a suitable was was placed in the hands of Mrs. SPRENGLING, the pastor's wife, who, with other ladies helping her, completed this work in a very satisfactory way. The place at the right and left of the altar was filled with fine plants. Garlands made from cedar branches adorned the walls of the church, bouquets made from gold leaves were to be seen at tall suitable places and a beautiful gold wreath in the center field of the pulpit. Special attention was drawn by the Jubilee numbers 1860-1910 being placed behind the pulpit between two white pillars, connected by a pointed arch, which was adorned at three points, with bouquets of gold leaves. Three Jubilee sermons were delivered, the three speakers being Prof, Dr. F. PIEPER from Concordia Seminary at St. Louis, president of the Missouri Synod, Rev. Chr. DOWIDAT of Oshkosh, and Rev. J. Haase from Randolph, Wis. The Trinity church band from Sheboygan was invited to be present and is to be credited for the fine way in which it rendered its pieces.
It was a day of rejoicing for all present. --Manitowoc Herald.

ST PETER EVANLIC LUTHERAN CHURCH Town of Centerville

From the Sheboygan Press June 21, 1913

GOLDEN JUBILEE

Tomorrow the congregation of the St. Peter Evangelic Lutheran Church in the town of Centerville will celebrate their golden jubilee. The church is located on the Union road two miles west of Cleveland station and the lot upon which it stands was donated to the congregation shortly before the church was erected in 1867. The program has been arranged for both morning and afternoon and it is expected that a large number of people will attend. Several from this city will attend. An orchestra from Town Newton has been engaged to furnish music for the day, Dr. F. PIEPER of St. Louis will deliver the main address. Mr. G. BERGEMANN of Fond du Lac will also address the gathering. The Rev. J. HAASE of Randolph, Wis., will preach the sermon and is said to be an excellent speaker.

The congregation was formed on June 14, 1863, at the home of Mr. G. Lutze. The Rev. H. Quehl was chosen to take charge of the congregations shortly after the formation. The first founders were the Messrs. G. LUTZE, Carl HAMANN, and H. Bottcher. Mr. HAMANN is still living. The Rev. H. QUEHL had charge of the congregation until 1868. Then Rev DOWIDAT was called, and was in charge until 1875. From 1875 to 1877 the Rev. F. PIEPER had charge and from 1877 to 1883 the Rev. J. HAASE, from 1883 to 1887 the Rev. I. JAGER (sic) was the pastor. After that the Rev. Philip SPRENGLING conducted services there. Since the organization 418 were baptized, 310 were confirmed and there were 126 burials and 99 couples were married in the church.

St. John's and St. Peter's Lutheran Evangelical Lutheran Church Information from the Sheboygan Daily Press Sept. 19, 1935

75 years and 15 year anniversaries celebrated

Two events were celebrated in Cleveland, Town of Centerville in Spet. 1935, the 75th anniversary of St. John's Lutheran Church of Centerville and the 15th anniversary (combined in 1920) of the consolidation of St. John's with St. Peter's Lutheran Church. As of 1935 the church was located one-quarter mile east of Highway 141 at Cleveland.

The celebration began at 9:30 a.m. with a German service. Rev. Phillip SPRENGLING of Milwaukee. Rev. SPRENGLING was a former pastor of the congregations who served the churches for 46 years. Special music was provided by the choirs of the congregation and by Bethlehem Lutheran church band of Sheboygan.

Dinner was served at noon by the ladies of the congregation and the Bethlehem band entertained with an open air concert. Refreshments were available throughout the day.

A 2:30 p.m service was held by two former members of the congregation. The Rev. K. TOEPEL of Algonia and a German message by the Rev. Walter REINEMANN of Hartford. Music was again furnished by the Bethlehem band.

At 7:30 p.m. an organ recital took place and was given by Prof. W.J. BROCKMAN of Milwaukee using one of the new pipeless electrical organs.

The old history of the churches can be found in the above articles. Since the churches were so close together, they were served by the same pastor. The churches were under the charge of Pastor Sprengling in 1920 when they formed one church. Pastor Sprengling served the church 46 years before he had to step down due to ill health in 1933. Rev. M.A. Braun then took charge of the church.

The congregation numbers about 421 communicants and 500 members. Two summer schools are conducted during the summer months and a Sunday school with a German and English department consisting of nine classes is held. Groups within the church include the Ladies' Aid society, the Young Lutherans' Guild, two choirs and an orchestra. The Christian day school is no longer maintained by the church.

There are still five members of the first confirmation class living: Peter HERMANN, Manitowoc; Wenzel KASSA, Centerville; Mrs. Elizabeth REINEMANN, Mrs. Margaret LUTZE, Cleveland, and Mrs Mary HENSCHEL.