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"In hoc signo vinces" ("In
this sign you will conquer").

The pipe organ, located in the choir loft above the narthex was built and installed by the J. G. (Johann Georg) Pfeffer & Son Organ Company of St. Louis, MO. in 1903. It features 1 manual stop and 7 ranks, slider-style windchest and mechanical key action.

This organ long ago fulfilled it's obligation of service, but can still be heard sharing it's melodic voice throughout the church during Holy Mass and on many special occasions.

It is most commonly operated by one of our two talented organists; Mrs. Connie Bampton and Mrs. Lisa Silliman.

The Seventeen Gilded Frontpipes
of the 1903 J.G. Pfeffer & Son
Pipe Organ

J. G. Pfeffer - A brief Biography

John George Pfeffer (recorded as Johann Georg Pfeffer in German sources) was born on 23 April 1823 at Stettin bei Heigerloch, Hohenzollern, Sigmaringen in southwestern Germany. He emigrated to the United States in 1854, and after brief stays in New York City; Hamilton, Ontario; and Cleveland, he settled in St. Louis, Missouri in 1859, where he became one of the city’s most prominent 19th century organbuilders. he was probably trained in Germany, as he identified himself as an “organmaker” when he first appeared in the city directory in 1859. He lived near the shop of organ builder William Metz and may have worked with Metz. When Metz moved to Collinsville, Illinois about 1865, Pfeffer began working out of Metz’s former shop.

Pfeffer was Roman Catholic and built many organs for Catholic churches. The large organ built in 1865 for “Old” Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Louis, though not his first for that denomination, firmly established his reputation among German Lutherans as well. Pfeffer also built two organs for the Lutheran Teachers Seminary in Addison, Illinois, which made his name well known among Lutheran organists.

While no list of Pfeffer organs has been found, it seems likely that he built at least 200 instruments, and possibly as many as 600. His son, Robert, joined the firm in 1882 and worked there until his death in 1891. Another son, Eugene, took Robert’s place in the firm from 1893 until his own death in 1899. Sons Anthony and George were also associated with the firm. When Pfeffer retired in 1900, employees continued the business. To the end, Pfeffer organs were well built and carefully voiced. They usually included upperwork and larger pedal divisions than were common in organs of other builders. After John George Pfeffer’s death on 4 April 1910, the Pfeffer Organ Company was purchased by Alfred George Kilgen, eldest son of George Kilgen, who operated it under the Pfeffer name until 1919.

— Elizabeth Towne Schmitt,
Rolla, Missouri
 

 

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