Rev. John Conrad Bitter
Reverend John Conrad (J.C.) Bitter was born in the Volga German colony of Lauwe, Russia, on March 21, 1879. In his youth, he worked on the family farm. The German colonies had their own primary schools, and most children had only a third-grade education. To go further in school, one had to learn Russian. J.C. Bitter did that. When he enlisted or was conscripted into the Czar's Cavalry, his education and knowledge of Russian paid off, and he rose to the highest non-commissioned rank, comparable to our Master Sergeant. He served in the cavalry for about 5 years.
Rev. J.C. Bitter during his service in the Russian Army. Photograph courtesy of Harvey Gilliland.
J.C. Bitter and Katherine Elizabeth Bitter (of a different Bitter family) were married on November 2, 1899. She had also been born in Lauwe on November 26, 1878.
Around 1905, J.C. Bitter arrived in the United States with his wife, Katherine, and their two daughters. They later would add five more children to their family.
Around 1905, J.C. Bitter arrived in the United States with his wife, Katherine, and their two daughters. They later would add five more children to their family.
Certificate of Naturalization for Rev. John Conrad Bitter courtesy of Harvey Gilliland.
J.C. Bitter attended Redfield College in Redfield, South Dakota, from 1912 to 1914. He then transferred to the Chicago Theological Seminary in 1915 and to Eden Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1916, where he was ordained by the Evangelical Church on May 27, 1917.
Rev. Bitters' class at Eden Seminary in St. Louis. Photograph courtesy of Harvey Gilliland.
Rev. Bitter's first pastorate was at St. Pauls Evangelical Church, Okeene, Oklahoma, and he was there for 4 and 1/2 years. In 1921, Rev. Bitter moved to Portland, Oregon, where he served the St. Pauls Evangelical and Reformed Church after the death of Rev. Jacob Hergert. Rev. Bitter served in Portland for approximately 18 months and presided over the 1922 confirmation class at St. Pauls before accepting a call to the Wartburg Lutheran Church in Fresno, California, in October 1923.
Virtually all of John C. Bitter's sermons at the Wartburg Lutheran Church were presented in the German language. Only in the last few years has he preached in English one Sunday each month. In addition to his regular ministry, he translated documents from Russian into English for some of his parishioners. He and his family cared for the property of neighborhood Japanese people who were sent off to internment camps during World War II. During the Depression, when many members of his congregation were working for low salaries or were unemployed, Rev. Bitter volunteered to have his salary cut so that he might continue his work. Rev. Bitter served as a pastor at Wartburg Lutheran Church for 30 years before retiring in June 1953 at the age of 74.
The Wartburg Lutheran Church was demolished with the construction of Interstate 5 through Fresno, just a short time after Rev. Bitter's passing on January 13, 1955. Katherine Bitter died in Fresno, California, on March 28, 1973.
Virtually all of John C. Bitter's sermons at the Wartburg Lutheran Church were presented in the German language. Only in the last few years has he preached in English one Sunday each month. In addition to his regular ministry, he translated documents from Russian into English for some of his parishioners. He and his family cared for the property of neighborhood Japanese people who were sent off to internment camps during World War II. During the Depression, when many members of his congregation were working for low salaries or were unemployed, Rev. Bitter volunteered to have his salary cut so that he might continue his work. Rev. Bitter served as a pastor at Wartburg Lutheran Church for 30 years before retiring in June 1953 at the age of 74.
The Wartburg Lutheran Church was demolished with the construction of Interstate 5 through Fresno, just a short time after Rev. Bitter's passing on January 13, 1955. Katherine Bitter died in Fresno, California, on March 28, 1973.
Rev. Bitter near the time of his retirement in 1953.
Sources
Article from a Fresno, California newspaper. Date and page number unknown.
Harvey Gilliland (Petersburg, Alaska), grandson of Rev. J. C. Bitter. (email messages dated 19 August 2013)
Harvey Gilliland (Petersburg, Alaska), grandson of Rev. J. C. Bitter. (email messages dated 19 August 2013)
Last updated October 7, 2025