Jeremiah T. Geiger was the first pastor. He had served at previous times before the formal organization of the Lutheran congregation on Dec. 20, 1848. As was the custom of the times, Rev. Geiger was elected pastor. In those early years, pastors were elected annually, and each year the congregation voted on the pastor who was serving them.  That could have been the reason, in part, for the short pastorates in the early and mid-1800s.

On Feb. 20, 1849, only two months after the Lutheran Church of Fairfield was formed, the Rev. Geiger resigned and moved to Liberty, Ind.

Shortly after the Rev. Geiger’s resignation the Rev. S. Ritz was elected and served until 1852. At that time the congregation numbered 53 people.

The Rev. Jacob Barnes became pastor on Aug. 1, 1852. In 1853 the congregation voted to build a church in the village of Osborn. The edifice was dedicated in August 1854. Pastor Barnes resigned shortly after the dedication.

The Rev. A. Bartholomew was installed Nov. 25, 1854, in a charge which included three other churches.  He served until 1858.

The Rev. George E. Ort was elected pastor and “served the congregation faithfully and successfully until his decease Oct. 1871,” according to a historical sketch prepared by the Rev. Harvey Crowell in 1923.

Shortly after Rev. Ort’s death a “Rev. Mr. Kutz” served as pastor for nine months and resigned.  It was the second shortest pastorate in the history of the church.

The Rev. J.C. Meyers was elected pastor in 1872 and served for one year.  In June 1873 the Rev. J.J. Welch was elected pastor. It was then that the Osborn charge was composed of congregations in Donnelsville and Brandt in Clark County and Osborn.  Pastor Welch served 15 months and resigned, giving as his reason inadequate support for so large a family.  Upon leaving, Pastor Welch wrote: “During my short pastorate with this people I received from them every token of kindness and appreciation and it is with deep regret that I leave them, praying that the Great head of the Church will speedily send them an under Shepherd who will be acceptable and whose labors with their co-operation will be abundantly successful.”

The Rev. W. H. Singley assumed the pastorate of the three-church charge on Feb. 14, 1875, and served until July 2, 1876. He said of his work, “I leave with many pleasant recollections of my experience in this my first regularly Charge.”