Rev. John George Schmucker of PA.
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Rev. John George Schmucker of PA.
 hitchheick
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Posted: 21 Aug 2006 2:36AM GMT |
Classification: Biography
Rev. John George Schmucker
Rev. John George Schmucker, pastor of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church 1809-1836. This gentleman was chosen pastor May 2, 1809, and he received a call while at a meeting of the synod at Hanover, on the 28th of same month. His charge consisted at that time of York, Quickel’s, Wolf’s, Holzchwamm, Kruetz Creek and Chockely. In 1813, he gave up part of the field, but retained five--John Herbst, Jr., it is supposed took one of them. In 1814, Charles A. Morris took charge of Kruetz Creek, and in 1817, Chockely had been for some time in Herbst’s charge. In 1820, Rev. Schmucker’s charge consisted of York, Quickel’s and Wolf’s Churches, to which some years later Hoover’s was added. In 1811, steps were taken for erecting a new church. George Hay and Peter Striber, were made managers; George Lottman, John Barnitz and Jacob Schmeiser, John Brillinger, Peter Schmeiser, made assistants; Ignatius Lightner was elected treasurer. Corner stone was laid July 2, 1812; the services were conducted by Rev. Drs. H. E. Muhlenberg, J. Daniel Kurtz, George Lochman and the pastor.
In June, 1817, the ministerium of Pennsylvania, met for a fourth time in York; Dr. George Lochman, father of A. H. Lochman, was president. The synod of Ohio was formed by authority of this meeting. It was the third centennial commemoration of the Reformation. The president invited Reformed, Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Moravian people to participate in the commemoration. Jacob Barnitz, who had been the worthy secretary and treasurer of the church for many years, died in April, 1828.
In 1827, a Sunday school met in the church for the first time. In 1828, a seal was adopted; in 1829, lamps were bought for evening services. In 1830, land was bought on Duke Street for a burial place; in 1832, the use of the small bell was granted to the Theological Seminary at Gettysburg.
When the temperance question came up for discussion, both Dr. Schmucker and Mr. Oswald, assistant, were deeply interested in it, and very zealous in its advocacy, where upon the yearly salary was for a time diminished one half, but they persisted in the cause, and eventually won high honor.
English services began about 1820, only in the evening. The time for English services was indicated by a peculiar ringing of the bell. October 7, 1829, Rev. Jonathan Oswald, D. D., was licensed, and became assistant pastor, and also took entire charge of Wolf’s and Hoover’s Churches, where the services were German, and preached English in York three Sunday evenings out of four. Dr. Schmucker continued at Quickel’s Church. Dr. Oswald, then a young man, is now a highly respected and honored citizen of York, familiar to all our people.
In 1836 the ministry of Dr. Schmucker ended. In person he was of medium stature, rather thick set, but not corpulent; his complexion was dark, and his body was very erect. His character was unusually symmetrical and well balanced, and his temper so placid, or under such control, that even his own household scarcely ever saw it ruffled. He was especially regardful of the feelings of others, and so unaffectedly polite on all occasions that he won the admiration and respect of every one he met. He was careful in the preparation of his sermons, methodical in arrangement, earnest in delivery, tender in feeling, and deeply serious. All of these elements united to make him an admirable and most useful preacher. He was a great student, and procured books from Europe each year, and had his whole library at command. He contributed largely to the Evangelical Magazine. He published a number of volumes. Chiefly connected with the prophecies. In the establishment of Pennsylvania College and Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, he took a prominent part, and at the time of his death was vice president of the American Tract Society.
He continued to reside in York, still preaching at Quickel’s Church until 1852, when he removed to the home of some of his children at Williamsburg, where he died October 7, 1854. His remains lie in front of this church. He was married first to Elizabeth Gross, from Quickel’s congregation, by whom he had twelve children; she died in 1819; second, in 1821, to Anna Maria Hoffman, of Baltimore, by whom he had seven children.
Taken from the book, “History of York County, Illustrated 1886†by John Gibson, Historical Editor
Rev. John George Schmucker, pastor of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church 1809-1836. This gentleman was chosen pastor May 2, 1809, and he received a call while at a meeting of the synod at Hanover, on the 28th of same month. His charge consisted at that time of York, Quickel’s, Wolf’s, Holzchwamm, Kruetz Creek and Chockely. In 1813, he gave up part of the field, but retained five--John Herbst, Jr., it is supposed took one of them. In 1814, Charles A. Morris took charge of Kruetz Creek, and in 1817, Chockely had been for some time in Herbst’s charge. In 1820, Rev. Schmucker’s charge consisted of York, Quickel’s and Wolf’s Churches, to which some years later Hoover’s was added. In 1811, steps were taken for erecting a new church. George Hay and Peter Striber, were made managers; George Lottman, John Barnitz and Jacob Schmeiser, John Brillinger, Peter Schmeiser, made assistants; Ignatius Lightner was elected treasurer. Corner stone was laid July 2, 1812; the services were conducted by Rev. Drs. H. E. Muhlenberg, J. Daniel Kurtz, George Lochman and the pastor.
In June, 1817, the ministerium of Pennsylvania, met for a fourth time in York; Dr. George Lochman, father of A. H. Lochman, was president. The synod of Ohio was formed by authority of this meeting. It was the third centennial commemoration of the Reformation. The president invited Reformed, Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Moravian people to participate in the commemoration. Jacob Barnitz, who had been the worthy secretary and treasurer of the church for many years, died in April, 1828.
In 1827, a Sunday school met in the church for the first time. In 1828, a seal was adopted; in 1829, lamps were bought for evening services. In 1830, land was bought on Duke Street for a burial place; in 1832, the use of the small bell was granted to the Theological Seminary at Gettysburg.
When the temperance question came up for discussion, both Dr. Schmucker and Mr. Oswald, assistant, were deeply interested in it, and very zealous in its advocacy, where upon the yearly salary was for a time diminished one half, but they persisted in the cause, and eventually won high honor.
English services began about 1820, only in the evening. The time for English services was indicated by a peculiar ringing of the bell. October 7, 1829, Rev. Jonathan Oswald, D. D., was licensed, and became assistant pastor, and also took entire charge of Wolf’s and Hoover’s Churches, where the services were German, and preached English in York three Sunday evenings out of four. Dr. Schmucker continued at Quickel’s Church. Dr. Oswald, then a young man, is now a highly respected and honored citizen of York, familiar to all our people.
In 1836 the ministry of Dr. Schmucker ended. In person he was of medium stature, rather thick set, but not corpulent; his complexion was dark, and his body was very erect. His character was unusually symmetrical and well balanced, and his temper so placid, or under such control, that even his own household scarcely ever saw it ruffled. He was especially regardful of the feelings of others, and so unaffectedly polite on all occasions that he won the admiration and respect of every one he met. He was careful in the preparation of his sermons, methodical in arrangement, earnest in delivery, tender in feeling, and deeply serious. All of these elements united to make him an admirable and most useful preacher. He was a great student, and procured books from Europe each year, and had his whole library at command. He contributed largely to the Evangelical Magazine. He published a number of volumes. Chiefly connected with the prophecies. In the establishment of Pennsylvania College and Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, he took a prominent part, and at the time of his death was vice president of the American Tract Society.
He continued to reside in York, still preaching at Quickel’s Church until 1852, when he removed to the home of some of his children at Williamsburg, where he died October 7, 1854. His remains lie in front of this church. He was married first to Elizabeth Gross, from Quickel’s congregation, by whom he had twelve children; she died in 1819; second, in 1821, to Anna Maria Hoffman, of Baltimore, by whom he had seven children.
Taken from the book, “History of York County, Illustrated 1886†by John Gibson, Historical Editor