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Rev John Adam Ernst

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Rev John "Adam" Ernst

Birth
Oettingen, Landkreis Donau-Ries, Bavaria, Germany
Death
20 Jan 1895 (aged 79)
Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA
Burial
South Euclid, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Before coming to America in 1842, Johann Adam Ernst was a cobbler's apprentice in Bavaria. Learning of the American Lutherans' need and determined to offer his services, he was trained as a teacher by Pastor Wilhelm Loehe.

When Adam Ernst came to New York, he met Reverend F. Winkler who suggested Ernst go to the theological seminary in Columbus, Ohio. He did just that; became a teacher and continued his theological studies. From one of his students, he learned that there was nearby, a community of people from his homeland who were in need of ministerial services, and so began his ministery in 1843.

In Cleveland, Ohio, in 1845, at a conference of Reverend Loehe's men, Pastor Ernst was elected as one of the delegates to meet with Dr. Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther. Reverend Ernst met with Dr. Walther and his associates in St. Louis, Missouri, and as a result, Pastor Adam Ernst became a charter member of the Missouri Synod by signing their first constitution in 1847.

He then accepted a call to Eden of Erie County, New York and served there at "St. Paul's Lutheran Church" from 1849 to 1857. From here Reverend Ernst visited neighboring settlements including the town of Olean in Cattaraugus County and organized "Emanuel Lutheran Church" in 1857. Also crossing over into Ontario, Canada, he served at, organized or assisted in the organization of pastorates at Fisherville, Delhi and Elmira.

At Delhi (now Rhineland) Pastor Ernst gave his first sermon on February 28, 1854. Ernst wrote their first constitution, under which they became "St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Congregation" on April 3, 1854 and in June of that year became affiliated with the Missouri Synod. Pastor Ernst served here until 1855.

In Elmira, Reverend Ernst secured Pastor H. Wichmann to serve at "St. James". A split in this group resulted in the formation of "St. Paul's" in 1861.

Following a recovery from a throat ailment, during which time he had to fall back on his trade of shoemaking, Reverend Ernst then accepted a call to "St. John's Lutheran Church" in Euclid Township, Cayahoga County, Ohio and served there from 1860 to 1863.

Going now back into Canada, Reverend Adam Ernst took a call to minister to "St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church" in Elmira in Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, Ontario and was installed as Pastor on August 2, 1863.

From Elmira, Pastor Ernst also served at "Trinity Lutheran Church" of Floradale and to this parish he added Salem and Linwood.

With the assistance of Pastor F. Dubpernell, Reverend Ernst served "St. Paul's Congregation" of Wellesley in 1864, resulting in St. Paul's joining the Missouri Synod.

As a result of the untimely death of Reverend H. Wichmann in 1863, the people of Wallace Township who had been meeting in Shipley, were left without a Pastor. "St. Paul's Lutheran Church" of what is now Kurtzville was organized by Pastor Ernst in 1864. In 1865, Pastor Ernst sent Reverend F. Dubpernell to become their first resident Pastor.

January 1, 1865, Pastor Ernst was called by a congregation at Poole. He later drew up a constitution and "St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church at Poole" was formed.

Approached by the "Emanuel" congregation at Petersburg in 1867, Pastor Ernst acquired for them the services of Reverend H. Koch, who now served at Wellesley.

On September 22, 1867 the people of the congregation in Kitchener (then Berlin), interviewed Reverend Ernst and he preached for them for the first time on October 13, 1867. Under the guidance of Pastor Ernst, the congregation adopted the new name of "St. Paul's".

Reverend Ernst now covered a parish consisting of not only Floradale-Salem-Linwood until 1873, but also of his flocks at St. Paul's in Elmira and St. Paul's of Kitchener, serving both of these latter congregations until 1881.

From his "home" church in Elmira, Pastor Ernst was instrumental in beginning the Ontario District of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, organized in 1879, and he was its first President, serving in that office until 1882.

Upon his return to Ohio in 1882, Reverend Ernst took up residence in Euclid Township of Cayahoga County.

Reverend Adam Ernst's wife, Judith died in November of 1894 and he just two months later in January of 1895.
Before coming to America in 1842, Johann Adam Ernst was a cobbler's apprentice in Bavaria. Learning of the American Lutherans' need and determined to offer his services, he was trained as a teacher by Pastor Wilhelm Loehe.

When Adam Ernst came to New York, he met Reverend F. Winkler who suggested Ernst go to the theological seminary in Columbus, Ohio. He did just that; became a teacher and continued his theological studies. From one of his students, he learned that there was nearby, a community of people from his homeland who were in need of ministerial services, and so began his ministery in 1843.

In Cleveland, Ohio, in 1845, at a conference of Reverend Loehe's men, Pastor Ernst was elected as one of the delegates to meet with Dr. Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther. Reverend Ernst met with Dr. Walther and his associates in St. Louis, Missouri, and as a result, Pastor Adam Ernst became a charter member of the Missouri Synod by signing their first constitution in 1847.

He then accepted a call to Eden of Erie County, New York and served there at "St. Paul's Lutheran Church" from 1849 to 1857. From here Reverend Ernst visited neighboring settlements including the town of Olean in Cattaraugus County and organized "Emanuel Lutheran Church" in 1857. Also crossing over into Ontario, Canada, he served at, organized or assisted in the organization of pastorates at Fisherville, Delhi and Elmira.

At Delhi (now Rhineland) Pastor Ernst gave his first sermon on February 28, 1854. Ernst wrote their first constitution, under which they became "St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Congregation" on April 3, 1854 and in June of that year became affiliated with the Missouri Synod. Pastor Ernst served here until 1855.

In Elmira, Reverend Ernst secured Pastor H. Wichmann to serve at "St. James". A split in this group resulted in the formation of "St. Paul's" in 1861.

Following a recovery from a throat ailment, during which time he had to fall back on his trade of shoemaking, Reverend Ernst then accepted a call to "St. John's Lutheran Church" in Euclid Township, Cayahoga County, Ohio and served there from 1860 to 1863.

Going now back into Canada, Reverend Adam Ernst took a call to minister to "St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church" in Elmira in Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, Ontario and was installed as Pastor on August 2, 1863.

From Elmira, Pastor Ernst also served at "Trinity Lutheran Church" of Floradale and to this parish he added Salem and Linwood.

With the assistance of Pastor F. Dubpernell, Reverend Ernst served "St. Paul's Congregation" of Wellesley in 1864, resulting in St. Paul's joining the Missouri Synod.

As a result of the untimely death of Reverend H. Wichmann in 1863, the people of Wallace Township who had been meeting in Shipley, were left without a Pastor. "St. Paul's Lutheran Church" of what is now Kurtzville was organized by Pastor Ernst in 1864. In 1865, Pastor Ernst sent Reverend F. Dubpernell to become their first resident Pastor.

January 1, 1865, Pastor Ernst was called by a congregation at Poole. He later drew up a constitution and "St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church at Poole" was formed.

Approached by the "Emanuel" congregation at Petersburg in 1867, Pastor Ernst acquired for them the services of Reverend H. Koch, who now served at Wellesley.

On September 22, 1867 the people of the congregation in Kitchener (then Berlin), interviewed Reverend Ernst and he preached for them for the first time on October 13, 1867. Under the guidance of Pastor Ernst, the congregation adopted the new name of "St. Paul's".

Reverend Ernst now covered a parish consisting of not only Floradale-Salem-Linwood until 1873, but also of his flocks at St. Paul's in Elmira and St. Paul's of Kitchener, serving both of these latter congregations until 1881.

From his "home" church in Elmira, Pastor Ernst was instrumental in beginning the Ontario District of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, organized in 1879, and he was its first President, serving in that office until 1882.

Upon his return to Ohio in 1882, Reverend Ernst took up residence in Euclid Township of Cayahoga County.

Reverend Adam Ernst's wife, Judith died in November of 1894 and he just two months later in January of 1895.

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HERR NUN LAS
SEST DU DEI
NEN DIENER
IN FRIEDEN
FAHREN

LORD NOW LETTEST THOU THY SERVANT DEPART IN PEACE
Luke 2:29



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