Friedrich Pfotenhauer (1859-1939) Papers

Friedrich Pfotenhauer was born on 22 April 1859 in Altencelle, Hanover, Germany. He was born into a family with a long line of parish pastors, beginning with Nicolaus Pfotenhauer (1601-1640), son of Erhard (150-1625). He studied at Friedrich Brunn's school in Steeden, Germany, from which he was elected to the Seminary. In August 1875 he and twelve fellow students immigrated to America. He attended Concordia College, Fort Wayne from 1875 to 1877, when he matriculate at Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis. He graduated from the seminary in 1880 and received his first call to be a travelling missionary in Western Minnesota, The Dakotas, and Montana. He was ordained in Odessa, Minnesota on November 7, 1880. From 1880 to 1887 he served 15 different congregations and preaching stations in the Minnesota District. In 1887 he became pastor of the congregation at Silo (now Lewiston), Minnesota until 1894. He then served as the pastor in Hamburg, Minnesota until 1911. From 1935 until his death he served as the Associate pastor of Holy Cross, Chicago.

While in the Minnesota District he was elected as the secretary and president of the district, serving at the former from 1885 to 1891 and the latter from 1891 to 1908. He was elected 1st Vice-president of the Synod in 1908, serving until 1911, when he was elected President. He served in that capacity until 1935, when was named Honorary President, a title he held until his death on 9 October 1939.

Friedrich married Helene Brauer, daughter of the Rev. E.A. Brauer, on October 10, 1882 in Crete, Illinois. Together they had 11 children: Gertrude (1883-1955), wife of the Rev. Walter Friedrich; Martha (1885-1985), wife of the Rev. Dr. Friedrich A. Hertwig; Elsie (1887-1915); Martin (1888-1949); Hermann (July 31, 1891-August 9, 1891); Helena (1892-1983); Ernst (1893-1894); Dorothea (1895-1993), wife of the Rev. Victor Bartling; Carl (1896-1982); Esther (1898-1995), wife of the Rev. Erwin Kurth; Frederick John (1900-1998). His sons Martin, Carl, and Frederick became pastors.

Pfotenhauer wrote two books: Fünfzehn Ansprachen, 1914; Predigten, 1938. He was also granted the title of Doctor of Divinity (honoris causa) by Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis on November 10, 1920.