Johann Jakob Bernthal Papers

Bernthal was born 13 July 1855 in Frankenmuth, Michigan, the son of a member of the congregation sent by Wilhelm Loehe to form a mission colony there. He graduated from Concordia Seminary (Saint Louis) in 1879, serving first as a traveling preacher (Reiseprediger) in Dakota Territory. He later served congregations in Lewiston, Minnesota, and Wyandotte, Michigan, before taking a call in 1897 to Saint Trinity Lutheran Church, Saint Louis (Carondelet), where he served for 22 and a half years. He was also a vice president of the Michigan and Western Districts and president of the Western District for 18 years. Other synodical service included chairman of the boards of control of Concordia Seminary (Saint Louis) and of Saint Paul College (Concordia, Missouri); membership on the Negro Mission Board of the Synodical Conference and the Board of Directors of Concordia Publishing House. He died 9 May 1920.