Biewend Family Papers

Adolph Friedrich Theodor Biewend, was born in Rothenbuettel, Hanover, Germany, on 16 May 1816. At age 19 he entered the University of Goettingen, Germany, and completed his studies of theology there with honors in 1839. As customary at this time, Biewend accepted a position as a private tutor, and during this time he pursued further studies of French, English, philosophy and theology. Following a personal plea from Pastor F.C.D. Wyneken, Biewend arrived in America in 1843. His first call was to Washington, D.C., for a three-year duration until October 1847. In 1848 he was appointed professor of languages and philosophy at Columbia College (later to become George Washington University). After a very short time there he accepted a call to the preparatory college at Fort Wayne, Indiana, founded and supported by Wilhelm Loehe. In 1850 he transferred to the newly dedicated theological seminary in Saint Louis, Missouri. He taught there until his untimely death of typhoid fever on 11 April 1858.

On 5 August 1844, Biewend married Sophia Martin of Washington City. Seven children where born to this union: Adolph, August, Charles, Edward, Henry, Albert, and Sophia.

Adolph Heinrich Angelo Biewend was born as the first child of A. F. T. and his wife Sophie Biewend on 30 August 1845 in Washington, D.C. He was educated at Concordia College, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and graduated from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in 1868. His first call brought him to Belleville, Illinois, where he was ordained on 19 July 1868. A. H. A. Biewend remained there until 1871, when he accepted a call to Trinity Lutheran Church, Boston, Massachusetts. He served this congregation for almost 50 years. From 1900 to 1912 he also served as the vice-president of the Eastern District and later the newly founded Atlantic District. For 30 years he was president of the Martin Luther Orphans Home. He married Lisette Schmitz in 1868. They had four daughters and one son. A. H. A. Biewend died on 16 June 1919 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Edward F. Biewend was born in November 1853 in Saint Louis. He was married in 1884 to Lizzie ?. He was a medical doctor specializing in tuberculosis.

See the Emil Martin Biegener Collection for a manuscript biography, “Adolf Fr. Th. Biewend” (1949).