Luther A Gotwald

 

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM 

pg 505, 506 

     REV. LUTHER A. GOTWALD, Professor of Theology in Wittenberg Theological Seminary, has for thirty years, been an active laborer in the Master’s vineyard, making a specialty of mission work.  He is a man of fine abilities, with a finished education and no small literary talent, having been a liberal contributor to the Quarterly Review published at Gettysburg, and various other papers and periodicals, besides publishing a number of pamphlets on historic and ecclesiastical subjects.

     Dr. GOTWALD received the title of Doctor of Divinity from Pennsylvania College in 1874.  From 1874 to 1886 he was a member of the Board of Home Missions over which he presided for a number of years and was also one of the Board of Church Extensions.  He was likewise a Trustee of Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg and a Director of the Theological Seminary there, representing it in the General Synod of the Lutheran Church.  It will thus be seen that he has covered a broad field of usefulness for which his natural talents, aided by his acquirements, have amply fitted him.  Among those who have known him long and well his career has been such as to fully establish him in their esteem and confidence.

     The subject of this notice was born at York Springs, Adams County, Pa., January 31, 1833, and is the son of the Rev. Daniel and Susannah (KRONE) GOTSWALD, both natives of Pennsylvania and of German ancestry.  The father was a prominent minister of the Lutheran Church and the mother a noble Christina lady who transmitted largely of her own piety and her virtues to her son.  She frequently accompanied her husband in his travels, but made her home in her native State.  The parental family consisted of twelve children, seven sons and five daughters, of whom only four are now living.

     Dr. GOTWALD is the fifth child of his parents and spent the greater part of his youth in Center County, Pa.  He pursued his early studies in the common school and later attended an academy after which, repairing to Philadelphia he entered a printing office and during the time spent there gained a fair knowledge of the art preservative.  When a youth of nineteen years, coming to this State he entered Wittenberg College, passing through the Sophomore year.  In 1855 returning to Pennsylvania he entered Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg from which he was graduated in 1857.

     Next the Doctor entered the Theological Seminary of Gettysburg and after taking a two year’s course was duly graduated from that institution in 1859.  In October of that same year he was placed in charge of the Lutheran Church at Shippensburg, Pa., where he remained until 1865.  That year he came to Ohio as pastor of the First Lutheran Church at Dayton, where he remained until 1869, and was then obliged to resign his charge on account of failing health.

     We next find Dr. GOTWALD in Chambersburg, Pa., as Pastor of the Lutheran Church, of which he remained in charge from the latter part of 1869, until 1874.  Afterward for twelve years he was pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in York, Pa.  In December, 1885, upon a call from Springfield, he assumed the pastorate of the Second Lutheran Church in that city and soon afterward was elected to the Professorship of Practical and Historical Theology in Wittenberg Theological Seminary.  He brings to this position a large experience and more than ordinary talents and is in all respects a useful man for the place.

     Dr. GOTWALD was married October 13, 1859, at the bride’s home in Springfield, to Miss Mary E. KING.  This lady was born April 1, 1837, in Tarlton, Ohio, and is the daughter of David and Almena (CALDWELL) KING, the former native of England and the latter of New Hampshire.  The father was brought to America when a child.  Of this union there have been born nine children, seven sons, and two daughters who are named respectively, David K., George D., Robert C., Luther A., William W., Frederick G., Charles, Almena and Mary Susan.  The following are deceased:  George D. who was Pastor of the Memorial Lutheran Church of Kansas City died January 12, 1890; Luther A. and William W. were pursuing their classical course of education looking forward to the ministry at the time of their deaths; Charles H. died when a babe.

     Politically, Dr. GOTWALD is a stanch Republican, and during the war was a strong Union man, and did all he could to further the interests of the Union cause.  His brother Dr. Jacob H. GOTWALD, chief surgeon on board the man of way “Keystone” under command of Rear-Admiral DUPONT in the fight at Charleston, S. C., was scalded to death while rendering surgical aid to one of the wounded men.  Another brother, Rev. W. V. GOTWALD, was a Lutheran minister in Lancaster, Pa., and died there in 1869.  A younger brother Rev. W. H. GOTWALD, is now Pastor of a Lutheran Church in Washington, D. C.  His eldest sister Eliza, was married to the Rev. Jacob SCHERER, who was the second Lutheran minister in the State of Illinois; they are now both deceased.