Dechant Historical Documents
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The Fathers Of The German Reformed Church
In Europe and America (1872)
Note: These notes were obtained through https://archive.org/details/fathersofgermanr03harb/.
By Rev. Henry Harbaugh, D.D.
Pages 175-179
REV. JACOB WILLIAM DECHANT, 1784-1832
Jacob William Dechant was born at Kreutznach, in the Palatinate, on the 18th of February, 1784. He was the son of John Peter Dechant and his wife Jacobina, whose maiden name was Wallauer. It may be remarked that both his paternal and maternal grandfathers were ministers of the gospel. He also had an uncle - Wallauer - who was clothed with the same blessed office. It is said that this latter had emigrated to America in the time of the War of Independence ; but afterwards returned to his native country for reasons unknown. Mr. Dechant emigrated to this country in 1806, and landed in Baltimore, in which place, after the lapse of about one year, he began the prosecution of his theological studies under Rev. Christian L. Becker, D. D.; having completed them, he was licensed and ordained in 1808. On the 25th of October of the same year, he was united in the bonds of holy wedlock with Miss Maria Rebecca Andre, who sailed from Bremen, her native city, in the year 1805.
They were strangers to each other until Dr. Becker, a relative of the Andre family, introduced them to one another. The first pastoral charge which he served was in Lehigh County, Pa., and consisted of the following congregations, viz., Springfield, Nacomixon, Upper Milford, Trexlertown, Longswamp, and Upper Saucon. Here he labored with considerable success until the year 1815, when he was sent to the State of Ohio, by the Synod, as a missionary, in which capacity he labored about three years and a half, when he returned again to Pennsylvania. His widow, who is still living, and resides in Lykens Valley, says that he came to this State about that time to attend the meeting of Synod; and while here, his ministerial brethren prevailed on him to come East again ; after which he received and accepted a call from the following congregations, viz.. Limerick, Oley, and Old Goshenhoppen. It appears he did not return to the West after this meeting of Synod. He sent for his family, which came; but, for some reason or other, his library and papers were left behind, and he never obtained them again. The family knows not what has become of them.
In this last charge he labored with acceptance and good success up to the time of his death. The circumstances under which his death occurred are peculiarly painful. He had left his family in order to attend the annual meeting of Synod at Frederick, Md. ; and, after Synod adjourned, on his way home, he was seized by an attack of cholera, and laid up at the public house of Mr. John Forney, about nine miles from Lancaster, on the Reading road. He was taken with premonitory symptoms of cholera, previous to his departure from Frederick, on the morning of September 22d; but confiding too much in a partial relief and an excellent constitution, and anxious to return to his family, he imprudently set out on the same day. After much suffering on the way, he arrived at the house of Mr. Forney on the evening of the 25th, where his further progress was arrested. A physician was called in, and the disease was checked, but not permanently. After suffering here for about eleven days, he breathed his last on the night of October 5th, 1832. His wife and his son Frederick came to attend to him about five days before his death. The Rev. Daniel Hertz, residing in the neighborhood, visited the sick man frequently. He says: " I never saw any one bear affliction so patiently and resignedly as he. He died like a true Christian." He was rational to the last, and in prayer commended himself to the Lord Jesus. His remains were taken to Oley, Berks County, Pa., where they were interred in the graveyard near by the Oley church. Rev. Jacob Miller, of the Lutheran Church, preached a funeral sermon on the occasion from Luke ii. 29.
Mr. Dechant died poor, and his family - the widow with ten children, one of whom followed its father into eternity not long after - were left in a destitute condition. Yet the God of the widow and orphan has provided all things needful for her and all the children. "With tears of gratitude," says Rev. Mr. Groh, " she said to me, 'Der liebe Gott hat uns immer versorgt - wir haben nie Mangel gehabt.'"
In spite of his wishes to the contrary, there are now three of his sons in the ministry. He wished them to become mechanics, because the ministry in this country was not esteemed as highly and supported as well as it should be. He had undergone a great many privations, and he did not wish his sons to do the same. The complaint is but too just; yet all this must be endured for Christ's sake.
Mr. Dechant was kind and benevolent - perhaps to excess - at least, he does not seem to have made much account of the adage, " Charity begins at home." If he had two coats, he would " give to him who had none." He was always easily reconciled with his enemies; he forgave them, and showed them all kindness. As a preacher, he was popular, and generally beloved by the people. He was very talented and always a ready speaker. His gifts perhaps proved a snare to him. It is said he never studied much - at most, perhaps, as he rode along from one preaching-point to another, or as he was about to enter the pulpit, did he collect his thoughts. He was possessed of good conversational powers. In his intercourse with the people, he was lively and " full of talk." He would frequently stop on the road to converse with those he met; and this would sometimes happen when he was on his way to fill an appointment, and forgetting himself, he would come too late - often enough, at least, to occasion complaint on the part of the people.
It appears that he was a little credulous, and thus was exposed to imposition from others. "Allen Menschen hat er geglaubt" is said of him.
He enjoyed a good training preparatory to the study of theology, before he left his native country. Where he was educated is not known. The following persons, it is said, studied theology under him, viz., Theo. L. Hoffeditz, Samuel Stahr, C. Aug. Pauli, J. W. Ilangen, F. W. Bindeman, H. Bassler, D. Riegel, John Gring, and A. M. Lechner.
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