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Dechant Historical Documents
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A monograph of the New Goschenhoppen and
Great Swamp Reformed Charge, 1731-1881 (1882)

Note: These notes were obtained through https://archive.org/details/monographofnewgo00weis.

By Weiser, C. Z. (Clement Zwingli), 1830-1898
Pages 116-120 and 123-125

THE REV. JACOB WILLIAM DECHANT

This once well-known and still remembered minister of God was the son of John Peter Dechant, likewise a clergyman in the Reformed Church. He was born in Kreuznach, in the Palatinate, February 18, 1784. He had made some considerable progress in the classics in his native place. He emigrated to America in the year 1805. His preparatory training for the holy ministry was commenced and consummated under the Rev. Dr. Becker, in Baltimore, Md.

In 1808, on the 25th of October, he entered into matrimony with Rebecca Andre, who was born in Bremen, August 12, 1785.

In the year 1811 the congregations at Long Swamp, Trexlerstown, Upper Milford, Salzburg, Saucon, Durham, Tinicum and Nocamixon became vacant, and were served by him until the year 1815. It was at this period of his life that pastor Dechant was appointed on a mission to the State of Ohio, which was then considered the 'far West.' He resided at Miamisburg, Montgomery county, which became the centre of his operations.

In 1819 he returned to Pennsylvania, and served at Old Goschenhoppen, Limerick, Oley, and several other points, down to the year 1832. During his last pastorate he resided in Pottstown, Crooked Hill, Montgomery county, and latterly in Oley, Berks county.

We copy from the "Messenger'' (1832) the publication of his death:

"Our Reverend Brother, Jacob William Dechant, late pastor of several congregations in Berks county, Pennsylvania, and recently chosen President of our Synod, is no more. He died at the public house of Mr. John Forney, on the Reading road, about nine miles from Lancaster, on the night of October 5th. He was on his way returning from the late meeting of our Synod at Frederick City, Md. He was taken with premonitory symptoms of cholera previous to his departure from Frederick, on the morning of September 22nd; but confiding too much in a partial relief, and an excellent constitution, and too anxious to return to his family, he imprudently set out on the same day. After much suffering on the way, he arrived on the evening of the 25th, at the house of Mr. Forney, a distance of nearly 100 miles, where his further progress was prevented by an attack of cholera. A physician being procured, the disease was checked, but he lingered in fever until the 5th of October, when he expired."

The Rev. Daniel Hertz, who resided in that neighborhood, and was with him almost daily during his illness, wrote thus of his last hours:

"I never saw any one bear affliction so patiently and resignedly as he. He died like a true Christian. Last evening he was still as rational as ever, and committed himself to the will of our Lord and Master Jesus. I had sent for his wife and sons, who came in due time, and saw their husband and father depart in peace. Today they have taken his corpse, and are now on the way to his late residence. He has left a distressed widow and ten children to bewail their loss."

His remains lie beneath a large marble slab in the grave-yard of the Reformed church at Oley, which bears this epitaph:

The Reverend Jacob Miller, of the Lutheran Church, preached the funeral sermon. , The Rev. Augustus Pauli, with the assistance of the Reverend Conrad Miller, performed the additional funeral services.

Pastor Dechant had been the father of twelve children - ten sons and two daughters. Two sons preceded their Reverend father to eternity. His youngest daughter, Adelaide, died in the winter of 1876. His eldest daughter was the wife of the Reverend Henry S. Bassler. Three of his sons are ministers in the Reformed Church - Frederick William, Augustus L. and George B. The Reverend William Landis, likewise of the Reformed Church, is married to a daughter of pastor Bassler. Truly, he has founded a Levitical family! Pastor Dechant, besides, prepared no less than nine young men for the Gospel ministry. Among these were - Bassler, Hangen, Lechner, Gring, Bindeman and Haumdicker.

His venerable widow died in her 91st year, retaining the vigor of her mental faculties, notwithstanding her long and hard history. She spent her ripe old age under the roof of her son Augustus, in Pennsburg, Pa.

The Rev. Dr. Joseph S. Dubbs, of Allentown, Pa., one of the few remaining Patriarch pastors in Eastern Pennsylvania, testifies to the worth of his early co-laborer in these telling words : "I think I am not mistaken in declaring that pastor Dechant proved a diligent and good servant of the Church in his day. The fruits of his labors are still being gathered by others who succeeded him in his various congregations."

THE REVEREND AUGUSTUS L. DECHANT

This still active pastor over the Old Goschenhoppen pastoral charge resides at Pennsburg, Pa. He was born at Crooked Hill, Pottsgrove township, Montgomery county, January 26, 1823. The Reverend Frederick Wilhelm Von-der-Sloot baptized him. The Reverend William Hangen confirmed him in his youth, in the Keeley's Reformed congregation, in Limerick township. He learned the tailoring trade under Mr. William Barret, at Schwenksville, Pa., which he followed during the first nine years of his manhood. But a change occurred in his history, for which he confidently holds Providence responsible. Whether he would or not, a call impressed itself upon him, and under its force he found his way to the school at Mercersburg, Pa., where the ground work to his preparation was firmly laid. More favorable opportunities having offered at Boyertown, Pa., he continued his studies at the latter place for three years longer. During a period of four years he studied theology privately, as opportunity offered. He was licensed to preach the Gospel, by the Classis of Goschenhoppen, at Red Hill, Bucks county, in 1851. During his licentiate year he resided at Millerstown, Lehigh county, and supplied the Lutheran congregations of the Saucon charge, lately made vacant by the death of the Reverend William German. Having served this field with great acceptance to the people, no small inducements were offered him to become their pastor. But his Reformed blood told against such a step.

In 1852 he removed to Frederick township, Montgomery county, Pa., and was ordained as a missionary pastor, within the bounds of Goschenhoppen Classis. The spirit of 'independency' had been ripe in this and neighboring localities at this time, in consequence of which pastor Dechant was obliged to be satisfied with a 'day of small things' during the opening period of his regular ministry. But a moiety of the congregation in Frederick township proved loyal to the church and to himself on his arrival among them. After some time and severe labor and persecution, order came out of confusion under God, and pastor Dechant to-day looks upon the Reformed congregation in Frederick township as one of his dearest points. He has been its pastor now for a full quarter of a century.

The Huber's congregation - now Christ's church - in Douglass township, Berks county, was opened for him at a later day. Hilltown, in Bucks county, was likewise supplied by him. Then Boyertown sought his services; and so did the Sassaman's Reformed congregation. The congregation at Samneytown came into being in 1858, and was taken under his wing in 1862.

In this year the Old Goschenhoppen pastoral charge was organized, and pastor Dechant was chosen as its regular minister.

Pastor Dechant affords us another specimen of a 'self-made' man. His means had been limited and his opportunities comparatively few. But he surely made the most of these. Few pastors know better how to present the truth, as he understands it, in a more forcible and effectual way. In the last day he will not be condemned for having laid his pound away in a napkin, we are quite sure.