He was the son of Johann Heinrich Frederick Benze. He emigrated from Germany at age 21, after the death of his father. He lived in Rochester, NY, for a time while he worked on the Erie Canal. He attended Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary, graduating in 1864. During the Civil War, a cannon ball supposedly went through two walls of his room. He was present for Lincoln's address.
He married Elizabeth C Kiehl, a native of Germany living in Lancaster, PA, on Sept 8, 1864. They had seven children. Four of the five sons became clergymen.
He was ordained in Altoona, PA, and was then pastor of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Warren, PA for eight years before moving to Erie. Both churches erected buildings during his tenure.
According to A Brief History of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran, "the Rev. Adolph Leopold Benze assumed the pastorate on Easter Day in 1872 and served until his death in 1891. During his ministry, St. John's became one of the largest and most respected Protestant churches in Erie."
His funeral was one of the largest ever held in Erie. The Erie Times wrote that a thousand or more people attended the burial. His monument in the cemetery was erected by church members and friends.
He married Elizabeth C Kiehl, a native of Germany living in Lancaster, PA, on Sept 8, 1864. They had seven children. Four of the five sons became clergymen.
He was ordained in Altoona, PA, and was then pastor of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Warren, PA for eight years before moving to Erie. Both churches erected buildings during his tenure.
According to A Brief History of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran, "the Rev. Adolph Leopold Benze assumed the pastorate on Easter Day in 1872 and served until his death in 1891. During his ministry, St. John's became one of the largest and most respected Protestant churches in Erie."
His funeral was one of the largest ever held in Erie. The Erie Times wrote that a thousand or more people attended the burial. His monument in the cemetery was erected by church members and friends.
He was the son of Johann Heinrich Frederick Benze. He emigrated from Germany at age 21, after the death of his father. He lived in Rochester, NY, for a time while he worked on the Erie Canal. He attended Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary, graduating in 1864. During the Civil War, a cannon ball supposedly went through two walls of his room. He was present for Lincoln's address.
He married Elizabeth C Kiehl, a native of Germany living in Lancaster, PA, on Sept 8, 1864. They had seven children. Four of the five sons became clergymen.
He was ordained in Altoona, PA, and was then pastor of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Warren, PA for eight years before moving to Erie. Both churches erected buildings during his tenure.
According to A Brief History of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran, "the Rev. Adolph Leopold Benze assumed the pastorate on Easter Day in 1872 and served until his death in 1891. During his ministry, St. John's became one of the largest and most respected Protestant churches in Erie."
His funeral was one of the largest ever held in Erie. The Erie Times wrote that a thousand or more people attended the burial. His monument in the cemetery was erected by church members and friends.
He married Elizabeth C Kiehl, a native of Germany living in Lancaster, PA, on Sept 8, 1864. They had seven children. Four of the five sons became clergymen.
He was ordained in Altoona, PA, and was then pastor of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Warren, PA for eight years before moving to Erie. Both churches erected buildings during his tenure.
According to A Brief History of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran, "the Rev. Adolph Leopold Benze assumed the pastorate on Easter Day in 1872 and served until his death in 1891. During his ministry, St. John's became one of the largest and most respected Protestant churches in Erie."
His funeral was one of the largest ever held in Erie. The Erie Times wrote that a thousand or more people attended the burial. His monument in the cemetery was erected by church members and friends.
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