C. Bodenbender › Texts

Bodenbender, Conrad. (Heskem, Hesse-Cassel, Germany, July 10, 1823--1897). Baptist. Brought up a Lutheran, but became a Baptist at the age of 22. Emigrated to America in 1849 where he worked as a cabinet maker in Buffalo, New York, before feeling the call to preach. Attended the Rochester Theological Seminary (1854-1858). Ordained in Newark, New Jersey, in September, 1856. Pastorates in German Baptist churches in Tavistock, Ontario, 1861-1865; Berlin, Ontario, 1865-1871; Chicago, Illinois, 1871-1873; Buffalo, New York, 1873- . Described as "calm and thoughtful, scriptural in his sermonizing, genial in his social intercourse, unblamable in character." Three of his hymns appeared in Die Glaubensharfe (Cleveland, 1885): "Ja, Herr, ich will Dir dienen," "Die Pilger zur Heimath der Seligen zich'n" and "Das Leib nur sinkt entseelt hinab." The latter hymn translated "The body only, soulless now, Like seed-corn in the grave lies low" is a hymn on the subject of death and resurrection using vivid imagery.

--Richard C. Shadinger, DNAH Archives