McLean County IL - Obituary of REV. ANDREW HAHN

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  HAHN, REV. ANDREW 

  Rev. Andrew Hahn, beloved pastor of the St. John's Lutheran Church of 

  Anchor Twp. for the past 46 years, has passed on. His death occured last 

  Sunday 10-11-1936, on his 71st birthday anniversary after a week's illness. 

  The passing of "Father Hahn," as he was widely known, brought sorrow to 

  hundreds of homes, both in central Illinois and in many other states. He was 

  remembered and revered by former parishoners who had moved to distant 

  fields of activity. Father Hahn was generally recognized as an ideal pastor, 

  a shepherd of his flock, a modest, unassuming Christian gentleman. Kindly 

  and tolerant, with broad sympathy and understanding, he made friends in 

  every circle, and won the reverence and esteem of people who were not 

  connected with his church. He was a familiar and welcome figure on the streets 

  of Gibson City, where he often came to trade. A short time before his death, 

  Mr. Hahn wrote the following obituary sketch of himself: 

  "Andrew Hahn was born 10-11-1865 at Weissach Wurtemberg, Germany, the 

  son of Andrew Hahn and his wife Catharine, nee Buehrer. Baptized in 

  infancy, he ws instructed and confirmed in the Lutheran church of his birthplace 

  by the Rev. Jaeck on 4-19-1879. After he had attended the preparatory school 

  of the Rev. Immanuel Erhard Voelter in Grossingersheim, he was sent to 

  Wartburg Seminary at Mendota, Ill, in 1884. There he took up the study of 

  theology under the leadership of Doctors Sigmund and Gottfried Fritschel. 

  On 7-3-1887 he was ordained into the gospel ministry together by President 

  F. Richter D.D. at his church in Mendota. The following day, 7-4-1887, he 

  departed from Mendota and arrived at Leola, SD on July 6 to take charge of 

  an extended mission field. On 7-24-1887 he organized the St. James 

  Evangelical Lutheran congregation at Leola and for some time he served 12 

  preaching stations in counties of McPherson, McIntosh, and Campbell, where 

  he also organized some congregations. In the spring of 1888 a church and 

  parsonage were built in the town of Leola. On 8-12-1888 he was married 

  to Miss Ida P. Grey at her home near Mendota, Ill. The Rev. D.D. Richter 

  performed the ceremony. The young couple made their home in the new 

  parsonage at Leola. On 4-2-1889 a most destructive prairie fire destroyed not only 

  two human lives, many farm homes, cattle and horses, but almost the whole 

  town of Leola including the church and parsonage. A new parsonage was built 

  in the summer of 1889 and three more ministers were called to help take care 

  of the field. In October, 1890, he accepted a call from St. John's Evangelical 

  Lutheran congregation at Anchor, the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran 

  congregation of Sibley, and the preaching station at Lawndale Twp near 

  Colfax. He served all three places for almost seven years. A parsonage was 

  built by the St. John's congregation of Anchor near the church in Anchor Twp 

  in the fall iof 1891. An old farmhouse located between Anchor and Sibley 

  had served as a parsonage for the pastor and his family prior to this. In 

  October 1896 Immanuel congregation was organized at Lawndale. In the 

  spring of 1897 the parish was divided and .......was called for the congregation 

  of Sibley and Lawndale, so that there might be Divine services at Anchor 

  every Sunday. A schoolhouse was built near the Anchor church in 1894 and 

  the present church in 1909. Of the nine children born to the Pastor and Mrs. 

  Hahn, all but the oldest were born near Anchor. Two of them preceded him 

  in death. Surviving are his wife and the following children: Hulda, Andre, 

  Paul, Mrs. Pauline Kegerreis, Mrs. Alice Rausch, Mrs. Marie Hansen, and 

  Mrs. Leola Ferdinand. There are six grandchildren." Funeral services were 

  held in St. John's Church on Wednesday October 14.