Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Ohl, J. F., Rev.
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson, Patricia Bastik & Susan Walters Dec 2009

Source: History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania; edited by 
J.H. Battle; A. Warner & Co.; 1887
Richland Township N-Z


   REVEREND J. F. OHL pastor, of St. John's Evangelical 
Lutheran church, P.O. Quakertown, was born June 26, 1850, in 
Cherryville, Northampton county, Pa., and is a son of Milton 
Ohl and his wife, Mary Elizabeth, a daughter of Alexander 
and Rebecca Shick. His father, a native of Lehigh county, 
came to Cherryville in 1847, where he has since resided and 
carried on the stove and tinware business.  The subject of 
our sketch received the education afforded by the common 
schools of his native place, and long before he had attained 
his majority had also thoroughly mastered his father's trade 
- that of tinsmith.  He still prides himself on the fact 
that he is a skilled mechanic, at any time capable of 
earning a day's wages at the bench.  In August, 1866, Mr. 
Ohl began a course of preparatory studies at Mercersburg 
college, remaining there until December of the following 
year.  In January, 1868, he entered the Freshman class at 
Muhlenberg college, Allentown, from which institution he 
graduated in June, 1871.  In September of that year he began 
the study of theology in the Lutheran Theological seminary 
at Philadelphia, graduating May 27, 1874.  On the 3rd of 
June following he was ordained to the ministry at the 
meeting of the Evangelical Lutheran Ministerium of 
Pennsylvania, in the city of Lancaster, and at once located 
in his present field of labor, comprising St. John's 
congregation at Quakertown, St. Paul's at Applebachsville, 
in Haycock township and "Keller's" in Bedminster township.  
At the subsequent commencement of Muhlenberg college his 
alma mater also conferred upon him the degree of master of 
arts.  During his pastorate of thirteen years at Quakertown 
Mr. Ohl has had several calls to large city churches, and 
was twice offered professional positions, all of which he 
declined.  Since 1876 he has uninterruptedly served in the 
board of trustees of Muhlenberg college, and is now one of 
the special lecturers in that institution.  He has 
represented his synod in the general council of the 
Evangelical Lutheran church in North America, and is a 
member of that body's church book committee, whose special 
work it has been and is to prepare the church's liturgy, 
hymn-books, etc. He is also chairman of the same body's 
standing committee on Sunday school work, and was chairman 
of the committee that prepared the "Little Children's Book" 
- a service, hymn and tune book for infant schools - and was 
chief editor of said work.  Mr. Ohl has devoted much time to 
the study of music, especially sacred music, and is an 
acknowledged authority on this subject in his church.  
During most of his student years he served as organist for 
congregations at Mercersburg, Allentown and Philadelphia; 
and during his ministry has not only found time to write and 
lecture on church music, but has edited a number of musical 
and liturgical publications which have been received with 
great favor.  On March 10, 1873, Mr. Ohl was married to 
Olivia, daughter of the Rev. Christian R. Kessler, deceased, 
a prominent minister of the Reformed church, and founder of 
the Allentown seminary, which was subsequently merged into 
Muhlenberg college.  They are the parents of three children: 
 Hermine Elizabeth, Else Rebecca, and Frederick William.