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- http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~janelle/lutherans.htm pp. 255-256 Sixty-ninth Session of the Synod, Holly Grove Church, Ilex, Davidson County, North Carolina, November 8, 1889. Obituary of Rev. Henry Wetzel.-At his residence, near Calvary, about two miles west of Woodstock, Shenandoah County, Virginia, March 3, 1890 after a complicated illness of three or four months duration, Rev. Henry Wetzel departed this life; aged 74 years, 2 months, and 20 days. His funeral services took place from Mt. Calvary Church, March 5, at 10 A. M., Rev. P. C. Wike officiating. His remains were then conveyed to Zion's Church, a distance of six miles, and laid to rest by the side of his consort who preceded him to eternity. He was born in Southwest Virginia, near the Tennessee line, of Christian parents, who brought him up in the nurture and admonition of God. He prepared himself for the Gospel ministry, and was ordained to the office of pastor, by the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod, at its session held in Rader's Church, near Timberville, Rockingham County, Virginia, in the year 1841, and continued in the active services of the ministry until within a few months of his death, -a period of forty-nine years. During his ministry, he served congregations in Augusta, Rockingham, and Shenandoah Counties, Virginia, as well as congregations in West Virginia, doing much missionary work. He also served a congregation in Baltimore, Maryland for several years. He was a man of strong mind and indomitable energy, an able and impressive preacher, both in the German and English languages, sound in the faith, and ever ready to promulgate, maintain, defend, and perpetuate the true doctrines and usages of the church, in their purity and simplicity. He was an able, fearless, formidable debater, full of zeal and perseverance. By assiduous effort and close application to study and investigation, He attained an eminent degree in literature and theology, as well as in church history and dogmatics. He was one of the ablest ministers in the Valley of Virginia. He possessed an extensive library, and he really used it. He took great delight in reading the Confessions of the Church and Luther's Entire Works. He was quite familiar with them, frequently making translations from them. When the translation of the Christian Book of Concord, or the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, into the English language, was undertaken, He was selected to make a purely literal translation of the Epitome; so, too, when Luther's Church-Postil on the Epistles was translated for publication in the English, he was selected to prepare a similar translation of the third volume. He was a son of George and Margaret Wetzel. He entered into the estate of matrimony with Miss Mary C. Staubus daughter of Christian and Mary E. Staubus, of Augusta County, Virginia December 5, 1839, with whom he had seven children,-six daughters and one son. He leaves two daughters and several grand-children, with numerous other relatives and friends, to lament his departure. Having finished his course here, he has now gone to the spirit world, to enjoy, as we trust, that rest and those rewards prepared for the faithful.
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