My Genealogy Hound

REV. GEORGE CONRAD HENRY, pastor of the Memorial Evangelical Lutheran Church, at Shippensburg, Pa., was born Feb. 22, 1856, at Pine Grove, Schuylkill Co., Pa., son of Rev. E. S. and Sarah A. (Conrad) Henry.

The ancestors of the Henry family came to Pennsylvania from Germany in the 18th century. George M. Henry, the paternal grandfather of Rev. George C. was born in York county, Pa., there married Lydia Strickhowser, and died in 1866. They had five children.

Rev. E. S. Henry was born Nov. 30, 1823, in York county. Pa., and was a graduate of Gettysburg College. In 1830 he entered the ministry at Newville. and in 1852 he became pastor of the Pine Grove Church, remaining with that charge until the time of his death in 1897. He married Sarah A. Conrad, daughter of Henry W. Conrad, who was a major in the war of 1812, and who afterward became a prosperous and influential citizen, a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature, and a patron of music. His two sons, Frederick W. and Victor L., were joint editors of the Lutheran Observer at Philadelphia, the leading journal of that religious body, from 1865 to 1895. Mrs. Henry died at Pine Grove, in 1869.

Rev. George Conrad Henry was prepared for Gettysburg College in both public and private schools at Pine Grove, graduating at this noted institution in June, 1876. He then entered the Theological Seminary, where he was graduated in 1879.

The occasion of the celebration of Mr. Henry’s twenty-fifth anniversary in the ministry, was commented upon in a most pleasng and appreciative manner by the Shippensburg Chronicle, and we are permitted to quote from this reliable article, as follows:

“In 1878 Mr. Henry entered the ministry in Philadelphia as a licentiate, and was ordained to the holy office he now holds in September, 1879, in Zion Lutheran Church, Harrisburg, the oldest Lutheran Church in the Valley, and the one from which the late president, William Henry Harrison, received his nomination in 1840.

“Rev. Henry became pastor of the Millersburg church that year, remaining in Lykens Valley three and one-half years. He then was transferred to the Iowa Synod, and he became pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Des Moines, Iowa, in 1883, and served a pastorate there of twelve years.

“On Nov. 1, 1894, Rev. Henry received a call from Memorial Lutheran Church, this place, to become their pastor, and has served this congregation faithfully for the past nine years, always responding to calls where duty demanded his presence. During his pastorate at Des Moines, the congregation of St. John’s Lutheran Church built a beautiful church and parsonage on one of the most eligible lots in that city, the indebtedness being cleared off the buildings a few years ago by the congregation. Since Rev. Henry’s pastorate here he has gained the confidence and love not only of his congregation, but the community in general. His church and Sunday-school are in a flourishing condition and are prospering under his guidance.” That beautiful tribute is richly deserved.

On June 1, 1880, Rev. Henry married Henrietta Ulrich, of Reading, Pa., daughter of Dr. D. A. and Henrietta (Nesbit) Ulrich, formerly residents of Reading. Two sons and one daughter have been born to this marriage, namely: Ruth C., a graduate of Irving College; Donald N.; and G. Harold. Rev. Henry is one of the trustees of Irving College at Mechanicsburg, and is a member of the board of trustees of the Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. He is a valued contributor to a number of religious periodicals, and is a man of worth, learning and piety.