History of Lewistown, (Mifflin County) Pennsylvania United States of America

Our database does not include an historic photo for Lewistown, (Mifflin County) Pennsylvania, do you have one you would like to contribute? Contact Us!

Samuel Alfred Ort, educator, was born at Lewistown, Mifflin county, Pa., Nov. 11, 1843; son of Samuel and Christina Ort; grandson of John Ort, and a descendant of German and Huguenot families. His grandparents immigrated to America from Germany and settled near Lewistown, Pa., in 1780. Samuel Alfred Ort was prepared for college in Kishacoquillas seminary, near Lewistown, 1853-56, and was graduated at Wittenberg college, Springfield, Ohio, A.B., 1863; A.M., 1869. He studied at the Theological school of Wittenberg college; was a tutor in the preparatory department, 1863-65; pastor of the Lutheran church at Findlay, Ohio, 1865-68, and teacher of Latin and literature in Hagerstown Female seminary, 1868-69. He returned to Wittenberg college as a tutor in 1869, and was professor of mathematics, belles lettres, English literature and logic, 1870-74. He had charge of the Lutheran mission at Louisville, Ky., 1874-79, where he erected a church, which was completed in 1875, and was pastor of St. James church, New York city, 1879-80. In 1880 he was elected professor of theology in Wittenberg college; became president of the college and Frederick Gilbert professor of Christian theology and mental philosophy in 1882, and professor of systematic theology in the seminary in 1884. He retired from the presidency in 1900, being succeeded by the Rev. J. M. Ruthrauff; was elected dean but retained his professorships, and on the death of President Ruthrauff in 1902 became acting president of the college. Under his supervision a new college building was begun and built at a cost of $67,000, which stands as a monument to his perseverance and labor; also a young woman's hall, a gymnasium and Hamma divinity hall. He was a delegate to the General synod of the Lutheran church from 1873, secretary of the synod, 1873-79, and president of that body at Omaha, Neb., in 1887. He received the degree D.D. from Wittenberg college in 1877, and LL.D. in 1893. He was married in 1875 to Anna, daughter of W. W. and Mary A. Senteny of Louisville, Ky. He was prominent as a lecturer, contributed to reviews and edited the Lutheran Evangelist at Springfield, Ohio, 1881-85. He published several lectures and pamphlets, and is the author of: The Preeminence of the Spiritual (1884), and Christ, the Completeness of Man (1886).

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Lewistown, (Mifflin County) Pennsylvania

Biographies: