History of Frederick, (Montgomery County) Pennsylvania United States of America

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

Chester David Hartranft, educator, was born in Frederick, Montgomery county, Pa., Oct. 15, 1839; son of Samuel and Salome (Stetler) Hartranft. The Hartranfts and the Stetlers came to America from Germany about 1743. He removed with his parents to Philadelphia, Pa., in 1846, and was graduated front the Philadelphia high school, A.B., in 1856, and A.M., in 1859. He studied at the Hill school, Porttstown, Pa., 1856-57; entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1857 and was graduated, A.B., 1861, and A.M., 1864. He served as captain of a military company formed in the University and as captain in the 18th regiment of the Pennsylvania militia, during the emergency in 1863. He was graduated from the theological seminary of the Dutch Reformed church at New Brunswick, N.J., in 1864, and held pastorates at South Bushwick, N.Y., 1864-66, and at New Brunswick, N.J., 1866-78. He was Waldo professor of Biblical and ecclesiastical history in the Theological institute of Connecticut, 1878-92, the institution being known after 1885 as the Hartford theological seminary, and he was elected president of the seminary in 1888; at the same time holding the chairs of biblical theology and ecclesiastical theology, 1892-97, and of ecclesiastical dogmas after 1897. He secured for women the full privileges of that institution on the same terms as were offered to men in 1889. He trained a church choir of fifty voices, and choruses of children; conducted an oratorio society, and was president of the conservatory of music at New Brunswick, N.J. He was a member of the Society of exegesis and biblical literature, of the National academy of theology and of the American Christian historical society. He was married June 20, 1864, to Anne Frances, daughter of the Rev. J. F. Berg, D.D. He received the degree of Mus. D. in 1871, and that of D.D. in 1876, from Rutgers college, and that of S.T.D. from Williams college in 1893. He edited Schwenkfeld and His Followers, and the Anti-Donatist Writings of St. Augustine and Sozomen in the Post Nicene series (1887 and 1890); is the author of The Life of Kaspar Schwenkfeld von Ossig, the material for which he gathered during several visits to Germany; and of numerous articles on theological subjects contributed to periodicals.

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

History of Frederick, (Montgomery County) Pennsylvania

Biographies: