Smyrna times., 1876-01-05
Death of the Venerable Father Boehm,

The Rev. Henry Boehm, better known
as Father Bohem, the oldest Methodist
preacher in this country, and probably the |
oldest minister in the world, died on Tues |
day at the house of his granddaughter,
near Richmond, Staten Island, New York. |
This venerable man was born on June 8,
l775, in Lancaster county, Penn, where
his father, Martin Boehm, was Mennonite
preacher, and afterward prominent in the
organization of the Church of the United
Brethren. Henry received a plain German
education and CAREFUL religious training,
and at an early age became connected with
the Methodist Church, then newly organ
lied in this country. One of the first
Methodist meeting-houses was built on the
Boehm property, and was long the centre
of wide religious influence, and it was
there, in 1898, that Henry Boehm joined
the Methodist body. After the usual pro-
baton he was appointed class leader at
Soudersburg, andsubsequently after attend
ing a Methodist conference in 1900, became
an itinerant preacher. In 1902 he was
appointed to Kent Circuit, and after labor
ing there with great success was transferred
to new field of action in Eastern Pennsyl-
vania. He preached in German at this
time, and was the companion of Bishop
Asbury in his tour of the State. Having
now fully acquired the use of the English
language he preached to large audiences at
Harrisburg, Reading, Columbia and other
places. In 1907 he was stationed in Ian
caster county, where the Methodist Church
first became established through his in
influence, and while there translated the
discipline of the Methodist Church into the
German language. At this period Bishop
Asbury again chose this preacher as his
travelling companion, and this time their
labors extended over the States of Ohio
Indiana, Tennessee, Georgia, South Caro-
lima, and other points South and West. In
1909 he made a visit to the Eastern State,
and New York, and was everywhere the re
cipient of marks of respect and attention
In 1912 he was appointed to the charge o
the Schuylkill district, and he subsequently
served as presiding elder of the Chesapeake
Delaware, Lancaster, and other districts
He was a member of the General Confer
{ ence of 1882 and that of 1874, when tn
, separation took place between the Churcl
North and South. Since 1914 he has bee
upon the list of supernumerary preacher,
but has maintained an active interest i
, all Church affairs and has been Il constan
attendant of the Conference, where he wa
always received with the respect bcfttin
his years and services. On the Sth of Jun
last his one hundredth birthday was cell
. brated, at Jersey City, by the Newark Coz
ference, of which he was a member. Q
this occasion he submitted an outline of h
busy life and labors in the Methods ChurcI
and addresses were made by a number
- prominent clergymen. The excitment
the occasion prostrated him, and thong
- he rallied, he was again seized with illne
:. on the 18th of the month, while attemptir
to preach in the Village Church at Rcl
e mond. Father Boehm," as he WI
- affectionately called by people of all d
nominations, was devoted Christian, an
:, his end was in keeping with the doctrin
he taught.