The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-01-01
SACRED TO THE MEMORY
Rev. and Mrs. Frederick Joseph WallarA

Among the pioneer Lutheran mniiS-
ters of the Dutch Fork, there IS perhaps
no one better known than the Rev.
Frederick Joseph Wallern. He died Cc-
tober s, 1918, anl was buried at his
home near st. Paul's church, Pomarla.
His wife, Mrs. Mary Ursula Waliern,
died October 25, 1898, and was also
buried at their hons. Fortunately, both
graves were marked and were never lest.
These graves have attracted lnuch at
tention. They have been sought out
frequently by those interested in the
early history of the Lutheran church ia
Newberrv county. However, on account
of unfavorable location and neglect,
they have been difficult to find Some
people thought that these graves ought
to be moved to ths St. Paul eometer:,
where they would be cared fof aAd
where they would be accessible to those
interested in them.
When l came to the st. Paul 8 par
sonage about one wear ago, l had al
ready become acquainted with the his
tory of Pastor Wallern. Knowing that
he was buried somewhere in the COM
munity, was very desirous to visit his
grave. I mentioned this fact to Mr.
J. J. Epting, and during the converse
ton lie said that the grave Of Pastor
Wallern ought TO be moved to the st.
GAL NINE-H & y -. -. -. .....
Coul's cemetery. Later, upon the sug-
gestion of Mr.. Epting, presented the
question Of removal to the graveyard
association of he ST. Paul's church.
but no action was taken. Mr.. Epting,
however, continued to plan for the re-
moval Of the graves to The St. Paul 8
cemetery.
Some months later Mr.. A. H. Kohn
of Columbia, who formerly lived in this
community, and who, as, a boy on his
way to school, often passed by the grave
of Pastor Wallern, took up the matter
of removal. His plan was to move the
bodies OF beth Pastor and Mrs. Wallern
TO the St. Paul cemetery. He wrote to
Mr.. Vim. II. Kibler, suggesting the
removal. lIr. Kibler is one Of the older
men Of this community, and has lived
upon the place formerly owned by Pas
tor Wallern. Mr.. Kibler gave the let
ters to me with the request that l pre-
sent the question of removal to the st.
Paul's congregation on Old Folks Day,
August 10. I complied with this request,
which had the following result: 1t was
decided to move the bodies of Pastor
and Mrs. Wallern to the st. Paul's GEM
etery and to place Mr.. J. J. Epting in
charge of the work. AS soon as Mr.
Kohn was informed of this action, he
sent a substantial contribution to assist
Mr.. Epting.
Upon the suggestion of Mr.. A. H.
Kohn, the Rev. E. Fulenwider, president
Of the South Carolina synod, mentioned
the matter of removal in his annual re-
port to synod at Pomaria. He, further,
recommended that the bodies be moved
by the synod to the st. Paul s cemetery.
This recommendation was approved by
the synod, and the following committee
was placed in charge Of the work: The
Rev. E. Fulenwider, Mr.. A. II. Kohn
and myself
Mr.. j. J. Epting then disinterred the
bodies with care and thoroughness and
brought them to the st. Paul's GENE
terry. On Friday evening, the last day
of synod, the bodies were remterred III
the St. Paul's cemetery in the presence
OF number of ministers and delegates.
The service was read by the Rev. Z.
Fulenwider, president of synod. An his
toric address was to have been delivered
by Mr.. A. H. Kohn, but this was omitted
on account of the lateness i'll the even,
ing. While this omission is to be re-
gretted, yet the lateness in the evening
seemed to add to the soIemnity Of the
occasion.
The graves Of Pastor and Mrs. Wal
ern will now receive the attention and
honor that is due them. Hereafter
yhen the strange comes to the ST
All s cemetery, he will be able to look
apon the grave of the man who was
pe1haps, the first Lutheran minister tc
tcs:G;c in Newbcry county.
S. P. Koon.
c--cm-o-- Arp-c TrATTID