Rev Joseph H Hendricks 1834-1905

"At the "Trinity Christian Church at Skippackville" , Bishop Hunsicker placed the Rev. Joseph Hendricks in charge. He was the minister who helped organize the congregation and served it for 42 years, until his death in 1905. He was also pastor of "Trinity Christian Church of Freeland", at Collegeville, and at Ironbridge Chapel (in Rahn's Station, now Rahns). His services were generally in German. Rev. Hendricks married Bishop Hunsicker's daughter, Catherine (b. 1/9/1840) on 10/21/1858. He was born on 12/21/1834 in Upper Providence Twp., died 11/21/1905. They had 5 children. Raised on his father's farm, Joseph entered Freeland Seminary in 1851 under principle Rev. Henry A. Hunsicker (Abraham's son). He attended the Seminary during summer months and taught in public schools for four consecutive winters. In 1856, he was appointed to assistant teacher in the Seminary, and then to vice-principle of the institution two years later. While performing these positions he was chosen and elected to the ministry by the members of the Trinity Christian Church in Collegeville, being installed in April, 1862. This required so much time that he resigned from the Seminary. The Church merged into the Reformed Church in 1888 (against the wishes of his brother-in-law Rev. Henry A. Hunsicker who wanted to preserve his father's work of building a nondenominational church). Rev. Hendricks has the distinction of having served the same charge longer than any other living pastor in Montgomery County (as of 1911). He officiated at more than one thousand funerals. He was greatly loved by his congregation and in much demand outside of his own church. He was a fluent and forcible preacher, speaking entirely extempore, in a rapid, earnest and convincing manner. In June, 1881, Ursinus College awarded him a degree of M.A. and in June, 1897, the degree of D.D. He is buried at the Collegeville cemetery of the Trinity Christian Church which he served so long and faithfully."

Done