John Kilian

John Kilian
Born (1811-03-22)March 22, 1811
Doehlen, Saxony, Germany
Died September 12, 1884(1884-09-12) (aged 73)
Serbin, Texas

John Kilian also German: Johann Kilian, Upper Sorbian: Jan Kilian (March 22, 1811 September 12, 1884) was a Lutheran pastor and leader of the colony known as the Wends of Texas.

Background

John Kilian was born in Doehlen, near Hochkirch, Saxony. After school in Rachlau and Bautzen, he studied theology at the University of Leipzig. He was a pastor in Hochkirch (his home parish) from 1834-1837. Because of the death of his uncle he became a pastor in Kotitz. In 1848, he became a pastor in Weigersdorf, Prussia.[1]

Texas Colony

It was during the year 1854 that about 558 Wendish Lutherans from Kilian's congregations in Prussia and also from Saxony called him to lead them to Texas. Many people in Kilian's congregation were dissatisfied with the philosophy of rationalism spreading through Europe. Some viewed rationalism as an attempt to replace religion with science. With growing religious discontent, economic hardship and Kilian's desire to be a missionary in a foreign country, Kilian brought his followers to Galveston and eventually settled about 55 miles east of Austin in Lee County.[2]

On March 25, 1854, a new Lutheran congregation was organized at Dauban, to become the cornerstone of a large Wendish emigration. Rev. Kilian was called as Pastor. This move resulted in the establishment of Low Pin Oak Settlement later renamed Serbin.One of the first acts accomplished by Rev. Kilian was to apply for membership in the fledgling Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Serbin became the first of many Missouri Synod churches in Texas, and it had the only Wendish language speaking school in America.[3]

Concordia University Texas

The legacy of John Kilian is apparent at the campus of the Concordia University Texas where you will find Kilian Road and the over-150-year-old bell at the entrance of Building A which Kilian and his followers brought on their journey to Texas. At its old campus, the university's first building was named Kilian Hall.

Selected works

References

  1. Brief History of the Wendish Immigration to Texas(Texas Wendish Heritage Society)
  2. Johann Kilian / Jan Kilan (1811-1884) (Ev.-Luth. Kirchgemeinde Hochkirch)German
  3. Kilian, John (1811-1884) (Handbook of Texas. Texas State Historical Association)

Other sources

External links

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