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Archiver > CATAWBA-WEST > 2001-06 > 0993175981


From: "Sue F. Carpenter" <>
Subject: [CATAWBA-WEST] Re: L. Leonhardt, Dunker
Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2001 22:13:01 -0400
References: <20010620.082158.-151009.0.alby6@juno.com>


Dear Agnes,

Thank you for the email. Philip Leonard also sent me a copy of this
document.

Philip and I believe that Lorentz Leonhardt/Linhardt served a church named
Thessalonica in western Lincoln County. Please refer to page 347 of Lorena
Eaker's GERMAN SPEAKING PEOPLE . . . . On that page the reference is made
to this Baptist Church. Philip Leonard believes that a vacant cemetery in
western Lincoln County may be all that remains of this congregation. I
simply do not know which cemetery Philip is referring to and so far we have
no proof.

The Rev. Rhodes that George Yoder refers to is probably Henry Rhodes. He is
referred to in a number of secondary source materials and oral traditions as
a minister. He has been called a Lutheran minister, but I am certain he was
never a Lutheran minister based upon my research. He must be a Dunker
minister. What I do not yet have is the "smoking gun" document like Philip
came up with on Lorentz Leonhardt. I am sure it is out there somewhere.

There was another Dunker congregation in western Catawba County. It was
also named Thessalonica congregation. Sometime prior to the American
Revolution Peter Becker/Baker removed to this area. He and others started
this Dunker/Brethren congregation. Peter and many members of his family
removed to the Cape Girardeau County, Missouri area and is credited with
also starting a Dunker congregation out there. There exists today a
Thessalonica Baptist Church in southwestern Catawba County. It became a
regular Baptist church. There is an old abandoned cemetery which Lorena and
I went to some years ago which is all that is left of the Dunker burying
grounds.

I suspect that Germans like Leonhardt, the Leathermans, possibly the
Wacasters, the Henry Rhodes family, the Leonards, and others removed into
western Lincoln County just after the American Revolution. I believe they
moved as a group and most if not all of them were Dunkers. I suspect they
started their own congregation in western Lincoln County. When Leonhardt
and Rhodes died, they lost their ministerial leadership. Sometime afterward
I suspect they joined regular Baptist churches or other German churches like
Lutheran or Reformed.

It is very possible that Rhodes and Leonhardt served both of the
Thessalonica congregations. I am uncertain why they gave them the same
name. Another possibility is that it was in fact the same congregation but
that it met at two different places. As you may know, some Dunkers did not
even meet in churches but met in homes.

Much more research needs to be done on this group to determine more fully
their impact upon the area.

If anyone on the list has information about any of these families or these
churches, please share with us.

Robert Carpenter
----- Original Message -----
From: <>
To: <>
Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2001 8:21 AM
Subject: L. Leonhardt, Dunker


> Dear Robert,
> Have been learning that my Lorentz Leonhardt, died 1832 in
> Lincoln County, was a Dunker minister. First I learned of Col. George
> Yoder's referring to him and a Mr. Rhodes as Dunker ministers. Then
> Philip Leonard sent me a copy of Lincoln Co. Criminal Action, 1822: State
> vs. Lawson Henderson, N.C. Archives 060.326.4 which he had found. The
> document of Leonhardt's testimony begins:
> "The Rev'd Laurence Linhardt a member of the Dunkard church,
> being conscientiously scrupulous of taking an oath, solemnly affirms that
> sometime in the winter of 1822-23 as well as he now remembers he went to
> Lincolnton..."
> Unfortunately no congregation is mentioned. I believe L.
> Linhardt lived in western Lincoln County.
> John Carpenter and his wife are mentioned in the testimony. If
> you don't have this document, will be glad to send you a copy.
> Have made no progress in learning the origins of L. Linhardt.
> Believe his son Lawrence, Jr. moved to Spartanburg Co., SC. My descent
> is from son John, who died 1825, with five children (Ann, Eliza, Lorance,
> William and Eve for whom Daniel Leonhardt is appointed as guardian on 16
> July 1827) and John's son Lawrence Kistler Leonhardt, who lived in the
> Lowell area.
> Agnes
> ________________________________________________________________
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