Dieffenbacher Jacob Follmer

Dieffenbacher Jacob Follmer, a minister of the German Reformed Church, was born near Milton, Northumberland County, Pa., December 18,1802. He spent his youth on a farm, and in a saw-mill and cloth factory. He pursued his preparatory studies in the Milton Academy, and studied theology in the Theological Seminary of the German Reformed Church then at Carlisle, Pa. He was licensed and ordained in 1828, and was pastor successively in Sharpsburg charge, Md., Mercersburg, Pa., Woodstock, Va., and Harmony, Butler County, Pa. In this last charge he devoted part of his time to teaching. He died Feb. 4,1842. While at Woodstock he published a small work entitled The Scripture Doctrine of Water Baptism, of Infant Baptism, and Baptism by Pouring or Sprinkling. At Woodstock, Va., he was compelled to stand a trial in court for an alleged violation of law in expressing certain sentiments on the subject of slavery in an address on colonization. He was, however, acquitted, but soon after left the state. He preached in German and English, and was a warm-hearted and zealous minister.