Henkel, Charles

Henkel, Charles was descended from a long line of ministerial ancestors in the Lutheran Church. He was born May 18, 1798, in New Market, Va. He studied theology under the direction of his father, the Rev. Paul Henkel, and was licensed to preach the Gospel in 1818, and immediately commenced his ministry in Mason County, Va. In 1820 he removed to Columbus, Ohio; and in this field continued, amid many deprivations and toils, till 1827, when he took charge of the Somerset pastorate. His health, however, gradually failed, and he died Feb. 2, 1841 He was a man of vigorous mind, and a diligent student. Several of his sermons were published. On one occasion he was engaged in a public controversy with a Roman Catholic priest; and was very successful in exposing the absurdities of that false system. (M. L. S.)