Pastor Ernst August Sieving
1847-1915
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A Heritage of Service to the Church
Rev. Ernst August Sieving was born in Oldenburg, Germany, to Johann Heinrich and Maria (Aubke) Sieving on September 9, 1847, the youngest of seven children, all sons. He and his family came to America and settled in St. Louis when he was nine years old. He attended school there and was confirmed in his Lutheran faith at Immanuel Lutheran Church, St. Louis in 1860.
A record of E.A. Sieving's 1860 confirmation at Immanuel, St. Louis. Incidentally, his classmate was Maria Louise Henriette Amalia Rohlfing (also shown), whose younger sister, Amalia, married John Ph. Koehler at Immanuel in 1882.
August began his preparations for pastoral ministry at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in September 1867 at the age of 20. In pursuing this course, he was following in his older brothers' footsteps, five of whom had already become Missouri Synod pastors. The photograph below is said to have been taken in connection with the funeral of the synod's founding father, Dr. Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther, who died on May 7, 1887. Pictured left to right are:
Ernst August Sieving (September 9, 1847 - August 21, 1915)
Johann Heinrich Christian Sieving (October 7, 1839 - May 3, 1911)
Johann Heinrich Sieving (November 9, 1831 - July 31, 1913)
Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Sieving (1829-1892)
Johann Frederick Sieving (June 14, 1835 - July 20, 1910)
Hermann Heinrich Sieving (January 1, 1843 - July 21, 1901).
A sixth brother, Wilhelm Heinrich, was born February 2, 1832, and died April 24, 1902.
A Student at Concordia, St. Louis
From September 1867 to June 1871 Ernst August Sieving attended Concordia Seminary. He was a pastor-in-training at this institution at roughly the same time as Herman Flachsbart (1866-1869), the future father-in-law, Theodore Sieving, who was born in 1876. In his autobiography, Flachsbart offered an extended recollection of what the St. Louis seminary was like in those days. It was a unique time in Missouri Synod history since both the theoretical and practical seminary programs shared the St. Louis campus from 1861-1874. Flachsbart describes his entry into Concordia's practical course for those who did not have a college education prior to their enrollment in the seminary.
"The Ev. Lutheran Synod of Missouri and other States had in those days two courses of theology in the seminary of St. Louis, the theoretical for those who had received college training [and] the practical for those who had only received a common school education. This practical course should supply the great need of preachers, since the young men who took this course did not have to learn the original languages of the Bible but were instructed in the German language extensively and then were dismissed after a few years [of] training in a practical course. Those taking a classical or theoretical course including the college training had to study nine years. ... Since most of the young men entering this practical seminary were lacking a good school education, a pro-seminary was connected with the seminary for the purpose of acquiring knowledge in the necessary rudiments of a language."
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in E.A. Sieving's day
Flachbart explained that he and a friend from south of Chicago entered into the practical course in October 1866. E.A. Sieving undoubtedly entered the same course the following September. Flachsbart explained,
"The professors of the seminary then were [C.F.W.] Walther, [August] Craemer, [E.A.] Brauer, and [Hermann] Baumstark. The last was the teacher of the pro-seminary. In September 1866 the course of study began. At the end of October we arrived. We introduced ourselves to Prof. Craemer. I was much afraid and thought we had to make an examination at once so that he could see what we knew or had learned. I had therefore studied Luther's Small Catechism by heart. But my fear was all in vain. Prof. Craemer welcomed and addressed us in a very friendly manner and to all he said that we should not think that we had to know it all now already, for we had come to learn. He asked no question concerning our knowledge. That took a stone from my heart. The professor very likely knew that many came with such fear in their hearts and with those kind words he made them feel easy. Hereupon we were directed to our study and sleeping rooms in the college. We bought the necessary books and things, and our lessons began.
"Our teachers were Craemer, Brauer, and Baumstarck. Dr. Walther taught us pastoral theology in the third year of our course. Baumstarck was our teacher in pro-seminary. He had to teach Latin and then the world's history, and the like. From this teacher we did not learn much. He was well educated, but he did not have the faculty to teach. His scholars learned precious little from him. He was an unfriendly man who repulsed the students instead of winning them. In our third year at college he became a convert of the Catholic Church. He is said to have met with misfortune in later years."
After he joined the Catholic Church in 1869, Baumstarck was replaced by Dr. Eduard Preuss, who then became one of E.A. Sieving's professors from 1869-1871. Ironically, Preuss also left the Missouri Synod and the Lutheran church for Roman Catholicism at the end of 1871, shortly after Sieving's graduation. But Flachsbart maintained that August Craemer was the true heart and soul of the practical seminary program.
Professor Friedrich August Craemer
"Most of our lessons were given by Prof. Craemer. He was in one way very strict with his scholars and was also somewhat hard to understand. In another way, however, he was very friendly and had one special trait: he had a holy ardor for the Lutheran Church because he learned from the Word of God that it was the true visible church. He was a very earnest Christian. A person could always see that from his actions. Though he was strict, all the students loved him heartily and called his 'Uncle.' ... Though his way of teaching was somewhat hard to understand, we learned a great deal and learned it well in such a short time. Then and there I became well founded in the doctrine of the Bible. Prof. Craemer exposed all false doctrines clearly and showed how they were condemned by the Word of God. ...
"Prof. Brauer taught exegesis and trained us in catechesis. He had the aptness to teach and knew how to instill briefly this knowledge into his scholars. Prof. Craemer gave instruction in catechism already in our first school year. The other lessons were given by the dry Baumstarck. After one year we were examined and dismissed from the pro-seminary. Some poorly gifted students had to remain there another year. I and several others should have had another year in the pro-seminary, but at the feet of that teacher we could profit very little. A synod ought to be very careful to select teachers who have the ability to teach. To my idea it was not right to place such a teacher in the pro-seminary because the scholars must be taught by effective methods, and they must learn even how to study.
"In the second school year we were in the seminary. Prof. Craemer and Prof. Brauer were our teachers. In the third year we also were in the seminary. Professors Craemer, Brauer, and Walther were our teachers. This was to be the last year of our study. In it Dr. Walther taught us pastoral theology, an instruction how to perform our duty as pastor. The time of our graduation was drawing near rapidly. ... Those congregations who wished to have a minister had sent in their calls and gave to the professors the right to name the right man for each congregation or place and to enter his name into the vocation paper."
Ernst August Sieving graduated from Concordia Seminary on June 29, 1871.
Ernst August Sieving's Diploma from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis
We, the undersigned, attest herewith officially that Mr. E.A. Sieving, born in Oldenburg, Kingdom of Hannover, has attended the Theological Seminary from September 1867 to June 1871 and during this time was always intent on conducting himself as befits a Christian. Today, in the examination of a Candidate for the Holy Ministry, he has proven himself to be well prepared for the same.
St. Louis, Mo., June 29, 1871
C.F.W. Walther, Praes.
E.A. Brauer, Prof.
Dr. E. Preuss
Aug. Cramer, Prof.
Entering the Pastoral and Married Ranks
Upon graduation from Concordia, E.A. Sieving was assigned as the pastor of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lincoln, Missouri, about 100 miles southeast of Kansas City. He served there five years. On May 12, 1872, he married Maria Amalia Querl. She was born in St. Louis to Carl and Amalia (Ostmann) Querl on August 18, 1848, and baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church on August 27. She was later confirmed at Immanuel in 1861, a year after her future husband. Maria's mother and father died in 1868 and 1870, respectively.
Maria Querl's baptismal record at Immanuel, St. Louis (August 27, 1848)
E.A. Sieving & Maria Querl's marriage record at Immanuel, St. Louis (May 12, 1872)
Pastor August & Maria Sieving in later life
In 1876, August Sieving accepted a call to St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church in Manito, Illinois, where he was installed on Trinity Sunday, June 11. The Sievings' son, Theodore, was six weeks old when they arrived in Manito. He would later serve the St. Paul congregation as pastor for 37 years (1907-1944).
The Sieving Children
Altogether the Sievings would have ten children, two of whom did not survive childbirth.
Anna, who was born and died in 1872
Ernst August, born and died May 22, 1873
Carl Johann Charles, born May 1, 1874
Herman Wilhelm Theodor, born March 4, 1876
August Heinrich, born February 6, 1878
Albert Louis Reinhardt, born December 15, 1879
Adolph John Daniel, born March 8, 1882
Emil Wilhelm, born April 13, 1885
Immanuel Christian, born March 13, 1887
Martha Marie Louise, born July 18, 1888
Immanuel, Martha, & Emil Sieving, c. 1892
The Ernst August & Maria Sieving Family
standing (l-r): Adolph, Emil, August, Carl, Albert, Theodore
seated (l-r): Immanuel, Maria, Ernst August, Martha
Later Ministry and Life
In 1883 the Sievings went to Corunnua, Indiana, where August labored as pastor for ten years. He then accepted a call to serve a congregation in Plato Township, Illinois, west of Chicago. In 1901, the Sievings returned to Zion Lutheran Church, Lincoln, Mo., when August was called to fill his first pulpit. In 1912, feeble health compelled him to retire. Afterwards, they made their home with Mr. Joseph Meuschke.
In July 1915, he took ill with gallstones and his physicians advised him to undergo an operation. The operation was performed at the Lutheran Hospital in St. Louis and seemed to prove successful, but very suddenly a change took place, the patient growing weaker until Saturday, August 21, 1915, when the end came at 12:45.
A short service was held in St. Louis, conducted by Rev. C.C. Schmidt, and the remains were taken to Lincoln Monday, August 23, accompanied by four of his sons and two nephews. Funeral services were held Tuesday, August 24 at 1:30 o'clock, the German service being conducted by Rev. Baepler of Sedalia who preached from Phil. 1:21, and the English service was in charge of Rev. Kaiser, whose text was John 12:26.
He left to mourn his death his aged widow and the following sons and daughters, besides fourteen grandchildren: Carl of Bunceton, [Mo.]; Rev. Theo., of Manito, Ill.; Rev. August of Dent, Minn.; Rev. A.L.R., of New Minden, Ill.; Adolph of Springfork, [Mo.]; Emil of Chicago, Ill.; Emanuel of Chattanooga, Tenn.; Miss Martha of Lincoln, [Mo.], and Mrs. Anna Tiemann of Alma. All the children were present at his funeral. The pallbearers were six of his sons and neighboring pastors.
In 1919, a newspaper included the following obituary for Maria Sieving:
"Mrs. Amalia Maria Sieving was born August 18, 1848, at St. Louis. On April 13, 1862, she was confirmed in that city by the late Rev. F. Buenger. Her confirmation text were the words of the twenty-third Psalm. On May 12, 1872, she was joined in holy wedlock with Rev. E.A. Sieving. This happy union was blessed with ten children, of whom two preceded the parents into the Spirit Land. Her husband, Rev. E.A. Sieving, passed away Aug. 21, 1915, in the Lutheran Hospital in St. Louis. The last four years of her life she made her home with her son, Prof. A.L.R. Sieving, at New Minden. During her late illness she was tenderly nursed by her daughter-in-law and daughter, Miss Martha Sieving. Although quite deaf, she was a faithful attendant at church and found great comfort and solace in God's Word. Mrs. Sieving enjoyed good health till five years ago, when she gradually grew weaker. On Nov. 6 she took ill but suffered little pain, and the doctor and relatives were hopeful of her recovery. But on Nov. 11 her condition suddenly became serious, and she expired at 10 o'clock at the age of 71 years, 2 months and 23 days.
"On Nov. 12 the mortal remains were brought to Lincoln, Mo., accompanied by her son, Prof. Sieving, and daughter, Miss Martha. On Nov. 14 funeral services were held at Lincoln and interment was made in the Lutheran cemetery. Rev. Schreiner preached the German and Rev. Maschhoff the English sermon. Deceased leaves a daughter, seven sons, a brother and a sister."
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