Christopher Sower (elder)
Encyclopedia
Christopher Sower was a printer. He printed and published the first German-language
Bible
in America, the second printing of a Bible in North America.
at the University of Halle. He emigrated to Philadelphia in 1724, and settled in Lancaster County
as a farmer
. In 1731, Sower's wife, Maria Christina, joined Johann Conrad Beissel's Seventh Day Baptist
community at Ephrata. She was known in Ephrata as Sister Marcella, and eventually became sub-prioress of the community. In 1744, she was persuaded to return to her husband and family. But in 1731, Maria Christina's decision disabled Sower's farming operation, and he moved with his son to Germantown where that same year he built a large dwelling for his residence. In order to supply the needs of other German-speaking people in the colonies who were liberally educated, especially in theology
, he obtained Bibles and religious works from Germany.
In 1738, having obtained a printing press
and supplies, he published a 24-page almanac
, in German. It was continued by his descendants till 1798. In 1739 he brought out the first number of Der Hoch-Deutsch Pensylvanische Geschichts-Schreiber, a religious and secular journal, a small folio, 9 inches (22.9 cm) by 13 inches (33 cm), which attained a circulation of nearly 10,000, and had great influence among his countrymen. It was the first of its kind that was published in a foreign language in Pennsylvania. This was followed by a number of larger works and in 1743 by a quarto edition of the Bible in German, Luther
's translation, which was limited to 1,200 copies of 1,284 pages. It was three years in press, the largest work as yet issued in the colonies, and was the first Bible printed in the American colonies
, with the exception of John Eliot
's Indian Bible. Thereafter his publications were very numerous, both in English
and German.
When he began printing, he also established the first type foundry
in the colonies, and a manufactory for printer's ink
. He afterward made his own paper
, bound his own books, and was the inventor of many things of practical use in his business. In addition to farming and printing, he practised medicine, and manufactured tall eight-day clock
s.
He was an agent for Franklin cast-iron stoves. He learned clock making and the concoction of herbal medicines from Christopher Witt, a remnant of Johann Kelpius' society.
He was politically
active, and frequently represented his countrymen in their intercourse with the government. He supported separation of church and state, pacifism and low taxes. He never affiliated with any religious organization. Upon his death, his business and his estate were inherited by his son, also named Christopher Sower
.
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
in America, the second printing of a Bible in North America.
Biography
He wrote his name Christophe Saur on his German publications. He was a graduate of a German university, and studied medicineMedicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
at the University of Halle. He emigrated to Philadelphia in 1724, and settled in Lancaster County
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Lancaster County, known as the Garden Spot of America or Pennsylvania Dutch Country, is a county located in the southeastern part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010 the population was 519,445. Lancaster County forms the Lancaster Metropolitan Statistical Area, the...
as a farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
. In 1731, Sower's wife, Maria Christina, joined Johann Conrad Beissel's Seventh Day Baptist
Seventh Day Baptist
Seventh Day Baptists are Christian Baptists who observe Sabbath on the seventh-day of the week in accord with their understanding of the Biblical Sabbath for the Judeo-Christian tradition...
community at Ephrata. She was known in Ephrata as Sister Marcella, and eventually became sub-prioress of the community. In 1744, she was persuaded to return to her husband and family. But in 1731, Maria Christina's decision disabled Sower's farming operation, and he moved with his son to Germantown where that same year he built a large dwelling for his residence. In order to supply the needs of other German-speaking people in the colonies who were liberally educated, especially in theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, he obtained Bibles and religious works from Germany.
In 1738, having obtained a printing press
Printing press
A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
and supplies, he published a 24-page almanac
Almanac
An almanac is an annual publication that includes information such as weather forecasts, farmers' planting dates, and tide tables, containing tabular information in a particular field or fields often arranged according to the calendar etc...
, in German. It was continued by his descendants till 1798. In 1739 he brought out the first number of Der Hoch-Deutsch Pensylvanische Geschichts-Schreiber, a religious and secular journal, a small folio, 9 inches (22.9 cm) by 13 inches (33 cm), which attained a circulation of nearly 10,000, and had great influence among his countrymen. It was the first of its kind that was published in a foreign language in Pennsylvania. This was followed by a number of larger works and in 1743 by a quarto edition of the Bible in German, Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
's translation, which was limited to 1,200 copies of 1,284 pages. It was three years in press, the largest work as yet issued in the colonies, and was the first Bible printed in the American colonies
Thirteen Colonies
The Thirteen Colonies were English and later British colonies established on the Atlantic coast of North America between 1607 and 1733. They declared their independence in the American Revolution and formed the United States of America...
, with the exception of John Eliot
John Eliot (missionary)
John Eliot was a Puritan missionary to the American Indians. His efforts earned him the designation “the Indian apostle.”-English education and Massachusetts ministry:...
's Indian Bible. Thereafter his publications were very numerous, both in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and German.
When he began printing, he also established the first type foundry
Type foundry
A type foundry is a company that designs or distributes typefaces. Originally, type foundries manufactured and sold metal and wood typefaces and matrices for line-casting machines like the Linotype and Monotype machines designed to be printed on letterpress printers...
in the colonies, and a manufactory for printer's ink
Ink
Ink is a liquid or paste that contains pigments and/or dyes and is used to color a surface to produce an image, text, or design. Ink is used for drawing and/or writing with a pen, brush, or quill...
. He afterward made his own paper
Paper
Paper is a thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon, drawing or for packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets....
, bound his own books, and was the inventor of many things of practical use in his business. In addition to farming and printing, he practised medicine, and manufactured tall eight-day clock
Longcase clock
A longcase clock, also tall-case clock, floor clock, or grandfather clock, is a tall, freestanding, weight-driven pendulum clock with the pendulum held inside the tower, or waist of the case. Clocks of this style are commonly 1.8–2.4 metres tall...
s.
He was an agent for Franklin cast-iron stoves. He learned clock making and the concoction of herbal medicines from Christopher Witt, a remnant of Johann Kelpius' society.
He was politically
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
active, and frequently represented his countrymen in their intercourse with the government. He supported separation of church and state, pacifism and low taxes. He never affiliated with any religious organization. Upon his death, his business and his estate were inherited by his son, also named Christopher Sower
Christopher Sower (younger)
Christopher Sower was a clergyman and printer.-Biography:...
.
External links
This work cites the following references:-
- Thomas, History of Printing in America (1870)
- Ringwalt, Encyclopædia of Printing (1871)