Dechant, Jacob William

Dechant, Jacob William, administer of the German Reformed Church, was born at Kreutznach, in the Palatinate, Germany, Feb. 18, 1784, and emigrated to America in 1805. Having received a good preparatory training in Europe, he studied theology with Dr. Becker, of Baltimore, Md., and was ordained in 1808.

His first pastoral charge consisted of six congregations in Lehigh County, Pa. In 1815 he was sent as a missionary to Ohio, returning after some years to Pennsylvania to take charge of congregations in Berks and Montgomery counties. Here he labored with success till his death. He died suddenly on his way home from Synod, of cholera, Oct. 5, 1832. Three of his sons are now actively engaged in the work of the ministry in the German Reformed Church. He preached only in the German language. A number of prominent German Reformed ministers received their theological training under him.