Date: 13 July 1924 Significance: This photograph show the Rev. Marmaduke Carter with three boys—Harold, Charles and Donald Graves—at their baptism at Saint Philip Lutheran Church When I'm doing any type of research and I make a connection, it's definitely a great moment. If I can make a connection that seems so totally out of left field, then it just makes that connection stand out and become personal. This happened last month as I was researching a private family tree. One fellow in the tree stood out and it's a connection from the streets of Chicago to the farmsteads of Minnesota that was a "wow" moment. A little background on my own family. Both maternal and paternal sides included farmers in Southern/Central Minnesota coming from Massachusetts, Illinois, Wisconsin, Canada and Germany to name a few locations. All coming in the land settlements of the 19th century and acquiring land for farming. Many of the Germans preferred to speak their native language especially when it came to church and worship. My research found a Marmaduke Nathaniel Carter II an aspiring Lutheran minister born in Virginia in 1881. Fascinating man. Both of his parents were slaves in the south and eventually his father became an early Lutheran minister. Carter began his career as a student pastor in 1906 and delve into the teachings of Martin Luther. He became so intrigued with Luther's writings that he taught himself German so he could study Luther's writings in the original German text. By 1921 he was so proficient in Luther's teachings, that the Evangelican Lutheran SynodicalConference decided to send him on a missionary tour of the Midwest preaching to the German farmers in Nebraska, Minnesota and Iowa. I have to believe that some of my ancestors heard a sermon or two by Pastor Carter and deeply appreciated hearing those sermons in their native language. Making them feel connected to their home once again. Carter went back to Chicago and eventually founded St. Phillip's Lutheran Church on Chicago's south side. An article about Pastor Carter was published in the Chicago Tribune in April 1955 describing not only his "...selfless struggles to establish the Lutheran religion in Chicago" but that he was "...perhaps more distinguished as an authority on the life and theology of Martin Luther." Researching family trees and ancestors is so much more than writing down locations and dates. It's looking at the life going on with each person. When you can find a glimpse into the life of just one person you'll find links to historical events or locations or to others that further connect the stories of each person. Absolutely fascinating. Pastor Carter passed away at the age of 80 years old after a life time of teaching, preaching and writing. A special person indeed. Hopefully his descendents will agree. |
AuthorTeri Patterson writes on all things pertaining to history. Many blog posts are references to family tree information Archives
July 2020
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