Zahner, John George (1820-1890)

John George Zahner was one of the pioneer ministers of the Reformed Church in Eastern Ohio. He was a native of Europe. He was born December 21, 1821 at Oberdigisheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. He studied at the Mission House at Basel, but before completing his theological education came to America in 1845. He then became a student at the Theological Seminary at Mercersburg for one semester. He was licensed by the Lebanon Classis, Pennsylvania in 1846 and ordained by Sandusky Classis, Ohio in 1847. He served in the Shanesville, Holmes County, Ohio Charge, for 11 years (1847-1858). His next ten years were spent at the Ragersville, Ohio Charge (1858-1868). Next he served four years in the Stone Creek Charge, New Philadelphia, Ohio. He returned to Shanesville, but it is unclear if he was living there in retirement or serving a second pastorate of his first Charge. In 1860 he was elected Professor of German at Heidelberg College, but declined this position. Heidelberg College conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1866 or 1867. He was one of the founders of Heidelberg College and Seminary and sent the first donation of books for the library. After moving in with his daughter and son-in-law, Dr. Zahner died unexpectedly on May 7, 1890. In 1847, Dr. Zahner was married to Wilhelmina Kappel of Pittsburgh, PA. They were parents of 10 children, one of whom was a minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church at Denver, Colorado.