Rev. Adam
Blumer
Posted by Jean Crowl 7 May, 2009
From the Portrait and biographical record of Hancock, McDonough and Henderson counties,
Illinois : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county (1894)
May, 1894. Lake City Publishing Co. REV. ADAM BLUMER, pastor of the Evangelical Church of North
America of Oquawka, and one of the highly esteemed citizens of that place, claims Switzerland as the land of his
birth. He was born in Engi, Canton Glarus, on the 27th of November, 1827, and was the sixth in a family of eight
children born unto Fridolin and Magdelene (Marty) Blumer. The father was one of the high officers in the French
army under Napoleon I., and for some years carried on a large hotel in Engi, where his death occurred in 1845. His
wife had passed away in 1840. Since 1446 the first-born son of this family has borne the name of Fridolin. This
name was borne by an Irish missionary in the fourth century, who traveled up the Rhine into Switzerland, where he
died. Our subject spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his native land, and acquired his education in the
Pilgrim Mission at St. Chrischona, near Basle. At the age of twenty-seven, he bade adieu to home and friends, and
in 1854 sailed for America as a missionary. He first located in Muscatine, Iowa, where he was ordained to the
ministry by the Congregational Church. He organized churches throughout the State, under the auspices of the Home
Missionary Society, being thus employed for two years. He then received a call to Stillwater, Minn., and, accepting
the same, organized a church at that place, remaining as its pastor for two years. In 1856, Mr. Blumer was united
in marriage with Mrs. Augustiua Stock, who has been to her husband a faithful companion and helpmate on life's
journey, aiding him in his labors and encouraging him by her warm sympathy. Their union has been blessed with one
daughter, Mary. On leaving the Congregational Church in Stillwater, the Rev. Mr. Blumer united with the Lutheran
Church, and was sent to Shakopee, where he remained as pastor for seven years. He also worked throughout the State
during that time, and on the expiration of that period he was sent to Reed's Lauding, where he remained for
eighteen months, after which he went to Rock Island, Ill., on account of his health. Although physically unfitted
for duty, he was not content to remain idle, and organized a church in the southern part of Rock Island County,
where he remained for about twelve years. The succeeding two years of his life were passed in Winona County, Minn.,
after which he was called back to Rock Island County, and also worked in Henry County for two years. He was then
sent to Sutter, Hancock County, where he remained for nine years. In 1889, he came to Oquawka, and took charge of
the church in this place. On account of the infirmity of partial deafness, he is now on the retired list, though
still active in pastoral labors, and continues in charge of the parish at Oquawka. His entire life has been devoted
to the work of the ministry, and his untiring labors and his earnest words, strengthened by a consistent life, have
made him a power for good in church work. <
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