Henkel family.

The Henkel family of New Market, Shenandoah County, Virginia, was a prominent family of Evangelical Lutheran ministers and printers. Paul Henkel (1754-1825) moved with his family to New Market in 1790, and the next year established St. Davidsburg Church. He also established churches in Augusta County, Virginia, and was one of the founders of the Lutheren Synod of North Carolina. His missionary journeys took him into Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. He left a large number of descendants, many of whom were ministers, physicians, and printers.

Ambrose Henkel (1786-1870), Paul's son, started the printing businessin New Market in 1806. This was the first German language printing press west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Early publications of the Henkel Press were devoted to Lutheran theological literature and translations from German. In 1807 the Press issued the first number of a German newspaper, "The Virginia and New Market Popular Instructor and Weekly News." A child's primer and a Lutheran hymnal were printed in 1816. In 1868, the Henkel Press began publication of a weekly newspaper, "The Shenandoah Valley." Four generations of the family were involved with the Press; Elon O. Henkel was the last publisher and editor of the weekly newspaper to carry on the family name.

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