1864-1865 President Gottlieb Reim

was born on November 4, 1828 in Obertürkheim, Württemberg to Hieronymus Jakob and Barbara Reim. He initially trained to work as a cobbler, but at the age of 22, he enrolled in the Basel Mission School—completing his studies in 1855. He came to the United States, where he presented himself to President Muehlhaeuser. Although he had attended a unionistic mission society, Reim was a Lutheran who wanted to serve the Lutheran Church. He was assigned to Ashford in Dodge County. After a short time, he became the pastor at St. Peter’s, Helenville. In 1857, Reim married Anna Maria Brumder in Milwaukee. She was the sister to George Brumder, a very successful German printer. (George and Anna’s sister Magdalena was married to later Wisconsin Synod President William Streissguth; see the book Christ Through Us.)

The Wisconsin Synod resolved in 1863 to send President Johann Bading to Europe to raise funds for the new seminary in Watertown. Reim was elected as acting president to cover the remainder of Bading’s term. Then, with Bading still abroad, Reim was elected as president in 1864 for a two-year term. Many significant institutions were planned and developed during this time: the new Wisconsin Synod seminary, Northwestern College, and the Gemeinde-Blatt.

A significant shift also continued in the Wisconsin Synod during Reim’s short presidency. Strong voices, especially that of Phillipp Koehler, called for a more forthright and consistent stance on the Lutheran Confessions. Others raised concerns about rashly cutting ties with unionistic mission societies—especially as they had just sent Bading to collect large sums from these groups. Historian Edward Fredrich summarized Reim’s leadership:

“He was in the middle. The combination of strong doctrinal views and a mild personal disposition made him a good leader in this critical time in the young church body’s development.”

Reim managed to hold the synod together under his short watch as the confessional issue was passionately discussed.

Unfortunately, in 1865, Reim felt compelled to resign his pastorate and presidency following slanderous accusations—despite complete vindication. For the sake of his synod and the good of the pastoral office, he selflessly stepped aside from leadership, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to the ministry. Reim continued to serve as a pastor, first in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, for five years, then at St. Paul’s in New Ulm, Minnesota, where he joined the ranks of the Minnesota Synod. Reim served the rest of his life in New Ulm until he died on June 22, 1882, after falling in a serious wagon accident while out on a pastoral sick call.

While the Wisconsin Synod’s Gemeinde-Blatt failed to mention his synodical leadership in his brief death notice, the New Ulm Review noted that his funeral “was by far the largest ever witnessed in this city… many, many a pair of sympathetic eyes were moist with tears of sorrow.” Pastor A. Kuhn of Mankato remarked,

“He died with a joyful faith in his Savior whom he proclaimed so well before the souls of his fold. He was a father full of love for his family. He was a pastor who faithfully served his church with the gifts he had received.”

For Further Reading:

Evangelisch-Lutherisches Gemeinde-Blatt. 1882. “Pastor Gottlieb Reim.” July 1: 166-167.
Fredrich, Edward C. 1988. “The Hellenville Forty-Eighters and Their Neighbors.” essays.wisluthsem.org.
—. n.d. “Two Forgotten Wisconsin Presidents: Reim and Streissguth.” essays.wisluthsem.org.
Hukee, Lynn. 1978. “Gottlieb Reim The First Unknown President of the Wisconsin Synod.” essays.wisluthsem.org.
Kuhn, A. 1882. “Zur Erinnerung an den selig im Herrn entschlafenen Pastor G. Reim.” Evangelisch-Lutherisches Gemeinde-Blatt, July 15: 174.
New Ulm Review. 1882. “A Good Man Gone.” June 28: 3.