Solomon HENKEL

Henkel Printers, New Market, Virginia History In 1802, young Ambrose Henkel, just 16 years old, walked toHagerstown, Maryland, to the home of John Gruber, printer of Gruber'sAlmanac, to learn the printer's trade. Just before finishing hisapprenticeship, Mr. Gruber became ill and the finishing of the almanacwas left to the apprentices. When Ambrose Henkel was asked what the weather would be for a day inJuly, he jokingly said "Snow." So the almanac forecast snow for thatday. Mr. Gruber was so angered by this, that he promised Henkel thatif it did not snow on that date in July, he would lose his job. Asluck would have it, there was a flurry of snow on that date, andAmbrose Henkel received his apprenticeship. In 1806, Ambrose Henkel returned to New Market. He carried with himfrom Hagerstown, in a horse-drawn cart, the parts to build hisprinting press. These were a bed of Irons and a Rammage press and someold type. The frame was hand-hewn of mahogany and cottonwood logs byHenkel himself. In thsi frame sat a bed of granite 21 by 26 inches. Onthis bed of granite the type was set and locked. In the late 1930'sAmbrose Henkel's press was housed at Duke University in Durham, NC. Henkel's Printings and a Brief Biography The first German newspaper to be printed below the Mason Dixon linewas put into circulation on 7 Oct 1807. This paper was called "TheVirginia and New Market Popular Instructor and Weekly News." It wasonly ten by fifteen inches in size. In 1810, Henkel printed the following booklets: "Mennonite Confessionof Faith," and "Das Neueingerichtete Gesangbuch." In 1811, he printeda child's primer which was illustrated with wood cuts made by theprinter himself. In 1816, the printer produced a volume of 546 pages, well-printed andwell-bound, containing compilations and original compositions by theyoung printer's father, Reb. Paul Henkel, who settled in New Market in1790. This volume was a Lutheran Hymnal. He also published anothervolume containing the constitution and canons of the ProtestantEpiscopal Church. According to Wayland's "History of ShenandoahCounty", Henkel also published a hymn book in 1838. On the sixth day of January, 1870, Ambrose Henkel, the Valley'sprinting pioneer, died in New Market. He is buried in EmmanuelLutheran Cemetery in New Market. During his life, Ambrose Henkel was also certified as an ensign in the13th Regiment, 7th Brigade, 3rd Division Virginia Militia on 8 Sep1812. On 14 Jun 1814, he was replaced by Martin Harry and madepostmaster, a position he held until his death. In 1824, he wasordained and preached, mostly in German, at the Reformed LutheranChurch. He served with his assistant, Socrates Henkel at EmmanuelChurch from 1854 until 1859. Ownership Ambrose Henkel founded Henkel Printers in 1806. He sold it to SolomonHenkel in 1816 or 1817, to become a minister, which he did in 1823. Around 1875, Elon Henkel took over the ownership of the Print Shop andran it until 1925, when he sold it to relatives, John Godfrey Miller,Dr. Casper Miller and Benton Baker. Ownership from 1816 to 1875 was as follows: Rev. Socrates Henkel and Judge John Calvert Rev. Dr. Socrates, Elon and Ambrose Henkel It is believed that Dr. Solomon Henkel, brother of Ambrose, was apartner of Ambrose at one time. Ambrose Henkel also was in partnershipwith four of his nephews, Dr. Godfrey Henkel, Solomon D. Henkel, SiramHenkel and Dr. Solon Henkel.

Comments