1827 biography of a kansas pioneer preacher

8/14/2019 1827 Biography of a Kansas Pioneer Preacher

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BIOGRAPHY OF A KANSAS PIONEER PREACHERTHE REVEREND PAUL GERHARDT TONSING

January 3,1870-March 1,1936

Ernst F. Tonsing, Ph.D.Thousand Oaks, CaliforniaAugust 8,2008

INTRODUCTION.I have always felt a certain void in my life in that I never had the opportunity toknow my grandfather, Paul Gerhardt Tonsing. Furtherm ore, other than a meag er outline

of his life, I knew little about his work and about his personality. It is fortunate, how ever,that his wife, Grandmother Ruth Martin Tonsing, followed her mother's custom ofmaking scrapbooks. One of her volumes covering the years from June, 1935, to April,1939, contains a number of items about him.1 In addition, my father, the Rev. Ernest F.Tonsing, showed me a brief Autobiography that was written by Paul during a hospitalstay. I copied the longhand pencil text on tablet paper sometime in 1954 or 1955.Another short diary kept when Paul was a pastor in Beloit, Kansas, was informative.Also, in 1962 and 1993,1 interviewed my father and took rapid notes about the family. Atelephone conversation in 1979 with my father gave me additional parts of the narrative.From these I have gleaned some interesting anecdotes that illuminate grandfather's lifeand person.

INDECENT PRAYERS, BEER AND PRETZELS.Paul Gerhardt Tonsing was born at 40 Burton Street, Cleveland, Ohio, January 3,1870, to Anna Maria Gertrude Walker and Ernst Frederick Toensing.2 He always said

1 This scrapbook was among the items brought to California in June, 2008, by Dorothy Linn from ourcousin, Virginia Tonsing's estate. Virginia was the daughter of Bess and Evan Tonsing, who was the eldestson of Paul and Ruth. The cover is in good shape, but the brittle pages are crum bling at the edges.2 Rebecca Chaky and Ruth Martin, Ruth Martin Family Tree 1995 (Friendswood, Texas: Never DonePress, 1995), pp. 84-5. Pau l's father, Ernst Frederick Toen sing, was born September 27 , 1827, in Linz,Hanover, G ermany, and came to Baltimore, Maryland, O ctober 15, 1845, to work as a cabinet maker.2 Hemarried Anna Maria Gertrude Walker (born May 5, 1835, died August 15, 1908, or, August 1, 1910) onFebruary 26, 1852, and moved to a farm at "New berg" (possibly Newburgh H eights, Ohio). They hadeight children, twin girls, Marie Sophie and Clara Elisabeth 0x>rn Decem ber 6, 1853) who died in infancyduring the cholera epidemic,2 Dora (died September 3, 1909), Minnie O orn 1854, died January 20, 1925),John F. (born September 4, 1858, died February 1,1919), Carolyn Eleanor (born O ctober 4, 1860, diedJanuary 29, 1916), William H. (born March 2 3,1 86 3, died January 18, 1933), and the youngest, PaulGerhardt (born January 3, 1870, died March 1, 1936).2 Ernst Frederick died at the age of forty-seven onApril 12, 1873, in a manner noted below.2 With his death, Anna Maria married Frederick Mylander (bornAugust 23, 1823, German y, died August 4, 1899) and moved to Oak Harbor, Ohio. Mylander had had a


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that he liked being born in a " 0 " year since it was easy to calculate his age. Heremem bered little about his father:He died w hen I was 3 years old.4 He was drowned in a mill pond about 6blocks south-east of 40 Burton st. and was buried in the [Monroe] streetcemetery.5 He had been a cabinet maker for many years, was in businessfor himself and was burned out without insurance seveal [sic] times. Theonly recollection I have of him is the riding to the cemetery in a closedhack. This one event alone is indelibly stamped on my mind in connectionwith my father.His widowed mother sent the younger children to school while the older onesworked. She sewed vests for stores, but later kept boarders. Thu s, she was able to payoff the indebtedness on the home , improved it, and built a barn at the alley. He went tothe nearby Lutheran parochial school on Jersey Street two years, 1875-77, where theschool teacher was Mr. Arnold, who was related to him somehow. As he gave Paul

special attention, this earned the jealousy of the other boys who beat him up a number oftimes. Also, for certain misdeeds, Paul would be punished by Mr. Arnold who held hishand at the wrist, palm u p, and hit his hand hard w ith a ruler. He recalled that it would"swell and feel as if it were cracked in the mid dle." The teacher thought much of Paul,howev er, and wanted to adopt him. For his first five years he only spoke Low ("Plat")German. Mr. Arnold was a good teacher, and Paul learned to read and write High("Hoch") German very w ell, a skill he later used in his parishes.8Paul remem bered another incident when he was about six years old. One of hisclassmates w as found w ith a paper of fine cut chewing tobacco in his pocket. Paul was totake it out to the outdoor toilet to throw it away , but instead, he hid it in the barn. He and

his friend, Willie Rische, would take it out and that is where he learned to "chew likepirates ." It was a tough n eighborhoo d, and his school let out at 3 p.m . so that they couldget home before the "free" or public school and the Catholic school kids were out.Before this, there were a series of disastrous fights, and Paul had "a broken arm, a bustedhead and other injuries sustained in the fights."He also had other problems at home . Especially troubling to a little boy was thathis sisters were "always chasing m e to kiss me. I would craw l under the bed and under

daughter, and three sons from a previous marriage. To these were added a son, Lewis (born August 3,1879, died 1926).3 Paul Gerhardt Tonsing, Autobiography.4 Ernst Frederick Toensing w as forty-seven y ears old when he drowned on April 12, 1873. Chaky andMartin, p. 81 .5 Lot 9, sublot E-l/2 , Monroe Street Cemetery, Cleveland, Ohio. Chaky and Martin, pp. 81 , 85.6 Autobiography.7 There were eight children born to the couple, twin girls Marie S ophie and C lara Elisabeth (born December6, 1853) who died in infancy during the cholera epidemic, Dora, Minnie, John F. Carolyn, W illiam H., andPaul Gerhardt. Information supplied by Kathy Ott, Cleveland, Ohio . Cf. Chaky and M artin, pp, 80 ff.8 Ibid.9 Ibid.


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the table when they had me cornered and fight them off."10 Another time, when hismother hitched up the wagon to go to visit his sister Dora, he got under the wagon andslid along in the dirt, his feet trailing in the deep dust. How ever, one of the wheels ranover his right foot and he was "laid up for some time."11

Mother's boarders entertained the young boy, but also got him into all kinds oftrouble:One evening they taught me a very indecent prayer. I remem ber it we ll.When I went to bed I asked my mother if I couldn 't say a new prayer theyhad taught me. She said, go ahead. When I was in the midst of it sheyanked me up and spanked me good. I did not even know the meaning ofthe words.12

Not all of the men were so mischievous, however. Fred Buhrweioter [sic] was morekind. He worked in some brass factory and m ade the four-year-old boy a brass top thathe kept for many years. Also, another boarder gave him a triangle with which he amusedhis own children later.13

Some of the events in his young life were quite dangerous. When he was abou tfour years old:I wandered aw ay from hom e and was lost. I was gone several days. Thepolice of the entire city were looking for me and advertisements put in thepaper. I was taken in by a saloon-keeper who kept me closely hidden inhis house. He fed me all the beer and pretzels I could eat and drink. Theback yard had a high board fence and so I was let out in this enclosure. Anumber [of] people in a wagon were making the most dismal noises withbells and shots and I peaked through a hole in the fence. I saw GerhardtJasper who was boarding at our house and others I knew and made mypresence know n. I was overjoyed to see them . I'm certain the saloonkeeper and his wife tried to kidnap me.1

In his brief Autobiography, Paul relates another perilous event:Another incident I remember was when Eddie Teckemeyer and I made afire in the upstairs of our barn in some paint pots. We were playing somegame. When the fire spread we crawled under the new house [the]Dresees [?] were building near the alley and did not crawl out till night.

10 I b i d .11 I b i d .12 I b i d .13 Ibid. This triangle, measu ring 12 inches a side, with two arms having an outward curve at the very ends,still is used to accompany group singing at my home in Thousand Oaks, California, at Christmas and othercelebrations.14 Ibid.


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As far as I know my folks never knew how the fire started as this is thefirst time I ever told it.15With the drowning death of his father, I am sure that his mother w as dismayed with thefollowing episode:

When 5 I was nearly drowned. A larger boy of 17 coaxed me to go on theice on the mill pond in which my father was drowned . Unb eknow n to him[the] ice had been cut and the water was slightly frozen over. I was slidinga little ahead of him w hen I plunged in. I distinctly rem ember o pening myeyes when I was down in the water and seeing the sun. I came up twiceand was caught by the hair by the young man who pulled m e out. I lostconsciousness and remember their rolling me on the ice when I came to.They carried me to Freese's grocery and saloon where they had to thawmy clothes off before they put me to bed. They did not tell my mo ther tillthey were ready to send me hom e. I anticipated a glad welcom e, butinstead my mother had a stout stick waiting in the corner by the door, andI sure got a good whaling. Somehow I have never felt just right over thereception I received.16

Vivid in Paul's memory w as another event:When I was about 4 I witnessed a strike in active operation. In the backyard of the second lot to the south of us was a shop . I often wentto see the men work. Once when I went over only about half the old men ,whom I knew, were at work. The rest were new. While I was talking tosome of them a big crowd came and the doors were filled so I could notget out. The men out on strike had com e back with clubs and attacked thenew men. I crawled under a bench. One of the old men who knew mepulled me out and put me through a windo w, and said, "run !" Did I? I

1 7believe I did.Pa ul's mother was widowed about four years. Paul recalls the meeting with hisnew step-father:When I was seven years and a half old a man came to visit us. 18 Mymother told me this was to be my new father and that we were to leaveCleveland in two days. The carpets were already taken up and they wereboxing the dishes, etc. I spent the two days sitting on a pile of rag carpetsin the kitchen and crying my eyes ou t. Wh en they wanted to start they hada time m aking me go . I was promised a colt and that I could ride to andfrom the fields on the horses . This mollified me somew hat. When we

15 Ibid.16 Ibid.17 Ibid.18 Ibid. This was Frederick M ylander.


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arrived at Oak Harbor my first remembrance was seeing a large bell on ahigh pole. I ran and rang it and the men came in % hr. too soon for theirdinner. My m other being deaf did not hear the bell and the others were allout in the fields putting u p hay I believe.19

Anna Maria Toensing and Frederick Mylander, also a widower, remained together untilhis death August 4, 1899.20

SEEKING HIS FORTUNE "OUT WE ST."Paul Tonsing came to Kansas in 1886 after attending public school in OakHarbor, Ohio. He and his step-brother, August Mylander, wanted to "seek theirfortunes," taking a train west as far as their money w ould take them . Arriving in theeastern city of Topeka on an extremely hot day, they decided to continue to a coolerplace. WaterviUe, Kansas, some eighty-five miles west, sounded just right, and they left

the train there. The two boys were wandering down a street when they encountered theLutheran pastor, the Rev. James A. Lowe, who got them odd job s. Lowe had becomepastor of the German-American congregation in September, 1883. 2 Paul tried his luck atfarming, living with a Mr. Hersey, and his brother tried house painting. But, Pa ul'sbrother soon left and returned to Ohio to marry a girl he had known before leaving, andPaul was "taken under the w ing" of the pastor.Lowe recognized that Paul was a very bright young man and urged him to go onin his schooling. Paul explained that he had no idea of going to college, let alone ofcompleting high school. So the pastor began to tutor him, and in a while, he and thetownspeople sent him to Atchison, Kansas, to three years at the "Midland Academy" and

four years at "Midland College. He was one of the nine entering freshmen entering thenew school,23 and participated in all of the college 's activities.24 He w as quite a footballplayer, and used to brag that he had played as center seven years on a college team .25The last year of his work at Midland counted as the first of his three years atWestern Theological Seminary (later to become Central Seminary when the college and

19 Ibid.20 Paul's m other, Anna M aria Gertrude W alker Mylander died August 1, 1910. Chaky and Martin, pp. 80-1. Dorothy Linn, interview A ugust 8, 2008.21 An account of these years was written by Ruth Tonsing, and is included in Ruth Mellenbruch Martin,Family T ree: Challiss, Harres, Martin, Tonsing, Otis (Fort Worth, Texas: Paul Tonsing, 1979), pp. 63-4.Most of the materials following are from other sources cited below.22 H. A. Ott, A History of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of KansasfGeneral Synod). Published by theAuthority of Kansas Synod (Topeka, K ansas: F. M. Steves & Sons, 1907), pp. 170-1.

23 "The Nineties," Atchison Daily Globe (November 30, 1935). "Paul G. Tonsing is Dead,"Kansas City Times (March 2, 1936).24 "Paul G. Tonsing is Dead," Kansas City Times (March 2, 1936).25 Notes from an interview with The Rev. Ernest F. Tonsing, by Ernst F. Tonsing, December 23 , 1962.


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seminary moved to Frem ont, Nebraska ). At this time the seminary consisted of a staffof four and two visiting lecturers, with only six students enrolled.Paul had to work hard to earn enough money to pay his tuition and otherexpenses. He washed windows and cleaned buildings.28 One of his jobs was as a

reporter on the Atchison Champion, owned by the Governor of Kansas, John A. Martin.29

After the death of Martin on October 2, 1889, it was run by Luther C. Challiss.30 Paulalso worked for the Atchison Patriot. The well-known publisher and founder of theAtchison Globe, E. W. Howe, remarked that, "he should enter the newspaper businessbecause of his unusually clever 'nose for news' and editorial ability." 32Carl J. G. Brown, a youth in the Beloit congregation served by Paul, laterassociate editor of the Atchison Globe,33 noted that he had heard that the college studentwas "an energetic, ambitious, tousle-headed youngsteron his own."34 Paul was the firstto deliver the Kansas City Times to residents of the Atchison, and, according to Brown,"carried papers and used a cart and horse. He was a familiar figure in those daysand

gave his subscribers the best of service ." Brown w rote that, "The manyoung or oldwas always anxious to give good service. Such integrity was always one of his goodqualities."35

THE GOVERNOR'S DAUGHTER.Paul graduated from Midland College in 1892, and married the eldest daughter ofthe deceased Governor Martin, on September 7, 1893. A family tradition is that he firstnoticed the woman who was to become his wife when he stood on a street in Atchison asthe funeral procession of Governor John A. Martin passed by. He asked his friends w ho

the girl was in the family coach. They responded that she was Ruth, the daughter of theGovernor. He then declared that she was going to be his wife. Wh ile they laughed, hetook off running through lots and over fences, arriving at Mount Vernon Cemetery beforethe procession. W hen the family carriage arrived, he stepped forward, let down the step,opened the door, and extended his hand to the girl.36 He and Ruth had a long, happymarriage, and are now buried in the same spot beside the road in which they had met nearthe tomb of the Governor.37

26 The seminary formally opened November 12, 1895. Jennie Small Owen, Annalist, Kirk Mechem, editor,The Annals of Kansas 1886-1910 (Topeka, Kan sas: Kansas State Historical Society, 1910), vol. I, p. 199.27 Ott, p. 60.28 Ruth Tonsing, p. 63.29 "Death Claims Paul Tonsing" Atchison Daily Globe (March 2, 1936).30 "Newspaper History Here," Atchison Daily Globe (June, 1935).31 "Death Claims Paul Tonsing."32 "Paul G. Tonsing is Dead."33 "Here And Hereabouts In 1891," Atchison Daily Globe (May 17, 1937).34 Carl Brown, "Paul, The Preacher Man," Atchison Daily Globe (March 2, 1936).35 Ibid.36 Ernest F. Tonsing, 1962.37 Observation made while visiting the cem etery in July, 1997.


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Paul graduated from Western Theological Seminary in 1895, and in June, thecouple moved to Beloit, in north central Kansas about sixty miles northwest of Salina,where he became pastor of the Lutheran church there.3 The church, located in the BlueHills of Mitchell Country, was organized by the Rev. J. G. Trefz, September 1, 1886.The language was German, and it first remained independent of any synodicalconnections. The congregation displayed such zeal that it proceeded at once to build asolid stone church, thirty-two by sixty feet, with a vestibule and belfry, at a cost of$3,000. A few m onths later, on July 2 3, 1887, it was dedicated.39

In the fall of 1894, the Zion con gregation mad e application and w as received intothe Kansas Synod. Pastor Trefz resigned in Decemb er. The congregation was quitecareful in selecting its next pastor. After two visits (Ma rch 23 to April 2, and May 19),and after hearing the new pastor preach both in English and German, the congregationissued a call on May 19, 1895, to take effect on June 1. Pastor Tonsing arrived in time topreach and celebrate the Eucharist on June 2. He went back to Atchison to get his wife,but, just before they were to depart for Beloit, their horse and cart was stolen. All theyhad left was the buggy and harne ss. Horses were loaned to him for the transfer, and theyarrived twenty days later, on Saturday, June 22 in Beloit. But, Paul spent the next day,Sunday, in bed, too sick to preach! Later, Paul went to Nebraska and obtained a baymare, "half broken to harness," which they called "Dolly."40

THE PRAIRIE PREACHER.While most of the services at Zion Lutheran were in German, English wasgradually introduced as the "new" Americans tried to adjust to a strange, wild country.But, the youth group, The Luther League, held all of its meetings in English, the young

pointing to future directions for the congregation.The years preceding 1895, however, were years of disasters. By the beginning of1895, crop failures had brough t suffering to western Kan sas. In the northw estern countyof Cheyenne, 1894 saw no crops, and '93 only seed grain. 42 Towns in eastern Kansasresponded by sending aid to the distant counties and provisions came even as far asPennsylvania43 and Santa Ana, California.44 Severe storms and zero temperaturesincreased the hardships, and at Lebanon in the adjoining Smith County, a fourteen-hoursand storm blocked the movement of all traffic, especially trains carrying needed coal.45Tornadoes46 and hail as "big as hen's eggs" compounded their plight. 4 Then, in July

38 Ernest F. Tonsing, 1962.39 Ott, p. 60.40 Ruth Tonsing, p. 63.41 Ott, p. 60.42 Owen, February 4, 1895, p 189.43 Ibid., January 24, 1895, p. 189.44 Ibid., February 12, 1895, p. 189; May 21, 1895, p. 194.45 Ibid., February 6, 1895, p. 189.46 Ibid., May 1, 1895, p. 193; July 5 and 7, 1895, p. 195.47 Ibid., May 6, 1895, p. 193.


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came floods, driving five hundred people from their homes in Salina to the south ofBeloit. To com plete the cycle of terrors that year, on October 3 1 , an earthquake shockwas felt throughout most of the state.49Yet, despite natural traged ies, Pau l's ministry continued. He kept a little diarycalled Private Church Book during these years, carefully listing the titles and Biblicalreferences of the sermons, the topics reflecting the concerns not unlike congregationstoday: June 2, "The O utpouring of the Holy Ghost (Acts II 17); June 16, "Prayer" (LukeXVIII 9-14); June 30, "G od's Lo ve" (Jno. Ill 16), July 7, "The Bible"; July 14, "Thedeceptiveness of Sin" (Heb. Ill 13). On August 4 th , "The D estruction of Jerusalem," wasfor the English members, and to the German gathering he preached on "The Christian asCitizen," meeting the divergent concerns of the two groups. The notes, "house filled"(Oct. 6, 9, et al), indicates that the pastor was well received. One sermon, however, on"True to our Confession," was left undelivered. Engaged to preach on the evening ofJune 9 ' , a terrible electric storm dissuaded all but the pastor to come to the church.50

The status of women received attention at the November 17th

evening service:"The new wom an" (Prov. XXX I 1 0-35). One wonders what was said. On February 10,1887, the Kansas Legislature passed a bill signed by Paul's father-in-law, GovernorMartin, to allow women to vote in city and school elections and for school bonds, andopened the possibilities for women to hold municipal offices. 51 Yet, it was to be thirty-three years later (1920) until full suffrage was granted. A note in the Annals of Kansasfor March 5, 1896, states that the "Women's fencing drill at Kfansas] Ufniversity] wascancelled because school officials objected to bloomer suits."52 A note on June 29, 1895,stated that "Mary E. Lease, who had taken up bicycling, threatened to call on M. M.Murdock of the Wichita Eagle, who was "anti-new w om an," in a fancy bloomer suit."

Concern with Kansans' drinking habits led to opening the church doors to Union"Tem perance" meetings beginning Novem ber 24 . That concerns were justified isconfirmed by the report that between April, 1895, and April, 1896, that "the Veteran'sKeeley League at the Soldiers' Home, Leavenworth, had treated 1,359 men foralcoholism, opium addiction and the tobacco habit." 54 Pastor Tonsing made regular visitsto the Reform School and the Girls Industrial School in Beloit, and these visits inspiredsermons on "The Race of Life" (Oct. 13, 1895) and on the "Cure of Evil Friends" (Jan.19, 1896). "Education," (Jan. 26, 1896), "Martin Luther" (Nov. 10, 1895), "Home Life"(Feb. 18, 1896), "Foreign M issions" (March 2 8, 1896), are representative of the interestsboth of the pastor and the congregations.

Long lists of pastoral visits and frequent notices of funeral sermons interposed inthe record of sermons preached give evidence of those difficult times on the prairies, of48 Ibid., July 1 0, 1895, p. 196.49 Ibid., October 3 1 , 1895, p. 198.50 Paul Tonsing, Private Church Book, 1895-1 896. Pages in the little book will appear in brackets.51 Owen, February 10 , 1887, Vol. I, p. 3 1 .52 Ibid., March 5, 1896, p. 210 .53 Ibid., June 29, 1895, p. 1 95.54 Ibid., April 3,1896, p. 212.


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Kans as winters with severe energy and food shortages. A September 13 , 1895, sermonon "Death, Disease, Poverty. M an 's three enemies," no doubt prepared those who,exhausted and disheartened by a meager harvest, were anticipating a difficult winter in1895-6.

Ecumenical contacts were few, but there is a note that, on September 29, that Paulheard a Rev. King of Minneapolis, Kansas, Baptist Church preach on "Little Things."Life was not any easier for the Baptists. On January 19, 1896, the German Bap tists atAbilene had to cut the ice on the Smoky Hill River to immerse their converts. 55The first Lutheran baptism which the new pastor conducted was proudlyannounced in bold letters in his diary, emphasizing by the broad strokes of the ink pen:"Evan Walker Tonsing born October 21 s t '94. Only son of Paul G. & Ruth M.Tonsing/baptized Aug. 4 th 1895 in the Lutheran church of Beloit, Ks. M rs. Tonsingsponsor & mother brought EW forward" [p. 37]. One adult baptism, of a fifteen-year oldgirl, is then noted [p. 38], and, thirteen entries later is the note on April 5 th , 1896, of the

baptism of Orpah Tonsing, daughter of the pastor and wife, born January 8 th [p. 40].Offerings w ere meager. At the service of October 6 th , 1895, $15.50 was received,with $6.00 for Home Missions, $4 Sunday treasurer, and $5.50 for Beneficent [?]Education. "Luther Da y" expenses, Novem ber 17, brought $10.55 for home missions [p.49].Accessions to the church listed thirty-six for June 10, 1895 to July 26, 1896,twenty-four by renewal, four by letter, eight by confirmation [pp. 57-8]. The pastor'swife, Ruth Tonsing, was added to the church "by letter" on October 6, 1895. Thecomplete roll of the congregation (October 15, 1895) listed sixty-five members [pp. 77-

79]. Losses that year of two men, aged seventy and twenty-three [p. 67], reduced the listby two.As there was no parsonage, the family lived in a small, five-room house a blocknorthwest of the church. No t mentioned in the little book is the salary. It was not much,only $500 a year, from w hich was paid a monthly rent of $5.00. Their food wassupplemented by a flock of hens which supplied fresh eggs, and, later, a cow for milk.Members brought vegetables for their table.56 While the denomination is not m entioned,The Annals of Kansas contains the humorous note that a "Wabaunsee county farmerdonated two rows of potatoes toward the preacher's salary. 'If the Lord wants you tohave $20 from m e,' he said, 'H e will water them w ell.'"5 7Confirmation class attendance patterns, I suspect, have not changed in a century.Of nine persons entering, four missed the first class (August 23), three the second, withtwo not returning after the third class, and only four being confirmed after the ninth

Ibid., January 19, 1896, p. 209.Ruth Tonsing, p. 63.Owen, May 31 , 1895, p. 194.


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meeting on October 5 [p. 47 ]. Carl Brown, for many years later the Editor of theAtchison Daily Globe, displayed the lowest attendance of three meetings.Besides preaching, visiting and catechetical instruction, the pastor notesadditional duties of teaching the "young ladies classes," playing the violin for SundaySchool [p. 87],58 conducting YPSCE meetings [p. 91], speaking on "Church Union" at apicnic celebrating the Fourth of July in Woods Grove and on "Midsummer Rallies" to theLuther League Convention at Abilene on October 19' 1895 [p. 97 ]. There were also"socials," such as the "soap bubble party at pastors residence for little folks" on October12, 1895 [p. 123].Church council meetings had troubles familiar to today's congregations, of failingto achieve quorums (Sept. 2), discussing insurance (July 6), preparing reports to theSynod Offices (Sept. 8), examining candidates for Confirmation and receiving membersinto the congregations (n.d.), and electing delegates to Synodical con ventions. Heat, thenas now , received special attention. A council comm ittee was "appointed to see after

getting a stove and coal" for the church sanctuary [pp. 107-9]. Congregational meetingsadopted a new constitution as given in the Formelbuch, and an appeal to the Board ofHome Missions for aid was made (July 21) [p. 117]. The aid, in the amount of $200,received prompt attention and was granted on July 31 st [p. 1].Three entries concern attendance at services. Reco rds showed nineteen persons atthe eleven a.m. English service on June 2, forty-five at the eleven a.m. German serviceOctober 6 th . The latter had a "collection " of $9.61. The English service on October 6 atfour p.m. had an attendance of nineteen, and a "collection" of $1.74 [p. 121].Two absences of the pastor from the services were for sickness (July 16) when

"Bro Evan read a sermon from the Christian Herald," and because of his attendance ofthe Kansas Synodical convention in Abilene on October 20 th [p. 127].Grand events of the congregation were the "Union picnic" of the Sunday Schoolsof the surrounding Lutheran churches in the woods Grove of Beloit, July 4, 1895, and theannual S[unday] S[chool] picnic in Dan Kochs Grove. "Over 100 present. Everybodyhad a good time. Good feelings prevailed through out. Fine cool day. Rendered quite alarge program" [p. 129].Death notices recorded the diverse origins of the members of the congregation.They had come to Kansas from various eastern states as well as Europ e. Typical was the

following entry: 4. Aug usta Gn atkovski. Wife of Carl Gnatko vski, died 26 Oct. 1895,after an illness of over 3 years of a complication of diseases. She was born in Fahowark

I have that violin, a 3A size instrument with the label indicating that it was patterned on the famousmaker's instrument. Stradiuarius CremonentisFaciebatAnno 1720Having studied music in high school and college, occasionally I take it out and play grandfather's violin forgroups and church services.


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[?] in Konigsberg Ger. On the 10 th of May 1831. She was married to Carl G in 1850 &came to this country in 1871. The marriage was blessed with 11 children, 4 of whommourn her death. The rest having died while children" [p. 132].When the Spanish-American War broke out in 1897, the nation was swept with

patriotism. Paul thought of entering the service as a chaplain. Ruth thought otherw ise,however, and convinced him that the needs of his wife, three babies and his church weregreater. By that time, anyway, most of the battles were over and the recruits saw onlyFlorida.59 "

THE KINDHEARTED PASTOR.Pastor Tonsing was very much beloved in this parish. Brown recalled that, "Allthe children of the town liked himbecause he liked them."60 He helped everyone.According to Brown:Indeed, some folks out there good naturedly said that Paul spent so muchtime doing good that he didn't have much time to work on his sermons.Which inferences were somewhat true, but not discreditable to him. Realeloquence is in the good deed.61

For example, Brown recalled Paul's mechanical skills:I had a bicycle. When this bicycle became broken, who do you supposedfixed it? The young preacher who live up on the hill. All the boys tooktheir bicycles to Paul when repairs were needed and the girls took theirtricycles. And if any child offered Paul a quarter for the job , he, Paul,would redden and then instruct the child to tell the child's parents not toput funny ideas into the child 's head. The young preacher man loved tofix bicycles because he loved children.Not only did Paul endear himself to the children, he was liked by the adults aswell. Noted Brown:He did more than nicetieshe did manual labor for the sick and helplessand the poor. I recall this incident that describes the great heartedness ofthe man: Mr. and Mrs. Dan Koch, who belonged to the little stone churchin Beloit, had 10 girls and no boys . Needless to say that Dan, thegardener, had to work hard to support his family. Cam e time for theannual Sunday school picnic, and Dan casually remarked that he would beunable to attend, for the very good reason that his sw eet potatoes had to be

Ruth Tonsing, p. 63.Ernest F. Tonsing, 1962.61 Ibid.62 Ibid.


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hoed. Instead of verbally deploring the predicament in which Dan foundhimself, Paul, the young preacher man, grabbed a hoe, and for two dayshoed sweet potatoes, so that Dan's hearty laughter would not be missingfrom the Sunday school picnic. And that 's the kind of preacher Paulwashe preached the w hole Bible with a hoe, for a fellowman."63

There were other good deeds remembered by Brown:As pastor of the church at B eloit, Preacher Paul did a good turn every d ay.I recall that a young lady, the sole support of her mother, needed a po sitionas school teacher. But she had no conveyance in which to get to thecountry school boards. So Paul hitched up his horse and spen[t] daysseeking for a teaching position for the young ladyand finally hesucceeded. He was always preaching great sermons by doing such finethings for folks.64

Brown had a much more personal memory of Paul in those days in Beloit:My mo ther was a widow and seamstress. She had to work hard to supportherself and her careless boy, and give him a fair education. In addition tosewing she rented out room s. I can now see Preacher Paul running aroundin Beloit in search of tenants for my mother. Small wonder that I havealways liked the man, and feel a choking sensation as I pen these lines.He helped my mother.65

HARD TIMES.In 1900, Ruth and Paul moved to Hardy, Nebraska, about 175 miles west ofAtchison and just north of t h e border between that state and Kan sas, where he served in achurch that drew its mem bers from both states. Times were hard, and the congregationthere offered a salary of $500 a year with a parsonag e. But the life in Nebraska washarder than Beloit. There were two m ore years of drought when all of the crops failed.The Tonsing family did not even have enough feed for their horse, Dolly, and wereforced to sell her. The pasto r's bicycle now was their only transportation.Tragedy struck on June 10, 1902, when their little son, Cyril, died. Afterstruggling long to make ends meet when the church could not pay the salary either in

money or in kind, after a bout with typhoid fever and upon the medical doctor'srecommendation, Paul submitted his resignation from the congregation and from thestresses of the parish ministry. He was prepared to travel down to the opening of theOklahom a Strip to homestead free land. How ever, the mother of Ruth, Ida Martin, camefrom Atchison to take Ruth, the three children, and the body of Cyril to Atchison, and63 I b i d .64 I b i d .65 I b i d .


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Paul followed. They rode with the lead coffin between them . The dead baby was buriedin the family lot at Mount Vernon Ce metery. Shortly after, another baby, Robert Lowe,was bom.66 They lived in a h ouse for a while before Ida Martin invited them to join herin the family home at 315 North Terrace.67

THE PRINTER.Discontinuing his pastoral work, Paul entered the printing busine ss. But, true tohis great energy and intelligence, he set up his own shop and solicited ads to support acity directory for the town. He continued pub lishing directories from 1902 until his deathsoin 1936. Paul was already acquainted with printing not only through his part-time workduring college, but through a chance purchase of a press. The story was told by Brown inthis way:

Paul Tonsing did not have any intention of entering the printing businesswhen he acquired the press. A few weeks before his unexpected death hetold this reporter how he happened to come to ow n the press. His mother-in-law, the late Mrs. John A. Martin, owned a business building here[Atchison] and the tenant was in arrears on his rent. She asked Mr.Tonsing to speak to the renter and ask him to pay up . The renter agreed topay but wanted some repairs made to the basement of the building. Hetook Mr. Tonsing down into the basement to show him what he wanteddone. Mr. Tonsing in the dark stumbled over an object on the basementfloor. It was the hand printing press. "I am going to sell you that press for$5 and take it out of the rent money," the tenant said. In order to keep theman in a paying mood M r. Tonsing accepted the press.69With that, Paul purchased some type, all italic face, from the Atchison Champion, hisfather-in-laws' old newspa per and brought it back to Beloit. As a "natural bommech anic," he taught himself to set type, and soon he was in business. Paul set up alittle office in a bam behind the parsonage where he printed the church paper, the GoodSeed, calling cards, bill heads, letter heads and handbills. Recalled B rown:

One day Julius Johnson, my chum, and I were loitering in Paul's printingoffice and observed that Paul had a little hand press apparently not in use.The young preacher noticed the fond looks we two boys cast on that press."Do you boys want that press?" Paul asked. The affirmative reply camewith alacrity. "If you can get me 12 orders for calling cards, you can havethe pres s," said Paul. We got the orders. Mr. Tonsing threw several old66 Ruth Tonsing, p. 63-4. Robert was born on September 20, 1903.67 "Death Claims Paul Tonsing." In family circles, the house always was referred to simply as "315."68 Ibid.69 "Old Printing Establishment to Be Carried on Here by Founder's Son," Atchison Daily Globe (May,1937).70 Ibid.


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fonts of type into the bargain. And the world had two more young printers 71and potential journalists.

At Hardy, Nebraska, Paul used the small foot press to publish a directory listing everyadult and child in town.72In Atchison, Paul published city directories and telephone directories forArkansas City, Kansas, Joplin, Missouri, and Winfield, Kansas. The directories werecarefully com piled. He called on every hom e, every busine ss, and everything else in thecity, and through this, becam e acquainted with the entire population. Said Brown:Always he was well mannered. He was a close observer, and gavehundreds of news items to the Atchison reportersbut never betrayed aconfidence. Many times he was as hard up economically as a man couldbe, but he never whined. He was cheerful in word and gesture. He kepthis troubles buried in [h]is own bosom.74

FLOODS AND FINANCES.The opening of the Tonsing Printery in 1904 was financed in a characteristicallyresourceful way. W ith the imm ense flood of that year, there was no train servicebetween Atchison and Kansas City, and therefore, no newspapers could reach Atchisonor go out on the Central Branch of the railroad to other cities in Kansas . Paul though tthat if he could get some of the Kansas City papers to Atchison, and then out on thetrains, he could make som e real money. He rigged a bicycle with a third wheel and afterobtaining permission from the railroad authorities, he pedaled the contraption thirty miles

to Leavenworth. From there he caught a freight train to Kansas City, Kansas, and rowedacross the flooded K aw (Kansas) River to the Missouri side. He then bought severalhundred copies of the Kansas City Star, and loaded them aboard a launch to cross theriver again.How ever, misfortune struck. In midstream, fast currents nearly swam ped theboat, and the newspapers were thrown overboard to make it more buoyant. After beingcarried downstream quite some distance, the launch finally was secured safely on theMissouri side of the river. When the Star learned of Pau l's calam ity, they printed thesame number of papers he had lost but which contained a feature on the front page of thepaper describing Paul's efforts to obtain the newspapers, and had them delivered to the

Kansas side of the river.75

"Preacher Man.""Old Printing Establishment.""Death Claims Paul Tonsing.""Preacher Man.""Old Printing Establishment."


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Once Paul got the papers, he loaded them on a coal car and got them to Atchisonon the first freight train to arrive at the city from the south since the flood. He ped dledthe papers at 25 cents each and they "went like hot cakes." He went to the CentralBranch with those he had not sold and climbed aboard the mail car. In the towns inwhich the train stopped he sold them for as much as 50 cents each. He was so successfulthat he was able to purchase the machinery for his shop, and the Tonsing Printery waslaunched. Between 1904 and 1910, all the type was set by hand. In 1910, he obtained alinotype machine but did not know how to operate the complicated piece of equipment,so he took a temporary job at the Kansas City Gazette, and within a couple of days,learned how to work on a linotype and to repair it. 76

In his thirty-two years of business, the Printery flourished, taking orders fromschools, lodges and churches. Am ong them w ere publications of:The Western Chief, publication of the Redmen lodge; the Optimist; TheMidland; The District New s (M ethodist); a Presbyterian paper, and theKansas Synod Lutheran. At one time the shop printed five differentchurch bulletins weekly. One year it got out the big Harwi Hardware Co.,catalogue.77The plant was quartered on the second floor in two rear rooms of the Martinbuilding, 500 Commercial Street.78 An article in the Atchison Globe recalled that, "Itwas a workshop of practicability, efficience [sic] and dependability."79 The success wassuch that there was no sign outside the shop until after Pa ul's death. Brown noted: "Healways said: 'Wh y put up a sign. We seem to have plenty of customers without one .'"80All seven of the children of Ruth and Paul were put to work in the Printery, providingthem valuable skills that supported them through out their own lives. The earnings also

were sufficient to enable six of the seven children to attend college.81

THE COURAGEOUS EDITOR.Prohibition was of great interest to Paul, and he edited and published TheAtchison Church Visitor devoted to that subject. Brown said of it: "It was frank as frankcould be, and drew fire as well as praise, and attracted much attention." Pa ul's an tipathy

77 ibid:78 Ibid. Later the Tonsing Printery was mov ed to 502 Commercial Street in Atchiso n.79 Ibid.80 Ibid.81 "Here And Hereabouts In 1891," Atchison Daily Globe (May 17, 1937). As of May 17, 1937, EvanTonsing had followed his father in the business; Orpha Tonsing M ellenbruch, lived in Springfield, Ohio,the wife of a Lutheran pastor; Luther M. Tonsing, was a linotype operator and machinist in Los Ang eles,California; Robert Tonsing was telegraph editor of the Wichita Eagle, Kansas; the Rev. Ernest Tonsingwas pastor of St. Pau l's Lutheran Church, Valley Falls, Kansas; Ida Tonsing Denton was living inAtchison, but later worked for the San Francisco Chronicle; Paul Tonsing, Jr., was an employee in thecomposing room of the West Milton Record, West Milton, Ohio.


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towards liquor developed in his youth, as several stories he told about his childhoodreveal.I remember one Sunday morning [mother's boarders] sent me to Mr.Fre ese 's grocery with a note. It told him to give me all the beer I coulddrink and they wo uld pay for it. I was so drunk that I was away off for along time. My mother was told where I was and she ran down and foundme lying in Freese 's yard drunk. She took me hom e and thrashed me, notknowing that the boarders should have been punished instead. I was aboutfour when this occurred but I remember the whole incident well.

With the circumstances of the drowning death of Paul's father, possibly under theinfluence of alcohol, she was distressed to discover that Fred Mylander also had someproblem with drink. Recalled Paul,After my poor mother had been in the country 3 weeks she took all thepacking boxes she had brought and refilled them with her things. Whenshe was about ready to leave step-dad plead so earnestly and vowedvociferously he would quit his drinking that she again unpacked herboxes.83Thus, in the days in which Atchison "fussed and fumed over prohibition," Paulwas outspoken, according to Brown.Mr. Tonsing became a leader for the "drys" and his medium was a littlepublication that he published, "The C hurch Visitor." In that little paperMr. Tonsing jumped onto the "wets" in rough shod manner. He showedreal bravery. Several times he was assaulted by men who did not agreewith his ideas and editorials. But through it all he did not lose his goodnature, and his personal greetings to the men he editorially lambasted werecheery. W hile Mr. Tonsing may have been a bit radical in those days, wecan't say that anything has since transpired to prove him wrong.According to his son, Ernest Tonsing, Paul always pursued his subjects with apassion.85 During the deepest days of Prohibition, a stand holding the Sunday Visitorpapers stood across the street from the Elks Lod ge. From there , Paul could see peoplegoing in and out of the building, and he discovered that the lodge was operating a bar forits memb ers. He wrote the Kansas State Attorney Gen eral reporting the violation of the

law. When he received no response, he wrote again, threatening to expose the lodge inthe paper he was publishing. This was enough to move the Attorney General, and the barwas closed. He then proceeded to publish a story on the incident.

82 Autobiography.83 Ibid.84 Ibid, "Preacher Man."85 Ernest F. Tonsing, Notes, 1973, 1993.


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Th e men involved were prominent men of the town, including the Police Chief,and when their names appeared in the paper, they were understandably upset. One day asgrandfather left the Atchison Post Office, four men, the sheriff and three of his cronies,obviously inebriated, tumbled out of the door of the nearby lodge and began to pursuehim. One of the men named Billinger had a very large frame which towered over thevery portly Tonsing. He was able to trip grandfather, holding him by the leg. Only bykicking him in the head was grandfather able to escape. He then ran down the street andpounded on the door of the Telephone Office. The operator let him in at the last minute,and locked out the Chief.86 It is ironic that it was liquor itself that had prevented the menfrom catching and thrashing him!Possibly connected with the same closure was another event late one evening.Grandfather was walking home over the viaduct that went over the railroad tracks inAtchison. Part way over the bridge he noticed a large black man walking behind him.When he quickened his steps, the man did the same. Grandfather went down the stepsalongside the automobile road on the viaduct, going toward Commercial Street, and the

man again followed. W hen grandfather broke into a run, the man did also. It was thenthat grandfather saw the flash of a knife, and there was no question about the man'sintentions. Grandfather ran to Commercial Street and rounded the corner to the office ofthe newspaper, The Globe, and began to pound on the door. Fortunately, there wassomeone working there at night who opened the door. The man did not follow himinside. After a long wh ile, grandfather called a taxi, and thus returned home safely.88It seems as if the mayor of Atchison, a medical doctor named Frazer, had knownof the illegal activity in the Elks Lodge but did nothing to intervene even aftergrandfather had brought it to his attention. W hen grandfather went over his head, thiswas noted in an article in TheChurch Visitor. Additional evidence of misconduct by the

mayor was reported by Paul who discovered that he had used city horse teams and driversto level and haul dirt to a series of terraces in Atchison upon which the mayor had builtthe "Frazer Apartmen ts." With this revealed, the mayor was removed from office.89Irony played its tricks. Atchison was still a small town, and grandfather wasknown by everyone. He was respected even by those who had felt his sharp pen. WhenGrandmother Ruth gave birth to her children at 315, the attending doctor was Dr.Frazer.Another irony occurred when Paul recommended to his mother-in-law, IdaMartin, a staunch Baptist, that the Eagles Club would make a good church building for

the Baptists. It is still the church. The game rooms for cards have become the Sunday

Ernest F. Tonsing, comm unication 1979.Ernest F. Tonsing, Notes, 1973, 1993.Ernest F. Tonsing, Notes, 1998.


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School rooms, and the sanctuary floor still has the springs under it for dancing.Publication of The Church Visitor was discontinued at the outbreak of World War I.92Although Paul had given up his parish ministry, he never ceased to preach. Heconducted services frequently at the nearby towns of Lancaster, Bendena and ValleyFalls. He was the supply pastor of St. Pa ul's L utheran in Valley Falls for seven years.93This congregation was chartered June 14, 1857, and was the first Lutheran church of anysynod to be organized west of the Missouri River, and its original building wasconstructed by lumber milled by Isaac Cody, the father of "Buffalo Bill" Cody.94There are many stories from people of the Lutheran church in Valley Falls. Theyrecall his long conversations after the services, when he would suddenly remember thetime and run off, huffing and puffing, to the railroad station. Invariably, he would arriveas the cars were pulling away, and he would reach up to catch the hindmost handle andlast step of the train as it gained speed.95 There were times, however, w hen he missed thetrain. A note in the bulletin of Valley Falls Lutheran Church, July 12, 1923, says that,

"Last Sunday Fred Littleton and family and Miss Flora Staub our church organist, tookthe pastor home to Atchison. Thank you." Many years later both the son of PaulTonsing, the Rev. Ernest Tonsing, was named pastor of the church, and his son, the Rev.Ernst F. (Fred) Tonsing supplied the same pulpit.

ACCUSATIONS OF DISLOYALTY.There was another part of the life of Tonsing that only to light only recently fromthe files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 96 It involved an allegation of disloyaltyto the United States against him during World War I. While focused upon the

accusations against a single individual, this Case number 2272939 reflects the attitudes ofAmericans during the war ranging from pacifism and isolationism to militancy, andagainst not only the nation of Germany, but of any American of German descent.In interpreting Tonsing's attitude to the war, it is significant that PresidentW oodrow W ilson's portrait had occupied a wall in his printing office. On April 2, 1917,before the incident described below, Wilson addressed Congress in response to thedeclaration by the German government to lay aside all treaties and to use its submarinesto sink any ship that approached a harbor belonging to a nation Germany considered anenem y, whether British, Irish, western Europea n, or M editerranean. In his speech,W ilson explained that: "I was for a little while unable to believe that such things would

Ernest F. Tonsing, Notes, 1993.92 "Death Claims Paul Tonsing."93 Ibid. By chance, the son of Ruth and Paul Tonsing, the Rev. Ernest Tonsing, was chosen as pastor of theLutheran church in Valley Falls the dame day as his father's death.94 H. J. Ott, A History of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Kansas (General Synod) (F. M. Steves andSons, Topeka, Kansas, 1907), pp. 12, 163. "O ld Church Still Stands," Kansas City Star, January 19, 1937.95 Personal comm unication from members of Valley Falls Lutheran C hurch.961 am indebted to Richard Tonsing, Sacramento, California, for calling this to my attention and sendingme the documents from his research.


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in fact be done by any government that had hitherto subscribed to the humane practicesof civilized nations. International law had its origin in the attempt to set up some lawwhich would be respected and observed upon the seas, where no nation had right ofdominion and where lay the free highways of the world."Previously, W ilson had called for neutrality: "I thought that it would suffice toassert our neutral rights with arms , our right to use the seas against unlawful interference,our right to keep our people safe against unlawful violen ce." No w facing what Wilsoncalled a "war against all nations," the President called upon Congress to "accept thestatus of belligerent which has thus been thrust upon it, and that it take immediate stepsnot only to put the country in a more thorough state of defense but also to exert all itspower and employ all its resources to bring the Government of the German Empire toterms and end the wa r." That Tonsing first sought to be neutral, then affirmed the pursuitof the First World War, echoed the evolution in thought of the President of the UnitedStates himself.

For all those of German heritage, the betrayal of human morality and civility byon e's ancestral homeland mu st have been an excruciating traum a. Caught betweenloyalty to one's country of birth and citizenship, and pride in one's heritage from one ofthe most progressive and cultured nations of Europe, the psychological distress no doubtwould have caused one to be cautious and to withhold public display of any sentiment.Further, as a Lutheran Pastor pledged to hold up the Gospel of Peace of Jesus Christ as acentral notion of Christian doctrine, the painful recognition that a whole generation ofyoung men would have to be trained in the arts of war, and that many of them eitherwould return to their homes and families in coffins, or would be so adversely affected bytheir experiences on the battlefield that their subsequent lives would be altered for thewo rse, mu st have been an appalling thought. That his views were not held by all pastorsof his faith, too, was very troubling, as this document reveals.

In this report, Paul Gerhardt Tonsing is revealed as a person who is deeplyconflicted by war itself, and apprehensive of the possibility of his eldest son'sdeployment to the bloody battlefields of Europe. How ever, he is strongly patriotic andwilling to undertake the sacrifice that this war will require. Thu s, the dilemm a ofAbraham with Isaac repeats itself in every generation.Report Form No. 1 272939Report made by: George C. Busey. Place where made: St. Joseph, M o.Date where Made: Aug. 29, 1918. Period For Which Made: Aug. 28,1918Title of Case and Offense Charged or Nature of Matter UnderInvestigation:

In re : P.G. TonsingAlleged Disloyalty


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Statement of Operations, Evidence Collected, Names and Addresses ofPersons Interviewed, Places Visited etc.The following letter was referred to A gent for investigation.

"Chief:-

The Rev. Robert L. Patterson, Pastor of the Lutheran Church ofthis city recently returned from the Great Lakes Naval Training Station,where he has two boys in the service. He advertised for several days thaton Sunday he would deliver a lecture at this Church on his visit to theStation. In Saturday night's Atchison Daily Globe there was an item tothe effect that Dr. Patterson was very much put out because a certain manwhom he asked to attend the lecture stated that he would not do so, wouldpermit none of his family to attend and that he did not permit them toattend any patriotic gatherings.I at once called on Dr. Patterson. He stated that the item wassubstantially correct. That he was getting tired of this man who hadcontinually made remarks of similar character, and that with two boys inthe service he did not prupose [sic] standing for it. He said the man saidthat young men were being ruined in the Army and Navy Camps, that menwere being ruined for the ministry, etc. Later this ma n's son came into theroom and made similar statements.

The man in question is Rev. Paul G. Tonsing, one time Lutheranmimster, who preaches in both German and Englist [sic]; prohibitionagitator, and now running a printing office, and publisher of the Churchvisitor, a weekly local church paper. It should be noted that since the warstarted, Tonsing has ceased his prohibition activities, and considering whata fanatic he had previously been this has seemed peculiar to me . It mightbe explained by his not wishing to get involved in enmities which wouldreveal any disloyal propoganda [sic] in which he might be secretlyengaged. It seems to me that this man should be investigated by properauthorities. I can't help thinking that if this mans premises were searchedthat something might be unearthed.Dr. Patterson further made the statement that the son, EvanTonsing, who was granted exemption account of being a divinity student,was not a divinity student in April, 1917; but was working in his fathersoffice at that time, that he did not enter the Western T heological Seminaryuntil last Aug ust. If so he is a slacker and perjurer. This information I atonce gave to County Attorney Charles T. Gundy.


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I will be pleased to co -operate in this matter in any w ay.Respectfully submitted."

Report Form No. 2Agent arrived in Atchison at 6:00 p.m.

In Atchison, Kansas.Agent was informed by Rev. Robert L. Patterson that Rev. P.G.Tonsing runs a local church paper, and prints items from all the Protestantchurches, that he has taken items to Tonsing to print and has had variousconversations with him relative to the war; that the Rev. To nsing has triedto keep from saying anything pro-German since the United States entered

the war; but that August 15 , 1918 when in conversation with him he said:"A great many of the boys would be killed, some go to the bad, and thatthey would not have the disposition to preach wh en they cam e home. Thechurch buildings were not within the camps. That he had a picture ofPresident Wilson hanging in his house which had printed under it, "Hekept us out of war", and that he wrote on it, "Yes until after election".Rev. Patterson also stated that Tonsing said that he nor any number of hisfamily would come to hear Patterson's lecture on the Great Lakes NavalTraining Station.The last remark is the cause of the dischord [sic]. Rev. Patterson

also stated that Tonsing had his son obtain a deferred classification on thegrounds of being a Divinity student when he did not enter the seminaryuntil last fall.Agent interviewed P.G. Tonsing who stated that he was born inCleveland, Ohio, January 3, 1870, educated in Coninon [sic] schools andlater graduated from Midland College in Atchison ; that he was a farmeras a boy; then a preacher for seven years and has been in the printingbusiness for the past 16 years; that he has lived in Atchison since 18888[sic.]; that he married Ruth Martin, Ex-Governor Martin's daughter, andthat he is of German descent.He further stated that as his attitude on this war he was neutralbefore the en try of the United States; but since that time he has been forthe prosecution of the war to the fullest extent. He further stated that hisbeing published in the Globe by Dr. Patterson is merely from personal

"Com mon" or "norma l" school would correspond to Junior High School today. Upon graduation atabout the age of sixteen, one was considered well educated and could teach the lower grades.Communication from Dorothy Denton Linn, August 25 , 2008.


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dislike; that he quient [sic] the church seven mon ths ago on account ofRev. Patterson; that he did make the remark that neither he nor anymember of his family would go to hear the Rev. Patterson talk on theGreat Lakes Naval Training Station because he did not know whether itwould be the truth or not coming from Patterson ; that about the writing onPresident Wilson's picture he told Patterson that the picture was in hisoffice and that some one wrote under it, "Yes, until after election", andthat he then removed the picture.He noted that he is a loyal American and has never at any time saidor done anything against his country.He stated that his son did obtain a deferred classification onaccount of being a Divinity Student, and that his questionnaire was filledout by one of the lawyers in the Legal Advisory Board and that wholequestion explained.He also stated that his son has been reclassified and examined andleaves for Cam p Funston Tuesday or Wednesday next w eek.Agent was informed by Chief of Police Snyder, who is a memberof Patterso n's chu rch; that Patterson is a nice man to talk to but is highstrung and exciteable [sic] and that his congregation has fallen off abouthalf and is rather unpopular as a preach er. He also stated that Tonsingwhile of German descent is a good citizen and no reports have ever cometo him about his being disloyal or pro-German.

It might be well to state that Chief Snyder has been active inrunning down pro-German slackers and disloyalty.Investigation closed.

FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND FAM OUS VISITORS.Many of the items in the scrapbook deal with the domestic life of Paul and Ruth.When they returned to Atchison, work, family, and the care for the mother of Ruth, IdaChalliss Martin, occupied most of their time. But, with the death of Ida, November 2,

1932, and the maturity of their children, they now had the opportunity to visit friends andfamily. The reports of these visits constitute the subject of many of the articles in thescrapbook. Scattered amon g them are brief notes, such as:The Paul Tonsing family made a trip to Waterville and Greenleaf, Kas.,yesterday where they visited friends whom Mr. Tonsing had not seen for47 years.

Atchison Globe (June 17, 1935).


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Another one makes mention of a visit to the town in Nemaha County, Kansas, foundedby William L. Challiss and Mary Ann Harres Challiss, the grandparents of Ruth:The Paul Tonsings visited at Woodlawn, Kas., over the Fourth, whereMrs. Tonsing spent the summ ers in her childhood. It was her first visit in45 years there, and she found only one resident with whom she wasacquainted. 9Ruth and Paul made many visits. Another was east of Bendena, Kansas, to thehome of "Aunt Mollie" Zimmerman, where the eighty-five year old woman prepared adinner for her seven guests. Zimm erman had lived near Law rence, Kansas, during the"Bleeding Kansas" wars, and remembered vividly the horrific raid of the city by theMissouri, Pro-Slavery troops of Quantril.They also received m any visitors. As evidence o f their hospitality, in 1924, Paul

conducted the wedding of Mary Wehking and John Gunter in their home.10 1

Granddaughter, Miss Ruth Mellenbruch, of Springfield, Ohio, and her three sisters, spentfour months during the summer of 1934 there. 10 And when their son, Ernest, marriedDorothy Peterson at Falun in central Kansas, Ruth and Paul hosted a picnic supper onGuerrier Hill, Jackson Park, Atchison, for them when they returned to Atchison toestablish their home. (The picnic began with fried chicken and ended w ith ice cream andcake.)10 3One especially noteworthy visitor was the arrival in Atchison of the city's mostfamous daughter, the aviatrix, Am elia Earhart. She was the daughter of Am elia ("Am y")Otis, the second cousin of Ruth, and Edw in Stanton Earhart. Earhart was born just two

doors south of the Martin-Tonsing home at 315 in the home of her grandparents, JudgeAlfred and Amy Otis, July 24, 1897,10 4 and spent her childhood there before moving toKansas City. Often she came over to 315 to play and to ride on the porch swing. Despitethe threat of June showers, great crowds of people gathered from all over northeastKansas to see her, and a grand parade went through the downtown of Atchison.Unfortunately, there was time only for brief greetings between Amelia Earhart and herfamily members.10 5 Among them were Ernest and Dorothy Tonsing, for whom shesigned a photograph.10 6

99 Ibid. (July 6, 1935).100 Ibid. (July 10, 19350.101 Ibid. (November 19, 1935).102 Ibid. (August 30, 1935).103 Ibid. (July 19?, 1935).104 "Atchison's Guest," Atchison Daily Globe (June 6, 1935). The newspaper repeats the mistake of manypublications in placing Amelia Earhart's birth in 1898, rather than the correct, 1897. Rebecca Chaky andRuth Martin, Ruth Martin Family Tree 1995 (Friendswood, Texas: Never Done Press, 1995), pp. 135 ff.105 "Great Parade Draws Crowd," Atchison Daily Globe (June 7, 1935).106 I recall that this framed photograph stood on the top of the piano in the home of my parents, Ernest andDorothy Tonsing, until 1942 or 1943, when it was stolen in a home robbery.


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The forty-second wedding anniversary of Ruth and Paul was celebrated inSeptember, 1935, with a gathering at the Tonsing home at 315. Along with tengrandchildren and other relatives, enjoying the dinner were five of the seven livingchildren: "Junior" (Paul Martin), Ern(e)st,' 7 Robert, Evan, and Ida Tonsing Denton.1Daughter Orpha Tonsing Mellenbruch did not make it from Springfield, Ohio, nor didLuther, living in Los Angeles.10 9

PERSONALITY.Paul loved to tell jok es, and w as quite an expert at it. His son, Paul Junior, a jokefan, used to get his father out once a month just to hear them. 11 0 He was always a veryfriendly man, and everyo ne, White or Black, enjoyed his conversations. He was alsovery kind.In his business, he always priced his work too cheap, so that others would take

advantage of him. While he could not give his children money for college, he said thathe could provide the way to earn the way through school. Thus , all seven childrenworked comm ercially at the printing business, ev en the girls, a rarity at that time .11 1He did like games, and he and his son, Robert (Bob), especially loved to playcroquet. They had a beautiful court laid out, and would get the Saturday work done earlyin order to play. Paul also liked to play tennis.11 2Paul also was attracted by autom obiles. In 1915 he wanted a car, so he bought anold 1912 Buick, which was red with stripes on the sides, had a canvas top and acetylenelights. His son, Luther, was a teenager, and took the car out on the road and ran it so fast

that he burned it out. Ernest remem bered the team of horses drawing it up and into thei nyard, all burned out.Later, Paul became friends with a man w ho dealt in used cars. In 1920 or 21, hebought a Hupmobile with a tall stack on front, four to five inches, for the water for theradiator. It had an all aluminum crank case, right-hand drive. Ernest learned how todrive it when he was about thirteen years old. Since his older brother, Bob, would not lethim touch the wheel, the husband of his sister, Orpha Mellenbruch, took him out onemorning to learn. Pari Mellenbruch guided him as they drove up the Kansas side of theMissouri River to M ission Ranch Valley, east of Om aha and back. "It was a thrill,"Ernest said, especially one Saturday when he drove down the main street of Atchison.11 4

Named Ernst at birth, and called that through his teenage years, Ernst Frederick Tonsing was namedafter his grandfather.108 Globe, (September 5, 1935).m Ibid. (August 30, 1935).110 Ernest F. Tonsing, Notes, 1993.111 Ibid.112 Ibid.113 Ibid.114 Ibid.


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Later on Paul got a second Hupmobile, and then a Chevrolet with rattling valves, and letthe kids work on it."5

A JOURNEY TO CLEVELAND.In 1923, Paul bought a seven-passeng er Mitchell. He was going to Sp ringfield,Ohio, to visit friends, and to Cleveland, to visit his sister. Mo ther-in-law, Ida Martin,Ruth, and children Ernest and Paul Junior went along. They took along a big, heavy tent,but mostly slept in the open.11 6 There are photographs of the trip with the familystanding along side the car. The tent and luggage were tied onto the sides and back withropes.Paul was not a very good driver, and scraped the wheels on curbs several times onthe trip. Paul Junior wanted to drive, and took the wheel. The steering of the car wasgeared so that one had to make many revo lutions to make a turn. Paul Junior missed a

turn and scraped the curb. He refused to give up the wheel, and proceeded to do the sameon the next corner. His mother, Ruth, was screaming and got out. She refused to getback in until Ernest volunteered. Ernest, then, drove 3,500 miles to Springfield,Cleveland and back. Paul had purchased W orld War I clincher tires which would movearound on the rims, shearing off the air nipples, so they had to repair a blowout nearlyeveryday.117They were fortunate when reaching Springfield in that Paul's friend, a color-printer, was coming out of the shop when they drove up . In Cleveland, they stayed a dayand a half with Pau l's sister, Minn ie Tonsing Jasper. Her husband was an undertakerwho dressed in black and always was "moody in face," quite the opposite of her more

jovial brother.118

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE.According to a note in the Atchison Daily Globe, Paul was "a power physicallywhen he was young and middle aged. He was broadshouldered and muscular."119 At hisfirst parish at Beloit, Paul cut a striking figure. According to B rown, a youth living inthat town:He was young, hopeful, good looking, husky, smart, and became the idolof the children out there.1

116 Ibid.117 Ibid.118 Ibid.119 Globe (March 2, 193 6). According to Ralph Martin, his uncle was called "PG ," since there were somany people named Paul in the family. Note from Ralph Martin, August 24, 200 8.120 "Preacher Man."


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Having learned Hebrew in the Atchison Central Seminary, he discovered thatthere were four hundred roots in the language, and that if he learned these roots, he wouldknow how to read and speak it. He would like to talk Yiddish (com bining his know ledgeof Hebrew and German) to the Jewish merchants, and often recited the TenCom mandm ents in Hebrew . A jun k dealer in Atchison especially liked to talk withhim.

12 1

After his sickness with diphtheria, his appearance changed greatly. Even thoughhe weighed over three hundred pounds, he would walk seven blocks up and down thesteep hills to home, and for a while rode bicycles.12 2 A reference to Paul's weight issubject of several clippings:Paul Tonsing, who is of the opinion that he has been the biggest (meaningthe fattest) man in Atchison for a number of years, no longer claims thatdistinction. Mr. Tonsing has been reducing , is reducing and will keep onreducing until he regains his boyish figure. He told a Globe reporter thismorning that from weighing 323 pounds he has come down to 285pounds.12 3

Reports continued in the Globe of his success. On August 5 th the paper reported:P. G. Tonsing has lost 46 pounds in weight during this warm weather. Hefeels better for it.12 4

The newspaper notes on September 16:P. G. Tonsing weighs 271 pounds. He is 53 pounds underweight.12 5

His diet is one that would have a few devotees today even noting his success:The reporter thinks Mr. Tonsing has accomplished a truly greatachievement. When asked how he did it, Mr. Tonsing said, "by eatingless," and he added he could lose a pound a day by eating less (much less).When asked his diet rules Mr. Tonsing replied: "For breakfast I eat onepancake with catsup; for [the noon ] dinner a regular meal but no fats. Ieat no butter and no gravies. In the place of sugar in my coffee I usesaccharine. For supper I take a bite of some thing, som etimes a smallpiece of cake."

By his birthday on January 3, 1936, Paul had lost even more weight:121 Ernest F. Tonsing, Notes, 1993.122 Ibid.m Globe (My 16, 1935).124 Ibid. (August 5, 1935).125 Ibid. (September 16, 1935).126 Ibid.


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Paul Tonsing is 66 years old today. Mr. Tonsing ha s lost 58 pounds sincethe first of August. Mr. To nsing 's present weight is 265 , less than anytime in the last 25 years. Mr. Tonsing appears to this reporter to be about45 years old.12 7The rapid lost of weight must have put a great strain upon his constitution, for anunforeseen announcement appeared in the Globe on March 2:Becoming ill last Thursday, the Rev. Paul Gerhardt Tonsing died Sundaymorning at 8 o'clock in the Tonsing home at 315 North Terrace. Thecause of his death was an infection that developed from inflammation inhis ears. He became unconsc ious early Saturday night, and did notrally.12 8

TRIBUTES.At the death of her husband of over four decades, Ruth had to make manyarrangements for the funeral, and phone calls to her seven children and eleven grandchildren, as well as to Paul's sister, Mrs. Minnie Jasper of Cleveland, Ohio, and his threehalf-brothers, Henry, Louis and Jasper Mylander all in Oak Harbor, Ohio. 12 9 Accordingto the Kansas Synod Lutheran, "The Death of Rev. Tonsing has ended the career of one

1 30of the best known men in our synod." The pastor of Saint M ark 's Lutheran Church,the Rev. W. E. Wheeler, was in charge of the preparations for the funeral, at which theReverends Charles Puis of Lawrence, Kansas, J. H. McGuire of St. Joseph, Missouri, E.Victor Roland of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Clarence N. Swihart of Oklahoma City,Oklahoma, all members of the executive committee of the Kansas Lutheran Synod, tookpart. A resolution from the Atchison Ministerial Association was read by AtchisonPastor C.K. Davis.13 1

While arrangements were being made for Paul's burial, the Globe announced thatthe Tonsing Printery would continue to be operated by his widow , Ruth. The day-to-daymanagement of the office would be by Paul Martin Tonsing, Jr., his youngest son.13 2 Thelatest city directory was nearly completed at the time of his death, and Paul, Jr., Ernestand Ida worked overtime to finish setting type, print and bind the volumes. 13 3 ByMonday, March 16, delivery of the directories had begun, and it was expected that allwould be distributed by the end of the week. 13 4

27 Ibid. (January 3, 1936).128 "Death Claims Paul Tonsing."129 Ibid.130 "Paul G. Tonsing," Kansas Synod Lutheran.131 Ibid. Atchison Globe (March 4, 1937).132 "Editorial Bits and Bites, Announc ement," Globe (March 5, 1936).133 Interview of the Rev. Ernest F. Tonsing, April 8, 1985.134 Globe (March 16, 1936).


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With the death of Paul Tonsing, tributes to the man began to flow into thenewspap ers. Brown sum marized his life in these words:In most respects, Preacher Paul was a humb le man. He made nopretension toward greatness. He knew his limitations in pulpit and inbusiness. He never proclaimed himself as having attained success. But Itake it on myself to state that Paul attained a great deal. He and his goodwife educated a big family, every member of which is a good, usefulcitizen. I consider that a triumph. And when I permit my mind to wanderback 40 years, the wind swept prairies of western Kansas, there I see thestalwart form of Paul Tonsing, the Preacher man, helping the children,helping the young folks, helping the farmers and the town men, andhoeing Dan Koch's sweet potato hills for two days, so that Dan could goto the Sunday schoo l picnic. If service to good , plain folks is success,Paul Tonsing succeeded admirably.13

Brown then adds, a bit sheepishly:In these paragraphs I have referred to Mr. Tonsing as "The PreacherM an." May be I should have been more dignified, and should haveconstantly referred to him as the Rev. Paul G. Ton sing. But I wish alwaysto think of him as we folks of the prairies thought of himPaul, the youngpreacher man, going abou t, in a rattletrap cart, doing g ood.13 6Wrote the Rev. C harles A. Puis, a pastor from Law rence and a close friend of theTonsing family, in the Kansas Synod Lutheran:

They say Paul Tonsing of Atchison is dead. I refuse to believe this eventhoug h I read a Scripture lesson and a collect at his funeral se rvice. Tru e,I saw his huge bod y as if asleep in an oversize casket and h eard his pastorall but exhaust the gamut of virtues trying to find the adjectives thatdescribed the gentleness and humbleness of P. G.'s life, but on thequestion of Brother Paul's d eath, I remain a skeptic.13 7He gives his reason for his views:

Men w ho lived like he lived don 't die. He might have died and beenutterly forgotten had it not been for the way he spent his days. Strongarms could have placed his casket on the grave-rods of steel betweencanyons of floral sprays, and friends might have left the scene of hisinterment with an attitude to forget the man they buried. But his friendsw on't forget him, and when a man lives in memory almost as vividly as he

"Preacher Man."Ibid."Paul G. Tonsing," Kansas Synod Lutheran, Volume XXIII, No. 3 (March, 1936).


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lived in life, no one can say that he died. Brother Pa ul' m emory, like thedyes of Lyd ia, will not fade.Puis then uses another analogy drawn from the agricultural setting of eastern Kan sas:

So many people die. Then they are forgotten. Why ? Because there isnothing about them that remains alive after they are gone. A part of ourimmortality we build ourselves. Those who sow no seeds, leave noflourishing field of waving memories to follow in their train when theyhave advanced to the far side of the hill. But P. G.'s life was not like that.He sowed seeds, many of which sprouted with orchid-like beauty as soonas men said "he 's dead ." When one leaves behind him a field full of seedready to grow into the abundant strength of the man who sowed them, darewe be so bold as to say that the man is dead? Certainly, he is more alivethan many of the folks w ho attended his funeral.13 9

At the end of his article, Puis notes:Yes, his personal presence we shall mis s. His spiritual presence we shallfeel. P. G. will live as long as this generation of Lutheran friends endures,for men like P. G. don't die. They simply move on to their coronation.A moving tribute was a poem written by LeRoy Huron Kelsey of Kansas City,Missou ri, in honor of his old friend:

138 Ibid. The Rev. Puis is referring here to Acts 16:11-40 and the woman named Lydia from Thyatira inAsia Minor, whom P aul met at Philippi. She sold valuable purple-dyed good s, a color used by the nobility.She and her household were baptized by Paul, making h er the first Christian convert in Europe.139 Ibid.140 Ibid. The person who wrote words had long been acquainted with Paul Tonsing, and had anopportunity to help his old friend in a special way when he served as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church inLawrence, Kansas. This congregation acted as the "home away from h om e" church for students at theuniversity. During one of the meetings of the Lutheran Student Association, "Daddy Puis," a man of greatgenerosity and hospitality, "made it convenient" for a boarder in his parsonage and another student to meetand later to become engaged. The lodger was Ernest Tonsing, son of his friend, and the wom an wasDorothy Peterson of Falun, Kansas, parents of this writer. Pastor Puis subsequently became President ofthe Lutheran Synod, and, upon h is death, his bisho p's cross as given to Ernest Tonsing, who passed it on tome. The cross is 4 3/8 by 3 3/8 inches in size, with a "Latin" cross inscribed in the middle containing theChi/Rho symbol, and the trefoil limbs containing a hand with descending rays extending dow n from cloudsin the top field,, a cruciform-haloed lamb resting atop a closed bo ok with seven round seals hangin g fromits pages on the left, the right with a dove d escending from clouds, and the bottom limb with an open bookwith the wo rds, "HOLY BIB LE," written across the pages. The back contains the engraved legend:

Rev. Charles A. PuisPRESIDENTEV.LUTH.SYNOD OF KANSAS & ADJ STATES4/22/37-4/19/39


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An Enduring Legacy.He never had acquired the gold for which so many fought,And never had attained the honors which so many sought;He never won a boasted niche in any Hall of Fame,And never seemed to care about a great and noted nam e;But when his m odest useful life its final course had run ,It left a benediction through his acts of kindness d one.He never had been much inclined to boost his own affairs,And never troubled other folks with his perplexing cares;He never sought for unfair gain in any business deal,But never failed of quick response to worthy ne ed 's appeal;And so, though not a millionaire when called away at last,The heritage of love he left, all other wealth surpassed.

He never was conspicuous for beauty or for style,And oftentime his courage caused a depreciating smile;He never was a follower of fashion's fool decrees,But always kept his self-respect and did his best to please;And when at last his tired hands were folded on his breast,A multitude that he had helped rose up to call him blest. 14 1

REFLECTIONS.An enduring legacy, indeed! This pioneer preacher of Kan sas was legendary for

his enthusiasm, generosity and bravery. Paul Gerhardt Tonsing was a preacher whopreached most eloquently in deeds. As B . D. Zimm erman w rote in one of the clippingsin Gran dm other's scrap book, "Paul Tonsing was one in a thousand. He was interested ineveryone and always in a kindly fashion." Calling forth these words locked within thecrumbling pages of a scrapbook, a little diary, and distant recollections, we now cancelebrate the life and deeds of this man not only as an ancestor who gave us our lives, butwho gave us a lot to cherishand a lot to emulate. Way to go, Gramp s!

1 Ruth Martin Tonsing scrapbook (April, 1935-April, 1937).2 Atchison Globe (n.d.).

1827 biography of a kansas pioneer preacher

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