Christopher Sower Jr.

Background

Christopher was born on September, 1721 at Laasphe, Westphalia, Germany, the only child of Christopher Sower, 1693-1758, and Maria Christina Sower, and was brought to Pennsylvania by his parents in 1724.

Education

As a boy he received his schooling from the celebrated Christopher Dock, whose Eine Einfultige und grundlich abgefasste Schul-Ordnung (1770) he later took pride in publishing; heard the preaching of Alexander Mack, the founder of the Dunker sect; and learned printing, book-binding, ink-making, and other trades from his father.

Career

Sower was baptized, February 24, 1737; was made a deacon of the Germantown congregation in May 1747; became an elder on trial in June 1748; and was ordained by Peter Becker, June 10, 1753.

He early took charge of the bindery in his father's publishing house in Germantown, and beginning in 1754 the English publication of the Sower press bore his imprint. On his father's death in 1758 he fell heir to the whole establishment and carried on the business with the intelligence and energy that had distinguished his father.

As the leader of the Dunkers, Sower was suspected all the more because his sons Christopher and Peter were avowed Loyalists; and suspicion ripened into conviction when it was realized that he was a man of wealth whose houses, lands, and goods would enrich more than one deserving patriot. In a proclamation of May 8, 1778, he was named as under suspicion of treason and given till June 25 to appear before a magistrate.

On May 23, 1778, he was arrested, maltreated, and variously abused, and was released only by the intervention of General John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg. His property, except what clothes he wore and a little food, was ruthlessly taken from him and was disposed of "at auction" for a fraction of its actual value. Sower might later have obtained redress, but, true to his religious convictions, he refused to go to law. His one protest was against the ignominy of being called a traitor.

The few remaining years of his life were spent at Methacton, a few miles above Norristown.

He earned what money he needed by working as a bookbinder. Two weeks before his death he went on foot the twelve miles to Skippack to preach at a meeting of the Brethren. He died and was buried at Methacton.

Achievements

• Christopher Sower Jr. was the leader of printing and publishing business, exerting on it an influence that continued to be felt for several generations. The power and persuasiveness of his preaching, his insight into the human heart, and his humble, charitable way of life have been a tradition among his people and made him famous. The most notable productions of the press under his management were the second and third editions (1763 and 1776) of the Sower, or Germantown, Bible. In 1773 he built a paper-mill on the Schuylkill. He was one of the founders of the Germantown Academy, to which he largely contributed.

Politics

In his periodicals he was a steadfast opponent of negro slavery, and berated the Germans for allowing the evil practice to take root among them. His political support went to the proprietary party.

Connections

On April 21, 1751, he married Catharine Sharpnack of Germantown, who bore him nine children and died on January 8, 1777. He had daughter, Catharine.

Father:

Christopher Sower

Mother:

Maria Christina Sower

Spouse:

Catharine Sharpnack

Daughter:

Catharine Sower

Son :

David Sower

teacher:

Christopher Dock

References

• Christopher Saur the Third