J. F. Oberlin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids J. F. Oberlin |
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| Born | 31 August 1740 in Strasbourg, France |
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| Died | 1 June 1826 (aged 85) in Waldersbach, Bas-Rhin, France |
J. F. Oberlin (born August 31, 1740 – died June 1, 1826) was an amazing Alsatian pastor and a philanthropist. A philanthropist is someone who helps others, often by giving money or time. He is known by different names in different languages, like John Frederick Oberlin in English and Jean-Frédéric Oberlin in French.
Oberlin's Early Life
Johann Friedrich Oberlin was born in Strasbourg, France, on August 31, 1740. His father, Johann Georg Oberlin, was a teacher. Johann Friedrich studied theology, which is the study of religious beliefs.
In 1766, he became a Protestant pastor in a small, isolated village called Waldbach. This village is now known as Waldersbach. It was in a tough, rocky valley called the Steinthal, located between Alsace and Lorraine in France. The people there were very poor.
Helping His Community
Oberlin wanted to improve the lives of the people in the Steinthal valley. He worked hard to help them both physically and spiritually.
He started by encouraging everyone to build better roads and bridges. He even joined in the work himself to show them how important it was. He also taught them new, better ways to farm. This helped them grow more food.
Oberlin helped build stronger homes for the villagers. He also brought in new ways for people to make things, like crafts. He even started a traveling library, which was a library that moved from place to place. This helped people read and learn.
He also created some of the first nursery schools in France. These were places for very young children to learn and play. He also set up a regular school in each of the five villages in his area. His housekeeper, Louisa Scheppler, helped him a lot with teaching.
Besides all this, Oberlin also helped people with their health. He acted like a doctor for them. He started a special bank where people could save money and borrow it if they needed help. He even brought in cotton manufacturing, which gave people more ways to earn a living.
A Spiritual Leader
Oberlin was also a very spiritual person. Many people called him "a saint of the Protestant church." He was a great pastor who preached three sermons in French and one in German every month.
In 1812, a man named Daniel Legrand visited the Steinthal valley and met Oberlin. Legrand was so impressed by Oberlin that he moved his ribbon factory to a nearby village called Urbach (now Fouday). He lived there for the rest of his life, inspired by Oberlin's work.
Oberlin passed away in Waldersbach on June 1, 1826. He was buried in Urbach (now Fouday) with many people showing their respect and love for him.
Oberlin's Lasting Impact
Oberlin is remembered as someone who helped start "social Christianity" in France. This idea focuses on how Christian faith can lead to helping society and improving people's lives.
His work with orphanages led to many groups called "Oberlinvereine." These groups were created to protect children in places like Leonberg, Potsdam, and Worms.
Many places in the world have been named after him. Oberlin, Ohio, in the United States, was founded as a Christian settlement. Its main college, Oberlin College, is a famous school named after him. J. F. Oberlin University in Tokyo, Japan, was also named after Oberlin College, so it also carries his name. Even Oberlin, Louisiana, was named after him.
His brother, Jérémie Jacques Oberlin, was also a famous scholar who studied old languages and ancient things.
