Johann Koehnken facts for kids
Johann Koehnken (born September 14, 1819 – 1897) was an American organ builder. He lived and worked in Cincinnati, Ohio. Johann Koehnken learned from another famous organ builder, Matthias Schwab. He also worked closely with Gallus Grimm. Many of the organs they built are still used today. For example, you can find one at the Isaac M. Wise Temple in Cincinnati.
Matthias Schwab came to Cincinnati in 1831. Not much is known about his early life. In 1860, he gave his organ factory to Johann Koehnken. Gallus Grimm helped Koehnken run the factory.
Koehnken was born on a farm in a place called Altenbuhlstedt. This area is in Lower Saxony, Germany, near the city of Bremen. When he was young, he became an apprentice to a cabinetmaker. This means he learned how to build furniture and other wooden items. He worked as a cabinetmaker for two years in Germany. Then he worked for two more years in Wheeling, a city in the United States.
In 1839, Johann Koehnken moved to Cincinnati. He soon met Matthias Schwab. Schwab was a skilled organ builder from Germany. He had a very respected organ factory in Cincinnati.
Building Amazing Organs
When Matthias Schwab retired in 1860, Koehnken took over the business. Gallus Grimm, who was also a German-trained organ builder, joined him. Together, they continued Schwab's tradition of building high-quality organs. The company was first called Koehnken and Company.
Koehnken & Grimm Partnership
In 1875, Grimm officially became a partner with Koehnken. The company's name changed to Koehnken & Grimm. They worked together for 21 years. Johann Koehnken retired in 1896. Both Koehnken and Grimm passed away in 1897.
Gallus Grimm had started working at Schwab's shop in 1853. He had also been an apprentice to another German organ builder, Martin Braun. The company officially changed its name to Koehnken & Grimm in 1876.
Organs You Can Still See
Many organs built by Koehnken or Koehnken & Grimm are still in use. They are beautiful musical instruments found in churches and temples.
- The St. John Lutheran Church in Chehalis, Washington, has an organ from 1895. This organ was moved from another church before that building was taken down.
- St. John's United Church of Christ in Madison, Indiana, also has one of their organs.
- The Isaac M. Wise Temple in Cincinnati, Ohio, has a Koehnken organ. This temple was once known as the Plum Street Temple.
- Holy Family Catholic Church in Price Hill has an organ. It was moved there from Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Sedamsville.
