Hergert, Elias

The Reverend Elias (Eli) Hergert was born 22 June 1878 in Brunnental, Russia, and was confirmed there in 1893 by Pastor Stuher. In 1900, he married Maria Elisabeth Liebrecht. Elias Hergert was a teacher is Siberia before coming to the United States in 1908 where he joined his brother Jacob in Portland. In 1912, he entered the Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis and following graduation served Peace Lutheran Church (now St. Johns Lutheran Church) in the Sellwood district of Portland until 1916, when for a year he became a home missionary in Sheridan, Wyoming, and Hardin, Montana. He then held a pastorate in Fort Collins, Colorado, until 1925 when he became pastor at St. Paul’s Evangelical & Reformed Church in Portland. Reverend & Mrs. Hergert had four children: Elias Jr., Solomon, Jacob, and Mary (Mrs. Joseph) Greenwald.

Reverend Elias Hergert served as pastor of St. Paul's from 1925 to 1939 when he accepted a call to serve a congregation in Lingle, Wyoming. He returned to Portland in 1943 on the advice of his physician to improve his health. He died in Portland on 31 March 1944.