The Reverend Samuel Theophil Bonwetsch is the son of Pastor Christoph Heinrich Bonwetsch and Beate Christiana Friedrich. He was born 4 September 1832 in Katharinenfeld (Caucasus) and spent his childhood in the German city of Stuttgart.
He studied theology at the University of Dorpat (Estonia). He served the congregation in the Volga German colony of Galka from 1858-1874; in Fresental from 1875 to 1876, and in Kursk from 1876-1906 at the Lutheran parish of Saints Peter & Paul.
During his time among the Volga German colonies, he was the founding publisher of the Wolgavolkskalender which later became the Friedensbotenkalender.
Samuel is the father of Pastor Emil Friedrich Bonwetsch and doctor Ernst Gotthardt Leopold Bonwetsch.
Pastor Bonwetsch retired in 1906 and went to live with his daughter in the Ukraine. On Good Friday, 4 April 1914, he became seriously ill and died of pneumonia on 26 April 1914 in Sumy (Ukraine).
- Bonwetsch Samuel Theophil (wolgadeutsche.ru) [Online]
- Schnurr, Joseph. Die Kirchen und das religiöse Leben der Russlanddeutschen – Evangelischer Teil (Stuttgart: AER Verlag Landsmannschaft der Deutschen aus Rußland, 1978): 127.
Pastor Samuel Bonwetsch.
Source: Basel Missionary Society via Alexander Baumung.
Pastor Samuel Bonwetsch.
Source: wolgadeutsche.ru