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Jacob Henrici was born on January 15, 1804 in Grosskarlbach, Germany. In the government school of Kaiserslautern, he studied to be a teacher (Duss. Harmonists 102). His father, a weaver whose business failed, emigrated to America; but Jacob stayed in the old country where he worked as a teacher and is rumored to have studied to take holy orders in the Catholic Church (Ross. VT Mail).

In the early 1800's George Rapp had been a powerful preacher in Germany. He became obsessed with the Second Coming of Christ and its implications for the Christian life. He preached a communistic form of society and proclaimed, "As Christ never married, neither shall our young people marry, and even we who have been married will live in marriage no more." (Brooks. Jacob Henrici 5). Because of his rather peculiar views, he was banned from preaching in Germany and his followers from assembling. Rapp decided to secretly depart for America with his flock. They arrived in Butler County in 1805 where they stayed until 1815 when the Harmony Society moved to Indiana

Reading about George Rapp and this Society and their peculiar religious beliefs, Jacob felt drawn to explore this form of the faith. At twenty-three, he arrived in Baltimore in 1825 with the rest of his family. At this time his only worldly possessions consisted of two pieces of silver and bundles of several thousand grapvine sprouts which he disposed of in the Baltimore area (Brooks. Jacob Henrici 4).

From Baltimore he set out on foot for Harmonie, Indiana; but he learned that the society had just moved to Economy, Pennsylvania. When he arrived, the village was under construction, and he was amazed with the positive spirit of the community. After only a short audience with George Rapp, he realized that this was the place where he wanted to spend the rest of his life. He promised to return the next year. His family, at his insistence, moved to Pittsburgh; and Jacob returned to Economy in 1826 to serve as the village schoolmaster (Duss. Harmonists 103-105). He was to spend the rest of his life, sixty-seven years, in toil, frugal habits, self-denial and in service to this community.

In time Henrici became one of the most trusted and most faithful members of the society. For him life was religion. Unlike most, he accepted the theology and mysticism of George Rapp in its entirety. Henrici was as much a zealot for his religious beliefs as was his mentor, and he was noted for the irony and scorn with which he combated any who questioned these beliefs (Duss. Harmonists 105). One observer commented, "His patriarchal form was abroad at unexpected hours from opening dawn till deepening twilight, to see that society discipline was enforced and society rules observed...It is safe to say that during fifty years of his stewardship, noise, loud talking and laughter were unknown in the streets of Economy..." (Brooks. Jacob Henrici 7).

On the other hand, he was kind, lovable, and noted for his sense of humor when religion and morality were not at stake, He championed simplicity. He was very generous, so much so that his aid to others made a noticeable dent in the society's treasury (Duss. Harmonists 106). He specially enjoyed music. For years he would interrupt the business of the day by playing the piano. In the evening he would bring children to the singing room and give them lessons in music and relax to the melody of their voices (Brooks. Jacob Henrici 8).

There is the long standing tradition that Henrici was much in love with Gertrude Rapp, the daughter of George. On his first arrival at the village, he spent much time with Gertrude. She found him handsome and an excellent teacher. But they were unable to wed because of the society's celebracy edict. They lived side by side in the same house, ate at the same table, shared the same passion for music, but were forever seperated by the rules of community

When George Rapp died in 1847, two trustees were appointed to oversee the community: Romulus I. Baker and Jacob Henrici. Baker was spiritual guide and Henrici was business manager. On the death of Baker in 1868, Jonathan Lenz became junior trustee, while Henrici became in practice the head of the community. It was under his leadership that the society gained enormous wealth because of his successful investments in petroleum-rich land, coal and railroads (Brooks. Jacob Henrici 13).

Because Jacob Henrici was a trustee of the Harmony Society real estate (Reibel 4), it was he who answered Milo Townsend's letter of inquiry about the purchase of land there.

Letter 3

From Jacob Henrici

Economy, March 5, 1867

Milo A. Townsend, Esqr

Blue Anchor, New Jersey.

Respected Friend;

Your friendly Letter of 25 ult arrived here in due time, but my absence from home did not permit as earlier reply. I am not able to say when I can be at home, as our outside business often calls me away unexpectedly. My Co-Trustee, Mr. Baker, who is my senior in every respect, is always at home, but during my absence is, for his advanced age and delicate health, often overtaxed with business. We cannot see that our advice could be of much use to your friends. Land is too high, for new settlements, in our part of the country, and in relation to distant parts, they can find better advisors than we could be. Moreover, our Society have good reason for desiring that we shall abstain from giving advice to emigrating Societies, as we had once bad luck in doing so, as our past history, of which we by this day's mail send you a sketch amply proves. Should your friends in their regular course of business or exploration of this County come here, we will do for them as much as our other duties and engagements shall permit.

In regard to the wonderful mode of reading peoples' characters, we do not feel called to judge as to others, but as to ourselves, we feel religiously scrupulous against seeking such information. Having irrevocable devoted ourselves, all we are and possess, to the Service of Jesus Christ, and having an unwavering faith not only in his perfect human, but also in his perfect divine nature, in his identity, his oneness with the father, we desire no other spiritual communication than that which comes from the promised Holy Ghost, who emanated from the father and the Son and is one with them, and whose approbation can never make us proud or vain. We appreciate, and endeavor to deserve, the good opinion of the wise and the good, but we know that all our good is a gift that comes from a higher source, and that our responsibility is in due proportion to the talents we have received. We therefore willingly acknowledge ourselves to be unprofitable Servants who, in the best case, can only do our duty. If at the end of our earthly course we shall hear the blessed Testimony, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant," the measure or our happiness will be overflowing.

Very Respectfully Yours

Jacob Henrici