From Memorial and Genealogical Record of Dodge and Jefferson Counties, Wisconsin, publ. 
1894 - Page 90-92
 
PROF. A. F. ERNST.  This gentleman, distinguished in the educational annals of the State of 
Wisconsin, is the president of Northwestern University of Watertown.  One of the most striking 
features in the early history of this country is the attention that has ever been given to educational 
matters, and Prof. ERNST is a firm believer in the trite saying that "a good education is the best 
inheritance that parents can leave their children."  Riches may take to themselves wings and fly 
away, but a good education will last through life.  This worthy head of a worthy institution is a 
product of Hanover, Germany, where he was born June 25, 1841, a son of Carl and Agnes 
(BRACKENBUSCH) ERNST, the former of whom is still a resident of Germany and has attained 
to the advanced age of eighty-eight years.  He has been a minister for many years and was 
chaplain to the King of Hanover during the short war with Prussia.  Since 1866 he has been living 
in retirement and in the enjoyment of a comfortable competency.  His wife who has long been 
dead, bore him seven sons and three daughters: Adolfine, in Germany; Prof. A. F.; Louis 
(deceased); William, who married the daughter of Ex-Mayor HART of Boston, Mass., and is living 
in that city; Mary, who resides in the old country; Frederick, a lawyer of New York City; Gerhardt, 
also of that old country; Frederick, a lawyer of New York City; Gerhard, also of that city; Charles, 
a glass manufacturer of Belgium; George, a druggist of New York City, and Agnes who lives in 
Germany.  The initiatory training of Prof. A. F. ERNST was obtained in the land of his birth, and 
after graduating from the College of Celle, in 1859, he pursued his studies for some time in the 
University, after which he was engaged in teaching in his native land for one year.  He was the 
first of the family to come to America in search of "green fields and pastures new," and in 1863 he 
landed in New York City.  In 1864, at Pottstown, Penn., he was ordained a minister of the 
Lutheran Church and was placed in charge of a church in Queens County, N.Y., on the outskirts 
of Brooklyn, of which he had charge until 1868.  He next went to the city of Albany, N.Y., and after 
remaining there one year was allied to Watertown, Wis., as a member of the faculty of 
Northwestern University, and in 1870 was elected president of the institution, a position he has 
ever since held.  The institution was planned in 1864, was opened in the fall of the following year 
and the first president was Rev. A. MARTIN, now of Gettysburg (Penn.) College.  The second 
president was Lewis O. THOMPSON, who was succeeded by Prof. A. F. ERNST.  After the 
completion of the building in 1865, a college was founded which, however, was not very 
prosperous in the beginning.  A new era began when Prof. A. F. ERNST took charge of the 
university, for he put heart and soul into his work, and no one more thoroughly understands or 
appreciates the needs and interests of public education, or is better qualified through long 
experience and loving labor in its behalf, to bring it to that high state of perfection than he.  Upon 
entering upon his duties he extended the college course to seven years and provided for English 
instruction in all branches except the German language, religion, Latin, Greek and in part history.  
The growth of the institution was marked in 1872 by the erection of a residence for the president, 
an additional school building in 1875, a gymnasium in 1876, a large building containing a dining 
hall, kitchen, rooms for scientific collections, music hall, etc., in 1887, and many minor 
improvements at various times.  At the present time the graduates of the classical department 
number over 200 members.  The Normal School has produced over sixty-five teachers now 
holding positions in all parts of the Northwest, and the students in all departments are over 
2,000.  The faculty consists of nine professors, of whom Prof. ERNST and Dr. NOTZ are the only 
teachers who were born in Europe.  The musical department is an important feature of the 
institution, and at the present time it numbers over 175 students.  The library contains 3,175 
volumes, while the laboratory is fitted up with all necessary appliances  The work of president and 
instructor have alike prospered in the hands of Prof. ERNST, and his administrative capacity is of 
a high order.  Full of expedients, his mind being always on his work and his heart in it, the 
institution over which he presides is never allowed to stagnate or to become disorderly. His kind 
and genial nature is well known, and there are few among either pupils or associates who do not 
esteem him as a friend.  He believes in having his pupils do thorough and honest work and come 
as near perfection in their studies as may be; is an able teacher of his native language,  in fact, is 
justly regarded as one of the able and distinguished educators of the State.  Prof. ERNST was 
married in 1868 to Miss Agnes HARTWIG, a native of Germany, by whom he has nine children: 
George, consul to Reichenburg, Bohemia, under President Cleveland, from whom he received his 
appointment in April 1894; Charles is the professor of natural science in the university; Adolfine, 
Elizabeth, Mary, Frederick, August, Otto, and Rudolph, all of whom are in  school except the two 
eldest.  In 1892 Prof. ERNST was elected president of the General Synod of Wisconsin, 
Minnesota and Michigan.
 
Submitted by Carol