Ault, John (1836-1880)

John Ault was born April 1, 1836 in Annville, Lebanon County to William and Elizabeth (Black) Ault. He graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in 1857 with the A.B. Degree. At Franklin and Marshall he was a member of Chi Phi Fraternity and the Goethian Literary Society (of which he was president for one term). He attended the Theological Seminary at Mercersburg, Pa, graduating in 1858. At this time he was licensed by the Lebanon Classis and ordained by Zion Classis. Pastorates included: Trindle Spring Charge in Cumberland County (Trindle Spring, Peace Church, Churchtown, and Filey's); from 1859-1863 he pastored at the Fourt Loudon and St. Thomas Charge; December 1862-May 1863 he was a chaplain in the Union Army. Following this he was at the Mechanicsburg Charge from 1863-1873. From 1873 until his death in 1880, Rev. Ault was at the Christ Church Charge in the Zion Classis (Christ Church, Littlestown, St. Luke's, and St. Jame's) of Adam's County. On July 29, 1859, John Ault married Sarah Isabella Waggoner of Carlisle, PA. They had four daughters and one son. Two daughters, Mary Belle (wife of Dr. William E. Hoy) and Laura Blanche (wife of Dr. Paul L. Gerhard) were missionaries to Japan and China. Rev. Ault died of Typhoid fever July 26, 1880. Rev. Ault was a frequent correspondent of various periodicals under the signature "John." He also published a number of pamphlets. Sources: "Fathers of the Reformed Church" V. 5, page 398. "History of Redeemer's Reformed Church" Littlestown, PA.