PESCHAN, Ferdinand William Elias, clergyman, born in Zellerfeld-Clausthal, Hanover, Germany, 17 February, 1849. His father was of French descent. His parents emigrated to this country when the son was five years old, and settled in Wheeling. W. Va. He was graduated at Pennsylvania college, Gettysburg, in 1872, and at the Lutheran theological seminary there in 1873. In the autumn of the same year he was licensed to preach, and in 1876 he was ordained. He has taught in several places, held various pastorates, and since 1882 has had charge of a congregation at Wilmington, North Carolina He twice declined the presidency of North Carolina college. He has filled many offices of honor in his church, and is an agreeable and forcible public speaker. He is a frequent contributor to religious and secular periodicals, in 1880 was managing editor of "The Southern Monthly Illustrated Magazine," and since 1882 has been one of the editors of " The Lutheran Visitor." Among his works are several musical compositions, and he is also the author of numerous poems, among them an " Ode to Jackson," which was sung at the unveiling of the equestrian statue of General Andrew Jackson, at Nashville, Tennessee A volume of his sermons and addresses is in press (1888).