Biographical Sketch

Eduard Hugo Otto Wüst (Wuest) was born in Murrhardt, Wuerttemberg, Germany on February 23, 1818, to Johann and Katharina Wüst. From 1832 to 1835 he attended the Gymnasium in Stuttgart. In 1835, his parents funded his way to seminary in Tuebingen. After a little while, his widowed mother had to give up the family business, which meant that no money was available to continue his studies. Eduard returned home. In early 1841, he was called back to the seminary to take his exam, which he passed without much study, which was surprising. In the fall of 1841, he was offered a post as Pfarrer in Neunkirchen, near Mergentheim.

He worked hard in his new position and became a fiery preacher. He was dismissed but continued his involvements with Pietistic circles of Stuttgart. He accepted the offer to become pastor of a Lutheran congregation in 1845, located in the Ukraine. It was here that Mennonites became acquainted with Wüst. In 1847, he married Pauline Liesching. Wüst influenced many Mennonites in the Molotschna and Berdyansk areas. The Mennonites invited him to speak at some mission festivals and in some of their homes. Later he fell out of favor with many of his parishioners and colleagues. He played a significant role in the revival movement among Mennonites in the mid-nineteenth century, significantly influencing those who would later found the Mennonite Brethren church in early 1860.

In the fall of 1858, he became ill and passed away on July 13, 1859, at the age of 41 years.