Jost, Johann Wilhelm

Catholic clergyman

Born: 27.11.1802 in Ellar (Westerwald)

Died: 26.05.1864 in Limburg

Jost, son of the farmers Johann Wilhelm Jost and his wife Clara Zey, was ordained a priest in Speyer in 1825. This was followed by years as chaplain in Niederzeuzheim, Osterspai and in the Frankfurt parish of St. Leonhard. In 1832 he became cathedral vicar in Limburg and in the same year parish priest and in 1833 dean of Wiesbaden. Initially good friends with Duke Adolph zu Nassau, the relationship apparently cooled due to the plans to build a Protestant church in Limburg. The duke transferred him to Königstein in 1843 against the wishes of the bishop. Jost had previously written this statement on the transfer certificate of a state chancellery employee who wanted to switch to the Protestant church on the grounds that they could believe what they wanted there. The Protestant church was embarrassed by this, but the real reason for Jost's dismissal is said to have been his pastoral attempts to prevent conversions.

He was also on the list of candidates for the bishop election of 1842, but was removed from the list by the Duke as "persona minus grata". He remained in Königstein from 1843-59, when he became cathedral dean and ecclesiastical councillor in Limburg. In 1858-59, he was a member of the Second Chamber of the Nassau Assembly of Estates for constituency XIII. In 1862-63, Jost was the bishop's official representative in the First Chamber. Jost is buried in the Limburg canons' cemetery.