Trapp, Johann Joseph von Ehrenschild

Lawyer, pomologist

Born: 15.07.1800 at Hofgut Niederberg near Ehrenbreitstein

died: 20.05.1885 in Wiesbaden

Trapp spent his childhood and youth in Weilburg and attended the Landesgymnasium there from 1814-19. He studied law in Heidelberg and Göttingen. He entered the Nassau civil service and in 1832 was a privy councillor with the Nassau government in Wiesbaden.

In 1840, he built a country house with a large garden at Mainzer Straße 15. While cultivating it, he gained the first ideas for cultivating better fruit varieties. In 1847, he organized the first fruit exhibition, which attracted a great deal of attention in agricultural circles and inspired him to cultivate new fruit varieties. He had the fruits of his varieties reproduced in wax and sent them to pomological exhibitions in many German cities, where they caused a sensation.

In 1860, he founded the first pomological association in Berlin with a few loyal followers. He published his knowledge of fruit varieties in numerous essays. He was therefore made a corresponding member of many domestic and foreign agricultural associations.

He showed great interest in the extensive cultivation of community tree nurseries. Trapp was also involved in the Wiesbaden Beautification Association, which he had co-founded. As an active Catholic, he was also particularly involved in the extension of the towers of St. Boniface's Church.