Beissel, Johann Conrad definition of Beissel, Johann Conrad in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

Beissel, Johann Conrad (yō`hän kôn`rät bī`səl), 1690–1768, founder of the Seventh-Day Baptist community at Ephrata, Pa. Emigrating (1720) from Germany, he settled first with the German Baptists, or Dunkards, in Germantown, Pa. He soon moved to the Conestoga Valley, where he preached to the German settlers. Beissel published (1728) a tract on his conviction that Saturday was the true Sabbath. With his followers he established (c.1728–1733) at Ephrata Ephrata (ĕf`rətə), borough (1990 pop. 12,133), Lancaster co., SE Pa., in a prosperous farm area; inc. 1891.
..... Click the link for more information. a semimonastic religious community that became well known in colonial times. Over 400 of Beissel's hymns were printed, most of them in the Turtel-Taube (1747), the Ephrata hymnal.

Beissel, Johann Conrad (1690–1768) religious leader, composer; born in Eberbach-am-Neckar, Germany. Fleeing persecution, he came to America in 1720; in 1732 at Ephrata, Pa., he found the Solitary Brethren of the Community of Seventh Day Baptists. Self-trained in music, he wrote many robust, homespun hymns for his community.