John Michael Krebs was born in Hagerstown, Maryland on May 6th, 1804. At age fifteen, he worked at a post-office as well as his father’s store. He devoted all of his free time to reading. He became director of the post-office, developing his executive abilities. Once he decided to enter the ministry, he enrolled in Dickinson College in 1825. He graduated with distinguished honor in 1827. In 1829, Krebs was licensed to preach at the Presbytery of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He became Pastor of the Rutgers Street Presbytery in New York in 1830, and in 1837, he was elected Clerk of the General Assembly. He worked with the General Assembly until his death.