Herald of Truth - Volume IX, Number 6 - June, 1872, page 94, 95

OBITUARY

Died at his residence, in Waterloo Township, Waterloo County, Ont, on the 7th of May, Henry Wanner, aged 84 years, 2 months, and 10 days.
The deceased was one of the earliest settlers in the county of Waterloo, and as one of the last links that bind us to a generation fast passing away, deserves more than the customary brief obituary. He was born on the 27th of February 1788, in Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania, and with his father emigrated to Canada in 1806, and settled on the farm near Fisher's Mills, which he occupied for upwards of half a century. During the war of 1812, he was compelled to join the Canadian Militia, who were despatched to defend the Niagara frontier, but in accordance with the peace principles of the Mennonite church of which he was a member, he steadily refused to fire a shot, and was soon excused from the service. He was twice married, and his first wife dying young, he married her sister who died in 1868. They had no children, nevertheless he adopted, one after the other no less than six children, three boys and three girls, and invariably dealt with them on attaining their majority as though they had been his own. Of the church of his choice he was a consistent member and liberal supporter. He gave the site of the church near Fisher's Mills and defrayed most of the cost of its erection, while at the opposite end of his farm he furnished the site of the public school. To the wandering poor, his house was ever open, and his pocket an unfailing bank and even in his last will and testament, charity is not forgotten, for a clause therein bequeaths to the Mennonite Church in trust the sum of $1000, the interest of wihch* is to be devoted to church purposes and the relief of the poor of the township of waterloo. During the last four or five years he was extremely feeble, and he may be said to have died of old age rather than of any special form of disease. The funeral was attended by an immense concourse of old friends and acquaintances from all parts of the country. The services were conducted by Enoch Detwiler in German, and in English by J. McNally. ---Sel.

Transcriber's note: *transcribed as it was printed in the original.
Transcribed by Carolyn J Lichti, Goshen, Indiana

DIED

On the 21st of March, in Miami Co., Ind., of erysipelas, Christiana, wife of Wm. Hochstetler, aged 59 yrs., 9 mos., and 1 day. She leaves a bereaved husband and 7 children to mourn their loss. Buried in Jos. Schrock's burying ground. Funeral service by A Wolfe.

On the 27th of March, in Mifflin co., Pa., after a lingering illness of about two years, Sarah Emma, daughter of Jacob and Lydia Hartzler, aged 9 yrs., 8 mos., and 15 days. Her remains were interred on the 29th, in the presence of a large number of relatives and friends. Sermon by Samuel Yoder from Acts 17: 30, 31. Her life had a large share of weakness and suffering; but now she dwells in everlasting light and joys that never fade.

On the 12th of April, in Elkhart co., Ind., of scarlet fever, Emily Eliza Link, aged 9 yrs., and 9 days; and on the 8th of May, of consumption, Anne Mary, wife of Levi Chupp, aged 20 yrs., 7 mos., and 25 days, both daughters of Jacob and Elisabeth Link. Funeral services were held May 10th, by Jacob Beidler and Daniel Brenneman, from Mark 13; 23, and Gen. 43 : 14.

Ye mourning saints, whose streaming tears,
Flow o'er your children dead;
Say not in transports of despair,
That all your hopes are fled.

Dear husband, do not grieve nor weep,
Dear Mary's now at rest;
Most calm and peaceful is her sleep,
Ah! she is truly blest.

On the 22nd of March, in Elkhart co. Ind., of scarlet fever, Amanda Arclista, daughter of Asher and Marelda Lockwood, aged 4 yrs., 2 mos., and 6 days. Funeral services were held May 12th, by Jacob Beidler and Daniel Brenneman from 2 Kings 4: 26.

"Is it well with the child?" who can tell?
And is she now freed from her pain?
Ah yes! with the child "it is well,"
In heav'n you may meet her again.
With Arclista, dear child. "it is well,"
And to her a bright crown shall be give;
Ah yes! with all children 'tis well.
For of such is the kingdom of heaven."

On the 14th of May, in Elkhart co., Ind., of Dropsy, Mary Ann Houenstein, aged 20 yrs., 3 mos., and 3 days. Funeral services by Daniel Brenneman, from Job 17: 11. Father, mother, brothers and sisters followed the dear and loved one to the grave in tears of affectionate love. May God comfort their hearts and give them grace and wisdom so to live that they may cherish in their hearts an abiding hope of everlasting life in which "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

On the 3rd of April, in Mifflin co., Pa., Barbara Hershberger, aged 66 yrs., 4 mos., and 7 days. Her remains were interred on the 6th in the Juniata River cemetry(sic), on which occasion a discourse was delivered by John Yoder, from John 5 : 24. She was a member of the Amish Mennonite Church.
"Farewell my earthly friends below,
Though all so kind and dear to me;
My Jesus calls, and I must go,
Prepare to follow me."

On the 13th of May, near McVeytown, Mifflin co. Pa., Samuel Steinrook, aged 62 yrs., 9 mos., and 15 days. His remains were interred on the 15th, in the Juniata River cemetry(sic), on which occasion a discourse was delivered by John Yoder, from Jn. 5 : 24. He was a member of the Amish Mennonite church.

Oh let us-then prepare for death,
Since he on us will call!
When we must here our treasure leave,
Be ready for him, all.

Correction: June 1872 obit for Samuel Steinrook. Everything fit sbut the last name.
Samuel Stayrook does fit the dates. Mifflin Co, PA is where the first
Stayrook married into the Amish faith. -- Betty Hartzler, KS

On the 15th of April, in Lancaster co., Pa., after three days sickness of Scarlet fever, Sarah Amelia daughter of Samuel R. and Martha Hess, aged 4 yrs., and 2 mos. Her remains were followed by a concourse of sympathizing relatives and friends to the Hammer Creek burying-ground. Services by Chr. Bomberger and John Kisser, from 1 Chron. 29: 15.

Dearest sister, thou art gone
To join our brother above;
Where we all shall meet as one,
If we submit our souls to love.
How we loved you none can tell,
Save they who felt the blow;
Our consolation is, you dwell
Far happier than below.

On the 17th of April, in Lancaster Co., Pa., of palsy, Daniel Hostetler, of Strasburg township, aged 64 yrs. and 4 days. He was confined to his bed almost 9 years. He bore his sickness with patience, and felt to say with Job of old, "I know that my Redeemer liveth." Funeral discourses by Henry Shenk, Benjamin and Amos Herr. Peace to his ashes.

On the 28th of April, in Medina co., Ohio, of the infirmities of old age, Henry Geisinger, aged 86 yrs., 1 month and 23 days. He was a member of the Mennonite church for a long time. Funeral services by Henry Martin from Wayne Co., and Henry Davison, from 2 Tim. 4: 6-8. He was buried on the 30th.

On the 3rd of April, in Tazewell co., Ill., of dropsy of the heart, Joseph Stecker, aged 62 yrs. Services at the house by Jacob Unzicker and A.
Rupp, and at the grave by Joseph Stuckey.

On the 2nd of May, in Woodford co., Ill., of the infirmities of old age, John Gerber, aged 74 yrs. Services by Joseph Stuckey.

On the 9th of May, in Woodford co., Ill., Michael King, aged 66 yrs. Buried on the 11th in the presence of many relatives and friends. Services by Jacob Zehr, Christian Risser and Joseph Stuckey.

On the 1st of May, in Ontario co., Ont., Catharine, wife of Abraham Burkholder, aged 35 yrs., 5 mos., and 5 days. She attended her grandmother's funeral the day before. She took ill about 12 o'clock, and died about 8 A. M. She leaves a husband and 6 children to mourn their loss. She was a sister in the Mennonite church. Interred in Wideman's grave-yard. Services in German by Joseph Barkey, and by John Steckley in English, from 2 Cor. 5 :1.

On the 7th of April, in St. Joseph co., Mich., Nancy, wife of Jonathan Hartzler, aged 40 yr., 10 mos., and 1 day. She was a faithful member of the Amish Mennonite church. She leaves a husband and 6 children to mourn her early departure, and her loss is much felt in the family and church. Services by John Yoder at the house, at the school-house by David Hartzler and Christian Werey, from Jn. 5: 24; Rev. 14 :12. 13.

Sister, thou wast mild and lovely,
Gentle as the Summer breeze
Pleasant as the air of evening,
As it floats among the trees.

On the 28th of April, in Markham, Canada West, at the old homestead, where she has lived since 1805, Mary Wideman, at the advanced age of 90 yrs., 8 mos., and 28 days. She was formerly from Pa.; her offspring numbers 8 children, 47 grand-children, and 126 great-grand-children. Her end was peace.

On the 25th of April, in New Orleans, La., Pre. Christopher Maurer, aged 59 yrs. and 6 mos. He was born in France, but was a resident of the City of New Orleans for the last 26 years. He leaves three deeply grieved daughters and many relatives to mourn his departure. Funeral services by Jacob Uber, from Ps. 90; 12. May our loss be his eternal gain.

On the 12th of May, in DeKalb co., Ind., Uriah, son of James and Malinda Coyle, aged 18 yrs., 5 mos., and 23 days. He was a very pious youth, and beloved by all, and left a bright evidence that he died happy. He was buried at Fairfield Center burying-ground. Sermon by C. D. Beery and Eli Stofer, from 1 Peter 1: 24.

Weep not for me, my parents dear,
Since I must go and leave you here;
With Jesus I shall happy be,
0 parents, do not weep for me.

Dear sisters too, dry up your tears.
And trust in God, the balm of fears;
And walk along the narrow road
And meet me in that blest abode.

On the 28th of April, in Montgomery co., Pa., of Apoplexy, Hannah, wife of Henry Miniginger,(sic) in her 59th year. The 1st of May her earthly remains were deposited in the bosom of the earth, in the presence of an unusually large number of people, in the Hatfield burying-ground. Funeral services by _____ Laux, Jacob Kolb, and _______ Nice, from Marh(sic) 13: 33. She was a faithful wife, mother and sister in the Mennonite church.

On the 11th of May, in Elkhart co., Ind., of Scarlet fever, David, son of Christian I. and Mary Yoder, aged 9 yrs., 7 mos., and 6 days. Funeral discourse by David H. Hochstetler.

On the 18th of May, in Montville, Medina co., Ohio, of Consumption, Elizabeth, wife of Henry Freed, aged 39 yrs., 2 mos., and 25 days. Services by E. Hunsberger, and H. Beery, from Jn. 5: 24-30.

On the 5th of May, in Westmoreland co., Pa., Hannah, wife of D. Fratz, aged 62 yrs., 1 mos., and 6 days. She leaves an aged husband to mourn his loss, but he need not mourn as those who have no hope. She was buried in the Mennonite grave-yard, in the presence of a large number of relatives and friends. Sermon by ____ Ragg in German, and Jonas Blough in English.

On the 28th of April, in Johnson co., Iowa, of nerve fever, Veronica, daughter of Paul P., and Magdalena Hershberger, aged 6 yrs., 11 mos., and 4 days. Sermon by Abner Yoder, from Mark 10:14, 16.

On the 16th of May, near Doylestown, Bucks co., Pa., John H., son of Charles and Rachel Springer, of Hilltown, aged 25 yrs., 1 month and 26 days. His funeral was held at the Doylestown Mennonite Meeting-house, Pre. Samuel Godshall speaking at the house, and Pre. Isaac Rickert at the Meeting-house; having for their text the 144th Psalm the first part of the 3rd verse. The deceased was a worthy young man, esteemed and beloved by all who knew him, and came to his untimely end by an accident, while engaged in pulling down an old barn on Dr. Bigony's place, in Warrington. In attempting to get out of the way of a heavy piece of timber, which fell suddenly, he stumbled and was struck on the head, fracturing his skull and causing almost instant death.

We weep around thine early bier,
And thy untimely end do mourn,
Still wishing oft that you were here
Kind acts of friendship to perform.

Transcribed by: Ron Garber, Kansas