Herald of Truth - Volume XII, Number 1 - January 1875 Page 14, 15

(Transcriber's note: Sometimes county/co. is not capitalized in the original document, thus you will find those inconsistencies in this transcription.)

A brief account of the life of my beloved father, Bishop BENJAMIN RATZLAFF, who died in Nebraska, October 31st, aged 83 years and 7 months.
He was born in West Prussia in 1791, in the village of Inschorki. In 1807 he was baptized, and received into the church at I'schochofki. On the 25th of May, 1810, he was ordained as minister of the same church. The same year he emigrated to Russia. He was chosen a Bishop the 9th of April, 1835, and on the 21st of the same month, by the grace of God, he was ordained to his office.
As we were not permitted to live in accordance with our faith here, we left our native land the 25th of July, 1874, to come to America; and with God's assistance we arrived, in health, at Lincoln, Nebraska, the 8th of September. He remained well three weeks thereafter, when his left foot became very much swollen, and gave him severe pain. On the 31st of Oct., at 2 A.M., our beloved father fell asleep in Jesus, in the hope that the Lord will bestow on him everlasting blessedness. Benjamin Ratzlaff

Sept. 8th, in Greene Co., Pa., Sister NANCY PARKER, wife of John Parker, aged 33 years, 2 months and 4 days. She leaves a deeply afflicted husband and four children to mourn their loss. Services by David Johnson, J.N. Durr and Wm. Johnson, from 1st Thess. 3:13-18.

Sept. 21st, in Plumstead, Bucks Co., Pa., MOSES WISMER, aged 73 years, 11 months and 3 days. Buried at Deep Run. Funeral discourse by S. Godshalk and Issac Moyer.

Oct. 28th, in Clinton Co., Mich., of Typhoid Fever, Sister CATHARINE DILLER, wife of Bro. Jacob Diller. She bore her sickness with Christian fortitude and went asleep in Jesus. Aged 65 years, 4 months and 18 days.

Nov. 18th, in Hilltown, Bucks Co., Pa., JOHN FRETZ, aged 79 years, 1 month and 20 days. Funeral services by John Allebach and J.M. Haldeman.

Nov. 23rd, in Hocking Co., Ohio, JOHN I. BLOSSER, aged 69 years, 1 month and 9 days. Appropriate remarks were made on the occasion on the 6th of December, by ____ Arnold, from Rom 8:1 (?). He was a faithful member in the Tunker Church.

Dec. 12th, in Lancaster Co., Pa., ANNA, widow of Benjamin STAUFFER, dec'd., aged 73 years and 28 days. Impressive remarks were made on the funeral occasion by Christian Risser, John Landis and Christian Bomberger from Rev. 14:12,13.

On the 12th of December, in Elkhart Co., Ind., after a very brief Illness (sic), SUSAN, wife of Richard PARCEL, aged 89 years, 8 months and 24 (?) days. She was a sister in the Mennonite Church, leaves a husband and six children to mourn the loss of the dear companion and mother. She was fully resigned to her heavenly Father's will, and we have reason to believe that she has gone to the mansions of rest. Therefore, brother, do not weep, only be faithful and labor on: you too have the promise of the crown; teach your little ones to love Jesus early, and by and by God will gather you again on yon bright shore. Funeral services by J.A. Beutler and J.F. Funk.

On the 12th of December, in Poe, Medina Co., Ohio, Sister CATHERINE LEISY, wife of John Leisy, aged 64 years, 9 months and 14 days. Her disease, which gave her almost indescribable pain for the last twenty months of her life, had in the last few weeks the appearance of a cancer; it commenced in the abdomen. Sister Leisy, nevertheless, bore all this with patience, comforting herself with the promises for eternity. Her remains were put to rest on the 14th, in the Mennonite burying-ground, near Wadsworth. Funeral services by Eph. Hunsberger in the German, and M.S. Moyer, in the English language.

Dec. 15th, in Bucks Co., Pa., DEBORAH, wife of Isaac GROSS, and daughter of the late Samuel and Susan WISMER, aged 53 years, 3 months and 13 days. Some eight or nine days previous to her death (she then being in usual health), while in the act of putting wood in the stove she bruised the skin on one of her thumbs, but not enough to cause the blood to ooze from the wound. A few hours after, the wound commenced paining-the pain extending to the shoulder. In a day or two the pain became very severe; inflammation of the lungs took place, causing difficulty in breathing, and finally mortification which ended her sufferings. On Saturday her mortal remains were followed to Deep Run burying-ground by an immense throng of relatives and sympathizing friends, giving assurance of the high esteem in which she was held by all who knew her. Remarks appropriate to the occasion were made by preachers I. Overholt and S. Godshalk at the house, and Isaac and Abrahm Myers at the Meeting-house, from Rev. 22:12-14.

Dec. 19th, in Elkhart county, Ind., JOSEPH, an infant son of Jacob and Sarah KINDY, aged 1 month and 10 days. Buried at Yellow Creek on the 21st. Services by S. Sherrick and J.F. Funk. Truly the life of the little one was only as a shadow upon the earth, but he has gone to the better land where the dear ones he left weeping in the vale of tears may go to meet him in heavenly joy.

Dec. 21st, in St. Joseph Co., Ind., LUCINDA, daughter of Jacob and Sarah BRANDLEY, aged 5 years, 11 months and 27 days. Discourse by M.W. Shank, from Rev. 20:6.

December 24th, in Holmes Co., Ohio, of Apoplexy, Brother SIMON MILLER, aged 81 years, 2 months and 29 days. Bro. Miller was a faithful and worthy member in the Amish Church, and we have reason to rejoice in the thought that he has gone to await the crown of glory that is in reserve for the faithful. Discourse by David Beatchey and Abrm Mast, from 1 Cor. 15:19-28; and Heb. 9: 27, 28.

Dec. the 24th, in Henry co., Iowa, Sister ANNA ROTH, wife of Nicholas P. Roth, aged 31 years, 10 months and 6 days. She leaves a bereaved husband and six children to mourn their loss. She was a faithful sister in the Amish church, and died strong in the faith.

Transcribed by Donna Schrock Birkey, Illinois