HERALD OF TRUTH - Volume XVI, Number 6 - June 1879 - pp 110-112

SHOCKING ACCIDENT.
On the 19th of April, one of the most shocking accidents happened to JOSEPH BOYER, son of Abraham Boyer, of Vermillion Twp., Ashland Co., Ohio, which resulted in instant death. The circumstances are as follows:

This morning Joseph started out to burn brush, and was so engaged all forenoon, while his father and brother were ploughing in the adjoining field. At noon after A. Boyer and the other son had unhitched their horses they called for Joseph to come to dinner. Then they started for home, thinking that Joseph would soon follow. Arriving at the barn they put up and fed their horses, and went to the house, found that Joseph had not yet arrived. The bell was again rung, and the family sat down to dinner, still thinking all was well, and that perhaps Joseph wanted to finish what he had undertaken before coming to dinner. But at length the family became alarmed; A. Boyer and the other son went to the clearing, and horrible to relate they found Joseph a crushed corpse, lying under a tree which had fallen on him. The tree was about 18 inches at the but; it was hollow and had been burning for several days, and had, by all appearance, been nearly burnt off, and the high wind which prevailed, precipitated its fall. He, no doubt, was throwing the burning brush together before starting to dinner and while passing from one to another he was struck by the falling tree which caused his death. His skull was crushed on one side and one leg broken in two places; his head and the knee of the broken leg were driven into the ground. Deceased was 15 years, 3 months and 6 days old, a bright and intelligent boy, and on account of his good qualities was beloved by all who knew him. The remains were interred in the Mennonite burying-ground on Monday, the 21st. The family have the heartfelt sympathies of the whole community in their sad bereavement.

Feb. 23rd, at Junction, JOHN HENRY, son of Nathaniel and Susan BADORF, aged 3 years, 2 months and 7 days. Funeral on the 25th. Text: Phil. 1:21. Buried at Kauffman's Meeting-house.

March 3rd, in Mount Joy Twp., HENRY B. REIST, aged 46 years, 11 months and 26 days. Funeral on the 17th. Text: Mark 13: 33-37. Buried at Grabill's Meeting-house. The deceased left a wife and 6 children to mourn his early death. A large congregation of relatives and friends met together to manifest their deep respect and high esteem entertained for the deceased.

March 15th, in Manor, Bishop JACOB K. BRUBACHER, aged 64 years, 6 months and 7 days. Funeral on the 18th. Text: Heb. 13: 7,8. Buried at Millersville Meeting-house. Bro. Brubacher was minister 17 years and bishop 3 years. He was a meek unassuming and faithful servant of the Lord. He preached fully as much by works as by words. He enjoyed the confidence of all with whom he came in contact. He died trusting in the Lord. He left a wife and 2 children. Peace to his ashes.

March 21st, in Rohrerstown, Sister MARY MYER, aged 79 years 5 months and 9 days. Funeral on the 23rd. Text: Rom. 6:23.

March 22nd, near Silver Springs, JOHN GREIDER, aged 82 years 5 months and 18 days. Funeral on the 25th. Text: John 5:25. Buried in the family grave-yard.

March 25th, in Springville, of consumption, Bro. JOSEPH EBERSOLE, aged 69 years, 3 months and 21 days. Buried on the 28th. Text: Rom. 6: 7; Heb. 9: 27,28. Buried at Krabill's Meeting-house.

March 26th, in West Donegal, Sister CATHARINE GERBER, widow, aged 84 years 2 months and 8 days. Funeral on the 29th. Text: 1 Thess. 4: 13-18. Buried at Bassler's Meeting-house. Sister Gerber was a faithful member of the Mennonite Church. Peace to her ashes!

April 2nd, near Salunga, of croup, MARY ANN HAAS, aged 3 years, 9 months and 15 days. Funeral on the 5th. Text: Mark 10: 15. Buried at Landisville Meeting-house.

April 8th, in Manor Twp., of consumption, Sister ANNA L. GAMBER, aged 35 years, 7 months and 10 days. Funeral on the 12th. Text: Rev. 14: 13. Buried in their family grave-yard near Millersville.

April 10th, near Seller's Station, MARY HERSHEY, widow, aged 79 years, 7 months and 3 days. Funeral on the 14th. Text: Heb. 13: 14. Buried in their family grave-yard.

April 17th, near Salunga, of diphtheria, HOWARD HENRY HAAS, aged 1 year and 4 months. Funeral on the 19th. Text: Psalm 16: 6. Buried at Landisville Meeting-house.

April 21st, in Donegal, AMOS B. SHENK, aged 9 years, 7 months and 8 days. Funeral on the 23rd. Text: 1 Pet 1: 24, 25. Buried at Krabill's Meeting house.

The above are all of Lancaster Co., Pa.

March 3rd, near Shiremanstown, Cumberland county, Pa., Sister SUSAN HORST, aged 72 years, 6 months and 8 days. Funeral on the 7th. Text: Rom. 8: 12,13. Buried at Slate Hill Meeting-house.

March 17th, near Gingrich's Meeting-house, Lebanon Co., Pa., Bro. WILLIAM LIGHT, aged 77 years, 5 months and 7 days. Funeral on the 20th. Text: Rom. 14: 8,9. Buried at Gingrich's Meeting house.

March 28th, near Boiling Springs, Cumberland Co., Pa., of dropsy, Bro. SAMUEL M. HERR, aged 47 years, 10 months and 24 days. Funeral on the 1st of April. Text: Matt. 24: 44. Bro. Herr leaves a wife and 5 children to mourn his death. He was a sincere brother.

March 15th, in Juniata Co.,Pa., REBECCA, wife of J. YOUNG, aged 35 years, 4 months and 9 days. She was buried at Lost Creek. Funeral services by John Landis and William Graybill. Text: 2 Thess. 4: 14.

March 19th, in Juniata Co., Pa., suddenly, Bro. DANIEL SPICHER, aged 63 years and ---- days. He was a faithful member in the Mennonite Church. Buried at Lost Creek where many folks met to pay the last tribute of respect. Sermon by Jacob and William Graybill from Rev. 22: 20.

April 3rd, in Louth Twp., Ont., CHARLEY CHURCH, son of Thomas and Nancy Church, aged 1 year, 9 months and 16 days. He died suddenly. We took him to the supper table, he ate a little and in a few moments breathed his last. Oh, I do believe that God took our dear babe away, to bring us nearer to Him: So let us all try to begin a new life at once, for at such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh, therefore be ye also ready.
Since it was hard to part
With our beloved son,
Do Thou give grace to say,
Father, thy will be done.

And now dear parents do not weep,
For I'm so happy here;
My blessed Savior, he does keep
Me with His angels here.

Now, I no more can come to you,
But you can come to me:
O, parents dear hen try and do -
Then happy we shall be.

Weep not for me my parents dear,
For I am truly blest,
Oh, hasten, hasten to prepare
With me and Christ to rest.

March 5th, near Smithville, Wayne Co., Ohio, DAVID SMUCKER, aged 73 years, 2 months and 5 days. Buried the 7th, at which time services were held by J. K. Yoder and Jon. Schmucker. He leaves a bereaved wife and 6 children to mourn their loss.

April 6th, in Middlebury, Elkhart Co., Ind., of consumption, Sister POLLY WALTER, wife of Joseph Walter, aged 24 years, 8 months and 15 days. The deceased leaves a husband, one child, parents, brother and sisters to mourn herd departure. Three sisters have been called home before her. She was a zealous and active sister in the church, and through her protracted illness manifested the sweetest Christian disposition. She admonished those who visited her to prepare to meet her in heaven. When visited by a minister, her testament lay on her breast. She said "This is my comfort while I am here." As we talked and prayed together, she said, "I am soon going." She now sleeps in Jesus. Buried the 8th, at Forest Grove. Services by H. A. Miller and J. J. Weaver from Ps. 116:15.

April 16th, at Allenville, Pa., SOLOMON KING, aged 56 years, 5 months and 20 days. Services by Pre. Samuel Yoder and David J. Zook from Rom. 14: 6-9. The deceased was a consistent member of the church for forty years. He was looked upon as worthy of imitation by all who knew him; his words were always kind. As he grew in years he increased in the knowledge of God and became very zealous in the service of his Lord. None knew him but to love him. He lived for others and for his God. Leaves a widow and a large circle of relatives and friends. He could say with the apostle Paul, "I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course." We hope as we mourn our loss that it will be his eternal gain.
Dear friend and husband,
Peaceful be thy rest;
Through the long dreamless night
Our memories thee will bless.

April 17th, near McAlisterville, Juniata Co., Pa., of heart disease, Sister ANNIE VANART, aged 69 years, 7 months and 10 days. Buried on the 20th, at Lost Creek Church. Funeral services by Samuel Winey and William Graybill. Text: Prov. 11:8.

April 11th, near McAlisterville, Juniata Co., Pa., of heart disease, suddenly, Bro. BENJAMIN PHILIPS, aged 62 years, 4 months and 11 days. He leaves a wife and 4 children to mourn their loss. Buried at Lost Creek Church. Services by Jacob and Wm. Grabill.

Feb. 24th, in Juniata Co., Pa., of consumption, POLLY SAUSMAN, wife of Henry Sausman, aged 62 years and 8 months. Buried at Lost Creek Church. Funeral services by Jacob Grabill and Samuel Winey, from Rev. 14:13.

April 23rd, near Bellefontaine, Logan Co., Ohio, Sister SALOME, wife of Jacob KAUFMAN. She had much to suffer, yet she bore all with patience. She took her departure in full faith in her Redeemer. She was a beloved and faithful sister in the Amish Mennonite Church. She leaves a deeply bereaved husband and 2 children to mourn their loss. Buried the 25th, when appropriate remarks were made by John P. King, Rev. 21: 1-8, and by B. Drake in English.

May 3rd, near Dale Enterprise, Rockingham Co., Va., of consumption, Bro. JACOB TRISSEL, aged 60 years, 4 months and 29 days. Buried at Weaver's. Services by Daniel Heatwole and Joseph N. Driver.

May 5th, near Rushville, Va., of pneumonia, SARAH ETTA, daughter of Peter and Susanna LEHMAN, aged 1 year, 11 months and 12 days. Buried at Weaver's. Services by Gabriel D. Heatwole and John S. Coffman.

April 27th, in Elkhart Co., Ind., of six days illness of inflammation of the lungs, JOHN RYSTRA, aged 44 years, 1 month and 7 days.. Bro. Rystra emigrated from Holland in 1853; was married in 1862, and lived with his companion 11 years, when she died in March 1873. He leaves a deeply bereaved mother of 79 years of age, and an only child to mourn their loss, but it is his eternal gain. Was buried in the Whitehead burying-ground on the 28th. Remarks by J. Buzzard, ---- Kneff and J. M. Culbertson.

May 5th, in Holmes Co., Ohio, JONAS MILLER, aged 37 years, 6 months and 1 day. He leaves a bereaved wife and 2 small children to mourn their loss. Funeral sermon by Chr. Yoder and Moses F. Miller, from John 5: 21-29; 1 Thess. 4: 13-18.

May 10th, in Holmes Co., Ohio, MAGDALENA STUTZMAN, wife of Daniel Stutzman, aged 39 years, 1 month and 8 days. A bereaved husband is left to mourn the loss of a dear companion. The funeral services were conducted by Christian Yoder and Shem Miller, from Jn. 5: 21-29; 1 Thess. 4: 13-18.

May 13th, in St. Joseph Co., Ind., of the infirmity of old age, ELISABETH BARRET, aged 85 years and 9 days. Was buried the 5th, in the Poplar Grove grave-yard. Funeral services by Samuel Gettig and M. W. Shank.

May 8th, in Augusta Co., Va., Sister MARY SWISHER, formerly Mary Rader, daughter of John and Magdalena Rader, aged 57 years, 1 month and 15 days. She leaves a mourning husband and many friends to mourn her departure. She was a beloved, faithful and consistent member of the Mennonite Church for a number of years, and the church feels her loss; but we have the hope that our loss is her great gain. She was buried at Zion's Church grave-yard on the 10th. Funeral services were conducted by the brethren Joseph Driver and Samuel Coffman. Text: John 5: 25-30.

May 10th, near Litiz, Lancaster Co., Pa., Bro. JACOB L. STAUFFER, aged 42 years, 3 months and 26 days. Bro. Stauffer suffered of a lingering consumption. He bore his suffering with patience; he leaves a bereaved wife and one child. Buried the 13th, at the Hammer Creek Mennonite Meeting-house. Funeral services by J. Hess, J. Landis, C. Risser and C. Bomberger. Text: 14: last part of the 19th verse.*
World farewell, of thee I'm tired
And to part is my desire;
Farewell wife, and child and friend,
Try to meet at God's right hand.
*Transcriber's note: Typed as printed.

Near Hubbard, Marion Co., Oregon, of consumption, MOSES, son of Daniel and Anna MILLER, aged 17 years and 14 days. Confined to his bed two weeks; his afflictions he endured with patience, and died in full hope of happiness in eternity. Funeral services held by Joseph Meier, from Heb. 2.

Transcribed by Jan Wilbur, Utah