Herald of Truth - Volume XVIII, Number 2 - February, 1881

SHELLEY.- December 12, 1880, in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, David Shelley. Our young brother was received into the church about a year and a half ago. One week before his death as he bade one of his brothers good-bye, he said this would be the last time they should behold each other in this life, and expressed a desire to depart out of this world, and hoped to meet his friends in that better land.

BOCK.- November 19th, 1880, in Waterloo county, Ontario, Bro. Levi Bock, aged 65 years and 6 months. He was a faithful member of the Mennonite church for many years. He died happy, and was buried on the 23d in Blenheim's burying-ground.

SHERK.- January 3d, in Rainham, Haldimand county, Ontario, of inflammatory rheumatism of many years standing. Bro. Christian Sherk, aged 73 years, 5 months and 9 days. Buried the 5th, when a large concourse of friends and relatives followed him to his last resting place. He leaves a wife and thirteen children to mourn their loss, but we trust their loss will be his gain. Services by Christian Geyman and Leonard Hoover.

MILLER.- January 6th, in Clinton Township, Elkhart county, Indiana, of consumption, Caroline Miller, aged 25 years, 9 months and 8 days. She leaves a husband and one child to mourn their loss. Services were held by Benjamin Schrock and Levi Weaver.

SHEARER.- January 5th, was interred in the Mennonite burying-ground near Clarence Center, Erie county, N.Y., John Shearer, aged 87 years. 3 months and 2 days. The deceased died of the infirmities of age. Funeral sermon in English by Peter Rhodes; text: Rev. 14 : 13; in German by Jacob Hahn; text: Isaiah 57 : 2. Peace to his ashes.

KINSINGER- January 7th, in Johnson county, Iowa, of diphtheria, Fannie, daughter of Eli and Susan Kinsinger, aged 6 years, 5 months and 29 days. Buried the 8th. Funeral services conducted by C. Miller from Mark 10: 13, 14. Little Fannie was a kind and obedient child to her parents, loved and esteemed by all who knew her. She had a remarkable memory and understanding for a child of her age, she had committed the 146th Psalm to memory, which she often repeated. She also was a beautiful singer. She will be missed in the family, in the school, among her friends and neighbors, but let us not mourn as those who have no hope, but so improve the remainder of our days that we may meet our loved ones in the land which the Lord has prepared for those who love and serve Him.

DURR.- December 28th, 1880, in Greene Co., Pennsylvania, Bro. Jacob Durr, aged 60 years, 7 months and 29 days. Buried on New Years day at the Masontown Mennonite church, Fayette county, Pennsylvania. Sermon by Daniel Roth. Text: Isaiah 38: 1, "Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live. Remarks suitable to the occasion were also made by David Johnson and Christian Deffenbach. Bro. Durr leaves a wife and six children. All of his family are members of the church, his youngest son was baptized last fall, while lying upon a bed of affliction; he was still confined to his bed when his father died. Father Durr wished he could live to commune once with all his family in the church, but God ordered it otherwise; but our hope is that they may all be reunited at God's right hand in heaven and we with them. Amen.

GINDELSPERGER.- In Cambria county, Pennsylvania, after a lingering illness of two years, Sarah Gindelsperger; buried at Thomas, burying-ground in Somerset county. No date, nor age.

BLAUCH.- December 24th, 1880, in Cambria county, Pennsylvania, of scarlet fever, Logan, son of Marcellus and Katie Blauch, aged 3 years and 11 days. He was a very pleasant child, and all loved him who knew him. Jesus loved him too and took him home.

CHRISTNER- December 30th, 1880, in Marshall, Henry county, Iowa, of dropsy of the heart, Bro. Peter Christner, at the great age of 81 years, 10 months and 26 days. He was a brother in the Amish church. Funeral services by S. T. Miller and Sebastian Gerig, from 1 Cor. 15.

STAUFFER.- January 5th, in York county, Pennsylvania, of palsy, Daniel Stauffer, aged 74 years, 10 months and 24 days. He was buried on the 9th at Stone Ridge church, where funeral services were held by S. L. Roth, and David Witmer, Text: 2 Tim. 4: 6- 9. Bro. Stauffer was a minister of the Mennonite church and a faithful laborer in the Lord's vineyard for many years. May the Lord bless the effort he made in doing good to the souls of men. He is now reaping the reward of his labors. Peace be to his ashes.

SNAVELY.- December 25th, 1880, at Junction, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, John, son of Bro. Henry S. Snavely. A coincidence rather remarkable occurred at the death of this little boy. His pet bird, Johnny's own property, expired on the same morning of the death of his little master.

BERNTRAGER.- January 15th, in Sharon Township, Johnson county, Iowa, of Croup, John Wesley, son of Chr. And Elisabeth Berntrager, aged 2 years and 5 days. His illness lasted only two days.

HALL.- January 1st, in Sharon Township, Johnson county, Iowa, very suddenly, George Hall, a man of middle age. He was buried on the 2d at the Methodist burying-ground. His body was followed to its last resting place by a large concourse of friends and acquaintances. The subject of the above notice took his breakfast with his family as usual, after doing his morning's work his wife asked him to step out to the meat block and cut a piece of meat in two. In a very short time his little daughter cried our*, "Papa has lain down. They went to the place at once, and found the husband and father dead.

RHODE.- January 8th, in Sharon Township, Johnson county, Iowa, Joseph C. Rhode, aged 35 years, 8 months and 25 days. He was buried on the 11th in the grave yard of the Amish Mennonites, of which denomination he was a member, on which occasion services were held at the residence of his father by Abner Yoder and Chr. J. Miller. Bro. Rhode suffered severe pain during his short illness, which commenced with a carbuncle on his neck, which brought on pleurisy and finally brain disease. We hope our loss is his eternal gain.

MARNER.- January 11th, in Sharon Township, Johnson county, Iowa, Pre. Jacob Marner, aged 82 years, 9 months and 9 days. In early life the deceased united with the Amish Mennonite church in Switzerland, canton Berne. He came to America in the year 1821; and was married to Susanna, daughter of Bishop Jacob Eash. They lived and brought up a family in Cambria county, Pennsylvania, where he was ordained to the ministry. In the spring of 1861 they moved to Johnson county, Iowa, whence the children all followed except one daughter who is living in Elkhart county, Indiana. His wife and faithful partner preceded him to her eternal home having died December 15th, 1879. After several years of constant suffering she fell asleep in Jesus, manifesting in her conversation and admonitions a blessed assurance of meeting a reconciled God only through the merits of our blessed Redeemer. The last year of his life was one of great suffering and suspense in this world of sorrow and pain. He earnestly desired to depart and be with Christ. They leave twelve children, of whom seven are living; 56 grand children, 48 living; and 11 great grand children, 10 living.

BERK.- January 10th, Henry Berk, of Trenton, Butler county, Ohio, aged 65 years, 2 months and 26 days. Funeral services in German by Preacher Schmidt, and in English by Preacher Bowman. Text: Rev. 14: 13 Bro. Berk was taken sick on Sunday night and died Monday morning at 11 o,clock. The community has lost a good citizen and the church a never tiring and faithful member.

HOFFMAN.- January 2d and 5th near Belle Springs, Dickinson county, Kansas, of diphtheria, Alvin and Franklin, oldest two sons of Christian S. and Elizabeth S. Hoffman, aged, Alvin in his 15th year and Franklin in his 13th year. The bereaved family have the sympathy of many friends.

LONGENECKER.- January 13th, in Jackson county, Kansas, Christie B., son of Bro. John G. and Sister Barbara S. Longenecker, aged 3 months and 26 days. Funeral services by Rev. Jones from Mark 10 : 14. They moved from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in March, 1880.

BUCKWALTER.- January 5th, in East Lampeter, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, Bro. Elias J. Buckwalter, aged 41 years, 1 month and 12 days.

MARTIN.- January 11th, in Elkhart county, Indiana, of a combination of diseases, of which she suffered several months, and during the last few weeks very severely, Sister Elizabeth, wife of Daniel Martin, aged 52 years, 6 months and 8 days. She was buried on the 14th, followed to her last resting place by a large concourse of relatives and friends. Services by Jacob A. Beutler and John F. Funk from Iss. 3 : 10; 1 Cor. 15: 53- 57. Sister Martin was a faithful and devoted Christian woman. Her bright example, her earnest devotion, and her active efforts in the work of the Lord leave for her a blessed remembrance and are worthy of imitation. She bore her sufferings with patience and fortitude, desiring to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.

KNEPP.- January 3d, near Lakeville, St. Joseph county, Indiana, Mary E. daughter of Jonathan and Sarah Knepp, aged 8 months and 29 days. Funeral services were held by Michael W. Shank.

LESHER.- Dec. 22nd, 1880, new Williamson, Franklin Co., Pa., Catharine, daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Lesher, aged 25 years. Funeral on the 25th. Buried at the Williamson Mennonite Meeting-house. Services by Josiah Brewer, Daniel Roth, and Peter Wadel.

HEGE.- Jan. 2nd, 1881, in Marion, Franklin Co., Henry Hege, aged 69 years and 11 months. Buried at the White Church. Services by Benjamin Lesher, D. Roth, and John Hunsicker.

BURKHOLDER.- In Springville, Lancaster Co., PA., Emanuel E., son of Samuel and Anna Burkholder, aged 11 months and 8 days.

HOSTETTER.- In Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, Simon, son of Jonas E. and Barbara Hostetter, aged 4 years, 9 months and 20 days.

BRUBAKER.-- December 30th, 1880, near Freefort*, Stephenson Co., Ill., after a few weeks of severe suffering, Bro. Rudolph K. Brubaker, aged 63 years, 9 months, and 4 days. He was buried January 1st, 1881. Services by Christian Snavely in German and E. M. Shellenberger in English. Text: Philippians 1 : 21; and Rev. 14 : 13. He leaves a bereaved wife and nine children to mourn their loss, but they mourn not as those who have no hope. He bore his suffering with Christian resignation. He frequently said he counted his suffering but naught compared with what Christ Jesus suffered for him. His last moments were spent in prayer and praise to an almighty God for his great love.

RITTENHOUSE.- January 11th, in Germantown, Pennsylvania, of apoplexy, Jonathan Rittenhouse, aged 70 years and 5 days. Deceased was a prominent and exemplary member of the Society of Friends to whom, as well as to his family and unusual large circle of friends, his loss will be a great bereavement.

STAUFFER.- January 7th, in York county, Ontario, near Stauffville, Esther Stauffer, widow of Abraham Stauffer, aged 78 years, 3 months and 7 days. Buried in the Mennonite grave-yard at Altona. The house would not hold all, and the Union house was opened where many assembled and services were held. Services in the former place were held by Joseph Becki, from 2 Tim. 4 : 7, 8 and N. Huber, from John 11 : 25, 26. The deceased was a faithful, zealous and beloved sister in our church.

MARTIN.- On the 21st of January, in Elkhart county, Ind., Mary Catharine, daughter of Abraham and Sarah Martin, aged 4 months and 2 days. Buried at Shaum's Meeting-house. Services by J. A. Beutler and John F. Funk.

* Transcriber's note: as written

Transcribed by Sandra Poulton, Ontario