Herald of Truth - Volume XVIII, Number 6 - June 1881, pages 106 to 108

LITTLE GRACIE DITLO

Gracie M. Ditlo died on the 19th of April, in Franklin County, Pa., aged 6 years and 7 months. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Jn. 14:17.

The circumstances of Gracie's death were as follows: Her lively nature was ever ready for a little sport and enjoyment. On this sad day she was allowed to go to the field, where _____ Horst was at work, and call him to dinner, and have a ride home. She was placed on what is considered a gentle and safe horse, which Horst intended to lead, but she drew the rein and started away in a slow trot, while he kept hold of the young horses, fearing to let them go, lest they should run and start the horse she was riding still faster. Before she reached the barn she fell to the ground, and was picked up a corpse. Her remains were taken to Hancock, Maryland, where her mother resides.

I feel like writing something of our darling Gracie in these gloomy hours which have followed the sad accident which took her away from our earthly home, which she made bright for a few days. She came here on the 2nd of April, and it was our hope to bring her up and care for her; but it pleased the Lord, very unexpectedly to us, to take her to a better home than she could have found on earth. She was a bright, interesting little girl, and we loved her very much; but there is one who loved her more, who once said, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." She never failed to ask God daily to bless her and make her a good girl. She spoke very often of her dear Savior and the holy angels. She tried to do right toward God and every one, having been taught these things from infancy by a pious mother, who is sorely grieved by the sad accident which befell her dear little daughter.

A few days before her death Gracie spoke of going home; I asked her where? She replied, "Home to Jesus," where we hope she is now enjoying the presence of her dear Savior. This bereavement has made us very sad, but it has taught us afresh that we must soon die; that life is uncertain, and that death may call for us any moment. "Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh."

Pure as the lily in its bloom,
Dear little Gracie passed away;
She gently sleeps within the tomb
To wait the resurrection day.

Now Gracie, dearest, fare-thee-well;
With sad, sad hearts, we yield our trust,
Which, lent us for a little while,
Was called unto its native dust.

How soon thy journey ended here,
How brief, our darling, was thy stay;
How quickly ceased life's pain and fear,
How short and hasty was thy day.

Thy stay, loved Gracie, was but brief;
The angels wished to see thee come,
From this sad world of care and grief,
To join them in their heavenly home.

Your Savior, whom you loved while here,
You now behold in glory there;
You're waiting for us, Gracie dear;
We hope in heaven thy joy to share.

State Line, Pa. Rebecca J. Horst.

A HOPEFUL DEPARTURE
On April 19th, died in Allen Co., O., of consumption, Sister Anna, wife of Bro. Peter Zimmerly, aged 39 years, 3 months and 25 days. Five days previous to her death my mother and I visited her, finding her very feeble in body but to all appearance very strong in the spirit. She was able to converse with us a little, and spoke to us in the following manner: "I have an opportunity now to give you a message, which you may soon deliver through the Herald. My time will soon be over. I must leave my beloved husband and my three dear little children; eight children have preceded me into that beautiful paradise. Those whom I now leave I have commended to the care of the Lord. I desire not to regain my health in this world of sorrows, my wish is rather to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. My anticipation of crossing over to the other shore is impressibly joyous." When relatives or friends would visit her she would request them to read, pray, or sing with her. On the same day on which she uttered the above words, she requested one of her neighboring relatives to sing the hymn:

"Now I go with gladness
In my soul's right native land;
Ended is all sadness," etc.

On the following day she asked her niece to sing this hymn once more to her. Whenever it was sung she would assist as far as her feebleness permitted her. She also expressed a desire that this hymn be sung at her burial, which wish was carried out afterward in the meeting-house. Singing invariably seemed to refresh and solace her. She was in feeble health for over a year, and for seven weeks she could not leave her bed; but she bore her sufferings with great patience and Christian resignation. Her entire hope and trust were placed in the Lord. On the 21st she was buried, in the presence of many relatives and acquaintances. Funeral sermon by John Moser and P. Schumacher. Text: John 11 : 21, 27. At the grave the hymn "Now, good night, my loved ones"_ selected by herself, was sung.
M. C. Busher.

Naffziger.­On the 8th of May, in Fulton Co., Ohio, of heart disease and dropsy, Pre. Jacob F. Naffziger, aged 66 years, 3 months and 2 days. He leaves seven children to mourn his departure, his wife and oldest daughter having died some sixteen years ago. Bro. Naffziger came here about the year 1842, when this portion of the country was nearly all forest, and in 1856 he was ordained to the ministry, and was a faithful laborer in the duties thus imposed upon him, until the Lord called him hence. Though he met with many difficulties in his ministerial labors, he remained steadfast, and was a firm pillar in the church. He continually exerted himself, as much as God gave him grace, to preserve the unity of the church, and to avoid dissensions and divisions. He was a deep thinker and an able preacher, a peaceable neighbor and a kind father. On the 10th he was buried, followed to his last resting place by a large concourse of friends, brethren and sisters, on which occasion services were conducted by C. S. Stuckey, J. Weyss, and C. Frienberger from 2 Pet. 3.

Nolt.­April 27th, near Bareville, West Earl Township, Lancaster Co., Pa., Sister Maria W., wife of Bro. John H. Nolt, and daughter of Bro. Jacob and sister Magdalena Horst, aged 30 yrs., 3 months and 28 days. On the 30th her remains were consigned to mother earth at Groff Dale, burying-ground, on which occasion the brethren Bishop Weber and Preacher D. Buckwalter held impressive services from John 14 : 13.

Yoder.­April 9th, in Knox Co., Tenn., of membranous croup, Elmer T., son of Noah Z. and Lydia Yoder, aged 2 years and 24 days. Funeral services by Joseph Detweiler in German, and Preacher Brown in English.

Wismer.­In Bucks Co., Pa., on the 18th of March, of catarrh, of which she lingered only a few days, Clara, daughter of Eli and Anna Wismer, aged 1 year and 23 days.

Hess.­On the 11th of April, near Lititz, Lancaster co., Pa., of six days sickness of diphtheria, a son of Jonas and Annie Hess, aged 4 years, 3 months and 17 days. Buried at Hess' burying- ground.

Meyers.­In Doylestown Township, Bucks Co., Pa., on the 17th of April, Sister Elizabeth, widow of Martin Meyers. She was buried at Lexington, and the funeral was largely attended. She died very suddenly. Soon after midnight she called upon the Lord in prayer, and in a few minutes the spirit passed away.

Meyers.­at Hilltown, Bucks Co., Pa., on the 23rd of April, very suddenly. the wife of Jacob Meyers. Her husband was away from home at the time, and returned to find her a corpse. O, how uncertain is life, and how surely death will come! Buried at Hilltown.

Eash.­April 25th, in LaGrange Co., Ind., Edward, son of Joseph and ------ Eash. Buried in Hostetler's grave yard. Services by J. J. Weaver and Henry A. Miller from Mark 9 : 36.

Truesdell.­April 18th, in LaGrange Co., Ind., of whooping-cough, Clara, daughter of Frank and Nettie Truesdell, aged 5 months and 7 days. Buried in the Union burying-ground. Services by J. J. Weaver from Matt. 18 : 3.

Hunsicker.­at Fairbanks, Florida, January 25th, Margaret Hunsicker, aged 66 years and 5 months. She was a daughter of Abraham Rosenberger, of Upper Providence Twp., Montgomery Co., Pa.

Moyer.­Near Doylestown, Pa., April 16th, Elizabeth Moyer, widow of Martin Moyer, aged 69 years, 6 months and 27 days. Samuel Godshalk and Isaac Rickert officiated at the house and John Walter and Samuel Leatherman at the place of burial. Text: Matt. 24: 42.

Petus.­On April 28th, died suddenly Henry Petus. He was born in 1806, living to the age of 74 years, 10 months and 28 days. Was buried on May 1st at the Old Mennonite Meeting-house at Vorling, on which occasion a great number of friends and acquaintances were present. Funeral sermon by A. Bebersal and H. Neis in German from John 25 : 24, and by Joseph Moyer in English.

Amstutz.­On April 18th, in Wayne Co., O., very suddenly (in less than ten minutes), Anna Amstutz, aged 50 years, 1 month and 21 days. Appropriate remarks by D. F. Amstutz and C. B. Steiner. Text : Matt. 24 : 42.

Nice.­Near Ayr, Adams county, Nebraska, on the 1st of April, Alice, daughter of Jonas and Rebecca Nice, aged 8 days. Buried at the Roseland burying-ground. Services by Albrecht Schiffler, from Matt. 19 : 13, 14.

Holdeman.­On the 24th of April, in Elkhart Co., Ind., after a lingering illness, Mary Delila, oldest daughter of Christian and Miranda Holdeman, aged 12 years, 1 month and 3 days. Buried on Tuesday at Shaum's church. Services by John Metzler and John F. Funk. The hand of affliction seems to have fallen heavily on this family. A few months ago the husband and father was called away by death, and now the eldest daughter is called to follow; but he who is the widow's protector and the orphan's father will not withhold his sustaining grace from the dear ones still left to contend with the severe trials of this life.

Nittrower.­In Elkhart Co., Ind., on the 4th of May, after a lingering illness, Sister Anna, wife of Joseph Nittrower, aged 53 years, 3 months and 15 days. She died in the hope of a blessed immortality, leaving the evidence that those dear ones who mourn her departure need not mourn as those who have no hope, but that she has only gone before. She was buried at Shaum's Meeting-house, followed to her last resting place by a large concourse of relatives and friends. Services by Henry Shuam* and J. F. Funk from 2 Cor. 5 : 1. She leaves a sorrowing husband and eight children to mourn her departure.

Strohm.­April 28th, near Pickerington, Fairfield Co., O., of cancer and lung disease, Henry B. Strohm, aged 41 years, 8 months and 20 days. Bro. Strohm, aged 41 years, 8 months and 20 days. Bro. Strohm had requested his body should be laid for a time in a vault at Winchester, accordingly his remains were taken to the Mennonite Meeting-house near Winchester, where funeral services were held, and then laid in a vault, from whence they will be removed and interred in the grave yard at D. Martin's. Bro. Strohm was a faithful member of the Mennonite church over 20 years, and leaves a wife and seven children, and many friends to mourn the loss of a kind father, and faithful friend. On the last day of his life he prayed much, and admonished his family and his friends who visited him to live so they can meet him in the happy land in the kingdom above. He told his wife and children not to weep for him, that it was God's will that he should depart. At half past 5 o'clock he fell asleep in Jesus.
"O, how happy are they,
Who their Savior obey."

Stoltzfus.­Feb. 25th, in Lancaster Co., Pa., of croup, Amos, son of Jonathan and Elizabeth Stoltzfus, aged 5 years, 11 months and 2 days. Funeral sermon by John Stoltzfus.

Stoltzfus.­March 30th, near Bird in Hand, Lancaster Co., Pa., of measles and pneumonia, Jacob, son of Jacob and Nancy Stoltzfus, aged 5 years, 4 months and 11 days. Funeral sermon by Henry Stoltzfus and Benjamin Fisher.

Mast.­March 30th, near Gap, Lancaster Co., Pa., of measles and pneumonia, Amos, son of Amos and Sarah Mast, aged 2 years, 11 months and 19 days. Funeral sermon by Gideon Stoltzfus and John P. Mast. Text : Hebrews 2 : 10. These three little children's mothers are sisters: maiden name Kauffman.

Landis.­on the ninth of April, in Montgomery Co., Pa., Abraham Landis, aged 70 years, 4 months and 2 days. Buried at Skippack on the 11th. Services by J. Allebach and others.

Hunsicker.­April 22nd, in Franklin Co., Pa., Cyrus, son of Daniel and Mary Hunsicker, aged one year and nine months. Funeral on the 24th. Text: John 11, last clause of the 28th verse. Services by P. Wadle and P. H. Parrett. Buried at the Chambersburgh Meeting-house.
Short was little Cyrus' stay,
He came but as a guest;
He tasted life and fled away
To dwell among the blest.

Brown.­April 23rd., in South Bend, Ind., of lung fever, Lewis G. Brown, aged 60 years, 4 months and 4 days. Services at his residence by Samuel Yoder. Text : Isaiah 45 : 22.

Stuckey.­On April the 27th, in Danvers, McLean Co., Ill, of pulmonary fever, Barbara Stuckey, wife of Preacher Joseph Stuckey, aged 60 years and 27 days. Her maiden name was Roth. She was sick seven weeks; she endured her sufferings with great patience, putting her trust in the Lord. She leaves a husband, 2 children, and 12 grand children. Was buried on the 28th, on which occasion appropriate remarks were made by Rev. Longley in English from Rev. 14 ; 13, and by Rev. Peter Stuckey in German, from 1 Cor. 15 : 22.

Schwerdle.­On April 22nd, in Franconia Twp., Montgomery Co., Pa., of the infirmities of age. Elizabeth Schwerdle, aged 89 years, 1 month and 19 days. Her maiden name was Gehman. On the 28th she was buried in the presence of many friends and acquaintances. Appropriate remarks were made by A. Mast and Z. Neis. Text. Col. 3 : 3, 4.

Newcomer.­On April 24th, in Upper Salford Twp., Montgomery Co., Pa., of the infirmities of age, Susan Newcomer, aged 97 years, 4 months and 11 days. Her maiden name was Koppes. Was buried on the 27th in the Fanconia cemetery. Remarks by Z. Weis and Abr. Moyer at the house, and by Henry Godschalk and Josiah Clemmer at the church. Text: Rev. 7 : 15, 16.

Oswald.­On March 20th, near Beck's Mills, Holmes Co., Ohio, Peter Oswald, aged 77 years, 1 month and 20 days. Deceased was born Feb. 1, 1804, in the principality of Waldeck, Germany, from where he emigrated in 1827, and came to America, living in this county up to the time of his death. He leaves a wife, eight children, 17 grand-children, and 2 great-grand-children. Two children and twenty grand-children have gone before him. He was a member of the Amish church, dearly beloved as a father and grandfather whose death has filled with deep sadness his many friends. His remains were interred in the family grave-yard. Remarks by Shem Miller and Abm. Mast.

Tschampier.­On April 8th, in Wayne Co., O., of dropsy in the chest, Magdalena Tschampier, aged 83 years, 8 months and 11 days. Funeral sermon by Jacob Nusbaum at the house, and by Chr. Schneck at the Sonnenberg Meeting-house. Text : Rom. 8 : 11­18.

Transcribed by Sandra Poulton, Ontario
* Transcribers note: as written