OBITUARY - Mr. David Habecker died at his residence in the town of Wheatfield, Niagara county, N. Y., on Saturday, September 7th, 1889, in his 99th year. He was born in Manor township, Lancaster county, Pa., August 5th, 1791, and emigrated to this state in the year 1830. He purchased and settled on a farm in the town of Wheatfield, Niagara county, where he resided up to the time of his death. He was remarkably healthy for one of his age, until about a year ago he had the misfortune of hurting himself by a fall, from the effects of which he never recovered. Being blessed with a very retentive memory, he served as a Mennonite minister for over fifty years, until he considered himself too feeble for the mission. His last hours were like those of a person passing from weary labor into peaceful, quiet slumber.
Such was his end - a calm release,
No clinging to this mortal clod;
He closed his eyes and stood in peace
Before a smiling God.

OBITUARY- Esther Thomas, widow of Michael Thomas, died March 14th, 1889, at an advanced age. One of her sons writes: "Mother Thomas passed away in peace to a world of happiness. She was a devoted Christian and a constant reader of the Bible. She was a member of the Mennonite church many years, and was united in marriage with Michael Thomas some years before the war, in Rockingham county, Va., in the days of Bishop Peter Burkholder, who was their officiating minister. Soon afterwards they moved to Hampshire county, now West Virginia, where they lived a few years, and then moved across the Potomac river into Maryland, where they lived to the date of their deaths. Her husband preceded her some years. Her maiden name was Coffman, daughter of Dr. Coffman, a member of the Coffman family, the history of which was published some time ago in the HERALD OF TRUTH as an extract from a Green River, Va., paper. Her father lived and died in Shenandoah county, Va. She was one of those who was isolated many miles from her church. She often talked about the church and the love she had for it. She lived with her daughter Elizabeth; who lives on a farm within eight miles of the Berkeley Springs. The day they moved was very cold and windy and she took cold, going from the depot to the farm, from the effects of which she became very ill, and in a few days died. She was buried in the Evangelical cemetery at the Cross Road church. Funeral services were held by Pre. Boles, pastor of the Evangelical church. Text, Ps. 90:10. The funeral was largely attended; all her children were present except her son Jacob, who could not come on account of a disabled limb. She leaves five sons and one daughter and many friends to mourn their loss.

MARTIN. - On the 8th of September, 1889, near Orville, Wayne county, Ohio, of paralysis, Sister Fanny Martin, widow of Bro. David Martin, deceased, aged 78 years and 23 days. She was a faithful member of the Mennonite church for many years, and although she suffered more of less and sometimes severely, from stomach and liver complaint for a number of years, yet she bore it patiently. Of late she had hoped that each attack might be the last, and that she might be at rest. On the evening of the 7th.* She was stricken with paralysis and then gradually failed until the next evening when she quietly and gently breathed her last and, as it seemed, fell asleep in Jesus. On the 10th her body was borne to its final resting place, followed by many mourning relatives and sympathizing friends. Services by Micahel Horst in the German, and Michael Rohrer in the English, from John 14:13.
"Asleep in Jesus, O for me,
May such a blissful refuge be,
Securely shall my ashes lie
And wait the summons from on high.

*transcriptionist's note: as printed by the Herald of Truth

KENNAGY. - On the 15th of September, in Logan Co., Ohio, of whooping cough, Anson, son of Solomon and Nancy Kennagy, aged 3 years, 9 months and 2 days. Funeral on the 17th at South Union. Services by J. C. Yoder in German and Pre. Evans in English from Mark 10:14, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for such is the kingdom of God,"
"Me thinks I see a thousand charms
Spread o,er thy lovely face
While infants in they tender arms,
Receive thy smiling grace.

'I take these little lambs,, said He,
'And lay them in my breast;
Protection they shall find in me,
In me be ever blest."

BOYTS. - On the 6th of September, near Springfield, Mo., of consumption. John H. Boyts, aged 40 years, 6 months and some days. Buried in Hazelwood cemetery near Springfield on the 7th. Services by W. H. Huey. Deceased was sick about one year and six months. He bore it patiently. He confessed Christ and was baptized and received communion while on his death bed. He leaves a widow and eight children to mourn their loss. He was born in Somerset county, Pa., from which place he emigrated in his early youth with his parents to Elkhart county, Indiana, and in the fall of 1868 come to Green county, Missouri.

RUPERT. - On the 6th of September, in Delphos, Ohio, Wildy, son of Wesley and Anna Rupert, aged 2 years, 8 months and 10 days. Buried on the 18th at the Pike church. Services by Dr. H. G. Stemen and J. Shenk. In the death of little Wildy the parents sustain a heavy loss, but though Wildy cannot come to them, they have the blessed promise that they can go to him.
"Dearest Wildy thou hast left us,
Here thy loss we deeply feel;
But 'tis God that hath bereft us,
He can all our sorrows heal."

LOUCKS. - On the 8th of September, in Elkhart county, Ind., of consumption, Hannah (maiden name Kilmer), wife of Martins Loucks, aged 50 years, 5 months and 3 days. The funeral was held on the 11th at the Olive Church and was very largely attended. Services by Amos Mumaw and John S. Coffman. Sister Loucks was for many years one of our most faithful and devoted attendants at the church where her remains were laid to rest. Her apparently only concern was for her children that they might all accept Christ as their Savior and meet her in heaven. But in the last days of her life she said, "It had been my desire to stay with my children, but now I want to go home." "I want to go home" were among her last words.
"A precious one from us has gone,
A voice we loved is stilled;
A place is vacant in our home,
Which never can be filled.
God in his wisdom has recalled
The boon His love has given;
And though her body moulders here
Her soul is safe in heaven."

GARDNER. - On the 15th of August, near Milford, Seward Co., Nebraska, Dannie, son of Daniel And Catharine Gardner aged 3 months and 10 days.

ERB. - On the 5th of September near Milford, Seward Co., Nebraska, Peter, son of John and Mary Erb, aged 2 years, 1 month and 3 days. Buried in the Amish Mennonite graveyard. Service by Jos. Shlegel from Psalm 16:5-7 and P. P. Hershberger from Psalm 90:2,3.

HOOVER. - On the 12th of August, in Rainham township, Ontario, Benjamin Hoover aged 78 years, 10 months and 16 days, of dropsy and congestion of the lungs, of which he suffered about three months. His sufferings were severe, but he bore them with Christian fortitude. He was constantly reading and talking about the Scriptures as long as he was able, and the last few days he was mostly talking about going home, and said, "Now we are all ready; now we want to go." During his last illness he was perfectly resigned to the will of God. He was a staunch defender of the principles of the faith as practiced by the Mennonite church and his place was seldom vacant. The funeral services were held on the afternoon of the 14th, on which occasion Isaac Rittenhouse, from South Cayuga, spoke in German, and Pre. Daniel Wismer in English, from Phil. 1;21. His remains were followed to the grave by a large concourse of friends and relatives who mourn the departure of one who was highly esteemed as a brother and friend. He died with a strong hope of life eternal through a crucified Redeemer. He leaves a wife and six children to mourn their loss, but not as though they had no hope. "Death has robbed us of our father, Whom we loved and cherished dear It was father, yes, dear father, Can we help but shed a tear?

Yes, we miss him, Oh, we miss him,
When we see his vacant chair,
And how sad the room without him
For there is no father there.

Our dear father's work here on earth is ended
Who faithfully the house of God attended;
Now his loving form here we shall see no more
Until we meet on that Celestial shore.

His voice is heard no more, although 'tis calling
In sweet remembrance inviting us to come
To Christ the Savior in faith call and cling,
Till we can meet in that Celestial home."

YODER. - On the 22d of August, in Canton, Ohio, Anna Rupp, wife of E. D. Yoder, aged 71 years, 11 months, and 7 days. They were united in matrimony on the 12th of September 1839. The union was blessed with ten children, of whom eight are living, and thirty-five grand-children of whom twenty-seven are living. Her remains were interred in the Rowland burying ground at Canton, on which occasion a large number of friends and neighbors met to pay the last tribute of respect to the departed sister. Services by Michael Roher in German and W. O. Baker of Louisville, Ohio, in English.

FREED. - On the 11th of September, near Wakarusa, Ind., very suddenly, apparently of heart disease, Andrew Freed, aged 63 years, 7 months, and 12 days. The funeral services were held at North Union by David Burkholder, Amos Mumaw, and John S. Coffman. Bro. Freed was for many years an apparently earnest and devoted member of the church at Holdeman's. On the morning of his death he appeared as well as usual, ate his breakfast and did his morning work; after which he said he would give up going to Sister Louck's funeral, because he was not feeling very well. He then walked into the yard, fell to the ground and died in a few moments. We have a lively hope that our brother was so living that he was prepared for this sudden and unexpected change. "In the midst of life we are in death." "Therefore let us also be ready."

SAWYER. - On the 29th of August, at the house of his son Lester, in Elkhart County Indiana, Levi Sawyer, aged 88 years, 5 months, and 7 days. The funeral service was held at the Baptist Church west of Jamestown, by John S. Coffman and Samuel Yoder. The subject of this notice was born in Berlin, Mass., subsequently moved to Ohio, and recently, while staying for a time with his son, was overcome by prostration from which he did not recover. He had professed faith in God in his earlier years, and his last days were spent in prayer to God, rational to the last moment, and pleading with the Savior to take him home.

GINGERICH. - ON the 16th of September, Christina, wife of John Gingerich. She was buried on the 18th. She was a faithful member of the Amish Mennonite church, and leaves her husband and four children to mourn their loss; but we hope their loss is her eternal gain. Funeral discourse by Christian Werey, from Gal. 6:7-9.

HURSH. - On the 13th of September, in Orrville, Wayne County, Ohio, of typhoid malarial fever, John Hursh, aged 45 years, 6 months, and 22 days. Buried on the 16th, in the Orrville cemetery. Services in the M. E. Church by E. J. V. Booth, from Matt. 14:12, to a large number of mourning relatives and sympathizing friends who had assembled to pay the last tribute of respect to one whom they had learned to esteem in life as a good friend and neighbor.

HENRY. - September 16th, near Ream's Station, Lancaster County, Pa., Sister Anna E., wife of Levi Henry, aged 61 years, 4 months, and 19 days. Funeral on the 19th. Text: Heb. 9:27, 28. Buried at Kraybill's Meeting House. a sorrowing husband and two sons mourn her departure.

OTTO. - On the 28th of August, at New Germany, Garrett county, MD., Mary Otto, aged 84 years, 3 months and 12 days. Deceased was born and brought up in Germany where she united with the Amish Mennonite church, and was a consistent member until she died. She leaves 7 children, 66 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held by J. M. Evans, from Gen. 49:18. She was buried in the family graveyard on the old home farm.

BONTRAGER. - On the 15th of August, in Ozark Co., Mo., of spinal disease and inflammatory rheumatism, Johnny, son of Lydia and John C. Bontrager, aged 3 years, 1 month and 20 days. Another dear one has gone from our family circle; another voice we loved to hear is hushed on earth. The sweet prattle of our dear Johnny is heard no more, and the restless hands and feet are cold and still. This little jewel is everywhere sadly missed. The mother's heart is filled with grief and nothing affords her comfort but the thought that the Lord willed it so, and that the Master of this garden has plucked this sweet little flower to adorn his bright mansion above.
We miss thee here, our Johnny dear,
And our hearts with grief are riven;
Yet sweet to know that thou did'st go
To dwell fore'er in heaven.

EBERLY. - Died on the 2d of September, near Dalton, Wayne Co., Ohio, infant son of Aaron and Susan Eberly, aged 4 days. Buried on the 3d in the Mennonite burying ground in Stark Co., Ohio. Service at the house by Michael Horst, Adam Brenneman and Adam Kornhaus, from Acts 2:39.

Transcribed by: Mary Teeter, Michigan

UP

Herald of Truth, Vol. XXVI, Number 20, October 15, 1889, page 319

STREID. - On the 1st of September, in Livingston county, Ills., Minnie May, daughter of Jacob and Catharine Streid, aged 5 months and 3 days. Services by John P. Schmitt in the German language and by Jos. Yoder in English from Mark 10:13-16.

DUNIPHAN. - On the 26th of September, near Emma, LaGrange Co., Ind., of consumption, Cora Dell, daughter of John Duniphan, aged 14 years, 4 months and 26 days. Buried on the 27th. Services by Pre. Ehrgood and D. J. Johns.

HARTZLER. - On the 16th of August, near Belleville, Mifflin Co., Pa., of consumption, David, son of Pre. Jacob C. Hartzler, aged 19 years, 6 months and 23 days. He was buried on the 18th. A large congregation assembled to pay the last tribute of respect to the deceased young brother. He was a faithful member of the Amish Mennonite Church for almost one year, and was respected by all who knew him. He leaves a bereaved father, step-mother, one brother and many young friends who need not mourn as those who have no hope. He was conscious to the last, and as he bade them farewell he told them he was going to die, and soon fell asleep. Funeral services were held by John and Christian Peachy from Luke 12:35-39.
"My loving friends, weep not for me,
But think how happy I shall be
Where all the blessed faithful meet,
And kindred souls each other greet.

In his grave robes calmly sleeping,
He is lying still and cold,
But his spirit angels wafted
To the tender Shepherd,s fold.

He was all resigned and patient,
No complaining did we hear,
For his trust was placed in Jesus
Who will all our sorrows share."

PLETCHER. - On the 12th of August in Clinton Township, Elkhart Co., Ind., of brain fever, Edson, son of William and Nancy Pletcher, aged 8 years, 4 months and 8 days.

PLETCHER. - On the 13th of August in the same family, Ellis, aged 4 months and 17 days. These two little ones were laid to rest in one coffin and their remains carried to their resting place on the 14th. This was a doubly sad affliction for the family, but God knows best. A very large number of friends, neighbors and relatives gathered at the Mennonite Church to show their sympathy to the bereaved family. Services by D. J. Johns from Isa. 26:19.

YODER. - On the 22d of September in Mahoning Co., Ohio, of cholera infantum, Ida May, daughter of Serenus and Cora Yoder, aged 3 months and 14 days. It was their only child, and is indeed a very sad bereavement for the sorrowing parents; but while we know that Jesus only gathers those little treasures home to himself we should not mourn, but rather rejoice, looking forward to the time when all tears shall be wiped away.

"Shed not for her the bitter tear,
Nor give the heart to vain regret;
'Tis but the casket that lies here,
The gem that filled it sparkles yet,
Sweet flower, transplanted to a clime
Where never comes the blight of time."

HUFFMAN. On the 26th of September, in Bowne Twp., Kent Co., Mich., of cholera infantum, Emery, son of Christian and ____ Huffman, aged 1 year, 8 months and 5 days. Funeral on the 27th. Services by John Speicher, Peter Keim and Christian Wenger.

GRUBB. - On the 25th of September, in Lincoln Co., Ontario, of old age and paralysis, Sister Catharine Grubb, aged 83 years, 11 months and 15 days. She was born in Bucks Co., Pa. Her maiden name was Funk. She came to Canada in 1826, and was married to Bro. Moses Grubb, who died 12 years ago. She was a faithful sister in the Mennonite church for about 68 years. Buried on the 26th at the Moyer church. Funeral services by Noah Stauffer and Pre. Jackson. Many friends and neighbors assembled to mourn for a departed friend, mother and sister. She died with the blessed assurance that her Redeemer lives.

Transcribed by: Mary Teeter, Michigan