Rev. Noah S. Hunsberger

Other Events:

• Name: Noah Honsberger
• Eby ID Number: 00057-3890.10
• Residence: 1881, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1901, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farm Laborer
• Occupation: 1911, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Minister, Farmer, on Farm
• Occupation: 1911, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Minister, Farmer, on Farm
• Residence: 1911, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1911, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1923, Erb Street Mennonite Church, Waterloo, Ontario; Minister
• Occupation: 1926, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Minister of The Gospel

Notes:

Hunsberger, Noah S. (1877-1958)

Noah Sherk Hunsberger: pastor and rural mission worker; born 14 December 1877 in Baden, ON to Abraham and Elizabeth (Sherk) Hunsberger. He was the ninth child in a family of twelve. On 1 March 1905 he married Mary Ann (Steiner) Shantz (17 October 1881-6 February 1925). They had three children. After Mary Ann's death, he married Minnie A. (Cober) Witmer (20 June 1887-25 December 1987) on 8 September 1926. Noah and Minnie had two children. Noah died 14 March 1958, and was buried in the Erb Street Mennonite Church cemetery.

Noah and Minnie Hunsberger On 15 May 1900 Noah Hunsberger, after being chosen by lot, was ordained as a minister for the David Eby (later Waterloo, then Erb St.) congregation in Waterloo, ON. Later in life he said he had been ordained to preach in the English language at a time when the change from German to English was underway in the Mennonite Conference of Ontario. Hunsberger served as a minister at the Waterloo congregation from 1900-1920 and again from 1923-1929. From 1920-1923 he served at the Sherkston, ON congregation, and continued to serve the Rural Mission Board in a variety of locations after 1930 (e.g., Zurich, Bothwell and Baden -- in the late 1930s). He was actively engaged in pastoral work for forty years. Hunsberger also had in interest in the early work of the House of Friendship during the 1940s. By vocation he had a woodworking shop for some years and also was a beekeeper. During most of his ministry he lived in Waterloo; in later years he lived near Baden and in St. Jacobs.
Noah Hunsberger had only a grade eight education. He received limited theological training by taking some correspondence courses from the Elkhart Institute (later Goshen College) in Indiana. His lack of education likely influenced his decision to retire in his early 50s as minister of the more urban Waterloo Mennonite Church when younger leaders with more education began to be available. He was described as an "earnest and genuine" preacher, who was often moved to tears while speaking. In his last years he carried on a ministry of hospital visitation. Noah Hunsberger provided quiet leadership, often filling the pulpit in smaller rural congregations, and responding to the call of the conference to serve as an itinerant minister as needed.

Steiner, Sam. "Hunsberger, Noah S.." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. July 2001. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 13 Nov 2005

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Hunsberger, Noah S., son of the late Abraham and Elizabeth (Sherk) Hunsberger, was born Dec. 14, 1877, in Waterloo County, Ont.; passed away March 14, 1958; aged 80 y. 3 m. He had been ill three months with paralysis. Surviving are his wife (Minnie Witmer), 3 sons (John, Waterloo, Ont.; Paul, Monerville, Ont.; and David, St. Jacobs, Ont.), and one daughter (Grace, St. Jacobs, Ont.). He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife (Mary Ann Shantz), a daughter (Nina), and all his brothers and sisters (David, Enos, Lydia, John, Moses, Mary Ann, Menno, Magdalena, Abram, Ira, and Elmina). He accepted Christ as his Saviour at the age of fifteen. In 1900 he was called to serve as minister of the Waterloo congregation. Along with this responsibility he served at itinerant minister for several outlying points. At the call of the Mission Board he served for three years at Skerton and then returned to Waterloo. He helped to start the House of Friendship and also served the Baden Mission for a period of years after his release from Waterloo. The last six years of his life were spent in doing hospital visitation which afforded him much happiness. Funeral services were held at the Erb Street Church in charge of J. B. Martin, Henry Jantzi, and Walter Brubacher, and Rufus Jutzi.

Gospel Herald - Volume LI, Number 13 - April 1, 1958-page 314, 315

Occupation:
Early services which began around 1837 were held in private homes. Land at the corner of Erb Street and Hallman Road, where the present-day cemetery is located, was donated by David Eby Sr. on July 14, 1851; a red brick church known as David Eby's Church was built in the same year. The first minister in the new church was Jacob M. Oberholtzer who served from 1852 to 1874. He was followed by Elias Schneider (1874-1889), Jonas Snider (1892-1900), Newton Weber (1921-1923), and Noah Hunsberger (1923-1929).<sup>1a

1a</sup>Ambrose, Rosemary. Waterloo County Churches A Research Guide to Churches Established Before 1900. Kitchener, Ontario, Canada: Waterloo-Wellington Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society, 1993. [used the kind permission of Rosemary Ambrose 2011]

Noah married Mary Ann Shantz 1 Mar 1905, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Mary (daughter of John D. Shantz and Elizabeth Steiner) was born 7 Oct 1881, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 6 Feb 1925, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Erb Street Mennonite Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

1. Rev. Paul Andrew Hunsberger
2. John Abram Hunsberger was born 1 Nov 1916; died 1 Dec 2011, London, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Forest Lawn Cemetery, London, Middlesex Co., Ontario.

Noah married Minnie Amelia Witmer 8 Sep 1926, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Minnie (daughter of Levi R. Witmer and Mary G. Cober) was born 20 Jun 1887, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 25 Dec 1987, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Erb Street Mennonite Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

1. Grace Elizabeth Hunsberger
2. David Leslie Hunsberger was born 5 Jun 1928, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 6 Jan 2005; was buried , St. Jacobs Mennonite Cemetery, St. Jacobs, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.

Other Events:

• Name: Abraham Honsberger
• Name: Abram Honsberger
• Eby ID Number: 00057-3890
• Residence: 1852, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Carpenter
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; U. P. (?)
• Residence: 1862, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1881, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1881, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1901, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1911, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Gentleman, Income
• Residence: 1911, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Abram Honsperger, "is married to Elizabeth Scherch. They reside about four miles north-west of Waterloo where he is engaged in farming. On June 24th, 1892, he was ordained deacon of the Mennonite Church for the David Eby field of labor. He is a man that is much beloved by his church and highly esteemed by all who know him for his noble and Christian principles. To him was born a family of twelve children,.."


Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

_______________________


Abraham Hunsberger, died at his home in Waterloo Ont., Oct. 28, 1912; aged 78 y. 7 m. 23 d. He was married to Elizabeth Sherk April 1, 1862. To this union were born 12 children, of whom 5 preceded him to the spirit world, leaves to mourn his departure, a widow, 7 children and 11 grandchildren. In 1892 he was ordained to the office of deacon, in which calling we believe he was faithful with the talent given to him, until four years ago, when he thought he could not perform his duties any more, on account of feebleness, so asked for some one to be ordained in his stead, which was granted unto him. Funeral services were conducted at the Waterloo Church Oct. 30, by Bro. Jonas Snider in German from John 5: 24, 25 and in English by Bro. Noah Stauffer from Heb. 4: 9-11. He was buried at the David Eby cemetery. Peace to his ashes.


Gospel Herald - Volume V, Number 33 - November 14, 1912 - page 527, 528

Residence:
Staying with David and Rebecca Martin.

Abraham married Elizabeth Sherk 1 Apr 1862, Greenbush (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Elizabeth (daughter of Sherk and Lena, daughter of John Scherch and Magdalena Grody) was born 30 Jan 1843, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 20 Jun 1924; was buried , Erb Street Mennonite Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Hunsberger
• Name: Elizabeth Sherk
• Eby ID Number: 00101-5658
• Residence: 1862, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1881, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1911, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Elizabeth Scherch, "is married to Abram Honsperger. They reside about four miles north-west of the town of Waterloo. They have a large family."


Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

_____________


Hunsberger. - Elizabeth Sherk was born Jan. 30, 1843; died June 20, 1924; aged 81 y. 5 m. 21 d. On April 1, 1862, she was united in holy matrimony with Abraham Hunsberger, who predeceased her 11 years. To this union were born 8 sons and four daughters, of whom 4 sons and 1 daughter predeceased her; leaving 4 sons, 3 daughters, 14 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild to mourn her loss. The funeral services were held from her late home in Waterloo, Ont., to the Waterloo Mennonite Church, and burial in the cemetery several miles west of the town. The services were conducted by brethren E. C. Bowman, Jonas Snider, and Oscar Burkholder.


The Gospel Herald - Volume XVII, Number 15 - July 10, 1924 - page 319

Other Events:

• Name: Abraham Hunsberger
• Name: Abram Honsberger
• Eby ID Number: 00057-3884

Notes:

Abram Honsperger, "was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, about the year 1801. When a young man he came to Canada and settled in Waterloo County, Ontario. He was married to Mollie, daughter of Abram and Nancy (Clemmer) Janzen. She was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, June 18th, 1802. After their marriage they settled in Wilmot Township, their farm was where now is the village of Baden. Here he died in 1838. His widow was afterwards married to Jonas Shantz and resided at Upper Road, Wilmot Township, where she died March 26th, 1888. To her and her first husband were born eight children"


Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

Abraham — Mary C. Janzen. Mary (daughter of Abraham Janzen and Nancy Clemmer) was born 18 Jun 1802, , Bucks Co., Pennsylvania; died 26 Mar 1888, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Shantz Mennonite Cemetery, Wilmot Township, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Mary C. Honsberger
• Name: Mary C. Shantz
• Name: Mary Jantz
• Name: Mary Johnson
• Name: Mollie Janzen
• Eby ID Number: 00061-3999
• Residence: 1851, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1881, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Mollie (Mary) Janzen, "was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, June 18th 1802. She was first married to Abraham Hunsberger. They resided in Wilmot Township where he died. After his decease she was again married to Jonas C. Shantz, January 21st, 1851. She died March 26th, 1888."


Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00101-5657

Notes:

John Scherch, "son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Steiner) Scherch, and a cousin to Rev. David Sherk was born in Welland County, Ontario, March 5th, 1818. He was married to Magdalena Grody who was born October 15th, 1819. After their marriage they resided in Wilmot Township for some years, thence they moved to Michigan where they resided sixteen years, thence moved back to Ontario and resided in Wellesley for six years. Later in life they had their home with Mr. Abraham Honsperger, their son-in-law, where he died May 23rd, 1891. She is still living and is enjoying good health. To them were born five children, namely:...This family spell their name Scherch."


Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

John — Magdalena Grody. Magdalena (daughter of Jacob Grody and Elizabeth Shoemaker) was born 15 Oct 1819, , Pennsylvania, USA; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Magdalena Scherch
• Eby ID Number: 00042-3332

Notes:

Magdalena Grody, "was born October 15th, 1819. She was married to John Scherch who died May 23rd, 1891. She resides with her daughter Elizabeth. Her family consisted of five children"


Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00061-3997
• Epidemic: 1834, Blenheim Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada; Cholera

Notes:

Abraham Janzen, "(now spelled 'Johnson' by most of the descendants) a native of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, to which place his ancestors had moved from Holland about the year 1726. He was married to Nancy, daughter of Henry and Anna (Honsberger) Clemmer. She was a sister to Henry H. Clemmer who resided about two miles east of Berlin where he died April 30th,1851. She was born about the year 1778. Some time during the beginning of the present century they with their family of small children moved, with the Schwartzes and others, to Canada and finally settled in Blenheim Township, Oxford County, where he died of cholera in 1834. After his decease the widow was married to Jacob Bechtel. She died of paralysis while on a visit to Jacob Kolb's near Breslau in 1847. To Mr. Janzen and his wife was born a family of nine children"


Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

Abraham — Nancy Clemmer. Nancy (daughter of Henry Clemmer and Anna Honsberger) was born 1778, , Pennsylvania, USA; died 1847, Breslau, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Nancy Bechtel
• Name: Nancy Janzen
• Eby ID Number: 00024-1969

Notes:

Nancy Clemmer, "sister to Henry H. Clemmer, was born in 1778. She was married to Abraham Janzen. They resided in Blenheim, Oxford County, Ontario, where he died of cholera in 1834. She died of paralysis at Mr. Kolb's at Breslau in 1847. To them were born nine children"


Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00101-5657.1

Andrew — Elizabeth Steiner. Elizabeth died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Scherch
• Eby ID Number: 00101-5657.2

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00042-3325
• Occupation: 1851, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Laborer
• Residence: 1851, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Jacob Grody, "the original settler of this family, was a native of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, where he was born June 24th, 1785. He was married to Elizabeth Shoemaker who was born May 18th, 1789. In 1830 they moved to Canada and settled in Waterloo County, Ontario. After their arrival in this county they settled temporarily a little north of Waterloo, on the farm now possessed by Franklin Shuh. From here they moved to Wilmot Township, near the Schmidt Mennonite Meeting House where he was engaged in farming. He died July 21st, 1867, and she died November 24th, 1879. To them were born nine children"

Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

_____________________


On the 21st of July, 1867, in Wilmot, Waterloo Co., Ont., Jacob Grody, aged 82 years and 27 days. He was buried at Shantz's Meeting-house, upon which occasion the brethren Moses Bowman, Enoch Detweiler, and G. R. Smith preached appropriate discourses from Job 16: 22 and 17: 1, which were selected by the deceased himself. He was a member of the Mennonite Church.

Herald of Truth, February, 1868, page 31

Jacob — Elizabeth Shoemaker. Elizabeth (daughter of Jacob Shoemaker and Mary Tyson) was born 18 May 1789, Frederick Twp., Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania; died 24 Nov 1879. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Grody
• Eby ID Number: 00042-3325.1
• Residence: 1851, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite