Rev. Israel R. Shantz^[1]

1863 - 1910  (47 years)

• Name	Israel R. Shantz
  Prefix	Rev.
  Born	15 Aug 1863	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
  Gender	Male
  Interesting	story, religion
  Occupation	1891	Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  	Farmer
  Residence	1891	Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  	Mennonite
  Occupation	1901	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Farmer
  Eby ID Number	00110-6823
  Died	15 Dec 1910	Carstairs, , Alberta, Canada   [3, 6]
  Buried	West Zion Mennonite Cemetery, near, Carstairs, , Alberta, Canada   [3, 6]
  Person ID	I19766	Generations
  Last Modified	6 Apr 2024

  
  

  Father	Samuel B. Shantz,   b. 16 Jan 1811, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 18 Jan 1895  (Age 84 years)
  Mother	Rebecca Rudy,   b. 29 Oct 1825, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 7 Jun 1899, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 73 years)
  Married	25 Mar 1845	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5, 7, 8, 9, 10]
  Family ID	F316	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Elizabeth "Betsy" Schmitt,   b. 22 Aug 1868, Bond, Ionia Co., Michigan ,   d. 31 Dec 1962, Calgary, Alberta, Canada  (Age 94 years)
  Married	22 Sep 1886	Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3, 5, 11]
  Children	1. Seleda May Shantz,   b. 15 Jun 1887, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   2. Lloyd Dwight Shantz,   b. 1888, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   3. Lloyd Herbert Shantz,   b. 7 Oct 1888, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 18 Feb 1974  (Age 85 years)   4. Samuel F. Shantz,   b. 28 Jan 1889, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   5. Orvil D. Shantz,   b. 28 Oct 1892, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   6. Viera M. Shantz,   b. 4 Oct 1896, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   7. Norma Leoma Shantz,   b. 19 Oct 1898, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 16 Nov 1986, Lake Stevens, Snohomish, Washington, United States  (Age 88 years)   8. Irma Shantz,   b. 14 Oct 1900, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   9. Edna Verda Shantz,   b. 11 May 1903, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 23 Mar 1987, Calgary, Alberta, Canada  (Age 83 years)
  Last Modified	7 Apr 2024
  Family ID	F4964	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  Shantz, Israel R. 1863 - 1910.jpg https://www.gameo.org/index.asp?content=https://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/H3733.html

  
  

• Notes

  Israel R. Shantz, "was born August 15th, 1863. He is married to Elizabeth Schmitt. They reside on his father's old homestead. To them are born the following 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.]. ________________________ Shantz, Israel R. (1863-1910) Israel R. Shantz Israel R. Shantz: minister and bishop of the West Zion Mennonite Church near Carstairs, Alberta, was born 15 August 1863 and died 15 December 1910. He married Elizabeth Schmitt (22 August 1868-31 December 1962) on 26 September 1886. They were the parents of 3 sons and five daughters. Israel Shantz was converted at revival meetings near Berlin (Kitchener), Ontario in 1891. He served for nine years as superintendent of a new Sunday School near Waterloo, Ontario, before moving with his family to the Carstairs district in 1901. He and his wife participated in the organization of the West Zion Mennonite Church later, on 15 September 1901, he was chosen by lot and ordained as minister of the new congregation. He was ordained as bishop 3 October 1909, and served in that office until his death in 1910, traveling extensively as an evangelist and visiting Mennonites who had settled in scattered small clusters in various districts of Alberta and Saskatchewan. He maintained an exceptionally strong and abiding interest in the work of the Sunday School. Shortly after his arrival at Carstairs, Israel Shantz suffered a serious leg injury while unloading lumber which had been shipped to the community by rail. The injury never completely healed, causing him considerable discomfort, particularly when travelling. While on a trip to visit settlers arriving in the Tofield district, he suffered a fall which aggravated his leg injury. Infection set in and he returned home a sick man. There were further complications, and he died at his home in Carstairs at the relatively young age of 47. His funeral was reportedly the largest held in that community up to that time, and gave expression to the far-reaching influence he had exerted during the time of his ministry. Shantz's influence extended far beyond his home community. He was, from the time it was created in 1903, an influential leader in the Alberta Mennonite Conference, which later became the Alberta-Saskatchewan Mennonite Conference and is now the Northwest Mennonite Conference. He offered help and practical spiritual advice to many Mennonite settlers. As a faithful follower of Jesus, he sought to apply the teachings of the Jesus to the opportunities and problems of everyday life. The impact of his life was remembered with affection by members of the congregation at the 2001 centennial celebrations. Regehr, Ted D. "Shantz, Israel R. (1863-1910)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. December 2003. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 13 Nov 2005 <https://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/S53647.html> ______________________________________ Shantz. - Israel R. Shantz died at his home near Carstairs, Alberta, on Dec. 15, 1910; aged 47 y. 5 m. He was born near Berlin, Ont., Aug. 15, 1863. On Sept. 22, 1886, he was married to Elizabeth Schmitt. To this union were born 3 sons and 5 daughters. During the eventful meetings of 1891, held in Berlin, he was converted and at once became active in the Master's service. A new Sunday school was started near Waterloo, Ont., of which he was superintendent for 9 years in succession. In the year 1901, he moved with his family to his late home, and was one of the pioneer settlers in the Waterloo district. His active Christian service did not cease when he moved west. In the same year, Sept. 15, he was ordained a minister of the Gospel in the Mennonite Church, by Bish. S. F. Coffman. On Oct. 3, last year, he was ordained to the office of bishop to have oversight of the churches in Alberta, by Bish. E. S. Hallman. About a month ago, he returned home from looking after a new church colony, a sick man. A complication of diseases set in, and he suffered much, but bore it all patiently. Under this heavy cloud of sorrow we humbly bow to God's will, and say, not ours but Thy will be done. He leaves behind him a loving wife, 3 sons, 5 daughters, 4 brothers and 5 sisters, who mourn their loss, which to him is eternal gain. Sorrow is expressed in the community. The Church is bereft of her pastor. The conference will miss one of her ablest workers. He was buried at West Zion, where the largest funeral held at this place gave expression of how far-reaching his influence was exerted. Services were conducted by N. B. Stauffer of High River, Alta., and E. S. Hallman of Cressman, Sask. Text, Rev. 14: 13. Gospel Herald - Volume III, Number 39 - December 29, 1910 - page 627, 628

  
  

• Sources

  [S10] Book - Vol II 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..., 418. [S132] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo North - 1901, Waterloo C-4 Page 3. [S8] News - Gospel Herald, December 29, 1910 Obituary of Israel R. Shantz. [S168] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo North - 1871, Div. 1, Pg. 26. [S1573] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo City - 1891, Section 1 Page 11. [S3231] Find A Grave, Cemetery, F., America, N., Municipality, W., & Cemetery, F. (1835). John B. Schmitt (1835-1911) - Find A Grave.... Findagrave.com. Retrieved 7 September 2019, from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/202006541/john-b_-schmitt. [S10] Book - Vol II 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..., 413. [S10] Book - Vol II 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..., 206. [S13] Vit - - ON, Waterloo - Wellington District Marriage Register Part 1 1840-1852, Rev'd Jacob Huttner, Lutheran Minister, Preston report 53. Samuel Shantz, to Rebecka Rudy, both of Waterloo. 25 Mar. 1845. [S1887] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1861 (North Division), Div 3 Page 17. [S18] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration index (needs checking to original registration), 011625.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 15 Aug 1863 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Married - 22 Sep 1886 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Farmer - 1891 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Mennonite - 1891 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Farmer - 1901 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 15 Dec 1910 - Carstairs, , Alberta, Canada Buried - - West Zion Mennonite Cemetery, near, Carstairs, , Alberta, Canada  = Link to Google Earth