Aaron Clemens Kolb

Other Events:

• Interesting: story, education
• Eby ID Number: 00068-4125
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1937, 56 Kent Ave., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Aaron C. Kolb, "was born December 7th, 1871. He is in Elkhart, Indiana, where he is engaged in the book department of the Mennonite Publishing Co."



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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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.].

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Kolb, Aaron C. (1871-1937)

Aaron Clemens "A. C." Kolb: publisher and schoolteacher; born 7 December 1871 at Natchez near Berlin (now Kitchener), Ontario to Jacob Z. and Maria (Bowman) Kolb. He was the second youngest in a family of five sons and two daughters. On 1 January 1899 he married Phoebe Mumaw (4 September 1873-16 July 1960). They had one daughter. Aaron C. Kolb died 15 May 1937 of a heart attack at his home in Kitchener, Ontario.

Kolb attended the Berlin High School with MacKenzie King, later Prime Minister of Canada. In 1889 Aaron Kolb went to Elkhart, Indiana to work at the Mennonite Publishing Company owned by John F. Funk . His older brother, Abram B. Kolb, was already employed there and had arranged the position for Aaron. Aaron became interested in the formation of the Elkhart Institute (later Goshen College), and served as its first Secretary. His future wife, Phoebe, was the daughter of Henry A. Mumaw, the founder and first president of the Elkhart Institute. It was in Elkhart that Kolb made a commitment to the Christian faith, and he was baptized on 21 June 1891 by Bishop Henry Shaum. During his years in Elkhart, A. C. Kolb was active at the Prairie Street Mennonite Church, both in its Sunday school and as a song leader. He contributed some hymns to the Church and Sunday School Hymnal published in 1902 by the Mennonite Publishing Company, and widely used among Ontario Mennonites for the first third of the 20th century..

In 1907, after touring the Canadian West on behalf of the Publishing House, Aaron and Phoebe Kolb moved to Main Centre, Saskatchewan where Aaron was a farmer and schoolteacher. He became the first postmaster of Herbert, Saskatchewan in 1911, a position he held until 1931. They returned to Kitchener, Ontario in the early 1930s to retire and were then active at the First Mennonite Church.

During his final years in Waterloo County, Aaron C. Kolb remained musically active, leading a Mennonite Choral Society that performed widely in the community. Kolb was an important link in maintaining the strong Mennonite musical heritage in the Waterloo County area that later was reflected in groups such as Menno Singers.

Steiner, Sam. "Kolb, Aaron C.(1871-1937)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. January 2002. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 13 Nov 2005
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Kolb.--Aaron Clemens Kolb was born near Kitchener, Ont., Dec 7, 1871; died suddenly of a heart attack at his residence in Kitchener, on Saturday morning, May 15, 1937; aged 65 y. 5 m. 8 d. He was a son of Deacon Jacob Z. and Maria (Bowman) Kolb, and from these godly parents he received the teaching that manifested itself in his character in his many activities. When 17 years of age he went to Elkhart, Ind., and took a position with the Mennonite Publishing House, as German correspondent and Manager of the Mail Order Department, where his brother Abram was already employed. While here he became interested in a new venture in the Mennonite Church known as the Elkhart Institute, now Goshen College of which institution he became its first secretary. He was active in the Prairie Street Church and Sunday school, serving as chorister and superintendent of the Sunday school for many years. Also, during these years, he was vitally interested in Sunday school work outside of the regular sessions. At two "outside" points he was assistant superintendent of Sunday school, and at two he was superintendent. This in addition to frequently being leader of the young people's meetings and practically always serving on some committee or committees. It was while superintendent of a Sunday school in northeast Elkhart, where the late Jacob Burkhard was assistant superintendent that the latter yielded to the urge to enter the mission field, and subsequently went to India.
According to a note in the fly leaf of his Bible he accepted Christ as a young man. The note reads as follows:

"Born near Kitchener (formerly Berlin) Ont., Dec. 7, 1871.
Re-born Jan. 9, 1891, at Elkhart, Ind.
Baptized at Elkhart June 21, 1891, by Bishop Henry Shaum.
Only other person baptized at the same time was Phoebe Mumaw, who on Jan. 1, 1899 became my wife."

Brother Kolb leaves to mourn his sudden departure his wife, 1 daughter (Elmeda), and 2 brothers (Elias B. and Titus L.), all of Kitchener. His parents, 1 brother (Abram), and 1 sister (Leah--Mrs. Moses Betzner) predeceased him.

In 1907 he left for Saskatchewan, where he farmed and taught school. In 1911 he took over the duties of Postmaster in Herbert, Sask., in which capacity he acted until 1931. While in Herbert, he continued to take an active interest in Church, Sunday school, and music. He was a man of varied characteristics and attainments. He was greatly interested in spiritual things, and much concerned about the future prosperity of the Church. He had a definite Christian experience. He believed firmly that the Mennonite Church has a distinctive and important message for all men. He felt that music was one of God's best methods of presenting this message. Perhaps he received most inspiration along spiritual lines from his efforts to help others to sing. He was a man of vision. and often left the impression that he was a step or two ahead of the times in which he lived. When given some task by the Church he was tireless in its performance, even to the impairment of his health. His passing at the age of 65, for one who had been so physically rugged, attests to this fact. He was favored with many friendships and associations that enriched and broadened his life. He was converted under the influence of J. S. Coffman, one of the pioneer Mennonite evangelists, and associated with Bishop J. F. Funk and Dr. H. A. Mumaw who did so much for the work of the Church in Indiana in her early educational struggles.

Funeral services were conducted by Bro. Oscar Burkholder, assisted by Bros. S. F. Coffman and S. M. Kanagy. Text, Col. 1: 18,19. Burial in adjoining cemetery near the church.

"There is a safe and secret place,
Beneath the wings divine,
Reserved for all the heirs of grace;
O be that refuge mine.
A hand almighty to defend,
An ear for every call,
An honored life, a peaceful end,
And heaven to crown it all."

Gospel Herald, June 10, 1937 - Vol. XXX, No.11

Aaron — Phoebe Mumaw. Phoebe (daughter of Dr. Henry A. Mumaw and Malinda) was born 4 Sep 1873, of, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was christened 21 Jun 1891; died 16 Jul 1960; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elmeda Weber
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-74446

Elmeda — Clayton Martin Weber. Clayton (son of Amos M. Weber and Lovina B. Martin) was born 1917, of, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 31 Mar 1981, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]