Issue 08 - Yoder Family Information

(Bishop Solonon Yotler fron
page U
Peter Nafzi-nger, d. 9-L3-I919; Jonas, b. +-2-
1835, n. Annie Mast, d. 7-3l-l9o6t Moses , b.
11-11-1839, m. Mattie Neuhauser, d. 1-9-1880;
John, b. 12-4-18441, d. -28-1868; E1i, b.
2-6-1844, d. -28-1905; Lewis, b. 4-18-1846,
m. Sarah Rebecca Mast, d. 6-15-7893.
Solonan came with his father Henry Yoder to
Mifflin County before 1829. His first four
children were born in Mifflin County near
Mattawarura, Pa. Before 1837 he moved to Union
County where his last'five children were born.
He signed the will of Jacob Beiler in 1849 as a
wi.tness. He was evidently ordained a bishop in
Union County and like1y ordained Elias Riehl as
a bishop. In 1854 he moved from Union County
to Baltimore County, Maryland. There he bought
a farm of 111 acres which is sti1l in the possession
of the Yoder descendants.
Bishop Solomon Yoder was devout in his faith,
always courteous, kind and affable. His life
was exemplary in all respects and he always
supported those interests which were calculated
to uplift and benefit humanity. He was highly
thought of by his contemporaries. He was an
active participant in a series of Amish conferences
known as the Diener-Versammlungen, held
annually (except 18) from ]-862 to 1878. A
brief description of these conferenees is
found in Vo1, 2 of the Mennonite Encyclopedia.
At the first meeting, held in Walme Co., 0h. ,
Bishop Jonathan Yoder of fllinois norninated Solomon
Yoder as chairman. He declined but did
serve on three committees. Again 1n 1861 he
served on three committees when the meeting
was held in Mifflin Co., Pa. As was true of
most Amish leaders, he was opposed to photographs.
In the 1868 meeting held in Mifflin
County, he served on two committees. After
that he did not attend the meetings of the
Diener-Versamrnlungen. With the close of those
meetings in 1878, there arose the division in
the Amish church. The more conservative group
became known as the Old Order Amish. The more
liberaL group becane known as the Anish Mennonites.
Solornan Yoder chose to follow the Anish
llennonites.
As he grew older, after 1870, Solotlan was,
assisted in his work as blshop by John P. Mast
of Iancaster Co., Pa. He nade his wllL ln ]-87.
The wlll is as followsr SoLonon Yoder's last
wl1l and testamentr f, Solonon Yoder of Baltlnore
County ln the state of ilIaryland, belng
deslrous to settle ny worldly affairs before
it shall please alnighty God to cal-l me hence,
do make and publish this my last will and testatnent
in manner as followsr lten, I w111, devlse
anal beq'ueath that all ny property and such
Dersonal -crt possessions that I nay own at the time
ny dec-ease shatl be divided- by ny executors,
hereafter naned, and the proceeds of sald sale
(after my debts and funeral expenses have been
paid) to be equally divlded between my seven
chllalren share and share alike, vl-s, ltoah,
Jonas, Solonon, Itloses Eli' Lewis and Lydla.
Iten, I do hereby appoint Peter Nafzinger and
ny son Lewis Yoder to be my executors of this
my last w111 and testanent with power to sell
and convey any or all such property before
nentloned anal I do hereby appoint the said
Peter Nafzinger and Lewis Yoder trustees to
take care of and rnanage ny son Noah's share of
ny estate and to use the sarne for his benefit
6
and f do hereby will and dlrect that my executors
of this ny last will and testament shall
se11 all the property as soon as convenient and
to be atl sold within one year of ny decease.
fn testinony of which f have set my name anC
applied my seal thls eighteenth day of August
in the year eighteen hundred seventy seven.
Solomon Yoder Seal
Signed, seaLed and declared by Solomon Yoder,
the above nentioned testator, as his last will
and testanent, who signed our nanes as wltnesses.
Charles L. Fleside, Jos. Hertzler, Isaac D.
Hertzler
After naking-his w111 Ln L87 Solomon Yoder
became quite feeble and was unable to leave his
home. On the first of February 1880 he took to
hls bed. After three weeks of suffering he was
called home by his heavenly Father. He died
Feb. 22, 1880 at the age of 79 years, 3 months
and5 days. Hls funeral services were conducted
by John Yoder ln English and Elias Riehl in
German.
The wrlter has known descendants of Solonon
Yoder since he lived in Long Creen ln 1916. An
interestlng story concerns E1i Yoder, son of .
Blshop Solornon Yoder. l{e was born Feb. 6, 1844
in Union Co., Pa., then went with his parents to
Baltirnore Co., Md. in L854. Sone tine later, as
a young man, he decided to go west and forget
his Anish baekground. He bought land in Kansas,
was married there and started the town known as
Yoder, Ks. on one occasion when visitors were
present, his wife brought out his Anlsh sult of
clothes to show then to the visitors. This
dlspleased EIi very much. The raost lnteresting
part of this story ls that many Amish fanilies
have moved to the vicinity of Yoder, Ks. Thus
Eli. Yoder has not been able to be isolated from
the Anish. He died July 28, L905,
The Yoder fanily I remember best is that of
Lewis Yoder who was a nlnister after the death
of his father. The youngest son of Bishop Solonon
Yoder, he was born in Union Co., Pa., April
18, 1845 and married Sarah Rebecca Mast, the
daughter of Danlel Mast and Elizabeth Zug. Danie1
litast was the son of John Mast and Elizabeth
Kurts, wh11e Elizabeth Zug was the daughter of
Jacob Zug and Anna Sumners. tewls Yoder died
June 5, L893, but hls wldow sarah (wtast) Yoder
did not die until 1920. Thus I well remenber
her and her childrenr Elizabeth Solonon, Lydla,
Enery, Ada and Morris. My family has kept in
contact with that of Emery Yoder to this date.
He married Anna M. Gerbrick and had children:
Edith, Elizabeth. Ruth and Sarah. Edith narried
Carroll Wilhide. Their present address is
Detour,Md. Last year rny brother John, hls wife
Helen and f had the pleasure of belng entertained
1n their hone. This was on the occasion
of the annual Long Green insprirational- neeting
when former residents of Long Green and their
friends gather together to renew acquaintences.
At this last neeting in Long Green, f felt
lnspired to write the story of the life of
Solomon Yoder.
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DANIET J. YODER AND LOUISA MILI,ER REI'NION
Received a report from Ray A. Yoder, of
Arizona City AZ, of the annual reunlon of
the Danlel J. Yoder and Louisa Mlller descendants
was held on July 19, 1986, at
Canby OR. There were about /0 attending.
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