Hist. Mss. 1-193

Jacob Hochstetter, 1774-1865

Papers, 1820-1863

2 Boxes (Long Green)





Introduction



	These papers were deposited into the Archives by Fannie H. Lapp, Manheim, 

Pennsylvania, in 1957.



	This collection consists primarily of letters written to Jacob Hochstetter between 

the years of 1820-1863. The letters are all handwritten in Gothic script, and are in the 

German language.  In 1960, John S. Umble provided English translations to the letters.  In 

1998, Edsel Burdge Jr. provided German transcriptions and English translations for some 

of the letters.



	Jacob Hochstetter was a preacher for the congregation around Manheim, 

Pennsylvania since 1807, and was advanced to the office of assistant bishop in 1831, soon 

after the death of Christian Nissley (1777-1831).  Hochstetter served as assistant bishop 

until the death of his senior bishop Samuel Nissley (1761-1838).  From 1838 until his 

death on April 6, 1865 he held the important place as bishop of this large growing district. 

Hochstetter was moderator of the Lancaster Conference after the death of Bishop Peter 

Eby in 1843. 

	He died at age 90 and was laid to rest in the family graveyard on his own farm, 

one-half mile north of Manheim.  At his funeral over a thousand people attended and 

Bishop John Burkholder and Bishop Benjamin Herr preached from Hebrews 13:7, 8.           

(Information courtesy of Edsel Burdge, Jr., Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, 1997.)



































Inventory



Box 1 (Long Green)



1/1	Background Information



1/2	Document, no date.  “Proverbs 4:9”

		Included with 1820s material.



1/3	1820, January 7, Johannes Hunsicker, Perkiomen, Montgomery County, to Jacob 

Hochstetter, Manheim, Pennsylvania. 

		The writer is Bishop John Hunsicker (1773-1847) of Skippack, Franconia 

Conference. (Information courtesy of Edsel Burdge, Jr., Shippensburg, 

Pennsylvania, 1997.)



1/4	1820, February 25, Jacob Stauffer, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, to Jacob 

Hochstetter, Manheim, Pennsylvania.

	            The writer is Jacob Stauffer (1773-1843) who served in the Chambersburg 

congregation.  Later he joined the Reformed Mennonites (Lehman, pp. 77, 

78).  Brother Abraham may be either Preacher Abraham Brubaker (1784-

1850), 	ordained 1810 for Hammer Creek (Weaver, p. 459); Preacher 

Abraham Burkholder (1769-1840) of Groffdale (Weaver, p. 460); or 

Bishop Abraham Roth (1773-1854), first resident bishop of Adams and 

York counties (Weaver, p. 477).  Ben Herschi may be Preacher Benjamin 

Hershey (1766-1842) of Manheim.  (Information courtesy of Edsel 

Burdge, Jr., Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, 1997.)



1/5	1821, May 26, John Burkholder, Toscarawas (Tuscarawas) County, Dover 

	Township, to Joseph Burkholder, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.



1/6	1825, April 4, Promissory Note, Jacob Hochstetter.  Witnesses were David May 

	and Abraham Hochstetter.



1/7	1827, July 4, Johannes Stein, Jonestown, Pennsylvania to Jacob Hochstetter, 

Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		The letter is inviting Jacob Hochstetter to attend and preach at a 

cornerstone laying celebration for the new church in Stumpstown.



1/8	1828, April 23, Johannes Lehman and Hanna Lehman to Jacob Hochstetter, 

	Warwick Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

		Johannes and Hanna Lehman are writing Jacob on their difficulties to live 

	Christian lives.   



1/9	1828, June 2, Martin Mollinger to Jacob Hochstetter, Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		This letter is about martyr books and baptism.



1/10	1830, September 11, Christian Hornly, Ohio, to Jacob Hochstetter, Manheim, 

	Pennsylvania.

		Christian Hornly writes this letter to Jacob Hochstetter to ask him to 

		help Hornly's financial status by having Hochstetter ask people to eliminate 

		his debts.



1/11	1833, April 27, John Lapp, Clarence Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania to 	

		Jacob Hochstetter, Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		John Lapp writes this letter to thank Jacob for his support and to report 	

		that things are going well for him. 

	

1/12	1834, May, John Lapp, Clarence Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania to Jacob 	

		Hochstetter, Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		Another report on how Lapp's family, community, and church is going.



1/13	1834, November 11, Michael Gingrich to Jacob Hochstetter, Manheim, 		

		Pennsylvania.

		Gingrich writes Hochstetter on Gingrich's role in accepting new members 	

		into the church and excommunicating members from the church.



1/14	1835, April 4, Greg Thron, Adams County to Jacob Hochstetter, Manheim, 	

		Pennsylvania.

		This letter sheds light on the controversy surrounding Bishop Abraham 	

		Roth of Adams County.  Thron was a minister for the Mummasburg 	

		Mennonite congregation in Adams County. He died in 1847 at the age of 	

		69.  (Information courtesy of Edsel Burdge, Jr., Shippensburg, 		

		Pennsylvania, 1997.)

	

1/15	1835, May 31, John Lapp, Clarence Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania to 	

		Jacob Hochstetter, Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		John Lapp writes Jacob Hochstetter on the subjects of pride, God's calling 	

		to men, and the Christian life.

	

1/16	1836, May 25, Abraham Roth, Adams County to Jacob Hochstetter, Manheim, 	

		Pennsylvania.

		Abraham Roth was a Bishop and church leader in the Franklin-Washington 

		counties in the 1830's and 1840's.  Brother Brubager is probably Preacher 	

		John Brubager (1795-1870), ordained in 1830's for Manheim, but could 	

		possibly be Bishop John Burkholder of Rohrerstown, ordained 1831.  	

		Frans' is probably Reformed Mennonite Bishop Christian Frantz (1786-	

		1862) of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.  (Information courtesy of Edsel 	

		Burdge, Jr., Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, 1997.)

	



1/17	1836, June 1, John Brubaker to Jacob Hochstetter, Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		John Brubaker writes Hochstetter about Brother Thorn (possibly Greg 	

		Thron) and getting him reinstated as a minister.

	

1/18	1837, July 8, Michael Gingrich to Jacob Hochstetter, Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		Gingrich writes Hochstetter on meeting times and schedules in an attempt 	

		to make sure that he can attend a meeting Hochstetter is planning.



1/19	1839, June 30, Samuel Martin, Abraham Martin, Johannes Scherer, and Peter 	

		Lehmy to Jacob Hochstetter, Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		The letter is divided into two sections; the first is written by Samuel Martin 

		and Abraham Martin and the second shorter note is by Johannes Scherer 	

		and Peter Lehmy.  The sections relate to a crisis over what was decided at 	

		a conference in Lancaster County in 1837.  Hochstetter is asked to clarify 	

		the stance of the church on different issues.



1/20	1840, February, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to sheriff of Lancaster County.

		This is a copy of an order to the sheriff of Lancaster County to summon 	

		some men to court so they can prove that they have the right 		

		to operate a banking corporation.  Among those called are Benjamin B. 	

		Herr, Jacob Krieder, Philip Reitgel, Jacob Shenk, Doctor John Witmer, 	

		another John Witmer, farmer John Landis, and merchant John Landis.



1/21	1840, April 6, Peter and Maria Eshliman, Washington Co., Maryland, to Daniel 	

		Burkholder, Lititz, Pennsylvania.

		Peter Eshliman (1798-1876) moved with his father and extended family 	

		from Lancaster c. 1831.  He served as a minister at Millers and was 	

		ordained bishop in 1838 by Abraham Roth.  His wife was Maria Reiff 	

		Eshleman (1797-1885).  (Lehman, pp. 220, 221) Evidently Daniel 		

		Burkholder passed this letter on to Bishop Hostetter.  Rohland was 		

		Preacher John Rowland (1781-1863) of Marsh Head area south of 		

		Hagerstown.  He preached for the Smiths and perhaps Beaver Creek 	

		Mennonite communities.  Old Bochtel was Preacher Martin Bechtel (1765-	

		1841) of Millers-Stouffers-Bechtels (Lehman, pp. 18,89).  John Krop was 	

		probably a John Groff or Grove of Smiths in the Clear Spring area.  There 	

		is no reference to him as a minister.  The controversy referred to here is 	

		further 	described in a June 17, 1840, letter from Preacher Christian 		

		Newcomer (1779-1850) of Stouffers to his son Peter Newcomer in Medina 

		County, Ohio. (Information courtesy of Edsel Burdge, Jr., Shippensburg, 	

		Pennsylvania, 1997.)









1/22	1840, April 29, Jacob and Anna Zimmerman to Jacob Hochstetter, Lancaster 	

		County, Pennsylvania.

		Hochstetter is asked to preach at a new meeting and if he would change his 

		travel plans to make this possible.



1/23	1840, May 16, David Allebach.

		This is a list of  ministers and meeting-houses of the Franconia 		

		Conference.



1/24	1840, May 30, Christian Herr to Jacob Hochstetter.

		This letter was apparently neither sealed or mailed, but possibly could have 

		been enclosed with another letter.  It has no postage or address on it.



1/25	1840, December 23, Peter Lehman and Jacob Krehbiel to Johannes Lehman, 	

		Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		The first page of the letter is written by Peter Lehman.  Lehman gives an 	

		update on how he is and his hope that Johannes Lehman is doing well.  	

		Jacob Krehbiel writes Lehman on a dispute in church between Krehbiel and 

		John Lapp.



1/26	1841, March 15, Abraham Eshliman, Cannon Township, Stark County, Ohio to 	

		Jacob Hochstetter, Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		This letter is about a dispute in Ohio involving a Preacher Martin and some 

		kind of council lead by a man named Rorer.  Hochstetter is somehow 	

		involved and is asked to reevaluate the situation.



1/27	1842, November 17, Jahonnas Mumma (possibly Meaner), Dauphin County to 	

		Jacob Hochstetter, Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		The letter is short and is a brief explanation of some scripture.



1/28	1842, December 11, Jacob Zimmerman, Blue Ball, Pennsylvania to Jacob 		

		Hochstetter, Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		Zimmerman thanks Hochstetter for a note he wrote him and tells him of his 

		injured side.

	

1/29	1843, November 9, Jacob Lehman, Wrightsville, Pennsylvania to Jacob 		

		Hochstetter, Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		Lehman requests Hochstetter to come help with a boy and two sisters who 	

		wish to be baptized and take communion.

	











1/30	1845, March 6, Johannes Reif, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to Jacob Hochstetter, 	

		Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		This letter is on the controversy surrounding Bishop Abraham Roth 	

		ministry.  It was originally written in English.  Johannes Reif was an early 	

		deacon for the Mummaburg congregation in Adams County (Weaver p. 	

		272). (Information courtesy of Edsel Burdge, Jr., Shippensburg, 		

		Pennsylvania, 1997.)



1/31	1845, September 15, Daniel Brubaker, Jessa Thrall, David Brubacker, Joseph 	

		Bean, Joseph Gochnauer, Jacob Gochnauer, Christian Meyers, Washington 

		Township, York County, Pennsylvania to Jacob Hochstetter, Manheim, 	

		Pennsylvania.

		This letter provides information on the controversy surrounding Bishop 	

		Abraham Roth.



1/32	1845, October 15, Abraham Roth, Menellin Township, Adams County to Jacob 	

		Hochstetter, Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		Roth counters the accusations made against him by pointing out the faults 	

		of his accusers. This letter is sent to Hochstetter but intended to be read by 

		a group of church leaders.



1/33	1845, October 16, Christian Herr to Jacob Hochstetter, Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		Herr writes Hochstetter on his descision against Jacob Stauffer and asks 	

		Hochstetter to support his findings.



1/34	1845, December 11, Jacob Brubacker to Jacob Hochstetter, Manheim, 		

		Pennsylvania.

 		Brubacker writes on how the church has turned against those who live by 	

		the word and has made wrong decisions.



1/35	1845 Letter, Written by Abraham Brubacher

		Original letter cannot be found, a translation is all that is available.  It 	

		is likely that the letter was sent to Jacob Hochstetter but cannot be 		

		completely confirmed.  The letter is a report of wrong doing by 		

		Zimmerman with witnesses Pastor Jacob Brubacher, Michael Brubacher, 	

		Jacob Brubacher, Joseph Brubacher, and Daniel  Brucbacher affirming 	

		Abraham Brubacher's story of Zimmerman's wrong doing.

















Box 2 (Long Green)



2/1	1846, March 30, Abraham Roth, Menellin Township, Adams County to Jacob 	

		Hochstetter, Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		Roth writes Hochstetter on the continuing problems in Adams County.  	

		Roth wants Hochstetter to say whether the charges against him are true or 	

		not.  Roth also counters his accusers and asks Hochstetter to show 		

		passing Mennonite leaders this letter.



2/2	1846, April 25, Abraham Roth, Farmers, Pennsylvania to Jacob Hochstetter, 	

		Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		A short letter in which Roth asks Hoshstetter to come out to see him.



2/3	1846, September 2, David Metzler, Mahoning County, Ohio to Jacob Hochstetter, 

		Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		This letter is most likely written by David Metzler (1789-1862) who moved 

		to Ohio from Lancaster County.  The letter also mentions Groffdale 	

		Mennonite Church in Pennsylvania further pointing to the David Metzler 	

		mentioned above.  The letter is 12 pages long and has many points on 	

		church structure and doctrine.



2/4	1846, November 30,  Christian Herr, Lancaster, Pennsylvania to Jacob 		

		Hochstetter, Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		Herr requests Hochstetter to attend a meeting at the Frantz meeting-house 	

		to resolve some church problems involving Johannes Schenck.



2/5	1847, January 13, Jacob Hershberger, Lebanon, Pennsylvania to Jacob 		

		Hochstetter, Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		Hershberger informs Hochstetter that he has sold his farm and bought a 	

		new one in Grawford County, Ohio.  

	

2/6	1847, February 17, Christian Herr, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania to Jacob 	

		Hochstetter, Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		Herr writes Hochstetter to express his desire to have David Herr reinstated 

		as a minister.



2/7	1847, March 1, Abraham and Elizabeth Eschliman, Stark County, Ohio to 		

		Johannes Mumma and wife, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.	

		The Eschlimans write the Mummas on their condition and how life is going 

		in general. The they give a report of what is happening in their church in 	

		regards to deacons and ministers.







2/8	1848, January 10, Benjamin Eby, Berlin, Canada, to Jacob Hochstetter, Manheim, 	

		Pennsylvania.

		Eby reports to Hochstetter the split of his church over opposing views of a 	

		minister named Krehbiel who was being accused of wrong doing by John 	

		Lapp.



2/9	1848, March 11, Joseph Bamberger, Michael Lesher, Johannes Lescher, Daniel 	

		Lescher, Joseph Lescher, Johannes L. Detwiler, Samuel Lehman, Christian 	

		Lehman, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania to Jacob Hochstetter, Manheim, 	

		Pennsylvania.

		This letter reports the process of the writers' congregation having 		

		communion and the long process of organizing it in the proper way.



2/10	1848, June 12, Christian Herr, Lancaster, Pennsylvania to Jacob Hochstetter, 	

		Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		Herr writes Hochstetter on finding future leaders of the church because the 

		Bishops are growing old and weak.  There is also a section on Christian 	

		Brubacher being reinstated into the church.



2/11	1849, April 30, Peter and Maria Eschliman, Hagerstown, Maryland to Jacob 	

		Hochstetter, Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		Hochstetter is asked to give his opinion of Abraham Roth and investigate 	

		exactly what is going on with Roth and Jacob Hochstetter.



2/12	1849, May 5, Abraham Eshliman, David Martin, John Stauffer, David Horst,  	

		Benjamin Sollenberger, and 22 others, Wayne County, Ohio to Jacob 	

		Zimmerman, Blue Ball, Pennsylvania.

		This is an account of the problems concerning Abraham Roherer, local 	

		ministers, and church members.  They asked Zimmerman to help resolve 	

		the differences.



2/13	1849, July 6, Christian Herr, Lancaster, Pennsylvania to Jacob Hochstetter, 	

		Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		Herr invites Hochstetter and new Bishop? Brubacher to Strasburg 		

		meeting-house for a drawing of lots.



2/14	1849, September 14, Jacob Kohr, Manheim Township, Pennsylvania to Jacob 	

		Hoschstetter, Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		Kohr responds to Hochstetter's accusations and asks him to do something 	

		about Christian Brubacher.	











2/15	1850, January 9, and January 17, Benjamin Herr to Christian Herr then Christian 	

		Herr to Jacob Hochstetter, Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		The first letter was sent to Christian Herr by Benjamin Herr.  Christian 	

		Herr wrote a letter on the bottom of that letter and sent it to Hochstetter.  	

		The letters make reference to an enclosed letter from Jacob Zimmerman.  	

		The Zimmerman letter cannot be found or was not saved.



2/16	1850, March 28, Christian Herr, Lancaster, Pennsylvania to Jacob Hochstetter, 	

		Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		Herr writes Hochstetter on his dwindling health and of the health problems 	

		of other Bishops.



2/17	1853, January 28, Johannes Borgholder to Jacob Hochstetter, Manheim, 		

		Pennsylvania.

		Borgholder is criticizing Hochstetter for not doing what is right by the 	

		word of God. He asks Hochstetter to change towards the truth.



2/18	1853, February 8, Martin Burkholder, Harrisonburg, Virginia to Jacob 		

		Simmerman, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. 

		Burkholder writes Simmerman about a general conference of Mennonite 	

		leaders and a trip through Canada and the Midwest.  Burkholder wants to 	

		know if anyone from Burkholder's area will be coming.



2/19	1853, November 2, Henrich Schenck to Jacob Hochstetter, Manheim, 		

		Pennsylvania.

		The letter deals with the ongoing problems of J. Burkholder and Schenck's 	

		involvement in the situation.

	

2/20	1854, November 29, Henrich Weber, Waterloo County, Upper Canada to Jacob 	

		Hochstetter, Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		Weber gives an account of his journey from Harrisburg to Canada from 	

		where he writes the letter.



2/21	1854, December 15, Henrich Schenck to Jacob Hochstetter, Manheim, 		

		Pennsylvania.

		Schenck writes on the problems between Risser and Joseph Burkholder.



2/22	1857, August 27, Jacob Lehman to Jacob Hochstetter, Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		Lehman writes of continuing health problems and illness.



2/23	1858, October 11, Jacob Hochstetter, Penn Township, Lancaster County, 		

		Pennsylvania to Christian Mardie, in the vicinity of Farmsville.

		Hochstetter asks Mardie to find a person who wrote him charging 		

		Hochstetter of various wrong doings.  Mardie is to find this person and 	

		respond to the charges.



2/24	1859, February 12, Johannes Lapp, Harris Hill, Erie County, New York to Jacob 	

		Hochstetter, Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		Lapp writes Hochstetter on his condition and recent travels.



2/25	1863, January 6, Benjamin Musser Jr., East Hempfield Township to Jacob 		

		Hochstetter, Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		Musser is writing this letter to Hochstetter to give his views on the 		

		problems and divisions in his church.



2/26	April 6 Letter, Postmarked Gettysburg to Jacob Hochstetter, Manheim, 		

		Pennsylvania.

		Original letter from unknown year with no transcription or translation



2/27	July 11 Letter, Christian Herr Lancaster, Pennsylvania to Jacob Hochstetter, Penn 	

		Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

		Herr writes Hochstetter on new ministers and bishops as health affect him 	

		and other leaders,

2/28	Undated and unsigned document believed to be from 1840s.

		This letter is a listing done by a someone that counted the exact number of 	

		verses, words, and letters in the Bible.  The number of times the words 	

		"Jehovah" and 	"and" occur in the Bible are also listed.



2/29	Undated Letter, Martin Moellinger to Jacob Hochstetter, Manheim, Pennsylvania.

		Moellinger informs Hochstetter that he cannot make a trip to 		

		Chamberstown with him because of his failing health.  This letter is in 	

		response to a letter Moellinger received from Hochstetter on September 	

		11.  



2/30	Martyrs Mirror Listing

		The page is a listing of particular stories in the Martyrs Mirror with page 	

		number and a brief description of what happened.





























				Name and Subject Tracing





Allebach, David

Bamberger, Joseph

Bean, Joseph

Brubacher, Abraham

Brubaker, Daniel

Brubaker, John

Burkholder, Daniel

Burkholder, John, Tuscarora County, Pa.

Burkholder, Joseph, Lancaster County, Pa.

Burkholder, Martin, Harrisonburg, Virginia

Detwiler, Johannes

Eby, Benjamin, Berlin, Canada

Eshliman, Abraham, Stark County, Ohio

Eshliman, Peter, 1798-1876

Franconia Mennonite Conference

Gingerich, Michael

Groffdale Mennonite Church

Herr, Benjamin

Herr, Christian, Lancaster, Pennslyvania

Hershberger, Jacob, Lebanon, Pennslyvania

Hornly, Christian, Ohio

Horst, David

Hunsicker, Johannes, 1773-1847

Kohr, Jacob, Manheim Township, Pennslyvania

Krehbiel, Jacob

Lancaster Mennonite Conference

Lapp, John, Erie County, Pennslyvania

Lehman, Christian

Lehman, Jacob, Wrightsville, Pennslyvania

Lehman, Johannes and Hanna

Lehman, Peter

Lehman, Samuel

Lehmy, Peter

Lescher, Daniel

Lescher, Johannes

Lescher, Joseph

Lescher, Michael

Maritn, David

Martin, Abraham

Martin, Samuel

Martyrs Mirror

Mennonites- Maryland - Washington County

Mennonites- Ohio - Stark County

Mennonites- Ohio - Wayne County

Mennonites- Pennslyvania - Erie County

Mennonites- Pennslyvania - Lancaster County

Mennonites- Pennslyvania - Manheim

Mennonites- Pennsylvania - Adams County

Metzler, David

Meyers, Christian

Mollinger, Martin

Mumma, Johannas, Dauphin County

Musser, Benjamin, Jr., East Hempfield Township

Reif, Johannes, Gettysburg, Pennslyvania

Roth, Abraham, 1773-1854

Schenck, Henrich

Scherer, Johannes

Sollenberger, Benjamin

Stauffer, Jacob, 1773-1843

Stein, Johannes, Jonestown, Pennslyvania

Stumptown Mennonite Church

Thrall, Jessa

Thron, Greg, 1778-1847

Weber, Henrich, Waterloo County, Canada

Zimmerman, Jacob, Blue Ball, Pennslyvania









































Inventory Listing by Kent Holsopple, June 16, 1999

File: "HM1-193.doc"

Archives of the Mennonite Church, Goshen, Indiana







12

Hist. Mss. Hm1-193  Jacob Hochstetter Collection (Continued)