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- (Research):Gospel Herald - Vol. XXXVII, No . 25 - September 22, 1944, page 503, 504Snider.-Jonas Snider was born near Waterloo, Ont., Oct. 2, 1858; died after a lengthy illness, at his home, Waterloo, Sept. 6, 1944; aged 85 y. 11 m. 4 d. On April 1, 1875, he was married to Lucy Ann Snyder, who predeceased him in 1886. On July 5, 1887, he was united in marriage to Susanna Horst, who passed away in 1933. He is survived by 8 sons (Edgar, Clayton, and Delton, Waterloo; Addison and Walter, Bridgeport; Omar, New Dundee; Benjamin, Woodstock; and Gilbert, near Waterloo), 2 daughters (Clara and Hannah, at home), 30 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and one brother (Amos, of Iowa).Many incidents and experiences of interest were connected with Bro. Snider's life. His grandfather, Jacob C. Snider, was a pioneer of Waterloo County. He came from Pennsylvania and engaged in the sawmill and flour mill business at Waterloo. His father, Elias Snider, was a minister in the Mennonite Church.In 1885 a wonderful revival was experiences in Waterloo County. It was not the custom of the church to have evangelistic services in the churches. A number of brethren, among them Noah Stauffer and Solomon Gehman, preached the Gospel in private homes, and many were converted. Among these converts was our departed Bro. Snider. At that time Sunday schools were not held in the church houses. In 1887, in a private dwelling owned by Levi Groff (at present the home of Bro. Snider's son, (Clayton), a Sunday school was organized, and the brethren Levi Groff and Jonas Snider were chosen as superintendents. The workers in this Sunday school labored faithfully in spite of opposition, and under the blessing of God the school outgrew its quarters. It was then held in Martins Schoolhouse, and finally in the David Eby Church.On June 24, 1892, Bro. Snider was ordained a minister in the David Eby Church, now the Erb St. Mennonite Church, Waterloo. On Nov. 17, 1895, he was ordained bishop. In his church record book he wrote: "Nov. 17, 1895 at the Cressman Church ordination services were held to ordain a bishop to assist Bishop Elias Weber in his field of labor, when it again pleased God to let the lot fall on me." He held this office until the Lord saw fit to call him home. At his request the conference released him form his major responsibilities as bishop in 1935. During his ministry he filled many preaching appointments, and two or three days with horse and buggy were often required to make the round trip. Among these appointments were : Mosa (Bothwell), Glen Allen, Port Elgin, Hanover, Rainham and South Cayuga, Wallace, Zurich, Clarence Center, N.Y., and Berne, Mich. The congregations in his bishop district were: Waterloo, Kitchener, Snyder, Cressman, Wanner, Hagey, and Weber's. Bro. Snider officiated at many ordination services. He preformed two hundred and forty-two wedding ceremonies. His baptismal records are not complete, but up to 1919 he had baptized over six hundred people. In the conference district his name will long be remembered. At the close of his ministry we can say in the words of Scripture: "After he had served his own generation by the will of God, [he] fell on sleep." (Acts 13:36). "I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing" (11 Tim. 4:6-8). The family will miss him as a loving father. The congregation at Waterloo will remember him as a faithful minister and bishop. In the conference he rests from his labors, but his works do follow him. Funeral services were held at the First Mennonite Church, Kitchener, in charge of the following brethren: Merle Shantz, B. B. Shantz, M. Hallman, C. F. Derstine, S. F. Coffman, M. H. Roth, and J. B. Martin.
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