CHRISTIAN HOOVER

Christian Hoover was of Old Mennonite descent, whose parents used to worship in the houses before the Elmira church was built in 1860. He married Catharine Baker, sister of Samuel Baker, Nov. 9, 1841. Witnesses were Peter Doner and Elizabeth Heise. His second wife was Sarah Sider Heise, mother of Deacon Reuben Heise and Abraham Heise. Abraham was Elder John Henry's father. They had one daughter, Annie, who married Levi Schell. Christian Hoover raised Josephus Baker who was chosen deacon of Nottawa. He also raised Elder Ernest Ditson's father of Collingwood. These two men married Klincks who were twin sisters, descendants of Polly Horner Klinck. He was chosen to the ministry in 1864 and died in 1885. Charles Ditson, Sr., married Bishop Samuel Baker's sister and was one of the pioneer ministers of Nottawa dis trict. He was a very plain man and mostly preached German. He always had family worship morning and evening, he would usually sing "Lord in the Morning I Will Send My Prayer to Reach Thine Ear" and at night "The Day Is Past and Gone, The Evening Shades Appear". He was a big hearted man and was good to the poor. I have been told that when he went to an auction sale he would bid what he thought an article was worth and would usually get it. Two of Annie Schell's grandchildren have charge of the Toronto Brethren in Christ mission at present. He had Love feast in his barn in the spring of 1861 and meeting in his house every sixteen weeks. He stood true to his church and contended for the old paths.

George Klinck married Polly Horner. Witnesses were Emanuel Doner and Joseph Doner, April 7, 1835, by the Rev. Wm. Jenkins of Richmond Hill. He often used to give out that German hymn. No. 308 in hymn book:

Ich bin ein armer Pilger und reise durch die Zeit,
Ach, Jesu, mach mich Kluger zu meiner Seligkeit
Du hast gemacht die Bahn, so komm ich nun gegangen,
Ach sieh doch mein Verlangen und ziehe mich hinan.