JONAS BYER

Jonas Byer came from Pennsylvania to Markham and settled on Lot 22, Con. 8, in 1811. David Byer, Sr., his son, was born June 15, 1791 in Pennsylvania. He married on March 14, 1815, Anna Doner, daughter of Bishop John Doner, Sr., of the Tunker church of Markham. Anna Doner was born May 6, 1798. The house was built in 1829 by his father, Jonas Byer. David Byer, Sr., descendants: Jonas lived in Pickering township. His son, Henry, belonged to the Old Mennonite Church near Stouffville. Susanna, a daughter, married Daniel Lehman who was a deacon in the Old Mennonite Church. He was born in 1805, ordained in 1851 and died in 1857. His son, David Lehman, was chosen a deacon of the Tunker church in 1878 and died in 1916. Isaac is a deacon in the M. B. C. Church and his son, Arthur, is a minister in the M. B. C. Church. Abraham Lehman, a son, lived on the old farm. Two of his grandsons, Abraham Smith, bishop, and Fred Nighswader is a minister of the Old Order Mennonite Church at present. Elizabeth Byer married Abraham Ramer, founder of the M. B. C. Church. John Byer was born in 1820, was chosen a minister in the Tunker church in 1862 and died December, 1892. David Byer, twin brother of John, lived on the old homestead and died in December, 1894. David Byer's great-grandson, John Sauder, is a minister of the Old Order River Brethren in Lancaster Co., Pa. He married a daughter of Bishop John Strickler of that place. John and David Byer were both converted at the age of twenty and later joined the Tunker church. Christian Heise in writing his obituary, also composed this poem.

Would early in the morning rise, Would self denial exercise,
And so would leave his home.
Appointed meeting to attend against his feeling often went,
But duty bid him come.
He was a man not college bred. But was by Holy writing led
And by the Spirit moved.
He was a faithful brother found, and preached a doctrine true and sound.
Could by the Scripture prove.

This is one of the hymns which was sung quite often under his ministry:

Jesu, Jesu, Brunn des lebens, Stell ach stell dich bei uns ein,
Das wir jetzund nickt vergebens, Wirken und beisammen sein.

Du verheiszest ja den deinen, das du wollest wunder thun,
Und in ihnen willst erscheinen, Ach, erfulls, erfulls auch nun.

Herr wir tragen deinen Namen, Herr, wir sind nach dir getauft,
Und du hast zu deinem Saamen, Uns mit deinem blut erkauft.

0 so lasz uns dich erkennen, komm erklare selbst dein Wort,
Dasz wir dich recht Meister nennen, Und dir dienen fort und fort.

Bist du mitten unter denen, Welche sich nach denen heil,
Mit vereintem Seufzen sehnen, 0, so sei auch unser theil.

Lekr uns singen, lehr uns beten, hauch uns an mit deinen Geist,
Das wir vor den Vater treten, Wie es kindlich ist und heist.

Sammle die zerstreuten sinnen, Stor die flatterhaftigkeit,
Lasz uns licht und Kraft gewinnen, Zu der Christen Wesenheit.

0 du haupt der rechten gleider, nimm uns auch zu solcher an,
Bring das Abgewichne wieder, Auf die frohe himmelsbahn.

Gib uns augen, gib uns ohren, Gib uns herzen die dir gleich,
Mach uns ridlich neu geboren, Herr, zu dienem Himmelreich.

Ach ja, lehr uns Christen werden, Christen die eie licht der Welt,
Christen, die ein Salz der Erden, Ach ja, Herr wies dir gefallt.