MINISTERS OF WATERLOO DISTRICT

First minister, Niels Peter Holm, was born March 16, 1811. He was a brother to Bishop Peter Niels Holm and a brother-in-law to Bishop Peter Cober of Markham district. In his younger years he was converted and joined the church of his choice, the River Brethren, which body he served faithfully until his death. When about thirty-five years of age he was ordained a minister of the River Brethren denomination. He was an active worker in the Lord's vineyard and was well received by all classes of people who used to assemble at his appointed places of worship. He not only had the unlimited confidence of the members of his own congregation but his friends and admirers were many among those of other denominations and such that had no connections with any of the religious bodies of our country. It would not be saying too much to make the assertion that this servant of God died without a single enemy. He resided a little east of Hespeler where he died December 13, 1880. He married Susannah Cober who was born June 4, 1813, and died at a very advanced age. She proved to be a noble helpmate unto her husband in assisting him in performing the many duties connected with his pastoral callings. She was a noble woman, a kind and sympathetic neighbor and a true follower of her Master. Her end was peace. The winged arrow of death bore her soul away to the spiritual mansions beyond the skies. They had a family of eleven children of whom only four were left to mourn the loss of their dear parents. Their father, Niels Peter who was not a minister, was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, on October 19, 1774. He was a sailor in his younger days and had some narrow escapes of his life. Once when landing on one of the Atlantic ports on the American coast, not wishing to meet the fate of pirates, made his escape under the cover of night in 1801. Shortly thereafter he arrived at Little York (Toronto) where he married Anna Catherine Philips who was born in Hamburg, Germany, November 7, 1785. They resided in Markham township about a half mile below Heise Hill church. He did his traveling by night and one night he stayed where they had a dance but had no one to play the violin and they asked him if he could. The man said if he would play for them he would give him a deed for one hundred acres of land in Upper Canada. So the next morning they gave him the deed and he started off in search of his farm. The farm is where Jim Dennie now lives. About the year 1839 they moved to Wellington Co., near Hespeler, where he died January 12, 1865. The family consisted of ten children.

David Witmer married Elizabeth Dettweiler and they lived three miles northeast of Hespeler. He was one of the first ministers of Waterloo district. Their second child, Nancy, married Christian Heise residing in Markham town- ship. Their family was John, Jacob, Elizabeth and Elder David Heise.

Benjamin Hallman was born September 20, 1821. On January 24, 1843, he was married to Catherine Honsberger who was born March 16, 1824, and died November 30, 1886. After his marriage he moved on his father's old homestead about one mile east of Roseville. Some years ago he was chosen to the ministry of the River Brethren denomination. As regards firmness of will and strict self denial Mr. Hallman stands unrivaled. Active, faithful, interested and self-sacrificing devotion for the teaching of that which he regards gospel truth are marked features of his character. His natural good sense and sound judgment made him one of the ablest divines of the church of his choice. He later united with the Old Order of the River Brethren (Yorkers).

Wendell Hallman, youngest son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Detweiler Hallman and brother of Rev. Benjamin, was born in 1827. His boyhood days were spent on his father's farm near Roseville. In 1849 he married Nancy Schlichter who was born in 1829. Soon after their marriage they settled on a farm about a mile west of New Dundee where they resided until 1883 when they sold the farm and moved to Yale, Michigan. They later came back and retired. When nearly thirty years of age he was ordained to the ministry of the River Brethren (Tunker) denomination in which body he was a diligent worker. As a minister he was liked by his congregation and others and his sermons are expressed in the plainest language. Anyone hearing him preach will say Mr. Hallman's sermons are gospel-like and soul-cheering. In his habits he was very domestic.

Later were Nathan Cassel, Aaron Honsberger, Simon Cober and Nathaniel Wilfang. Samuel Wanner was ordained a minister of the Tunker church and later married Susannah Holm. He was a farmer and later resided in Michigan.

Names of the deacons were: Joe Witmer, Christian Reichard, Solomon Gingerich and Isaac Witmer and now Irvin Cober.

Names of some of those who had meeting in their houses. Some of these had Love feast in their barns: John Groh, Dan Giger, Isaac Witmer, Isaac Eby, Christian Reichard, George Reichard, Abraham Gingerich, Solomon Gingerich, David Gingerich, Isaac Groh, John Wilfang, Aaron Honsberger, Benjamin Hallman, Wendell Hallman, Jacob Cober, Sr., Solomon Cober, Nathan Cassel and Levi Waner, also at Union church, Puslinch township, and poor house at Kitchener. A lot of these families are of Mennonite descent according to the history of Waterloo township of which I have copied what was recorded of their pioneer bishops and ministers.