PETER COBER

Peter Cober was born August 21, 1800. He married Sadie Baker who was born Sept. 23, 1796. Witnesses were his sister, Magdeline, and Michael Baker. He was chosen a minister in 1832 and was chosen bishop around 1840. He had meeting in his home until 1877 and had Love feast in his barn seven times. The first time in 1839. His brother-in-law, Jonathan Baker, had it six times. He lived where Amos Baker now lives. Peter Cober made five trips to Pennsylvania and for thirty years took in all the Love feasts in the Ontario churches. He saw one of the biggest I revivals Markham district ever had without any special meeting. He preached for over fifty years and stood true to the religion that Bishop Jacob Engle, who was the founder of the church in U.S.A. and Canada, taught. He tried to preserve it as long as he lived, without wavering He never accepted any money for his time or services The church at that time thought it was wrong. He had a family of four sons and three daughters. The oldest daughter, Margaret, married John Byer, son of David Byer, Sr., who married one of Bishop John Doner's daughters, Ann. John Byer's first wife was Elizabeth Ramer who was a sister of Abraham Ramer, a founder of the M. B. C. Church. John Byer was chosen to the ministry in 1862 and died in 1892. He held services in his home to the end. The first Love feast we have record of was in 1850 and also in 1866 and last in 1869. His twin brother, David, lived on the old homestead where Oliver Shank now lives. He was a noted cancer doctor. He had Love feast in his barn in 1870 and 1877. When our church was built these two brethren made the seats and helped build the church as they were good carpenters. They were both prosperous farmers and did all they could to preserve the faith of their fathers. Esther, daughter of John Byer, married George Kitely who was a minister in Michigan. John had a granddaughter who married Flavius Lehman who was a minister of the M. B. C. Church. Daniel Byer married Fanny Cober. He was chosen a deacon in California. John and David wore brass buttons on their coats and capes on their overcoats. They drove in a spring board buggy. They were both good bee keepers. They looked so much alike that you could hardly tell them apart. They were both buried in the Byer cemetery which is on the old homestead on the eighth concession of Markham.

John Cober, who lived in Pickering township, raised a family of thirteen children. They were farmers. John Cober had services in his home for forty years, every sixteen weeks. He had Love feast in his barn in the spring of 1875. He was a good farmer and carpenter and was also a bee keeper. His father, Bishop Peter Cober, used to make rocking chairs and spinning wheels and other things and used that money for spending money which often went to the poor people. A lot of his chairs are still in use. Joseph Cober was chosen to the ministry in 1914. He was ordained by Bishop Charles Baker. He farmed on the Godfrey Hilts farm whose family were some of the old pioneers of Markham and also of the church on the third concession of Markham. His son, Albert, is a minister in Coleta, Ill. Martha Cober, daughter of John Cober, married Anthony Heise, son of Christopher Heise of Victoria Square, who had farmed at Hamlin, Kansas. His oldest daughter married Jacob Charles who was a minister of that place. Another daughter of John, Mary Ann, married M. R. Fretz who was elected a deacon of the Old Mennonite Church. His son, Lewis, is bishop at Selkirk and his daughter, Mary, married Elvin Snider, who was a missionary in South America. Joseph Fretz has been manager of the Golden Rule Book Store of the Mennonites at Kitchener. Sarah Cober, granddaughter of Bishop Peter Cober, married Reuben Heise who was a deacon of Markham district. He was a very handy man and filled his place well. His father-in-law, George Cober, got the old homestead and took care of his parents in their last days. He lived near Concord and was a very prosperous farmer. Reuben Heise lived where his son, Albert, now lives and later bought Elder Christian Hoover's farm. John Henry Heise was chosen to the ministry in 1928. He was ordained by Bishop Bert Sherk. His wife, Martha Stickley, was a granddaughter of John Cober and Elder Christian Hoover was his step grandfather. He preached in Markham district for a number of years, then moved to Fordwich where he preaches at present.

Peter Cober's Favorite Hymns Hymn 212

Waked by the gospel's powerful sound,
My soul in sin and thrall I found,
Exposed to dreadful woe.
Eternal truth did loud proclaim,
The sinner must be bore again,
Or down to ruin go.

And must I be to judgment brought,
And answer in that day,
For every vain and idle thought
And every word I say.

Destructions dangerous road
What multitudes pursue,
While that which leads the soul to God,
Is known or sought by few.

The German hymn he always sang at communion:

Setze dich, mein Geist ein wenig
Und beschau dies wunder grosz,
Wie dein Gott und Ehrenkonig
Hangt am Kreuze nacht und blosz,
Schau die Liebe, die ihn triebe
Zu dir aus das Vaters Schoosz.

In memory of the late Elder Peter Cober:

Our Elder Cober is no more,
He's gone to those who've gone before,
And sad his absence is.
No more we can his counsel have,
No more the good advice he gave,
His tender care we miss.

A brother who was always dear,
Now when we meet does not appear,
Then vacant is his place.
With us his absence causes pain,
To look for him is now in vain,
No more we see his face.

He journeyed much by wet and dry,
Unwearied souls to gain would try,
No hardships did he shun.
He dreaded neither cold nor snow,
A will to serve would always show,
Nor boast of what he had done.

He preached sound and simple truth,
Appliable to age and youth,
But kept in low esteem.
Allowed no selfish thoughts to rise,
Humility would exercise,
Pride found no room in him.

No service money he demands,
But labored hard with his own hands,
When he was at his home.
And by his labors could afford,
Himself and family to support,
Need not be burdensome.

And he collections none did make,
No pay for sermons would he take,
It was not what he sought.
His office it impressed him deep,
Aware he had a charge to keep,
With fervor he then taught.

In self-denial he did walk,
Would weigh the words in all his talk,
He thought before he spoke.
A good example he did set,
His care for all the church was great,
To build what pains he took.

We hope his toils will be well spent,
And he will king and priest be made,
With angels reign above.
Tho' many sighs and tears it cost,
His labor it will not be lost,
He'll reap the fruit thereof.

One day in November, 1883, without any previous ailment, Bishop Peter Cober came in the house and said to his home folk, "This is the happiest day of my life." After they inquired why, he told them it was revealed to him, his time had come to leave this world, after which he called them all together and had a season of prayer with them. Then he went to his bedroom and in a short time he peacefully passed away, to his eternal home. The text at his funeral was taken from 2nd Timothy, Chapter 4, Verses 7 and 8, "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."

This information was given to me by the late Rev. Henry Goudie of the M. B. C. Church who was a friend of his.