SAMUEL SNIDER

Bishop Samuel Snider's mother was Betsy Fockler. She first married Mr. Storm, next Mr. Baker and last Mr. Snider who had two sons, Joseph and Samuel. This information was given to me from Mrs. Asa Sider of Stouffville. Samuel Snider was born March 2, 1811. He married Catherine Cober June 15, 1828. Witnesses were Jacob Kurts and Martha Bennet, cousins of the bride. Samuel Snider was elected to the ministry in 1844 and assistant bishop in 1865. He and Bishop Peter Cober worked together in harmony. They used to drive up to Nottawa, a distance of eighty miles, in a spring board buggy every eight weeks, after it was organized. He was a first-class farmer and lived at Edgeley. He had meeting in his home every sixteen weeks and held Love feast in his barn in 1846. He and Peter Cober would often visit other districts at Love feasts. They also visited Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana, as the Stumps and Mishlers of Vaughan moved out there with Martin Hoover who was chosen bishop of that place. This was a brother of Samuel Hoover of Altona who was a minister in the Old Mennonite Church of Markham. These two bishops used to visit a lot from house to house, the membership rich and poor alike and look into their spiritual and temporal standing and helped to encourage and build up the work. Thus the work grew. It is said of these two bishops in council they always aimed to have everyone satisfied before they allowed anything to pass. Things were not swung by majority whether they were right or wrong like they are today, but on the contrary they aimed to have unity and a good feeling existing among one another. Honesty and uprightness was much stressed so the Lord could give grace and glory which was felt at their assemblies which were held at homes and barns in those days; and what sweet fellowship they did have. The Love feasts were well attended from far and near and they would come by the hundreds. There would often be about a dozen ministers from other districts and sometimes some from the United States. The whole neighborhood would nearly always come and usually a number would be baptized. These two brethren baptized the converts when they had that big revival around 1877, where Harold Heise now lives and also at David Byer's and Johnny Doner's creeks. These two men were gifted singers and could lead the singing. They used to sing English and German and line off the hymns two lines at a time without notes. Every- body understood what they sang and would often exhort on the hymn that made a deep impression on his hearers. The baptismal services were also very impressive and were witnessed by a large crowd.

David Lehman married Elizabeth Snider, daughter of Samuel Snider. They moved to Mariposa. He worked Samuel Dix's farm for a number of years. Samuel Dix came from England and became a member of the church. He held Samuel Baker in high esteem. He willed some of his money to the church, for the poor and the furtherance of the Gospel. David later came back and took his place in Markham district. He often would preach as he felt he had a call for that place. He was a good exhorter and warned his hearers to contend for the faith of their fathers he so nobly stood for. His son, Joshua, who married Sarah Farmer, was caretaker of Markham church for twenty-eight years and also of Heise Hill cemetery for eighteen years and twelve years treasurer for the Sunday school. He is living with his son, Wesley of Claremont. He has been deaf for nearly fifty years. He did a lot of hard work. Joseph Heise has been treasurer for Heise Hill cemetery for thirty-two years.

This was one of David Lehman's favorite hymns:

My God the spring of all my joys,
The life of my delights,
The glories of my brightest days,
And comfort of my nights.

In darkest shades, if Thou appear,
My dawning is begun;
Thou art my soul's bright morning star,
And Thou my rising Sun.

The opening heavens around me shine
With beams of sacred bliss,
While Jesus shows His mercy mine,
And whispers, I am His.

Samuel Snider was the first bishop of Markham to solemnize marriages. He was succeeded by Bishop Samuel Baker and later it was left optional as the minister had the same right as the bishop.

This was one of the favorite hymns of Barbara (Cober) Baker, wife of Elder John Baker.

Ich will lieben, und mich uben, das ich meinem Brautigam,
Nur in allen Mag gefallen welcher au des Kreuzes Stamm.
Hat sein leben fur mich geben, ganz geduldig als ein Lamm.

Ich will lieben, und mich uben, Im gebet zu tag und nacht,
Das nun balde alles alte, In mir werd zu grab gebracht,
Und hingegen allerwegen alles werde neu gemacht.

Ich will lieben, und mich uben, das ich rein und heilig werd,
Und mein leben fuhre eben, wie es Gott von mir begehrt,
Ya mein wandel, thim und handel sei unstraflich auf der erd.

Ich will lieben und mich uben meine ganze lebenszeit,
Mich zu schieken und zu schmucken, mitt dem reinen hochzeit kleid,
Zu erscheinen, mit den reinen auf des Lammes hochzeit freud.

This hymn was often sung and given out by Bishop Samuel Snider's wife, Catherine:

When Thou my righteous judge shall come,
To call Thy ransomed people home,
Shall I among them stand.
Shall such a worthless worm as I,
Who sometimes am afraid to die,
Be found at Thy right hand.

I love to meet among them now,
Before Thy gracious throne to bow,
Though weakest of them all.
But can I bear the piercing thought,
To have my worthless name left out,
When Thou for them shalt call.

Prevent, prevent it by Thy grace,
Be Thou, dear Lord, my hiding place
In that expected day.
Thy pardoning voice 0, let me hear,
To still each unbelieving fear,
Nor let me fail to pray.

Let me among the saints be found,
When e'er the arch angel's trump shall sound,
To see Thy smiling face.
Then loud through all the crowd I'll sing,
While heaven's resounding mansions ring,
With shouts of boundless grace.