Hershberger, Jacob J. (1908-1965)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1965 Sep 16 p. 3

Birth date: 1908

text of obituary:

Well-Known Leader Of Beachy Churches Killed in Accident

Bishop Jacob J. Hershberger of Virginia Beach, Va., well-known leader of the Beachy Amish Mennonite churches, was killed instantly in a traffic accident in Virginia Tuesday morning according to word received by relatives at Partridge, Kan. and relayed to the Review by W. W. Wagler of Partridge.

He was the father of Mrs. Lester Nisly of Partridge. The Nisly family left immediately for Virginia. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Kempsville.

Bishop Hershberger, his brother Joseph Hershberger, Harvey Overholt and John Henry Yoder, all of the Virginia Beach area, were reportedly en route to investigate land settlement possibilities for their congregation when the accident occurred. Overholt and Yoder were critically injured in the head-on crash.

Jacob J. Hershberger was bishop of the Kempsville Beachy Amish congregation, secretary-treasurer of Amish Mennonite Aid, relief organization of the Amish Mennonite churches, and a widely known writer and columnist for the Sugarcreek Budget weekly paper published at Sugarcreek, Ohio.

In connection with his church work, he made frequent trips to British Honduras and El Salvador in Central America and was instrumental in establishing the medical, agricultural and witness programs in those countries.

Surviving are the widow, nine children and a number of grandchildren.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1965 Sep 30 p. 7

text of obituary: .

Bishop Widely Known

1,000 Attend Funeral

Virginia Beach, Va. — About 1,000 persons, including friends and associates from many parts of the United States and Canada and as far away as Central America, attended funeral services at the Kempsville Amish Mennonite Church here Sept. 17 for Bishop Jacob J. Hershberger, 57, widely known leader of the Beachy Amish Mennonite Churches.

Bishop Hershberger was instantly killed in a highway crash near Franklin, Va. on Sept. 14.

The funeral sermons were preached by David Miller of Thomas, Okla. and Elam Kauffman of Ronks, Pa. Many of those attending were seated outside the church and listened to the service over a public address system. Seventy-two ministers attended the services.

Bishop Hershberger was known throughout Amish Mennonite communities in North America as a writer, evangelist and mission leader. His weekly column, ”Lynnhaven Gleanings,” in the Sugarcreek (Ohio) Budget was read by thousands. He was secretary-treasurer of Amish Mennonite Aid, a relief and mission agncy which has projects in Germany and Central America.

At the time of the fatal crash, he with three companions was en route to Alabama to investigate settlement possibilities for his own congregation, since farmland here is rapidly being taken over for housing developments. A week after the accident, Henry Overholt remained in critical condition in the hospital. John Henry Yoder was to undergo surgery for a badly fractured leg and also had a dislocated hip. Joe Hershberger, brother of J. J. Hershberger, was hospitalized for nearly a week.

The head-on crash occurred when an oncoming car tried to pass two trucks on a slight curve.