Hershberger, Jacob J. (1908-1965)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1965 Sep 16 p. 3

Birth date:

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.