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Harms, John Henry (1859-1943)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 25 Nov 1943 p. 5
Birth date: 1859 Sep 20
text of obituary:
Dr. Harms Passed Away
As the Review was ready to go to press Wednesday morning, the report came that Dr. J. H. Harms had died at 2:20 A. M. Dr. Harms had been bedfast since Friday and was taken to the Bethel Deaconess Hospital Sunday, where he passed away early this morning. He was 84 years old last September and lived here in retirement since he and his wife came to Newton from Cordell, Okla., several years ago.
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 16 Dec 1943 p. 3
text of obituary:
Perhaps few if any other of the Mennonite immigrants who came to America from Russia in 1874 took up medicine as a profession, as did the late Dr. John Henry Harms, — for 41 years the community physician, church and business leader in the Mennonite settlement at Cordell, Oklahoma. Besides taking care of the bodily ills of hundreds of patients in all these years, he also took an active interest in the welfare of the Sichar Mennonite church. His busy life did not keep him from taking time to counsel a friend or neighbor who came to him for advice.
Dr. Harms had the unusual experience to see three of his sons follow in their father's footsteps and also take up the medical profession.
The educational work among Mennonites of the Middle West was always close to his heart. As a young man he was present at the first meeting of a group of Mennonite leaders who met in Newton and through whose efforts Bethel College came to be located near this city. After moving to Oklahoma he still remained a strong supporter of the school and all of his children later were students of the college. Six have received degrees from Bethel College.
Dr. John Henry Harms, son of Heinrich and Agneta (Schmidt) Harms, was born in the Ukrainia, Russia, on Sept. 20, 1859, and passed away at the Bethel Deaconess Hospital at 2:20 on Wednesday morning, November 24, 1942. He reached the age of 84 years, two months, and four days.
While he was still very young, his parents died, and his uncle, Heinrich Schmidt, reared hm. In 1874 he came to the United States. Several of his early years in this country were spent in Newton and vicinity. In 1878 he was baptized in teh Grace Hill Mennonite Church near Whitewater.
He attended the Halstead Seminary, Pond's Business College in Topeka, and in 1892 was graduated from the University Medical College, Kansas City, Mo., and did special training at the eye, ear, nose and throat hospital in Chicago.
At Marengo, Iowa, in 1893 he was married to Bertha Voss. Her death three months later ended their wedded life, of which he himself said "though short, yet pleasant, while trusting in the Lord."
On September 20, 1896, (on his birthday) he was married to Maggie Ruth Kliewer. To this union were born ten children, eight of whom are living.
For about three years he practiced medicine in Elbing, Kans. Then he and Mrs. Harms moved to Oklahoma where he practiced medicine for 41 years and until he was past 81 years of age. During many of these years he was a member of the Sichar church near Cordell, Okla., where for several years he served as evangelist.
In May, 1941, he and his wife moved to Newton where he enjoyed his retirement even though he had to suffer patiently during several severe illnesses.
He is survived by his wife and children: Miss Minnie Harms, Iowa City, Iowa; Mrs. D. S. Pankratz, University, Mississippi; Walter Harms, Vallejo, California; Captain (Dr.) Edwin Harms, Casper, Wyoming; Martha Harms, Anthony, Kansas; John Harms, Hobart, Okla.; Dr. Frank Harms, Aberdeen Idaho; Captain (Dr.) Harold Harms, Winchester, Tenn., and seven grandchildren. Many other relatives and friends mourn his passing.
Dr. Harms liked people and always welcomed company. He trusted in the Lord and was a life-long Christian.
Funeral services were held Saturday, Nov. 27, 1943, at the First Mennonite church. Rev. J. E. Entz was in charge assisted by Dr. P. A.Penner, Rev. G. N. Harms, and Dr. E. G. Kaufman. A quartet composed of Mrs. G. D. Claassen, Mrs. B. E. Regier, H. J. Andres and B. E. Regier sang "Abide With Me." and "Be Still my Soul." They were accompanied by Mrs. H. R. Schmidt and Sister Helene Marie Bartsch. Pallbearers were Arthur Schmidt, Arthur Kliewer, Menno Nickel, Valentine Harms, G. G. Harms, and Herman Ewert. Interment was in Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of Dick A. Morris of the Morris Mortuary.