Hostetler, Henry E. (1867-1952)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1952 Jan 10 p. 1

Birth date: 1867 Oct 21

text of obituary:

Pioneer of Harper County, Kans. Died

SERVICES FOR HENRY E. HOSTETLER, 84, HELD ON JANUARY 2

Harper, Kansas. — Funeral services for Henry E. Hostetler, 84, pioneer farmer of Harper county, were held at the Pleasant Valley Mennonite church near here on Jan. 5. The services were widely attended.

Born in Elkhart county, Indiana on Oct. 21, 1867, Bro. Hostetler went to Cass county, Mo. at the age of 13 and came to McPherson county, Kansas in 1888. In 1908 he and his family moved to Protection, Kansas, where he was a charter member of the Protection Mennonite church, and in 1909 he moved to the Harper community.

Here he was one of the pioneers in the breeding of Holstein cattle, and in 1927 was in the first group of ten "Master Farmers" named by Capper’s Kansas Farmer magazine. He was a leader in the Farm Bureau when it was first organized here, and served as president for two years.

He was also active in church and school work, serving as a member of the Missouri-Kansas district mission board, as a deacon of the Pleasant Valley church for 21 years, and member of the school board.

Mr. and Mrs. Hostetler celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary last October. Mrs. Hostetler, the former Salome Slabach, survives him, along with 11 of their 14 children, 48 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1952 Jan 17 p. 8