Schowalter, Jacob Abraham (1879-1953)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 12 Mar 1953 p. 1; 19 Mar p. 3; 26 Mar p. 9

Birth date: 1879

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1955 Oct 20 p. 1

text of obituary:

Major Portion of Schowalter Estate Becomes Property of Churches

JUDGE STURM SIGNS ORDER TRANSFERRING KANSAS HOLDINGS TO SCHOWALTER FOUNDATION

Upward of $700,000 of Kansas real estate owned by the late J. A. Schowalter was legally transferred here this week to the Schowalter Foundation, Inc., and thereby to three Mennonite conferences, through an Order of Partial Distribution signed by Judge Sam Sturm of the Harvey County Probate Court.

Three Conferences Named

The three conferences becoming beneficiaries of the large estate are The General Conference Mennonite Church, The (Old) Mennonite Church, and the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite.

Jacob A. Schowalter, 73, wealthy Harvey county farmer and stockman, died March 10, 1953, leaving a will directing that his estate be held in trust by the three named bodies for religious and charitable purposes and for the promotion of world peace. He was a member of the Newton First Mennonite church.

“With all major indebtedness against the estate having been paid and all contingent claimants having released all claims, this sizeable distribution can be made at this time,” said Herbert H. Sizemore, of the law firm Spier, Stroberg & Sizemore, attorneys for the executors and trustees.

Excess of 7,500 Acres

Farm lands involved in the distribution total more than 7,500 acres and are located as follows: Harvey county, approximately 2,000 acres; Scott county, 2,200 acres; Sedgwick county, 560 acres, Sherman county, 880 acres; Stevens county, 2,100 acres. Included is also some property in the City of Newton.

Additional properties in Oklahoma and in Paraguay are to be handed over to the Foundation at a later date.

Trustees of the Schowalter Foundation, Inc. are H. J. Andres and Ernest Bachman, Newton, representing the General Conference; Orie O. Miller, Akron, Pa., and Albert Weaver, of near Hesston, representing the (Old) Mennonite conference; D. C. Buller, Halstead, and Adin Holdeman, Hesston, representing the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. Executors for the estate are A. C. Dettweiler, Halstead, and Wm. P. Schowalter, Newton.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Jun 13 p. 1

text of obituary:

$1,000,000 Estate Closed, Handed Over To Churches

PLEASED LARGE ESTATE CAN GO FOR SUCH SPLENDED CAUSE, SAYS JUDGE STURM IN SIGNING ORDER

Final disposition of the $1,000,000 J. A. Schowalter estate was made at the Harvey County court house Tuesday at 10:30 a. m. when Probate Judge Sam Sturm signed the order closing the estate and officially transferring the property into the hands of three designated Mennonite conferences.

"I am pleased and gratified that this large estate can be handed over to such splendid cause," said Judge Sturm as he signed the papers which now constitute a document of considerable Mennonite historic significance.

The three conferences named as beneficiaries are the (Old) Mennonite Church, the General Conference Mennonite church, and the Church of god in Christ, Mennonite, with title to the property held jointly through the Schowalter Foundation, Inc.

Present at the Tuesday hearing in the offices of Judge Sturm were H. J. Andres, administrator of the Schowalter Foundation, Inc., A. C. Dettweiler, executor, and attorneys Herbert H. Sizemore and Rodney Stone.

Extensive Land Holdings

The estate of the late J. A. Schowalter consists of extensive land holdings in central and western Kansas, some farm lands in Oklahoma and also a sizeable undeveloped acreage in Paraguay. Mr. Schowalter, wealthy Harvey county farmer and stockman, died March 10, 1953, leaving a will directing that his estate be held in trust by the three named bodies for religious and charitable purposes and for the promotion of world peace. He was a member of the Newton Frist Mennonite Church.

Trustees of the Schowalter Foundation, Inc. are: For the General Conference, H. J. Andres and Ernest Bachman, Newton; (Old) Mennonite Church, Orie O. Miller, Akron, Pa., and Al Weaver, Hesston; Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, Adin Holdeman, Hesston, and D. C. Buller, Halstead.