Hallman, Eli S. (1866-1955)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1955 Sep 8 p. 3

Birth date: 1866

text of obituary:

Pioneer Church Worker in South Texas Died

BISHOP ELI S. HALIMAN [sic HALLMAN] SERVED CHURCHES IN CANADA, SOUTHERN U. S.

Akron, Penn. — Bishop Eli S. Hallman, pioneer church worker of the (Old) Mennonite church in both Canada and the southern states, passed away here Thursday afternoon, Aug. 25, at the age of 89. Funeral services were held Aug. 27.

Bishop Hallman, a native of Waterloo county, Ontario, was ordained to the ministry at the First Mennonite church of Kitchener, Ont. in 1897. At a service in the same church in 1907, he was ordained bishop to serve the Alberta-Saskatchewan Conference District, where he held several pastorates.

In 1928 he pioneered in mission work at Falfurrias, Texas and was made bishop of the Old Mennonite churches in south Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Besides his responsibilities as bishop, he served as pastor of the Tuleta, Texas congregation for many years, and in 1936 became chairman of the Mennonite Mexican Mission in Texas.

Bro. Hallman was moderator of the Alberta-Saskatchewan Conference for a number of terms, was field secretary of Goshen College 1912-15, vice-chairman of the Canadian Board of Colonization, 1923-27, as well as serving on various boards and committees of the Old Mennonite Church. he was Life Governor of the British and Foreign Bible Society of London.

He had lived at Akron since his retirement some years ago.

Surviving are his wife, the former Melinda Clemens, whom he married Aug. 9, 1893; three sons, George of White Fox, Sask., William E., missionary in Argentina, Abram of Akron; and one daughter, Mrs. Frank (Anna) Byler, also a missionary in Argentina.