Hirschy, Noah C. (1867-1925)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1925 Mar 24 p. 1, 7

Birth date: 1867 Feb 25

text of obituary:

Dr. N. C. Hirschey And Son Are Dead

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From the Adams County Witness

The friends and relatives in this community were greatly shocked on Friday afternoon when Amos Hirschy received a telegram from Dr. Noah C. Hirschy family of Berea, K., stating the sad news that a double death had occurred in their family. The dead are Dr. Hirschy and his son, Herman, who died on a ranch in northern New Mexico at midnight, Tuesday night. Dr. Hirschy passed away at noon Friday March 13, in Berea after suffering several weeks from complications that developed after an attack of the influenza. His son died very suddenly. On Tuesday evening, the young Mr. Hirschy showed symptoms of the flu and because of physical weakness he developed complications that ended his life within a few hours.

A very impressive funeral service was held in Berea College church Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock. Dr. Hirschy was the Botany instructor in the college at Berea during the past five years, where he was held in high respect and esteem by the students in that institution. The college was in charge of the funeral.

The body of his son was returned to the parental home on Saturday and the funeral services were held yesterday afternoon.

C.P., Elias and Amos Hirschy of Berne, brothers of Dr. Hirschy, and Tilman and Miss Erna Hirschy, and Mr. and Mrs. Menno Hirschy and Harve Hirschy of Plainvell, Mich., attended the funeral services and returned home again this morning.

Dr. Hirschy was very well known in Berne, however, his son was known by a few here outside the circle of his relatives. Dr. Hirschy was born on the Hirschy homestead, a mile south of Berne, and grew to manhood in this vicinity. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Hirscy and was born Feb. 25, 1867 bringing his age to 58 years.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1925 Apr 8 p. 8

text of obituary:

Dr. N. C. Hirschy

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Dr. N. C. Hirschy, head of the Department of Botany and German of Berea College, Berea, Ky., passed away at the College Hospital March 13, at the age of 58 years. He had contracted the flu some time during the past Christmas season and later developed into heart trouble which eventually caused his death. As a last effort to save his life, blood transfusion was made. The first attempt on Thursday, the day previous to his death, seemed to help, but the second attempt proved futile and he passed away during this last operation.

Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon at Union Church where a large assembly of friends were present. The Reverend Zeigler had charge of the services and gave the sermon; Prof. Raine gave a character sketch; Miss Helen Roberts spoke on behalf of the students and President Hutchins spoke on the life and influence of Dr. Hirschy while in Berea.

Dr. Hirshy [sic] was born in Berne, Indiana, on Feb. 25, 1867, of Swiss parentage. He received his early education in the Portland, Ind., high school and later in Angola University of Angola, Ind. For several years after that he taught in the rural schools and also Berne. He received his A. B. and B. D. degrees from Oberlin College and the Oberlin Graduate School of Theology, and later he received his M.A. from Chicago University. During his college years he served as pastor of the Wadsworth (Ohio) Mennonite Church, where he became acquainted with Augusta Hunsberger, and whom he married on Sept. 5, 1895.

While he was pastor at Wadsworth he conducted also a private school and while there he received a call to become the President of Bluffton College, Bluffton, Ohio. He accepted and became its first President, the College being founded in 1900. For nine he labored incessantly with a struggling institution, but in all those years he made a lasting impression not only on the school, but on the entire community. Dr. Hirschy and his family spent one year in Berne, Switzerland, where he received his degree of Doctor of Philosophy. It was here that he became intimately acquainted with Professor Marti which relationship developed into a lifelong friendship.

For five years Dr. Hirshy [sic] was the President of Redfield College, Redfield, S.D. From there the family moved to the southern states, spending some time in Texas and also in Louisiana where they were interested in horticulture, teaching and lecturing. In 1920 Dr. Hirschy came to Berea, and the story of his great work among the students and in the community need not be repeated here.

Dr. Hirschy was buried in the Berea Cemetery.

— From the Berea, Ky., Citizen.

The Mennonite obituary: 1925 Apr 2 p. 1