Johnson, Jacob H. (1865-1940)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1940 Apr 17 p. 3

Birth date: 1865 Dec 22

text of obituary:

Jacob H. Johnson

Jacob H. Johnson, son of Henry and Katherine (Wedel) Johnson was born in Poland, Russia, December 22, 1865, from where, at the age of 10 years, he moved to Kansas with his parents.

On May 15, 1885, he was united in marriage with Elsie Buller. To this union 18 children were born, of which five preceded him in death, also his wife who passed away nearly two years ago.

He lived in Kansas until 1902, after which he and his family moved to Helena, Oklahoma, in Alfalfa county, on a farm where he made his home until death.

He was baptized by the Rev. John J. J. Ratzlaff, Sr., at the Mennonite church six miles north of Moundridge, Kansas. Shortly before he was married in 1885. He was active in Christian work at Meno, Oklahoma, and from there transferred to Goltry where he with Cornelius Koehn and Daniel Lugenbill took a leading part financially and otherwise in establishing the Zoar Mennonite church. Two years later the building was completed and dedicated in June, 1910.

For some time he was not faring so well in health, and recently it took a turn for the worse. About a week before his death he apparently felt that he would not live much longer, so he left his home to live with his daughter Ada, Mrs. Frank Jantz near Lahoma, where he passed away on March 27, 1940, at the age of 74 years, 3 months and 5 days.

He leaves to mourn his children William, Mrs. Lena Johnson, Mrs. Cora Johnson, all of Goltry; Henry of St. Louis, Mo.; Mrs. Conie [sic Carrie] Koons of Goltry; Howard of Wichita, Kans.; Alpha of ElReno, Okla.; Mrs. Ada Jantz of Lahoma. Three brothers, Peter of Enid, John of Goltry and William of Meno; 38 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and many friends.