Mosiman, Samuel K. (1867-1940)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1940 Jan 31 p. 1

Birth date: 1867 Dec 17

text of obituary:

Former College President is Called Away in Death

DR. S. K. MOSIMAN DIED IN BLUFFTON HOSPITAL, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24.

Dr. S. K. Mosiman, former president of Bluffton College, Bluffton, Ohio, died Wednesday, January 24, in the Bluffton Hospital. The funeral was held Saturday, January 27, at 2:00 P. M. in the First Mennonite church of Bluffton.

Dr. Mosiman's body lay in state in the the [sic] Musselman Memorial Library on Saturday morning and a special memorial service was held there.

The Bluffton College Vesper Choir sang for the memorial service in the morning, also for the funeral service.

Speakers at the funeral were Rev. H. T. Unruh of the First Mennonite church, President L. L. Ramseyer of the college, and Rev. John Thiessen, returned missionary from India.

Interment was made in the Maple Grove cemetery in a site overlooking the campus.

Dr. Mosiman is survived by the following sisters and brothers:

Amalia (Mrs. Martin Herman), Salvina, Ida, Estelle (Mrs. Artemus Howe), all of Middletown, Ohio; Mrs. Louisa Yoder of Cincinati, Ohio; Lavina (Mrs. Thomas Kennel of Trentin, Ohio; Leanna (Mrs. John Roth) and brother John, both of Illinois; Will, of Manitoba, Canada, Edison and Elmer of Newark, N. J.

The following is a brief biographical sketch of Dr. Mosiman's eventful life:

He was born December 17, 1867, the son of Christian and Anna Kinsinger-Mosiman, the oldest of 14 children, of whom 2 are now dead.

He married Amalia S. Krehbiel of St. Lous, Mo., on July 10, 1902. She died May 23, 1905. His second marriage was to Emilie Siemens Hamm, of Beatrice, Nebr., on August 12, 1909.

Education: Rural one-room school early education near Middletown, O. National Normal Univ., Lebanon, Ohio, 1890. Wittenberg College, Springfield, Ohio, 1893-7, A. B. 1905, A. M.; Moody Bible Institute, 1897; McCormick Theological Seminary (now Presbyterian Theological Seminary of Chicago, Ill.), 1902-05, won Hebrew Entrance Prize an Hettie F. McCormick Hebrew scholarship award of $2,000 at graduation, 1907, B. d. Univ. Halle-Wittenberg, Germany 1905-7, Ph.D. for studies in Hebrew, Aramaic, Syriac and Arabic, Litt. D., Wittenberg college 1920; L.L.D., Bluffton college.

Positions: Supt. of Mennonite Indian Mission school at Cantonment, Okla., 1897-1902; Prof. Greek and Philosophy, National Normal Univ., Lebanon, Ohio, 1907; Prof. Old Testament Literature and Greek, Bluffton, College, Bluffton, Ohio, 1908; President of Bluffton College, 1909-1935; President-Emeritus of Bluffton College, 1935.

Hon. Positions: Secretary of Middle District Conference (of Mennonites) 1903-05; Chairman Middle District Conference 1908-10; Vice-president General Conference of Mennonites; Member of Federal Council of Churches; Chairman of Ohio College Presidents and Deans, 1930-31.

Learned Societies: Member of Classical Association of America; member of American Geographical Society; member of the Modern Language Ass'n of Ohio; member of the Ohio Archaeological Hist. Society.

Misc: Traveled in /Europe and Asia 1926-7; Contributed articles on nine Kings of Israel and Judah in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia; also to Mennonite Sunday School Quarterly; revised catechism of Mennonites in 1937.

Remarks of A Friend On The Passing of Dr. S. K. Mosiman

BY FRANK P. DILLER, McCOMB, OHIO

Truly a great soul has passed away. It was the writer's privilege to know him early in life. It was a strange face that beamed one morning in the Allen County Court House in March, 1895.

He was an applicant to take the Teacher's examination that day. His face was beaming all day long, while to me it was a struggle, like trying to get out of a deep sea. No such fight was imminent about his desk. Being seated close to him, I could observe him closely. Steadily, systematically, methodically he worked, apparently without much effort.

When the "end of a perfect day" had come to him, and his manuscripts were all handed in, — folks began to flock to him, and it was here where I too first met him. He was as fresh as ever; no little thing like a "County Exam" could daunt him. For that's the way, I believe, it looked to all of us that day. Well, and that's the way it was about all through his life, as he is known by many. He could not only be crowned the "first man in Bluffton", that circle is far too small; but in Mennonite circles, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. He was a man deeply loved.

It is this warm humanly element that he possessed; he was not high hatted, but dignified and sure about himself. As the poet wrote in his quasi-humor: "He had the pose to soothe a savage; To rend a rock or bust a cabbage."

He held the high prerogative, namely, "to speak to any man, be he bum or prince". Dormant hope and pride were ever re-kindled by his friendly eye.

Yes, he was no vacillator. Anyone acquainted around Bluffton College, knows that. Ever since 1908, this dynamic personality began to do things, until in my estimation, he was a "veritable Moses" to the Mennonite folk. And not only to those of our kin, but to the man on the street. As it was brought out by one of the speakers, on the day of the funeral: "He had time to talk with anybody, and for any length of time seemingly, as if he had all the time in the world; notwithstanding that he was one of the busiest men on the campus." never overweening, he was a peace-maker of the first rank. And goodness knows, the atmosphere was ripe to practice in that, even though he was amidst the Mennonites.

And it is this hint, to my estimation, that made him loom out among men, as "the greatest' in my day.

As a contemporary, he was a constant inspiration to me. I frequented the college often, and his home always had an open welcome to me, and I know to others likewise.

His wide acquaintance with men of letters won for him their respect and love. And by this method, he achieved high honors in state and church.

That he had a good sense of humor was obvious and this came into play when everything went "dead wrong"; for he was seldom perturbed, as he had a way out. A man of great courage, he was a leader. Folks placed great faith to his undertakings, and rightly so.

True to the end, he could say to his last days, "Auf Wiedersehn," Like a deep-flowing river, his source of strength was like that of "The Faith of our Father, Holy Faith". Quietly he performed tasks nobody cared to do. And while, a college head, education to him was not for to appear to be a smart man; but as power stored away and under control. — to thus carry greater responsibilities. That was his undertaking. That he lived. He is resting now. But has left a legacy to his example of "daily living." That inheritance is ours. "Thanks Be to Him."

The Mennonite obituary: 1940 Feb 6 p. 12
The Mennonite obituary: 1940 Apr 9 p. 4