John Eby led a remarkable and influential life. Born into a strict Mennonite family, he nonetheless negotiated his way in life in a manner that suited his intellect and kept him busy and informed without straying from the tenets of his faith.
His grandson, Simon P. Eby, wrote at length about his grandparents, and that document is held by the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society. It is recounted in full in the Hannes Eby Death and Burial Record published in 2012 and obtainable from the Society.
To summarize, Hannes was the third son of his parents, and the one destined to take over the mill. When he came of age, his father built him a house on the opposite bank of the Hammer Creek where Hannes remained the rest of his life. He greatly expanded the mill pond and made a success of the business.
As a youth he desperately sought an English education, but was denied by his father because it might induce too much pride. Nonetheless, Hannes Learned on his own and became an important liaison between the German-speaking and English-speaking communities. He was a frequent financial guardian of minor children, was executor or administrator of many wills, represented the area when roads were laid out, etc.
He read extensively and maintained an eclectic library. He obviously read many newspapers because the record book mentioned above contained many entries gleaned from the news of the day.
He was said to be generous to a fault, and without his prodding of the local community to support the fledgling Mennonite settlement in Canada, it would have failed for want of money to pay its mortgage.
He was married at 27 to Maria Witwer, the youngest daughter of Michael Witwer and Maria Sensenig. They had eight children. In his later years, Eby also supported his wife's brother, Jonas Witwer, who had fallen on hard times in Earl Township and was moved to Warwick Township, where Hannes erected a house for him to live out his days.
Upon Eby's death, the mill passed to his son Elias. But within 5 years, it had burned to the ground. Without insurance the business was lost, and Elias moved to Lancaster to pursue other occupations.
--- Bio © Denise Witwer Lahr
His grandson, Simon P. Eby, wrote at length about his grandparents, and that document is held by the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society. It is recounted in full in the Hannes Eby Death and Burial Record published in 2012 and obtainable from the Society.
To summarize, Hannes was the third son of his parents, and the one destined to take over the mill. When he came of age, his father built him a house on the opposite bank of the Hammer Creek where Hannes remained the rest of his life. He greatly expanded the mill pond and made a success of the business.
As a youth he desperately sought an English education, but was denied by his father because it might induce too much pride. Nonetheless, Hannes Learned on his own and became an important liaison between the German-speaking and English-speaking communities. He was a frequent financial guardian of minor children, was executor or administrator of many wills, represented the area when roads were laid out, etc.
He read extensively and maintained an eclectic library. He obviously read many newspapers because the record book mentioned above contained many entries gleaned from the news of the day.
He was said to be generous to a fault, and without his prodding of the local community to support the fledgling Mennonite settlement in Canada, it would have failed for want of money to pay its mortgage.
He was married at 27 to Maria Witwer, the youngest daughter of Michael Witwer and Maria Sensenig. They had eight children. In his later years, Eby also supported his wife's brother, Jonas Witwer, who had fallen on hard times in Earl Township and was moved to Warwick Township, where Hannes erected a house for him to live out his days.
Upon Eby's death, the mill passed to his son Elias. But within 5 years, it had burned to the ground. Without insurance the business was lost, and Elias moved to Lancaster to pursue other occupations.
--- Bio © Denise Witwer Lahr
John Eby led a remarkable and influential life. Born into a strict Mennonite family, he nonetheless negotiated his way in life in a manner that suited his intellect and kept him busy and informed without straying from the tenets of his faith.
His grandson, Simon P. Eby, wrote at length about his grandparents, and that document is held by the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society. It is recounted in full in the Hannes Eby Death and Burial Record published in 2012 and obtainable from the Society.
To summarize, Hannes was the third son of his parents, and the one destined to take over the mill. When he came of age, his father built him a house on the opposite bank of the Hammer Creek where Hannes remained the rest of his life. He greatly expanded the mill pond and made a success of the business.
As a youth he desperately sought an English education, but was denied by his father because it might induce too much pride. Nonetheless, Hannes Learned on his own and became an important liaison between the German-speaking and English-speaking communities. He was a frequent financial guardian of minor children, was executor or administrator of many wills, represented the area when roads were laid out, etc.
He read extensively and maintained an eclectic library. He obviously read many newspapers because the record book mentioned above contained many entries gleaned from the news of the day.
He was said to be generous to a fault, and without his prodding of the local community to support the fledgling Mennonite settlement in Canada, it would have failed for want of money to pay its mortgage.
He was married at 27 to Maria Witwer, the youngest daughter of Michael Witwer and Maria Sensenig. They had eight children. In his later years, Eby also supported his wife's brother, Jonas Witwer, who had fallen on hard times in Earl Township and was moved to Warwick Township, where Hannes erected a house for him to live out his days.
Upon Eby's death, the mill passed to his son Elias. But within 5 years, it had burned to the ground. Without insurance the business was lost, and Elias moved to Lancaster to pursue other occupations.
--- Bio © Denise Witwer Lahr
His grandson, Simon P. Eby, wrote at length about his grandparents, and that document is held by the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society. It is recounted in full in the Hannes Eby Death and Burial Record published in 2012 and obtainable from the Society.
To summarize, Hannes was the third son of his parents, and the one destined to take over the mill. When he came of age, his father built him a house on the opposite bank of the Hammer Creek where Hannes remained the rest of his life. He greatly expanded the mill pond and made a success of the business.
As a youth he desperately sought an English education, but was denied by his father because it might induce too much pride. Nonetheless, Hannes Learned on his own and became an important liaison between the German-speaking and English-speaking communities. He was a frequent financial guardian of minor children, was executor or administrator of many wills, represented the area when roads were laid out, etc.
He read extensively and maintained an eclectic library. He obviously read many newspapers because the record book mentioned above contained many entries gleaned from the news of the day.
He was said to be generous to a fault, and without his prodding of the local community to support the fledgling Mennonite settlement in Canada, it would have failed for want of money to pay its mortgage.
He was married at 27 to Maria Witwer, the youngest daughter of Michael Witwer and Maria Sensenig. They had eight children. In his later years, Eby also supported his wife's brother, Jonas Witwer, who had fallen on hard times in Earl Township and was moved to Warwick Township, where Hannes erected a house for him to live out his days.
Upon Eby's death, the mill passed to his son Elias. But within 5 years, it had burned to the ground. Without insurance the business was lost, and Elias moved to Lancaster to pursue other occupations.
--- Bio © Denise Witwer Lahr
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Andenken von
JOHANNES EBY
Er war Geboren den
23sten October
1767
Und Starb den 25 ten
May 1845
brachte sein alter auf
77 Jahre 7 monate
und 2 tag.
To the memory of Johannes Eby, born the 23rd October 1767, and died the 25th May 1845. His age came to 77 years 7 months and 2 days.
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