Our Dear Mother was born March 7, 1860 (some accounts have March 1, 1859) in Deutcsh Wymsyle, Russian-Poland. She was the youngest of 6 children of Peter Franz.
At the age of 12, she lost her mother through death. This loss made a deep impression on her tender soul. Soon after the death of her mother, her father together with his family migrated to America.
At first they settled in a Mennonite settlement near Springfield, Illinois. Later they moved farther west to the Johannesthal settlement northeast of Hillsboro, Kansas. Jacobina's only sister was married shortly before they moved west, so our mother was compelled at the early age of 14 to do the housekeeping alone. This was not easy for her, since she was so young and inexperienced, but she did what she could, especially for her aged and lonely father.
On May 8, 1877, she was married to John Harms. They made their first home in Newton, Kansas; later they moved to a farm in Johannesthal, which was an inheritance from her parents. In the year 1880, a great Revival broke out, and the Lord worked mightily, and then both of our parents were saved. For some time, many seeking souls, also believers gathered the home of our parents in the basement. In the spring of 1881, a number of souls were baptized and among these were our parents also. It was a time of great rejoicing. Brother Abraham Schellenberg officiated at this baptism. In those pioneer days, it was difficult to make a living. Since our father was a travelling preacher, Evangelist, Sunday School worker and colporter in many different settlements he was away from home so often. But our dear mother took over the care and raising of the family, also looking after the farmwork, trusting God's guidance.
How often she called us children together when our father was on an evangelistic tour, saying "come children, we want to pray that the Lord will bless the work and that souls will come out for the Lord." Our mother led a warm prayer life. She had a special place in the home where she communed with God, remembering her missionary children, and all her children and grandchildren.
How she prayed for the widows and orphans, the sick and the lonely! She was very hospitable, and often served meals and lodging for travelling ministers. She loved to visit the sick, and to take a meal to them. She served as a Sunday school teacher, and was one of the group when a sewing circle was organized in church.
In 1910 death took our dear father from her side. This caused a deep pain in her heart which was never forgotten. They had lived 33 years, 6 months and 24 days together. In this union, the Lord gave them 7 daughters and 1 son, and of these daughters, Bertha died at the age of 8 months. They also had one foster son who, after the death of father, when all the children were married, faithfully served mother until his death.
In 1911 mother was married a second time to Rev. Franz Ediger. They lived together 9 years, sharing joy and sorrows, till in 1920 the Lord called him to his eternal Home. Mother lived in widowhood the last 10 years. Right after father Ediger's funeral, mother became ill, later partly paralyzed, and at last she was bedridden.
The children served her by turns and she gave many a blessed testimony. She had a clear mind until the end, although her speech became less and less. But on the last evening of her life, she could speak very clearly; her face shone with a heavenly joy. She died 11:30 at night on March 6, 1931, at the age of 71 years. She left to mourn 6 daughters and sons-in-law, and 1 son and daughter-in-law, 22 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, and 1 brother. She has fought the good fight; she has kept the faith.
-written by her children
At the age of 12, she lost her mother through death. This loss made a deep impression on her tender soul. Soon after the death of her mother, her father together with his family migrated to America.
At first they settled in a Mennonite settlement near Springfield, Illinois. Later they moved farther west to the Johannesthal settlement northeast of Hillsboro, Kansas. Jacobina's only sister was married shortly before they moved west, so our mother was compelled at the early age of 14 to do the housekeeping alone. This was not easy for her, since she was so young and inexperienced, but she did what she could, especially for her aged and lonely father.
On May 8, 1877, she was married to John Harms. They made their first home in Newton, Kansas; later they moved to a farm in Johannesthal, which was an inheritance from her parents. In the year 1880, a great Revival broke out, and the Lord worked mightily, and then both of our parents were saved. For some time, many seeking souls, also believers gathered the home of our parents in the basement. In the spring of 1881, a number of souls were baptized and among these were our parents also. It was a time of great rejoicing. Brother Abraham Schellenberg officiated at this baptism. In those pioneer days, it was difficult to make a living. Since our father was a travelling preacher, Evangelist, Sunday School worker and colporter in many different settlements he was away from home so often. But our dear mother took over the care and raising of the family, also looking after the farmwork, trusting God's guidance.
How often she called us children together when our father was on an evangelistic tour, saying "come children, we want to pray that the Lord will bless the work and that souls will come out for the Lord." Our mother led a warm prayer life. She had a special place in the home where she communed with God, remembering her missionary children, and all her children and grandchildren.
How she prayed for the widows and orphans, the sick and the lonely! She was very hospitable, and often served meals and lodging for travelling ministers. She loved to visit the sick, and to take a meal to them. She served as a Sunday school teacher, and was one of the group when a sewing circle was organized in church.
In 1910 death took our dear father from her side. This caused a deep pain in her heart which was never forgotten. They had lived 33 years, 6 months and 24 days together. In this union, the Lord gave them 7 daughters and 1 son, and of these daughters, Bertha died at the age of 8 months. They also had one foster son who, after the death of father, when all the children were married, faithfully served mother until his death.
In 1911 mother was married a second time to Rev. Franz Ediger. They lived together 9 years, sharing joy and sorrows, till in 1920 the Lord called him to his eternal Home. Mother lived in widowhood the last 10 years. Right after father Ediger's funeral, mother became ill, later partly paralyzed, and at last she was bedridden.
The children served her by turns and she gave many a blessed testimony. She had a clear mind until the end, although her speech became less and less. But on the last evening of her life, she could speak very clearly; her face shone with a heavenly joy. She died 11:30 at night on March 6, 1931, at the age of 71 years. She left to mourn 6 daughters and sons-in-law, and 1 son and daughter-in-law, 22 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, and 1 brother. She has fought the good fight; she has kept the faith.
-written by her children
Our Dear Mother was born March 7, 1860 (some accounts have March 1, 1859) in Deutcsh Wymsyle, Russian-Poland. She was the youngest of 6 children of Peter Franz.
At the age of 12, she lost her mother through death. This loss made a deep impression on her tender soul. Soon after the death of her mother, her father together with his family migrated to America.
At first they settled in a Mennonite settlement near Springfield, Illinois. Later they moved farther west to the Johannesthal settlement northeast of Hillsboro, Kansas. Jacobina's only sister was married shortly before they moved west, so our mother was compelled at the early age of 14 to do the housekeeping alone. This was not easy for her, since she was so young and inexperienced, but she did what she could, especially for her aged and lonely father.
On May 8, 1877, she was married to John Harms. They made their first home in Newton, Kansas; later they moved to a farm in Johannesthal, which was an inheritance from her parents. In the year 1880, a great Revival broke out, and the Lord worked mightily, and then both of our parents were saved. For some time, many seeking souls, also believers gathered the home of our parents in the basement. In the spring of 1881, a number of souls were baptized and among these were our parents also. It was a time of great rejoicing. Brother Abraham Schellenberg officiated at this baptism. In those pioneer days, it was difficult to make a living. Since our father was a travelling preacher, Evangelist, Sunday School worker and colporter in many different settlements he was away from home so often. But our dear mother took over the care and raising of the family, also looking after the farmwork, trusting God's guidance.
How often she called us children together when our father was on an evangelistic tour, saying "come children, we want to pray that the Lord will bless the work and that souls will come out for the Lord." Our mother led a warm prayer life. She had a special place in the home where she communed with God, remembering her missionary children, and all her children and grandchildren.
How she prayed for the widows and orphans, the sick and the lonely! She was very hospitable, and often served meals and lodging for travelling ministers. She loved to visit the sick, and to take a meal to them. She served as a Sunday school teacher, and was one of the group when a sewing circle was organized in church.
In 1910 death took our dear father from her side. This caused a deep pain in her heart which was never forgotten. They had lived 33 years, 6 months and 24 days together. In this union, the Lord gave them 7 daughters and 1 son, and of these daughters, Bertha died at the age of 8 months. They also had one foster son who, after the death of father, when all the children were married, faithfully served mother until his death.
In 1911 mother was married a second time to Rev. Franz Ediger. They lived together 9 years, sharing joy and sorrows, till in 1920 the Lord called him to his eternal Home. Mother lived in widowhood the last 10 years. Right after father Ediger's funeral, mother became ill, later partly paralyzed, and at last she was bedridden.
The children served her by turns and she gave many a blessed testimony. She had a clear mind until the end, although her speech became less and less. But on the last evening of her life, she could speak very clearly; her face shone with a heavenly joy. She died 11:30 at night on March 6, 1931, at the age of 71 years. She left to mourn 6 daughters and sons-in-law, and 1 son and daughter-in-law, 22 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, and 1 brother. She has fought the good fight; she has kept the faith.
-written by her children
At the age of 12, she lost her mother through death. This loss made a deep impression on her tender soul. Soon after the death of her mother, her father together with his family migrated to America.
At first they settled in a Mennonite settlement near Springfield, Illinois. Later they moved farther west to the Johannesthal settlement northeast of Hillsboro, Kansas. Jacobina's only sister was married shortly before they moved west, so our mother was compelled at the early age of 14 to do the housekeeping alone. This was not easy for her, since she was so young and inexperienced, but she did what she could, especially for her aged and lonely father.
On May 8, 1877, she was married to John Harms. They made their first home in Newton, Kansas; later they moved to a farm in Johannesthal, which was an inheritance from her parents. In the year 1880, a great Revival broke out, and the Lord worked mightily, and then both of our parents were saved. For some time, many seeking souls, also believers gathered the home of our parents in the basement. In the spring of 1881, a number of souls were baptized and among these were our parents also. It was a time of great rejoicing. Brother Abraham Schellenberg officiated at this baptism. In those pioneer days, it was difficult to make a living. Since our father was a travelling preacher, Evangelist, Sunday School worker and colporter in many different settlements he was away from home so often. But our dear mother took over the care and raising of the family, also looking after the farmwork, trusting God's guidance.
How often she called us children together when our father was on an evangelistic tour, saying "come children, we want to pray that the Lord will bless the work and that souls will come out for the Lord." Our mother led a warm prayer life. She had a special place in the home where she communed with God, remembering her missionary children, and all her children and grandchildren.
How she prayed for the widows and orphans, the sick and the lonely! She was very hospitable, and often served meals and lodging for travelling ministers. She loved to visit the sick, and to take a meal to them. She served as a Sunday school teacher, and was one of the group when a sewing circle was organized in church.
In 1910 death took our dear father from her side. This caused a deep pain in her heart which was never forgotten. They had lived 33 years, 6 months and 24 days together. In this union, the Lord gave them 7 daughters and 1 son, and of these daughters, Bertha died at the age of 8 months. They also had one foster son who, after the death of father, when all the children were married, faithfully served mother until his death.
In 1911 mother was married a second time to Rev. Franz Ediger. They lived together 9 years, sharing joy and sorrows, till in 1920 the Lord called him to his eternal Home. Mother lived in widowhood the last 10 years. Right after father Ediger's funeral, mother became ill, later partly paralyzed, and at last she was bedridden.
The children served her by turns and she gave many a blessed testimony. She had a clear mind until the end, although her speech became less and less. But on the last evening of her life, she could speak very clearly; her face shone with a heavenly joy. She died 11:30 at night on March 6, 1931, at the age of 71 years. She left to mourn 6 daughters and sons-in-law, and 1 son and daughter-in-law, 22 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, and 1 brother. She has fought the good fight; she has kept the faith.
-written by her children
Gravesite Details
w/o Rev. John
Family Members
Parents
Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
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See more Harms or Franz / Frantz memorials in:
- Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church Cemetery Harms or Franz / Frantz
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- Marion County Harms or Franz / Frantz
- Kansas Harms or Franz / Frantz
- USA Harms or Franz / Frantz
- Find a Grave Harms or Franz / Frantz
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