View source for Swartzendruber, Jacob J. (1800-1868)

Jacob J. Swartzendruber, (1800-1868), the first [[Old Order Amish|Old Order Amish ]]Mennonite bishop in [[Johnson County (Iowa, USA)|Johnson County]], Iowa, was born in [[Waldeck (Germany)|Waldeck]], Germany, in 1800, where he married Barbara Oesch, the widow of Peter Güngerich. He was ordained minister in 1826, immigrated to America in 1833, and lived in Somerset County,[[Pennsylvania (USA)| Pennsylvania]], and [[Garrett County Old Order Amish Settlement (Garrett County, Maryland, USA)|Garrett County]], Maryland. In 1851 he moved to Iowa and was there ordained bishop two years later. He died 5 June 1868. His son Joseph J. was ordained bishop in 1869 and among Jacob's descendants there have been no fewer than eight bishops and five ministers who served in Mennonite churches. His Christian ideals and high standards were important in molding the policies of the Amish churches in Iowa.
= Bibliography =
Bender, Harold S. and John Umble. "Documents Relating to Bishop Jacob Schwarzendruber." ''Mennonite Quarterly Review'' XX (July 1946): 222-39.

Gingerich, Melvin. <em>Mennonites in Iowa.</em> Iowa City, 1939.
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