Yoder, David S. (1852-1945)
David S. Yoder, a Mennonite (Mennonite Church) lay leader, was born near Spruce Hill, Juniata County, Pennsylvania, on 24 February 1852, the sixth of nine children of Joseph Yoder and Hannah (Sharp) Yoder, of whom only four grew to adulthood. His father was a brother-in-law of Shem Zook, publisher of the German edition of the Martyr’s Mirror in 1849. His mother was the oldest sister of Solomon Z. Sharp, pioneer educator in the Church of the Brethren. He was married to Armenon Yoder on 1 March 1881. They had five children: Mamie M. (Mrs. J. E. Hartzler), Ruth A., John L., Nellie A., and Joe H. From the late 1870's to 1899 he lived near West Liberty, Ohio, and 1899-1945 near Bellefontaine, Ohio. David died at his home 4 May 1945. Interment was in Fair View cemetery at West Liberty.
David S. Yoder went to Academia Seminary near his home, and to Kishacoquillas Seminary not far from Belleville, Pennsylvania. He then taught in the schools of Huntingdon County. In the late 1870s he went to Logan County, Ohio, where he taught in schools near West Liberty for five years and became a member of the South Union congregation. With David Plank, a minister, and S. E. Allgyer he was a pioneer in Mennonite Sunday-school work in Logan and Champaign counties, Ohio, served as superintendent for many years and as a teacher until he was incapacitated by old age. He served his church in its then broadening program in a number of official capacities.
In 1905 David S. Yoder was elected to the Mennonite Evangelizing and Benevolent Board, and helped to form the Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, which organization was completed 2 May 1906. He was a member of this Board 1906-18, and served on the Executive Committee 1910-1917. He was elected to the Board of the Elkhart Institute Association in 1901 for a term of three years. Secretarial records give his name on the Board as of 1905. He was a member of the Mennonite Board of Education to 1918, and was treasurer in 1918. He was active in the Ohio Mennonite Sunday School Conference. He was treasurer of the Ohio Sunday School and Young People's Conference 1912-1915, and treasurer of the Ohio Mennonite Sunday School Conference 1916-1924, a member of its Executive Committee 1924-1930. He was also active in the organization of the Mennonite Aid Plan, a mutual insurance organization for members of the Mennonite Church of Logan and Champaign counties, and served as its secretary for many years.
| Author(s) | John L Yoder |
|---|---|
| Date Published | 1959 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Yoder, John L. "Yoder, David S. (1852-1945)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1959. Web. 21 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Yoder,_David_S._(1852-1945)&oldid=166418.
APA style
Yoder, John L. (1959). Yoder, David S. (1852-1945). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 21 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Yoder,_David_S._(1852-1945)&oldid=166418.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 1006. All rights reserved.
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