Ediger, Jacob Bernhard (1876-1954)
Jacob Bernhard Ediger: teacher and missionary to the Cheyenne People, was born 8 December 1876 in McPherson County, Kansas, USA to Jacob D. Ediger (11 July 1852-18 October 1919) and Katharina Harder Ediger (1 May 1855-17 December 1913). Jacob was the oldest child in a family of seven sons and four daughters. He married Agatha Regier (28 August 1881-24 August 1978) on 28 August 1902, Agatha's 21st birthday. Jacob and Agatha had six sons and two daughters--Alvin, Theodore, Gustave, Hilda, Otto, Anna, Anthony and Donald. Jacob died 15 April 1954 at Bethel Deaconess Hospital in Newton, Kansas. Jacob and Agatha are buried in the Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church cemetery.
Jacob received his elementary education in the district schools near his home. He attended Bethel College four years and was graduated with the class of 1900. He taught in various rural schools for seven years. He was baptized and became a member of the Hoffnungsau Mennonite church on 8 July 1894.
Agatha Regier was born in Alta Township, Harvey County, Kansas, the daughter of pioneer parents, John K. Regier (23 May 1853-22 June 1929) and Anna Unruh Regier (15 January 1855-22 May 1950). She was the second child in a family of six daughters and four sons. She attended several rural schools in the area until she was 12 years old. Later she attended Bethel Academy for two years. Her instruction included organ lessons, and she was the first organist of the Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church. She later used this skill on the mission field.
In fall 1906 Jacob and Agatha Ediger received the call from the Foreign Mission Board of the General Conference Mennonite Church to become missionaries. They were ordained by Peter Balzer and Gustav Harder for this service on 13 January 1907 in the Hoffnungsau church. Jacob was later ordained as an elder on 4 September 1910.
Their mission work among the Cheyenne People began at Clinton, Oklahoma on 25 May 1907. Later the Thomas and Hammon districts were added to their responsibilities. They also helped to sponsor religious activities in the Government Indian Boarding School at Concho, Oklahoma. They served for 40 years in this field. According to his records, Jacob delivered 2,819 sermons, performed 94 marriages, and officiated at 322 funerals, of which 288 were Native Americans. Agatha aided the work through her knowledge gained from rearing eight children. She also taught Cheyenne People to quilt, she administered medicines and home remedies, and shared in the joys and sorrows of the Native people.
Jacob and Agatha Ediger retired to Buhler, Kansas where they lived until Jacob's death. Lawrence Hart helped to officiate at Agatha's funeral.
In his obituary of Jacob Ediger, P. P. Wedel, a longtime leader in the General Conference Mennonite Church, described Ediger's "cheerful and social nature" that enabled him to become close to the Cheyenne People. He also noted Ediger's interest in training Native American leaders to participate in the work.
Bibliography
"Agatha Regier Ediger." Mennonite Weekly Review (21 September 1978): 11. https://mla.bethelks.edu/mediawiki/index.php/Ediger,_Agatha_Regier_(1881-1978).
"On September 4th Missionary J. B. Ediger..." The Mennonite 25, no 36 (15 September 1910): 1.
"Former Missionary to Cheyennes Dies at 96." Mennonite Weekly Review (31 August 1978): 7. https://mla.bethelks.edu/mediawiki/index.php/Ediger,_Agatha_Regier_(1881-1978).
GRANDMA (The Genealogical Registry and Database of Mennonite Ancestry) Database, 20-01 ed. Fresno, CA: " California Mennonite Historical Society, 2020: #56115.
"Jacob B. Ediger." Mennonite Weekly Review (13 May 1954): 9. https://mla.bethelks.edu/mediawiki/index.php/Ediger,_Jacob_B._(1876-1954).
"Ordination." The Mennonite 22, no. 3 (17 January 1907): 1.
"Retired missionary to Indians dies." Mennonite Weekly Review (23 April 1954): 1. https://mla.bethelks.edu/mediawiki/index.php/Ediger,_Jacob_B._(1876-1954).
Wedel, P. P. "J. B. Ediger. The Mennonite 69, no. 21 (25 May 1954): 327.
Archives
J. B. and Agatha Ediger Papers. MS.146, Mennonite Library and Archives, Bethel College, North Newton, Kansas.
| Author(s) | Samuel J Steiner |
|---|---|
| Date Published | February 2020 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Steiner, Samuel J. "Ediger, Jacob Bernhard (1876-1954)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. February 2020. Web. 26 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Ediger,_Jacob_Bernhard_(1876-1954)&oldid=169744.
APA style
Steiner, Samuel J. (February 2020). Ediger, Jacob Bernhard (1876-1954). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 26 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Ediger,_Jacob_Bernhard_(1876-1954)&oldid=169744.
©1996-2024 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.