Unruh, Tobias A. (1851-1947)
Tobias A. Unruh: a minister of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite; was born on 18 June 1851 at Karolswalde, Poland, son of Abraham Unruh (ca. 1828, Volhynia - 1887, USA) and Eva (Schmidt) Unruh (b. ca. 1832). He married Elisabeth Jantz (9 September 1850, Karolswalde, Volhynia - 18 May 1940, Galva, Kansas, USA) on 27 September 1870 in Karolswalde, Volhynia. She was the daughter of Johann Jantz (6 October 1825, Ostrog, Volhynia - 20 September 1908, Ringwood, Oklahoma, USA) and Anna (Ruediger) Jantz (28 September 1829, Ostrog, Volhynia - 1 July 1909, Ringwood, Oklahoma, USA). Tobias and Elisabeth were the parents of eight children: Heinrich, Anna, Peter, Nettie, Helena, Susie, Abraham, and John. On 6 September 1947, at the age of 96 years, he was laid to rest in the Lone Tree cemetery, near his home church, the place of his baptism, ordination, and most of his work.
In 1876, with several young children, Tobias and Elizabeth immigrated to America, settling in McPherson County, Kansas. The severe trials of pioneer life in America caused him to search the Scriptures for comfort, and because of his added knowledge of the Word he was chosen for the ministry. Nevertheless his severe spiritual struggles found no release until he acknowledged Christ and experienced the new birth. He was baptized in 1881 by Benjamin Schmidt and became a member of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. In 1882, a year later, he was ordained to the ministry by John Holdeman, thus becoming one of the early ministers of the denomination. The glow and fervor of his new experience remained with him throughout his life and ministry. Much of his time was spent in itinerant preaching and intensive evangelism. For many years he served as an elder, and often officiated at ordinations.
Bibliography
GRANDMA (The Genealogical Registry and Database of Mennonite Ancestry) Database, 5.00 ed. Fresno, CA: California Mennonite Historical Society, 2006: #282857.
| Author(s) | John J. Koehn |
|---|---|
| Richard D. Thiessen | |
| Date Published | May 2007 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Koehn, John J. and Richard D. Thiessen. "Unruh, Tobias A. (1851-1947)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. May 2007. Web. 21 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Unruh,_Tobias_A._(1851-1947)&oldid=169780.
APA style
Koehn, John J. and Richard D. Thiessen. (May 2007). Unruh, Tobias A. (1851-1947). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 21 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Unruh,_Tobias_A._(1851-1947)&oldid=169780.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 786. All rights reserved.
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