Classification scheme:
Hist. Mss. 1.222
Dates of creation: 1859, 1898-1961
Physical description: 12 cm of textual material
Biographical sketch: Abram Honderich (17 April 1873-20 March 1961) was the youngest child of eight children born to John Honderich (1825-1907) and Veronica Roth (1828-1916). On 15 Jan 1896 he married Lydia Shantz (1 January 1877-8 May 1948). They had five sons and three daughters.
Abram and Lydia farmed for many years on the Honderich homestead three miles east of New Hamburg. He continued to live on the farm after retirement.
Abram and Lydia were members of the Reformed Mennonite Church. Abram became a probationary minister on 17 May 1936, and an ordained minister on 5 June 1938. Abram's father, John, had also been a Reformed Mennonite minister.
Custodial history: Donated to the Mennonite Archives of Ontario in August 2007 by Cameron Honderich's children. Beaverson and "Alfred and Hattie" letters donated by Dave Honderich in 2014.
Scope and content: The fonds consists of four series: correspondence, sermons and religious documents, property and Fire and Storm Aid documents, genealogy and family history items.
Note: Original description created August 2007 by Sam Steiner and modified by Laureen Harder-Gissing
File list:
Series 1: Correspondence
1850s
ÌýÌýDaniel Musser to Abram Groff (24 January 1854)(Typescript copy)
ÌýÌýJohannes Stoltzfus to Christian Honderich (14 March 1859)(Original and translation)
1898
ÌýÌýTo Uncle and Aunt from ? (last leaf is missing), 4 March 1898
1900s
ÌýÌýE. H. Shenk to Abram Honerich[!], 11 March 1905Â
ÌýÌýJacob S. Lehman to Catharine [Honderich] Richter, 1907?
ÌýÌýJ. R. Yost to Mr. & Mrs. A. Honderich, 27 December 1908Â
ÌýÌýJohn Kohr to Veronica Honderich, 28 December 1909Â
1910s
ÌýÌýHardin Near to Abraham Honderich, 18 February 1915
ÌýÌýEarl [Honderich] to Parents, 19 September 1918 (from military camp, London, Ont.)
ÌýÌýEarl [Honderich] to Parents, 6 October 1918
1930s
ÌýÌýLillian Rushing to Dear One in Faith, 15 January 1935 (account of her conversion and coming to fellowship with the Reformed Mennonite Church; she and her family became the first African American Reformed Mennonites)
ÌýÌýChildren and Grandchildren to Mother and Father, 15 Janaury 1936 (40th anniversary)
ÌýÌýFrank E. Eshelman to Abram Honderich, 3 July 1936 (re: Abram's call to ministry)
ÌýÌýFrank E. Eshelman to Abram Honderich, 19 September 1938 (re: Fire & Storm Aid issue)
ÌýÌýMenno Sauder to Harvey Gampp, 20 October 1938 (Sauder was an Old Order Mennonite wishing to discuss some matters of Mennonite doctrine)Â
1940s
ÌýÌýFrank E. Eshelman to Abram Honderich, 13 February 1941
ÌýÌýFrank E. Eshelman to Abram Honderich, 4 April 1941
ÌýÌýLillian Rushing to Abram Honderich & wife, 2 February 1943
ÌýÌýBenjamin F. Metzler to Abram & Lydia Honderich, September 1942Â
ÌýÌýEli B. Near to Abram Honderich, 22 January 1943 (reference to 20 baptisms at Wilmot churches in September 1942; also gives names and address of African-American members in Lucy, Tennessee)
ÌýÌýArnold Zavitz to Abraham Honderich, 27 August 1944 (re: charming)
ÌýÌýDella Cochran to Brother & Sister in Faith, 8 January 1945Â
ÌýÌýAbram Honderich to Fanny Bean, 17 January 1945 (copy)
ÌýÌýSamuel D. Markley to Abram Honderich, 21 January 1946
ÌýÌýLottie M to Lydia Honderich, 10 March 1946
ÌýÌýLeah M to Abram and Lydia Honderich, 5 May 1946
ÌýÌýAnna Young to Bro. & Sister in Faith, 9 November 1947
ÌýÌýFanny Roth to Sister & Brother in Faith, 26 February 1948
ÌýÌýLaura, Sarah and Frank to Uncle and Cousins, 13 May 1948 (re: death of Lydia Honderich)
ÌýÌýRobert & Jessie Beehler to Bro. Abram, 17 May 1948
 Earl and Ilva Beaverson to Abram Honderich, 18 May 1948
ÌýÌýEzra & Lottie Myers to Abram Honderich, 23 May 1948Â
 Bro. Alfred and Sis. Hattie to Bro. Abram [194-?]
1950s
ÌýÌýHenry Fisher to Abram Honderick, 1 January 1950
ÌýÌýCatherine L. Ryder, 23 January 1950
ÌýÌýJohn Steiner to Abraham Honderich, 25 February 1950
ÌýÌýCatherine Ryder to Abram Honderich, 26 May 1950 (about mimeographing one of Honderich's sermons)
ÌýÌýCatherine Ryder to Abram Honderich, 8 September 1950
ÌýÌýAnna [Young?] to Ada [Honderich] Heimbecker, 19 November 1950
ÌýÌýAbram Honderich to Paul Erb, 18 January 1951 (photocopy from Archives of the Mennonite Church) [Paul Erb was editor of the Mennonite Church's Gospel Herald; this letter begins a correspondence on doctrinal issues).Â
ÌýÌýPaul Erb to Abram Honderich, 26 January 1951 (photocopy from Archives of the Mennonite Church)Â
ÌýÌýAbram Honderich to Paul Erb, 31 January 1951 (copy; as well as photocopy of original)
ÌýÌýPaul Erb to Abram Honderich, 15 February 1951 (photocopy from Archives of the Mennonite Church; this closed the exchange)Â
ÌýÌýRobert Shisler to Abram Honderich, 24 February 1951
ÌýÌýCatherine Ryder to Ambram Honderich, 12 March 1951
ÌýÌýLillian G. Geiger to Brother in Faith, 16 July 1951 (re: history written by Honderich)
ÌýÌýLillian G. Geiger to Brother in Faith, 22 August 1951
ÌýÌýRobert Shisler to Abram Honderich and others, 12 November 1951 (re: funeral service for his daughter of another faith which he attended)
ÌýÌýAnna Young to Bro. Abram, 12 November 1951
ÌýÌýBill [William] Eshelman to Dear Abram, 15 January 1952
ÌýÌýAnna Young to Bro. in Faith, 15 April 1952
ÌýÌýLillian Rushing to Abram Honderich, 2 July 1952
ÌýÌýD. J. Jacobs to Brother in the Faith, September 1952 (when Honderich was in hospital)
ÌýÌýLillian G. Geiger to Abram Honderich, 12 September 1952
ÌýÌýWilson and Mildred Green to Bro. in Like Faith, 14 September 1952
ÌýÌýAnna Young to Bro. in Faith, 29 November 1952Â
ÌýÌýEdwin F. Stauffer to Abram Honderich, 20 January 1953
ÌýÌýVernon & Dorothy Beam to Abram Honderich, 29 January 1953
ÌýÌýMilo Yoder to Bro. in the Faith, 7 February 1953
ÌýÌýEphraim [Roth] to Abram Honderich, 16 February 1953
ÌýÌýElla Mehaffey to Abram Honderich, 8 March 1953
ÌýÌýFannie to Uncle Abram, 21 March 1953
ÌýÌýJohn M. Amstutz to Abram Honderich, 13 October 1953
ÌýÌýJ. N. Weckesses[?] to Beloved Bro. in Faith, 20 November 1953
ÌýÌýJohn Rashley to Abram Honderich, 12 December 1953
ÌýÌýLillian Rushing to A. Honderick, 12 April 1955
ÌýÌýAnna Young to Bro. Abram, 18 July 1954
ÌýÌýLillian G. Geiger to Beloved Brother in Faith, 13 November 1954
ÌýÌýRichard E. Huss Printer to Brother in Faith, 12 September 1955
ÌýÌýOmer and Mary Near to Beloved Brother in Faith, 5 January 1956
ÌýÌýAbram Honderich to Menno Sauder, 21 January 1956 (copy)(This is a lengthy response to a letter which has been lost, in which Honderich explains in some detail the Reformed Mennonite view on church unity, church discipline, individual conscience, etc.)
ÌýÌýAnna Young to Bro. Abram, 7 March 1956
ÌýÌýCam [Honderich] to Dear Dad, 18 April 1956
ÌýÌýLillian Rushing to Abram Honderick, 23 April 1956
ÌýÌýEphraim Roth to Bro. Abram, 1 October 1956
ÌýÌýEphraim Roth to Bro. Abram, 21 December 1956Â
ÌýÌýOmer & Mary Near to Beloved Bro. in Faith, 8 January 1957
ÌýÌýAnna Young to Bro. Abram, 21 January 1957
ÌýÌýAnson Hoover to Dear Fellow Pilgrim, 17 March 1957[?]Â
ÌýÌýEphraim & Catherine [Roth] to Bro. in Faith, 29 April 1957Â
ÌýÌýEphraim [Roth] to Beloved Bro. Abram, 3 June 1957Â
ÌýÌýEphraim [Roth] to Abram, 2 July 1957
ÌýÌýEphraim & Catharine [Roth] to Bro. in Faith, 18 December 1957
ÌýÌýAnna [Young] to Dear Bro. in Faith, 22 January 1958
ÌýÌýLillian Geiger to Abram Honderich, 20 January 1958
ÌýÌýLillian Rushing to Abram Honderich, 11 March 1958
ÌýÌýIrene [Hofstetter] Mogk to Uncle Abram, 12 March 1958
ÌýÌýLillian Rushing to Abram Honderich, 22 April 1958
ÌýÌýEphraim [Roth] to Bro. Abram, 14 May 1958
ÌýÌýPerlus [Shantz] to Uncle Abram, 6 July 1958 (re: death of Perlus' son, Paul, and Abram's role in funeral service]Â
ÌýÌýMarian Fisher to Brother Abram, 13 July 1958
ÌýÌýPerlus [Shantz] to Uncle Abram, 21 September 1958Â
ÌýÌýEdwin Stauffer to Abram Honderich, 6 October 1958
ÌýÌýPerlus [Shantz] to Uncle Abram, 19 October 1958
ÌýÌýEdwin and Mary Stauffer to Abram Honderich, 4 December 1958
ÌýÌýPerlus [Shantz] to Uncle Abram, 16 December 1958
ÌýÌýAbram Honderich to A. W. Dockstader (copy), 16 December 1958
ÌýÌýA. W. Dockstader to Dear Christian Friend, 29 December 1958Â
ÌýÌýPerlus [Shantz] to Uncle Abram, 18 January 1959
ÌýÌýLillian Rushing to Abram Honderich, 3 February 1959Â
ÌýÌýOmer and Mary Near to Beloved Bro. in Faith, 10 February 1959 (re: death of Abram's son, Earl)Â
ÌýÌýPerlus [Shantz] to Uncle Abram, 11 February 1959Â
ÌýÌýAllen & Anita Steele to Brother in Faith, 11 February 1959
ÌýÌýAda Weber to Dear Brother in Faith, 12 February 1959
ÌýÌýLydia Hildebrand to the Honderich Family, 14 February 1959
ÌýÌýEna & Clarence [Hildebrand] to Uncle Abram, February 1959
ÌýÌýEdward & Clara Roth to Dear Brother in Faith, 23 February 1959
ÌýÌýPerlus [Shantz] to Uncle Abram, 8 June 1959
ÌýÌýPerlus [Shantz] to Uncle Abram, 6 October 1959
ÌýÌýMarian Fisher to Brother in Faith, 14 October 1959
1960s
ÌýÌýLloyd Weaver to Abram Honderich, 22 January 1960Â
ÌýÌýLillian Rushing to Abram Honderich, 22 February 1960
ÌýÌýLloyd Weaver to Abram Honderich, 4 March 1960
ÌýÌýPerlus [Shantz] to Uncle Abram, 10 March 1960
ÌýÌýA. W. Dockstader to Abraham Honderich, 23 March 1960
ÌýÌýEdwin Stouffer to Bro. Abram, 24 March 1960
ÌýÌýA. W. Dockstader to Abram Honderich, 15 April 1960
ÌýÌýPerlus [Shantz] to Uncle Abram, 14 June 1960
ÌýÌýWm. J. Rupp to Abram Hondrich, 4 July 1960
ÌýÌýLillian G. Geiger to Dear Brother in Faith, 22 September 1960
ÌýÌýPerlus [Shantz] to Uncle Abram, 3 October 1960Â
ÌýÌýEdwin Stouffer to Abram Honderich, 27 November 1960
ÌýÌýAnson Hoover to Dear Friend, 9 January 1961
ÌýÌýAnson Hoover to Dear Friend & Fellow Pilgrim, 25 January 1961 (discusses division in Old Order community)
ÌýÌýLillian Rushing to Abram Honderich, 8 February 1961
ÌýÌýEdna ? to Beloved Cousins and Sisters in Faith, 18 February 1961
ÌýÌýFannie ? to Uncle Abram, 14 March 1961
Series 2: Sermons and religious documents
Printed Sermons
ÌýÌýMemorial Sermon in Memory of Veronica Roth Honderich preached at Hostetler's Mennonite Meeting House Wilmot, on Tuesday, May 9th, 1916 by Jonas Anthes. Humberstone, Ont. (printed booklet)Â
ÌýÌý Baptism of Charles Hildebrand by Harvey Gampp, New Hamburg, ON, 21 November 1943
ÌýÌýWedding of Mervin Cook & Aletha Steiner by Harvey Gampp, North Easthope, 2 December 1945Â
ÌýÌýFuneral of Vernonica Siegner by Walter I. Tripp, Kingwood, ON, 13 December 1945Â
ÌýÌýFuneral of Eli Jacobs by Harvey Gampp, Wilmot, 31 December 1945
ÌýÌýSermon on Mark 7, 1-16 by Walter I. Tripp, Stevensville, 20 June 1948
ÌýÌýBaptism service by Harvey Gampp, Wellesley, 20 October 1946
ÌýÌýFuneral of Lydia Honderich by Jacob L. Kreider, Wilmot, 12 May 1948 (Abram's wife)
ÌýÌýCommunion service by William J. Rupp, Lancaster, PA, 1 October 1950
ÌýÌýSermon on John 1:17 by Ezra B. Myers, Lancaster, PA, 27 March 1952
ÌýÌýSermon on Matthew 27:22 by Edwin F. Stouffer, Lancaster, PA, 15 March 1956
ÌýÌýFuneral of Harvey Gampp by William J. Rupp and Lloyd Weaver, Baden, 14 October 1958
Writings by Abram Honderich
ÌýÌýFuneral of David R. Wilhelm by Abram Honderich, North Easthope, 16 May 1943 (copy)Â
ÌýÌý"To My Dear Children and Grandchildren" -- a religious memoir by Abram Honderich on his conversion experience, 2 June 1948, soon after the death of his wife. (copy)Â
ÌýÌý"An Outline of Ture and False Religion from the Day of Pentecost to the Present Time," by Abram Honderich, February 1951 (copy)Â
ÌýÌýUndated portion of sermon, likely by Abram Honderich, n.d. (typescript of pages 12-25 only.
Miscellaneous Religious Documents
ÌýÌýTypescript copy of letter from Daniel Musser to Beloved Sister, 15 September 1855.
ÌýÌý"Explanation" on separation of John W. Miller and David Pollinger from the Reformed Mennonite Church. Approved by Jacob S. Lehman, Elias H. Hershey, John Kohr, John Shearly, Wilmer E. Steele and David Basinger, ca. 1920.Â
ÌýÌý"My Experience in Finding the True Way of Salvation" by C. S. Nauman, March 1934Â
ÌýÌýSmall pocket notebook of Abram Honderich's. In addition to listing prices of produce, geese, etc., it includes notes from four ministry meetings 1956-1958 relating to Fire & Storm Aid issues, assisting an elderly member, and resolving a property issue.Â
ÌýÌýÌýÌýMeeting schedule for regular meetings of the Reformed Mennonite Church in Pennsylvania, 1959
Series 3: Legal / Fire & Storm Aid Fund Documents
Agreement between Christian Honderich and his son, John Honderich re: Lot 16 north of Bleams Road, 2 July 1852 (typescript copy)
ÌýÌýLast will and testament for John F. Harnish, Arkona, Ontario, 30 July 1919 (The Reformed Mennonite Church served as trustee when John Harnish died in Pennsylvania)
ÌýÌýFinancial records related to John Harnish estate, 1928-1945
ÌýÌý"Local tax" list for Wellesley, 1938 (Fire & Storm Tax)
ÌýÌýStatements for Fire and Storm Aid Fund of Reformed Mennonite Church, 1951, 1957, 1959
Series 4: Genealogy and FamilyÌý³ó¾±²õ³Ù´Ç°ù²â
ÌýÌýObituaries & Funeral Home Remembrance books for Lydia Honderich and Abram Honderich, 1948, 1916Â
ÌýÌý"A Registration of the Honderichs as far as I can trace them" by Abram Honderich, ca. 1960 (handwritten notes and typescript)
ÌýÌýMisc. unsigned historical reflections on Christian Honderich family, 1960s?Â
ÌýÌý"The Honderichs" by Elwy Yost (Elwy Yost was a television host and Honderich descendant; this is a poem he wrote for a Honderich Family Reunion)
ÌýÌýThe Descendants of Christian Honderich (1788-1868) and Margaret Gingerich (1798-1862), prepared for 1991 family reunionÂ
ÌýÌýCorrespondence of Beland Honderich with German researches on the Gingerich family, 1991