OBIT: Annie (HOLSINGER) NOWAG, 1946, formerly of Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

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ANNIE HOLSINGER NOWAG

  Mrs. Annie Nowag, former resident of Meyersdale, Berlin and Johnstown, aged 
nearly 91 years, died at the home of a married daughter, Mrs. William McTavish, 
Folsom, California, last Saturday, Jan. 5th.
  She was the widow of Paul G. Nowag, for many years a prominent businessman of 
Berlin and Johnstown.
  Mrs. Nowag is well remembered by elderly residents of Somerset County as the 
daughter of Rev. Henry R. Holsinger, who during his early years in the ministry 
of the Church of the Brethren, then known as the German Baptist Brethren, 
preached and published church literature in Meyersdale, and later in Berlin.
  Annie Elizabeth Holsinger was born on March 18, 1855, in Martinsburg, Blair 
County, Pa., where her parents lived before they moved to Meyersdale (then 
Meyers Mills) about the year 1871.  Here Elder Holsinger became associated with 
James Quinter and Joseph Beer in publishing The Primitive Christian, one of the 
first Church papers devoted to the promulgation of the doctrines of the Church 
of the Brethren.
  In the latter 70's Elder Holsinger moved to Berlin and published a church 
paper there entitled The Progressive Christian.  In 1881 he was excommunicated 
by the annual conference of the Church of the Brethren for his liberal views - 
favoring an educated ministry giving women an equal voice with men in church 
government and activities, organization of Sunday schools in the churches, 
instrumental music in church services, and opposition to uniformity of dress by 
church members.  After his break with the mother church, he led in the 
organization of the denomination now known as the Brethren Church, to which he 
devoted his labors until he succumbed to the infirmities of old age.  His 
religious activities eventually took him across the continent, and his last 
place of residence while still active in the ministry, was at Lathrop, 
California, whence he and his devoted wife, in their old age, returned to 
Berlin, Pa., where both passed away soon after their return and were laid to 
rest in the Odd Fellows cemetery where a handsome monument has been erected to 
their memory by friends who revered the aged couple. 
  Mrs. Nowag, like her parents, was deeply religious, taking an active part in 
all church and Sunday School activities of the church her father founded.  She 
was the first Sunday School teacher of the writer of this obituary and her 
Christian influence has carried through the years.  On Oct. 3, 1878, she was 
married to Paul G. Nowag of Berlin, where they made their home and engaged in 
the merchantile business for 21 years and where all of their children were born.  
In 1899 they moved to Johnstown where Mr. Nowag conducted an insurance agency 
until his death in 1922.
  After the death of her husband, Mrs. Nowag made her home with her son-in-law 
and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert B. Johns, in Johnstown, until 1942, when at 
the age of 87, but still well and active, she went to California to visit and 
live with some of her children who had moved to the west coast.  
  She is survived by five children - George B. Nowag, San Diego; Rev. H. W. 
Nowag, Johnstown; Mrs. William MacTavish, Folsom, Cal., at whose home she died; 
Edgar A., San Diego, and Mrs. Gilbert B. Johns, Johnstown.  Another daughter, 
Mrs. H. S. Replogle, died in Johnstown in 1926.  Two sons died in infancy.  Mrs. 
Nowig also leaves 10 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and one sister, 
Charlotte, wife of S. J. Holsinger, Phoenix, Ariz.
  Funeral services were held in Folsom, Cal., Tuesday afternoon of this week, 
with interment also in California.
  The Nowig family has played a prominent role in the church, seven Nowig 
grandchildren of Bishop Holsinger being ordained to the ministry.

Meyersdale Republican, January 10, 1946