OBIT: Milton E. YODER, 1944, Meyersdale, Somerset County, PA 

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

Copyright 2008.  All rights reserved.
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MILTON E. YODER

  Milton E. Yoder, a very widely known member of the Amish Mennonite Church, a 
native of the Meyersdale community, died at his late home near Stuart's Draft, 
Virginia, on Sunday, October 22, at the age of 74 years, 5 months and 5 days.
  He was born May 17, 1870, a son of the late Elias Yoder, and on Dec. 20, 1896, 
was married to Barbara C. Beachy, and lived in the old Yoder homestead along Elk 
Lick Creek, two miles west of Meyersdale, where he was born, until 1907, when he 
sold his farm to the late Harvey L. Fike, and his elder brother, Noah E. Yoder, 
who owned and lived on a farm adjoining the ancestral homestead, sold his farm 
to Galen Peck, and the Yoder brothers and their families moved to farms they 
bought near the city of Norfolk, Virginia.  Their aged father, who was then 
still living went with them to Virginia, where he passed away a few years later.
  The Yoder brothers reason for selling their Summit Twp. farms and moving to 
Virginia was that the big seaport of Norfolk, second largest city in the Old 
Dominion state, afforded a very superior market for farm produce.  The farms 
they purchased, 7 or 8 miles out from Norfolk, near the village of Kempsville, 
were fertile and well adapted to the dairy business, hog-raising and general 
farming.  Other Amish families from this county and from other states also 
located in the same neighborhood, enough to form a good-sized congregation of 
the Amish faith who worshipped in a commodious meeting house, which they erected 
near the farms of the Yoder brothers.
  For 35 years the Yoder brothers lived happily and prospered in the Kempsville 
neighborhood, as did also the other Amish families who located there later.  
During all those years they kept open house for numerous relatives and friends 
who frequently visited them, and never was more generous hospitality extended to 
visitors than in these homes, which many residents of this community, including 
the publishers of The Republican, can testify to from personal experience.
   By the time that the present World War broke out, Noah and Milt Yoder had 
reached the age of retirement and turned their farms over to their sons and were 
taking life easier.  But the war activities around Norfolk became too noisy and 
disturbing for old folks, so these aged brothers and several other families in 
1942 moved over into the Shenandoah Valley at Stuart's Draft, not far from 
Harrisonburg, where they established new homes in which to spend their old age.
  Milton, the younger brother, lived there only two years, in failing health, 
until he passed away.  He is survived by his wife, and brother Noah and wife and 
the following children: Eli M., Norman M., and Simon M., Stuart's Draft, and 
Elmer M., Norfolk.  One son, Peter M., and one daughter, Effie M., preceded him 
in death.
  Funeral services were held on Wednesday, Oct. 25th, conducted by Bishop Lewis 
M. Beachy of Gortner, Md., and Norman C. Swartzendruber of Dover, Del.  
Relatives and friends from far and near attended the obsequies, among them being 
the following:
  From Meyersdale - Joseph J. Yoder and wife, Noah P. Wengerd and wife, Salome 
and Katy Summy, Noah S. Beachy and wife, Mrs. Claud E. Yoder, Daniel J. and Noah 
J. Kinsinger. 
  From Salisbury, Pa. - Lewis S. Yoder and wife, John S. Wengerd and wife, Noah 
M. Beachy and wife, Mrs. Jacob Swartzendruber and Christian Swartzendruber.
  From Grantsville, Md. - Menno E. Hershberger and wife, Elmer D. Schrock and 
wife, Milton E. Yoder and wife, Ed M. Yoder and wife, Mrs. Ezra Yoder, Solomon 
Yoder and wife, Salome Peachy and Eli L. Yoder.
  From Gortner, Md. - Lewis Beachy and wife, Noah Schrock and wife and Noah C. 
Beachy and wife.
  From Dover, Del. - Norman C. Swartzendruber and wife and Mrs. Will Byler.
  From Greenwood, Del. - Eli L. Swartzendruber and wife, Milton L. 
Swartzendruber and wife, Frank M. Stymp and wife.
  From Lancaster, Pa. - Mrs. Fannie Beachy and daughter and Dan Smucker.
  From Harrisonburg, Va. - Ernest Swartzendruber, Paul and Roda Peachy.
  From Norfolk, Va. - Joe Hershberger, Job Hershberger and wife, Mrs. Jonas 
Hershberger, Simon L. Yoder and wife, Lloyd Yoder and wife, Noah Yoder and wife, 
Mrs. Enos Yoder, Elmer M. Yoder and wife, Jonas Miller and wife, Jonas 
Swartzendruber and wife, Amanda C. Swartzendruber, Mahlon Weaver and wife, 
Willie Weaver, Will Overholt and wife.
  Milton E. Yoder was a very genial and companionable man with a keen sense of 
humor, and love for his fellow men, and is sincerely mourned by a great host of 
people whom he befriended.

Meyersdale Republican, November 2, 1944