Person:Christian Kendig (3)

Source: Biographical Annals of Lancaster Co., Pa., 1903 published by J. H. Beers & Co., page 609-610. CHRISTIAN H. KENDIG. The ties that bind the native-born sons of Lancaster county to the place of their birth seem to be peculiarly strong, for, while from other counties a large proportion of the young men drift westward, here there are many who prefer to cling to the associations of youth. Legion is the name of those who have spent long and useful years in the locality where they were born. Mr. Kendig was one of those to whom the love of home and native soil appealed with especial strength. Born on a farm in East Lampeter township, Lancaster county Dec. 22, 1829, reared to agricultural pursuits, a farmer by training and by choice, following the occupation through all of his life, he finally entered into rest Jan. 4, 1886, and from his old homestead was taken to the Mennonite cemetery in Strasburg township, where his body was interred in the midst of scenes long loved by him. John G. Kendig, father of Christian H. Kendig, was a son of Henry and Maria (Groff ) Kendig, farmers of Strasburg township, Lancaster county. The occupation to which he was reared he selected for his life calling; after the marriage of his son, Christian H. he retired from active labor, but continued to live at the old homestead until his death, July 31, 1876, at seventy years of age. He was, laid to rest in the Mennonite cemetery at Strasburg, by the side of his wife, Susan, who had passed away in August, 1865, at the age of fifty-seven years. From childhood both had been earnest members of the Mennonite Church, and in its doctrines they carefully trained their children, Christian H., Mary A., Henry, Susan and John. None of them are now living except Susan, who is unmarried and makes her home in Lancaster. Mrs. Susan Kendig was a daughter of Jacob and Susan (Lefever) Hartman, and grew to womanhood upon the home farm in this county. When ready to establish a home of his own Christian H. Kendig was united in marriage with Anna Witmer, the ceremony being solemnized in Lancaster Oct. 25, 1855. Four children were born of their union, viz.: Witmer J., of Lancaster; David H., of Reading, Pa.; Susan E. and Anna M., who reside with their mother in Lancaster, the family having in 1892 removed to that city from the old homestead farm. Having been reared in the Mennonite faith, Mrs. Kendig retains membership in that denomination, and is a sincere exponent of its doctrines of self-sacrifice and kindliness. Her children attend the Reformed Church and are active in various of its societie The ancestry of Mrs. Kendig is traced back to Benjamin Witmer, a native of Switzerland, who in 1716 sought the larger possibilities of America, settling in Lancaster county. Three years later his son, John, was born in this county, of which he remained a lifelong resident. By the marriage of John Witmer to Frances Roland a son was born whom they named Benjamin; this son became a farmer and married a Miss Brubaker, of an old family in the county. Next in line of descent was another Benjamin Witmer, a farmer of East Lampeter township; by his marriage to Esther Buckwalter a son, David, was born. Like his ancestors, he never cared to remove from his native county, preferring to cling to the associations dear to him from his earliest recollections. Nor did he seek a new and strange calling, but continued to till he soil of the homestead acres. At the time of his death, Jan. 9, 1876, be was seventy-five years of age. His wife, who was Anna Rutt, died in 1868, aged sixty-nine years. Both were interred in Mellinger's cemetery connected with the Mennonite Church, of which denomination they were conscientious members. In their family were the following-named sons and daughters: Abraham R., of Mountville Pa.; Elizabeth, deceased , Hettie, of East Lampeter township; Anna, Mrs. Kendig, of Lancaster; David and Jacob, farmers of East Lampeter township; Barbara, Mrs. Christ Frey, deceased; Mary, Mrs. Emanuel Herr, deceased; Benjamin and Joshua, who are also deceased. Though a considerable period has elapsed since the death of Mr. Kendig, he is not forgotten by those to whom the associations of a lifetime had endeared him. His memory is still green in the hearts of family and friends. Among his old associates it is often called to mind that he contributed generously to the maintenance of his church, the Mennonite, as well as to the expansion of its missionary movements; nor has it been forgotten that for many years he served faithfully and well as school director, often leaving his farm to do some work in connection with promoting the welfare of the schools. Indeed, as citizen, husband, father and friend, his life was exemplary and his example worthy of emulation.