Christian Z. Yoder
A man who has accomplished much for the amelioration of his fellows in Wayne county is the Rev. Christian Z. Yoder, who has labored long and ardently, often with disregard for his own welfare, if he could thereby make some one better, happier; his influence, like that of his honored father before him, has always been uplifting and hundreds of people have been made better for having known him. He is also a tiller of the soil, owning one of the nicest fruit farms in Greene township. His father, the Rev. John K. Yoder, long a noted Amish Mennonite minister, represented a family who lived in the United States prior to the war of the Revolution. His grandfather was brought to America by his parents when quite young, he being the oldest of the family, and to aid his parents by paying for his passage to the New World he was bound out to a farmer in Berks county, Pennsylvania, in which community he remained until he was twenty-one years of age. He married Magdalena Yoder (no relation) and they later moved to Mifflin county, that state, where Mr. Yoder lived until his death. His wife survived him many years, and when she died she had numerous descendants. She and her husband were the parents of eight children, five daughters and three sons. John K. Yoder was the son of John Yoder, who was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, in 1786 and died in 1855. He married Mary King, who was a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania, but she was reared in Mifflin county, that state. She was born in 1790 and died in 1886, having lived nearly a century. John Yoder, the father of John K. Yoder, was a member of the Amish Mennonite church, and was regarded by all who knew him as a very honest, upright man. His children were Jacob, Magdalena, Christian, John K. The last named was born January 21, 1824. He was reared on a farm and he naturally selected farming for his life work. He married upon reaching manhood and lived on a farm until 1855, when he moved from his native state to Ohio.
On May 5, 1850, while still in Pennsylvania, Mr. Yoder was selected as a minister in the Mennonite church, which he served faithfully for many hears. So great was his fidelity to his church that in October, 1859, he was selected by ballot as bishop in this church, which high honor was most worthily bestowed according to those who knew the man, for he was both able and very conscientious in his duties to his congregation. He was married to Lydia Zook in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, on January 9, 1845. She was born March 18, 1827, and her death occurred September 20, 1887. She was a faithful wife, a devoted mother and a good Christian. To the Rev. John K. Yoder and wife three children were born, namely: Christian Z., Mary Z., and David Z.
Rev. Christian Z.Yoder was born November 28, 1845. He received his early mental training in the home schools, and when he reached maturity he married Lydia Smiley, a native of Elkhart county, Indiana, the date of her birth having been December 5, 1846, and she came to Wayne county, Ohio, with her parents in 1867. She was educated in the common schools and reared on a farm. To this union nine children have been born, eight living beyond infancy.
In April, 1869, Mr. and Mrs. Yoder moved on the farm where they now reside, having made their home here continuously since their marriage. The place consists of one hundred and fifteen acres, all under fine improvements and it is managed in such a manner as to gain the best results. No finer land can be found in Wayne county than that owned by Mr. Yoder, and no more commodious, beautifully designed or more nicely furnished residence is to be found in the rural districts of this county than that of Mr. Yoder. Everything about his place shows that a gentleman of excellent tastes and sound judgment has its management in hand. He raises a large quantity of fruit, for which he always finds a ready market. He also has a splendid greenhouse, which he has seen develop from a small business to one of the large magnitude, one of the most extensive, in fact, in Wayne county.
In 1870 the first Sunday school of the Amish Mennonite church was organized in Wayne county, and Mr. Yoder had the distinction to be chosen as its superintendent, and he succeeded in building up a large Sunday school, serving continuously in the capacity of superintendent until 1904. On October 14, 1890, he was ordained a deacon of the church, and on October 22, 1904, he was ordained as minister in the Amish Mennonite church, into which he was baptized and received in 1865. He is a worthy son of a worthy sire, the mantle of his noble father, who died August 1, 1906, having fallen upon his shoulders and which he is wearing most becomingly, doing an amount of good in his community,---a leader, in fact, in church work and all movements for the general good. He is an earnest speaker, always holding his audiences in rapt attention, being a noted evangelist. He is vice-president of the Mennonite board of missions and charities, being the moving spirit of the same.
To the Rev. Christian Z. Yoder and wife the following children have been born: John S., February 5, 1870, married Sarah Hartzler; David A., April 3, 1872, married Josephine Lutz, of Medina county, Ohio; Rufus M., September 7, 1874, married Bertha Albrecht; Menno S., January 5, 1878, married _______Fetzer, of Smithville, Ohio; Ora C., March 21, 1880, is a graduate of the Rush Medical College of Chicago, having completed the course there very creditably in 1909: Mary E., October 26, 1882, is a teacher in the common schools, and was a student at Goshen, Indiana; Joseph D., January 14, 1886, is also a teacher, having graduated from the college at Goshen, Indiana: Ira D., August 9 1888, has also taught school. They are all well educated and show in their daily lives the wholesome home environment in which they were reared.
From The History of Wayne County, Ohio, Vol. 1, B. E. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis, 1910