WIDMER, Benjamin 1848 - 1929

WIDMER, GRABER, CONRAD, ALVINE, SEABERGH

Posted By: A.M.W. (email)
Date: 12/8/2007 at 00:27:17

Widmer. - Benjamin Widmer was born in Switzerland, Oct. 18, 1848; died at the home of his son Chriss near Wayland, Iowa, May 21, 1929; aged 80 y. 7 m. 3 d. He was the youngest and last survivor of a family of fifteen children. Bro. Widmer accepted Christ as his Savior in his youth and was received into the Mennonite Church at Basel, Switzerland, but later transferred his membership to the congregation in the community of his mountain home. When he came to America he again affiliated himself with the same denomination, in which faith he died. In 1870 he was united in marriage to Catharina Graber. This union was blessed with ten children, four of whom preceded him in death. In 1888 his wife also passed away. In 1893 he came to America and in 1896 he was married to Elizabeth Conrad Graber. In 1910 she passed away. He leaves six children (John, in Switzerland; Chriss and Benjamin, Wayland, Iowa; Peter, Washington, Iowa; Mrs. P. J. Alvine, Long Beach, Calif.; Mrs. Omer Seabergh, Mr. Pleasant, Iowa), twenty-two grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends to mourn his departure. The funeral was held at the Sugar Creek church near Wayland, Iowa, conducted by the home ministers, Ellis Zook, Daniel Graber, and Simon Gingerich. Text, Jno. 11:25, 26; Eccl. 12:1-7. Interment in the cemetery near by.