Hist. Mss. 1-94
Ezra
Beachy, 1901 - 1991
Papers,
contained in 3 large boxes
Introduction
Ezra Beachy
transfered his correspondence files to the archive in 1953, 1961, 1975,
and 1987. He transfered his genealogical research, his book
manuscrript, and the rest of his personal papers to the archives in
1990.
Biographical
Sketch
July 29,
1901 -- born near Arthur, Ill, the ninth child to Jonas S. and Fannie
Beachy.
1910 - 1913 -- Parents moved to an unimproved farm of 160 acres in
Southwest Texas.
1920 -- Baptized at Central Mennonite Church in Archibold, OH
1927 - 1929 -- Attended Goshen College Academy
1929 - 1933 -- Student at Goshen College
1934 -- Attended Goshen Biblical Seminary
1934 --1940 -- Taught school in Sherwood, OH
1935 -- Married to Bertha B. Nohejl.
1940 - 1974 -- Assistant and then Editor for the Goshen Evangel
1941 - 1961-- Served as pastor
for the Calvary Mennonite Church of Pickney, Michigan.
1954 -- Taught at the Michigan Bible School
1957 - 1959 -- Student at Goshen Biblical Seminary, graduated with
degrees in education and theology
1964 -- Granted Masters degree in Guidance from Western Michigan
University
1968 - 1974 -- Publicity Chairman for the Mennonite Relief Sale
1968 - 1974 -- Area distributor for the Choice Books program
1979 -- Published Family Record of Jonas S. Beachy and Fannie Miller
1985 -- Published update of
family history.
1991 -- Died at Greencroft Nursing Center, Goshen IN
Series
Headings
Geneological
Research, 1966 - 1989 -- Box 1
Book Chapter Research, 1967 - 1989 -- Boxes 1-2
Personal Papers, 1941 - 1983 -- Box 2
Inventory
Genealogical Research
The Files are labelled with the names of Ezra’s siblings, who are the
children of J.S. and Fannie (Miller) Beachy. Each folder includes
correspondence with the extended family stemming from the sibling .
Other common materials found here include family trees, order letters
for the family history book, copies of Ezra’s responses, Ezra’s letters
advertising for the family history or petitioning for more information.
Box 1 (large)
Correspondence, 1966-1971
Early Correspondence gathering geneological information.
Correspondence, 1974-1976
Early Correspondence gathering geneological information.
Beachy, Ananias J. 1889-1971
Correspondence with Linda Rose Miller, 1986.
Correspondence with Ella Beachy, 1983-1985.
Correspondence with Ray Zook, Marland D. Miller, Maureen Beachy, Jesse
- Beachy, John L. Beachy, Nelson Beachy, Eli Miller, Edith Bacher.
Beachy, Ben b. 1897
Correspondence with Vernon Beachy, Margret Pamer, Roy Beachy, Ruth Delp
Chester Huscher, Eldon Beachy.
Beachy, Elizabeth (Beachy) b. 1895
Correspondence with Elizebeth Beachy, 1985.
Correspondence with Alvin Beachy, David and Verna Yoder.
Beachy, Ezra 1901-1991
Correspondence with his children, Bertie, Lucille, and Ruth during
1980’s.
Personal Papers.
Beachy, Jonas J. b. 1904
Correspondence with Ezra P. and Alice Beachy and their children
1979-1989.
Beachy, Samuel J. 1886-1974
Correspondence with Martha and Samuel Nafziger 1980-1989.
Correspondence with Alvin Beachy, Lewis Beachy, and George E. Myers.
Miller, Bertha (Beachy) 1892-1959
Christmas letters from Fannie and Raymond Byler and family 83-89.
Correspondence with Floyd Miller, Ivan Miller, John I. Byler.
Miller, Martha (Beachy) b. 1891
Correspondence with Howard and Vesta Miller 1974,1985.
Correspondence with Edna Miller, Fred and Vida Yutzy, Glen Miller.
Yoder, Catherine (Beachy) b. 1888
Correspondence with Sara (Yoder) Miller 1983-1988.
Correspondence with Elmer and Velma Yoder 85-86.
Correspondence with Jonas Yoder, Ester Delagrange, Isaac Yoder, John
Bontrager, Martha and Sam Nafziger.
Yoder, Ester (Beachy) 1899-1977
Correspondence with Alfred Yoders, Mary Swartzendruber, Alvin
Hershberger.
Yoder, Fannie (Beachy) b. 1908
Correspondence with his sister , Fannie Yoder 1983-1985.
Book Chapter Research
In the following files Ezra kept correspondence and drafts sent to him
by various relatives, relating to the narratives and miniature
biographies included in each chapter of his book, as well as material
similar to that found in the genealogical files.
Manuscript
A complete manuscript including orginal photographs and pages of
corrections.
Chapter 1: J.S. Beachy
J.S. and Fannie (Miller) Beachy. Contains old letter from F.M. Beachy,
a speech given by Ezra Beachy at the Reunion, hand-copied excepts from
J.S. Beachy and F.M. Beachy diaries, two 1910 postcards to Ezra from
his sister Fannie and his father.
Chapter 1: Texas Sojourn
contains Lancaster Historical Society 1977 report, Casselman Chronicle
1977 #1,2 1969 #3,4, Papers relating to membership in Springs
Historical Society, An Old Amish Congregation in Texas by A.J. Beachy
35 pgs., notes from Ezra’s trip back to Texas in the 1960’s, 2 more
short accounts of the Palm settlement, hand drawn map of the Texas
settlement, text for a sermon given by E. Beachy at Greencroft Aug. 22,
1979, worship plan for reunion service, genealogical templates for
trees, Texas travel book, various insundry correspondence.Sale Bills,
clipped newspaper articles about Amish, Map of Texas, postcard from
Crystal City, Old Farm sale notices of J.S. Beachy, 1933 letter from
Fannie M. Beachy to Bertha Noeyl (the future wife of Ezra), a piece of
wood from Texas settlement, various notes and a copy of the Gospel
Evangel with an article featuring Ezra, 1968 Texas travel Book, Gulf
map of several southern states including Texas.
Chapter 2: Samuel Beachy Family
Chapter 3: Catherine B. Yoder
Letters from late 1970’s concerning information gathering for the book
Chapters 1-3
partial manuscript of Ezra’s book, Chapters 1-3
Chapter 4: Ananais Beachy
Beachy Family Record contains a few family trees, usual letters, hand
copied version of a biography found in the Annais Beachy Family Bible,
another summary of A. Beachy’s life, an old school list for the
Bollinger School, Illinois
Chapter 5: Martha (Beachy) Miller
Chapter 6: Bertha (Beachy) Miller
Chapter 7: Lizzie (Beachy) Beachy
Chapter 8: Ben Beachy
Chapter 9: Esther (Beachy) Yoder
Chapter 10: Ezra Beachy
Chapter 11: Jonas J. Beachy
Chapters 4-11
A partial manuscript of Ezra’s book chapters 4 through 11
Chapter 12: Joseph Beachy
Chapter 13: Fannie (Beachy) Yoder
Chapter 14: Beachy Ascendants
Chapter 14: Ascendants #2
Chapter 14: Research
A 8.5 by 7 inch Notebook that contains research notes on Beachy
Ancestors
Statistics
Chapters 13-end
Partial manuscript containing Chapters 13, 14, Statistics, and the index
Box 2 (large)
Questionairres
Answers to 42 Prepared Questions prepared by Ezra
J.S. Beachy Family Trees
More Family Trees
Mini-biographies
Consolidated file of all the mini-biographies
Book Sale Bills, Receipts
A very thick file of order forms, letters, receipts, and printing bills
related to
Ezra’s book the J.S. Beachy and Fannie Miller Family Record
Beachy Reunion Register, 1967
Labeled Registration J.S. Beachy Family Reunion, August 12 1967 mostly
empty, though, except for a list of book sales at 1980 reunion and a
short journal of 10 or 11 entries by Ezra Beachy
Beachy Reunion Register, 1970
Yellow Notebook: Family Reunion 1970 - contains information taken by
E.B. at reunion, register of attendees, notes on the speeches given.
Beachy Reunion Notebook, 1976
A Green Notebook entitled : J.S. Beachy Reunion Oxbow Park August 7,
1976 containing 1 page of names and several pages of notes taken by
Ezra in 1983 for a weekly devotional given by J.C. Wenger
The Miller Cemetery
A notebook of research done by E. Beachy on a cemetery near Middlebury
where his great grandparents are buried. Also, a list of donors and
donations for a new headstone.
Personal Papers
This series includes Ezra Beachy’s
personal records related to his work as a pastor,Relief Sale Publicity
Chairman, and Lifeline/Choice books area distributor.
Calvary Mennonite Church 1941-60
Church letters both received and given by E. Beachy during his time as
the pastor of Calvary Mennonite Church; Pinckney, Michigan. Also, a
1954 letter from Ezrato the district mission board.
Church extention study, 1964
Ezra participated in a Elkhart Co. churches survey which he
subsequently published in the Gospel Evangel.
Computer class notes, 1983
Notebook containing notes taken by E.B. for a computer class at Goshen
College Jan.-Feb. 1983
Life-Line Books sales, 1967-71
Contains receipts for two customers, G. L. Perry stores and Kroger
grocery.
Life-Line Books, 1967
Life-Line Books, 1969
Life-Line Books, 1970
Life-Line Books, 1971
Life-Line Inventory, 1971-1972
Life-Line (Choice Books), 1974-77
Contains financial reports, balance sheets, correspondence, and minutes
of the board of directors meetings. Life-Line books was renamed Choice
books in 1974.
Mennonite Hour Correspondence, 1953-54
Michiana Relief Sale, 1968-72
Michiana Relief Sale, 1973-74
Mission Board; 1947,1954
Contains program for 1947 Conference and a treasurer’s report for 1954.
Prayer
Ezra Beachy’s reflections on the purpose and practice of prayer.
Includes newspaper clippings and magazine articles on the subject.
Prison Correspondence, 1947-78
Worship Reading
A reading adapted from the Sermon on the Mount
Books
Ft. Wayne Church History 1903-53
History of the Mennonite Church, Ft. Wayne 1903-1953 by Herbert Osborn
p. 33 including a Brown folder- 1978 Pictorial Directory
Bible School Yearbook, 1953
Michigan Mennonite Bible School Yearbook, the Northern Lights, 1953-54
Ezra Beachy taught a class. He is featured on page 9
Mennonite Sunday School Centennial 1840-1940 by Harold S. Bender 57 pgs.
A Biographical History of Waterloo Township by Ezra Eby 42 pgs.
(photocopied and stapled together)
Minutes ofthe Indiana-Michigan Conference 1864-1929
The Unknown God of the Mennonites
The Unknown God of the Mennonites: An empirical search for the key
variables A 19 page survey study of beliefs conducted by a class of
students at the seminary in 1967 under the direction of Leland Harder
The Sectarian Commitment
The Sectarian Commitment: Patterns of Faith in the Mennonite Church A
356 page book by Leland Harder on the same subject as mentioned above,
1967.
Formal Portrait of ???????
Movie Reel: December 1962 50th Wedding Anniversary of Mr. and Mrs.
Samuel Beachy
File of Brochures and Photographs 1-200 photos compiled for 50th
anniversary of Gospel Evangel
Blue Folder - Contains photos of Ezra and family. Also, a 1935 photo of
the Beachy Family
Box 3 (Large)
Slide Boxes 4 1/4 ”by 2 1/4” by 1” -
8 total
Mary (Fielson sp?) School 1/20/62
Fairview Michegan Church, Clinton Frame Centennial Aug. 1963
Conference Arnold Roth Walnut Hill Chapel 8/9/62
Conference- Faith Haven 8/19/62
Set of two boxes labelled: John Smucker, Goshen
Summer 1959- Church
Nearly empty box : contains slides of Pinckney Church
Slide Box 4 1/4 ”by 1 1/4” by 2” Title: Ministy Slide Set Outdated
Slide Boxes 5 3/4 ”by 2 1/2” by 21/2” - 10 total Slides of Churchs
#1 - commercial slides of Israel
#2 - ???????
#3 - Established churches 1848- 1871
#4 - Congregations organized 1879- 19
#5 - Congregations organized 1918- 1929
#6 - Independant Congregations begun after 1930
#7 - Continued Independant Congregations after 1930
#8 - Continued Congregational Outposts begun since 1930
#9 - Emerging Churches under the Mission Board
#10 - Emerging Churches under the Mission Board continued
#11 - Under the General Mission Board
Folder - contains list of slides in all the bigger boxes except #1, 2.
Also has a tally sheet of all the churches in the Indiana Michegan
Conference
March 15, 2004 / Reformatted by
Kathryn Yoder
July 25, 2001 / Update by Monica Zimmerman
Previously posted on web
November 14, 1994 / Typed into computer by Allan Bernhart
file "Hm1-094.doc"
Archives
of the Mennonite Church, Goshen, Indiana
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