(Bishop) Lewis James Heatwole

Birth: Dec. 4, 1852 Dale Enterprise Rockingham County Virginia, USA Death: Dec. 26, 1932 Rockingham County Virginia, USA

HEATWOLE. ­ LEWIS JAMES, son of David A. and Catherine (Driver) Heatwole, was born near Dale Enterprise, Va., Dec. 4, 1852; died Dec. 26, 1932; aged 80 y. 22 d. With the exception of about three years, when he lived in Cass Co., Mo., and the many times he was called to the other fields to labor in the vineyard of the Lord, he spent his entire life in the community in which he was born. In early life he gave his heart to the Lord, united with the Mennonite Church, and remained a faithful member till the Lord called him home. Nov. 11, 1875, he was united in marriage with Mary A. Coffman. She was a daughter of Bishop Samuel Coffman, a twin sister of Joseph W., and also a sister of J. S. Coffman, pioneer Mennonite evangelist. Bro. and Sister Heatwole lived together nearly fifty years, when the wife and mother was called home. To them were born six children (Katie, married to C. M. Grove; Nellie, married to E. C. Suter; Bessie, married to O. E. Wenger; Elizabeth, married to Earl Grove; Justus and Anna, at home), who survive. That this faithful couple ordered well the affairs of home is evident from the fact that all their children and grandchildren have accepted Christ as their personal Savior and united with the Mennonite Church. He also leaves three brothers and one sister (Aldine J., Timothy O., Cornelius J., and Mrs. J. W. Deputy), ten grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and many relatives and friends. May 2, 1887, he was ordained to the ministry at Weavers Church near Harrisonburg, Va., and two years later he with his family moved to near Garden City, Mo. It was at this latter place that he was ordained a bishop, in May 1892. But because of ill health they moved back to Virginia in 1895. From the beginning he was active in the ministry, and as a bishop he was noted both for his loyalty to his church and kindness in his dealings with others. Though not without faults or without critics, he was the possessor of qualities that drew the masses of the people to him; and the fact of his consecrated loyalty and interest in the welfare of others made him a man who was generally beloved by his people and gave him a large place in the work of the Church. He received his education in the common schools and in Valley Normal at Bridgewater, Va. For many years he was a school teacher, but in later years his many other activities compelled him to drop this line of work. He was whole-hearted in his support of Church schools, and the Eastern Mennonite School owes its beginning largely to his untiring efforts. He was a prolific writer, contributing numerous articles for religious and secular papers, and his contributions on scientific subjects were always read with interest. He is author of a number of books, among them "Moral Training in the Public Schools," "Key to the Almanac and the Sidereal Heavens," "Mennonite Handbook of Information." He is also the compiler and writer of a series of Moral Standard Readers, which are still in manuscript form. As a pioneer weather observer, in which he had a record of about 64 years, and also as an almanac calculator, he had a field all his own, supplying calendars for as many as 60 almanacs in the United States and Canada. He was both a pioneer and an authority on such matters, and a number of years ago published a perpetual calendar that attracted wide attention. While he was well and favorably known in his own community, he was scarcely less known throughout the entire brotherhood. For years he was a member of the Mennonite Publication Board and of the Publishing Committee. While he was physically able he was a regular attendant at the meetings of the Mennonite General Conference, serving at times in an official capacity, and his voice was always listened to with interest and respect. Through his preaching, his books, and his numerous contributions to the Gospel Herald and other Church periodicals he was well known far and wide. His name was a household word in thousands of homes. And the same qualities that won him a place in the affections of his own church people also made friends outside of Church circles. Now that he has been called home, his influence is still with us and cherished by those who remain. He had never been robust in body, yet was sufficiently strong to attend to his duties, in pulpit and elsewhere. But in his declining years his health became impaired, so that during the past six years he has been unable to carry on his work as he had in former years. But it was only within the past few months that he was considered very ill, suffering several slight paralytic strokes. He retained his consciousness until near the close of his life, left a bright testimony, and his going on was but a leading of the way for others to follow as the Lord calls them home. Funeral services were conducted Dec. 28 at Weavers Church by his associate bishop, Bro. S. H. Rhodes, assisted by H. B. Keener and Daniel Kauffman. Text, I Thes. 4:18. Buried in adjoining cemetery. "Gospel Herald, volume XXV, number 40."

Family links:

Parents:

 David A. Heatwole (1827 - 1911)

 Catherine Driver Heatwole (1828 - 1906)

Spouse:

 Mary A. Coffman Heatwole (1857 - 1926)

Siblings:

 Lewis James Heatwole (1852 - 1932)

 Fannie Heatwole Deputy (1858 - 1939)*

 Mary Ann Heatwole (1860 - 1913)*

 Aldine J. Heatwole (1862 - 1936)*

 Cornelius J. Heatwole (1868 - 1939)*

*Calculated relationship

Inscription: See Heatwole Family Virtual Cemetery maintained by Mayflower 332.

Burial: Weavers Mennonite Church Cemetery Harrisonburg Rockingham County Virginia, USA Plot: Heatwole

Created by: Mayflower Pilgrim 332 Record added: Jun 22, 2009