Jacob C. Kenagy

- 1845 moved to Logan Co, OH - 1866 moved to Cass Co, MO - Ordained 1850 as minister - Ordained 1855 Bishop - Organized Clearfork congregation-now Sycamore Grove Mennonite Church (AmMin p.334) - Jacob C. Kenagy was born in Union County, Pennsylvania, August 4, l921, and later moved to Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of David and Rebecca (Hartzler) Kenagy. At the age of 24 he came to Logan County, Ohio, where he married Elizabeth, daughter of Peter and Gertrude Yoder, October 21, l847. Bro. Kenagy taught school several years in Pennsylvania and Ohio before moving to Cass County, Missouri, at the close of the Civil War. He was ordained to the ministry at the home of Samuel Plank in Ohio. He and David Plank were among the first to start Sunday School in Ohio among the Amish Mennonites. A few years later he was ordained a bishop. Bro. Kenagy was the first minister of the settlement in Missouri. He was well read in the Scripture and interested in prophecy. In his last years he said many times, "You can easily get along without me, but not without Christ". He died March, l894. (Sycamore Grove Menn Church Centennial, 1966) - In Cass Co., Mo., March 6, 1894, Bish. Jacob C. Kenagy, passed away calmly and peacefully, conscious of his approaching end and with a clear mind to the last moment. He was aged 72 years, 7 months and 2 days. Funeral services were held on the 8th by John J. Hartzler and Peter Zimmerman in German, and Henry Richner, of Johnson county, in English. Brother Kenagy moved from Logan Co., Ohio, to Cass Co., Mo., in 1866, and organized a church with but few members, which prospered and steadily increased under his constant and indefatigable care to the number of some 300 members, notwithstanding the vicissitudes and stormy trials incident the office of a bishop where members collect from perhaps twenty or more different congregations, and who are educated into as many different modes and customs which are held as sacred by many as the Holy Scriptures. The number attending this funeral was estimated at 700. Peace be to our worthy brother's weary soul. J.K. ZOOK (HoT April 1894)* Reference: RootsWeb's WorldConnect - SmartCopy: Aug 28 2017, 0:31:03 UTC