| Notes |
- Herald of Truth, April 1898:
HOOVER.-On the 23rd of January 1898, in Rainham Twp., Haldimand Co., Ont. after suffering one week from the effects of a fall, Elizabeth Hoover, wife of the late Jacob Hoover, aged 81 years, 11 months and 4 days. The remains were laid to rest in the Mennonite burying ground by the side of her husband who preceded her to the spirit world twenty-five years. She is survived by three sons and eight daughters all having been present at the funeral but one daughter. Services by Noah Stauffer and Isaac Rittenhouse.
Dearest mother, thou hast left us,
Here thy loss we deeply feel;
But 'tis God that hath bereft us,
He can all our sorrows heal.
Peaceful be thy silent slumber,
Peaceful in the grave so low;
Thou no more wilt join our number,
Thou no more our songs shalt know.
Farewell mother, dearest parent,
Ever faithful, kind and true;
Trusting thou hast won a crown,
In the home prepared for you.
A DAUGHTER
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- YOUR GRANDMOTHER AND MINE
From Düsseldorf in Germany in 1833
Two youthful maidens sallied forth
To a home beyond the sea,
They were not sisters, but were
The best of friends alive,
For your own grandmother told me so
When I was only five.
They lived a chaste and simple life
And never knew a man;
They said goodbye to all their friends
And left their Fatherland.
I do not know the family name
If it was Brick or Bine,
I only know that they became
Your Grandmother and Mine.
They had a secret meeting place
Beneath the old Mill Bridge
When parents went to Mass
Or solemn sacrilege
They would wander to that sheltered spot
And plan their future life
And who would be the Happy Man
To claim them for a wife.
The last night in their old home town
They met again by choice;
They heard the Burge Master's bell
They heard his grating voice.
They bid adieu to all things dear,
And shed a silent tear
To-morrow they'd be far away
Brave maiden dare not fear.
Six lonely weeks upon the deep
On sailing ship was spent
The rocking ship disturbed their sleep
As Westward bound she went;
'Till finally one glorious morn
The "Captain" blew his horn
The young folks trembled with delight
For the new world hove in sight.
The majestic river rich in lore
With natives gazing from each shore;
Two days it took to reach Mt. Royal
And set their feet on Canadian soil.
They had a council what best to do
As some had friends in Waterloo;
But Elizabeth and Barbara Ann
Persuaded Mike to go down the Grand.
At Cayuga town while at the Kirk
They heard somebody say,
That by the lake the crops were good
Good wages would they pay;
Next morning early as the sun
Was rising in the East
They took a lunch and headed south
And said goodbye to priest.
They trudged along the dusty road
Their hopes were losing zest;
And said I hope we'll find some place
Where we can eat and rest.
Old Isaac Hoover came along
In a two horse democrat.
He asked them in their native tongue
As he took off his hat,
Would they be willing to assist
In taking off the crop
They said, "We would be glad to help
And with you people stop."
They worked all summer in the fields
Along with girls and boys
They helped to store the bounteous yields
And shared the young folks joys;
When Jake and Ben would bring the carts
Home with the girls at nine
It was plain to see they'd won the hearts
Of your Grandma and Mine.
The courtship that finally led
To a happy marriage
Was smooth as silk except
For one serious barrage;
The lovers were reared in the Martyr's creed
To which the Catholics would give no heed;
But the maidens bold, said like Ruth of old
We are willing when we're married
To accept your faith as ours
Where you die let us be buried
Let us share your joys and sorrows.
But the crafty old priest, fie, fie, for shame
Would come every year with censure sore
If you don't return to the mother's name
You will lose your souls outside the door;
So when men come with threatening words
With falsehood their design
It might be well to copy
From your Grandmother and Mine.
Written by Menno Hoover, a grandson of Jacob Hoover and Elizabeth Brick for the grandchildren of Benjamin Hoover and Barbara Ann Davis.
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Rainham Builders
1815 - 1898 (82 years)
