Memories of Ruth Longenecker Kraybill Souder. Originally written in Ruth's own handwriting in 1987, when she was almost 98 and was living with her youngest son, Stanley Kraybill Souder, and wife Velma, at Telford, Pennsylvania USA. She wrote this at the request of Stanley's daughter, Lisa Souder. Ruth was a fifth generation descendant of immigrant Jacob Krebiel.
I was born in the year l889, July l0th, on a 37 acre-farm, to Levi S. and Anna Longenecker Kraybill, in East Donegal Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (2 miles from Maytown).
When I was born, my older sister Emma, was 14 years old; Lizzie was 12; Mary was 9; 10 years later my only brother was born, they named him Irvin. I always liked my name, and I enjoyed my childhood days.
'Oh the sports of childhood, roaming through the wildwood, running o'er the meadows, happy and free...swinging neath the old apple tree', jumping rope, making tree houses, etc. I also remember doing the chores, keeping the wood box , and the cob basket filled, for the wood and coal stove, before the invention of the coal/oil stoves.
Those were the days! No mail delivery, no telephones; those were the 'horse and buggy days'. I remember running to see the first automobile coming down the hill'. When one of the family did buy a first automobile, Grandma said, "This will never do, now everyone will want to buy an automobile".
I was just an ordinary, naughty girl, but my father believed in discipline, and I remember several times what the apple switch felt like, but I have a high regard for my parents, for I'll never forget when I spoke disrespectful to them, not remembering what it was all about, but that night, after they had gone to bed, I went up the stair steps, and sat outside their bedroom door, and waited until I got enough courage together to tell them that I was sorry for what I said; then I could go to bed and sleep peacefully.
I loved school and went through 8th grade. I wanted to go to High School, but I was denied the privilege because my father was afraid it would lead away from the church. I cried as though my heart would break. That was before the days of church schools.
Before the turn of the century, Sunday Schools started; both my sisters Lizzie and Mary were married. Sister Lizzie was converted when she was 20 years old. I was 8. Her Christian life was such a testimony, she took a keen interest in church and was a S.S. teacher. I also enjoyed it very much, and I can never thank God enough for her influence, it meant so much to me. She was engaged to be married in her 23rd year, but in her 24th year she was doctoring for T.B. and she died in Dec. 1901.
From Sunday School, I had received a book titled, 'Touching Incidents and Remarkable Answers to Prayer', which was a strong factor in strengthening my faith. I loved books. 'Pilgrim's Progress' also gave me a picture of life's pilgrimage; and later the book, 'With Christ in the School of Prayer', by Andrew Murry, meant much to me.
Another incident which I'll never forget: One of the boys at school, Elmer Musser, a few years older than I, always fetched the washer woman from Maytown every Monday morning, by horse and wagon; On this particular day, upon returning home after taking her home, he was heard singing, 'When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there'. Shortly after this, something scared the horse; it tore loose from the buggy, with Elmer's foot caught fast in the lines, and dragged him for one half mile, when the horse then stopped by a farm house yard. Elmer later died, but how could his frail mother take this?
Sometime later his mother had a dream when she saw Elmer, and he told her, 'I'm where the little ones are'. What a comfort!
Around the time of the passing of my sister Lizzie, my mother's parents, John and Nancy Longenecker, became unable to keep house any longer, and both went to live on what is now the 'Longenecker Homestead', with my mother's sister Kate, (Jacob Rutt's). I remember going there to see them.
Later he had a stroke which left him blind, and then he had another stroke which left him senile and bedfast. (I remember nothing of the funeral, where he had been deacon at Bossler's church). However, grandmother Nancy came to live with us, and she was with us for one month less than 14 years, and she died in l9l4. They had raised their family on the farm where John died. (my mother had 2 sisters and 3 brothers).
At this time I was still working for my parents on the farm. I took a keen interest in keeping things in trim; mowing and trimming the lawn. We had a long path through the garden, and on each side of the path were portulacas, which got the attention of the passers along the road.
In the summer of l9l6, the Millersville Children's Home, had a 'call for help' over strawberry picking time, so I went to help for 3 weeks. After that, I came home again to help on the farm, but I had a 'strange feeling'; strange it was, but it was real! The scripture came to my mind, 'Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord'. Then I told my parents that they should get someone else to take my place on the farm.
Well, one day there came a letter from Edwin Souder, of Telford, Pa. My mother understood what that 'strange feeling' I had was all about. Edwin and I corresponded for some time, (since Edwin's wife had died almost a year before).
One day Edwin came to see me, I asked him, ' How many children do you have?' He said, '4 girls'. To which I answered, 'Oh, that is too many!' Edwin said, 'If that is too many, I can leave 2 girls where they are presently staying'. To this suggestion I said , 'NO', I would want them to grow up together as a family.' What could I do, since God was in this?
I never wanted to marry young, so I understood that this was God's plan for me to move to Telford in the fall of l9l6, to help Edwin care for his 4 girls, and then we were married by Pre. Wm Landis, on Jan. 20, l9l7,at our farmhouse on Countryline Road, Telford, Pa.
Six more children were added to our marriage; Iona, Mahlon, Levi, Norman, Eugene, and Stanley. Edwin often said, 'Hitherto hath the Lord helped'. l0 children were now in the family; they are all ONE family. 'God does not choose an easy road, but He is there to bless'. 'The Psalm of Life', by Henry W. Longfellow, was a poem I memorized in my elementary days, and it had so much meaning, I kept it in my memory all these years!
On March l5, l987, Geo. R. Brunk's II, came to visit me. He asked me what I remembered of the tent revivals of 1951. I said, 'I will never forget the week before they started, when Franconia Conference churches got together at the Souderton Church, for prayer between 6 and 7 a.m. every morning.'
In l905, I will never forget Noah Mack, who came for evangelistic meetings at Elizabethtown, for over 2 weeks, and one had to get there early in order to get a seat. How I enjoyed them! I thought I had to be there every night, since I had already been a member of the church. At the Mack meetings there were 125 confessions and 75 were baptized at one time, the most being young people.
I have a keen concern for souls; my grandchildren are on my heart, and at the present time they are scattered over l4 different states, with Lester Kolb's in Egypt. I heard Billy Graham say, 'We need a heaven sent revival!', so I keep praying and hoping... hoping and praying. Prayer changes things; Jesus told us of the 'perilous times that would come, but we believe that God is still on the throne.
Edwin died on April l7, l958, at the age of 75, and is buried at Rockhill Mennonite church where he served as minister for 35 years. That was 29 years ago, and I am still here. God must have put it in your father's (Stanley) heart to prepare this apartment in his house for me.
After Edwin died, I lived in the 148 4th St. Telford, house till l961, which I sold to Stanley's when they moved north from Sarasota, Fla. and they lived with me, or I lived with them until I moved in l96l to an apartment on 3rd St, Telford, where I lived until June 30, l978, when I accepted Stanley and Velma's offer to move into the 346 Morwood Road , Telford, apartment where I have lived for 9 years, that you have put up with me!
I am more than sorry about the times when I must have tested your patience, time and time again! People remarked how wonderful this was for me to live here, and I, who so much loved the outdoors and nature, fell in love with the apartment. I have a good appetite, and love to cook. Many envied me, but as I said before, 'God planned my life', and now nearing 98 years, I consider myself handicapped, and wearing out, so what is in the future? The Lord alone knows.
(I sure pray God's blessing for you all for your kindness' and thoughtful considerations in so many ways. I really get disgusted with myself at times and especially at the present time with my eyesight failing, so you will find these pages numbered so you can get your bearing.
I thank God for the many prayers that have been answered, 'Without faith it is impossible to please God'. Grandpa used to say, 'Hitherto hath the Lord helped.'
While the family was growing , I had given wall mottos to each one which said , 'God First', which is my desire for each one.
(She now describes her husband's call to the ministry, at Rockhill Church, in April 1924.) Edwin's father lived next to our farm near Sellersville, Pa. He was sick with pneumonia. Edwin walked over to visit him, his sister and daughter-in-law were in the room, and while there, his father, Preacher Mahlon D. Souder, gave a message from John l4, the first few verses, then asked to sing a favorite song of his; 'When the mists have rolled away'', then he pronounced the benediction, and turned to Edwin, and in German said, 'Now I give it over to you, preach the Word'.
His father than died, and when Edwin came home and told me, I knew what that meant, but I said nothing. When the ordination time came to fill his father's place, Edwin was a candidate in the 'lot'. The night before the 'lot was cast', he was restless. I asked him how he felt? He said, 'I am caught.'....I felt the same! Why us, with a large family? The first sermon Edwin preached was , 'Preach the Word', II Tim. 4:1,2, at the Plain's church.
Those were difficult days before the depression. Salaried ministries were frowned on by the Mennonite church. His last message at Rockhill church was from Malachi 3:l3-l8. He died of a bleeding ulcer on April l7, l958, at age 75.
My father, Levi Kraybill, [b. 3/l8/l85l; d. 10/30/1917] never lived to see any of my family, as Edwin and I were married on 1/20/1917. Levi got up at 4 a.m (he was an early riser), the last week of October, on a Monday morning, to unload his last load of corn at the barn, and also to pick apples, then they planned to come to Bucks county to visit me and grandpa. My brother Irvin was in the kitchen studying, since he was attending high school.
Father came in from the barn and said, 'I made a misstep and fell', and he laid down on the couch. Mother suggested sending for the doctor, but Levi said, 'no, I may be able to go by myself later'. He soon asked for the 'pain king' liniment. We noticed blood coming out of his ear.
We then sent for Dr. Harter. The Dr. said, 'Just let him lay here, he may last only today or tomorrow.' I had received the telegram on Monday, 'Father fell and is unconscious.'
I knew that it was serious and expected the second telegram which came the next day at noon. My mother encouraged me to come to the funeral, ( I was pregnant with Iona who was born on Jan. 6,1918.)
My mother, Anna Longenecker Kraybill [b. April 11, 1857; d. March 9, 1930, age 73] had sale of the farm and everything.
She went to live with my sister Emma [Phares Millers]. Since my mother was free, she came to help me over my 'hard pulls'. Then on March 9, l930, she died, but since I was pregnant with my last child Stanley, who was born on March 22, 1930, I was unable to attend my mother's funeral. The Dr. told me not to attend mother's funeral, which was so hard for me to accept, since she had done so much for me, but 'God's grace is sufficient'.
Levi S. and Anna Longenecker Kraybill's children were as follows: Emma, b. 2/13/1875; Lizzie, b. 4/3/1877; Mary, b. 4/8/1880; Ruth, b. 7/10/1889; Irvin b. 8/29/1899.
My sister Mary (Mrs Albert Stoner) died in l921 at age 40. Sister Emma (Mrs Phares Miller), died in 1938, at age 63.
Irvin and I were the last living in our family, and we were very close, keeping in touch by visiting, and writing about spiritual areas of our lives, and then he died.
Since I am the one remaining, I am looking forward to my homegoing. The song, 'Fade, fade each earthly joy, Jesus is mine', and the song, 'The things of this earth are growing strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace', mean much to me. My prayer for all of you is that you may all find this to be true in your lives as well. Solomon had the bitter experience of a wasted life, expressed in Eccles. 12: 1,2.
Excuse my blunders, and remember my poor eyesight, however, I have much to be thankful for; my wonderful family, and all of you here, for your patience and the extra care and kindness. I know God will bless each one of you. May 1987 ". [This ends her story at age 98].
Ruth's son, Stanley Kraybill Souder, concludes:
Mother lived with her daughter Iona , & Harold Weaver for about 2 more years, and then at age 100 she was ready and willing to move to the Souderton Mennonite Home, Souderton, where she lived for 3 years.
She had a clear mind to age 103, and was still able to quote the Psalm of Life, and scripture. When she would quote Ecc. 12:1,2, when she got to the part that said, 'When thou shalt say I have no more pleasure in them', she would say, 'I can't say that I don't have any pleasure any more'.
What fun can one have at age 103? She died on Jan. 4, 1993, at age 103, and when the nurse, Roma Ruth, came in to take her pulse, Roma said, "Ruth, what are you looking at?", Mother did not answer, but was looking toward the ceiling, and died in peace.
Submitted in November 1995 by Stanley Souder Kraybill, Telford, Pa. USA. Email: dxbq67a@prodigy.com
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