Isaac Eby, who with Jacob N. Brubacher shared the leadership of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church) at the turn of the 20th century, was born 26 January 1834 in Salisbury Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the son of Peter Eby and grandson of Bishop Peter Eby. He died 19 June 1910. He was survived by eleven children, eight born to his first wife, Mary Mellinger, and three to his second wife, Lizzie K. Lehman.

Isaac Eby joined the Mennonite Church (MC) during his twenty-sixth year, and on 9 November 1876 he was ordained by lot to the ministry. Two years later he was ordained bishop in the Pequea district where his grandfather had been a leader in the early 19th century. Isaac Eby was one of the first leaders of the Lancaster Conference to preach in the English language.

Bishop Eby was an eloquent speaker, forthright in his preaching and devoted to the spiritual welfare of the church. He was a pioneer in the Sunday-school movement in the Lancaster Conference. His greatest contribution to the church was the impetus which he gave to the newly developed interest in mission work. His influence extended beyond the confines of his own conference in that he worked sympathetically and cooperatively with other contemporary leaders in the church, such as John F. Funk and John S. Coffman, both of Indiana.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, p. 137. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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