Solomon Eby (1834-1931)

Solomon Eby was one of the founders of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church (now Evangelical Missionary Church), the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Cressman) Eby. He was born 15 May 1834 in Waterloo County, Ontario, was raised on the farm, and attended public school. On 17 June 1855 he married Catharine Shantz, and they had 12 children. He moved to Port Elgin, Ontario.

In 1858 he was ordained to the ministry in the Mennonite Church, and served in that capacity for 14 years. According to his testimony, he was not converted until eleven years after his ordination (1869, Port Elgin, Ontario, Canada). Following his conversion he became a zealous advocate for a definite religious experience. Eventually he was expelled from the Mennonite Church, and in 1874 he and Daniel Brenneman of Indiana organized the Reformed Mennonites, a group that later became a part of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church (now the Evangelical Missionary Church).

For various terms totaling 18 years Eby was presiding elder in the Ontario Conference, and for 14 years he served as pastor, holding pastorates at Breslau, Elmwood, New Dundee, Markham, and Kitchener circuits. He was a member of the first six general conferences, and was chairman of the first one (Zionsville, Pennsylvania, 1885). Eby retired from active work in 1906. A few years later he became interested in the Pentecostal movement, and in 1912 he transferred his membership to that organization. He died in 1931.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, p. 140. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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