Peter Schantz, (1853-1924), an outstanding leader in the Central Mennonite Conference, was born at Congerville, Illinois, 14 April 1853, the son of Jacob Schantz, an immigrant from Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, in 1847. He became an orphan at the age of twelve and was reared in the home of Christian Imhoff, a minister. In 1872 he was baptized in the North Danvers church, in 1875 married Anna Kinsinger, the daughter of Michael Kinsinger, locating on the Kinsinger farm in 1877, then living on a farm in the White Oak district in 1892 until 1910, when he moved to Normal, Illinois. He died there on 24 July 1924. He was ordained preacher at North Danvers in 1892, and in 1900 as bishop. He was secretary of the Mission Board c. 1907-16, and field secretary of the conference 1916-21. He was a man of vision and a good organizer, and did much in church extension work. Next to Joseph Stuckey he was the most important leader of the conference, and was followed by Emanuel Troyer in that capacity, the three men being the real fathers of the conference.

Bibliography

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 443. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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