Samuel Bowman (1822-1902), bishop at the Pike church of the Stauffer Mennonite group, New Holland, Pennsylvania, led a faction, following the Civil War, which was more conservative than the main Stauffer group. He appointed Philip Rissler minister of the conservative group, which met in private homes. As a bishop Rissler again joined the main Stauffer group in 1916, only to be expelled with 11 members in 1919. Later Deacon Moses Rissler expelled his brother, Minister Aaron Rissler, from the Rissler group: Aaron Rissler after that was the leader of a small group of followers until his death in March 1950.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, pp. 341-342. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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