From:  https://archive.org/stream/gospelmessenger143153mill/gospelmessenger143153mill_djvu.txt and https://archive.org/stream/gospelmessenger143153mill#page/n855/mode/2up/search/holler THE GOSPEL MESSENGER.— December 31, 1904.  LIFE OF ELD. GEORGE HOLLER.  The Oldest Elder of Southern Ohio.  Elder Geo. Holler, (lie subject of this sketch, whose  death occurred Dec. 3, 1904, is worthy of an extended  biography. In his passing away departed the last (with  One or two exceptions) of those early pioneer preachers  who impressed their strong personality on those who  lived in the early days of the settlement of Southern  Ohio, and who made possible the splendid group of  Brethren churches which now dot the fertile valley of  the Miami.  A few years ago, realizing that much of the early history  of our people was being lost, the writer of these lines  tried to glean from Elder Holler some of its early history,  about which one who had played so prominent a part in  the early work of the church would naturally be supposed  to be able to give an infinite amount of information. But  his memory had already begun to fail, and little could be  gathered.  Like the sturdy tree of the forest that sometimes begins  to decay first at the top, so Elder Holler, of extra strong  physique, his memory first began to fail, so that in his  last days his mind was in such a condition that he was  at times unable to recognize his most intimate friends.  Eld. George Holler was born Feb. 16, 1817, in Frederick  county, Maryland. When but a boy, six or seven, his par-  ents emigrated to Ohio, settling on the then virgin soil of  the Miami, which ever after remained the scene of his  activity. At the time of his death he was aged 87 years,  9 months and 17 days, being the oldest elder in the South-  ern District of Ohio.  He was joined in holy matrimony, Nov. 1, 1838, to  Lydia Hoffman, who has shared the joys and sorrows  of his life for more than sixty-six years. To them were  born nine children, seven boys and two girls. Two boys  preceded him to the spirit world. Two of his sons be-  came ministers. One son is now a deacon in the home  church. For more than fifty-three years he served the  Lower Miami church in the office of the ministry and eld-  - ership.  Of the various important duties which devolved upon  him in this period no record in this world was kept, and  most of those who associated with him in his prime are  passed from the stage of action. As an expository preach-  er he could not be called great, but in exhortation his re-  marks were always sympathetic and touching. He was  possessed of a remarkably strong voice which, with its  peculiar sympathetic chord, enabled him to administer  sympathy to the bereaved or discouraged in an effective  way. Many will doubtless remember in a generation past  when in time of sorrow he offered consolation at their  homes. Others will remember him as officiating at their  marriage. To many in this church he was bound by  kindred ties, so that in many ways the memory of him  and his work is bound to endure for some generations to  come.  At the time the writer of these lines was elected to  the ministry, Elder Holler was still active in church work,  and we remember on different private occasions when we  were but beginning, his commendation and appreciation,  kindly expressed, cheered us on in the Master's service.,  He also was of that number who do not tenaciously  cling to an authority once granted them by the church,  but realizing his failing physical and mental powers, a  number of years ago he resigned the oversight of this  church and had another appointed in his place.  Funeral services were conducted by brethren Daniel M.  Garver and John Bowman, from Rev. 14: 13 and 1 Cor. 15:  22. Brethren John Smith and E. Shank also made a few  remarks. These services were conducted in the church  near his home, the scene of all his active labors, after  which his body was conveyed to the adjacent cemetery  over which, owing to its proximity to his late residence,  his eyes in life must have daily wandered as he meditated  on the future destiny of man.  The large concourse of people at his funeral testified  to the grateful appreciation in which he was still held.  In his death the Lower Miami church loses her senior  elder; the Southern District of Ohio, her oldest bishop,  and the community a kind neighbor and friend. As I  close this obituary the words of the funeral text impress  me: " Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from  henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from  their labors, and their works do follow them." Though  he sleepeth, the work which he inaugurated in the Lower  Miami church stil! goes on. J. o. Garst.  Dayton, Ohio. 

Patrick - thank you for this. This George was brother to my great grandma Mary Holler. Winter On Nov 23, 2013, at 7:10 PM, Patrick McGarry wrote: > From: https://archive.org/stream/gospelmessenger143153mill/gospelmessenger143153mill_djvu.txt > > and https://archive.org/stream/gospelmessenger143153mill#page/n855/ > mode/2up/search/holler > > THE GOSPEL MESSENGER.— December 31, 1904. > > > > LIFE OF ELD. GEORGE HOLLER. > > > > The Oldest Elder of Southern Ohio. > Elder Geo. Holler, (lie subject of this sketch, whose > death occurred Dec. 3, 1904, is worthy of an extended > biography. In his passing away departed the last (with > One or two exceptions) of those early pioneer preachers > who impressed their strong personality on those who > lived in the early days of the settlement of Southern > Ohio, and who made possible the splendid group of > Brethren churches which now dot the fertile valley of > the Miami. > > A few years ago, realizing that much of the early history > of our people was being lost, the writer of these lines > tried to glean from Elder Holler some of its early history, > about which one who had played so prominent a part in > the early work of the church would naturally be supposed > to be able to give an infinite amount of information. But > his memory had already begun to fail, and little could be > gathered. > > Like the sturdy tree of the forest that sometimes begins > to decay first at the top, so Elder Holler, of extra strong > physique, his memory first began to fail, so that in his > last days his mind was in such a condition that he was > at times unable to recognize his most intimate friends. > > Eld. George Holler was born Feb. 16, 1817, in Frederick > county, Maryland. When but a boy, six or seven, his par- > ents emigrated to Ohio, settling on the then virgin soil of > the Miami, which ever after remained the scene of his > activity. At the time of his death he was aged 87 years, > 9 months and 17 days, being the oldest elder in the South- > ern District of Ohio. > > He was joined in holy matrimony, Nov. 1, 1838, to > Lydia Hoffman, who has shared the joys and sorrows > of his life for more than sixty-six years. To them were > born nine children, seven boys and two girls. Two boys > preceded him to the spirit world. Two of his sons be- > came ministers. One son is now a deacon in the home > church. For more than fifty-three years he served the > Lower Miami church in the office of the ministry and eld- > - ership. > > Of the various important duties which devolved upon > him in this period no record in this world was kept, and > most of those who associated with him in his prime are > passed from the stage of action. As an expository preach- > er he could not be called great, but in exhortation his re- > marks were always sympathetic and touching. He was > possessed of a remarkably strong voice which, with its > peculiar sympathetic chord, enabled him to administer > sympathy to the bereaved or discouraged in an effective > way. Many will doubtless remember in a generation past > when in time of sorrow he offered consolation at their > homes. Others will remember him as officiating at their > marriage. To many in this church he was bound by > kindred ties, so that in many ways the memory of him > and his work is bound to endure for some generations to > come. > > At the time the writer of these lines was elected to > the ministry, Elder Holler was still active in church work, > and we remember on different private occasions when we > were but beginning, his commendation and appreciation, > kindly expressed, cheered us on in the Master's service., > > He also was of that number who do not tenaciously > cling to an authority once granted them by the church, > but realizing his failing physical and mental powers, a > number of years ago he resigned the oversight of this > church and had another appointed in his place. > > Funeral services were conducted by brethren Daniel M. > Garver and John Bowman, from Rev. 14: 13 and 1 Cor. 15: > 22. Brethren John Smith and E. Shank also made a few > remarks. These services were conducted in the church > near his home, the scene of all his active labors, after > which his body was conveyed to the adjacent cemetery > over which, owing to its proximity to his late residence, > his eyes in life must have daily wandered as he meditated > on the future destiny of man. > > The large concourse of people at his funeral testified > to the grateful appreciation in which he was still held. > In his death the Lower Miami church loses her senior > elder; the Southern District of Ohio, her oldest bishop, > and the community a kind neighbor and friend. As I > close this obituary the words of the funeral text impress > me: " Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from > henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from > their labors, and their works do follow them." Though > he sleepeth, the work which he inaugurated in the Lower > Miami church stil! goes on. J. o. Garst. > > Dayton, Ohio. > > > ------------------------ > Search the Archives at http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/BRETHREN > ------------------------ > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to BRETHREN-request@rootsweb.com > with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and > the body of the message