Grandpa and Ruth
"God Almighty knows how many souls I led to Christ during my ministry. If I could write better I would give some strange incidents in my ministry. One time I attended a meeting not of our church. I was surprised when 2 gave their testimony that they were convicted by my preaching. In 1916 I served Sterling church another year. This makes 30 years in the active ministry."
And so ends the (11 page memoir) of Jacob L. Holtzman. (Complete memoir.)
On the back of one of JL's photos, Grandma Holtzman wrote, "[J.L.] Was in poor health more than 2 years before he left us. Was to church for last time about 1st of November, 1922. Harry-Mary brought us home. He got a spell before he got into the house and we had to almost drag our dear daddy in. Then 2 years later, November, he fell on the floor getting out of bed. The boys Frederich Osterfuff (sp?), Herbert Smith, and Aunt Amanda [Grandpa Holtzman's sister from Canada] and I put him to bed down stairs. On Christmas day, we managed to set him in the big chair, a treat for him. Soon after this he failed completely. Left us for a Better Home on high, Tuesday, January 20, 1925. Ruth took it so very hard. We will all meet you."
Ruth Holtzman, Age 15