Great-grandpa HoltzmanSherrard, Illinois
"This is My Dad taken at Sherrard, Illinois in 1909. We had two horses, Prince and Daisy, various dogs, chickens, etc." (back of photo)
Jacob recollected a wild streak of his youth in his memoir: "It was through [my cousins] that I was made drunk for the first time and smoked my first pipe of tobacco. Bad company was plenty at Phillipsburg where I stayed. And in these two years I was away from home, I became a very bad boy. One Sunday afternoon as we (boys of my age) went out to swim I came nearly being drowned. My parents got me home again after an absence from them of two years. But I was a bad boy. Father put me to school. But I got so wild that he had to take me home again." (Complete memoir.)
Sherrard Mission, 1907
"...we were assigned to Sherrard Mission spending 5 years on this charge..." (memoir).
Interesting and Typical Events, 1897 (Forreston)
Following are a few excerpts from J.L.'s 1897 diary relating some typical incidents and events of his ministry: Complete 1897 Diary
February 11, 1897: "Was to Fred Teik for dinner. Had a good meeting tonight. Earby was converted. 5 converts. 6 seeking. Preached Luke 16:26--good meeting."
February 19: "Good meeting tonight. Closed it with 13 conversions and 5 seekers. Preached on Jonah 1:6."
April 12, 1897: "Conference session closed. I was assigned to Forreston."
April 18, 1897: "This was a sad Sunday. Preached farewell sermon. Oh what weeping."
June 23, 1897: "Beginning of camp meeting. Came to campground. Heavy rain. Had breakdown. Bunte preached."
June 30, 1897: "Camp meeting to end. Had a glorious hour at the close of camp meeting."
September 5, 1897: "Preached at Forreston. German. ICor. 3:13. Evening. English. Neh.6:3. God was with me in power."
September 27, 1897: "Started to Hoopole 5 o'clock. Arrived at Sterling 10 o'clock. Left at 12 after calling on Kleinknecht. Came to Hoopole at 5. Drove 60 miles."
October 10, 1897: "Preached Forreston. ICor.13:13. Hope. Poor sermon in the evening. Small crowd. James 1:2, 12. No spirit in preaching. Oh, how ashamed I felt."
December 29, 1897: "Visited Brother Apples this afternoon. Drove 14 miles. Roads very slushy. Traveled 1891 miles on Forreston circuit."
1907 Postcard to Grandma at Sherrard,
from Grandma's cousin on honeymoon to Germany
1907 Postcard to Grandma at Sherrard,
Mentions visit at Uncle Wubbo's and reference to "your little girl" (Grandma Ruth Holtzman Hey")