J. L. Holtzman Grave,
White Oak Cemetery,
Forreston
Biography of Rev. Jacob Holzman
(translation)
Bro. Jacob L. Holtzman, son of Rev. Heinrich and Christina Holtzman was born March 7, 1851, near Philipsburg, Waterloo County, Ontario, and peacefully passed away January 20, 1925 in Sterling, Illinois. On April 20, 1869 he was married to Elizabeth Bechtel in Carrick, Ontario. This marriage was blessed with 9 children, of whom 4 passed away in early childhood. Three sons and 2 daughters survive their father. One son, Rev. Ira Holtzman is a minister in the Illinois conference. On July 14, 1897, while Brother Holtzman was a minister in Forreston, Illinois his faithful companion died the death of the righteous. On March 7, 1904, he was married to Ginga Johnson of Forreston Illinois, now his sorrowing widow. This marriage was blessed with one daughter.
Brother Holtzman accepted Christ at a camp meeting in 1869 at Hanover, Ontario, and in this same year while kneeling in prayer before God, he received the call to the ministry. He wasn't willing to accept this call and for this reason endured much inner strife during the following year. The Lord repeatedly confirmed this calling in various ways until finally in 1884 Brother Holtzman was ordained at the Michigan conference in Portage Prairie where Bishop Bowman officiated as the new minister was examined and licensed. Brother Holtzman laid the ground work for the first church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and with Brother N. Wunderlich, through much self denial started the mission at Fisher Station eight miles from Grand Rapids.
Because of a misunderstanding in 1890, he was let to believe he should withdraw from the Evangelical Church and join the V. B. Church. At the next yearly gathering of the Michigan Conference of this church the community of South Lowell, Michigan was designated as his field of labor. In 1891 he served at Woodlawn, Michigan, and in 1892 he was transferred to Illinois and served the Custer Park district. At the conference gathering in Decatur, Illinois in September 1893, he was ordained as elder and served that year at Arrowsmith, Illinois. In one of his own writings, Brother Holtzman wrote, "By this time I realized I wasn't in the right church." Through the influence of Brother H. Neitz, B.A., he was accepted in the Illinois conference of the Evangelical Church at the yearly gathering in 1894 at Naperville, Illinois. After this he served 2 years in the Rochelle district, Perkins Grove district 1 year, Winslow 2, Forreston 1, at Perkins Grove again 2, Sterling 3, Davis 1, Sherrard 5, Mt. Pulaski and Springfield each 1 and again at Sterling 1 year. While serving at Mt. Pulaski and Springfield he suffered in the flesh to the extent it as necessary to almost cease his labors for 1 period of time. For 5 years he was involved in a work in Sterling from which he almost had to cease because of extreme suffering.
In his last months he was practically helpless after suffering a stroke. In suffered he was patient and yielded to God, yearning to be at home with the Lord. He end was peaceful. The undersigned conducted the funeral service and Brother J. G. Schwab had the sermon.
Isaac Divan