Bluffton Newspaper:
Mr. John Ernst was born in Cumberland county pennsylvania, July 19, 1821, and
died September 26th, 1887 aged 64 years, 2 months and 7 days.
When but a boy, he moved with his parents to Ashland county, Ohio. He united
with the Greentown Baptist church, elder Newton pastor, in his 20th year. And
in 1848 was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Ziegler.
He was an active deacon in the Greentown church about ten years. In 1864 he
connected with the Pennsylvania church and in the same year he moved his
family to Wells county Indiana, where he united by letter with the Liberty
Center church. He remained a member of this church until 1882 when he moved
to the city of Bluffton, the county seat, and united with the church here of
which he remained a member until his death.
As a christian man, brother Ernst was interested in the denomination,
contributing liberally as his means would allow. He was very much interested
in the departments of the church work, but more especially that of the Sabath
School. He was seldom absent from his class except hindered by sickness.
Brother Ernst commenced life with nothing but through his own and his wife's
economy, they were enabled to accumulate sufficient to educate their children
and lay up enough to keep them in sickness and old age.
Mr. Ernst was a faithful christian, honest, enterprising and respected
citizen, and a kind husband and affectionate father. He leaves a wife and
several children to mourn his death.
Funeral September 28th, conducted by the writer.
D.B. Reckard