obituary

Hannah Martha

Sturdavant

Mrs. Hannah Martha Sturdavant, and esteemed resident of

Harris Township for over eighty-three years passed on the
Eternal reward, Friday, May 22, 1942, aged eighty-nine years

and nine months. She had failed noticeably in health since the

death of her daughter-in-law Mrs. Elmer Sturdavant

in November last.

Mrs. Sturdavant was born in Fairfield County August 22, 1852,

and at the age of five came with her parents, David and Hannah

Ritter Hoy to Henry County and took up a homestead in what was

then a wilderness. Wild life was abundant about them and venison

was a common dish in their humble log cabin.

On August 25, 1870, Martha Hoy was untied in Holy wedlock

with Mr. Lewis Sturdavant by their pastor, Rev. Perry Foltz,

of Beaver Creek circuit. They went to housekeeping on the

Hoy homestead where they always lived. Mr. Sturdavant died

July 5, 1934, having lived in peaceful wedlock for sixty-four

years. A blessed and long remembered Golden Wedding

anniversary was observed in 1920.

To this union was born two children, Mrs. Mary Ballmer,

wife of Samuel Ballmer. She died in 1910. Also Mr. Elmer

Sturdavant, who with his deceased companion and the grandson

Orley and family made a pleasant home for the aged mother

and grandmother.

There were also six grandchildren, one deceased, twelve

great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. She was

the last of the Hoy family of ten children.

Her remains were laid to rest in the family lot at the old church

site where she so loved to worship God and meet with His people.

Rev. Roy R. Leedy, her pastor, conducted the service, Sunday

afternoon in Sharon Church.

When a girl of 18 the deceased was converted and united with

the Evangelical church at a meeting held at the Randall High School

house east of Sharon. She and her husband were long and loyal

supporters of the Calvary Evangelical church which was

dedicated soon after she became a member.

Martha Sturdavant had a rich religious heritage in her ancestry.

Her father, David Hoy was an ardent Christian and member

of the Evangelical church for 80 years. When he came to

this county in 1857 his family became the nucleus of the

Evangelical church which has continued for 85 years. The Hoy

class with six members was the first on record. To have a place

for worship, David Hoy erected a small building at Shunk

which was used until 1870. It is now the Christie home.

Mr. Hoy was a subscriber and reader of the church paper

61 years and in 1895 two years before his death, he read the

Bible through three times and the New Testament seven

additional times. His son Samuel was a notable minister

of the Church in Ohio (and in South Dakota), and sister

Catherine was the wife of Bishop Long, the second Bishop

of the Denomination. His parents Daniel and Molly (Eyer)

Hoy were among the first members of the Evangelical church

in Ohio, coming to the state in 1806. In his father's home

the first class was organized in southern Ohio, 121 years ago.

His mother's home in Union County, Pennsylvania was a

notable preaching place of Jacob Albright, the founder of the

Evangelical church.

Obituary Courtesy of Louise Baden