Complete texts and excerpts of books written by Mt Pleasant Mennonite Church and community members.
All of these are works in progress with new material added when received. If you have photos, corrections, suggestions or new material, please send to Alan Keffer at
alankeffer@gmail.com
Building at Mt Pleasant by Rev. Robert Mast – A history of the Mt Pleasant Mennonite Church in Chesapeake, Va covering the period 1895 through 1975. Click on “Building at Mt Pleasant” at right for entire book, or below for chapters.
Excerpts from Bearing Fruit: A Collection of Memories by Chester Lehman Wenger and Sara Jane (Weaver) Wenger, as told to and shaped by granddaughter Deborah Anna Good and daughter Betty Wenger Good-White. These excerpts are parts of their story while living in the Mt Pleasant community.
The book, an inspiring recollection of long lives lived in the service of God and church, can be purchased through the Mennonite Press at: https://issuu.com/mennonitepressinc./docs/bearing_fruit_a_collection_of_memor
Or by writing Betty (Wenger) Good-White directly at bettygood@gmail.com. The cost of the book is $20 plus $10 shipping and handling. Highly recommended.
“A.D. & Annie” is a 480 page compilation of stories, letters, recollections, photographs and history of A.D. and Annie Lehman Wenger, Sr. and their descendants spanning three generations from the Civil War to World War II and beyond. With the assistance and contribution of the extended family, A.D. & Annie’s granddaughters, Rhoda Cressman and Lois Lehman, created an intimate, inspirational family record with editorial assistance from their brother S. David Garber. They have graciously given permission to publish certain excerpts here that relate directly to the Mt Pleasant Mennonite Church and community.
I heartily recommend the book for it’s history, inspiration and telling of lives lived in service to God. It is available from Lois M. Lehman at lene9391@gmail.com or 717-355-9280 or 2203 Wheat Ridge Dr, Ephrata, PA 17522. The price is $49.95 plus $6.00 postage & handling. She also wrote “if I am no longer on this earth, but in it” to contact her daughter at angelalehman2@yahoo.com.
A Symphony of Frogs – an autobiography by Mary (Troyer) Bergey with Leroy Miller. Click on “A Symphony of Frogs” at right for entire book or below for chapters.
My Mother Was A Lady – autobiography by John W. Keffer. Click on button at right for entire book or below for chapters.
Elias Riehl Miller & Elizabeth Hartzler – Their Family Origins and Family Life by Virgil Miller. Very interesting and well illustrated family history by Elias & Elizabeth’s great-grandson Virgil after years of painstaking research and travel to the sites mentioned in the book.
Fool Pie – Family history of the Sam & Mollie Brunk family by daughter Edith Mollie Brunk with additional chapter by her brother Sam.
Six Months in Bible Lands – Around the World in Fourteen Months by A.D. Wenger, Sr. Fascinating travelogue of his 1901 journey with commentary revealing his beliefs and prejudices. Vivid descriptions of the people and practices he witnessed.
- 13 – On to Damascus
- 14 – From Damascus to Nazareth
- 15 – To the Sea of Gallilee
- 16 – Nazareth to Jerusalem
- 17 – Nazareth to Jerusalem (con’t)
- 18 – Farming and Fruit Growing
- 19 – Jerusalem
- 20 – Around Jerusalem
- 21 – Down to the Jordan
- 22 – The Trip to Hebron
- 23 – Short Rambles
- 24 – The People and Their Religions
We Remember – Memories of Three Generations of the Harvey J Mast Family. Compiled by Eunice Schrock Mast. Though primarily set in the Deep Creek & Amelia County communities there are ties of kinship and many references to Mt Pleasant & Warwick River communities.
Providence Remembers – a collection of recollections, history and anecdotes from the 50th anniversary of the Providence Mennonite Church spanning 1952 – 2002.
Where’s Momma? Marion Delagrange’s poignant description of her mother’s (Mabel “Smucker” Yoder) life with Alzheimer’s.
Growing Up As Jonie Miller – humorous, thoughtful and interesting recollections of life as an Amish boy in the Kempsville Mennonite Church by Jonas Miller.
My Story by Matilda “Tillie” Drawbond. Tillie’s father was brother of Dena Miller Troyer-Beard, the mother of Edna Miller and Mary Bergey and her story beautifully tells of the hardships and trials in the newly settled West and of her 7+ years growing up in the Moyock, NC Amish community and in the Deep Creek Mennonite community in the 1930’s. Hilarious, tragic, stoic and triumphant glimpse of life a century past.
Alan, Memoir & Family History – autobiography and family history as written from the memories of Alan M. Keffer.
Email Alan if you would like a copy of his book: alankeffer@gmail.com
Or you may read the book in its entirety by clicking the book below.
