Elizabeth
John Peter
Biography of
John Peter Mosshammer
(information gathered from an account by his daughter Ida Apel and presented by granddaughter, Dorothy Pfingstag Meek)

Peter Mosshammer Clark was born in Nurmburg, Germany, Feb. 17, 1826, in a two story stone house located in the Market Square. His forefathers emigrated to Nurmburg from Austria because of their religion (Lutheran). Grandfather spoke French well. His mother was married twice. The first husband’s name was Mueller.

Grandfather had one older brother by the name of Mosshammer - John Matthew. He refused to continue going to school and emigrated to America, locating at Ft. Wayne, IN. He was in no way like Grandfather. It is remembered that he worked in a Bass Foundry in Ft. Wayne and was finally retired on pension. He had two sons; both were married. One was a molder. One is dead. He also had a couple of daughters.

Grandfather never had any sisters but had two half-brothers. Grandfather’s Uncle was a Professor of Language in one of the colleges. His father was a Goldsmith and had a jewelry store and pawn shop. Aunt Ida thought a half brother had a factory for weaving cloth. When a Rev. Lorenze visited Nurmburg, about 1892, he brought a magazine from there which had their ad in it, also a picture of the Market Square which showed the house in which father was born - Broad Street, No. 55 Nurmburg.

She (Aunt Ida) had two promotion certificates of her father’s. Each one for two years of school and not graded as they do here. The one is dated April 5, 1839, and is signed by the school Inspector and teacher. There are eleven subjects including Character, Industry, Conduct, Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, etc. - all marked “very good”. The other certificate, dated April 22, 1841 and signed Local School Inspector, J.W. Hilpert; Teacher, J.F. Bauer, is marked very good in all subjects and very industrious. There is also a certification showing he belonged to the “Turn-Verein”, an Athletic Association. An Autograph Album brought from Nurmburg has a signature, in French, by “Your Uncle Casper Mosshammer, March, 1843 Nurmburg”.

Grandfather seldom talked of his folks and no one ever thought to inquire about them. He loved to play the flute, one of which he brought from Germany. On his grade card he is marked exceptionally good in music. His father had red hair and blue eyes. John Peter had light hair and blue eyes.

Grandfather came to this country about 1848. He worked for a jeweler in New York as an engraver, started an engraving business, and his partner cheated him out of everything. He had a friend in Angola, IN. who came across with him, Dr. William Weicht. The folks there called him Dr. White. Grandfather went from New York to Angola, IN. and lived in the home of Dr. White until he married Grandmother [Elizabeth Clark (Henning)], Nov. 10, 1853.

When he first came to Angola, he worked at decorating. In those days furniture, buggies, sleighs, etc. had fancy lines, flowers, wreaths of flowers, etc. painted on them. After he was married, he had a store in Angola.

After Martin Lewis was born, Sept. 14, 1854, he disposed of his store and moved to Hudson, IN., called Benton at that time, where he bought a small farm. Here, too, he did some painting and decorating. Here, Mary Elizabeth was born, March 11, 1857; Samuel Edward, May 18, 1859; William Caleb, Oct. 30, 1861 - died Feb. 1864; Ida Jean, May 9, 1864; John Wesley, Oct. 28,1866; and Margaret Ann, April 28, 1869.

In the small town of Hudson they had only one church building. On one Sunday the Methodists would hold their services in the church building and the United Brethren would hold their services the next Sunday. They had “protracted” meetings. Grandfather was converted at home, about midnight, one night. He seems to have had a wonderful conversion. He awakened Grandmother and she often told about this wonderful conversion; father was of a quiet disposition. Grandmother belonged to the Methodist church, so he thought he would join her church. Well, he joined church the next Sunday, but after it was all over, he found he had joined the U.B. Church so Grandmother withdrew her membership from the Methodist and joined the U.B.

Grandfather soon began preaching, as a “Supply” pastor. He met Rev. Lorenze at a church conference who persuaded Grandfather to join the German U.B. Conference as they were greatly in need of ministers. His first charge was at Circleville, Ohio. Grandmother would not go with him. It seems she could not tear herself away from Hudson and her people. After a year she was ready to go and Grandfather was sent to Otisco, IN. Here Jesse Clark was born, Sept. 8, 1871. Then to Hamilton, Ohio. Here he had three churches; Hamilton, Venice, and Shandon. Shandon was more central and the family moved there where Emma Maria was born, Jan. 29, 1874.

The village of Shandon was called Paddy’s Run when they lived there. They moved back to Hudson while Grandpa preached at Wauseon, Ohio. They later moved to Toledo; Cleveland; Portsmouth; Newport, KY., and to Chillicothe, Ohio which was included in his first circuit. Here, Grandfather died suddenly, Dec. 25, 1894.

They were to have their Christmas entertainment that evening. Grandfather had made a large drawing of the City of Bethlehem. He cut out the windows in the buildings and placed isinglass over them. He tacked this drawing on the open side of a large box and placed a light inside. It looked beautiful. This was on Tuesday. He had preached on Sunday. He had charge of the choir and instructed them, and they gave him a beautiful large mirror and some money on Christmas. It came Christmas morn and he was pleased. He said, “This is Christmas. Wouldn’t it be nice if I could die today, on Christmas day”? They were invited out to dinner, but as he was not feeling well, he and Grandmother did not go, but sent their regrets with Aunt Ida and a sister.

They were decorating the church preparing for the Christmas entertainment. Grandfather was sitting on the davenport; he and grandmother had been talking. He complained of feeling cold. She stirred up the fire and then noticed him, his head slumped over. She raised his head and he looked up at her but never spoke. She called a couple of men over from the church, but he was gone. In his will he had the text selected that he wanted used at his funeral. It was “By Grace Ye Are Saved Thru Faith” - Ephesians 2:8.