Artifacts in banner (left to right): Photo (circa 1875) Isaac on the left with sister Salome and brother Emmanuel; Photo (circa 1890) Isaac at about age 16; WWI draft registration card; Photo  (circa 1909) Isaac's children Timothy, Eunice, Charity, and Ruth.

Isaac Stoltzfus Mast

 
​Isaac Stoltzfus Mast (1874-1955) is our grandfather on our Dad’s side. Isaac was born near Morgantown, Pennsylvania. He married Fanny Rebecca Yoder (1878-1971) and lived for a short time in Bellville before moving with family members to North Dakota. He and Fanny had five children (Timothy, Eunice, Charity, Ruth, and Isaac). He was an Amish Mennonite Bishop serving the upper Midwest until 1942 when he returned to Pennsylvania. After returning to Pennsylvania, he served at the Johnstown Mission, filled in at Long Green, Maryland, and preached at many services at Conestoga, Maple Grove, Rock, and other churches in Berks, Lancaster, and Chester counties. His parents were Benuel (1847-1931) and Sarah (Stoltzfus) (1846-1878) Mast.

Artifacts from Mast Family Stories Collection:

Isaac S. Mast Pedigree Chart

Isaac S. Mast Family Chart

Isaac S. Mast Obituaries

Isaac S. Mast Census Records

Isaac's Letters

Background Information: Our grandpa, Bishop Isaac S. Mast, was often away from home fulfilling his duties as bishop. Bishops, ministers, and other church leaders in the early 20th century were expected to have their own income. The Isaac S Mast Letter Collection came from Aunt Eunice who preserved many documents and our mother who saved many letters that she or dad received. In these letters, insight about Grandpa’s life on the road doing church work is provided along with the struggles of his wife and children to take care of the family farm.

List of Letters from 1880 to 1953
This table of letters is primarily limited to correspondence between Isaac S Mast family members. Other collections not listed here include letters from his grandather Isaac Miller Mast to Isaac S Mast, from his father Benuel Mast to Isaac S Mast, and from people who attended the churches he served in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

Following are are few of the letters in our collection:

Date: November 26, 1926
Isaac S. Mast Letter to Daughter Eunice and All
From: Yoder, Kansas
To: Ulen, Minnesota
In this letter, Isaac tells the family back home about relatives and friends who came to services or Thanksgiving dinner, his hopes of attracting more families to Minnesota, and the cards he sent to his grandchildren Vera and Ellsworth. Isaac tells about the Amish making arrangements for him to visit their preachers. He writes, “that will require some nerve. As you know why.” Our dad told us many times about his dad’s calls to visit Amish settlements. Isaac did not like to speak in the Pennsylvania Dutch dialect used by the Amish and for other reasons was very uncomfortable when he preached to the Amish. 

Date: December 6, 1926
Isaac S. Mast Letter to Family at Home
From: Canton, Kansas
To: Ulen, Minnesota
Weather made Isaac miss the chapel services at Hesston College. He tells about the icy roads and skidding on two wheels. Isaac mentions friends and relatives, including Christian and Elizabeth Hertzler. Christian was four years older than Isaac from Morgantown, Pennsylvania, which was Isaac’s boyhood home. The 52 year old Isaac expresses his exhaustion after 3 sermons on Sunday with 15 sermons in all as well as 40 home visits. He tells of four confessions and predicts more. 

Date: July 7, 1933
Isaac S. Mast Letter to Eunice, Ma, and Isaac
From: Exeland, Wisconsin
To: Ulen, Minnesota
In this letter, Isaac is informing family about winning people to Christ, planting the church at Exeland, and describing people he encounters. Exeland Mennonite Church in Exeland, Wisconsin, is part of the North Central Conference.