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BIOGRAPHIES
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SIMON B. HERSHEY
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REV. SIMON B. HERSHEY.—Of
the many bright stars that form the cluster of
Ohio's advanced theological thinkers, whose rays
illuminate life's pathway for the happiness and
betterment of humanity, there is none more
conspicuous than the Rev. Simon B. Hershey,
the subject of this memoir, whose benign light has a
moral, elevating and religious influence upon all
who come within his circle.
There is no calling so sacred as that of a minister
of the Gospel; none comes so near the domestic
fireside or the heart of man, and there is no
calling the members of which have so potent an
influence in shaping the conditions of society or
the destinies of a nation. Hence church societies
should exercise the greatest care in securing the
pastors that are to preside over their
congregations. That the people of the First
Congregational Church have exercised this care in
the selection of their pastor is evidenced by his
efficiency and his long time of service with them.
Mr. Hershey was born in Wayne county, Ohio,
September 21,1847. His parents, Benjamin and
Susannah (Wellhouse Hershey, were
early settlers in the State, the former carrying on
the business of farming. Both of these good people
were widely and favorably known for their moral and
religious qualities. The elder Hershey was a
native of Lebanon county, Pennsylvania. He died in
Wayne county, Ohio, at the age of fifty-four years.
His wife, Susannah, was born in Wayne county,
Ohio, where she died at the age of sixty-nine years.
The former was of Swiss extraction. The latter's
father, Mr. Wellhouse, was a native of
Holland, and came to the United States when a boy.
He was a man of prominence in his section of the
country, and was successful in his business
operations. He was connected with the banks at
Wooster and at Akron, and was generally known as
Judge Wellhouse. By his wife Susannah
he became the father of seven children: Abraham,
George W., Simon B., William O., Mary
(wife of W. Henneberger), Edward A.,
and Ella (who was married to David
Leonard).
Rev. S. B. Hershey was reared at home, where he
received his preliminary education. At an early age
he was sent to the Otterbein University, Ohio, which
institution he left in his sophomore year, and for a
year subsequently taught school. At the expiration
of that time he entered Oberlin College, at which
institution he graduated in 1870 with the degree of
Master of Arts. Leaving college, he taught school
for a year in Ohio, and then entered Oberlin
Theological Seminary for a two-year's theological
course. This student of divinity was not yet
satisfied with his theological researches, and later
he is found at Yale delving deeper into biblical
lore. He graduated in May, 1874, with the degree of
Bachelor of Divinity. Leaving college, he served his
first pastorate in the Second Congregational Church
of Danbury, Connecticut, where he remained until the
spring of 1881, when he visited Europe, returning in
the fall. Soon after his return from abroad he
received from the Congregational Church of Ashtabula
a call which he accepted, taking charge as pastor
January 1, 1882. So eminently qualified was he to
preside over this congregation, so able and
satisfactory his ministry, that he has been retained
ever since, to the full gratification of all. So
able and zealous have been his labors that the
church has grown stronger year by year, until now it
is one of the strongest and most prosperous
religious societies in the State.
Mr. Hershey was united in marriage,
August 18, 1874, to Thirza E., the
accomplished daughter of Dr. Homer
and Mrs. Anne (Pierce)
Johnson, of Oberlin, Ohio. Mrs.
Hershey was a graduate of Oberlin College, and a
classmate of her husband. Dr. Johnson
was the leading physician of Oberlin, where he
practiced for upward of half a century. He was a man
of high standing as a physician and as a citizen. He
departed this life about three years ago. His widow
still resides at Oberlin.
Mr. Hershey paid his own expenses from
his sophomore period through the different
educational institutions by teaching. He was
ordained at Danbury, Connecticut, in 1874.
A few thoughts touching some special features of Mr.
Hershey's ministry and personal traits of
character will close this biography. He is a man a
little above the medium stature, well formed and of
pleasing personality. His features, which are
genial, open and reassuring, are indicative of a
broad intellectuality, while at the same time they
impress the beholder with the fact that he is by
nature a man of warm impulses, charitable,
benevolent, and in full sympathy with humanity. As a
minister he stands for liberal and progressive
theology; he is not a stickler for creeds, but
preaches Christ and his great love for mortal man,
reaching out for the hearts of his hearers, laboring
to impress upon them the great and priceless value
of a Christian life. He is a close student, a
deep thinker, and a logical reasoner. He is happily
endowed with a clear, rich voice, superior
oratorical powers and personal magnetism. Thus
possessed, it is but natural that his influence for
good, for Christianity, is potential; that he has
the love and confidence of his congregation, both
the old and the young, and that he is a bright
ornament in that noble profession to which he has
devoted his life.
Source: Biographical History of
Northeastern Ohio, embracing the Counties of
Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake - Published 1893 - Page
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