Classification scheme: Hist.Mss.1.131 (s.c.)
Title: John M. and Catharina (Ruby) Bender fonds
Dates of creation: 1897, 1898, 2024
Physical description: 1 cm of textual records
Biographical sketch: John M. Bender (1847-1917) and Catharina Ruby (1846-1927) married in 1871.The couple had five children and were members of the Amish Mennonite church. They farmed in Wilmot Township. Their families were among the first Amish immigrants from Europe to Wilmot. John M. Bender was a son of John B. and Catherine (Miller) Bender. Catharina was the daughter of Bishop Joseph Ruby and Magdalena (Roth) Ruby.
Custodial history: Psalmen schtechen sheet was interleaved in the Bender family Bible, which was passed from John M. Bender to his son Moses J., to his son Alvin, to his daughter Joyce (Bender) Jantzi. Sheet was donated to the Archives by Joyce and Wayne Jantzi in 2024, and received from Fred Lichti. Fred Lichti's research was donated to the Archives by Fred Lichti in 2024.
Scope and content: Psalmen schtechen list of psalms for the years 1897 and 1898 created by John M. and Catharina Bender. Research notes by Fred Lichti on the Christmas Eve Amish family tradition of Psalme schteche (or schtecke) in 19th and early 20th century Amish communities in southwestern Ontario and the Alsace-Lorraine region of France. Each member of the family took turns sticking a pin or needle into the Book of Psalms. The psalm to which the needle pointed was considered that person's special psalm for the year.
Notes: Original archival description created 2025 by Laureen Harder-Gissing.
See also Hist.Mss.2.97 Christian S. and Annie Bender fonds. John M. Bender and Christian S. Bender are cousins.