Osiah Horst

Title: Osiah Horst fonds

Dates of creation: 1941-1997

Physical description: 27 cm of textual records.

Biographical sketch: Osiah Horst (1919-2005) was born in Florida where his parents Daniel and Annie Horst had moved for health reasons. Returning to Ontario in 1921, the family farmed near Elmira. After Alternative Service assignments during World War II, Osiah married Fern Dettwiler (1925- ) in 1945.

In 1946, he was ordained at the Mannheim Mennonite Church. From 1964-1984 he pastored Danforth Mennonite Church in Toronto. From 1984-1994 he was a chaplain at St. Clair O'Connor Community.

Custodial history: The fonds was donated by Roger Horst in 2011.

Scope and content: Contains the records of Horst's time as an alternative service worker, Bible School teacher and pastor.

Notes: Photographs of the family can be located through the Mennonite Archival Image Database.

A January 1964 issue of Mennonite Life on the theme of Mennonites in the city was not kept. A copy can be found in the Milton Good Library.

File list:

1. Alternative Service information
2. Confession of Faith and Minister's Manual[...] / compiled by J.F. Funk. -- 9th ed.
   Note: Includes annotations by Osiah Horst.
3. Ontario Mennonite Bible School teaching notes, first year
4. Ontario Mennonite Bible School teaching notes, second and third year
5. Clergy Funeral Records, 1950-1997
   Scope and content: Contains cards issued by funeral homes to Horst for funerals for which he was the presiding minister. Usually contains information such as the deceased person's last residence, dates of birth and death, location of funeral and internment. Some include names of next of kin. Most of these funerals would have been for persons associated with the Mannheim or Danforth congregations, or the St. Clair O'Connor Community.
6. Sermons
   Note: Also contains some funeral sermons.
7. Funeral sermons