Samuel was born on 8/10/1821, presumably on the Clemmer farm near Clayton. On 11/11/1851, he married Judith Gerhard (3/18/1828 8/13/1895) and the had slx children: Andrew George - 12/11/1852 - 10/5/1914 m. Mary Emlly Mlller. Catherine Anne - 11/30/1854 - 9/11/1944 m. Rev. Albert Funk 6/25/1852 - 11/3/1927, pastor of the First Mennonite Church, Phila., 1874-1881 and from 1890 - 1915, Gen. Secretary of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, New York City; both are buried at Hereford Church. Daughter stillborn 7/19/1857; buried at Hereford Church. Sarah 7/30/1858 - 12/3/1876; buried at Hereford Church Jonas G. 6/30/1860 - 10/27/1935 m Martha F. Smith - 1864 - 1947: Drug salesman in Philadelphia. Both buried at Hatboro Joel Gerhard 8/9/1864 - 11/14/31 In 1853 Samuel was chosen by lot to become an assistant minister at Hereford as was the Mennonite custom. He succeeded Ephriam Hunsberger who had moved to Ohio. Samuel may have been farming somewhere else at the time for on 4/5/1854, Peter Yoder of Hereford Twp. conveyed land "to Samuel G. Clemmer of Lower Milford Twp., Lehigh Co. and minister of the gospel." Samuel paid $9,000 for 123 acres adjoining land of Rev. Christian Clemmer (Berks DB 61,524). Rev. Christian had built a house near that of his father, George. Meanwhile, ln 1865, the First Mennonite Church of Philadelphia had been founded and; ln 1868, the congregation needed a minister . Samuel was called to be their first paid minister and he began has duties on 5/5/1868. Four days previously, he sold has 123 acres ln Hereford Twp. to Nathan Hertzog of Lower Macungie Twp., Lehigh Co. for $12,394 (Berks DB 93,15). While in Phila., he reportedly lived at 2209 Franklin St. The church, at Diamond and Reese St. (near Fifth) is, as of 1970, still standing. The congregation moved the church to Huntington Valley where it is called "The First Mennonite Church of Huntington Valley." "The pastorate of Brother Clemmer was crowned with success; but in less than two years the Lord saw fit to call him to his eternal home." Samuel reportedly died of typhoid fever after conducting a burial service in Oley Pennsylvania. He was 49 years old. Pastor A. B. Shelly of Milford Square replaced him. Samuel is buried with his wife at Hereford. This information furnished by Leon Clemmer |