Elam S. Martin: Father of the Orthodox Mennonite Church

Elam Snyder Martin (1907-1987), Orthodox Mennonite bishop for 30 years, is considered the "Father" of the Orthodox Mennonite Church in Ontario, Canada. From deep Mennonite roots on both sides of his family, Elam Martin grew up to embrace and indeed define the growing expression of Mennonite orthodoxy in southwestern Ontario.

Family History

Elam S. Martin, born April 30, 1907 in Waterloo County, in the Canadian province of Ontario, was the son of John W. Martin and Leah Snyder Martin, both of pioneer Mennonite families. John was the son of David B. Martin and Catherina Weber, the latter a descendant of Joseph Bechtel, first Mennonite minister ordained in Waterloo County in 1804. David B. Martin (1838-1920), a minister in the Old Order Mennonite Church in Ontario, and John's brother, David W. Martin, a deacon in the same church, in 1917 founded what is today known as the Independent Old Order Mennonite Church. John followed them into the new church, bringing his 10 year old son Elam with him.

On August 9, 1925, Elam was baptized by his uncle David W., who had recently become Bishop of the church. Eventually, the man who brought him into the church was the one Elam was to have his greatest differences with. Before that, however, Elam was married to Susy Bauman by his uncle, and his uncle also ordained him into the ministry on October 23, 1934, when Elam was only 27 years old. Elam served as a Mennonite minister then bishop until his death in 1987, when he was 80 years old.

Bibliography

Peter Hoover: A Record of the Ancestors and Descendants of David B. Martin, 1838-1920, Wallenstein, Ontario (no date).