A Father’s Parting Advice
Before the father and sons were separated he gave them this parting advice in his Swiss dialect: “If you are taken so far away and be kept so long that you forget your German language, do not forget the Lord’s Prayer.” A timely and good advice. Being separated, they rarely if ever saw each other.
During their captivity they were made to conform to Indian customs and were gradually dressed in that style. Indians grow no beards and would not tolerate it among their captives, hence they pulled out father Hochstetler’s beard, also a part of the hair on the head, leaving a tuft or crown about four inches in diameter, which was braided and ornamented with feathers, etc. The pulling of the beard and hair on the head was done by taking a few hairs at a time and keeping on as if plucking a turkey until the job was completed to their notion. When the boys’ beards became in evidence they were treated the same way. The winter following was a severe one. Much snow fell in the mountains and lay a long time. The soldiers of Fort Northkill were withdrawn, until the snow was gone, and the severe winter increased the sufferings of the captives.
While in captivity our ancestor was never permitted to know where he was, except once when in Erie, Pennsylvania, and once in Detroit, Michigan. They moved frequently from one village or place to another. In some places but few Indians were together while in other places large numbers gathered.
Taken from p. 33 of Descendants of Jacob Hochstetler, by Rev. Harvey Hostetler, D.D. This portion was prepared by William F. Hochstetler.
The wisdom of this 54-year old father is shown again in his parting words to his two sons. Christian was about 11 at this time; Joseph about 15. These two boys would be separated from everyone dear to them during what are important years in the life of a youngster. But their God knew where they were. They did not have to be separated from Him.
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