1858 On 28 July, Harriett Christophel was born. [1]
1884 On 3 August, Hannah Christophel and Jacob R Smith were married in Elkhart County, Indiana. [2]
1884 On 5 September, Jacob R Smith died. [3]
1884 An obituary for Jacob R Smith reported [4]:
Smith.-On the 5th of September, in Elkhart county, Ind., of fever, Jacob R. Smith, son of Preacher R. J. Smith formerly of Holland, aged 25 years, 10 months and 15 days. The funeral was held at Yellow Creek, and was largely attended, especially by the young people who had been his associates and schoolmates from childhood. The services were held by J. S. Coffman and David Burkholder. Jacob Smith was a young man of more than ordinary intelligence, was very decided in his opinions, contended earnestly for the right, and was highly respected by all. He professed to have peace with God, and died trusting in Jesus. On the 3rd of August he was united in marriage with Hannah Christophel; five weeks later she followed his remains to the grave. May she faithfully hold to the promises that the Lord has made to those that trust Him.
1941 An obituary for Hannah Christophel Smith reported [5]:
Smith.-Hannah, daughter of John and Elizabeth Christophel, was born in Union Twp, in the vicinity of Yellow Creek on July 28, 1858; passed to her reward Nov. 15, 1941; aged 83 y. 4 m. 17 d. Her entire life was spent in this vicinity. The illness which caused her death dates back to about six weeks ago, at which time she went to the home of her nephew, Elmer Christophel. She is survived by 2 sisters: Sarah Christophel, with whom she shared the joys and sorrows of life since the death of her parents; and Harriet Blosser, also of this community. She is survived also by numerous nephews, nieces, and friends. On Aug. 3, 1884, she was united in marriage to Jacob Smith. This union was of very short duration, for it was broken by the death of her husband on Sept. 5, 1884, and that same year she also united with the Mennonite Church at Yellow Creek. To this faith she held throughout her entire life, and seldom was her place in church vacant if health and circumstances permitted. To those who knew Hannah best, she will always be held in highest esteem, for she always lived a quiet, unassuming, and consistent Christian life. She always expressed interest and a full measure of devotion to the church of which she was a part. Her burdens and disappointments in life were always borne patiently. Truly it may be said of her, "She hath done what she could." Funeral services were held at the home of her nephew and at the Yellow Creek Mennonite Church, conducted by Bros. D. A. Yoder and V. C. Weaver. Burial in adjoining cemetery.
[1] Jonas G. Wenger, Martin D. Wenger, and Joseph H. Wenger, History of the Descendants of Christian Wenger (1903), 186, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[2] FamilySearch.org, [FamilySearchRecord].
[3] Jonas G. Wenger, Martin D. Wenger, and Joseph H. Wenger, History of the Descendants of Christian Wenger (1903), 187, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[4] Mennonite Obituary Archives, Herald of Truth - Volume XXI, Number 18 - September 15, 1884, p. 285, [MennObits].
[5] Mennonite Obituary Archives, Gospel Herald, Vol. XXXIV, No . 38, December 18, 1941, pp 806, 807, [MennObits].