J. Hershey Longenecker (1889-1978)

J. Hershey Longenecker was born into a Mennonite family in Landisville, PA on May 23, 1889. He attended the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades near Philadelphia from 1907 to 1910 with hopes of being a carpenter.

From 1911 to 1913, he served the Soul Winners Society in eastern Kentucky; from there, he attended Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary from 1913 to 1916. During seminary, on Sept 23, 1915, he married Minnie Hauhart of Missouri.

He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Transylvania of the Presbyterian Church in the United States the spring of 1913; he was ordained by the same presbytery in 1916. He became stated supply of Berry Bullevard Church in Louisville in 1915 and pastor for 1916 and 1917.

Hershey and Minnie served as PCUS missionaries to Congo from 1917 to 1951. After being diagnosed with diabetes, he served returned to the US and took served as a pastor in in Quitman, Ga. (1951-54), and in Roebuck and Center Point, S.C. (1955-56). They retired to Morristown, TN in 1956. After 10 years of retirement, Minnie went to be with the Lord. On October 21, 1967, he married Minnie’s niece Ruth Engler. Hershey died on 1978.

He wrote Memories of Congo about his 34 years on the mission field.