Rev. David Plank was my great grandfather's older brother. His biography appeared on page 794 of the History of Logan County, published in 1880 by O. L. Baskin, Chicago. It is one of several biographies of persons living in Union Township, and provides information on several of our Plank ancestors:
REV. DAVID PLANK, farmer and minister; P. O., Bellefontaine; was born May 15, 1833, in Mifflin Co., Penn. To give anything like a correct sketch of the Plank family in this country would necessitate reference to documents and dates which are now beyond our reach in the irretrievable past. However, in about the year 1700, or shortly thereafter, one Melcher Plank1 (the name originally was Blank; by the variation of the English pronunciation the orthography was changed to Plank), with his four sons and two daughters -- Christian, John, Jacob, Peter, Rebecca and Barbara -- emigrated from Germany to this continent, and settled about Berks Co., Penn.
His son, Christian,2 married and settled himself in that section, and had a family of six sons and two daughters -- John, Christian, Isaac, Joseph, Jacob, Samuel, Martha and Barbara.
Samuel,3 the youngest son, was born in Lancaster Co. in 1808; he married Juliana Hartzler, a native of his own county, who was born in 1819.4 They are the parents of the present generation of that name in Logan Co. They came here with six of their children -- Joseph C., David, Leah, Elizabeth, Martha and Barbara -- in October, 1845, and settled on the same farm where David resides. After they came here the family was increased by three -- Juliana, Samuel W.5 and Mary. Only two of Christian's family survive -- Martha, in Champaign Co., and Barbara, who lives near by her nephew David; they are both well advanced in years.
David's father died here, after a life of quiet usefulness, Dec. 11, 1878, and his mother April 11, 1879. David's early life was spent on the farm and attending to the various duties of the same; his marriage was celebrated with Martha Hartzler6 Feb. 14, 1856. She was born in Pennsylvania, June 9, 1836, and came to Champaign Co. with a sister in 1853. They have eight children living -- Samuel H., Salome M., Levi L., Mary E., Lydia, Juliana, Katie and David.7 Mr. Plank was ordained a minister of the Ormish Mennonite Church in this township, Oct. 19, 1859. They are now known as the "Walnut Grove" congregation. Mr. Plank is now the longest officiating minister connected with said congregation.
The following commentary on an innovation of Rev. Plank's was found at the web site of the Mennonite Historical Society of Canada:
The first permanent Mennonite (MC) Sunday school in America was started by the South Union congregation near West Liberty, Ohio, by David Plank in May 1863. The record book of this Sunday school contains this statement for May 31, 1863 (translated): "J. C. Kanagy and D. Plank, ministers of the Church of God in this vicinity, have decided with the council of the church to organize a Sunday school in the name of God, for we believe quite confidently that as the fathers and mothers give us their support, much good will arise out of it." In a few years Sunday schools were established in widely scattered sections of the church and gradually became accepted as a part of the ministry of the church to its young people.
The growth of the Sunday school, however, was slow and not without serious opposition. Some of the reasons for opposing it were that it was patterned after that of other churches, was "worldly" and fostered pride, placed teaching responsibility into the hands of the laity, and was unsupported by the Bible. It is an interesting fact that through the Amish churches, which were generally not yet bound together by district conferences, the Sunday-school movement spread among the Mennonites.
The archives of the Ohio Mennonite Conference list David Plank as the Moderator, or as delivering the principal sermon, at several annual sessions of the Eastern Amish Mennonite Conference during the early 1900s. Rev. David Plank's obituary appeared in the Gospel Herald, 31 Oct 1912, pp 494-496:
Plank. - David, son of Samuel and Julia Plank, was born in Mifflin Co., Pa., May 15, 1833. In 1845, he with his father's family moved to Union Twp., Logan Co., O. Here he lived until the final summons came Oct. 4, 1912, and he passed away at the advanced age of 79 y. 4 m. 19 d. On Feb, 14, 1856, he was united in marriage to Mary6 Hertzler. To them were born 10 children, 7 of whom, with their mother, are left to mourn the departure of a loving father and husband. Besides his immediate family he leaves 1 brother, 4 sisters, 16 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. He united with the Amish Mennonite Church in early manhood. In 1859 he was called to the ministry, and in 1895 was ordained bishop of the Church of his choice.
Father Plank, as a man, was inclined to look on the bright side of life, rather than brood over ills that were beyond his control. He loved flowers and the beautiful in nature. He loved children and frequently had correspondence with young people of his acquaintance. Through his interest in young people he won their respect, confidence and obedience. As a citizen he endeavored to have peace with all men and was eminently successful. To learn to know and converse with him meant to have higher ideals of life and character. All classes of people seemed ready to say, "He is a fine man." His faith in God and His Word was an inspiration for him to labor earnestly in His calling as a minister. To hear him preach meant to remember some truth he presented. Much of his success as a minister and church leader may be ascribed to his devoted prayer life, he many times resorting to the closet for the solution of some difficult problem.
He had great respect for the opinion of others but had convictions of his own from which he was not easily moved. He was firm yet kind, had "charity for all, with malice toward none." "Swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath." On a certain occasion in referring to a co-laborer he said, "We labored together for many years we differed on some things but we never quarreled." He helped organize the first permanent Sunday school in the Mennonite Church of America in 1863 and had been an active worker in the school ever since it was organized. He read and appreciated good literature and often recommended a good book to a friend. Among his last acts in this life was to send a copy of "Our Blessed Dead" to a widowed mother. He sometimes expressed himself as not being weary of life yet ready to go at the Master's call. Thus "he came to his grave in a full age like as a shock of corn cometh in his season."
"I am not weary of Thy work,
From earth I would not flee;
But while I walk and while I serve,
Oh, lift me up to Thee."
--From one of his favorite hymns.Funeral services were held at Walnut Grove Church Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock, conducted by Amos I. Yoder, assisted by S. E. Allgyer and John M. Shenk.
His wife's obituary appeared on pg 687 of the Gospel Herald for 27 Nov 1924:
Plank, Mary, daughter of Adam and Mary (Hooley) Hartzler, was born June 9, 1836, in Mifflin Co., Pa. She was the youngest of a family of 6 children, all of whom preceded her in death. Her mother died when she was 15 months old, and she was reared by her grandmother and older sisters. At the age of 17 she came to this community, near West Liberty, Ohio, and lived here for the remainder of her years.
On Feb. 14, 1856, she united in marriage with David Plank and shared this sacred fellowship for over 56 years. Her faithful husband, Bishop David Plank, entered into his eternal reward Oct. 4, 1912. To this union were born 10 children. Two died in infancy and 8 grew up to manhood and womanhood: Samuel H., Salome M. (Mrs. S. B. Plank), Levi, Mary Elsie (Mrs. A. Y. Hartzler), Lydia (Mrs. Eli Krabill), Julia Anna, Katie A. (Mrs. Simon King), and David L.
Her motherly heart received the sorrow of the death of her beloved husband and four dear children with Christian submission. She fell peacefully asleep Nov. 10, 1924 (aged 88 y. 5 m. 1 d.) leaving 6 children, 15 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. In her youth she accepted Jesus as her personal Savior and was received into the fellowship of the Amish Mennonite Church, in which faith she was found faithful unto death. She was of a quiet, retiring, peaceable disposition, always manifesting a deep concern for the well-being of her children in home and Church, for 56 years a devoted companion with her husband in the duties and responsibilities of the home, 53 years faithfully supporting him in his Christian ministry, and 63 years exercising and manifesting her mother interest, truly a noble Christian woman and mother.
Scripture lesson. Eph. 5, chosen by the departed sister, was read by A. I. Yoder. Sermons by I. W. Royer (Text, Jno. 16:33) and J. D. Mininger (Text Rev. 14:13). Remarks and closing prayer by S. E. Allgyer.
The Historical Committee of the Mennonite Church USA has a collection of Rev. David Plank's papers and provides a brief inventory of them, as well as a biographical sketch which lists his wife's name as Martha.