ZION'S COURTS

Composer: Wilmer D. Swope

Born Dec. 16, 1925 in Leetonia, OH to Herman and Mabel Swope. He was a farmer and also worked at the A & P Warehouse in Salem, OH and the Buechner Residence Hall near YSU in Youngstown, OH. He served as Fairfield Township Trustee from 1970-2001. He was a member of the Midway Mennonite Church and enjoyed writing hymns and Mennonite Church history. He died in Leetonia, OH on February 1, 2010. --See Youngstown News. Go to person page >

Harmonizer: John J. Overholt

John J. Overholt was born to an Amish family of limited means in the state of Ohio in 1918. As a child he was soon introduced to his father's personal collection of gospel songs and hymns, which was to have a marked influence on his later life. With his twin brother Joe, he early was exposed to the Amish-Mennonite tradition hymn-singing and praising worship. An early career in Christian service led to a two-year period of relief work in the country of Poland following World War II. During that interim he began to gather many European songs and hymns as a personal hobby, not realizing that these selections would become invaluable to The Christian Hymnary which was begun in 1960 and completed twelve years later in 1972, with a compilation… Go to person page >