Laura E. Steinmetz, GW #17
Laura was born on 12 December 1879 to the Reverend Wilson Steinmetz and his wife, Mary Jane, nee Gruber. Laura’s father was a pastor in the Mennonite Brethren in Christ church which spawned the Gospel Worker Society. In 1880, the Steinmetz family lived in Bethlehem Township, Northampton County, Pa where Wilson was a farmer at that time. In 1900, Laura is in the coal mining area of Porter, Schuylkill County, Pa. with fellow Gospel Worker Rebecca Shelly. They are both listed as being in missions. When Laura’s father died in 1908, she is mentioned in his obituary as living in Pittsburgh, Pa. She is still there in 1910 for the Federal census with a house full of Gospel Workers. In 1920 Laura is living at 62 Peach Street, Philadelphia, Pa., as head of house with her widowed sister, Agnes Barall and Agnes’ son Joseph. Missions is still the listed occupation for Laura, but is she still in the Gospel Workers? In 1930 she is living at 6009 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, a house she owns and is worth $12,000. She is listed as a missionary. In 1940 she is renting living quarters at 3742 North 15th Street, Philadelphia. She is listed as a missionary with Adeline Tomlinson who does not appear in the list of Gospel Workers. Laura completed four years of high school while her partner Adeline completed four years of college. By 1952, Laura is living in California, according to her sister Carrie’s obituary. Laura died in Los Angeles, California on 16 January 1960. In her obituary, it is reported that she traveled a lot in the western part of the country. She is buried in Greenwood cemetery, Allentown, Pa.
