Amstutz, Rosina Biery (1863-1957)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Jan 31 p. 8

Birth date: 1863

text of obituary:

MRS. ROSINA AMSTUTZ

Rosina Amstutz, pioneer resident of Silverton, Ore. passed away Dec. 27, 1956, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. M. Doerfler in the Waldo Hills. A resident of the Hills since 1879, she was 93 years of age.

Final rites were held Monday, Dec. 31, at 10:30 a.m. at the Emanuel Mennonite Church, Pratum. Rev Frank Harder, pastor of the church, officiated, and interment was made in the Silverton cemetery at the side of her husband, Jacob Amstutz, who died Dec. 25, 1916. Mrs. Amstutz was one of the charter members of the Emanuel Mennonite Church, which was established in the 1880's.

Mrs. Amstutz was born April 17, 1863, in Dalton, Wayne County, Ohio, the daughter of John and Elizabeth Biery. The family came to Silverton in 1879 when Mrs. Amstutz was 16 years of age. The Bierys came by train to San Francisco and from there by boat to Portland. The trip on the ocean was a rough one, Mrs. Amstutz often recollected.

Mrs. Amstutz was married to Jacob Amstutz June 11, 1881, in the home of John Liechty, a pioneer of that day. She and her husband settled along the Silverton Creek near the present Chris Hofstetter farm, adjacent to one owned by her family. Later they lived three years in Salem. Upon their return they resided on property now owned by R. E. Skaefe. Shortly afterwards they brought [sic] 151 acres from the eGo. [sic Geo.] P. S. Riches donation land claim. In 1948, after she had moved to the home of her daughter, Mrs. Doerfler, who was Melvina Amstutz, Mrs. Amstutz sold the farm.

Mrs. Amstutz passed away peacefully while she napped. She had been up and around the day before. Survivors are the daughter, Mrs. J. M. Doerfler, and a son, Elam Amstutz of Gresham, a Portland lawyer. A daughter Elizabeth died when she was 12 years of age. Three grandchildren Delora Guyer, Barbara and David Amstutz, two great-grandchildren, Avan and Collete Guyer, and one sister, Mrs. Magdalena Sutter of Salem also survive. Mrs. Sutter is 91 years of age and the last member of the family.