Kaufman, Carolina Schrag (1869-1958)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Mar 20 p. 3

Birth date: 1869 Jul 27

text of obituary:

PIONEER SETTLER OF MOUNDRIDGE AREA DIES AT AGE 88

Moundridge, Kan. – Mrs. John P. Kaufman, who was a member of a pioneer Mennonite group which settled west of here in 1874, died at Mercy Hospital in Moundridge on March 15. Born in Russia in 1869, she reached the age of 88.

Funeral services were held March 17 at the Eden Mennonite Church, of which she was a long-time member.

Surviving children are Mrs. Japhet Stucky, Mrs. Elsie Schrag, Chris H., and Paul D., all of the Moundridge community; Ray J. of rural Newton; and Ed. G. of North Newton, president emeritus of Bethel College.

---

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Mar 27 p. 8

text of obituary:

CAROLINA SCHRAG KAUFMAN

Carolina Schrag Kaufman, daughter of Jacob Schrag and Katharina Stucky Schrag, was born near Kotosufka, Vohlynia,, Russia, on July 27, 1869. Here she spent her early years and came to America as a child with her family in 1874 during the Mennonite migration from Russia to this country. Her family and the congregation to which they belonged settled west of Moundridge, Kan. In this neighborhood she grew to womanhood and lived until her death.

Growing up in a Christian home, she early accepted Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. On Dec. 30, 1883, she joined the Hopefield Mennonite Church near Moundridge by baptism. In 1893 her membership was transferred to the then newly organized Eden Mennonite Church of which her husband was a charter member. Throughout the remaining years of her life she remained a faithful and loyal member of this congregation.

On Feb. 26, 1886, she was married to John P. Kaufman who preceded her in death on Feb. 11, 1953. During the 67 years of their married life they lived on a farm in the Eden community, where together with other pioneers they shared the difficulties and hardships of early Kansas history.

To this union were born nine children, two of whom, Gerhart Peter and Sophia Ephrosine, died in infancy, and one, John Ernst, died in 1953. The remaining children are; Emma and husband Japhet Stucky, Elsie, wife of the late Henry J. Schrag, Chris H. and wife Lydia, and Paul D. and wife Linda, all of Moundridge; Ray J. and wife Emma of rural Newton, and Ed. G. and wife Anna, and a daughter-in-law, Martha, wife of the late John E. Kaufman, all of North Newton. She also leaves one sister; Anna (Mrs. John J. Stucky) and two brothers, John E. and Eli W. Schrag, all of Moundridge. Four sisters preceded her in death. Remaining are also 22 grandchildren and 45 great-grandchildren, and a host of other relatives and friends. Six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and one daughter-in-law, Hazel, the late Mrs. Ed. G. Kaufman, also preceded her in death.

The opportunities for her formal schooling were limited. She loved music and as a young girl learned to play the organ, which meant much to her in later life. She knew dozens of church hymns by memory and greatly loved to sing them again and again, especially as her eyesight failed in her later years. This was also true of many longer Scripture passages, the Apostolic Creed and longer Christian prayers. She took great interest in foreign missions and Christian education but her special concern always was her own family. She was a kind and loving mother.

Ever since her husband died in 1953 she steadily grew weaker and longingly looked for the time when she also could go to her heavenly home. These last years were not easy. Recently taking a cold which turned into pneumonia, she entered the Mercy Hospital at Moundridge on March 7. Here, quietly and peacefully, she departed from this life to enter her eternal home with her Saviour and Lord at 12:40 a.m. on March 15, 1958. She attained the age of 88 years, seven months and 19 days.

On March 15 at 1:15 p.m. a short service was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Japhet Stucky. A family quartet sang two numbers and Rev. Arnold Nickel of the Eden Church read Psalm 39 and gave a short message of comfort and encouragement. The memorial service was continued at the Eden Church at 2:00 p.m. where Rev. Nickel had charge as well as at the graveside service. The men’s chorus of the church sang a number of appropriate hymns. Miss Eleanor Wismer played favorite chorales at the beginning and end of the service. Nephews served as pall bearers. Interment was made at the Eden Mennonite Church cemetery.