Schrag, Anna Kaufman (1849-1930)

Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1930 May 1 p. 7

Birth date: 1849 Apr 2

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1930 Apr 23 p. 4

text of obituary:

Mrs. Anna Schrag

Anna Schrag was born in Waldheim (Wolhynia) Russia, April 2nd, 1849.

Her parents were Rev. John Schrag and Anna Graber with whom she spent her childhood days as well as her youth, and where she also learned the problems and responsibilities that are a part of a preacher’s life. The lessons thus learned she portrayed and practiced until the end of her life.

She gave her heart to the Lord in early youth, and was baptized upon the confession of her faith and became a member of the Mennonite Church of which she remained a true and faithful member.

In 1866 she was united in marriage to John Kaufman who was also a member of a preacher’s family.

In 1874 the family left Russia on account of the military service required by the Russian Government. They came to America and settled down in Turner County near Marion, South Dakota. Almost destitute they lived the life so common to pioneers. Cold winters, poor living quarters, lack of food and lack of fuel were some of the problems that had to be faced. Especially the winter of 1888 for on January 12 of that year South Dakota encountered the most severe snow storm in history. This storm caused untold suffering to everybody but especially to this family, for three of her sons left for school that morning and perished in the storm. The grief and hardship weakened her husband so that in less than two years he passed away and left her with four little children.

In 1892 she was united in marriage with Jacob Schrag, with whom she moved to Kansas and settled on a farm near Moundridge.

On June 11th 1928 her husband passed away, which with ill health necessitated breaking up the home and she lived with her children. She passed away April 2nd at 12:15 o’clock at the exact age of 81 years at the home of her daughter Mrs. D. J. Zerger.

She was the mother of eleven children of whom one died in Russia, one in New York, 4 in South Dakota and one in Kansas.

Surviving her are two daughters and two sons and their families, one sister, 21 grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends. — Moundridge Journal.