Zerger, Peter (1863-1927)

Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1928 Jan 12 p. 7

Birth date: 1863 Jan 10

text of obituary:

Zerger, Moundridge.—Peter Zerger, Sohn von Jacob und Freni Zerger wurde am 10. Januar 1863 im Dorfe Kotasufka Rußland geboren. Als junger Knabe von 11 Jahren kam er mit seinen Eltern nach den Vereinigten Staaten. Zuerst blieben sie eine kurze Zeit in Illinois. Doch später kamen sie nach McPherson Co., Kansas, der Umgegend von Moundridge, wo er die Zeit seines Lebens wohnte.

Als 17 jähriger Jüngling erkannte er seinen verlornen Zustand und wurde auf das Bekenntnis des Glaubens an die vollgültige Erlösung durch Christi Opfertod als die alleinige Ursache seiner Seligkeit am 31. Oktober 1880 getauft und als Glied in die Gemeinde aufgenommen.

Am 24. Juni 1885 wurde der Bund heiliger Ehe mit Schwester Freni Göring geschlossen. Dieselbe wurde mit 5 Kindern gesegnet, vom welchen 3 in die obere Heimat versetzt wurden. Auch die Gattin wurde nach 16jährigen Eheleben am 19. Januar 1902 heim gerufen.

Am 3. Juni 1902 trat er wieder in den Ehestand. Diesmal mit Schw. Maria Göring, doch auch diese Ehe wurde nach etwa einem Jahr durch den Tod der Gattin gebrochen. Ein Kindlein, das ihnen geschenkt wurde, ist auch kurze Zeit nach der Mutter Tod in die Obere Heimat gerufen.

In der Gemeinde war ein ein tätiges Glied und nahm regen Anteil an allen Gemeinde Angelegenheiten, noch auf dem Sterbebette kurz vor seinem Tode interessierte er sich für dieselben.

Vor einigen Monaten stellte sich ein Leiden ein, welches trotz äztlicher Hilfe nicht gehoben werden konnte. Die letzten 18 Tage war er im Hospital. Der Herr erhörte sein Gebet Sonntag. Er durfte fast ohne Todeskampf heimgehen.

Er erreicht somit ein Alter von 64 Jahren, 11 Monate und 1 Tag. Er hinterläßt 1 Sohn, 1 Tochter, 1 Schiwegertochter, 1 Enkel, 1 Schwester und einen großen Verwandten- und Freundeskreis.

Das Begräbnis fand den 13. Dezember statt, bei welcher Gelegenheit Worte des Trostes gesprochen wurde von Rev. C. J. Göring im Hause über Offb. 20, 11-15 und 21, 1-8, und Rev. P. P. Wedel über 2. Tim. 4, 18.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1927 Dec 21 p. 6

text of obituary:

Peter Zerger

Peter Zerger, son of Jacob and Fanny Zerger, was born in Russia on the 10th of January, 1863. There he spent his childhood years and when about 11 years old he immigrated into this country together with many relatives and friends. The family at first settled temporarily in Illinois where they lived for a short time, then they moved to Kansas and settled in McPherson County, where the deceased lived the rest of his life.

At the age of 17 years he was converted and on the 31st of October, 1880, he was baptized to seal his covenant with Christ and became a member of his Church. When the Eden Mennonite Church was organized he became a charter member, and always took a live interest in the progress of the church. Even on his death bed he showed this interest.

On June 24, 1885 he entered holy matrimony with Fanny Goering whose companionship he enjoyed for 16 years. Death dissolved this union January 19, 1902. Five children were born to them; but death called three of them away in early infancy. On June 3, 1902 he was married for the second time, this time to Mary Goering. To this union one child was born; but in a few weeks after the child's birth death claimed the mother and when a few months old the child followed the mother in death.

A few months ago his health began to fail. The best of medical aid was sought but to no avail. Finally he was taken to the hospital at McPherson, where he might receive the best of care. Here he passed away on Sunday afternoon, December 11, 1927, at the age of 64 years, 11 months and one day.

Funeral services were held from the home and from the Eden Mennonite Church Tuesday afternoon, December 13. The services were in charge of the Pastor, Rev. C. J. Goering, who was assisted by Rev. P. P. Wedel. A large number of people attended the funeral.

—Moundridge Journal.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1938 May 25 p. 4

text of obituary:

Memorial Gift For Moundridge Pioneers

A memorial gift to Bethel College in memory of Peter and Freni Goering Zerger, contributed by their son, Mr. Gerhard Zerger of Moundridge, Kansas, has been announced by the College in connection with which the names, dates of birth and passing of these pioneers will be put on a bronze plate to be hung in the foyer of the Memorial Hall now being built at Bethel College. A memorial biography of Mr. and Mrs. Zerger is printed in the Review this week.

PETER AND FRENI GOERING ZERGER

A Memorial Biography

Throughout the centuries there have been certain dates that stand out as landmarks in the history of certain people. Today thousands of sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters, and their sons and daughters, remember 1874 as an historic year. it was that year that countless numbers of their Mennonite forefathers came to America and found the far-reaching plains of the Middle West extending a welcome.

Came to States of the Middle West

To Illinois, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, and the Dakotas they came, bringing with them a trusting faith in their God an courageous hearts to grapple with the trials of pioneering. Among the families of the '74 migration were Jacob and Freni Zerger and their eleven-year-old son, Peter. In the village of Kotasufka, Russia, the boy Peter had been born on January 10, 1863.

For three years the Zerger family lived at Pekin, Illinois,and from there came to McPherson county, Kansas, where it settled near Moundridge. As a young man Peter Zerger broke prairie sod with oxen for the Mennonite families who had come to McPherson County several years sooner.

Earned Money as a Farmhand in Kansas

Having been able to earn a little money as a farmhand, Peter, together with his two brothers, Joshua and Tobias, bought some farmland near Moundridge, Kansas. At first it consisted of but a few acres but with the income from the harvests each year the three brothers were able to add to their farm by buying more land.

But the early years were hard years, recalls mr. Gerhard Zerger of Moundridge, Kansas, a son of Peter and Freni Goering Zerger, who has made a memorial contribution in memory of his parents to the Bethel College Memorial Fund.

Witnessed Grasshopper Plague

Mr. Zerger remembers hearing his father tell about the grasshopper plague that swept the prairies one year. The horde of pests was so thick that the leaves and most of the heads in the wheat were eaten, leaving only a small crop. In an attempt to save a part of the grain crop some farmers thought of the plan of frightening the grasshoppers away by pulling long strips of cloth through the fields and molesting the insects. Most of the Mennonite farmers were too poor to buy any cloth for the scheme, but before the farmers, who had purchased yards of cheap cheesecloth, were prepared to pull it across the patches of grain the grass hoppers rose from the half devoured fields in numbers so dense the dimmed the sunlight. To the delight of the farmers the plague was over.

Zerger barn Burned With Work Horses

One year the Zerger barn caught fire and completely burned together with several head of horses. What now? The horses the brothers would need for work in the fields were gone. They had no money. But not willing to give up, the three brothers again built a barn and purchased horses with a loan of money on which thy had to pay twenty-four per cent interest.

Later Peter Zerger secured his own farm and home. On June 24, 1885, he married Miss Freni Goering. For sixteen years they lived together on a farm near Moundridge, Kansas. Mrs. Zerger passed away on January 19, 1902. His mother, Mr. Gerhard Zerger believes, also came to America in 1874, the same year that his father left Europe. She was born on March 28, 1866, in Kotasufka, Russia, in the same village where her husband was born. As the age of sixty-four years Mr. Zerger passed away on December 11, 1927.