Holdeman, Anna Kilmer (1849-1928)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1928 Aug 8 p. 2

Birth date: 1849 Apr 22

text of obituary:

Mrs. Anna Holdeman

Anna Kilmer was born near Galleon, Crawford county, O., April 22, 1849. In early childhood her parents moved to Elkhart county, Ind., where she grew to womanhood and was married Sept. 20, 1868 to John A. Holdeman. To this union were born nine children. She was preceded to the spirit world by her husband and two daughters. The eldest daughter Salvona with her husband and one-year-old babe were billed in a tornado in Chase county, Kan., March 20, 1892. Laura died in infancy, July 13, 1880. Her husband crossed the valley of death Jan. 16, 1918. She united with the Church of God in Christ, Mennonites, in 1880, and was a faithful member until her death July 26, 1928. Death was caused by the infirmities of old age. She is survived by three sons, four daughters, five brothers, one sister, 42 grandchildren, and a host of friends, but her desire was to be at rest and be reunited with those who have gone before. Mr. and Mrs. Holdeman were pioneer settlers in Kansas, coming here in 1871. They took up a homestead one mile north and one mile west of the Meridian church and built the first frame house in Meridian township. All of their neighbors lived in dugouts and sod houses. They lived on a farm all of their lives, quietly and simply. The stranger within their gates found ready welcome. The little frame house 10 by 14 feet on the old homestead was often filled to capacity with eastern friends and relatives for weeks at a time. At one particular time housing 18 men, women and children for thee weeks until lumber could be hauled by ox teams from Newton and a shack built for their occupacy [sic]. They lived on an improved the old homestead until 1887, when they sold and bought land near Cedar Point, Chase county, where the children grew to manhood and womanhood and all but two were married. They were widely known and respected by all who knew them. In their old age they returned to this community again and bought 40 acres of land across the way from the Maple Grove school where they lived until the death of Mr. Holdeman, when Mrs. Holdeman made her home with her daughters. Since becoming an invalid, in April, 1926, she made her home with her eldest daughter, Mrs. A. H. Leatherman, who tenderly cared for her and tried in every way to comfort her in her affliction. The surviving children are Fanny Leatherman, Moundridge; Anna Holdeman, Crowley, La.; Reuben Holdeman, Emporia; Anna Bare, Little River; Cora Billups, Hawthorne, Calif.; David Holdeman, Norden, Neb.; and Katherine Ratzlaff, Mullinsville, Kan. All of the children were present at the funeral except Amos, who has been absent for 15 years, and David who was present to visit his mother shortly before her death. Her brother, Christ Kilmer, who was helping to care for her, and her sister Mrs. Elizabeth Coen of Newton, were also present. Services were held Sunday afternoon at the Meridian church, conducted by Rev. F. H. Wenger assisted by Rev. E. M. Yost of Greensburg, Kan. Interment was made in Meridian church cemetery. The pall bearers were grandsons of Mrs. Holdeman, Foster and Henry Holdeman of Louisiana, Ralph Holdeman, Emporia, Delbert Billups, Mullinsville, Richard Bare, Little River and John Leatherman.