Robert Merle Birkey

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Entrepreneurial farmer, school bus driver.

Notes:

OBIT: News-Gazette (Champaign-Urbana, Illinois) March 8, 2018

RANTOUL – Robert "Bob" Birkey, 85, of Rantoul passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus on Tuesday (March 6, 2018).

He was born July 11, 1932, in Fisher, a son to Joel and Mabel Birkey.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Viola; three sons, Keith (Kathy) of Terre Haute, Ind., David (Dawn) of Lewisville, Texas, and Rick of Charlotte, N.C.; daughter, Brenda (Eric) Dunn of Royal Palm Beach, Fla.; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, one brother, one grandson and one great-grandson.

Bob was a longtime entrepreneurial farmer. He drove a school bus for 26 years until he was 80 years old.

He loved animals, gardening, the outdoors and his Maranatha Baptist Church family. He was loved by all and will be greatly missed.

Visitation will be Friday, March 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Maranatha Baptist Church, 122 S. Chanute St., Rantoul.

The funeral service will be held Saturday, March 10, at 10 a.m. at the church. Services will be by Pastor Mark Wilkerson and son David Birkey. Burial will follow in East Bend Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, donations may be made to the Maranatha Baptist Mission Fund.

Lux Memorial Chapel, Rantoul, is handling the arrangements.
———

Metamora Herald
Thursday , July 16th, 1959.  Page : 7
Robert M Birkey were married Saturday in a double ring...birthday The Birkeys will be at home in Ludlow August...i Mr Birkey is the son of Mr and I Mrs Joel Birkey of Ludlow The Rev Ezra Yordy, assisted...and Lowell Birkey of Flanagan, cousin of the bridegroom, was...were Richard Birkey of Gibson City Bill Springer of Foosland,...lawn Mrs Birkey is an employee of the State Farm...Bloomington Mr Birkey is employed by the Birkey Construction Co of Dewey

Buried:
East Bend Memorial Gardens

Robert married Viola Bernice Kenyon [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Keith Robert Birkey
2. David Allen Birkey
3. Ricki Lee Birkey
4. Brenda Denise Birkey

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Religion: Amish Mennonite/Bible Church
• USR1: Old Age

Notes:

From Round Robin (Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community) Volume 47, Summer Issue 1988

“I started farming near Fisher at the age of 21, and in 1923 Mabel Schertz and I were married. The first farm I rented was 180 acres of rough river bottom land. We had a dairy herd, so I had to get up at 3:00 a.m., milk by hand, put the milk in a water tank to cool it, and deliver it to Fisher before 7:00 a.m. where it was sold for 10 cents a quart. This was 5% milk from Jersey cows.

“In 1926 I bought my first tractor. I paid $525 for it and had it paid for in four years. We moved from Fisher to Mahomet where we farmed for twelve years. On this farm I planted my first hybrid seed corn, and we harvested 100 bushels to the acre. We were renting 160 acres so had to have a hired man. His pay was $20 a month plus board and room. A high wage at that time was a dollar a day, and sometimes I hired neighbor’s sons for $2.50 a day. I recall having a married hired man who lived near a timber and was hired for 75 cents a day plus a meal. He walked one and three-fourths miles to his job. This was perhaps in 1922 and 1934.

“While at Mahomet I had the experience of being a member of the school board. The schools were two miles apart, and each one-room country school had three directors who hired the teachers and made other decisions. The school near Mahomet was called the Lester School.

“We had to move from the farm near Mahomet because it was sold. We then went to a farm near Paxton in March, 1942, and left it in December of that same year. This move was a very unpleasant experience. The buildings were poor and so was the land. We next moved to a cattle and hog farm in the Arrowsmith area and farmed there for three years. Our fifth move was back to the Rantoul area where we farmed until 1950 at which time we were fortunate enough to buy a 160-acre farm near Ludlow. We found many good people everywhere we lived.

“We owned and operated the Birkey Poultry Farm for 20 years, 1953 to 1973. We sold eggs from 9,000 hens using the slogan “Birkey’s cackle fresh eggs.” Our busiest day was the day we sold 832 dozen. The price for the largest eggs was 40 cents a dozen, and our customers knew they were getting fresh graded eggs. We also raised 40 acres of lima beans in addition to other crops.

“I’ve had a variety of other experiences, too. As a teenager I raised pigeons for the squab market. Before our marriage I raised Newfoundland dogs for children’s pets and collies for cattle herding. I shipped dogs into 38 states and Canada. This was done with ten breeding female dogs and several males. I built my first rabbit trap when I was eight years old. I have a hobby of making maple furniture and toys. Many are right here in the Meadows Home where you may see my clocks, a cistern pump, animals, and a bank which “actively” accepts coins. Most recently I have learned to operate the rug loom.

“Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community has been our home since October 1984, first at Burt Village and now in Meadows Home.”

Died:
17th?

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Joel married Mabel Evelyn Schertz on 20 Sep 1923. Mabel (daughter of Joseph William Schertz and Rosa King) was born on 30 Mar 1900 in Anchor Twp., McLean Co., IL; died on 13 Feb 1991 in Meadows, McLean Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite

Notes:

Buried:
East Ben Mennonite Cemetery

Notes:

Married:
By J.A. Heiser

Other Events and Attributes:

• Education: Little formal education, but a degree in life’s experiences
• Occupation: Farmer
• Reference Number: 14
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Cancer (See Obit)
• Residence: 1887, Decatur Co., KS
• Residence: 1895, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• PURC: 9 Feb 1910, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• PURC: 26 Feb 1910, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• PURC: 27 Dec 1920, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL

Notes:

Obit: Oct. 4, 1928 Gospel Herald
Birkey. - Valentine Birkey, son of Joseph and Mary Birkey, was born near Morton, Ill., Feb. 2, 1858; died Sept. 18, 1928; aged 70 y. 7 m. 16 d. He was united in marriage to Phoebe Good about 47 years ago. Surviving him are his wife, 4 sons, 5 daughters, 2 sisters, 1 brother, 31 grandchildren, and a large number of old relatives and friends. His parents, 2 sisters, 2 brothers, and 2 grandchildren preceded him to the spirit world. For several years his health seemed to be failing and later cancer developed, which caused his death. He was confined to his bed from June 15 until death. At times, his suffering and pain was very great, but he was very patient through it all. His condition did not seem to alarm him, and he was fully given up to Him who does all things well. He united with the Mennonite Church in his youth and proved faithful until the end. Funeral services were conducted at the home by Bro. S. S. Zehr and at the church by the Bros. Jake Zehr and Ezra Yordy. Text, 1 Cor. 13:12. Interment was made in the cemetery nearby.


Read at the Centennial Celebration of the East Bend Mennonite Church in 1989, in Fisher, IL
“My name is Valentine Birkey. My father was Joseph of the “Big Black” Birkeys, and my mother was Mary of the “Little Red” Birkeys. They both came from Germany to Tazewell County where they met and married. I was born in 1858 near Morton, Illinois, but my parents later moved to near Hopedale. It was at Hopedale that Phoebe Good and I were married in 1882. Here our two daughters Mollie and Bertha were born.

“About this time many families were moving west. In northwest Kansas land could still be homesteaded. We kept hearing there had been lots of rain the last few years and things were looking good. Some of my relatives were moving there, so my parents decided they would move too. It sounded like a good chance to own land, and Mother insisted that all her married children move too.

“So in April 1887, Phoebe and I packed for the long train ride. After arriving we stayed with my parents until September when Joe was born. We had taken out a timber claim which meant we had to plant 500 trees, live on the land and then the 160 acres would become ours. So that summer the men cut sod and built our sod house on the claim. the walls were two feet thick, which kept it really warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It was the roof that gave US trouble--the sod and tree branches always seemed to let the rain through. And I really didn’t like having the rattlesnakes living in the walls. My family had all taken claims very close by. The stagecoach form Oberlin to Colby, Kansas crossed over part of our farm.

“We had a large church congregation in Decatur County. Our services were held in the Swedish Covenant sod church on Sunday afternoons until we finished building our own sod church. The cemetery was 1/2 mile north of the church and that’s where we buried by brother Dan.

“After we got settled in Kansas it forgot to rain. Year after year we had crop failures. the corn would look beautiful in the spring and then the hot, dry winds came and in just a few days the field of corn would be ruined. One year the wheat headed out, but since it was only six inches tall it was too short to cut with the binder. Our only choice was to turn the pigs into the field to do the harvesting. We seemed to get poorer every year. Joe, Alvin and Kate were born in our sod house. We had to divide our potatoes and it was hard to have to feed the children “thick and thin” for supper. What was that? It was thick sour milk to which Phoebe added some fresh sweet milk. We gathered buffalo chips to burn in our stove. Those were hard years on the prairie.

“Families started moving away. Some of my cousins moved by covered wagon to Beemer, Nebraska to help start the church there. some moved back to Hopedale. Two of my sisters moved to Shickley, Nebraska, and eventually my brother Joe moved to Oregon, my brother Jake to Montana. One summer my cousin Christian J. Birkey came to visit. He was married to Phoebe’s sister, so he was my brother-in-law as well. Then he saw how bad things were, he urged US to sell out and come back to Illinois. I told him if I sold everything I owned it wouldn’t be enough to pay our way back.

“On our way to church every Sunday we would stop at the home of the Lund family to collect our mail. One Sunday morning there was a letter from Chris. Phoebe couldn’t wait till after church to read it. Chris said he had bought a farm in Champaign County were a new church had been started. He offered to send US money for the train fare. Chris was like that--he helped many people. It was very difficult for Phoebe and I to get much out of the church service that day.

“Well, we soon made plans to move to Illinois and it was a glad day when we got there. It was almost dark, and as we got near the house I said, “Oh, look at all the sheep out there in the pasture.” Well, when I looked out the next morning, I got a surprise! I saw it was tree stumps instead, and that meant I had a lot of work to do. But we had 20 good years there. East Bend church was building its first building, so I got to help with that. There was no bridge across the Sangamon River north of the church so we had to ford the river. About ten years later, John Naffziger and Chris Good put together a petition and we got a new bridge built across the river.

“After returning to Illinois, Silas, Joel, Ada and Edna joined our family. I was finally able to buy the farm 1/2 mile north of the church. I built a house and barn which are both still standing in 1989.

“I didn’t have much education, but I had a degree in life’s experiences. Looking back on the good and bad times I think we need the bitter lessons to better appreciate the good ones.”

Residence:
Went to Kansas for a homestead claim.

Residence:
After difficult years in Kansas moved back to Illinois.

PURC:
From C.C. and Lena Gut for $4,785. W1/2 of NE1/4, and East 25 acres of NW 1/4 of SW1/4, and W1/2 of W1/2 of NW1/4 of SW1/4 of Section 17 Twp 22N R8E

PURC:
From John Cender. Five acres-W 1/2 of E 1/2 of W 1/ of NW 1/4 of SW 1/4 of Section 17, Township 22N, Range 8E of 3rdPM

PURC:
From Cora A. and H. W. Baker for $8,100. SW1/4 of SW1/4 of Section 17 Twp22 N, R8E--”except a portion leased to the Ommish Mennonite Church Society.”

Died:
At his farm home.

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery. Funeral by J. A. Heiser.

Valentine married Phoebe (Bena) Good on 15 Jan 1882 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL. Phoebe (daughter of Josef (Joseph ) Guth (Good) and Katharina Stalter) was born on 5 Sep 1863 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 16 Dec 1962 in Eureka, Woodford Co., IL; was buried on 18 Dec 1962 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer’s wife and mother of ten (nine living).
• Reference Number: 15
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Old Age
• Residence: 15 Jan 1882, Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald
Birkey, Phoebe, daughter of Joseph and Kathryn Good, was born at Hopedale, Ill., Sept. 5, 1863; died at Eureka, Ill., Dec. 16, 1962; aged 99 y. 3 m. 11 d. On Jan.15, 1882, she was married to Valentine Birkey, who died in Sept., 1928. Surviving are all their 9 children (Mrs. Mollie Zehr, Mrs. Bertha Heiser, Joe, Alvin, Mrs. Katie Zehr, Silas, Joel, Mrs. Ada Foley, and Mrs. Edna Schertz), 3 sisters (Mrs. Sara Beller, aged 93; Mrs. Kate Horsch, aged 91; and Mrs. Mary Birkey, aged 88), 40 grandchildren, 120 great-grandchildren, and 9 great-great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death were also 2 sisters, 2 brothers, 4 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. She was a member of the East Bend Church, where funeral services were held Dec. 19, in charge of Ivan Birkey and J. Alton Horst.

Obit: Fisher Reporter
Funeral services were held at East Bend Mennonite Church with Rev. Ivan Birkey and Rev. J. Alton Horst officiating. Phoebe died at Maple Lawn Home in Eureka where she had been a resident for eleven years.


Obit: Mennonite Weekly Review
10 Jan 1963 p. 8
Mrs. Phoebe Birkey

Mrs. Phoebe (Good) Birkey was born near Hopedale, Ill. on Sept. 5, 1863, the daughter of Joseph and Kathryn Good. On Jan. 15, 1882 she was married to Valentine Birkey. They lived near Hopedale for five years. In 1877 [sic; 1887?] they homesteaded on the prairie in Decatur County, Kan. There they built and lived in a sod house where three of their children were born. They lived in Kansas for eight years.

In 1895, with the help of a sister's husband, they moved to a farm near Fisher, Ill. In 1917 they built the house north of the East Bend Mennonite Church and lived there until Mr. Birkey died in September 1928. She then lived with her children until 1951 when she moved to the Maple Lawn Homes in Eureka, Ill., spending the rest of her days there. Here she made many friends. She moved on to her eternal home on Dec. 16, 1962.

Surviving are her nine children, Mrs. Mollie Zehr, Mrs. Bertha Heiser, Joe Birkey, and Alvin Birkey, all of Fisher, Mrs. Katie Zehr of Ludlow, Ill., Silas Birkey of Flanagan, Ill., Joel Birkey of Ludlow, Mrs. Ada Foley of Norwalk, Calif., and Mrs. Edna Schertz of Saybrook, Ill.; three sisters, Mrs. Sarah Beller, 93, of Maple Lawn Homes, Mrs. Kate Horsch, 91, of Washburn, Ill., and Mrs. Mary Birkey, 88, of Sunset Rest Home, Geneva, Neb.; 40 grandchildren, 120 great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren. Her husband, two sisters, two brothers, four grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren preceded her in death.

In her youth she gave her heart to the Lord, remaining a member of the Mennonite church. She lived a long life, and her mind remained clear to the last. Her life was a quiet one marked by great concern for all members of her family. She will be missed by many.

The funeral service was held at the East Bend Mennonite Church near Fisher, Ill. on Dec. 19, 1962, with Rev. Ivan Birkey, a grandson, and Rev. J. Alton Horst officiating. Burial was made in the church cemetery. Six grandsons carried the casket.

Died:
Maple Lawn Home

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Notes:

Valentine and Phoebe were married in the Hopedale Mennonite Church by Christian Nafziger. Joseph Good was a witness.
Valentine was 23, a farmer, and living in Hopedale, IL at the time of marriage. Phoebe was 18.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer In Anchor And Saybrook, IL Area
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Residence: 1937, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL

Notes:

Died:
Maple Lawn Homes

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Joseph married Rosa King on 29 Jan 1896 in Carlock, McLean Co., IL. Rosa (daughter of Peter King and Barbara Hodler) was born on 27 Sep 1873 in Carlock, McLean Co., IL; died on 30 Jun 1954 in Eureka, Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Maple Lawn Homes

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• CLER: Y
• Occupation: Farmer
• Reference Number: 18
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Residence: 1844-67, Tazewell Co., IL
• Immigration: Abt 1840, Butler Co., OH
• Residence: 1841, Butler Co., OH
• Census: Jun 1860, Morton, Tazewell Co., IL
• Naturalization: 22 Feb 1865, Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: Aug 1870, Gridley, McLean Co., IL
• Residence: 1867-1872, Gridley Twp., McLean Co., IL
• Ordained: 1877, Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 10 Jun 1880, Boynton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: 1882-1889, Boynton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: 1889-1903, Decatur Co., KS
• Residence: 1906, Shickley, Fillmore Co., NE

Notes:

Obit: (Gospel Witness, December 1906)
BIRKEY.-Joseph Birkey was born in Germany, Mar. 19, 1828, and died near Shickley, Neb., Dec 6, 1906; aged 78y. 8m. 17d. On January 7, 1851, he was married to Mary Birkey. They lived in this relation for over fifty-five years. To this union were born nine children, three of whom have preceded him to the spirit world. Three sons, three daughters, fifty-three grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren are left to mourn their loss, but they mourn not as those who have no hope. Bro. Birkey was deacon in the Mennonite church for twenty-nine years and was faithful to the trust placed upon him. He was laid to rest on the 8th of December in the Salem cemetery. Funeral services were conducted by Christian Beller of this place and Jacob Stauffer and Joseph Rediger, of Milford, Neb. A great many people assembled to show their love and esteem to one who had lived in their midst and also to show their sympathy to the bereaved ones. As his body now rests in the grave we believe his soul is sweetly resting on the shores of eternal deliverance. Peace to his ashes.

“From 1889-1903 he served churches in Decatur and Sheridan Counties in Kansas, and in Nebraska, the Filmore congregation (now the Salem Mennonite Church).”

According to Harry F. Weber in Centennial History of the Mennonites of Illinois,
“Joseph was the youngest of the six sons and the smallest, and he was a man of over 6 feet in height and weighed over 200 pounds. In 1850, according to U.S. census files, Joseph Birkey was 22 years old and his brother Jacob was 24, and they were living with their brother John Birky in Tazewell County, Illinois.” From “A Brief Account of the History, Ancestry & Descendants of the John C. Birky Family.”

“The “E” (in Joseph’ name) was assumed by Joseph Birky in later years because there were many others with the name Joseph Birky.”

Birth:
Bavaria cited on his naturalization document

Census:
Burket with wife and five children

Naturalization:
Along with his brother Valentine, citing his birthplace as Bavaria

Census:
Burkey with wife and seven children

Ordained:
Deacon in Hopedale Mennonite Chuirch

Census:
Birky with wife and six children (Catherine married)

Residence:
Do not know when Joseph moved to NE

Buried:
Salem Cemetery

Joseph married Maria (Mary) Bircky (Birky) on 7 Jan 1851 in Tazewell Co., IL. Maria (daughter of Valentin (Valentine) Bircky (Birky) and Elisabeth Unzicker (Hunsiker)) was born on 19 Mar 1833 in Bavaria, GR; died on 28 Oct 1908 in Shickley, Fillmore Co., NE; was buried in Shickley, Fillmore Co., NE. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: 19
• Religion: Amish
• USR1: Bright’s Disease
• Immigration: 21 Jun 1849, NY

Notes:

Obit:
Birkey.- Mary Birkey, wife of Joseph Birkey, died at her home near Shickly, Nebr., Dec. 28, 1908; aged 75 y. 9 m. 9 d. Her sickness was Bright's disease. Funeral services were conducted by Joseph Rediger and Jacob Stauffer.

Immigration:
Via Liverpool, on ship Minnesota

Buried:
Salem Cemetery

Notes:

Married:
By A. Ropp

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Reference Number: 38
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Immigration: Abt 1850
• Census: 1870, Hopedale Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald - March 1909
Good - Died, Feb. 10, 1909, near Hopedale, Ill., Bro. Joseph Good, aged 78 y. He leaves to mourn his death his aged wife, who has shared the joys and sorrows for 51 years, two sons, six daughters, one brother and one sister, but they mourn not as those who have no hope. Bro. Good was an earnest and humble Christian. For him to live was Christ, and to die was gain. He suffered much pain during his sickness, but we believe that now he is being comforted. Buried Feb. 13. Services by Jos. Egli, John C. Birky and Daniel Nafizger.

Served as first janitor of Hopedale Mennonite Church for about twenty years: 1876-1896. The first six years he received $30 a year for his services.

Census:
Joseph, 37 yrs old, occupation farmer; birthplace Bavaria. Children: Joseph 11, Lizzie 8, Phoebe 6, Barbara 3, and Sarah 1. (Joseph was listed as away at school that day.

Josef married Katharina Stalter on 2 Mar 1856 in Tazewell Co., IL. Katharina (daughter of Jakob Stalter and Katharina Stalter) was born on 9 Jan 1832 in Hemerten, Bavaria, GR; died on 15 Oct 1919 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: 39
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Immigration: 1854, Le Havre to New York

Notes:

Obit: Nov. 6, 1919 Gospel Herald
Good. - Katharine, daughter of Jacob and Magdalena Stalter, was born in Germany Jan. 9, 1832; died at the home of her daughter in Hopedale, Ill., Oct. 15, 1919 ; aged 87 y. 9 m. 6 d. At the age of 14 she united with the A. M. Church, of which she was a faithful member until death. In the year of 1854 she sailed for America. She was united in marriage to Joseph Good in 1856. Her husband died Feb. 10, 1909. To this union were born 10 children. One son and 1 daughter died in infancy. She leaves 2 sons and 6 daughters, (Joseph, Dan, Lizzie Birkey, Phoebe Birkey, Barbara Bachman, Sarah Beller, Katie Horsch, and Mary Birkey); also 40 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren. Funeral services at the home by Bro. J. C. Birkey and the church by Jonas Litwiller and J. C. Birkey.

Grandmother's place in the home is vacant,
Her voice is heard no more,
Yet we hope again to meet her,
0n the blissful evergreen shore."

Immigration:
Arrived 5 Jun 1854 on the ship Cumberland.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: 1842, Butler Co., OH
• Residence: 1853, Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: 1855, McLean Co., IL

Notes:

Immigration:
He emigrated when 9 years old from Province of Alsace on the River Rhine in 1842.

Buried:
Drummer Township Cemetery

Peter married Catherine Springer on 20 Feb 1863 in Stanford, McLean Co., IL. Catherine (daughter of Christian Springer and Magdalena Engel (Ingle)) was born on 15 Aug 1839 in Hamilton, Butler Co., OH; died on 20 May 1915 in Saybrook, McLean Co., IL; was buried in Gibson City, Ford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Mennonite

Notes:

Obit: (scanned from Newspaper clipping)
Death of Mother and Son. 
Mrs. Catherine Schertz, one of the early pioneers of this neighborhood, died at her home' a few miles west of Gibson City a few minutes before midnight, on Thursday, May 20. The following morning at 6:30 o'clock her son, J. E. Schertz, who had been an invalid for nearly two' years, passed away. 
A double funeral was held at the Christian church in this city at 2:30 o'clock last Sunday afternoon. The funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Joseph King of Carlock, who was assisted in the service by Rev Peter Schantz of Normal, and Rev. C. J. Robertson of this city. 
The funeral was one of the largest ever held in this city. All available sitting and standing room in the church was filled, and a great crowd remained outside. It is estimated that a thousand persons came to the funeral. Interment was in the Gibson cemetery. 

Mrs. Catherine Schertz.

Catherine Springer was born near Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio, August 15, 1839, 'and died May 20, 1915, aged 75 years, 9 months and 5 days. She migrated early in life .with her parents to the vicinity of Stanford, Ill., where she resided for a number of years. She was united in marriage to Peter Schertz of Stanford February 20, 1863. 
To this union were born eleven children, one dying in infancy. Thirty-six years .ago she, with her husband and family, moved to eastern McLean county, near Gibson City, where she resided until the time of her death. Her husband preceded her in death in June, 1911. 
She united with the Mennonite church in her youth, and always took great interest in the work of the church and the progress of her beloved faith. She, with her husband was instrumental in leading and seeing every one of their children accept the faith of Christ and unite with the church. This gave her. great joy in her last days and hours' of life. She was a charter member of the South Anchor Mennonite church, of which her son-in-law, Rev. A. Augspurger, is pastor.
She leaves to mourn .her loss nine children-George, of Hudson; Joseph and Peter, of Saybrook; Emma Augspurger, also of Saybrook; Minnie Guengerich, of Anchor; and Albert E., Mary A., Elizabeth M. and Daniel, at home. One son,. John E., succeeded his mother in death just six and one half hours. . She also leaves one sister at Danvers, Ill.; one brother at Cleghorn, Iowa, and one at Stanford, III. She is also survived by sixteen grandchildren and many other relatives and friends. She was an aunt of P. Schertz of this city. 
She was well known in the vicinity of Gibson City, where she resided for many years, and will be greatly missed by her many friends.

Buried:
Drummer Township Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer and breeder of Norman and Clydesdale horses
• Religion: Mennonite
• Residence: 1865, McLean Co., IL

Notes:

Residence:
Section 2, Dry Grove Twp.

Buried:
North Danvers Mennonite Church Cemetery

Peter married Barbara Hodler on 5 Feb 1860. Barbara was born on 8 Feb 1838 in OH; died on 12 Jun 1905; was buried in Danvers, McLean Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
North Danvers Mennonite Church Cemetery