Catharine (Kate) Ropp

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Witness Vol 3, No 13 26 June 1907

Ropp - Catharine Ropp was born April 6, 1843; died May 21, 1907: aged 64y, 1m, 15d. 
She leaves a sorrowing husband, six sons, and twelve grandchildren to mourn her departure. 

Sister Ropp accepted her Savior in her youth and united with the Amish Mennonite Church, and lived a faithful Christian life till she was called from this world to a better one; therefore we need not mourn as those who have no hope. Funeral at Pleasant Grove, near Tremont, Ill. Services were conducted by J C Birkey, Peter D Schertz and Joseph Burcky. Rest in peace.
—————
Lived near Pekin, near the Schrock family.

“After a brief education, Catharine Ropp united in marriage with Jacob Gerber in 1861, and they moved to a farm in the vicinity of Carlock. Little is known of their home life due to the untimely death of her husband. It is known, however, that after Jacob’s death she was courted by a cousin, Joseph Ropp, who was son of Bishop Andrew Ropp and Jacobina (Vercler) Ropp. She married her first cousin Joseph Ropp on March 11, 1866, after he returned from a trip to Germany. They moved to the Ropp farm two and one-half miles northwest of Tremont. Here they built a house, which later became a “meeting house” where worship services were held regularly....

Buried:
Pleasant Grove Mennonite Cemetery

Catharine married Jacob Gerber on 27 Oct 1861. Jacob (son of Joseph Gerber and Magdalena Sommer) was born on 20 Oct 1837 in OH; died on 11 Jan 1864 in Congerville, Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Congerville, Woodford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Catharine married Joseph W. Ropp on 11 Mar 1866. Joseph (son of Bishop Andrew Ropp and Jacobina Vercler) was born on 30 Jan 1840 in Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 10 Jun 1920 in Tremont, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Tremont, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• CLER: Y
• Occupation: Farmer
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Baptism: 1881, Tremont, Tazewell Co., IL
• Ordained: 2 May 1897, Tremont, Tazewell Co., IL
• Ordained: 21 May 1911, Tremont, Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald - Volume XXII, Number 33 - November 14, 1929, page 687
Gerber.- Bishop Samuel Gerber, son of Jacob and Catherine (Roop) Gerber was born near Carlock, Ill., Sept. 8, 1863; and passed away at his home near Groveland, Ill., Oct. 28, 1929; aged 66 y. 1 m. 20 d. On Dec. 30, 1886, he was united in marriage with Magdalena Sears of Tiskilwa, Ill. He leaves to mourn his sudden departure his lifelong companion, two sons, and three daughters (Rosa Gerber, Mrs. Martha Wubben, O. J. Gerber, M. S. Gerber, and Mrs. Ruth King); also 8 grandchildren, 4 brothers (one brother preceding him in death), and a host of relatives and friends. His father and mother preceded him in death. When he was but four months old, his father was accidentally killed. Later he and his mother moved to near Tremont, where he grew to manhood. Death came to him very suddenly- but we believe not unexpectedly, as he would often talk to those about him telling them that his time was short here in this life. And he often expressed a desire to go and meet his God. In his early life he accepted Christ as his Savior, uniting with the Pleasant Grove Mennonite Church near Tremont, where on May 2, 1897, he was ordained to the ministry. Fourteen years later, on May 21, 1911, he was ordained bishop. During his 32 years of service as minister and bishop he officiated at 38 marriages, many funeral services, baptized 362 converts, and ordained two bishops and four ministers. His greatest concern was for the welfare of the Church. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." Funeral services which were largely attended, were held at the Pleasant Grove Mennonite Church near Tremont, in charge of the brethren, Sanford C. Yoder, of Goshen, Ind., and J. D. Hartzler, of Flanagan, Ill. Texts, Ezek. 24:15-19; Rev. 14:13. Interment in adjoining cemetery.

“As a boy he moved with his mother to the vicinity of Tremont, Tazewell Co., IL....Two sons and three daughters were born to them. He was a member of the Pleasant Grove Amish Mennonite congregation near Tremont, was ordained to the ministry there on May 2, 1897, and ordained bishop May 21, 1911.....He was a farmer throughout his life near Groveland, Tazewell Co., IL.”

Samuel Gerber married Magdalena Sears from Tiskliwa, Illinois. They had a farm a mile south of Groveland. Samuel joined the Pleasant Grove Amish Mennonite Church as a youth and soon was teaching a Sunday school class. In 1907, he was called to the ministry and in 1911 became a bishop. Friendly and sincere, he became a well-known, respected leader in their conference. Samuel and Magdalena had five children - Rosa, Martha, Otto, Menno and Ruth. Samuel died in 1929 at the age of sixty-six. Magdalena died in 1930 at the age of sixty-one.}

Baptism:
Pleasant Grove Mennonite Church

Ordained:
Minister, Pleasant Grove Mennonite Church, by John Smith

Ordained:
Bishop, by John C. Birky

Buried:
Pleasant Grove Mennonite Cemetery

Samuel married Magdalena Sears (Zehr) on 30 Dec 1886. Magdalena (daughter of Christian Zehr and Jacobena (Phebe) Eigsti) was born on 7 Dec 1866 in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 10 Jan 1930 in Bloomington, McLean Co., IL; was buried on 13 Jan 1930 in Tremont, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obit: Herald of Truth
Ropp, Asa, son of Joseph and Catherine Ropp, was born near Tremont, Ill., April 15, 1870; died at the home of his daughter in Fisher, Ill., June 30, 1959; aged 89 y. 2 m. 15 d. He was married to Mary Sears in Tiskilwa, Ill., on Dec. 27, 1894; she died Feb. 19, 1959. Surviving are one son and one daughter (Reuben, Tremont; and Mrs. Lovina Zehr, Fisher), 3 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, and 2 brothers (Ithiel, Payette, Idaho; and Alvin, Selma, N. C. ). Three brothers preceded him in death. Funeral services at the First Mennonite Church, Morton, Ill. (of which he was a member), were in charge of Kenneth Good and Alton Horst; burial in Pleasant Grove Cemetery.

Notes:

Obit:
Gerber.- Menno S., son of Samuel and Magdalena (Sears) Gerber, was born in Groveland, Ill., May 24, 1900; died at Morton, Ill., Mar. 2, 1988; aged 87 y. 

On Aug. 31, 1922, he was married to Lavina C. Heiser, who survives. 

Also surviving are 4 grandsons, 4 great-grandchildren, and one sister (Ruth King). He was preceded in death by one daughter, one great-granddaughter, 2 sisters, and one brother. 

He was a member of First Mennonite Church, where funeral services were held on Mar. 6, in charge of Glen A. Horner; interment in Pleasant Grove Cemetery.

Buried:
Pleasant Grove Mennonite Cemetery

Menno married Lavina Catherine Heiser on 31 Aug 1922 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. Lavina (daughter of Isaac Heiser and Mary A. King) was born on 17 Nov 1902 in Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; died on 4 Jun 2003; was buried in Tremont, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Elmer Ray King, Jr. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]