Karolina Grenz

Caroline (Grenz) Schrag. She was born in Lichtenfeld, Russia, January 31, 1872 to Adam and Louise Lutz Grenz. Her mother died when she was 12 and when she was 15 (in 1887) she and her father and family came to America and settled near Freeman, South Dakota. They stayed there a short while and then moved to Jefferson, Oregon.

There was a second marriage because Caroline spoke of a half sister. When she was around 18 years of age - she married Andrew J. Schrag and in 1900 they homesteaded in Washington in the Odessa area. In 1923 they moved to Park Place right outside of Monroe, Wash., and stayed there until they passed away, Andrew in 1938 and Caroline in 1950. They had 3 sons, 5 daughters and several stillbirths. They also raised a foster girl who was a distant relative.

My husband's mom's family were Mennonites generations back. They started out in Switzerland in the 1600's, were persecuted for their faith and moved to Austria, Poland, and eventually to Russia. My husband's, Steve's, 3rd gr-grandfather, John Schrag, was a minister and often took cheese and butter to the cities of Kief and Odessa to sell to supplement his income. He migrated with his family and 52 other families in July 1874 to South Dakota. I have a book of the Memoirs of John Schrag and Family. Steve's 2nd gr-grandfather, Johann Schrag was born in Russia in 1840. His son, was Andrew Schrag, who married Carolyn Grenz. I guess I always assumed that Carolyn's family was Mennonite since she came from Russia, as well, and I know a lot of Mennonite families migrated from South Russia. But, according to your website, the Grenz family were Lutheran and then Baptist. I don't know when Andrew met Carolyn. I know the Schrags had lived in Waldheim, Russia for about 38 years before they migrated to the United States and settled near Yankton, South Dakota.
Adolph John Graber and Rose A. Schrag had 9 children. Leta was the oldest born in 1909 and then came Della and next Violet; and Bill was the 2nd youngest, born in 1928. I can give you more details on birthdates and death dates for John and Rose Graber family. John Graber was born in Freeman, South Dakota in 1884 and Rose was born in Salem, Oregon in 1890. Rose Schrag's family moved to Springfield and then Junction City, Oregon. They went to Lind, Washington by covered wagon in 1900 and settled there with a lot of Schrag and Graber family. They started a church, the Menno Mennonite Church and there is a small cemetery near there; the Menno Mennonite Cemetery. The cemetery has 233 gravesites with the majority of them being relatives of my husband's. His mother and dad are buried there.

My mom's family were some of the first settlers in New York State; they were Holland Dutch (as my grandpa used to say). My dad's family were English and French. His 5th gr-uncle, Joshua Mersereau, was French and spied on the American side for George Washington during the Revolutionary War. There are numerous articles of correspondence between Joshua and George Washington at the Library of Congress.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1950 Oct 5 p. 6

Birth date: 1872 Jan 31

text of obituary:

CAROLYN J. SCHRAG

Carolyn J. Schrag, daughter of Adam and Louise Grenz was born in Litchtenfeld, Russia, Jan. 31, 1872.

She lost her mother at the age of 12. When she was 15 she came to America with her father and his family and located near Freeman, South Dakota. After a year the Grenz family moved to Jefferson, Oregon where she was baptized and received into the Mennonite church. She had received baptism as a child in the Lutheran church in Russia.

It was while they were in Oregon that she was united in marriage to Andrew J. Schrag on April 16, 1889, and they shared the joys, sorrows, and hardships of pioneer life for 49 years. In the summer of 1900 they with three other families came in covered wagons to the state of Washington, where they took up homesteading.

The union was blessed with eight children, the three youngest moving with the parents to Monroe in 1923 where they made their home until the time of their earthly departure. She remained an honorary member of the First Mennonite church of Monroe although because of health she was unable to attend.

She departed this life Sept 4, 1950, at the age of 78 years, seven months and four days, her husband having preceded her in death by 12 years.

She leaves to mourn her departure three sons, John of Portland, Ore., Leonard of Monroe, and Alvin of Snohomish, Wash; five daughters, Mrs. Adolph Graber of Odessa, Mrs. Charles Kauffman of North Newton, Kans., Mrs. Sam Wiese of Alberta, Can., Mrs. Carey Raymond of Everett, and Mrs. Herb Schwartz of Monroe, Wash.; also 30 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, five brothers, three sisters and a host of relatives and friends.

The services were conducted in Odessa by Rev. Geo. W. Kopper of Monroe and interment was in the Menno church cemetery.