File 3 - Abraham Schroeder sermons

Abraham Schroeder, minister and farmer, was born on August 23, 1845 in the Bergthal Colony, South Russia. He was the seventh of ten children born to Johann and Maria (nee Schellenberg) Schroeder. At the age of 13 his mother died and the following year his father married Maria Dyck. This was his father's third marriage and produced five more children one of whom was Jacob Schroeder who also became a minister. Schroeder's father, it has been written, was an interesting character who in addition to being a farmer and carpenter was also chief of police, fire chief, social worker and marriage councilor. Schroeder was baptized on June 8, 1864. He married Sara Dyck on September 20, 1864. Unfortunately Sara died just four years later leaving two young children, Elizabeth and Johann. In 1869 Schoeder married Katarina Dyck on July 6th and together they had one daughter, Katarina. Schroeder's family immigrated to Canada on the S.S. Nova Scotian in October 1874. They settled in Altbergthal where Schroeder was elected to the ministry on July 5, 1881 and ordained by Aeltester George Wiebe of the Chortitzer Church. During his years of service, Schroeder preached 640 sermons and officiated at approximately 176 funerals and 75 weddings. Abraham Schroeder died on December 29, 1907.