View source for Gerber, Samuel (1863-1929)

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Samuel Gerber, a son of Jacob and Catherine (Ropp) Gerber, was born near Carlock, [[McLean County (Illinois, USA)|McLean County]], [[Illinois (USA)|Illinois]], on 8 September 1863. As a boy he moved with his mother to the vicinity of Tremont, [[Tazewell County (Illinois)|Tazewell County]], Illinois. He was married to Magdalena Sears of Tiskilwa, Illinois on 30 December 1886. Two sons and three daughters were born to them. He was a member of the [[Pleasant Grove Mennonite Church (Tremont, Illinois, USA)|Pleasant Grove Amish Mennonite congregation]], near Tremont, was ordained to the ministry there on 2 May 1897, and ordained bishop 21 May 1911. He was also bishop of the Hopedale congregation 1921-1925, and a number of other congregations in the Western Amish Mennonite Conference. He served as secretary or assistant secretary of the [[Western District Amish Mennonite Conference|Western Amish Mennonite Conference]] 1902-1905 and 1908, assistant moderator 1911, 1912, and 1920, moderator 1913-1919. He was on the merger committee which effected the dissolution of Western A.M. Conference and the reorganization of Mennonite district conferences west of Indiana 1920-1921, moderator of the merged [[Illinois Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA) |Illinois Mennonite Conference]] 1925, secretary of the [[Mennonite Church General Conference|Mennonite Church General Conference]] 1907, and member of the first [[Illinois Mennonite Mission Board|Illinois District Mission Board]]. He was also active in evangelistic work. He was a farmer throughout his life near Groveland, Tazewell County, Illinois. He died 28 October 1929, and was buried in Pleasant Grove Mennonite Cemetery near Tremont.
= Bibliography =
Weber, Harry F. ''Centennial history of the Mennonites of Illinois, 1829-1929''. Goshen, IN: Mennonite Historical Society, 1931: 607.
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