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Genealogy and family history
by Alf Redekopp
Recent Books
Kenneth L. Ratzlaff. A Family’s Mennonite History: The story of our Claassen, Epp, Harms, Koop, Neufeld, Plenert, Ratzlaff, Unruh and Warkentin Ancestry Volume 1 (Lawrence, KS: Private publication, 1997) 415 pp.
This book tells the story of the writer’s ancestor’s in the context of the Russian Mennonite History. It contains a section which sets the stage for the family history, a section which discusses the immigrants from the Russian Empire and a final section which contains ancestry and descendancy charts. Contact: Kenneth L. Ratzlaff, 2601 Belle Crest Dr., Lawrence, KS 66046. Email: kratzlaff@ukans.edu.
Helen Kornelson. Our Family Tree: Cornelsen – Kornelsen: The Johann Jacob Kornelsen Family 1884-1974 (Watrous, SK: Private publication, 1998) 212 pp.
This book tells the family history of Johann Jacob Kornelson (1884-1974) who lived in the Nepluew Mennonite settlement in Russia at one time. Later he lived in the village of Kusmitzky. He emigrated from the Soviet Union in 1929 with all but the oldest son, who was in state service at the time. They settled in Watrous, Saskatchewan in 1930. Contact: Helen Kornelson, Box 1194, Watrous, SK S0K 4T0.
Marianne Reimer Kennel. Descendants of Abram Froese 1754-1998 (Steinbach, MB: Private publication, 1998) 251 pp.
This book begins with Abram Froese (1854-1801) who migrated from Prussia with the first group of Mennonites to settle in Russia in 1788. He settled in Neuenberg, Chortitza Colony. The book consists of the history of 9 generations of descendants from this family. Almost the entire book has been formatted by software specifically designed for compiling a genealogy. Contact: Marianne Reimer Kennel, 4554 Fort Lynne, Harrisonburg, VA 22802 Email: emkennel@aol.com.
Herbert D. Peters. The Descendants of Daniel D. Peters 1749-1879 (Saskatoon, SK: Private publication, 1998) 416 pp.
This genealogy is a record of the descendants of Daniel Peters (1794-1879) and Katharina Hamm (1800-1839) and Helena Janzen (1816-1861). Daniel Peters was born in Prussia and came to the Molotschna Colony with his maternal grandparents. He married in the village of Schoensee and later moved to Ruekenau. After 1835 he moved north of the Old Colony and established his home and farming operation into what became known as Petersdorf. Petersdorf was later incorporated into the Yazykovo settlement. The book traces the descendants of the 11 out of 18 children which reached adulthood. Contact: Herbert D. Peters, 1420 Faulkner Crescent, Saskatoon, SK S7L 3R4.
Majorie Hildebrand. Elm Grove Farm: the story of the ancestors and descendants of Bernhard and Helena Hildebrand 1679-1998 (Winnipeg, MB: Private publication, 1998) 165 pp.
This book contains the family history of Bernhard G. Hildebrand (1901-1962) and his wife Helena Reimer (1908-1989). The book traces the Hildebrand ancestry back 4 generations to a Bernhard Hildebrandt family in Rosenort, Prussia. Through one of the maternal lines the ancestry is traced by to Christoph Lehn born in Holland in 1679, hence the dates in the title! The book includes the written memories of the 11 children of Bernhard and Helena Hildebrandt. There is also family tree which shows all the descendants of the grandparents of these children, namely the descendants of Gerhard Hildebrand (1876-1926) and Elisabeth Reimer (1878-1959). Contact: Anne Winter, 771 Coventry Road, Winnipeg, MB R3R1B8
Carl Epp. Gerhard Epp and Katharina Janzen (Winnipeg, MB: Private publication, 1998) 54 pp.
This item traces the descendants of Gerhard Epp (1864-1919) and Katharina Janzen (1868-1944) who came to Canada in 1893 and settled in the area that eventually was known as the Eigenheim district of Saskatchewan. Gerhard Epp was elected to the ministry in 1895, serving the newly organized Rosenorter Mennonite Church. Contact: Carl H. Epp, 7 Acadia Bay, Winnipeg, MB R3T 3J1.
J. Timothy Unruh. The Jacob C. and Elisabeth Bergen Unruh Family Record (Rocklin, CA: Private publication, 1998) 777 pp.
This book contains the family stories of the descendants of Jacob C. Unruh (1879-1943) and Elisabeth Bergen (1883-1978) of Newton, Kansas. The first part gives a historical overview of the times, places and events in the lives of the ancestors of this family. The second part deals with the birth of Elisabeth Bergen in Central Asia, the fate of those who stayed in Russia and early experiences in western Kansas. The third part includes a section on each of the 7 children and their descendants as well as a number of pedigree charts. Many excellent photographs are shown throughout the book. Contact: J. Timothy Unruh, Box 1034, Rocklin, CA 95677-1034.
Elaine Wiebe. The Family of Heinrich Wiebe (1830-1899) and Agantha (Penner) Wiebe (1831-1868) and Maria (Froese) Wiebe (1844-?) (Saskatoon, SK: Private publication, 1999) 198 pp.
This book contains the genealogy of the descendants of Heinrich Wiebe (1830-1899) who was born in Neuhorst, Chortitza Colony, Russia and immigrated to Canada in 1875 where he established his family in the Manitoba Mennonite West Reserve village of Rosengart. He was brother to the Elder Johann Wiebe, of Fuerstenland, who led the first group of Mennonite immigrants who arrived in the West Reserve. Some of his children moved west to Saskatchewan around the turn of the century and later on to Mexico. Contact: Elaine Wiebe, 24-1605 – 7th Street East, Saskatoon, SK S7H 0Z3.
Bert Friesen. The Kroeker Family Genealogy: The Ancestors and Descendants of Abram A. Kroeker and Elizabeth Nickel (Winnipeg, Man.: Private Publication, 1998) 93 p.
This monograph traces the descendants of Abram A. Kroeker (1892-1981) and his wife Elizabeth Nickel (1894-1981). The ancestry is given mainly for the Kroeker side although the Nickel side is shown on some of the charts and described briefly. A.A. Kroeker’s ancestor’s left Prussia in 1805 and initally settled in Fuerstenau, Molotschna Colony, Russia. Later the family moved to the Chortitza Colony. His parents came to Canada in 1876 where they settled in the village of Hoffnungsfeld, Manitoba near present day Winkler. Contact: Bert Friesen, 100 Dunvegan Street, Winnipeg, MB R2K 2H1.
Queries
Martens – Janzen: I am looking for information about Margarete Martens born in Neukirch, Molotchna, South Russia. She was married in Neukirch to Johan Johan Janzen in l883, and died in Kazakstan in l943. She had 3 sons and 3 daughters. Her husband died in l908. Ten years later she married Johan Groening who passed away 2 years later. She then married a Mr. Thiessen. Contact: Gredi Janzen, Email: jfriesen@mb.sympatico.ca
Ediger – Enns: I am searching for the descendants of Anna (Enns) Ediger (1852-1893); married 1873 to Johann Ediger. Their children were as follows: Aron b. 1875, Anna b. 1877, Katharina b.1880, Jacob b.1882, Johann b. 1884 and Eva b. 1887. Contact: Susan Suderman , 109-445 Yates Road, Kelowna, BC V1V 1Y4 or phone 250-763-3001.
Enns – Kroeker: Searching for the descendants of Margaretha (Enns) Kroeker (1869-?) born in Ekaterinoslov, Russia; married Oct. 22, 1887 to Isaac Kroeker. Margaretha’s brothers and sisters were: Anna (Enns) Ediger b. 1852, Katharina (Enns) Abrams b.1854, Jacob Enns b. 1856, Aron Enns b. 1858, Peter Enns b. 1861, Maria (Enns) Peters b. 1863, Heinrich Enns b. 1866. Contact: Susan Suderman, 109-445 Yates Road, Kelowna, BC V1V 1Y4.
Toews: I am looking for information on the parents of Wilhelm Toews b. 8 Nov. 1867 who died in 1964 and is reportedly buried in Grossweide Cemetery in the Plum Coulee area. He was married four times, first to Katharina Hiebert b. 2 Oct. 1877; then to Maria Hiebert b. 18 Oct. 1888; then to Susanna Kauenhowen b. 7 June 1881; then to Lena Hiebert b. 15 Sept. 1910. There were 19 children of this union. Contact: Vina Mayer Box 4008, RR#2, Clearwater, B.C. V0E 1N0 or Email: vimayer@mail.wellsgray.net.
Buhr: I would like to find the connection between my line of Buhrs and Buhrs documented in the book by Helen Regier entitled, The Jakob Buhr Family 1805-1977. Elizabeth Buhr (1854) daughter of the Bergthal delegate, Kornelius Buhr married into my line. Her husband was also a Kornelius Buhr, an older half-brother of my grandfather, Johann Buhr. The father of Kornelius and Johann was Erdman Buhr, 1818-1901, who migrated to Mountain Lake, Minnesota in the 1870’s. Contact: Lorne Buhr, 716 Knottwood Road S, Edmonton, AB T6K 1W5. Email: lbuhr@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca
Hillman: I am looking for information regarding my grandfather, William Hillman, b. ca.1896-98, Swift Current, SK. He claimed to have grown up in the Winkler, Manitoba area. He may have been an orphan raised by a family in Winkler. He married Rose Lawrence of Maple Creek, Saskatchewan in 1923 in Medicine Hat, Alberta. That is also where he died in 1954. Any information about him prior to 1923 would be greatly appreciated. Contact: Jon Hillman, 108 Hwy 33, Big Spring, TX 79720
Bergen – Klassen: We would appreciate any help in locating two Bergen families in Friedensfeld, Fernheim, Paraguay. Two Klassen daughters, Margarete und Elisabeth, married two Bergen brothers, Abram and Peter. They were the daughters of Franz Klassen and Margaretha Janzen. (Their mother was the daughter of Johan K. Janzen and Margaretha Dyck of Lichtfelde, Molotschna.) Sometime between 1925 and 1930 the Klassen family came to South America. A younger brother Franz Klassen may have moved to Brazil. We would like to find information about the descendants of these families. Contact: Please contact Dr. Harry Janzen, 6040-187A Street, Surrey, BC. (604) 576-6847 or Email janzen@direct.ca
Send inquiries to Alf Redekopp, 600 Shaftesbury Blvd., Winnipeg, MB R3P 0M4.
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Last modified October 31, 2000.
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