MENNONITE HISTORIANPublished by the Mennonite Heritage Centre and the Centre for MB Studies in Canada Volume xx, No.2, Jwte, 1994

Peter, A Man of Stamina and Courageby A. E. Heidi Koop

Students and staff of the Deaf and Dumb School at liege, Molotschna (1913). Staff per­sons Include (back, I-r) Anna Brau(n), Anna Fast, Mr. H. Janzen, Mr. and Mrs. Froese(houseparents), Mr. J. Schroeder (treasurer), Mr. H. Peters and further to the right, Mr.Ab(ram) Unruh and Mr. W. Sudermann (extreme right further down). At the very back (1­r) a former student working as shoemaker, and Henry Wall, who emigrated to Canadaand became a minister, as well as a teacher at CMBC in Winnipeg. Photo: Courtesy ofAgathe Redekop, Abbotsford, BC (1984).

This is an excerpt taken from a longeressay in a book-length manuscript. PeterKoop, the suhject of this artie/e, was bornin Karassan, Crimea, Ukraine, and passedaway in Winnipeg on August 12, 1990.

It was a fabulous autumn evening in 1919when a horse-drawn carriage with a coach­man and three passengers in uniform (re­ferred to here as Boris, Paul and Michael)appeared on the estate of Peter Janzen, Pe­ter's uncle, at Kitaj. "Fellows of the WhiteArmy have come to spend the night," Juniordeclared quite naively. There was no reasonfor suspicion as far as he was concerned.But Peter was skeptical; too much baggage,and had they not come from the train stationBijuk-0nlar, 18 versts north of Kitaj?

The coachman appeared agitated andfrightened. Russians under such circum­stances tended to be fearful, while Germans,on the other hand, would have been inclinedto lash out. Unlike Junior, a son of PeterJanzen and overseer of the estate, the coach­man knew these guys were armed. He hadbeen forced to transport them to Kitaj. Heknew they were thieves. This was verifiedlater on by a search of their baggage. They

had plundered a business in Bejuk. As wasthe way of soldiers, the three did not inter­pret their thievery as stealing. Rather theysaw it as requisieren, (as their right to re­quest and make their own anything theydesired to possess). In actuality they werebandits pretending to be soldiers.

After inquiring as to their intent, Juniorfleetingly perused their documents, acknowl­edging them as valid. He then accepted thesestrangers as legitimate White Army soldiersand granted them permission to spend thenight. After all, they were of "our" army, soall were safe. Jakob Huebner and Peterbacked off suspiciously: let them be soldiersof the White Army on vacation wanting tostay the night and then move on the nextmorning... They returned to their chores.

Soon Peter and Jakob were ordered to va­cate their rooms for the night in order to ac­commodate the trio. As they were about toleave the room with some of their belong­ings including their rifles, Paul and Michaelwere already in the hall. Peter suspiciouslytook note of their eye movements as theyassessed the situation: fifteen doors - thatmust ha ve been an unusual setup from aRussian's viewpoint. He also noticed their

big eyes as they spotted the rifles. Michaelhad a conspicuously bandaged leg andcrutches. Boris was engaged in unloadingtheir loot. Peter kept a close eye on the scoun­drels. In his mind they were suspect; theirguns were not like those of the military.

After evacuating their room the boys re­turned to the bam. Even before the dinnerbell pealed a shot resounded. Unexplainable,but since it was in the back yard the boysignored it After a brief interlude another shotclose to the door leading into the house. Theyrushed to the bam door intending to enterthe house when a voice, in German, alertedthem not to leave the bam. They regrettednot having taken their rifles to the bam. TheRussian hired hands, some of whom hadbeen present during the first attack, were alsocautioned: "Beware! Don't leave the bam!"

Peter and Jakob could hardly endure thesuspense and uncertainty. They blamedOnkel Janzen for being so naive, for allow­ing the scoundrels into the house. They didnot spare him in their sharp criticism. Peterdisregarded the fact that he was his uncleand called him anything that came to mind."We're not done yet," Peter persisted. "Whoknows what we'll be in for before the day isover? And we are without weapons! Twoshots have already been fIred. That's not veryreassuring. Who else would shoot on thisestate, either we or these scoundrels?" Theywere unaware of the Selbstschutz surround­ing the estate - that's where the shots hadoriginated. Peter continued: "Onkel Peter, doyou have any further excuses? If at least youwould have put them up in the workers' quar­ters. Those quarters are only a few steps offthe kitchen. The girls could easily havewaited on them there."

But blame and deliberation did not helpthe situation. They were perplexed. Howcould they ever resolve the predicament?Peter was convinced that had the episode inthe end turned out differently than it actu­ally did, Onkel Janzen would not have sparedhis nephew either. Junior, meanwhile, becamedefensive, still insisting, "They are soldiersfrom the White Army, our protectors."

Meanwhile the Selbstschutz was out toget these scoundrels. After dropping off thetrio, the man who had brought them in hadleft the estate. On his return trip he had metthe Selbstschutz, alerted them to the prob-

(conl'd on page 2)

Page 2

Peter, A Man of Stamina andCourage(conJ'dfrompage 1)

tem, and directed them to Kitaj.The fruit orchard in the western quadrant

of the estate was surrounded by a seven­foot wall. Though guards were placed allaround, this section was only sparselymarmed. The guards had advanced right tothe workers' living quarters on the other side.Here they had fired warning shots.

According to military standards theSelbstschutz was well-organized and readyto do its duty. Orderly in their approach, withadequate alIU1lunition on hand, they first ap­proached the bam housing three hundredsixty oxen from the south side. They soondetected Boris in the back yard. Boris, be­coming aware of the danger as he noticedthe soldiers, bent forward and ran for hislife. But to no avail - the first shot downedhim.

Paul meanwhile had stationed himself onthe steps leading from the northwest cornerof the house into the garden, playing withhis belt while chatting through the open doorwith the maids in the kitchen. Coming aroundthe corner of the house, from the north, oneof the Selbstschutz men detected him. Abullet penetrated deeply into Paul's thigh andup into his abdomen. This was the secondshot Peter and Jakob had heard while in thebam. Paul dragged himself on all foursthrough the kitchen and along the hall to hisroom, leaving a trail of blood behind. Thenhe collapsed.

Michael was pacing the hallway - hiscrutches were nowhere in sight. Tante Janzenand her daughter-in-law were also there. See­ing his wounded brother, Michael totally losthis composure. In spite of the women's pro­tests he entered the room now housingJakob's and Peter's belongings - unfortu­nately the door had been left unlocked. Hegrabbed one of the guns with the colIU1lentthat he would protect the women. He disap­peared into the dark Garderobe, a closetwhere outer wear was hung and stored, andparked himself in the corner by the door lead­ing into a glass verandah which in turn ledto the front door.

By this time dusk had changed to pitchdarkness. Some of the guards met with Pe­ter, Jakob and Junior to plan their strategy.The happenings were briefly renewed and a

Peter Koop as student In 1921.

decision had to be made: Who should bethe first to enter the house? Two of the vil­lains must still be in the house. It seemedlogical that the guards, unfamiliar with thelayout of the building and hallways, remainoutside. They would also not have recog­nized family members. So who was ap­pointed? The smallest one, Peter. Junioragreed, of course. Peter protested, insistingthat since Junior had let the scoundrels intothe house, he ought to be the first to enter."I will not be the first," Peter objected force­fully. However, he did consent to follow Jun­ior. Should there be a bullet, Junior ought tobe the one to get it.

Forced to go, Junior finally entered thehouse making his way through the veran­dah to the Garderobe. He met his wife andmother in the dark hall discussing the situa­tion. Peter could easily have slipped by un­noticed, yet as he entered the corridor hequivered in all his limbs. Inadvertently hetwisted and turned, and in doing so noticedthe silhouette of Michael in the corner. Hewas armed. Lunging toward Michael, a fright­ened and anxious Peter grabbed the gun,twisted it out of Michael's hand and ilIU1ledi­ately recognized his own weapon. It ap­peared Michael had not expected this turnof events. Albeit not yet sixteen years of

age, Peter, now courageous and unafraid,bravely ordered Michael out of the building.Michael hesitated, but Peter's voice esca­lated in volume and intensity, while his fm­ger was already positioned on the trigger.Michael raised his hands, turned and fled,running right into the guard waiting for himoutside.

The lamps were lit and he house wassearched. Wounded Paul was treated as care­fully as possible. Peter had the privilege ofunbinding Michael's bandaged leg while oneof the guards looked on. It was a healthy legindeed. Not even a scratch could be de­tected.

Michael with his healthy leg and cany­ing his crutches, wounded Paul and deadBoris were loaded onto military vehicles andreturned to Bejuk with all their belongingsincluding the rusted guns. Paul apparentlydied enroute.

Following an adventuresome year on hisUncle Peter Janzen's estate, Peter's exit inthe spring of 1919 was all but uneventful. Hewas still only sixteen years old. The RedArmy was at the threshold of the Crimea. InMay the Janzens were advised to "pack upand leave the estate." Their belongings weretransported, under the direction of Junior, toEkibash, a neighbouring town sixteen verstsnorthwest of Kitaj where the Janzens werewell-known.

A pair of the strongest horses washitched to the covered wagon and Peter,rather than the coachman, was given the re­sponsibility of taking Onkel Janzen, his wife,his daughter and daughter-in-law to Ekibash.They chose to travel a roundabout way, paus­ing at the Ekibash well, hoping to remainadequately concealed. Meeting some peo­ple at the well they heard stories about theWhite Army's invasion of the town ofEkibash under the direction of GeneralWrangel.

They also saw some of the evidence ofthis attack. Once again Onkel Janzen wasovercome with restlessness and worry. Hedecided to take the family into town and toget rid of all conspicuously dangerous pos­sessions. Even Peter's reliable and last rifle,a "Brownie," had to go. It was tossed intothe well. (To be concluded)

Heidi Koop is a writer residing in Winni­peg, MB.

MENNONITE HISTORIAN is published by the Mennonite Heritage Centre of the Conference of Mennonites in Canada and the Centre for MennoniteBrethren Studies (Winnipeg) of the Canadian Conference of MB Churches. Editors: Lawrence Klippenstein (MHCA) and Abe Dueck (CMBS). Allcorrespondence and unpublished manuscripts should be sent to the editorial office at 600 Shaftesbury Blvd., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3POM4 (Phone 204-888~781)or 1·169 Riverton Ave., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R2L 2E5 (Phone 204~69~575). SUbscription rates: $8.00 per year.Individual subscriptions may be ordered from these addresses. Periodical number: ISSN 0700 8066.

GENEAI...OGY AND FAMILY msroRY

by AIfRedekopp

QUERIES

Alexanderkrone: Can anyone send meinfonnation on this village in the MolotschnaColony? Contact: Brenda Dueck, 49 ArbourCliffCloseN.W., Calgary, AB T3G 3W5

Beier: I am looking for infonnation onJohann Beier m. Marie Ratzlaff. He lived inWaldheim, MoIotschna and died in 1897.Children: Helen Beier Nickel, b. 25 Oct, 1852,m. Jacob Nickel ~ Anna Beier Wiens, b. 6 Jan.,1954, m. Jacob Wiens; Susanna Beier Kliewer,b. 3 Oct., 1857, m. Peter Kliewer; KatherineBeier Regier, b. 22 Nov., 1864, m. CorneliusRegier. Contact: Donovan Wall, Apt. 20 I,4502-58th Ave., Brooklyn Centre, MN, 55429­2931, USA.

Friesen: I am looking for infonnation onthe family and ancestors of minister FranzGoerz 1820-190 I from Rudnerweide, Russia.Contact: Wilma Turner, 79 Glen Park Road,St. Catharines, ON L2N 3G I.

Isaac, Dr. John: I am researching thethemes of refugee escape routes and reset­tlement of Russian Germans (also Menno­nites) who were able to get to Harbin, China,1929-1931. A Dr. John Isaac and his wife wereable to help many to obtain immigrant per­mits to the USA. Does anyone have infor­mation about the Isaac family and their 3children: Konstantin, Waldemar andMargaret? Did any of them come to NorthAmerica? Contact: Wilmer A. Harms, 2904-BIvy Dr., North Newton, KS 67117, USA.

Martens: Looking for the names of theparents of David Martens b. 3 Feb., 1820, d.8 Aug., 1880, and married to KatharinaDoerksen b. 2 Oct., 1820, d. 7 Dec., 1909. Oneof their children, Justina (Wall) was born IINov., 1842 in Neuendorf, Chortitza Colony.David Martens homesteaded in Schoenfeld,West Reserve, Manitoba. Contact: QueenieMartens, 4435 Cascade Drive, Vernon, BCVIT8J7.

Schellenberg: Can anybody provide in­fonnation about the Soviet-Mennonite au­thor David Schellenberg? He was a success­ful writer in Soviet Union until Stalin cmckeddown on intellectuals in 1935 and sent himto Siberia. Did any of his sisters or brothersemigrate to Canada or the USA? His mother,originally from Armenia, was a Gennan lan­guage student in Moscow before she wasdeported to Siberia. His son, Arkadi Schel­lenberg, presently living in Germany, wasseven years old in 1953 when his father died.After David's death his mother moved tothe Georgian Republic with her two children.

Only after glasnost did Arkadi learn that hisfather had a Mennonite background. Arkadihas emigrated to Germany and decided thathe too would like to be Mennonite. Contact:Harold Otto bei Schmidt, Prenzlauer Allee209, Germany orE-mail address: 100336,3575compuserv. com.

Weier: I would like information about theancestors of Abram Weier and ? Schoenke,the parents of Abmm Weier (1874-1943) ofTiegerweide, Russia. He married KatharinaKlassen, the daughter of minister DietrichKlassen and Anna(?) Klein. Contact: Wl1maTurner, 79 Glen Park Road, St. Catharines,ONL2N3GI.

BOOK NOTES

Bert Friesen, Faith-Love-Hope:Schoenfeld-Ens (Winnipeg, MB: DunveganPublishing, 1994) hdc., 221 pp.

This book traces the family history ofJohn Schoenfeld (1931- ) and his wife AnneEns Schoenfeld (1935- ) of Winnipeg, Mani­toba. The book includes sections on the Ens,Schoenfeld, Lehn, Penner, Funk and Tessmanfamilies. The Lehn family ancestry tracesback to Christoph Lehn (1679-1771) ofDanzig. The Ens family traces back to JakobEns (1828-1905) who lived in Neuendorf,Chortitza. The Funk family traces back to aHeinrich Funk who flfst married MargarethaKlassen (1782-1813) and then married aHelena Barkman (1795-1827). The Pennerfamily begins with Heinrich Penner (1802­1843) who died in Schoenhorst, Russia. TheSchoenfeld family begins with FranzFerdinand Johan Schoenfeld who lived inJosephstal not far from Ekaterinoslav,Ukraine. The Tessman family traces back toNicholas Tessman (1897-1992). A compre­hensive index at the end of this book makesit easy to filld specific individuals.

This book was produced using geneal­ogy software currently being distributed bythe Winnipeg Genealogy Committee of theManitoba Mennonite Historical Society.Contact: Bert Friesen, 100 Dunvegan St.,Witmipeg, MB R2K 2H I.

Gerhard Hamm and Bernhard Hamm, EineFami/ie mit aber 700 Kindern (Grofiwall­stadt: Bibel-Mission, 1993) pb., 218 pp.

The focus of this book is on one branchof the Hamm family which tmces back toMartin Hamm born in 1690 in West Prussia.This branch is that of Abram Hamm (1874­1937) who first married Anna Hein (1877­1907) in 1897 and then married KatharinaPeters (1888- ) in 1908. The surviving de­scendants of Abram Hamm numbered 702 in1992 and hence the title of this book.

Page 3

This book begins with a description ofthe life of the earlier ancestors of this family.Then it continues with a collection of thepersonal memories of the twenty-one chil­dren of Abram Hanun. Some interesting fam­ily photos are also included, such as that ofa grandson Viktor Hamm who has workedwith Evangelist Billy Graham or GerhardHamm with US Astronaut Geneml CharlesDuke. Contact: Gerhard Hamm, Lessingstr.II, 53913 Swisttal-Heimerzheim, Germany.

Jacob W. and Hilda 1. Born, To be Born:Episodes in the Life of the Born Fllmily:Wilhelm Jucob Born: Jucob Wd/ia:m Born(Matsqui, B.C.: Imprint Press Publishers,1991)pb.,140pp.

This book is a collection of experiencesfrom the life ofWllhelm 1. Born (1897-1969),and his eldest son, Jacob W. Born (1927 - )who lived in Alberta from 1927 till 1946 whenthey moved to B.C. Wilhelm 1. Born was bornin Herzenburg, Russia and married KaterinaDueckmann who was born in Alexandertal,Russia. Jacob W. Born, co-author of thisbook, was born near Sedalia, Alberta, justsix months after his parents arrived fromRussia. Many photographs, both in colourand Black and White, having been repro­duced using a colour photocopier, enhancethis publication. Contact: Jacob W. and HildaBorn, 21-3055 Trafalgar St., Abbotsford, BCV2S4N3.

Diana Loewen, Family History ofHeinrich John Loewen (Calgary, AB: Pri­vate publication, 1994) pb., 48 pp.

This book traces the ancestors ofHeinrich John Loewen (1906- ) back fourgenerations (complete except in one case)and sometimes five or six genemtions. It alsogives family records, beginning with Loewenand his wife Vern May Webster (1902-1970),going as far back as the family tree shows.Contact: Diana Loewen, Apt. 101, 2131 17thSt.SW, Calgary, AB T2T 4M5.

Victor Goossen, ed., Fratl1. Froese (1825­1913) and Anna Braun (18#-1908) Fam­ily Register (Rosenort, MB: Prairie ViewPress, 1994) pb., 320 pp.

Here is a set of family registers of the de­scendants of Fmnz Froese and Arma Bmunto the present. Their people were among the1870s emigrants to Canada. The infonnationis organized into families and generationsby a numbering system. There is also an in­dex of names. A few clippings and reminis­cences are included. Contact: Prairie ViewPress, Box 160, Rosenort, MB ROO IWO.

Send inquiries to Aif Redekopp, CMBS,1-169 Riverton Ave., Winnipeg, MBR2L 2£5.

Page 4

MENf\JOr!!M<IT~E CENTRE6OO,Shaft..burv Blvd, Winnipeg,Manitoba.Canada R3P OM4

Recent Acquisitions

1. Ten cartons ofcongregational records fromSterling Mennonite Fellowship, Winni­peg, MB. Brought inby Pastor Norm Voth.

2. Forty LP recordings by Mennonitemusic groups. Included a set of eightrecordings, Liederschatz, by theMennonitischer Mannerchor of Winni­peg. Courtesy of Anne Schmidt,Nettie Rogalski, and John Friesen, all ofWinnipeg, MB.

3. Einlage - The Village that Vanished byCatherina Martens-Berg nee Hildebr?ncl(1991), manuscript, pb., 50 pp. Court(.S'j

ofGerhard Ens, Winnipeg, MB.4. Photocopy of the 1565 editors of

Rechenschaffetbuch von den Leer undGlallbens von den Bradern so man dieHlltterischen nent by P. Rydeman(Riedeman). 190pp. Courtesy ofJohn Friesen, CMBC.

5. Materials from Conference ofMennon­ites in Manitoba. One carton papersplus three cartons books. Courtesy ofJohn Wiebe and Alice Pound, CMM of­fice.

6. English translation ofDos verlorene Kind,done by Justina Funk. Courtesy ofAdolfEns. CMBC.

7. Duplicates of several thousand pages offmanciaI and emigration records fromMennonites in Mexico. Courtesy ofBruceWiebe, Wmlder, MB.

8. Negatives of 15 photos by Peter Rempel,Moscow. Related to research on hisgrandfather, the late Peter PetrovichRempel. Courtesy ofMCC, Akron, PA,and Herb with Maureen Klassen,Abbotsford, BC.

9. Fifteen rolls ofmicrofilm ofDutch Men­nonite materials found in the Mennonitearchives at Amsterdam, The Netherlands.Courtesy ofBethel College, N. Newton,KS, and John Friesen, CMBC.

10. A collection of papers and numerousvolumes from the library ofRev. JacobToews of Winnipeg, MB. Courtesy ofDorothy Keizer, Winnipeg, MB.

Bethel Place (Winnipeg) Golden Brushes Club members who have mounted a paintingsexhibition at the Mennonite Heritage Centre for May - July. Bottom right: Neil Fehr (LoonMagic Gallery, Winkler, MB), instructor. Photo: Courtesy of Esther Peters, Winnipeg,coordinator of the group.

Jacob E. Friesen (left), Hague, Saskatchewan, received special recognition as a localhistorian at a meeting of the Mennonite Historical Society of Saskatchewan held on April29, 1994. Also on the photo are Dick Epp (centre), chairperson of MHSS and John Nickel,board member, making a presentation on behalf of Mennonite Heritage Centre. Photo:Courtesy of Frank Letkeman, Rosthern, SK.

Members of the CMM History Committee working on a history of the Conference ofMennonites In Manitoba. Seated (I-r) Henry Loewen, general secretary, Gerhard Ens;Anna Ens, author; Betty Dyck; Lawrence Klippenstein, MHCA consultant. Standing (I-r)Frank J. Neufeld, chairperson; Henry J. Gerbrandt; John Dyck, research assistant; PeterRempel. Photo: Courtesy of Frank J. Neufeld, Winnipeg, MB.

Celebrating 50 Years ofMB InstitutionsbyAbe Dueck

This year and in the next several years anwnber of Canadian Mennonite Brethren in­stitutions are celebrating their fiftieth alIDi­versaries. The years 1944-46, at the end ofthe World War II, were years when highschools were fOWlded in at least three prov­inces. I

The Mennonite Educational Institute inClearbrook, British Colwnbia, was foundedin 1944. Its supporting constituency waspredominantly, although not exclusively,MelIDonite Brethren, and it became the larg­est Mennonite school in Canada.

In 1945 several other MelIDonite Breth­ren high schools were founded. One wasEden Christian College in Niagara-on-the­Lake, Ontario. 2 Another one was the Men­nonite Brethren Collegiate Institute in Will­nipeg, Manitoba. In fact, a high school cur­riculum was already being offered by theMelIDonite Brethren Bible College in 1944­45, but a separate high school was seen asnecessary. (A series of events as well as apublication are being plarmed to celebratethe alIDiversary ofMBCI in 1994-95.) A thirdhigh school was established in 1945 inYarrow, British Colwnbia and named SharonMelIDonite Collegiate Institute. It closedbriefly in 1950 and then reopened at a newlocation in Yarrow in 1951 where it operateduntil 1970.

In 1946 another high school (predomi­nantly ME) was established in Coaldale,Alber1a. It was named the Alber1a Mermon­ite High School and continued to operateuntil 1964. Also in 1946, a high school cur­riculum was added to the Steinbach BibleSchool (now Steinbach Bible College), aschool which was founded in 1931 and whichhad significant Mermonite Brethren involve­ment in its early years.

It is interesting to note that it was mainlythe Mennonite Brethren who establishedhigh schools in this period, although somewere operated by societies which includedmembers of several denominations. Only twoor three other MC1IDonite high schools werebegun in those years - the United Mennon­ite Educational Institute in Leamington, On­tario (opened by Conference of Mennonitesin Canada congregations in 1945), RockwayMermonite School in Kitchener, Ontario(opened by (Old) Mermonites (now Me) in1945, and Menno High School in Sardis, Brit­ish Columbia. The sponsorship of the latteris not clear. It offered Grades 7-10 in 1946-47

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--- 1'\- .... - .----::-~--1'\... .... ..' t". f\... .,. '\ I)" )

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Top: The main building on the Virgil BibleSchool campus. It had three classroomsand a dining room In the basement.Bottom: Sketch for a proposed new schoolbUilding. The school was located near thetown of Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON. Photo:Courtesy of CMBS.

and 7-11 in 1947-48. Then it closed perma­nently, a move caused by financial difficul­ties and the major flood in 1948. 3

In addition to the high schools whichwere opened from 1944-46, the MennoniteBrethren also launched another major edu­cational institution in 1944. That was theMelIDonite Brethren Bible College, begun asan "advanced Bible school" in October, 1944.Mennonite Brethren communities had al­ready established many Bible schools in theprevious decades, beginning with theHerbert Bible School in 1913. Most of theMennonite Brethren Bible schools were es­tablished in the late 1920s and in the 1930s,and only two in the 1940s (Black Creek in1942 and East Chilliwack in 1947). The movetoward advanced Bible training was not,however, simply a vertical move; it was alsoa horizontal move toward a more broadly­based education. The curriculwn of the Bi­ble College from the begilIDing included vari­ous non-religious subjects in the social sci­ences, hwnanities, music, etc. Therefore themotives for the establishment of highschools were not always that far removedfrom the forces that led to the founding ofthe Bible College.

Much work still needs to be done to in­terpret the establishment of these schools,and to place these events in the larger con­text of the Mennonite Brethren experiencein Canada. There were some obvious rea­sons for the different developments amongMelIDonite Brethren and other MelIDonites,but other factors may still need to be ex­plored.

Page 5

C Centre forM MennoniteB BrethrenS Studies in Canada

1-169 Rivenoo Ave., WlnnJpeg, MD, Cao.<b R21. 2ES

The various anniversary events and sto­ries that are or will be written will enrich ourunderstanding of the issues that were thedriving force behind the establishment ofthese institutions. Together they could be­come the basis for a broader interpretationand understanding of that period of our his­tory.

Endnotes

I The author wishes to acknowledge helpreceived from a manuscript in preparationfor the third volume of Mennonites inCanatkl by Ted Regehr.

2 The school was initially operated as theHigh School Department of the Virgil Bi­ble School.

3 Mennonitische Lehreneitung (June1949):5.

Recent Acquisitions

1. One file entitled "Morija" containing theresearch notes for the article with this ti­tle published in Sophia in 1993. Donatedby the author Dora Dueck, WlIUlipeg, MS.

2. Thieleman lv.Braght, Der blutige Schau­platz. Mtirthyrer-Spiegel... (Elkhart, IN:John F. Funk, 1870). Donated by HaroldJantz, Wumipeg, MS.

3. One video recording of the 1984 CanadianConference service celebrating the Que­bec Conference joining the Canadian MSConference.

4. Manitoba ME Conference records of thesecretary (1988-1991) consisting of 30 emtextual records. Donated by Fred Wiens,Wmnipeg, MS.

5. Sixteen colour photographs (9x13cm) de­picting five MelIDonite Brethren congre­gations in Germany among the recent im­migrants from Russia. Donated by JohnN. Klassen, Germany.

6. One photocopy of a map of Durango Kolo­nie, Mexico. Donated by Gerhard Friesen,Wumipeg, MS.

7. Records of the Canadian ME Conferenceminister 1980-1990 consisting of 36 emtextual records transferred from the Ca­nadian Conference Offices.

Peter Hiebert, Steinbach and John Rempel, Altona (Halbstadtt examine rare document.at the Stories of the Past workshop held In Altona on April 30. We are sorry to have toinform our readers that John passed away on May 20, 1994. He was co-author with BillHarms of two important volumes dealing with homestead maps In the former East andWest Reserves and was deeply Involved In other historical activities as well. Photo:Courtesy of Elmer Heinrichs, Altona, MB.

Page 6

Stories From the PastWorkshop in Altona

by Elmer Heinrichs

Stories from the past: the founding ofAltona 1875-1900, the Mennonite CollegiateInstitute - a pioneer school, and pioneerhealth care on the West Reserve were dealtwith at a Manitoba Mennonite Historical S0­ciety local history committee workshop heldat Altona, Manitoba on April 30. In openingcomments, history committee chairman JohnDyck welcomed participants from as far asWinnipeg and Steinbach suggesting itshould be "an encouragement for the resto­ration of family and community history."

Longtime hospital administrator OttoHamm (Morden) presented a paper on pio­neer health care on the Mennonite West Re­serve, while Gerhard Ens (Winnipeg), forthirty-three years a student, faculty memberand principal ofthe Gretna MCI, made a pres­entation on "The MCl: A Pioneer School."

Mennonite Heritage Centre director Law­rence Klippenstein traced the beginning ofAltona from the origin of Darp Aultneiv inthe late 1800s to the first decade of the adja­cent town of Altona, now planning to cel­ebrate its centennial in 1995.

Three key developments shaped the birthand early development of the town, saidKlippenstein. These were the coming andgrowth of the railways, the Mennonite mi­gration of 1874-1880, and Wmnipeg's in be­coming the capital of Manitoba andWinnipegs "boom period."

Much of the eastern part of the WesternReserve, a second Mennonite reserve westof the Red River nestled against the Canada­U.S. border, received Mennonites who ar­rived there after first settling down north andeast of the Rat River, an area then known asthe East Reserve.

The first flurry of building in the townoccwred in 1895. Soon three elevators stoodon its streets - Lake of the Woods, Ogilvie'sand a third by Peter and John Schwartz (sonsof Johann Schwartz of the village of Altona.)

Businesses flourished and in its frrst yearsAltona was basically "a service town for afarming community. Blacksmiths, lumbermerchants and machinery dealers served atleast ten villages within a four-mile radius ofthe town, with another ten villages locatedwithin a six-mile radius.·

Hamm, a former administrator of hospi­tals at Altona and Morden, said in his talkthat the early settlers "relied on chiropractors(trachtmaocka) and midwives, when avail­able, for medical help. Some of these had

some training, but most were self-taught."Mrs. 1. 1. Wall of Altona was one of the

midwives who assisted at many births. Af­ter their mother died in 1910 two Siemens'sisters went into nurses' training and in 1915established their own nursing home inAltona. This service continued till the mid­thirties. One of the first doctors in Altona,added Hamm, was a lady, Susan Isaak, whopractised here from 1895-1900. The frrst hos­pital in rural Manitoba was built in Mordenby the Free Masons about the same time.

While Gretna has had doctors in theircommunity since 1883, one of the first Men­nonite doctors, Dr. C. W. Wiebe, began apractice in Winkler in 1925. Ten years laterhe became a strong proponent of a hospitalto be ,built in Winkler. In Altona a hospitalopened in a renovated home in 1936, with anew hospital dedicated in 1948, said Hamm.

Ens informed the workshop participantsthat between 1891 and 1921 enrolment in theMennonite Educational Institute (after 1908,the Mel) averaged 40, ranging from a low ofI3 to almost 90 in 1915.

The school was conceived and begun byprogressive elements of West Reserve Men­nonites, many of whom had found a spir­itual haven in the Bergthaler Church. It pro­moted the use of English in Mennoniteschools, the common language of most peo­ple. "At the same time,· said Ens, "it soughtnew ways of adapting and still perpetuatingthe Mennonite faith. Principal H. H. Ewert'spolicy produced Mennonite teachers well­trained in English and Mennonite beliefs fordistrict schools. Thus emerged a system ofpublicly-supported schools, separate in all

but name."This early policy, in place from about 1891

to 1907, produced Mennonite teachers well­versed in English and German and deeplyMennonite in conviction. These individualslater stepped into the district schools forcedon the Mennonites; they helped to keepthem Mennonite, said Ens.

After World War I the MCI was a pioneerschool again, this time pioneering in the con­servative sense, one of the primary bulwarksof cultural conservatism, in particular theretention of German.

Elmer Heinrichs is a writer residing inAltona, MB.

Events to Come

Anniversary - The Arnaud MennoniteChurch will celebrate its 50th anniversary onJuly 30-31. Registration will begin on Satur­day at 2:00 p.m. An old-fashioned auctionsale will begin at 3:00 p.m Supper will follow.Services will be held on Sunday morning andevening. A history book will be available.For further information call Art Kathler at427-2582 in Arnaud or Art Toews at (204)475-3615 in Wmnipeg.

Reunion - A Klippenstein reunion will beheld in Altona, Manitoba on Tuesday, July25, 1995. All relatives in the clan are invited.For further information call Ted Friesen at324-5018 in Altona or write to him at Box 720,Altona, ME ROO OBO.

Reunion - Otterbwne, ME. has been cho­sen for a reunion by the Loeppkys of Strass­berg - dit Sied and jant Sied (both sides of

A semlln at the Pembina Threshermen's Museum, Winkler, of the type built by earlyMennonite families in the East Reserve and West Reserve. The Mennonite MemorialLanding Site Association is erecting a park at the fork of the Rat and Red Rivers to recallthe arrival of these Manitoba pioneers in the 1870s. Donations for this project may bemailed to MMHS, 1-169 Riverton Ave., Winnipeg, MB R2L 2ES. They must be designatedLanding Site Donation. Tax deductable receipts will be issued. Photo:Courtesy of ElmerHeinrichs, Altona, MB.

the Red River) in 1995. The time for the reun­ion, to be held on the campus of ProvidenceCollege, has been moved forward one weekto the July 15-16 weekend. For further infor­mation contact Elmer Heinrichs, Box 1106,Altona,MB ROGOBO,Ph. (204)324-5281.

Symposium - "Anabaptist Visions in the20th Centwy: Ideas and Outcomes." Thesessions will be held at Goshen College,Goshen, Indiana from October 13-15, 1994.Registration will be at 5:30 p.m. on Thurs­day, Oct. 13. For further information con­tact Dr. Albert Keim at (703) 432-4468 or(703) 433-0543, or the Centre for MB Stud­ies, Wmnipeg, (204) 669-6575.

Book ReviewHeinrich Goerz, The Molotschna S~lemenJ,

Trans. by Al Reimer and John B. Toews(Winnipeg: CMBC Publications and theManitoba Mennonite Historical Society,1993). pb., 252 pp. $18.00 CAN.

Reviewed by Abe Dueck

This volume is the fifth in the series oftranslations of the Echo Verlag series. Asthe translators state, Goetz's book fonns thecentrepiece of the series and thus it makes avery valuable contribution to our under­standing of Russian Mennonitism.

Although the book focuses on theMolotsclma Mennonite settlement, and thusis narrower in scope than a book like PeterM. Friesens The MennoniJe Brotherhoodin Russia (1789-1910), the reader soon feelsthat the Molotsclma experience is presumed

to capture the essence of the entire Men­nonite experience in Russia. The book is"triumphalist" not only in its point of viewregarding the development of the Mennon­ite commonwealth in Russia, but also in itsimplicit understanding of Molotschna in thecontext ofMennonitism in Russia as a whole.

Although Goerz's primary interest mayhave been in the religious and ec<;lesiasticalaspects of Mennonite life, he does providea great deal of information on various otherfacets of life, including education, agricul­ture, industry, and culture. His sources wereevidently quite limited, and he quotes sec­ondary works like Friesen's extensively anduncritically. Much information also comesfrom his own personal experiences and thepersonal accounts of others. Goerz was ob­viously someone who had mastered the artof story-telling, even though he could nothave known what might be demanded of aprofessional historian. One of his conclud­ing statements is particularly revealing in thisrespect (pp. 247-48):

Again and again I reminded myself thatJ was writing history - and history is, aboveall, a factual account, an objective presen­tation of what has happened.

Fortunately for us, Goerz unconsciously

Page 7

did much more than that. He gave us a senseof the drama of unfolding events, his ownpersonal pride in the Mennonite accomplish­ments, as well as the trawna associated withthe decline and faU of the Mennonite com­monwealth.

The translators must be commended formaking the book very readable. Seldom doquestions about the nature of the transla­tion emerge. Two relatively minor instancesmight be noted. In one case (pp.20-21) theGerman term Kaiser is translated "Emperor"and "Tsar" within the same quotation. Thetranslation of Kirchenkonvent as "GeneralAssembly" seems inappropriate, since it wasmore like a Council of Church Leaders (p.76).

Most of the pictures in the original vol­WIle are retained, while substitutions and ad­ditions are made at other points. Questionsmight be raised about the omission of pic­tures relating to the Great Trek (pp. 244-47).The edi torial footnotes make an excellentcontribution.

The translation also has a selected bibli­ography and glossary. The Preface is reallymuch more than a usual preface. It is in facta very excellent, albeit short, interpretiveessay which should be read very carefullyby every reader.

The Molotschna Settlement is a bookthat belongs on the shelf of anyone inter­ested in the Russian Mennonite story.

Abe Dueck is Director of the Centre for MEStudies in Winnipeg, ME.

MMHS Board MeetsThe MMHS Board met on April 12 at

Grace Mennonite Church, Wmlder. The fol­lowing positions were approved for 1994:Executive - Bert Friesen (president), RichardThiessen (vice-president), LawrenceKlippenstein (secretary), Alf Redekopp(treasurer) and Adolf Ens (member at large);Membership and Publicity - RichardThiessen (chair), AIf Redekopp and BertFriesen; Genealogy - Hans Werner (chair),Alf Redekopp, Evelyn Friesen, and AbeHoeppner; Research and Pub6cation • AbeDueck (chair), Adolf Ens and VictorDoerksen; Local History and Memorials ­Jolm Dyck (chair), Bruce Wiebe, Ed Falk, OttoHamm, Bill Harms, John Rempel and AbeLoewen; Financeffreasurer - AIfRedekopp.

The Research and Publication committeereported that the next Echo Verlag publica­tion by CMBC Publications will be the biog­raphy of Johann Comies. The Local HistoryCommittee reported that the Reinillnder

(cont'd on page 8)

PageS

BOOK REVIEWS

Dick, Harold 1. Lawyers ofMennonite Back­ground in Western Camlda Before the Sec­ond World War. (Wmnipeg, MB: Legal Re­search Institute of the University of Mani­toba, 1993), pb., 163 pp., $19.95 CAN.

Reviewed by De/bert F. Plett

In the words of the author this work"examinees) two cultures as they existed inWestern Canada during the period between1870 and 1940, ...the Mennonites and the le­gal profession." This study was completedas part of a Master's Thesis at the Faculty ofLaw, University of Manitoba, under the aus­pices of Professor Alvin Esau.

The thesis is divided into two parts. Thefirst part is intended to provide a theoreticaland historical background to the study. I willrestrict myself to two comments on this sec­tion.

Firstly, the author has not referred to thenew source materials which have recentlybeen published regarding Kanadier Men­nonites, for example, the publications of theHanover Steinbach Historical Society andthe studies by Dr. Royden K. Loewen. HadMr. Dick looked at Profile of the KleineGemeinde 1874 (1987, pp.61 and 68), hewould have found some of the earlier Rus­sian history of Wilhelm Vogt (b. 1842), thefather of two of the lawyers later referred toin the study.

Secondly, Dick has chosen to beg thequestion in the opening quotation. To un­derstand the relationship between Mennon­ites and the legal profession, it must be rec­ognized that the Ukrainian Mennonites whocame to Canada had an awareness of a legalsystem that was probably more sophisticatedand equitable than that of their host society.Many individuals were involved in lawyer­related activities such as the Waisenamt, andthe BrandtJItester who ran large institutionscomplete with legal machinery to handle es­tates and fire insurance claims. Also, therewere a nwnber of notary publics, such as mygreat-great uncle Abraham S. Friesen (1848­1917) in Steinbach, who were active convey­ancers and estate attorneys.

The impact which Mennonites have hadon the legal system and culture of Manitobaand the other western provinces during theyears of the study would only come to lightfrom a study of these individuals and insti­tutions. Mr. Dick has chosen to study onlythose individuals actually practising law aslawyers thereby restricting the same to indi­viduals who were no longer part of the criti­cal mass of their own communities.

The second part of the thesis consists ofbiographies of seven lawyers of Mennonitebackground who practised in Saskatchewanand Manitoba: Abraham Buhr (1880-1960),Henry Vogt (1886-1968), David Vogt (1900­1979), Peter Hooge (1886-1963), JohnEverette Friesen (1895-1987), ErdmannFriesen (1904-1969), and Elmer AbrahamDriedger (1914-1985). Five of these men wereinterrelated: the Vogts were brothers andHenry Vogt was married to Buhr's sister. Thetwo Friesens were father and son.

Four of these men had quite distinguishedlegal careers. Buhr had a successful law prac­tice in Morse, Saskatchewan. Hooge prac­tised in Rosthern, Saskatchewan, where heserved a term as the local MLA. In 1948 hewas appointed a provincial judge. John E.Friesen practised in Swift Current, Saskatch­ewan, serving as mayor of the city from 1953­54. He was appointed to the Federal Benchin 1957 and Queen's Counsel in 197\.Driedger practised in Yorkton, Saskatchewan,and was appointed King's Counsel in 1949.He became Deputy Attorney-General ofCanada in 1960.

The seven men were all 1870s Mennoniteimmigrants to Manitoba or their descend­ants. Buhr and the Friesens were fromBergthaler background and the Vogts andDriedger were from Altkolonier or ChortitzaColony background. Hooge was born in theMolotschna settlement but had moved tothe Old Colony prior to the immigration. TheKleine Gemeinde, the smallest of the threedenominations to settle in Manitoba duringthe I870s, and the RufJltinder, i. e. Mennon­ites who came to Canada during the 1920s,were not represented in this group.

Dick has brought forth some interestingobservations regarding these men. None ofthe seven were formally associated with theMennonite church. Six of them attended theMennonite Collegiate Institute in Gretna andfour had parents who were active support­ers of the school.

Delbert F Plett, Q. c., is a lawyer and au­thor residing in Steinbach, MB.

Epp, Reuben. The Story ofLow German andPlauJdietsch. Tracing a Language Acrossthe Globe. (Hillsboro, KS: The Reader'sPress, 1993) pb., 130 pp., $12.95 US.

Reviewed by Ken A. Braun

For those readers who know Reuben Eppthrough his recordings of short stories andanecdotes in Plautdietsch, here is ReubenEpp the scholar, the linguist and the pioneerwho has researched, as he states in his pref-

ace, "the history ofLow German and its rela­tionship to the English language." The factthat this study is "interesting and enjoyable"is an understatement when one realizes hehas given us a cultural, political and socialoverview of medieval times stretching backto 500 A. D. and moving us to the present.

Each chapter deals with a particular pe­riod in Low German history: the Anglo-Saxonroots, the Middle Low German period, theera of the Hansa trading centres governedby the Teutonic Order of Knights, and themodem Low German period from about 1850.

In good academic fashion, each chapteris summarized and completed by extensiveendnotes. Six maps and two schematics en­hance the clarity of a rather complex subjectby showing regions of Low German cultureand Germanic language groupings. Speechcharacteristics and dialectical differences aredealt with thoroughly, including four andone-half pages of words in English, LowGerman and Plautdietsch which are identi­calor similar.

Epp's impassioned plea is that we needto study and promulgate Plautdietsch inNorth America just as scholastic and liter­ary activities in Low German are widespreadin Germany as well as at the University ofGroningen in The Netherlands.

Mennonites have already carried this oralculture across continents making it a crea­tive, expressive and adaptable dialect widelyused by creative, expressive and adaptablepeople.

Ken Braun is a farmer who resides nearAltona, MB.

MMHS Board Meets(cont'djrom page 7)

Gemeinde Buch is now in the final proof­reading stage and will go to the printer in thenext few months. They also reported thatthe West Reserve Settlement Register of1880 has been entered on the computer aswell. Additional information is being com­piled for each family in the register. Thisdocument is expected to be ready for print­ing in 1995.

In other news, the society has agreed tobe a participant in the Jewish-Mennonite­Ukrainian Conference planned for late Au­gust, 1995. It has appointed Bert Friesen andLawrence Klippenstein to represent MMHSon the Conference Steering Conunittee. Avote of thanks was given to Peter H. Rempelfor serving on that committee up to now. Thenext board meeting is scheduled for OctoberII at the Mennonite Heritage Centre in Wm­mpeg.