Fast - Teichroeb Ancestry

16. Daniel Teichroeb,¹³ son of Daniel Teichroeb ⁴⁹ and Anna Wolf,⁵⁰ was born 26 May 1835 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine and died 20 February 1918 in Georgstal, Fuerstenland, Ukraine.

Daniel kept a journal in which he recorded family tree events and a few other important items. In his journal he spells his name Teigroeb. He noted that in 1877 he had accumulated 3,500 Rubles. He moved to Georgstal in 1879. In his book he noted that on 17 February 1879 he was living in Georgstal, and that he had bought his farm for 2,150 Rubles. Georgstal was a village in the colony of Fuerstenland. Fuerstenland was a daughter colony of Chortitza, and was founded between 1864 and 1870. The land within the Fuerstenland settlement was leased from the Grand Duke Michael Nikolaevitch. If Daniel purchased his land then it would have been land located outside the settlement. The average price of land in the period 1863-1872 was 17.3 rubles per dessiatina. In the period 1873-1882 prices had risen to 20.67. I estimate that Daniel paid around 19 rubles for his land. He would have purchased about 110 dessiatinas, placing him in the ranks of the top 12% of landowners in the Russian Empire at the time, who controlled 89% of the land. My grandfather, Dan Teichroeb, recalls that the family farm operation was large, with housing for local farm workers.

One entry in his journal noted that Daniel Teihreb, who was born on 22 February 1789, died on 5 January 1857. Although the journal is silent on the relevance of this, the elder Daniel was his father.

According to Daniel's journal, his son Johann (1871-1942) moved to Orenburg on 24 October 1902 with his four children: Johann, Daniel, Peter, Margaretha. Son Heinrich moved to Orenburg on 5 February 1901. Son Daniel moved to Canada on 10 June 1902 with his ten children.

Johann Teichroeb (1871-1942) moved to Orenburg in 1902 and lived in Russia for the rest of his life. I have met his great grandson, Jakob Teichrib, online, and learned something about this branch of the family. Johann Teichroeb (1871-1942) was married to Anna Dyck (1872-1922). Anna died in the Orenburg settlement. One of their sons was Jakob Teichrib (1905-1940). He lived in Leninpol, Kyrgyzstan with his wife Frida Henning (1910-1964) and three sons, Victor, Arnold, and Edvin. Jakob (1905-1940) was arrested by the Russian police and taken to Magadan, Siberia, where he died shortly after his arrest. In 1991 Arnold and his son, Jakob (the great grandson mentioned earlier), moved to Germany.

I have school photographs dating to the 1930s that show Jakob and Frida with their students. These were provided by Elena Klassen. The location at the time was Aulie - Ata, Turkestan, later called Leninpol.

Daughter Katharina moved to Canada in 1926. Nothing is known about daughter Maria.

In 1863 many Chortitza families received loans of grain. These came from grain stores accumulated by the colony as insurance for crop failure. There had been a poor harvest the previous year due to heavy snow the preceding winter. The material related to this is in the records of the Guardianship Committee for Foreign Settlers in South Russia. There are two lists. The Signature List contains the signatures of the heads of households who agreed to the loan and the promise to replace the grain at the first opportunity. The second list is the Grain List and it appears to be the heads of families who took delivery of the grain. Daniel is listed in both the Grain List and the Signature List and as a land owner in Schoenhorst.

In a note from Daniel's journal we learn that Heinrich was bit by their dog on 3 December 1870. It is not clear why this was an event worth recording. He would have been 4 years old at the time and probably the dog was a typical large farm dog and the injury may have been serious. Heinrich moved to Orenburg on 5 February 1901.

Daniel's second wife, Margaretha Schellenberg, had a couple of strokes before she died: 11-12 March 1903; 9 September 1914. The last stroke led to her death.

Daniel's son Daniel was married to Sara Redekop. The Canadian Mennonite Historical Society lists her as buried in Edenburg, Manitoba. I also have seen records indicating she was buried in Halbstadt, Manitoba. I think she may be buried in the Edenburg cemetery but the connection to Halbstadt is likely the Mennonite Church located there.

The grave of Daniel's daughter Katharina is located at Archibald Cemetery, Manitou, Pembina Municipality, Manitoba (Billion Graves).

8 i. Peter Teichroeb ⁵ (born 2 August 1857 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine - died 6 December 1944 in Wingard, Saskatchewan). Peter married Agatha Dyck,⁶ daughter of Johann Dyck ¹⁵ and Anna Hiebert,¹⁶ 8 November 1879 in Georgstal, Fuerstenland, Ukraine. Agatha was born 9 March 1859 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine and died 26 July 1922 in Olgafeld, Fuerstenland, Ukraine. Peter next married Maria Dyck,²⁴ daughter of Johann Dyck ¹⁵ and Anna Hiebert,¹⁶ 19 February 1923 in Olgafeld, Fuerstenland, Ukraine. Maria was born 1 May 1865 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine and died in 1937 in Fuerstenland Colony, Ukraine.

ii. Daniel Teichroeb ⁵³ was born 7 March 1860 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine and died 1 October 1924 in Gretna, Manitoba. Daniel married Sara Redekop 13 June 1882. Sara was born 18 March 1862 in Neuenburg, Chortitza, Ukraine and died 1 July 1931 in Halbstadt, Manitoba.

iii. Margaretha Teichroeb ⁵³ was born 11 February 1862 and died 6 January 1887.

iv. Jacob Teichroeb ⁵³ was born 24 October 1863 and died 18 January 1873.

vi. Bernhardt Teichroeb ⁵³ was born 14 July 1868 and died 12 October 1872.

vii. Johann Teichroeb ⁵⁴ was born 22 June 1871 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine and died 28 July 1942 in Russia. Johann married Anna Dyck 17 January 1893 in Georgstal, Fuerstenland, Ukraine. Anna was born 29 June 1872 in Neu-Osterwick, Chortitza, Ukraine and died 6 May 1922 in Deyevka, Orenburg, Russia. Johann next married Helena Ens 5 April 1923 in Russia. Helena was born 17 March 1873 in Saribasch, Crimea, Ukraine and died in 1958 in Russia.

viii. Maria Teichroeb ⁵³ was born 23 July 1873 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine.

ix. Jacob Teichroeb ⁵³ was born 19 April 1876 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine and died 22 September 1881.

x. Katharina Teichroeb ⁵³ was born 5 December 1878 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine and died in 1953 in Manitoba. Katharina married Johann Friesen in 1901.

Daniel next married Margaretha Schellenberg ⁵³ 15 September 1891 in Georgstal, Fuerstenland, Ukraine. Margaretha was born 6 November 1837 in Kronsthal, Chortitza, Ukraine and died in September 1914 in Georgstal, Fuerstenland, Ukraine.

Johann is listed in the Fuerstenland Baptism record in connection with the baptisms in Georgstal of his children Heinrich (21 June 1888), Katarina (21 June 1888) and Peter (21 June 1892). There is no village named in 1888 but they were living in Olgafeld in 1892. His name is mentioned in the Fuerstenland Baptism record for Daniel Teichroeb (b. 1904) where he is recorded as Agatha's father.

He must have been born in Neuendorf because his parents lived there as early as 1815 and his father died there in 1848. There are records in the Berlin Archives related to his son, Johann, that indicate the son was born in Neuendorf in 1857.

He was deceased by the time Peter was baptized and his wife had remarried a Jacob Nickel. His wife's obituary says he was about 68 when he died. Therefore if he died around 1892 he must have been born around 1824. According to the Grandma Database there is a record in the Odessa Archives stating he was born in 1827. This does not correspond well with the obituary cited here earlier.

Johann may have had a son named Cornelius. However, It is difficult to establish a connection between Cornelius and his presumed parents.

The Reinlander Gemeinde Buch provides the information about the maiden name of his wife Anna Hiebert, in connection with entries for two of their daughters. The Grandma Database provides the information connecting him to his parents Johann Dyck and Helena Friesen. The source of this data may be records in the Odessa Region State Archives. I have not viewed this data.

i. Helena Dyck ⁵⁹ was born 15 February 1855 in Ukraine and died 13 February 1943 in Canada.

ii. Elizabeth Dyck ⁶⁰ was born 17 May 1856 in Ukraine and died in Canada.

iii. Johann Dyck ⁶¹ was born in 1857 in Neuendorf, Chortitza, Ukraine and died 2 May 1920 in Michaelsburg, Fuerstenland, Ukraine.

9 iv. Agatha Dyck ⁶ (born 9 March 1859 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine - died 26 July 1922 in Olgafeld, Fuerstenland, Ukraine). Agatha married Peter Teichroeb,⁵ son of Daniel Teichroeb ¹³ and Maria Abrams,¹⁴ 8 November 1879 in Georgstal, Fuerstenland, Ukraine. Peter was born 2 August 1857 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine and died 6 December 1944 in Wingard, Saskatchewan.

v. Cornelius Dyck ⁶² was born 30 March 1861 in Ukraine and died 14 November 1921 in Canada.

vi. Maria Dyck ²⁴ was born 1 May 1865 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine and died in 1937 in Fuerstenland Colony, Ukraine. Maria married Peter Teichroeb,⁵ son of Daniel Teichroeb ¹³ and Maria Abrams,¹⁴ 19 February 1923 in Olgafeld, Fuerstenland, Ukraine. Peter was born 2 August 1857 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine and died 6 December 1944 in Wingard, Saskatchewan. Maria next married David Rempel in 1883 in Ukraine. David was born in 1864 in Ukraine and died in 1922 in Ukraine.

vii. Heinrich Dyck ⁶³ was born 1 May 1867 in Ukraine, was baptized 21 June 1888 in Fuerstenland Colony, Ukraine, and died 6 August 1954 in Plum Coulee, Manitoba.

viii. Katharina Dyck ⁶⁴ was born 18 May 1869 in Ukraine and was baptized 21 June 1888 in Fuerstenland Colony, Ukraine.

ix. Peter Dyck ⁶⁵ was born 18 August 1873 in Ukraine and was baptized 21 June 1892 in Olgafeld, Fuerstenland, Ukraine.

Daniel Teichroeb's journal lists her married name and has her birth and death dates; her last name comes from the Reinlander Gemeinde Buch.

Anna's obituary in Mennonitische Rundschau appears to be written by one of Anna's sons, Johann. Johann is not connected to her in the Grandma database. However, Ben Fast told me years ago that he believed Agatha Dyck (my great grandmother) had a brother named Johann who was a blacksmith. That was a family trade - Anna Hiebert's husband, Johann Dyck, was a blacksmith. The obituary has a "dateline" of Blumenfeld Post Nikolaipol, in Nepluiev Settlement on the Dnieper River, ten miles from the city of Nikolaipol.

The obituary says that Anna and Johann lived in Olgafeld, Fuerstenland Colony, where they had a farm. Johann was also a blacksmith and operated a shop to earn extra income. They made ends meet but they were not wealthy. At some point the neighbour's property went up in flames and the fire spread to Johann's blacksmith shop, which also burned. With their business destroyed the couple sold and moved to Michaelsburg where they built a new house and lived with the two unmarried children who had not yet left home. They operated a farm in Michaelsburg. When Johann was about 68 years of age he died. He had been ill for many years with stomach ailments. Later the last of the children married and moved out on there own. Anna employed hired help to run the farm until her death in 1911 at the age of 83 years and 7 months. If the birth date in Daniel Teichroeb's journal is correct then she was actually 84 years and 7 months old when she died.

The obituary says she was buried on 17 October 1911. Daniel Teichroeb's journal records a death date of 10 October 1911.

This must have occurred before the youngest son Peter was baptized in 1892, that record saying Johann Nickel was his stepfather. The obituary does not say Anna remarried and her husband is not mentioned.

Entries in the Reinlander Gemeinde Buch establish the connection between parents Johann Dyck and Anna Hiebert and daughters Helena and Elizabeth, both of whom immigrated to Canada. Teichroeb family records establish the connection between the parents and daughters Maria and Agatha, both of whom were married to Peter Teichroeb and never left Ukraine. The Fuerstenland Baptism Record establishes connections to children Cornelius and Heinrich, who immigrated to Canada, and Maria, Katharina and Peter, who presumably all remained in Ukraine. Certainly Maria remained in Ukraine. A note in the Grandma Database says Peter moved to Siberia. Nothing is known about Katharina after her baptism in 1888.

The obituary tells us there was another son, Johann. I think he is the Johann Johann Dyck who has numerous children baptized in Alexanderthal (1898 and 1901) and then Michaelsburg (1903 and later), all in the Mennonite Brethren Gemeinde. The Grandma Database indicates his father was a Johann Dyck and his mother was an Anna Suderman but I do not think this is correct.

Johann says in the obituary that four children went to North America and the others stayed behind. This sounds like a description of the family contained in this analysis.

The connection between Anna and her parents is established by an entry in Mennonite Rundschau on 7 February 1900 (page 4). This is a letter written by half brother Abraham mentioning siblings, one of whom is referred to as widow Johann Dyck of Michaelsburg. This information in the context of other information submitted to the Grandma Database establishes a high level of confidence in Anna's parentage.

Translation of the letter and mapping to known siblings:

Plum Coulee, January 24, 1900. Dear Rundschau! I would like to ask you to take a few lines from me and send them in your columns to Russia to my brothers and sisters who live in different places. Namely to Peter Hiebert, Orenburg; Franz and Cornelius Hiebert in Charkossche; Heinrich Peters, Fuerstenland, Georgsthal; widow Johann Dyck, Michaelsburg; Johann Harms, Nieder-Chortitza; Jakob Friessen, Einlage. Dear brothers and sisters, let us hear from you, either through the "Rundschau" or by letter. Thank God we are still healthy, which we wish for you too. Our family currently has five children, three are married, namely: Maria, Abraham and Agatha, and two: Cornelius and Anna are still at home. I sold my farm in Hoffnungsfeld, where we used to live, and bought land further to the northeast, where we now have two farms. The harvest here last year was mediocre, but last year it was better for us.

The weather here is still milder than we are used to in Manitoba, we still have little snow, so sledding is not very good.

Dear brothers and sisters and friends in Russia, please don't let the love between us be so developed and write to us and we will answer.

Where is my sister, the widow Wilhelm Hiebert, with her children? My sister, Mrs. Peter Peters, is still in her old condition: blind and helpless, she must lie in bed, which she has had to endure for nine or ten years. If our brothers and sisters or friends in Russia do not read the "Rundschau", perhaps some of the neighbours will be kind enough to bring them these lines. With warm greetings to all readers and friends, Abraham Hiebert.

Who are the people referred to in this letter?

Abraham Hiebert (1848), the writer, son of Cornelius Hiebert and Anna Thiessen.
Peter Hiebert (1847) son of Cornelius Hiebert and Anna Thiessen.
Franz Hiebert (1852) son of Cornelius Hiebert and Anna Thiessen.
Cornelius Hiebert (1843) son of Cornelius Hiebert and Anna Thiessen.
Wife of Heinrich Peters - Elisabeth Hiebert (1855) daughter of Cornelius Hiebert and Anna Thiessen.
Widow of Johann Dyck - Anna Hiebert (1829) daughter of Cornelius Hiebert and Katharina Penner.
Wife of Johann Harms can't be placed but no sibling matches this.
Wife of Jakob Friesen can't be placed but no sibling matches this.
Wilhelm Hiebert (1850) son of Cornelius Hiebert and Anna Thiessen.
Widow of Peter Peters - Helena Hiebert (1832) daughter of Cornelius Hiebert and Katharina Penner.

The siblings that died before 1900:
Katharina Hiebert (1830-1859) daughter of Cornelius Hiebert and Katharina Penner.
Maria Hiebert (1845-1859) daughter of Cornelius Hiebert and Anna Thiessen.
Jakob Hiebert (1859-?) son of Cornelius Hiebert and Anna Thiessen.

Not mentioned in the letter because living in Manitoba:
Agatha Hiebert (1837) daughter of Cornelius Hiebert and Katharina Penner.
Aganetha Hiebert (1839) who could be a duplicate of Agatha.

20. Johann Schapansky,³⁰ son of Hermann Schapansky ⁶⁶ and Susanna Dyck,⁶⁷ was born 4 November 1839 in Burwalde, Chortitza, Ukraine, was baptized in 1860 in Ukraine, and died 23 September 1915 in Morden, Manitoba.

According to the Reinlander Gemeinde Buch, between 1874 and 1880 almost seven thousand Mennonites immigrated to Manitoba from Ukraine. Johann and his brother are both listed. Johann's wife Helena Hiebert and their son David are also listed. Johann's date of death is taken from the Reinlander Gemeinde Buch. Johann and his wife arrived in Quebec on 1 July 1875 aboard the S.S. Moravian No. 25, destined for Schanzenfeld West Reserve (Manitoba). He appears in the 1901 federal census with his wife in Manitoba, sub district of Rhineland, f-4, page 15, entry #122. They both immigrated in 1875 and naturalization was in 1879. The census indicates his birth date is 23 October 1839. I presume he was born in Burwalde because his father appears there in 1847. He appears in the 1881 census in Manitoba. His death certificate gives a birth date of 3 October 1834, which I have not used. (The death certificate has some unusual data written on it - the year of birth was changed to 1834 from something undecipherable and the age at death had been written as 76 and then crossed out and changed to 80.) It also gives the date and location of death used herein. Johann is listed in Burwalde in the 1863 Grain List, and he was not a landowner at that time.

Information about Johann's children is from the material provided by Rosella Wall. For son Abraham I have a birthdate of 24 March 1862 but this is very close to brother Johann who is shown with a birthdate of 7 November 1861.

Migration of Mennonites from Ukraine to Canada

There were three so called waves of migration, occurring in the 1870s, the 1890s and the 1920s. The first and last waves were rather substantial. Economic and political life in Ukraine had been going very well for many decades following the original migration from Danzig in the late 1700s. The settlement of Chortitza beginning in 1788-1789 continued for a few years, and in 1803 a new colony, Molotschna was established. Both colonies grew and further expansion followed, including the Bergthal colony in the mid 1800s and the Fuerstenland colony a few years later. In total about 10,000 people migrated to Ukraine during the period of colonization. The Mennonite colonists prospered.

In the latter half of the 19th century the unfettered political and cultural existence of the Mennonites suffered encroachment. Gradually demands for military service or other economic compensation by way of labour or taxes was demanded by the government. Fear of restrictions on education, language and religion also persisted. There was a movement to establish a framework of tolerance for certain restrictions but the more conservative Mennonite groups, such as the Bergthalers, could not support such a policy and the search for an alternative solution began. In North America a solution was readily at hand because governments were desperately motivated to attract settlers to the expansive west.

In the 1870s about 17,000 Mennonites made there way to North America. The first new settlers to land in Canada arrived in 1874 and were primarily Bergthalers. In 1875 it was the Choritzers, or people from the "Old Colony", who made the journey to Canada. Many settled in Manitoba. Provincial requirements for English language education subsequently drove the most conservative groups to the area of the Northwest Territories that later became Saskatchewan.

The second wave numbered about 900 people. These were Mennonites willing to compromise until the economic and cultural pressures in Ukraine became too great and they finally decided to migrate in the 1890s. Similarly to the earlier Mennonite group, they passed through central Canada to Manitoba and many went on to the Northwest Territories following the promise of land and homesteads.

In the meantime, in Ukraine, the remaining Mennonites adopted a strategy of increased tolerance and assimilation. The tactic of accommodation was more than offset by the profound economic benefits they realized in the decades leading to the First World War. Farms grew, villages expanded and the Mennonites became wealthy. Economic expansion proliferated. Ben Fast describes the farm implement factories, mills, vinegar factories, brewers, weavers and brickyards that operated alongside large farms in the colonies. Contrary to the fears of earlier Mennonite groups that left Ukraine, those that stayed behind were left to their own language and religion and commercial enterprises. In fact the Mennonites enjoyed a level of cultural and economic prosperity seldom experienced among the broader Ukrainian population. Eventually this good fortune would turn against them.

World War One was the turning point for the remaining Mennonites. They had for more than a century possessed an exemption from military service and even though there were mandated compensatory taxes or other services, the general ill will of other citizens was manifest. Further, German speaking populations became targets for governmental policy. People who spoke German were declared enemies of the state. Inevitably the most destructive decree was the forced sale of land assets at absurdly low prices. This, of course, was disastrous. Before the war ended the Bolshevik Revolution turned the country into a lawless land where survival was grim.

Once again the government in Canada facilitated a migration of Mennonites, this time attracting 21,000 people. The Canadian Pacific Railway was a key player in the endeavour, aiming to settle vast areas of the Canadian west.

Genealogical Events in the Context of the Waves of Migration

Margaret Schapansky was born in Canada, as was her mother Maria Loewen. Her father, all of her grandparents and several of her great grandparents emigrated from Ukraine in the first wave during the 1870s. It appears that all of these people came from Chortitza Colony.

Similarly, Helena Striemer was born in Canada, as were her parents. Her grandparents and several of her great grandparents emigrated from Ukraine in the first wave as well. Based on my research thus far all of these people came from Bergthal Colony.

Albert Fast was born in Canada but his parents came from Ukraine in the 1890s, part of the second wave of migration. His father, Jacob, and his grandparents, came from Rosenthal, Chortitza Colony. His mother, Helena Epp, and her parents, came from Olgafeld, Fuerstenland Colony, while her grandparents came from Michaelsburg, Fuerstenland Colony.

Daniel Teichroeb and his father came from Olgafeld, Fuerstenland Colony in the 1920s during the last wave when the strategy of assimilation proved hopeless and remaining in Ukraine was nearly impossible.

Johann married Helena Hiebert,³¹ daughter of Peter Hiebert ⁶⁸ and Maria Ens,⁶⁹ in 1860 in Burwalde, Chortitza, Ukraine. Helena was born 30 September 1842 in Einlage, Chortitza, Ukraine, was baptized in 1860 in Ukraine, and died 13 July 1928 in Rosenfeld, Manitoba.

i. Johann Schapansky ⁷⁰ was born in 1861 and was baptized 6 June 1881. Johann married Helena Fehr.³⁵

ii. Abraham Schapansky ⁷⁰ was born in 1862 and died 27 May 1930. Abraham married Helena Regehr.³⁵

iii. Maria Schapansky ⁷⁰ was born 22 August 1864 and was baptized 3 June 1884. Maria married Jacob Regehr.³⁵

iv. Helena Schapansky ⁷¹ was born 10 November 1865 and died 11 December 1866.

v. Jacob Schapansky ⁷⁰ was born 3 November 1867 and was baptized 11 June 1889. Jacob married Maria Wiebe.³⁵

vi. Peter Schapansky ⁷⁰ was born 22 November 1869. Peter married Helena Braun.³⁵

10 vii. David Schapansky ⁷ (born 20 January 1872 in Burwalde, Chortitza, Ukraine - died 26 August 1951 in Warman, Saskatchewan). David married Maria Loewen,⁸ daughter of Johann Loewen ³² and Sara Dyck,³³ 14 July 1896 in Canada. Maria was born 25 November 1876 in Reinland, Manitoba, was baptized 3 June 1895 in Reinland, Manitoba, and died 25 March 1939 in Warman, Saskatchewan. David next married Helena Dyck ³⁵ in December 1939. Helena was born in 1878 and died in 1971.

viii. Gerhard Schapansky ⁷⁰ was born 17 February 1874. Gerhard married Katharina Wiebe.³⁵

ix. Cornelius Schapansky ⁷¹ was born 4 December 1876 and died 22 December 1881.

xi. Heinrich Schapansky ⁷⁰ was born 1 February 1881, was baptized 19 May 1902, and died 21 March 1944. Heinrich married Katharina Krahn.³⁵

21. Helena Hiebert,³¹ daughter of Peter Hiebert ⁶⁸ and Maria Ens,⁶⁹ was born 30 September 1842 in Einlage, Chortitza, Ukraine, was baptized in 1860 in Ukraine, and died 13 July 1928 in Rosenfeld, Manitoba.

She is listed in the Reinlander Gemeinde Buch. She died in Manitoba according to family records. The 1901 federal census indicates her birth date is 29 August 1841. She appears in the 1881, 1906 and 1911 census in Manitoba. The death certificate I have for her gives a death date of 22 July 1893 and a location of Bluenfeld. This cannot be the right individual because later census records indicate she was still alive and living with husband Johann Schapansky. Find-A-Grave gives the date I have used here.

I have assumed she was born in Einlage because here father appear there in the 1863 Chortitza Grain Lists.

22. Johann Loewen,³² son of Jacob Loewen ⁷² and Margaretha Braun,⁷³ was born 23 December 1852 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine, was baptized 5 June 1872 in Ukraine, and died 16 March 1934 in Stanley, Manitoba.

He arrived in Canada on 13 July 1875 aboard the S.S. Peruvian with his wife Sara and two children, David and Johann. I read that his naturalization date was 1885. He appears in the 1881 Census in Manitoba, in the 1901 Federal Census in Saskatchewan, Sub-district of Osler, and in the 1916 Census of the Prairie Provinces he is living in Warman with Helena, his new wife.

He is listed in the Reinlander Gemeinde Buch. His marriage date is from the Reinlander Gemeinde Book. I obtained the death information online from Family Search and am in the process of substantiating it.

The origin of this surname is probably the Friesland region of the Netherlands.

The Grandma Database lists his parents and a sibling. The information here tells us that his parents died in a carriage accident in 1857. The birth year for the mother is stated as 1836. She was remarkably young to be having children in a typical Mennonite relationship but this has been substantiated. The younger sibling was born in 1854 in Molotschna. If this is accurate information then Johann probably was originally from Molotschna.

Johann married Sara Dyck,³³ daughter of Johann Dyck ⁷⁴ and Maria DeVeer,⁷⁵ 6 November 1874 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine. Sara was born 13 January 1852 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine, was baptized 10 June 1870 in Ukraine, and died before 1916 in Saskatchewan.

i. Jakob Loewen ⁷⁶ was born 7 November 1875 in Canada and died 6 January 1876 in Canada.

11 ii. Maria Loewen ⁸ (born 25 November 1876 in Reinland, Manitoba - died 25 March 1939 in Warman, Saskatchewan). Maria married Johann Penner ³⁶ in July 1895 in Canada. Johann was born 15 October 1870 in Ukraine, was baptized 27 May 1890, and died 30 March 1896. Maria next married David Schapansky,⁷ son of Johann Schapansky ³⁰ and Helena Hiebert,³¹ 14 July 1896 in Canada. David was born 20 January 1872 in Burwalde, Chortitza, Ukraine, was baptized 25 May 1896, and died 26 August 1951 in Warman, Saskatchewan.

iii. Margaretha Loewen ⁷⁶ was born 2 October 1878 and died 16 September 1879.

iv. Margaretha Loewen ⁷⁷ was born 21 July 1880, was baptized 21 May 1899, and died 18 August 1922.

viii. Isaak Loewen ⁷⁶ was born 1 February 1887 and died 10 November 1891.

Johann next married Helena ⁷⁸ before 1916 in Saskatchewan. Helena was born in 1853 in Ukraine.

23. Sara Dyck,³³ daughter of Johann Dyck ⁷⁴ and Maria DeVeer,⁷⁵ was born 13 January 1852 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine, was baptized 10 June 1870 in Ukraine, and died before 1916 in Saskatchewan.

She came to Canada with her husband Johann Loewen in 1875. She was pregnant with Jakob (1875-1876) at the time. They had with them her two children with her first husband Isaak Redekop who died in 1873. The birth date information in the Reinlander Gemeinde Buch in association with her marriage and children is not correct. Instead I have used the earlier information in the Reinlander Gemeinde Book where she is listed with her parents and siblings.

An interesting side note was entered into the Reinlander Gemeinde Buch; daughter Margaretha had a son Johan in 1895 when she was only 15 and before she was married. She later married Abraham Giesbrecht and went on to have 10 more children before dying the day after the last one was born.

Sara married Isaak Redekop in 1871. Isaak was born 14 January 1852 and died about 1873.

Sara next married Johann Loewen,³² son of Jacob Loewen ⁷² and Margaretha Braun,⁷³ 6 November 1874 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine. Johann was born 23 December 1852 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine, was baptized 5 June 1872 in Ukraine, and died 16 March 1934 in Stanley, Manitoba.

The first ancestry work done for the Fast family was by Ben Fast. It was Ben who determined that Johann Fast lived in Rosenthal, Chortitza. In his genealogy work Ben Fast says the Fasts "grew up" in Molotschna and Chortitza, and were raised in Rosenthal.

Ben Fast told me that Johann had at least two brothers. Ben met the son of one brother, Jacob, in Winnipeg years ago. The other brother, Heinrich, was a bachelor. His obituary, published in Der Bote, has this to say:

"Heinrich Fast was born in 1871 in Rosenthal, South Russia. When he was 15 years old, he learned the carpenter trade, which has been his main occupation in life. At the age of 21 he was baptized in the Chortitza church and accepted into the congregation.

In 1904 he emigrated to Canada with his parents and siblings. The deceased spent his last years in a small house in Rosthern. He lived here quietly and withdrawn and a large goiter from which he suffered for many years made him almost completely unable to do physical work, so that he mostly survived with the help of civic and charitable associations. During this time he wished to be able to leave this world in order to exchange it with another better one.".

Heinrich's death certificate tells us his father was Johann Fast and his mother was Judith Rempel. The genealogy of these two individuals is well established.

A passenger list found on ancestry.com has Heinrich listed as a passenger on the S.S. Rhein from Bremen, which docked in Baltimore in October 1904, travelling on his own en route to Gretna, Manitoba and from there to meet his brother Johann in Rosthern, North West Territories. He was a joiner by trade. It is interesting that he is listed immediately after Dietrich Epp in the ship manifest, and his origin is shown as the same town in Ukraine. I wonder if he was travelling with that family. He does not appear to be travelling with any other family members.

According to family lore, Johann and his family emigrated to Canada in March 1892 and from Spring 1892 until Spring 1893 they wintered in Manitoba with friends. I know they sailed on 17 June 1892 en route to Gretna Manitoba. They no doubt wintered in Manitoba but they were not there until the Summer. They settled in Rosthern, Saskatchewan in 1893. By 1897 Johann and his sons had erected log buildings and Johann had filed his homestead claim. The homestead consisted of 160 acres of land three miles north of Waldheim and 13 miles west of Rosthern. Later he managed a further quarter section for $3 an acre. He is buried in the Rosthern Cemetery. His death date is from the grave marker. He appears with his wife in the 1901 census in Saskatchewan, sub district of Waldheim, page 7, entry #47.

After a decade of farming he retired to Rosthern. This would mean he was in his mid fifties and able to live without working.

i. Johann Fast ⁴¹ was born 1 May 1872 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine and died in April 1947 in Saskatchewan. Johann married Katherina Loepky ⁴¹ in 1895 in Saskatchewan. Katherina was born 9 August 1879 and died 25 September 1969 in Saskatchewan.

12 ii. Jacob Fast ⁹ (born 28 February 1874 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine - died 4 August 1939 in Laird, Saskatchewan). Jacob married Helena Epp,¹⁰ daughter of Heinrich Epp ³⁹ and Margaretha Rempel,⁴⁰ 14 December 1897 in Saskatchewan. Helena was born 25 October 1878 in Fuerstenland Colony, Ukraine and died 15 April 1962 in Laird, Saskatchewan.

iii. Cornelius Fast ⁴¹ was born 31 December 1875 and died in December 1942. Cornelius married Anna Klassen ⁴¹ before 1910. Anna died in December 1915.

iv. Heinrich Fast ⁴¹ was born 4 December 1877 and died in 1932. Heinrich married Chorlina.⁴¹

v. Peter Fast ⁴¹ was born 2 April 1880 and died 7 May 1960. Peter married Helena Klassen ⁴¹ before 1908. Helena was born 20 March 1890 and died 13 November 1964.

vii. Isaac Fast ⁴¹ was born 22 June 1884 and died in June 1964 in Winkler, Manitoba. Isaac married Edith Unrau in 1918 in Rosthern, Saskatchewan. Edith was born in 1900 in Saskatchewan and died in 1919 in Gabriel's Ferry, Saskatchewan.

viii. Gerhard Fast ⁴¹ was born 6 February 1887 and died 19 May 1960. Gerhard married Agatha Dyck ⁴¹ 6 August 1914. Agatha was born 1 August 1895 and died 23 August 1944.

I surmise that Maria was born in Rosenthal because the Chortitza Family Register records that her sister, Helena, was born there in 1851. There is ample evidence that her parents and grandparents were from Rosenthal.

She is buried in the Rosthern Cemetery; I saw her grave marker. Her Death Certificate gives her parent's names.

26. Heinrich Epp,³⁹ son of Heinrich Epp ⁸³ and Helena Dyck,⁸⁴ was born 13 March 1855 in Schoeneberg, Chortitza, Ukraine and died 25 September 1906 in Waldheim, Saskatchewan.

According to Ben Fast, who had their passports, they emigrated to Canada in 1891. The book "Waldheim Remembers the Past" quotes family records that say the Epps arrived in Manitoba on 23 April 1891, and stayed with relatives and friends for about a year and a half. They arrived in Rosthern in 1892 and established their homestead at the current site of Waldheim. Heinrich is buried in Waldheim, Saskatchewan according to the H. Epp - M. Rempel genealogy. He appears with his wife in the 1901 census in Saskatchewan, sub district of Waldheim, page 7, entry #53. I suspect that Heinrich was born in Schoeneberg, although various family records and the Grandma Database records say Fuerstenland. They emigrated from Fuerstenland to Canada, but his younger siblings are reported as born in Schoeneberg, so this is the location I have used for him. Schoeneberg corresponds with what we know about the family circumstances in 1858 (see notes about Peter Epp).

According to information I have seen about Heinrich's sister Susanna, she was babtized in Michaelsburg in 1887, when Heinrich was about 32 years of age. Therefore the family must have lived in Michaelsburg when they moved from the Chortitza settlement. It is not clear that Heinrich moved with the family at that point, although Orval Ens says he was raised in Fuerstenland. This does not explain how Heinrich came to marry a woman from Chortitza. Margaretha Remple was born in Neu-Osterwick. There is no evidence the Rempel family was ever in Fuerstenland.

His son David Epp was a grain buyer. I have seen a reference to a middle name of Martin but this is very unusual for Mennonites at the time. Some of his brothers had a middle initial M which I believe is a reference to his mother's first name. His son Heinrich Epp was a farmer, minister and missionary.
His sons Peter Epp and Jacob Epp were farmers. Son Johann was a teacher and a civil servant.

13 ii. Helena Epp ¹⁰ (born 25 October 1878 in Fuerstenland Colony, Ukraine - died 15 April 1962 in Laird, Saskatchewan). Helena married Jacob Fast,⁹ son of Johann Fast ³⁷ and Maria Krahn,³⁸ 14 December 1897 in Saskatchewan. Jacob was born 28 February 1874 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine and died 4 August 1939 in Laird, Saskatchewan.

iii. Margaretha Epp ⁸⁷ was born 26 June 1881 in Fuerstenland Colony, Ukraine and died in July 1943 in Pibroch, Alberta.

iv. Katharina Epp ⁸⁷ was born 18 July 1883 in Fuerstenland Colony, Ukraine and died 22 March 1932. Katharina married Peter Epp in 1905. Peter was born in 1880 and died in 1975.

v. Heinrich Epp ⁸⁷ was born 15 February 1885 in Fuerstenland Colony, Ukraine and died 22 September 1942. Heinrich married Agnetha Goossen in 1907. Agnetha was born in 1890 and died in 1964.

vi. Peter Epp ⁸⁷ was born 22 December 1886 in Fuerstenland Colony, Ukraine and died 25 December 1943.

vii. Jacob Epp ⁸⁷ was born 24 May 1889 in Fuerstenland Colony, Ukraine and died 15 March 1963. Jacob married Anna Ens in 1910. Anna was born in 1891 and died in 1981.

viii. David Epp ⁸⁷ was born 3 September 1893 in Waldheim, Saskatchewan and died 19 August 1957 in Langley, British Columbia.

ix. Agatha Epp ⁸⁷ was born 25 February 1896 in Waldheim, Saskatchewan and died 8 June 1972 in Waldheim, Saskatchewan. Agatha married Heinrich Heppner in 1917. Heinrich was born in 1895 and died in 1991.

She is buried in Waldheim according to the H. Epp - M. Rempel genealogy.

Her second husband, Bernhard Heppner, is listed in some sources with a middle initial of A which I believe is a reference to his father's first name.

Margaretha married Heinrich Epp,³⁹ son of Heinrich Epp ⁸³ and Helena Dyck,⁸⁴ in 1876 in Neuenburg, Chortitza, Ukraine. Heinrich was born 13 March 1855 in Schoeneberg, Chortitza, Ukraine and died 25 September 1906 in Waldheim, Saskatchewan.

Margaretha next married Bernhard Heppner in 1907. Bernhard was born in 1856 and died in 1936.

28. Johann Striemer,⁴³ son of Heinrich Striemer ⁸⁸ and Anna Neufeld,⁸⁹ was born 25 November 1859 in Bergthal Colony, Ukraine, was baptized 10 June 1878 in Canada, and died 21 May 1944 in Reinfeld, Saskatchewan.

He appears in Bergthaler Gemeinde Buch with his family. The Bergthaler Gemeinde Buch Quebec Passenger Lists tell us he came to Canada on the S.S. Nova Scotian on 27 July 1874. He appears in the 1881 Canadian Federal Census in Kronsgart, Manitoba with his wife Helena and his daughters Maria and Helena. He was a farmer there.

In 1891 and 1901 he was farming in the Reinland area of Manitoba.

By 1906 the family was living in Vonda in the Humboldt district of Saskatchewan. I have not been able to locate him in 1911 the Census but according to Leonard Doell he moved to the Carrot River area, following Elder Cornelius Epp who took over as Elder of a conservative Bergthaler Mennonite Church there. In 1910 Johann was chosen as a Minister in that church. In 1922 Epp moved to Mexico and I believe the church he founded was disolved. In any case, by the time of the 1921 Census Johann is listed as retired in Laird, Saskatchewan.

In 1927 Johann joined the regular Bergthal Church as a member but not as a Minister and a year later, on 1 March 1928 he was reinstated as a Minister. He served at the Bergthaler Church in Reinfeld, Saskatchewan. The church was still there in 1998 when I visited and it still had a functioning outhouse, but no indoor plumbing. He is buried in the Bergthaler Mennonite Church Cemetery near the Hague Ferry at Reinfeld. In 2022 the church was gone and replaced with a new building. The grave markers were mostly removed as well and ugly steel markers embedded in concrete replaced them.

The 1916 census indicates that Heinrich, Gerhard and Anna were all living with the parents at that time. There is also a 2 year old child named William listed as a son. This is more likely to be a child belonging to Wilhelm Striemer and Anna Dyck.

I have seen Johann's son Gerhard listed as George Gerhard. I believe it is simply Gerhard and the other name is just the English equivalent. I don't know why records would be kept this way. Gerhard's wife Agnetha Neufeld was nicknamed Nettie.

The birthdate and date of death for Johann's daughter Anna are shown on her grave marker. She really did attain the age of 106.

Johann and the Saskatchewan Bergthaler Church

Much of this information originates with Leonard Doell who provided great assistance in my research of Johann Striemer.

Johann had been a member of the Saskatchewan Bergthaler Church, probably from the time he first moved to Saskatchewan. In 1908 Cornelius Epp, an Elder in the Bergthaler Church since 1902, left the church and established his own church, known as the Epp Mennonite Church. A small group of congregants left the Bergthaler Church to join Epp, among them Johann. Around 1910 Johann was elected as a minister in Epp's church.

In 1922 Epp emigrated to Mexico but Johann remained in Saskatchewan and continued to fulfil his obligations as a minister of the church to which he belonged. A larger group of congregants emigrated to Paraguay in 1926 and in 1927 Johann rejoined the Saskatchewan Bergthaler Church. On 1 March 1928 he was chosen as a minister of this church.

i. Maria Striemer ⁴⁷ was born 12 May 1879 in Plum Coulee, Manitoba. Maria married Peter Striemer, son of Peter Striemer and Maria Hiebert, 19 July 1896. Peter was born 29 July 1877 in USA.

ii. Helena Striemer ⁴⁷ was born 5 November 1880 in Manitoba and died 25 May 1949. Helena married Peter Fehr, son of Cornelius Fehr and Anna Penner, 27 November 1898. Peter was born 19 March 1879 and died in 1939.

iii. Heinrich Striemer ⁴⁷ was born 25 March 1882 in Manitoba and died 18 January 1960 in Rosthern, Saskatchewan.

iv. Johann Striemer ⁴⁷ was born 2 August 1883 in Plum Coulee, Manitoba and died 12 December 1962 in Portland, Oregon. Johann married Helena Striemer, daughter of Peter Striemer and Maria Hiebert, 26 June 1904 in Waldheim, Saskatchewan. Helena was born 30 May 1887 in West Reserve, Manitoba and died 17 February 1963 in Portland, Oregon.

v. Carl Striemer ⁴⁷ was born 13 January 1885 in Rural Municipality of Rhineland, Manitoba and died 7 October 1963 in Waldheim, Saskatchewan. Carl married Elizabeth Born, daughter of Wilhelm Born and Helena Thiessen, 1 September 1906 in Waldheim, Saskatchewan. Elizabeth was born 5 May 1888 in Sparrau, Molotschna, Ukraine and died 24 April 1950 in Waldheim, Saskatchewan.

14 vi. Wilhelm Striemer ¹¹ (born 10 July 1886 in Plum Coulee, Manitoba - died 29 April 1970 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan). Wilhelm married Anna Dyck,¹² daughter of Johann Dyck ⁴⁵ and Katharina Peters,⁴⁶ before 1913 in Saskatchewan. Anna was born 30 May 1891 in Reinland, Manitoba and died 12 August 1956 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

vii. Jacob Striemer ⁴⁷ was born 22 September 1887 in Waldheim, Saskatchewan and died 27 December 1888 in Waldheim, Saskatchewan.

viii. Peter Striemer ⁴⁷ was born 3 July 1890 in Waldheim, Saskatchewan and died 12 July 1890 in Waldheim, Saskatchewan.

ix. Jacob Striemer ⁴⁷ was born 29 December 1891 in Waldheim, Saskatchewan and died 31 January 1907 in Waldheim, Saskatchewan.

x. Peter Striemer ⁴⁷ was born 29 December 1891 in Waldheim, Saskatchewan and died 31 January 1907 in Waldheim, Saskatchewan.

xi. Margaret Striemer ⁴⁷ was born 21 March 1893 in Hague, Saskatchewan and died 13 October 1964 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Margaret married Jacob Doerksen, son of Abraham J. Doerksen and Maria Penner, in Hague, Saskatchewan. Jacob was born 18 October 1888 in Plum Coulee, Manitoba and died in October 1979 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

xii. Gerhard Striemer ⁴⁷ was born 15 January 1895 in Waldheim, Saskatchewan and died 30 January 1895 in Waldheim, Saskatchewan.

xiii. Gerhard Striemer ⁴⁷ was born 15 February 1896 in Plum Coulee, Manitoba and died 12 July 1984 in Waldheim, Saskatchewan. Gerhard married Aganetha Neufeld, daughter of Peter Neufeld and Elisabeth Klassen, 14 November 1916 in Vonda, Saskatchewan. Aganetha was born 23 December 1898 in Saskatchewan and died 30 July 1988.

xiv. Anna Striemer ⁴⁷ was born 14 June 1898 in Waldheim, Saskatchewan and died 8 August 2004 in Rosthern, Saskatchewan. Anna married Cornelius Neufeld, son of Peter H. Neufeld and Elisabeth Klassen, 14 November 1916 in Vonda, Saskatchewan. Cornelius was born 10 January 1897 in Rural Municipality of Stanley, Manitoba and died 4 May 1985.

She appears in the Bergthaler Gemeinde Buch with her parents. The Striemer - Giesbrecht Genealogy tells us she was Johann Striemer's wife. She appears in the 1881 Canadian Federal Census in Kronsgart. The Grandma Database says she arrived in Canada in 1875. Her mother arrived a year later. It appears that Helena travelled with two younger siblings. She is buried in the Bergthaler Mennonite Church Cemetery near the Hague Ferry at Reinfeld. Note that the birth date here is from the grave marker.

There are two versions of the 13 July 1875 SS Peruvian passenger list. One is in excel format and shows Helena with sister Margaretha (Gretchen) and brother Jacob. The other list shows these three with a Maria Kauenhowen, who is on the excel list as Maria Giesbrecht. Maria was 52 years of age. Maria was the aunt of the three younger people.

Maria Giesbrecht was a widow. I suspect that her brother, Johann, chose to send his three elder children to Canada with her while he sold his farm and made the arrangements to get the rest of the family to Canada.

Johann Dyck and Katharina Peters settled in Reinland Manitoba. Johann appears with the family in the 1901 census. He came to Canada in 1874. The census assumes his wife did too, but we know she came later with her family and therefore they must have been married in Canada before 1891. In the census they are found in the District of Lisgar, sub district Rhineland #56, F-11 page 8 line 38. The enumeration was on 17 April 1901. Note that the 1901 census data from Family Search gives a birth year of 1845 while the Bergthal Gemeinde Buch and the Grandma Database gives 1846. The census data may contain a transcription error.

The 1906 Census tells us that Johann and Katharina and their family were living in the Humboldt area of Saskatchewan by 1906. Daughter Anna is listed there.

Most of his children are listed in the Sommerfeld Gemeinde Buch but the last two are listed in the Saskatchewan Bergthaler Church Book.

His son Abraham may have died in 1954. This is the date provided in the Grandma Database. SOn Heinrich may have died in 1963. Daughter Elizabeth may have died in 1953. Son Kornelius may have died in 1965.

I have seen references to a middle initial of E. Whether this is factual and what it stands for are unknowns. Possibly it represents his mother's first name.

vi. Helena Dyck ⁹⁶ was born in 1889 and died in 1976. Helena married Abram Friesen.

See Johann Dyck for the census details. She actually did not come to Canada in 1881. She was with her family when they arrived on 19 July 1875 aboard the S.S. Canadian in Quebec City. She cannot be found in the 1881 Canadian census. She doesn't appear with her parents in the 1880 US census because she was married prior to the enumeration date.

She was married to a Klaas Dyck in 1916; they appear in that census with her two youngest children. This is also indicated in her son Jacob's military attestation papers (he calls his mother Mrs. Klaas Dyck of Clarkboro, Saskatchewan). Jacob was born in Rosenfeld, Manitoba and at the time of his enlistment he lived in Aberdeen, Saskatchewan. Jacob joined the Canadian Over Seas Expeditionary Force in 1916 at the age of 20. Originally he served with the 46th Battalion but he was moved to the 15th Battalion of the Light Infantry in April 1917. He was wounded at Vimy on 1 July 1917 and later received a medical discharge.

I cannot locate the source of the date of death used here.

Katharina next married Klaas Dyck ⁹⁹ before 1916 in Saskatchewan. Klaas was born in 1862 in Ukraine.

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Fast - Teichroeb Ancestry

Fifth Generation