Mel?.,Ol?Ite Historial?
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CUTER FOR M. B. STUDIES IN CANADA 77 HENDERSON HIGHWAY WINNIPEG, MANITOBA R2L 1L1 Volume VIII, Number 4 Mel?.,ol?ite December, 1982 Historial? Penner, and Gerhard Huebert. Four more were elected: George Harder, Heinrich Dueck, Peter Regehr, and David Boese. Rather than choose their own elder at this point, it was decided to call on Jacob B. Wiens, Herschel, Saskatchewan to perform those duties designated only to elders, i.e. baptism and communion. Deacons were elected - Gerhard J. Baergen, and Tobias Schmidt (also later Gerhard Schmidt) - and these were given the responsibility of gathering and distributing the mission funds. A large portion of these were sent to Russia, but there was also some need within the congregation. Vorsaenger (song-leaders) were an impor tant part of the worship, and the first ones chosen were Gerhard Schmidt and Heinrich Voth. The hymn books that were available A Sunday school picnic of the Chinook-Sedalia congregation. The date was July 19, were the Gesaogbucb with its chorales, and 1932. Sunday School teacher G. G. Baergen is with the group. Photo courtesy of Irene the Dreibaod, a three part collection of Klassen. somewhat livelier songs. It seems that the preacher chose whichever he preferred. He would read a line or two and the Vorsaenger The Neukircher Mennonlten Gemeinde would start the singing, the preacher read the next few lines and so on throughout the von Chinook-Sedalia (1928-1950) numerous verses. Even without notes, or any By Irene Epp Klassen instrumental accompaniment, the congrega tion always sang in four-part harmony, and Who can say of any life, a person, a com already shown its vacillating climatic moods, they sang well. munity, or a congregation, that it was lived and discouraged pioneers were now eager to With high hopes and in great faith, a fully in vain? The Neukircher Mennoniten (Kir sell. Some of them were also eager to take responsible congregation stepped forth. chliche) Gemeinde von Chinook-Sedalia was advantage of these "ignorant greenhorns" Because of the great distances, two major born, budded and died, perhaps a premature and they did just that. sub-divisions were created, the South at death. But can it be said that it bore no fruit? The terms of purchase - no cash down Chinook and the North at Sedalia. These This is my tribute to a congregation of payment, half the crop share for up to 15 people had come from many and varied which I was a part, and which left its imprint years, plus taxes, plus seed, plus all other ex backgrounds in Russia, each person with his on me. penses - seemed reasonable enough in those own ideals, so during the following years in When, in the mid-1920s, the newly arriv first good years. Later they proved Quite ternal struggles did exist. ed Mennonite immigrants sought farms in disastrous. Although the group was mainly General western Canada, there was an area in eastern Before long over 300 Mennonites (about Conference, the Mennonite Brethren and the Alberta that became available. It extended 50 families) had purchased farms either Alliance were also represented, and their from the Saskatchewan border between the through the Colonization Board or private preachers, G. Harder, G. Huebert and C. main CNR Saskatoon to Calgary line, ly. Addresses included Chinook, Cereal, Ex Penner, were generally accepted. Some of the through Chinook, in the south, and the CPR cel, Naco, Sedalia, New Brigden, Esther, mission funds were divided among the Con line through Consort in the north - a span and Monitor. ferences; there was even a baptism service for of about 40 miles. In 1926 the CNR built a On March 14, 1928, the first brotherhood the Mennonite Brethren; Bibelbesprechungen spur line which dissected the area at Sedalia, meeting was called and the Neukircher Men (Bible studies) were conducted by ministers and although the train ran only once a week, noniten Gemeinde von Chinook-Sedalia was from both conferences. Some rivalry arose it did improve communication and especial born. William Martens, who had been large at times, but the people sought to settle dif ly grain shipment tremendously. ly responsible for collecting all the loosely ferences amicably, since their chosen motto The area had been settled about 20 years grouped and scattered people, was given the stated: "Let all things be done decently and earlier. However, being just within the boun leadership. Other ministers in the group at in order" (I Corinthians 14:40). dary of the infamous Palliser Triangle, it had that time were Heinrich Janzen, Cornelius (to be concluded) Page 2 Family Sludies U of M Genealogy Course Hughes Arnett in 1922 as a theme song fOl The Continuing Education Division of the the province ofManitoba. It appears to have MHC Genealogy Sources University of Manitoba will be offering a been laught in many schools after that. genealogy cour e beginning on February 7, ·H yOU were taught that song, and Conclusion 1983. The:: course will continue for 10 weeks, remember it, or if you can tell me something The first section of this article appeared Monday nights from 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. about that performance at the Legislative in the June, 1982 issue of Mennonite As an introductory course, the study is Building, write to: . Historian. designed to "provide a basic grounding in Ed Thornhill genealogical re earch, with emphasis on c/o Manitoba Seniors Journal Maps beginning and organizing the research pro 1102 Childs Bldg. These help to pinpoint origins, and create cess." Eric Jonasson, founder and past presi 211 Portage Ave. background information for family studies. dent of the Manitoba Genealogical Society Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2A2 will be tbe instructor. Tuition is $65.00. P.S. The .melody and words of Genealogical Publications If interested, please contact Dr. James "Manitoba" were reprinted in Manitoba German Mennonites like RH. Unruh, G. B. Hartman or Eilain Stevenson at the Con Seniors Journal for utumn, 1982, p. 6. Reimer, K. Kauenhofen, etc. have publish inuing Education Division. Call 261-5760 or amples of the reprint are a ailable on re ed useful studies on Mennonite families and loll free 1-800-432-1904. quest. Enclose a tamped envelope for an names. Unruh's valuable book on the Dutch answer. Prussian backgrounds of the Mennonites in More on Reunions Russia is still available at the Canadian Men A Stoe z reunion (descendants of six FOR SALE nonite Bible College bookstore. The Centre toe z wbo came to anitoba 1874-80, also subscribes to several genealogical jour Mary, Anna, Katharina, Jacob, Cornelius First Mennonite hurcb in Saskatoon nals which are very helpful sometimes. and David) was celebrated on June 19-20, 1932·1.982 1982 at lhe Winkler Bible School. It was The history of the congregation from its Mennonite Historical Library at C.M.B.C. planned by Mary Wiebe of Portage la Prairie early beginnings to the present. 320 p., This may be the largest collection of Men .and Ed toe z of Winnipeg. George Unger 307 photos. nonite history materials in Canada. Most of of orton, III. has collected much material Price: $25.00, plus $1.60 postage. it can be used on loan from the library, and on mo .1 of the lin ofCornelius and Jacob. Order from: offers a broad selection of information for First ennonite Church background materials on family studies. The H. Dyck family held a reunion on ugu t 14-15 in win Current, Saskat- 418 Queen Sl. chewan. he Dyck family formerly re ided Saskatoon, a katcbewan Titles useful for family studies: (brackets at Waldheim, Sask. Among the guests were S7K OM3 . show what MHC Archives has on hand). persons from Indiana and Omaha, Archiv fuer Sippenforschung (1961-1968) Nebraska. Baxter, Angus. In Search of Your Roots. A Family Album - Patkau, Harder, Krahn Guide for Canadians Seeking Their In Edenthal, Manitoba, the grandchildren Ancestors. Toronto, Macmillan of of the late Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Wiebe met A family tree of each seven generations Canada, 1978. last summer at the Rempel horne. About 600 of Jacob Paetkau (1759-1818); Marten Clues (published by the American Historical Wiebe cousins attended, some from as far Harder (l 39-1891), and Johann Krahn Society of Germans from Russia away as St. John, N.B. (1763- ?) 320 p., 297 photos,plus stories. 1973-present). Price: S40.00 Doane, Gilbert H. Searching for Your Research Requests Order from: Ancestors. The How and Why of Genea I am looking for information about the Esther Patkau logy (Bantam Books, 1974). Paperback. family of Cornelius Huebert (1835-1897). We 2206 Wiggins Ave. Jonasson, Eric. The Canadian genealogical know that he was born at Schoenwiese in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan handbook: a comprehensive guide to fin· Ukraine, and that he married Anna Wiebe, S7J lW7 ding your ancestors in Canada. Winnipeg, a widow with four girls from an eartier mar Wheatfield Press, 1978. riage. Any pictures, or other information Mennonite Family History (1982- ) Meditations on a Place about the C. Huebert family would be very and a Way of Life Mitteilungen des ippenb ndes der Danziger helpful. Mennoniten Familien (l926-1939?). If you have anything, please write to: Unruh, B.H. Die niederlaendisch-nieder By Ken Loewen and Margaret Loewen Victor Huebert Reimer deutschen Hintergruende der mennoni R.R.2 tischen Ostwanderungen im 16., 18. und Ruthven, Ontario Selection of black and white photos by 19. Jabr hundert. (Karlsruhe, Germany, NOP 2GO (1955). Ken Loewen, with selected suitable text by Margaret Loewen Reimer. 128 p., pb. $14.95 For fUl:ther details write for an article en I am looking for information about the titled "Canadian Sources for Mennonite performance of a song entitled "Manitoba" Order from: Genealogies - The Mennonite Heritage Cen in the Legislative Buildings around 1927.