There was but one broad street, protected from the dust of wagons and livestock by rows of oaks, birch, and chestnuts. The houses stood on large lots of about ten acres each, laid out at right angles to strips of arable land. There was a large backyard, with a patch of ground for raising vegetable truck [sic], and an orchard of apple, apricot, cherry, peach, pear, and plum trees.

At the end of the street were the shops. There were few of them, and only one of each kind, for most of the handicrafts - woodworking, tailoring, cloth weaving, etc. - were carried on in the houses or barns of the villagers. There was also a tavern, at the west end of the street, on the crossroads to Perekop, which, according to contemporary accounts, was frequented by some villagers.

On the outskirts of the village, beyond the shops and houses, were the cottages of the Anwohner the artisans and laborers -who could not obtain land to farm, and who had to content themselves with a few acres of ground on which they raised fruits and vegetables.

Abraham doubtless attended the village school, probably taught by a tradesman and held in a dingy room of the hovel occupied by the latter and his family. On its walls, according to a contemporary account, were found saws, planes, and other tools of the schoolmaster's craft, and above the long Mennonite stove were found socks, trousers, and other clothing hung up by his wife. The schoolmaster, it is said, "took up one subject after another, just as it occurred to him." He knew nothing of advanced preparation. He knew nothing of books that might help him educate himself, for his entire library consisted of a 17th century book of family devotions, a few books of fables, and an arithmetic [book]. Since he knew little about how to arouse interest, and even less how to sustain it, his pupils hardly developed a zest for learning and naturally devised a thousand ways in which to dawdle away their time. He fussed, scolded, swore, and yelled at them; made them kneel on pease [sic] and sticks; put dunce caps on their heads; [and] whacked them on their hands, heads, and mouths; and all these measures he justified as "needed severity and required discipline." His instruction, during the few first years, consisted of teaching the alphabet, which was followed by reading exercises, conducted in a monotonous routine, and made doubly difficult by the fact that no two pupils had the same readers. He also required a great deal of memorization, for his pupils had mechanically to repeat the Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments, and to rattle off prayers at the beginning and end of each class.

After receiving his elementary education, Abraham, if he followed the course of most Mennonite lads, served as a laborer on his father's farm until he became of age. At that time, the Mennonites in South Russia were quite prosperous. They had learned to employ efficient agricultural methods, largely as a result of the influence of Johann Cornies (1789 - 1848), the son of a Prussian distiller, who did more in his time to improve the economic, educational, and cultural conditions of the Russian Mennonites than any other person. His wife was Aganetha (Agnes) Klassen, probably a relative. In 1817, he formed an agricultural society to promote good farming practices. He established a model farm in the nearby village of Orloff and later settled on an estate nearby, which, according to a German visitor, became "a model of order and organization and included most of the branches of agriculture and domestic science."

The Mennonites turned from cattle-raising, which was their chief means of livelihood in pioneer days, to sheep-raising in the 1830's, and to the production of cereal crops in the 1850's. For sheep-raising, they rented the fallow-lying government lands, and for cereal-raising they plowed up most of the land they owned. As early as 1838, they began a system of four-crop rotation.

When Abraham became of age, in 1849, the land shortage had become acute. The population of the colonies had greatly increased since the time of settlement. Children, who were an economic asset in pioneer days, became an economic liability a generation later. There was no land for the newcomers to farm, for government regulations, as we noted, prohibited the subdivision of standard-size farms, and nearby government land already had been appropriated. By 1860, nearly two-thirds of the Mennonites in the Molotschna were landless.

Abraham was doubtless one of the landless group. He was the youngest of four sons in his father's family, and as such was not entitled to succeed to the management of his father's farm. His activities, from 1849 - 1874, when he left Russia, indicate that he was not tied down to a particular place. After his marriage, in 1851, he lived at Neukirch, probably working as a farm laborer. He remained there for fifteen years, and his first eight children were born there. In 1866, he moved to Prangenau, the neighboring village a few miles to the east, where he remained until he migrated to the New World.

Abraham was brought up in the pious, if not dour, atmosphere of the Kleine Gemeinde. In the three decades since its establishment, this sect had won few adherents. Its members regarded themselves as a small remnant of the saved, as "brands rescued from the burning", and they met for religious services in homes, for they did not attain sufficient numerical strength to build their own meeting house.

Abraham became a preacher among them. He was able to shepherd his flock through difficult times, guiding them by precept and example, and keeping them on the paths of righteousness. It is reported that never were any of his sect involved in disputes or in misdemeanors that brought them to the attention of civil authorities. His preaching, if it was typical of that of his associates, was very serious in its tenor. He admonished his listeners to repent and to live in the fear of God. Events in the world, and particularly the perennial "wars and rumors of wars", he interpreted as evidence of the approach of Judgment Day, for which he warned everyone to be ready.

In 1874, Abraham decided to leave Russia. On July 21st of that year, he joined other members of the Kleine Gemeinde in a mass migration to the New World. Sixty families, comprising about 800 persons, went to Manitoba, and thirty-six families to Nebraska. The Manitoba group settled in two areas set aside for them by the Canadian government: the East Reserve and the West Reserve.

The Abraham Klaassen family settled in the East Reserve, an area just east of the Red River, about twenty miles southeast of Winnipeg. They arrived there on September 8th. They, and their religious compatriots, established villages similar to those left behind in Russia. They built rows of houses parallel to section lines, usually running east and west as a protection against the north winds. They fanned the arable land in common, each villager being given a share of the fields set aside for cultivation. They used the remaining land as hayland, pasture, and woodland. They also pastured their livestock in common.

The establishment of a new home on the cold prairies of Manitoba was difficult. "I looked with team on the place that I had chosen as my home site," wrote a pioneer Mennonite settler, "without a structure, a house, a chair, a bed; without a horse, a cow; without meat, flour, dishes, spoons everything was lacking." As many other settlers, the Klaassens found prospects in Manitoba a little too bleak and, after residing there ten months, moved to the United States. In July, 1875, they arrived in Marion County, Kansas, where they settled in the village of Alexanderfeld, southwest of Hillsboro.

Before the Mennonites came to Kansas, the central part of the State was a vast rolling prairie that reached as far as the eye could see. Its endless vistas were broken only by a few cottonwood trees along the banks of creeks. Roads consisted mainly of trails across open fields, and signs of human habitation were few.

In 1874, the year the Klaassens arrived in Canada, about four hundred Mennonite families settled in Marion, Reno, McPherson, and Harvey Counties [in Kansas]. The settlers in Marion County included members of the Krimmer Mennonite Brethren Church, who established themselves on twelve sections of land in Risley Township, which had been purchased by the Elder Jacob A. Wiebe (1836 - 1921) from the Santa Fe Railroad. They also included a large number of German Lutherans from the Volga Region, who settled mainly to the north of Hillsboro. By 1880, as census schedules reveal, about 1,300 German-speaking families, comprising 7,000 persons, had settled in the four central counties of Kansas. Seventy-four percent of these were from Russia, seventeen percent from Poland, and nine percent from Germany.

In 1879, Abraham Klaassen became a member and served as a preacher of the Krimmer Mennonite Brethren Church in Gnadenau [Kansas]. The relationship between the Kleine Gerneinde and the Krimmer Gemeinde had been close from the very beginning of the latter sect. Elder Wiebe had become acquainted with the Kleine Gemeinde while he worked as a hired hand in the Molotschna. In 1867, he invited Johann Friesen, elder of the Kleine Gemeinde to visit his village at Annafeld in the Crimea to help organize a congregation. When Friesen, on his arrival, refused to be rebaptized in the manner prescribed by Wiebe, the latter formed his own church (1869). The transfer for the Klaassens from the Kleine Gemeinde to the Krimmer was thus not difficult.

Abraham outlived both his father and grandfather by at least twenty years. He died at the age of seventy-nine, and is buried in the family graveyard on his farm at Alexanderfeld [one mile west and one-half mile south of Hillsboro, Kansas].

On November 15, 1851, Abraham married Helena Martens (May 28, 1833 - May 6, 1894) at the village of Blumenort, in the Molotschna, colony, in Russia. Helena's parents came from the village of Zeyersvorderkampen, Prussia, located in an area reclaimed from the sea, near Elbing. They were Gerhard Martens (ca. 1789 - Jan. 31, 1842) and Anna Klein (Nov. 26, 1801 - April 30, 1889). In 1827, they migrated to Russia and settled in the village of Blumenort, where Helena was born.

Since her husband's income as a farm laborer was small, Helena managed to make the few acres on which she lived virtually self-sufficient. She produced the food for the table, and even much of the clothing. The meat came from the hogs and chickens that were raised; the fruits from the orchard; and the vegetables from the truck garden. Potatoes were a main item of diet. A memento, produced by Helena, is on display in our farmhouse in Virginia. It is a sampler she made shortly after her marriage, in 1854, while she was living in the village of Neukirch. She is buried in the family graveyard at Alexanderfeld [one mile west and one-half mile south of Hillsboro, Kansas].

Since my children Peter and Maria Klaassen requested me to write my family tree in this, I will do it today the 28th day of March 1900. [This is the] Family Tree of Abraham Klaassen, Hillsboro, Kansas - which I have gathered from the letters from Germany and Russia.

My father Johann Klaassen was born in West Prussia on the 19th of July 1785. In 1804, he with his parents Johann Klaassens immigrated to Russia.

My Grandfather settled down in the Molotschna, Colony [of] Tiege. They had three sons at this time Abraham, Johann, Jacob. Grandfather died in October, 1812. He was 54 years old. Grandmother died Nov. 30, 1818 at the age of 66 years.

My Mother, Aganetha Regieren, was born the 28th of August 1793 in West Prussia. Her Father (my Grandfather) Peter Regieren immigrated to Russia in 1806 and settled in Ekaterinoslov [sic]. He was a watchmaker. Both Grandparents lived in Russia only a few years before they died.

On Sept. 20, 1811 (old calendar), my parents were married in Ekaterinoslov [sic] and then moved to the Molotschna Colony. My father Johann Klaassen died on Oct. 28th, 1841. His age was 56 years, 2 months, 21 days. [He] was buried in Tiegerweide. My dear Mother died on the 24th of Dec., 1863. Her age was 70 years, 3 months and 25 days. She was living with her children Peter Gossens [sic], on a village sheep farm.

The following are my [Abraham Klaassen 1828 - 1906] Geschwister (brothers and sisters):

~~ Helena: August 25, 1812, my sister Helena was born. [In] Feb. 1832, she was married to David Friesen, Halbstadt. Sept. 21, 1892, she died being 80 years, 1 month old. David Friesen got to be 85 years old before he died.

~~ Aganetha: August 22, 1814, my sister Aganetha was born. In 1836, she was married to Peter Wiebe of Tiegerweide. In 1842, Peter Wiebe passed away. July 1843, Aganetha, my sister, died. The Wiebe family consisted of 4 children, one son and 3 daughters. One daughter, I think, is still living in today (March 28, 1900) she is a Mrs. Cornelious Dueksche in Halbstadt, Molotschna Colony, Russia.

~~ Johann: On. October 11, 1816, my brother Johann was born. [He] was married to Anna Jantzen, Petershagen, on Nov. 28, 1839. Johann died on July 22, 1888. His wife died a few years earlier in Kansas, America.

~~ Abraham: October 14, 1818, my brother Abraham was born. He only lived to be "2" years, 6 months old.

~~ Jacob: Dec. 8, 1820, my brother Jacob was born. He died at the age of 1 year, 27 days.

~~ Catherina: 1823, Jan. 25, my sister Catherina, was born. On Nov. 14, 1844, she married Gerhard Koopp, Tiegerweide. Gerhard Koopp died in Gnadenheim in 1890. My sister Catherina is still living today (March 28, 1900) in Kleefeld, Russia.

~~ Maria: 1825, May 21, my sister Maria was born. 1844, Nov. 14, she married Abraham Klaassen. Abraham Klaassen died in May, 1894, sister Maria in 1895, Nov. 25. They both died in Ladekopp.

** Abraham: 1828, Sept. 9, 1 - Abraham Klaassen - was born (old calendar). 1851, Nov. 15, I was married to Helena Martens, from Blumenort. 1874, July 21, we and my family immigrated to America. Our son Abraham stayed in Russia for 9 more years and then immigrated to Kansas, America. They had three children at that time. 1833, May 28 (new calendar) our mother (my wife) Helena Martens was born in Blumenort. She passed away on May 6th, 1894. [She] was 66 years, 11 months, 9 days [old]. She is now resting with Jesus with our other blessed ones.

~~ Adelgunda: 1830, Dec. 9, my sister Adelgunda was born. She married Peter Gossen [sic] from Schonsee on Dec. 8, 1849. She passed away on March 24, 1890.

~~ Anna: 1833, April 22, my sister Anna was born. 1852, Nov. 1, she married Johann Ensz, Orloff. 1890, Dec. 8, she passed. The dear brother-in-law, I think, died the following year.

~~ Margaretha: 1836, April 19, my sister Margaretha was born. 1874, Dec. 1, she passed away. [She] was 38 years, 8 months old. Sister Margaretha was married to Issac Berg [sic], Blumenort. I think there are 2 sons and 4 daughters still living today (March 29, 1900). Brother-in-law Issac Berg, I think, is still living.

Family Register of Gerhard Martens (my father-in-law):

~~ Gerhard Martens: 1789, Gerhard Martens was born in West Prussia. 1842, Jan. 31, he died. His age was 53 years, 9 months, 10 days.

~~ Anna Klein: 1801, September 26, my mother-in-law Anna Klein was born. She died April 30, 1889. They were both (I think) from West Prussia, from around Zeiens von der kamp [Zeyersvorderkampen] where they were married on June 7, 1820. In 1827, they immigrated (with a family of three children) to Russia. My mother-in-law married again to Diedrich Walde, Blumenort. They lived together 47 years and both died in 1889 at Blumenort.

They [Gerhard Martens and Anna Klein] had 5 children from the marriage, which follow:

~~ Gerhard: 1823, March 27, a son Gerhard was born. [He] lived only until May 4, 1823.

~~ Anna: 1824, April 19, a daughter Anna was born. She married Jacob Warkentin [sic], Neukirch. She died in Feb. 1862. She left four children (3 sons and 1 daughter) who, I think, are still living today (March 29, 1900).

~~ Maria: 1827, Jan. 18, my wife's sister Maria was born. She died on Dec. 30, 1841. She got to be 14 years, 11 months, 24 days old.

~~ Gerhard: 1829, June 17th, my brother-in-law Gerhard Martens was born. He was married to Maria Boschman from Fischaw. She died in 1877 near Hoffnungsthal. They had 2 children, Gerhard and Catherina.

~~ Helena: 1833, May 28, (new calendar) our mother Helena Martens (my wife) was born (as mentioned earlier). She passed away to her eternal rest on May 6, 1894.

Now follow our [Abraham Klaassen 1828 - 1906 and Helena Martens 1833 - 1894] children:

~~ Abraham: Abraham [was] born Sept. 30, 1852, in Neukirch. He married Susanna Kroeker on Jan. 10, 1852, in Prangenau.

~~ Anna: Anna was born Dec. 13, 1853, lived only six weeks, 2 days.

~~ Daughter: Another daughter was born Oct. 2, 1855, lived only 2 weeks, six days.

~~ Johann: Johann was born on May 29, 1857 (old calendar). He married Maria Jost on April 17, 1878. She passed away on Oct. 10, 1899. They had eleven children. He married again to Maria Dahl (nee Poeteker)[sic] Jan. 28, 1900.

~~ Helena: Helena was born on February ( ? ), 1859. On Dec. 25, 1878, she married Jacob Harms. He passed away at nine o'clock in the morning of Oct. 9, 1887. On May 13, 1897 Helena Harms (nee Klaassen) married Jacob I. Regehr from Manitoba, Canada.

~~ Gerhard: 1860, July 31, our son Gerhard was born. On Nov. 14, 1880 he married Maria Harms.

~~ Jacob: 1862, March 2, on a Friday, Jacob, our son, was born. In June, 1883, he married Anna Regher.

~~ Peter: 1864, Jan. 4, our son Peter was born. He died at birth.

~~ Anna: On Dec. 21, 1864, our daughter Anna was born in Neukirch, Russia. 1886, Sept. 12, she married Johann Regier from Hoffnungsthal.

~~ Aganetha: 1868, our daughter Aganetha was born on Nov. 21. She married Abraham Groening on Jan. 8, 1888.

~~ Peter: 1870, Oct. 28 our son Peter was born in Prangenau, Russia. [Note, by translator, "This must be by the old calendar as we always celebrated his birthday on the 9th of November" - Lydia Martens.] He married Maria Jantzen, born in Gnadenfeld, on Jan. 20, 1892 (new calendar) from Hillsboro, Kansas.

~~ Catherina and David: 1872, April 10, on a Monday, twins were born - Catherina and David. The baby boy died after 8 days and the baby girl got to be 3 weeks old when she died too.

~~ Catherina: 1874, on Dec. 13, a little daughter, Catherina, was born. She lived only a few weeks. She was born near the Ckratschen River, in Manitoba, Canada.

~~ David: 1876, in spring our son David was born, dying soon after birth. He was born in Kansas.

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page