Johann Duerksen
Born: July 6, 1833
Place: Alexanderthal, Molotschna colony, South Russia
Died: April 27, 1891
Place: Marion County, Kansas
MOTHER:
Helena Boldt (Unknown - Unknown)
FATHER:
Johann Duerksen (3/11/1798 - Unknown)
Born in Marienwerder, South Russia
SIBLINGS:
Heinrich Duerksen
Peter Duerksen
Cornelius Duerksen
Jacob Duerksen
Gerhard Duerksen
Eva Duerksen
Two other siblings - Names Unknown
SPOUSE:
Aganetha Balzer
Married: June 4, 1857
Place: South Russia
CHILDREN:
Maria B. Duerksen
Johann J. Duerksen
Heinrich J. Duerksen
Helena B. Duerksen
Peter J. Duerksen
Katherina B. Duerksen
Jacob J. Duerksen (1/16/1867-1/25/1867)
Cornelius B. Duerksen
Aganetha Duerksen
Gerhard J. Duerksen
Eva B. Duerksen
Anna B. Duerksen
Susanna B. Duerksen
David B. Duerksen
JOHANN and AGANETHA (BALZER) DUERKSEN
Written by Grandson Jacob A. Duerksen
In the eighteen thirties there lived a Johann and Helena Boldt Duerksen in the village of Alexanderthal in the Molotschna colony is South Russia, about 45 miles northwest of Berdyansk on the Black Sea. Johann Duerksen was generally known by the nickname “Ol Ohm Yehaun” meaning in English “Uncle John the oil man”. He had acquired this nickname, according to C.H. Friesen, because he had an oil press for pressing oil from hedge mustard (Hadrick or Hederich), a common weed with yellow flowers in the wheat fields in Russia. The oil was used for lamps in the homes. The Russian peasants also used this oil as a substitute for lard during the fasting season of Lent. This Johann Duerksen family belonged to the Frisian Mennonite Church in Rudnerweide, where Benjamin Ratzlaff was elder at this time.
At the age of 24, his son Johann married Aganetha Balzer from Alexanderwohl, the oldest daughter of Heinrich Baltzers, who were also members of the Rudnerweide Church. The young couple settled in Alexanderthal also, where their 4 oldest children were born. In 1862 they moved 10 miles northwest to the village Gnadenthal where the 10 younger children were born. While living in Gnadenthal, according to tradition, they worshipped in the Margenau Church. In late spring of 1878, the Johann Duerksens with their family of 13 children and their parents, Heinrich Baltzers, left Russia for the United States. They crossed the Atlantic Ocean on the German steamship “Strassburg” from Bremen to New York, arriving on July 2 in New York, and July 4th at Peabody, Kansas.
(Left to Right) Back Row: Maria and Johann
Front Row: Aganetha, Wife Aganetha, Eva, Johann, Gerhard, Cornelius
The grandparents Duerksens settled on the southwest quarter of Section 18 in Liberty Township, Marion County, Kansas. Grandfather bought this farm for $8.00 an acre from a Mr. Kreis, who lived in a sod house. In the early years the land was mostly tilled with oxen, later giving way to horses. The horse-drawn steam engine was used for many years for threshing the grains. Their best corn crop in the early years yielded 90 bushels to the acre. Grandfather was known as a frugal farmer, accumulating several sections of land before he died, so that each child inherited about 120 acres.
Three serious misfortunes befell the Johann Duerksen family within the short span of six years. In the summer of 1885 while the men-folk and some of the older girls were harvesting wheat on a distant field, lightening struck their family home with the result that the house and barn with furniture and equipment burned down. Practically nothing was saved.
Four years later, in 1889, a severe horse epidemic struck this part of Kansas, locally known as “Stampa” or “Distemper”, but according to a veterinarian was probably the dreaded “Strangles”. The county inspector condemned 5 of grandfather’s horses to be shot. About a month later when there was no sign of illness left among the horses, the sheriff shot the five horses.
Then in spring of 1891, at the age of 55, grandfather died very suddenly of a heart attack at the supper table.
In Kansas, the grandparents joined the (Flemish) Alexanderwohl Church, where several of grandmother’s sisters, one brother’s family and the Grandfather’s brother Heinrich had joined several years earlier.
Grandfather had either no schooling or only very little for he could not read nor write when they were married. Grandmother taught him to read after they were married.
In 1892 Grandmother was married for the second time, when she became the wife of Jacob Krause. They continued to live on the Duerksen farm until 1903 when Grandmother passed away rather suddenly.
