John P. Janzen
Born: April 12, 1863
Place: Kleefeld, South Russia
Died: December 4, 1932
Place: Marion County, Kansas
MOTHER:
Eva Flaming
FATHER:
Peter F. Janzen
SIBLINGS:
Elizabeth Janzen
Eva Janzen (2/6/1855 - 3/6/1855)
Maria Janzen
Peter P. Janzen
Franz Janzen (died at age 14)
Aganetha Janzen
Jacob P. Janzen
Katharina Janzen
SPOUSE:
Katharine Ratzlaff
Married: October 22, 1889
Place: __________
CHILDREN:
Katharine Janzen (8/1/1890 - 8/10/1890)
Katharine Janzen (8/4/1891 - 4/15/1896)
Benjamine Janzen (11/25/1894 - 4/11/1896)
Lena (Helena) Janzen
Eva Janzen
Benjamin Janzen
George Janzen
Justina Janzen
Marie Janzen
Susie Janzen (3/20/1908 - 7/7/1909)
Widowed: December 17, 1908
SPOUSE:
Sara Schroeder
Married: November 11, 1910
Place: __________
CHILDREN:
Otto Janzen (6/15/1913 - 6/15/1913)
Sara Janzen
Ruth Janzen
BIOGRAPHY
John P. Janzen was born on April 12, 1863 in Kleefeld, South Russia. He was the sixth of nine children born to Peter F. and Eva (Flaming) Janzen. John was raised and educated in Russia until age 12 when his family immigrated to America.
In July 1875, Peter and Eva Janzen, their children and the Franz Janzen family sold what they could; foresaking the remainder of their possessions, other brothers, sisters and relatives; and left to emigrate to the United States. They left Europe from Antwerp, Belgium, sailing on the steamship, "State of Nevada" and arrived in New York on August 4, 1875. On their journey across the United States, John’s older brother Franz (age 14) drowned at a Mennonite stop-over place in Summerfield, Illinois. Following the emigration journey, the families settled near Goessel, Kansas.
John was married to Katherine Ratzlaff on October 22, 1889 at Tabor Mennonite Church near Goessel, Kansas. To this marriage, 10 children were born, 5 of whom died in infancy. After Katherina passed away, John knew he needed help taking care of the children. Attending a funeral he sat with a friend up front where the casket stood on display. He agreed with his friend that the first single woman he liked he would ask to marry. It wasn't too long before his friend nudged him in the ribs and asked, "What about her?" pointing to Sara. "Yeah, she looks pretty good." John admitted.
The next day John walked over to her house and asked her to be his bride which was responded to with a quick "No!" Sara later went out behind the house and prayer about it for a long time and later agreed to be married with John. John and Sara were married on November 12, 1910 at Tabor Mennonite Church. They grew fonder of each other as time went on and added three more children to the Janzen family.
John was a kind and gentle man. When bums or hobos passed by he would always give them a hot meal and if they needed a place to sleep, John would allow them to bunk in the barn loft for the night.
He was also a big family man. Once a year he would take the entire family (approximately 40 people) on vacation. They would usually travel around Kansas and Oklahoma going sight seeing. That was a real treat and a good size vacation in those days.
JANZEN FAMILY REUNION
(L-R): Rev. Gerhard G. Kliewer, Elizabeth Janzen Kliewer, Henry H. Penner, Katherina Janzen Penner, Katherina Ratzlaff Janzen, John P. Janzen, Eva Flaming Janzen, Henry P. Hiebert, Marie Janzen Hiebert, Anna S. Janzen, Peter P. Janzen, Aganetha Janzen Voth, John H. Voth, Elizabeth R. Janzen, Jacob P. Janzen
John spent the remainder of his years in Marion County, Kansas as a Mennonite Farmer until his death on December 4, 1932. He died at age 69.
