Martin B. Doerksen
Born: October 13, 1835
Place: Fischau, South Russia
Died: November 30, 1896
Place: Inman, Kansas
MOTHER:
Helena Boshman
FATHER:
Martin Doerksen
SIBLINGS:
Unknown
SPOUSE:
Katherina Goertzen (died: 12/13/1871)
Married: October 29, 1857
Place: South Russia
CHILDREN:
Peter M. Doerksen
Eight other children - Names Unknown
(Four of whom died in infancy)
Widowed: December 13, 1871
SPOUSE:
Maria Wiens (died: 3/31/1904)
Married: January 1, 1878
Place: Inman, Kansas
CHILDREN:
Nine children - Names Unknown
(Two of whom died in infancy)
BIOGRAPHY
Martin Doerksen, the fifth son of Martin and Helena (Boshman) Doerksen, was born in Fischau, South Russia on October 13, 1835. On October 29, 1857, he married Katherina Goertzen, who died on December 13, 1871 in Russia. Nine children where born to them but four of them died in infancy.
In 1877, he came to America from Fischau, South Russia, on the ship "Vaterland". On July 4, 1877, they arrived at Burrton, Kansas. Amid pops and bangs they stepped off the train. They had left Russia mostly for military reasons and now they feared they were in the midst of war. But no, they had only experienced their first 4th of July.
He settled near Inman, Kansas, and on January 1, 1878, he married Maria Wiens. Nine children were born to them, but two died in infancy. On April 19, 1881, he was ordained as a minister of the Bethel Mennonite Church near Inman, Kansas, where he served until his death. Of his six sons who reached maturity, three became ministers.
On November 30, 1896, after 19 years in America, Martin passed away. He was 61 years old.
