Jacob D Wiens

Jacob Wiens was no stranger to hardship. He and his wife Maria started a new life in Manitoba. They had already lost two daughters but continued to expand their family. In 1881, a diptheria epidemic spread through the colony and Jacob lost his entire family with the exception of Peter. Over the next few years Jacob and Peter spent a great deal of time with each other, but Jacob finally decided it was time to remarry. He married Elizabeth Harder and had four children. When Elizabeth died, the two youngest children were sent to live with Elizabeth's sister Anna and her husband Johann Peters. Jacob raised the two older boys. Jacob was a tinsmith by trade. He was very concerned about the future of the next generation. He was afraid they would forget their roots. He taught the German language to the young people in an effort to keep the culture alive.

(Information received from Darlene Ward)