Abraham L. Plett

Birth: May 6, 1859, Ukraine Death: Oct. 15, 1934 Saskatchewan, Canada

Abraham L. Plett grew up on a bustling Wirtschaft (farm) in Kleefeld, Molotschna, South Russia. One of his fond memories was the sound of Russian workers lustily singing as they were driven off to the fields after being treated to a shot of “schnapps” on his parent's yard. One time Abraham and “some other boys were playing outside when they happened to bump into a bee's nest. The bees came out and started to attack the boys. They ran away as fast as they could except for Abraham who stayed behind. The boys yelled, 'Rann, Obrum rann!' But Abraham yelled back, 'Ein Platt rant nich!' He got badly swollen up and was sick for several days but he didn't run.”

On August 4, 1878 – in his nineteenth year – Abraham L. Plett affirmed his commitment to following Jesus Christ and was baptized upon communal confession of his faith by Aeltester Peter Toews in the barn of Peter W. Toews, Blumenort, Manitoba, Canada. Also being baptized was a young attractive woman, Gertruda Barkman Koop, born November 21, 1861, in Mariawohl, Imperial Russia. Soon Abraham followed the example of older brother Peter and started courting at the home of her parents, Johann and Katharina Koop in Neuanlage four miles to the southwest of Blumehof. Following tradition, Abraham's parents visited the Koop home and officially presented his marriage proposal. After consulting with Gertruda, Johann and Katharina Koop agreed.

Within six years, Abraham's younger brothers, David and Jacob, would follow his example and marry Helena and Maria, Gertruda's younger sisters. The three sets of double siblings were very close and nurtured an intimate lifelong relationship which enriched their lives immensely. During the years to come, 15 children were born to Abraham and Gertruda, three of whom died in infancy.

Abraham filed for his own homestead on March 21, 1879. The 1881 assessment rolls list him as a Vollwirt (full farm owner). Abraham, like most of his neighbors, soon decided to focus on dairying and market farming.

Abraham became mayor or Schulz of the village of Blumenhof in 1887 – the year the village disbanded. The dissolution of Blumenhof involved much negotiating and discussion. All except Cornelius and Johann L. Plett had to surrender their farmyards in the village and relocate to their own quarter sections. The rest established themselves on their land with individual title holdings in North American fashion.

In 1981 old-timers such as Peter A. Plett and Jacob W. Friesen remembered that Abraham operated a threshing company with an up-right stationary steam engine. This business sideline revealed Abraham's love of modern farm machinery which enabled him to increase his land holdings and grain averages.

Typhoid struck the Blumenhof community in 1900 taking the lives of family members, including two of Abraham and Gertruda's children: Helena – age 6, and Jacob – 9 months old. The children were buried in a small graveyard at the northeast corner of the Abraham L. Plett yard, where another son, Cornelius, only three weeks old, had been buried in 1893. Within a month, Abraham's older brother Johann, and father, Cornelius, had also fallen victim to typhoid.

Abraham had a warm outgoing disposition and was well-liked not only in his own community but also by his French and English neighbors. He had a sense of humor. Abraham knew how to work the land and loved to work hard. He did not believe in sports. To play a game of ball he considered absolutely useless. He was a strong, healthy man. Son Peter claimed he had never even seen his father sick in bed a day in his life.

He was a man of his word. In his day, a man's word was his bond, particularly among the Mennonites. He loyally supported the consensus of the brotherhood, whether he personally agreed or not. Conservative Mennonites believed it was wrong to take photographs as creating a false likeness before God. Abraham honored the wishes of his spiritual community and never posed for a picture.

Abraham was killed in a car accident near Foam Lake on a trip to Saskatchewan to visit his brother-in-law who had cancer. Four people were in the car when they lost control in loose gravel and overturned. Only Abraham died. He had a large funeral in the Blumenort church.

Info from the book: Johann Plett: A Mennonite Family Saga, by Delbert Plett.

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Birth: 6 May 1859, Kleefeld, Molotschna, South Russia

Baptism: 4 Aug 1878, Manitoba

Immigration: 18 Jun 1875, S. S. Prussian; arrived Quebec City, Quebec

Death: 15 Oct 1934

Family: SPOUSE: Koop, Gertrude B., 25 Nov 1861 Married: 21 Nov 1879; Manitoba

Children: 1 Plett, Sarah K., 1 Dec 1881 2 Plett, Johann A. K., 1 Mar 1883 3 Plett, Abraham K., 27 Aug 1884 4 Plett, Katharina K., 7 Jan 1886 5 Plett, Gertrude A. K., 8 Sep 1887 6 Plett, Margaretha A. K., 3 May 1889 7 Plett, Maria A. K., 23 Oct 1891 8 Plett, Cornelius A. K., 27 Jul 1896 9 Plett, Peter A. K., 4 Aug 1898 10 Plett, Elisabeth K., 9 Jul 1901 11 Plett, Helena A. K., 17 Dec 1903 12 Plett, Anna A. K., 6 Jul 1909

Parents: Father: Plett, Cornelius, 28 Oct 1820 Mother: Loewen, Sarah, 12 Sep 1822

Notes: His new style birth date is 18 May.

Family links:

Parents:

 Cornelius S. Plett (1820 - 1900)

 Sarah Loewen Plett (1822 - 1903)

Spouse:

 Gertruda B. Koop Plett (1861 - 1943)

Children:

 Sara K. Plett Penner (1881 - 1939)*

 Johann A. K. Plett (1883 - 1957)*

 Katharina K. Plett Friesen (1886 - 1971)*

 Gertrude A. K. Plett Friesen (1887 - 1948)*

 Margaretha Plett Reimer Barkman (1889 - 1972)*

 Peter A. K. Plett (1898 - 1997)*

 Elisabeth K. Plett Plett (1901 - 1972)*

Siblings:

 Margaretha Plett Kroeker (1842 - 1920)*

 Cornelius L. Plett (1846 - 1935)*

 Maria L. Plett Reimer (1850 - 1934)*

 Katherina Plett Wohlgemuth (1854 - 1945)*

 Johann L. Plett (1855 - 1900)*

 Peter L. Plett (1858 - 1944)*

 Abraham L. Plett (1859 - 1934)

 Jacob L. Plett (1864 - 1931)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial: Blumenort E.M.C. Cemetery Blumenort Steinbach Census Division Manitoba, Canada

Created by: Jcarter Record added: Nov 14, 2016 Find A Grave Memorial# 172742902

catGDM - 11023032 in Unrau Web Site, managed by Catherine Ann Unrau (Contact) Birth: May 6 1859 - Ukr, Ussr Death: Oct 15 1934 Parents: Cornelius Johann Plett, Sara(H) I W Sarah Plett (born Loewen) Siblings: Margaretha L Kroeker (born Plett), Isaac L. Plett, Cornelius L Plett, Sarah L Thielmann (born Plett), Cornelius L Peter Plett, Anna L Plett, Jacob L Plett, Maria L Reimer (born Plett), Elisabeth L Plett, Katharina L Plett, John L Plett, Elisabeth L Plett, Peter L Cornelius Plett, David L Plett, Jacob L Plett Wife: Gertruda B Plett (born Koop) Children: Sara K Penner (born Plett), John K Plett, Abram K Plett, Katherina K Friesen (born Plett), Gertruda K Plett, Margaretha K Reimer (born Plett), Maria K. Plett, Cornelius A. K. Plett, Peter A K Plett, Elisabeth K. Plett Add

Davidson Web Site, managed by Don Davidson (Contact) Birth: May 6 1859 - Ukr, Ussr Death: Oct 15 1934 - Foam Lake, SK, Canada Parents: Cornelius Johann Plett, Sarah Plett (born Loewen) Siblings: Margaretha L Kroeker (born Plett), Isaac L. Plett, Cornelius L Plett, Sarah L Plett, Cornelius L Peter Plett, Anna L Plett, Jacob L Plett, Maria L Reimer (born Plett), Elisabeth L Plett, Katharina L Plett, John L Plett, Elisabeth L Plett, Peter L Cornelius Plett, David L Plett, Jacob L Plett Wife: Gertruda Plett (born Koop) Children: Sarah Penner (born Plett), Johann Plett, Abraham Plett, Katherina K Friesen (born Plett), Gertrude Friesen (born Plett), Margaretha Barkman (born Plett), Maria Plett, Cornelius Plett, Peter A. K. Plett

Frances Hadford Web Site, managed by Frances Hadford (Contact) Birth: May 18 1859 - Molotschna, South Russia Death: Oct 15 1934 - Foam Lake, SK, Canada Parents: Cornelius Johann S Plett (Born Plett), Sarah Plett (Born Plett) (born Loewen) Siblings: Margaretha C L Kroeker, Isaac C L Plett, Cornelius C L Plett, (Twin), Sarah C L Plett, Anna C L Siemens, Maria C L Reimer (born Plett), Elizabeth C L Plett, Katharina C L Wohlgemuth, Johann C L Plett, Elizabeth Plett, Peter Cornelius L Plett, Peter L. Plett, David C L Plett, Jacob L. Plett, <Private> Plett

Woodard Family Site, managed by David James Woodard (Contact) Birth: May 18 1859 - Kleefeld, Molotschna, Russia Death: Oct 15 1934 - Foam Lake, SK, Canada Parents: Cornelius Johann S Plett, Sarah W. Plett (born Loewen) Siblings: Margaretha C L Kroeker, Isaac C L Plett, Cornelius Plett, Sara Loewen Thielmann (born Plett), Cornelius C L Plett, (Twin), Anna C L Siemens, Maria C L Reimer, Elizabeth C L Plett, Katharina C L Wohlgemuth, Johann C L Plett, Elizabeth Plett, Peter L. Plett, David C L Plett, Jacob L. Plett Wife: Gertruda B Plett (born Koop) Children: Sarah A K Penner (born Plett), Johann A K Plett, Abraham K Plett, Katharina K Friesen (born Plett), Gertrude A K Friesen (born Plett), Margaretha A K Barkman (born Plett), Maria A K Plett, Cornelius A K Plett, Peter A K Plett, Elisabeth A K Plett, Helena K Plett, Anna A K Plett