Cornelius P. Toews

Cornelius P. Toews married Elizabeth L. Friesen, daughter of Klaas Friesen and niece of Cornelius F. Friesen, veteren Molotschna school teacher. Cornelius Toews and his bride established their home in Hierschau. Son Johann has written: “By profession Cornelius was a saddle and harness maker.” Johann added that his father “...did not make the breechings or wheel harnesses the use of which was forbidden by the Kleine Gemeinde to which my father belonged.” In 1863 the family moved to Friedreichsthal, Markuslandt. “Here Cornelius and his brother-in-law built themselves an earth hut called a 'semoljenko' in Russian... On one occasion it occurred that wolves descended upon the roof of our miserable dwelling place whereupon they taunted [the residents] with their howling and growling. Presently, Father and Uncle armed themselves with pitchforks and carefully stepped outside in order to chase them away.”

Cornelius' first wife died in 1864. Cornelius married for the second time to Anna Bartel, daughter of Peter Bartel. She was a widow Friesen from Hierschau. One beautiful winter day Cornelius Toews and a number of men had ridden on horseback to Einlage, a village on the west bank of the Dnieper River, some 15 kilometers away. On the way home the ice broke under the horses hooves so that father only escaped death by valiant exertion.

In 1867 the family moved to Grunfeld north of Borosenko. On January 6, 1868, at a ministerial election held in Grunfeld, Cornelius Toews was elected first as deacon with 17 votes and thereafter as minister with 18 votes. His election caused a certain amount of dissatisfaction because of an earlier excommunication when he was still a young single man. The Kleine Gemeinde had a protocol that a member who had previously been excommunicated could not serve ministerial office even though the member had been forgiven and reaccepted in the Gemeinde. The result of this controversy was that Cornelius voluntarily relinquished the position, and explained his actions in a letter to the Gemeinde.

In 1873 Cornelius served as a delegate to America for the Blumenhoff KG. The delegates had a harrowing experience when they were attacked by a group of half-breeds at a post some 30 miles west of Fort Garry, now Winnipeg.

In 1874 the family emigrated to Manitoba where they settled in the village of Gruenfeld, now Kleefeld. Son Johann writes that the pioneers found it difficult to adjust to the cold winters. “Our dwellings were truly not warm enough for the cattle which really had to suffer on account of the cold, indeed, some were actually felled by the cold. There were many grasshoppers the summer following that first winter. On could not walk in slippers, the form of footwear available for many, since one's feet squashed all the grasshoppers entering therein, making the soles so greasy that the feet continually slipped out. Slippers here refers to “schloare”, a sandal-like footwear. We were freed of this plague only after all the grasshoppers had hatched out and flown away.

In the winter of 1876 Cornelius bought a small windmill from the Red River near Winnipeg. Many men from the village went with him to dismantle the mill and move it to Grunfeld. During the time the men were in Winnipeg his farm, buildings and contents, were destroyed by fire. “Everything went up in flames, even some cattle. The family got away with no more than their lives.” Unfortunately the fire destroyed his historical documents and records. He completed his windmill and built a log house and a barn.

In 1883 Cornelius was hired as a teacher in Grunfeld.

In 1885 the family moved to Steinbach, Manitoba. They farmed here until 1898 when they moved to Greenland, Manitoba to retire. His mental facilities gave out, but physically he did not suffer too long and too severely. March 22, 1899, Cornelius wrote to the “Rundschau” reminiscing “that he was a young man when the Crimean War broke out... [and that he] had been actively involved in the 'Podwodden'.”

Cornelius P. Toews died at his home in Greenland and is buried in the Greenland cemetery. A friend wrote the following eulogy:

“Greenland has to grieve over the death of another one. This time it is Ohm Cornelius Toews, who is known to many readers her as well as in Russia. He died with the assurance of Jesus as Savior and His reward. He was 71 years, 8 months and 10 days. He was one of the deputies and one of the last still remaining. He and a few others were sent here from Russia to investigate land and government here in Manitoba. Through the influence of the deputies, including that of Mr. Toews, it was decided to put Manitoba under an agriculture plan. His trip and other minor things helped to make a memorable beginning....”

Dynasties of the Mennonite Kleine Gemeinde in Imperial Russia and North America, by Delbert Plett, 2000, pp. 474-476.

_______________________________________________________________

Birth: 11 Jun 1836, Schoenau, Molotschna, South Russia

Baptism: 1857, Russia

Immigration: 17 Jul 1874, S. S. Austrian; arrived Quebec City, Quebec

Death: 21 Feb 1908, Greenland, Manitoba

Burial: Greenland, Manitoba

1st Wife: Friesen, Elisabeth,

Married: 1857

Children:

1 Toews, Johann F., 28 Sep 1858

2 Toews, Cornelius F., 15 Mar 1862

2nd wife: Bartel, Anna, 4 Oct 1838

Married: 12 Sep 1864; Russia

Children:

1 Toews, Maria B., 25 Dec 1865

2 Toews, Anna B., 30 Aug 1868

3 Toews, Katharina B., 1870

4 Toews, Peter C., 20 May 1874

5 Toews, Katharina B., 28 Feb 1876

6 Toews, Susanna B., 8 Jan 1878

7 Toews, Agnes B., 5 Mar 1880

8 Toews, Annie, 7 Mar 1881

9 Toews, Margaret B., 7 Nov 1883

10 Toews, Elizabeth, 23 Nov 1886

11 Toews, Elizabeth B., 28 Jan 1887

Parents:
Father: Toews, Johann Cornelius, 25 Oct 1793
Mother: Plett, Maria, 30 Mar 1811* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jan 17 2022, 23:23:16 UTC

Cornelius P. Toews married Elizabeth L. Friesen, daughter of Klaas Friesen and niece of Cornelius F. Friesen, veteren Molotschna school teacher. Cornelius Toews and his bride established their home in Hierschau. Son Johann has written: “By profession Cornelius was a saddle and harness maker.” Johann added that his father “...did not make the breechings or wheel harnesses the use of which was forbidden by the Kleine Gemeinde to which my father belonged.” In 1863 the family moved to Friedreichsthal, Markuslandt. “Here Cornelius and his brother-in-law built themselves an earth hut called a 'semoljenko' in Russian... On one occasion it occurred that wolves descended upon the roof of our miserable dwelling place whereupon they taunted [the residents] with their howling and growling. Presently, Father and Uncle armed themselves with pitchforks and carefully stepped outside in order to chase them away.”

Cornelius' first wife died in 1864. Cornelius married for the second time to Anna Bartel, daughter of Peter Bartel. She was a widow Friesen from Hierschau. One beautiful winter day Cornelius Toews and a number of men had ridden on horseback to Einlage, a village on the west bank of the Dnieper River, some 15 kilometers away. On the way home the ice broke under the horses hooves so that father only escaped death by valiant exertion.

In 1867 the family moved to Grunfeld north of Borosenko. On January 6, 1868, at a ministerial election held in Grunfeld, Cornelius Toews was elected first as deacon with 17 votes and thereafter as minister with 18 votes. His election caused a certain amount of dissatisfaction because of an earlier excommunication when he was still a young single man. The Kleine Gemeinde had a protocol that a member who had previously been excommunicated could not serve ministerial office even though the member had been forgiven and reaccepted in the Gemeinde. The result of this controversy was that Cornelius voluntarily relinquished the position, and explained his actions in a letter to the Gemeinde.

In 1873 Cornelius served as a delegate to America for the Blumenhoff KG. The delegates had a harrowing experience when they were attacked by a group of half-breeds at a post some 30 miles west of Fort Garry, now Winnipeg.

In 1874 the family emigrated to Manitoba where they settled in the village of Gruenfeld, now Kleefeld. Son Johann writes that the pioneers found it difficult to adjust to the cold winters. “Our dwellings were truly not warm enough for the cattle which really had to suffer on account of the cold, indeed, some were actually felled by the cold. There were many grasshoppers the summer following that first winter. On could not walk in slippers, the form of footwear available for many, since one's feet squashed all the grasshoppers entering therein, making the soles so greasy that the feet continually slipped out. Slippers here refers to “schloare”, a sandal-like footwear. We were freed of this plague only after all the grasshoppers had hatched out and flown away.

In the winter of 1876 Cornelius bought a small windmill from the Red River near Winnipeg. Many men from the village went with him to dismantle the mill and move it to Grunfeld. During the time the men were in Winnipeg his farm, buildings and contents, were destroyed by fire. “Everything went up in flames, even some cattle. The family got away with no more than their lives.” Unfortunately the fire destroyed his historical documents and records. He completed his windmill and built a log house and a barn.

In 1883 Cornelius was hired as a teacher in Grunfeld.

In 1885 the family moved to Steinbach, Manitoba. They farmed here until 1898 when they moved to Greenland, Manitoba to retire. His mental facilities gave out, but physically he did not suffer too long and too severely. March 22, 1899, Cornelius wrote to the “Rundschau” reminiscing “that he was a young man when the Crimean War broke out... [and that he] had been actively involved in the 'Podwodden'.”

Cornelius P. Toews died at his home in Greenland and is buried in the Greenland cemetery. A friend wrote the following eulogy:

“Greenland has to grieve over the death of another one. This time it is Ohm Cornelius Toews, who is known to many readers her as well as in Russia. He died with the assurance of Jesus as Savior and His reward. He was 71 years, 8 months and 10 days. He was one of the deputies and one of the last still remaining. He and a few others were sent here from Russia to investigate land and government here in Manitoba. Through the influence of the deputies, including that of Mr. Toews, it was decided to put Manitoba under an agriculture plan. His trip and other minor things helped to make a memorable beginning....”

Dynasties of the Mennonite Kleine Gemeinde in Imperial Russia and North America, by Delbert Plett, 2000, pp. 474-476.

_______________________________________________________________

Birth: 11 Jun 1836, Schoenau, Molotschna, South Russia

Baptism: 1857, Russia

Immigration: 17 Jul 1874, S. S. Austrian; arrived Quebec City, Quebec

Death: 21 Feb 1908, Greenland, Manitoba

Burial: Greenland, Manitoba

1st Wife: Friesen, Elisabeth,

Married: 1857

Children:

1 Toews, Johann F., 28 Sep 1858

2 Toews, Cornelius F., 15 Mar 1862

2nd wife: Bartel, Anna, 4 Oct 1838

Married: 12 Sep 1864; Russia

Children:

1 Toews, Maria B., 25 Dec 1865

2 Toews, Anna B., 30 Aug 1868

3 Toews, Katharina B., 1870

4 Toews, Peter C., 20 May 1874

5 Toews, Katharina B., 28 Feb 1876

6 Toews, Susanna B., 8 Jan 1878

7 Toews, Agnes B., 5 Mar 1880

8 Toews, Annie, 7 Mar 1881

9 Toews, Margaret B., 7 Nov 1883

10 Toews, Elizabeth, 23 Nov 1886

11 Toews, Elizabeth B., 28 Jan 1887

Parents:
Father: Toews, Johann Cornelius, 25 Oct 1793
Mother: Plett, Maria, 30 Mar 1811* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jan 19 2022, 1:29:32 UTC

Cornelius P. Toews married Elizabeth L. Friesen, daughter of Klaas Friesen and niece of Cornelius F. Friesen, veteren Molotschna school teacher. Cornelius Toews and his bride established their home in Hierschau. Son Johann has written: “By profession Cornelius was a saddle and harness maker.” Johann added that his father “...did not make the breechings or wheel harnesses the use of which was forbidden by the Kleine Gemeinde to which my father belonged.” In 1863 the family moved to Friedreichsthal, Markuslandt. “Here Cornelius and his brother-in-law built themselves an earth hut called a 'semoljenko' in Russian... On one occasion it occurred that wolves descended upon the roof of our miserable dwelling place whereupon they taunted [the residents] with their howling and growling. Presently, Father and Uncle armed themselves with pitchforks and carefully stepped outside in order to chase them away.”

Cornelius' first wife died in 1864. Cornelius married for the second time to Anna Bartel, daughter of Peter Bartel. She was a widow Friesen from Hierschau. One beautiful winter day Cornelius Toews and a number of men had ridden on horseback to Einlage, a village on the west bank of the Dnieper River, some 15 kilometers away. On the way home the ice broke under the horses hooves so that father only escaped death by valiant exertion.

In 1867 the family moved to Grunfeld north of Borosenko. On January 6, 1868, at a ministerial election held in Grunfeld, Cornelius Toews was elected first as deacon with 17 votes and thereafter as minister with 18 votes. His election caused a certain amount of dissatisfaction because of an earlier excommunication when he was still a young single man. The Kleine Gemeinde had a protocol that a member who had previously been excommunicated could not serve ministerial office even though the member had been forgiven and reaccepted in the Gemeinde. The result of this controversy was that Cornelius voluntarily relinquished the position, and explained his actions in a letter to the Gemeinde.

In 1873 Cornelius served as a delegate to America for the Blumenhoff KG. The delegates had a harrowing experience when they were attacked by a group of half-breeds at a post some 30 miles west of Fort Garry, now Winnipeg.

In 1874 the family emigrated to Manitoba where they settled in the village of Gruenfeld, now Kleefeld. Son Johann writes that the pioneers found it difficult to adjust to the cold winters. “Our dwellings were truly not warm enough for the cattle which really had to suffer on account of the cold, indeed, some were actually felled by the cold. There were many grasshoppers the summer following that first winter. On could not walk in slippers, the form of footwear available for many, since one's feet squashed all the grasshoppers entering therein, making the soles so greasy that the feet continually slipped out. Slippers here refers to “schloare”, a sandal-like footwear. We were freed of this plague only after all the grasshoppers had hatched out and flown away.

In the winter of 1876 Cornelius bought a small windmill from the Red River near Winnipeg. Many men from the village went with him to dismantle the mill and move it to Grunfeld. During the time the men were in Winnipeg his farm, buildings and contents, were destroyed by fire. “Everything went up in flames, even some cattle. The family got away with no more than their lives.” Unfortunately the fire destroyed his historical documents and records. He completed his windmill and built a log house and a barn.

In 1883 Cornelius was hired as a teacher in Grunfeld.

In 1885 the family moved to Steinbach, Manitoba. They farmed here until 1898 when they moved to Greenland, Manitoba to retire. His mental facilities gave out, but physically he did not suffer too long and too severely. March 22, 1899, Cornelius wrote to the “Rundschau” reminiscing “that he was a young man when the Crimean War broke out... [and that he] had been actively involved in the 'Podwodden'.”

Cornelius P. Toews died at his home in Greenland and is buried in the Greenland cemetery. A friend wrote the following eulogy:

“Greenland has to grieve over the death of another one. This time it is Ohm Cornelius Toews, who is known to many readers her as well as in Russia. He died with the assurance of Jesus as Savior and His reward. He was 71 years, 8 months and 10 days. He was one of the deputies and one of the last still remaining. He and a few others were sent here from Russia to investigate land and government here in Manitoba. Through the influence of the deputies, including that of Mr. Toews, it was decided to put Manitoba under an agriculture plan. His trip and other minor things helped to make a memorable beginning....”

Dynasties of the Mennonite Kleine Gemeinde in Imperial Russia and North America, by Delbert Plett, 2000, pp. 474-476.

_______________________________________________________________

Birth: 11 Jun 1836, Schoenau, Molotschna, South Russia

Baptism: 1857, Russia

Immigration: 17 Jul 1874, S. S. Austrian; arrived Quebec City, Quebec

Death: 21 Feb 1908, Greenland, Manitoba

Burial: Greenland, Manitoba

1st Wife: Friesen, Elisabeth,

Married: 1857

Children:

1 Toews, Johann F., 28 Sep 1858

2 Toews, Cornelius F., 15 Mar 1862

2nd wife: Bartel, Anna, 4 Oct 1838

Married: 12 Sep 1864; Russia

Children:

1 Toews, Maria B., 25 Dec 1865

2 Toews, Anna B., 30 Aug 1868

3 Toews, Katharina B., 1870

4 Toews, Peter C., 20 May 1874

5 Toews, Katharina B., 28 Feb 1876

6 Toews, Susanna B., 8 Jan 1878

7 Toews, Agnes B., 5 Mar 1880

8 Toews, Annie, 7 Mar 1881

9 Toews, Margaret B., 7 Nov 1883

10 Toews, Elizabeth, 23 Nov 1886

11 Toews, Elizabeth B., 28 Jan 1887

Parents:
Father: Toews, Johann Cornelius, 25 Oct 1793
Mother: Plett, Maria, 30 Mar 1811* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jan 27 2022, 7:37:03 UTC