Fonds PP - Katharina Thiessen fonds

Katharina Thiessen (1842-1915) was born in the village of Fuerstenau, Molotschna, South Russia to Peter W. Born (1817-1869) and Anna Wall (1816-1873). Katharina went to Germany around 1860 to study midwifery, chiropractic and naturopathic techniques. She came back to South Russia where she married Abraham Karl Thiessen (1840-1910) on September 7, 1862. In 1865 a son Abraham was born to them. This was their only biological child. They later adopted other children including Carolina Buller (1874-), Katharina Dyck (1886-), and Anna Rempel (1897-). In 1874 the Thiesen family immigrated to Hillsboro, Kansas, USA where they began farming and where she continued working as a practical doctor. In 1885 they moved to a parcel of land between the communities of Winkler and Schanzenfeld, Manitoba, Canada. After the founding of the Bergthaler Mennonite church in 1893 they joined that church (register 1 p. 166). In Manitoba Katharina continued her role as a doctor and was well received by most people as she had medical knowledge, experience, and spoke their language (Low German). Eventually a new large house was built where Katharina could have a reception area, pharmacy, operating room, and overnight rooms. After her death this building was converted to an old folks home in 1919, and later this building became property of the Winkler Bible School and was used as the men's dormitory. Dr. Thiessen continued her medical training including by going to Cincinnati, Ohio around 1895 for more training. The doctors in the surrounding towns, while seeing her expertise, were also threatened by her and took her to court not having a Canadian medical license. She did not contest the charge and paid the $50 fine. She continued her practice but focused more on selling Dr. Chase Patent Medicines. She retired from her medical practice after her husband Abraham Thiessen suffered a stroke in 1907.