Sammlung PP - Enns-Toews family fonds

The patriarch for this Toews family was Johann Toews (1833-1904) who married Katharina Thielmann (1835-ca.1868). Together they had 4 children: Johann, Jacob, Heinrich, and Helene. After Katharina died Johann married Elisabeth Wieler. They had seven children together plus one son Jacob Warkentin that Elisabeth brought into the marriage from a previous marriage. These children were Wilhelm (1870-1962), Abram (1873-1941), Kornelius (1875-1953), Elise (1880-1970), Margarete (1883-1948), Maria (1885-1905), and Anna (1887-1985). They lived and grew up in Ohrloff, South Russia.

Elise Toews (1880-1970) married Heinrich Enns (1887-1935) in 1902. Together they had five children: Gerhard (1902-1996), Luise (1905-), Anna (1907-1930), Johann (1910-1986), and Henry (1912-1972). The family immigrated to Canada in 1924 and settled in Reesor, Ontario.

While in Ontario Elise carried on extensive correspondence with many friends and family in Canada, Russia, Germany, and Brazil.

Johann (John H.) Enns (1910-1986) was one of the last residents of the community of Reesor, Ontario. He has documented the history of the community. During the Second World War, he was a conscientious objector. He was an avid letter writer and historian. Not only did he correspond with many friends and relatives, he also collected the corresondence of his parents, Heinrich Enns and Elise (Toews) Enns, correspondence of his sister Luise (Enns) Martens and brother-in-law, Gerhard J. Martens (1908-1982). (Gerhard J. Martens had first married Anna Enns (1907-1930), Luise's younger sister.) John H. Enns also corresponded extensively with his 2nd cousin, Barbara (Enns) Bahnman (1918-2008) of Steinbach. Her father was David D. Enns (1886-1973) and her grandfather was David G. Enns (1847-1926), a brother to Gerhard Enns (1844-1911), John H. Enns' grandfather. Gerhard Enns (1844-1911) was married to Elizabeth Reimer (1849-1894).

Anna Toews (1887-1985), the sister of Elise (Toews) Enns, also carried on extensive correspondence with family and friends in Canada, Russia, Germany, and Brazil. She lived in Kitchener, Ontario and was married later in life to widower David Thiessen. For more information on family connections, see Töws Family History 1723-1999 compiled by Katherine (Klassen) Martens. Katherine is the daughter-in-law to Gerhard J. Martens (1908-1982) and Luise (Enns) Martens (1905-2012).