Fonds PP - Jacob P. Wall family fonds

Jacob P. Wall was born on July 27, 1870 to Peter Wall (1843-1882) and Maria Goossen ( -1917) in the Molotschna Colony, South Russia. After Peter's death Maria married Gerhard Wall, a cousin of Peter Wall.

In 1889 Jacob and brother Johann (1867-1934) set out for the United States to establish a homestead. After 1 year they returned to Russia because the west was too unruly for their liking. Jacob bought some land 80 miles east of the Mennonite settlement. During this time he met Maria Albrecht (1867-1925), daughter of Dietrich Abraham Albrecht. Jacob and Maria were married November 25, 1890. Together they had 6 children. This land bought by Jacob Wall became the Marianovka Estate totaling 6700 acres. It was immediately east of the Wintergruen Estate owned by Jacob's uncle, Jacob Goossen. Later Jacob bought the Sandhof estate from his father-in-law and changed its name to the Katerinovka estate which totaled 4000 acres of land. These three estates were situated between Orekhov and Pologi, north of the Molotschna colony. Their southern boarders were the Konka River. Wintergruen was about 7 km east of Orekhov and was 18 km wide, followed by Marianovka and Katerinovka which together were 7 km wide and bordered Pologi.

The land was rich and excellent crops were harvested. Wall also owned a flour mill and later a paper mill. The challenge was getting products to market. Jacob Wall lobbied the Russian government that a railroad be established. This was turned down and so Wall went ahead with some investors in 1910. By 1912 the Tokmak railway was competed. Shareholders and administrators included Foch, Glechlor Sr. and Jr., Kleinart Sr. and Jr., Abraham Ediger, Peter Ediger, father-in-law Gerhard Wall, and brother Johann Wall. The railroad proved to be profitable and well built with 8 stations on the route. The route looks like a sideways "v" with the point at Komysh-Zorla. The northern route ran just south of the Wall and Goossen Estates. It stared at Zaporozhia, south east to Orekhov and Pologi and to Komysh-Zorla. The southern branch started at Novobohdanivka, east to cross the Molotschna river to the village of Lichtenau, north to Tokmak, east to Komysh-Zorla.

In 1913 Jacob wall had a premonition to sell all his belongings, pack up his family and to start farming in South Africa. His family and friends ridiculed him for this idea. In 1914 be began looking for buyers for his land but before he could make progress with this plan war broke out. Son Peter served in the Russian military (White Army) and achieved the rank of colonel. Land from wealthy farmers began to be confiscated and by 1918 Jacob Wall had few physical assets. The family was on the run for a time and Jacob and his sons spent time imprisoned.

On March 6, 1922 Jacob Wall died. His wife and children immigrated to Canada in 1924 and settled in Manitoba and later in Southern Ontario where the family farmed.