Klaassen, Michael, 1860-1934

Person

Klaassen, Michael, 1860-1934

1860-1934

Michael Klaassen, church leader,teacher and farmer was born on August 26, 1860 in the village of Koeppenthal, Am Trakt Colony, South Russia. He was one of three surviving children born to Martin Klaassen (1820-1881) and Maria Hamm, grandson of Jakob Klaassen (1793-1879) and cousin of Rev. Jacob Klaassen (1867-1948). Michael was baptized by Aeltester David Hamm in 1877 and followed his parents to Central Asia in 1880 where he married Margaretha Jantzen in 1883. Michael's brother Jacob Klaassen has written about this experience which he entitled "Memories of a Journey". Michael and Margaretha had eight children, two of whom died as infants. In 1885 they decided to emigrate to North America where they first settled near Beatrice, Nebraska, and then moved on to Bessie, Oklahoma in 1894 to homestead. During this time, Klaassen started a German and religion school, first for his children but then for other settlers. He was elected by Sichar Mennonite Church and ordained in 1896. In 1899 he organized Herold Mennonite Church, where he was made Aeltester in 1901. Klaassen and his wife, Margaretha, celebrated their Silver Wedding anniversary in 1909, one year before she died. He then married Katharina Dalke. Their marriage produced seven children, 2 of whom died in infancy. His son Johannes (John Klaassen) died tragically in prison during WWI on October 17, 1918 of the Spanish flu. He had been sentenced to serve a 25 year term for being a conscientious objector. This event prompted Klaassen and a number of other families to leave the U.S.A. for Canada in 1918, where they settled near Morden, Manitoba. Here Klaassen organized another Herold Mennonite Church and conducted services in this congregation until 1927. Michael died on October 18, 1934.

Grandma ID: 4889

Bergen, Paul, fl. 1978

CA-MHA-2020-529

Created May 2010 by AHR (Historical sketch written by Sharon H.H. Brown, 2002).
Revised by BWH Mar 12, 2025 to add Grandma ID