Identity area
Type of entity
Family
Authorized form of name
Wiens family (Descendants of Herman*1731)
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
1764-
History
This Wiens family begins traces its history back to Herman Wiens (b. ca. 1731), their earliest known ancestor who lived in Czattkau, Prussia, and had a number of children including these three that have a further documented hsitory -- Agatha (1764-1839), Jacob (1767-1845) and Peter (1770-?). Peter was a teacher in Czattkau, Prussia and started an arithmetic book used as a textbook in his teaching. The book was augmented with multihued fraktur artwork. According to the family Peter Wiens one day disappeared without a trace.
Peter’s older brother Jacob Wiens (1767-1845) joined the Mennonite migration to Russia in 1795 and settled in the village of Schoenhorst, Chortitza Colony. His first wife, Sara Dicken, died in 1795. They had one daughter, Maria (1792-1815). Jacob Wiens then married Sara Brandt (1772-1861) in December 1795. Jacob and Sara had 14 children, 7 of which survived into adulthood. Between 1809 and 1814 the family moved from Schoenhorst to the village of Osterwick. Jacob became relatively well-to-do, owning farm properties #14 and # 5 (Wirtschaften). In 1824 he is listed as having 23 mature rams, 4 young rams, and 14 lambs. Jacob was wealthy enough to lend money to various people and he kept a record of these debts. After he died in 1845, his son Jacob (1816-1888) collected the outstanding debts.
Jacob Wiens jr. (1816-1888) was born in the village of Osterwick, Chortitza Colony and baptized on May 20, 1835. In 1836 he married Katherina Klassen (1817-1885). Jacob was a school teacher in Osterwick and in 1841 moved to the village of Kronsthal where he continued to teach. In 1844 Jacob purchased half a Wirtschaft from Hermann Neufeld for 1000 rubles. Jacob continued the practice of journaling and filled the last half of the book started by his uncle Peter Wiens.
In June 1876 Jacob Wiens immigrated to Canada, settling his family in the village of Hoffnungsfeld, Manitoba in the Mennonite West Reserve (near current day Winkler, Manitoba). Jacob recorded his immigration experience. While in Hoffnugsfeld Jacob became a "news correspondent" for the community and submitted regular letters to Mennonitische Rundschau, a weekly newspaper widely read by Mennonites in Europe and North America. Jacob Wiens died July 9, 1888 in Hoffungsfeld, Manitoba.
Nettie Kroeker (1900-1989), a granddaughter of Jacob Wiens (1816-1888), published parts of the Wiens writings.