Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1787-2000; predominate 1787-1963 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
17 cm of textual records
1 microfilm reel
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical 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.
Repository
Archival history
The Jacob Wiens family record was started by Jacob Wiens (1767-1845). His wife, Sara adds entries (her own birth and her husbands death). Their youngest son, Jacob Wiens (1816-1888) continues the register after his mother dies in 1861. He begins a formal sections dated Jan. 3, 1869. He is the one who most likely brought the book to America in 1876. He identifies himself as Jacob Wiens, Kronsthal. In Canada the family settled at Hoffnungsfeld near Winkler, Manitoba. His youngest daughter, Aganetha Wiens (1860-1827) married Johan Enns (1857-1929). Aganetha is the next person to make an entry into this record. The last entry in this item is written by this Johan Enns. Johan and Aganetha Enns' daughter, Tina (Mrs. John P. Dyck) received this diary next and their son Don brought it to the Mennonite Heritage Centre.
The Wiens family diary was started by Peter Wiens (1770-) and brought from Prussia to Russia by his brother Jacob Wiens (1767-1845). Jacob’ son Jacob Wiens (1816-1888) continued to write in the book and brought it with him to Canada. After the death of Jacob Wiens (1816-1888) the book was passed on to grandson J.A. Kroeker (1878-1945), Helena Wiens’ son. Then it was given on to daughter Annie Kroeker (1909-) who married Cornelius J. Funk (1906-). Their daughter Grace (Schellenberg) Funk, (married to Henry Schellenberg) owned the book in 2000 when it was loaned to the Mennonite Heritage Centre. In 2017 Grace Schellenberg retrieved the original diary.
The letters were copied from the Mennonitische Rundschau by the Mennonite Heritage Centre staff.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Don and Gloria Dyck donated the Jacob Wiens Family record in 1997.
Grace Schellenberg deposited the Wiens Family Diary in 2000 on a long term loan basis.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This fonds consists of two bound books and the loose papers that were found in one them, copies of the books, their translations, and copies of letters written by Jacob Wiens (1816-1888) that were published in the Mennonitische Rundschau .
The first book, the Wiens Family Diary, contains mathematical instructional material, fraktur art, a travel diary, recipes, poetry, and a record of events that took place in Prussia, Russia, and Canada. The second book, the Jacob Wiens Family Record, contains Wiens genealogical information and financial records.
This material is unique in that it spans a large time frame, following a family through three countries and contains entries by multiple members of the Wiens family. It shows a love for artistic expression. It shows complex mathematical problems and solutions as by a teacher. The material shows the writer's love for poetry, music, and the kind of medical practices in use by Mennonite people in Russia in the mid to late 1800s. A travel diary documents the trip from Russia to Canada in 1876. The materials give the reader a unique window into the life of a Mennonite community in Prussia, Russia, and Canada.
Location: Volumes 2252-2253, 4580, microfilm #785.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Described by Conrad Stoesz August 29, 2003, updated by Stoesz July 26, 2018. Edited and migrated to MAID, May 2020 by Alf Redekopp.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Only access to photocopies or microfilms
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
- German
Script of material
- Gothic
Language and script notes
German and English translations
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Finding aid consists of item descriptions, file list, and Wiens family diary index.
Uploaded finding aid
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Publications:
-Far Above Rubies/ Nettie Kroeker
-Grandfather Wiens’ Diary en Route Russia to Canada/ Nettie Kroeker
-Gedichte aus der Alten und Neuen Heimat
-The Wiens Family Register/ Irvin Kroeker.
Notes area
Note
Accession numbers: 1997-053, 2000-124.