Gerhard S. Friesen Family Bible

Mennonite Genealogy with Michael Penner

The Gerhard S. Friesen (1852-1922) family Bible remains in good condition in the possession of granddaughter Mrs. Inez Striemer nee Schmidt of Winnipeg. As was common for Bibles in those days, pages in the front had a printed template for a family register. It was in these pages that Gerhard (and later contributors) recorded the family register. The template titles are shown in bold. This author’s editorial comments are included in square brackets. Undecipherable words indicated by ___. Original German shown in “”. The term “old style” refers to usage of the Julian Calendar.

Name, Birthday and Birthplace of the Husband

Gerhard S. Friesen was born on 3 January 1852 (old style) at 8 o’clock in the morning, Lichtenau, Russia.

Name, Birthday and Birthplace of the Wife

(1) Maria nee Wiebe was born 18 December (old style), 1852 at 4 o’clock in the morning in K. Rosengart
(2) Henrietta nee Koehler was born 23 April 1863

Entrusted

married [Ed:. to Maria] 22 June 1873 by Peter Kroeker in Blumenhoff, Russia.

Other Important Family Events

1888 on 20 June moved to Dakota.
1901 on 19 October my left leg was cut by the threshing machine .
G. S. Friesen: on 18 October 1903 arrived with all at Didsbury Alberta and at Section 34ne Township 30 Range 25 4Meridian established.
In August Tina was operated on the first time. On 5 December Tina was operated on the second time.

Deaths

1886 on 24 November at 8 o’clock in the morning my dear matrimonial wife born Wiebe died.
1875 in the month of July the daughter of our dear Heinrich Friesen died.
1901 in the month of May our dear mother born Schellenberg died.
1907 on 15 February my dear wife’s father died at 64 years old.
1910 on 18 February my sister, the wife of H. Penner died at age 43.
1916 on 25 January is my wife’s mother, Maria Koehler born Wolf dead at 80 years, 4 months old.

Parents and Siblings of the Husband

Heinrich Friesen.

My father was born in 1830 and died in July 1875. His father Herman Friesen was born in Germany in 1793 and died in the year 1830 in Russia. He was___ migrated in 1815 and had himself also in Germany married born Maria Delesky. She was my grandmother and was born in 1793 in the Netherlandish Germany and died in Russia in 1874 in Sargradosky by my Uncle. She was 30 years a widow and was with my parents at that time.

Parents and Siblings of the Wife

1906 on 11 February 3 o’clock is grandfather age 75 years 3 months David Unger by S. Boese’s dead. He was stepfather to the first wife born Wiebe. G. S. Friesen.
My dear mother was Katharina Schellenberg born in Blumenstein, Russia in 1824 and died in 1901. Her mother was one born Kasdorf the same died in 1862 in the Crimea, Russia.
Father G. S. Friesen died on 24 December 4 o’clock in the morning 1922. Lived to 70 years, 10 months, 9 days. 6 days. “Schwer ___ gewesen” Elkhorn, Manitoba.

Children

1875 on 14 February Maria was born 9 o’clock in the morning. Died 1876 on 27 Aug on the drive to church.
1876 on 2 July Gerhard was born 6 o’clock in the evening.
1878 on 11 February Maria was born. Died 1880 on 28 March.
1879 on 27 April Heinrich was born 10 o’clock in the evening.
1880 an 23 December Maria was born at 1 o’clock in the morning.
1882 on 15 November David was born 9 o’clock in the evening.
1884 an 13 October Katarina was born and died 1886 on 22 August.

Children

1885 on 10 June Eliesabeth was born. 1885 on 1 October died.
1891 on 16 November Eliesabeth born 9 o’clock in the morning.
1892 on 15 December Katharina was born 12 noon and died 1892 on 26 December.
1893 on 7 December Susana was born at 5 o’clock in the morning.
1894 Jacob K. was born and 10 December died.
1897 on 23 December Aron was born.
1898 on 20 May Peter was born.
1899 on 15 September Martha was born.
1901 on 27 October Tina was born.
1905 on 26 February 9 o’clock in the morning Esther was born.

Weddings

Eliesabeth Friesen married on 16 November 1914 to A. P. Engst.
… [Ed. erased line] a son is “Thr” born on 28 January 1916 named Leon Engst.
Susana married in December 1916 to D. B. Friesen both from Swalwell, Alberta.
Martha married on 30 March 1918 to Friedrich Bech from Leduc, Alberta.

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