COLUMN: Village News – Steinbach’s First Families – Reverend Jacob M. & Katherina (Thiessen Warkentin) Barkman; Cornelius W. Loewen

Jacob Barkman already had four children when his first wife Elisabeth Giesbrecht died in childbirth. Shortly after he married Katherina Thiessen, the widow of Peter Warkentin. She brought two daughters into the marriage and with the six additional children they had together, their family grew to include 12 children. In Russia, Jacob held the position of Waisenvorsteher, settling estates and managing funds entrusted to widows and orphans. He was elected minister of the Kleine Gemeinde in 1873 and appointed to lead the immigration to Canada in 1874. Jacob’s daughter Katharina, wife of Cornelius Goossen, settled next door as Jacob and Katharina took up Wirtschaft 16.

Jacob travelled extensively throughout southern Manitoba to attempt to keep the Kleine Gemeinde from fracturing. He often visited Rosenort, in the West Reserve, and preached in various communities. He apologized one Sunday morning in December for being late for the service in Gruenfeld (Kleefeld), a nine mile walk from Steinbach, as one of his daughters had died earlier that morning. Jacob was drowned in early June of 1875 on a trip to get urgent food supplies for the Steinbach community. An attempted crossing of the St. Boniface ferry in rough waters led to Jacob Barkman and Jacob Friesen hanging desperately to the ferry wire until they succumbed to the current, unable to swim. Barkman’s death had a major impact on the Kleine Gemeinde congregations.

Katharina married for a third time to Cornelius W. Loewen in 1877 after the death of his wife Helena Bartel. Cornelius moved from his property in Gruenfeld to Katharina’s farm in Steinbach. Cornelius brought his three sons, Cornelius, Isaac and Johann to the marriage. Cornelius had been a successful lumberer in Russia and passed on the trade to his sons. He and Katharina were farmers in Steinbach and Cornelius was also active in borrowing and lending money within the village. Upon Katharina’s death at the age of 59, Cornelius was forced to divide his estate to satisfy Mennonite inheritance rules. This devastated him financially, and he moved in with his son Cornelius B.

Cornelius B. Loewen was a thresher, lumberman, sawmill owner and house mover. Children from his first marriage to Anna Toews, the ‘T’ Loewens, and his second marriage to Maria Dueck, the ‘D’ Loewens, would play an influential role in the development of Steinbach. As young men, the ‘T’ Loewens were known for their “Wild West” antics, playfully shooting off firearms and causing disturbances in the village.

Cornelius T. Loewen would go on to found the C.T. Loewen & Sons business that would eventually become Loewen Windows, acting as major players in the building supply industry. Isaac T. (my great-grandfather) would eventually start Loewen Body Shop. Peter T. Loewen was owner of Loewen Chevrolet, and Abraham T. Loewen would found the Loewen Funeral Chapel (made famous by the film “The Burial). Jacob T. Loewen specialized in moving houses, heavy machinery and agricultural buildings. The ‘D’ Loewen children mostly worked in the C.T. Loewen businesses, being more than twenty years younger than their eldest brother.

For more information see:

Delbert Plett, Preservings no.9, part 2 (1996), “Jakob M. Barkman 1824-75: Father of Steinbach,” 1-10.

Ralph Friesen, Between Earth and Sky, 130-137.

Upcoming events

Peace Trek, Aug. 17. Join the MHV for our annual cyclathon fundraiser along the Peace Trail. We begin at the Mennonite Landing at the Red & Rat Rivers and cycle past important historic locations before arriving at the MHV for lunch at the LBR. Stay tuned at www.mhv.ca/peace-trek to register and for more information.

Celebrating 150 Years: A Tapestry of Pioneering Women, Aug. 18. Tickets for purchase at MHV reception, or from Auxiliary members – $25. Enjoy personal stories of pioneering women as told by: Marylou Driedger, Eleanore Chornoboy, and many members of the MHV Auxiliary. Stories and demonstrations of pioneer women, with Faspa served in at 5 p.m. For more information, call: 204-326-9661.

Fall on the Farm, Sept. 2. Visit the MHV to experience the harvest through the eyes of the early Mennonite settlers. Enjoy harvest demonstrations, historical interpretation and fun family activites. The Cultures stage with feature diverse cultural acts, and don’t forget to enjoy both Mennonite foods and delicacies from around the world!