Village News

Heinrich R. Brandt had an interesting youth, beginning with his unique birth. He was one of the few Mennonites possibly born out of wedlock, as his parent’s marriage occurred eight months after his birth (assuming the records are correct). He was sickly for much of his childhood and had a small stature. The Crimean War broke out when Heinrich was 15 and he worked as a teamster hauling supplies for the Russian military, witnessing many of the horrors of the war.

Heinrich was married to Anna Warkentin and they had three children before she tragically died of smallpox in 1873, just a year before their immigration to Canada. He was remarried shortly after to Anna’s cousin, Katharina Warkentin, who was daughter of Katharina (Thiessen) Warkentin Barkman Loewen from her first marriage to Peter Warkentin. They settled on Wirtschaft 17 next to her mother. Together they had one more child, and became successful in farming, holding 160 acres, two horses, nine head of cattle, and several pieces of machinery. Heinrich also became known for his cabinetry and building prowess.

In 1889, Katharina passed away at the age of 39 and Heinrich remarried again to Justina Unger of Blumenhof. They had no children together, but she became a parent to several children in their twenties and a twelve-year-old son. Heinrich had significant issues with his eyesight and even had to have an eye removed in the 1890s. He passed away in 1909, after which Justina continued farming with her sons for seven years before remarrying minister Peter W. Loewen of Neuanlage.

All four children of Heinrich Brandt stayed in the Steinbach area. From his first marriage, Daughter Anna married farm Abraham P. Reimer, Daughter Maria married merchant Klaas W. Reimer, and Son Heinrich married Elisabeth Warkentin. From the second marriage, Son Klaas married Helena Friesen, daughter of A. S. and Katharina Friesen. He became a surveyor and metal-worker, working alongside his brother-in-law operating a large dredge. It is not surprising that he worked in the machinery business alongside his wife’s family.