Village News

In 1855, at the age of 15, Cornelius Fast was left with the responsibility of taking care of his widowed mother and younger siblings.

Wirtschaft 18 was left unoccupied for the first year of settlement, as Gerhard Warkentin arrived much later than the other Steinbach settlers.

Heinrich R. Brandt had an interesting youth, beginning with his unique birth.

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.

Cornelius Goossen married Katharina Barkman, daughter of Reverend Jacob M. Barkman, in 1874 shortly before sailing for Canada.

Wirtschaft 14 changed hands several times in the first few years of Steinbach settlement. In 1874, Jacob and Helena Defehr settled in the village, the only family who were not members of the Kleine Gemeinde Mennonite.

Abraham S. Friesen is a name that should resonate with any long-time Steinbach resident. He and his children would go on to hold many prominent positions in the community and leave a legacy of businesses that lasts to this day.

Peter Toews joined the Kleine Gemeinde upon marrying Elisabeth Reimer, daughter of Abraham F. and Elisabeth Reimer, a couple who were prominent in the development of Steinbach.

Johann was a brother of Klaas Reimer of Wirtschaft 9 and 10, and he and his wife Anna travelled alongside other family members on the journey to Canada.

Klaas Reimer was an accomplished blacksmith by the age of 20, and from his own shop, he earned a reputation for quality farm implement manufacture and repair.