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Cornelius P. Toews

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Cornelius P. Toews

Birth	:	11 Jun 1836 Russia
Death	:	21 Feb 1908 Greenland, Steinbach Census Division, Manitoba, Canada
Burial	:	Original Greenland Mennonite Church Cemetery, Sainte-Anne, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate	:	49.6190280, -96.7435600
Description	:	Cornelius P. Toews married Elizabeth L. Friesen, daughter of Klaas Friesen and niece of Cornelius F. Friesen, veteren Molotschna school teacher. Cornelius Toews and his bride established their home in Hierschau. Son Johann has written: “By profession Cornelius was a saddle and harness maker.” Johann added that his father “...did not make the breechings or wheel harnesses the use of which was forbidden by the Kleine Gemeinde to which my father belonged.” In 1863 the family moved to Friedreichsthal, Markuslandt. “Here Cornelius and his brother-in-law built themselves an earth hut called a 'semoljenko' in Russian... On one occasion it occurred... Read More	Cornelius P. Toews married Elizabeth L. Friesen, daughter of Klaas Friesen and niece of Cornelius F. Friesen, veteren Molotschna school teacher. Cornelius Toews and his bride established their home in Hierschau. Son Johann has written: “By profession Cornelius was a saddle and harness maker.” Johann added that his father “...did not make the breechings or wheel harnesses the use of which was forbidden by the Kleine Gemeinde to which my father belonged.” In 1863 the family moved to Friedreichsthal, Markuslandt. “Here Cornelius and his brother-in-law built themselves an earth hut called a 'semoljenko' in Russian... On one occasion it occurred that wolves descended upon the roof of our miserable dwelling place whereupon they taunted [the residents] with their howling and growling. Presently, Father and Uncle armed themselves with pitchforks and carefully stepped outside in order to chase them away.” Cornelius' first wife died in 1864. Cornelius married for the second time to Anna Bartel, daughter of Peter Bartel. She was a widow Friesen from Hierschau. One beautiful winter day Cornelius Toews and a number of men had ridden on horseback to Einlage, a village on the west bank of the Dnieper River, some 15 kilometers away. On the way home the ice broke under the horses hooves so that father only escaped death by valiant exertion. In 1867 the family moved to Grunfeld north of Borosenko. On January 6, 1868, at a ministerial election held in Grunfeld, Cornelius Toews was elected first as deacon with 17 votes and thereafter as minister with 18 votes. His election caused a certain amount of dissatisfaction because of an earlier excommunication when he was still a young single man. The Kleine Gemeinde had a protocol that a member who had previously been excommunicated could not serve ministerial office even though the member had been forgiven and reaccepted in the Gemeinde. The result of this controversy was that Cornelius voluntarily relinquished the position, and explained his actions in a letter to the Gemeinde. In 1873 Cornelius served as a delegate to America for the Blumenhoff KG. The delegates had a harrowing experience when they were attacked by a group of half-breeds at a post some 30 miles west of Fort Garry, now Winnipeg. In 1874 the family emigrated to Manitoba where they settled in the village of Gruenfeld, now Kleefeld. Son Johann writes that the pioneers found it difficult to adjust to the cold winters. “Our dwellings were truly not warm enough for the cattle which really had to suffer on account of the cold, indeed, some were actually felled by the cold. There were many grasshoppers the summer following that first winter. On could not walk in slippers, the form of footwear available for many, since one's feet squashed all the grasshoppers entering therein, making the soles so greasy that the feet continually slipped out. Slippers here refers to “schloare”, a sandal-like footwear. We were freed of this plague only after all the grasshoppers had hatched out and flown away. In the winter of 1876 Cornelius bought a small windmill from the Red River near Winnipeg. Many men from the village went with him to dismantle the mill and move it to Grunfeld. During the time the men were in Winnipeg his farm, buildings and contents, were destroyed by fire. “Everything went up in flames, even some cattle. The family got away with no more than their lives.” Unfortunately the fire destroyed his historical documents and records. He completed his windmill and built a log house and a barn. In 1883 Cornelius was hired as a teacher in Grunfeld. In 1885 the family moved to Steinbach, Manitoba. They farmed here until 1898 when they moved to Greenland, Manitoba to retire. His mental facilities gave out, but physically he did not suffer too long and too severely. March 22, 1899, Cornelius wrote to the “Rundschau” reminiscing “that he was a young man when the Crimean War broke out... [and that he] had been actively involved in the 'Podwodden'.” Cornelius P. Toews died at his home in Greenland and is buried in the Greenland cemetery. A friend wrote the following eulogy: “Greenland has to grieve over the death of another one. This time it is Ohm Cornelius Toews, who is known to many readers her as well as in Russia. He died with the assurance of Jesus as Savior and His reward. He was 71 years, 8 months and 10 days. He was one of the deputies and one of the last still remaining. He and a few others were sent here from Russia to investigate land and government here in Manitoba. Through the influence of the deputies, including that of Mr. Toews, it was decided to put Manitoba under an agriculture plan. His trip and other minor things helped to make a memorable beginning....” Dynasties of the Mennonite Kleine Gemeinde in Imperial Russia and North America, by Delbert Plett, 2000, pp. 474-476. _______________________________________________________________ Birth: 11 Jun 1836, Schoenau, Molotschna, South Russia Baptism: 1857, Russia Immigration: 17 Jul 1874, S. S. Austrian; arrived Quebec City, Quebec Death: 21 Feb 1908, Greenland, Manitoba Burial: Greenland, Manitoba 1st Wife: Friesen, Elisabeth, Married: 1857 Children: 1 Toews, Johann F., 28 Sep 1858 2 Toews, Cornelius F., 15 Mar 1862 2nd wife: Bartel, Anna, 4 Oct 1838 Married: 12 Sep 1864; Russia Children: 1 Toews, Maria B., 25 Dec 1865 2 Toews, Anna B., 30 Aug 1868 3 Toews, Katharina B., 1870 4 Toews, Peter C., 20 May 1874 5 Toews, Katharina B., 28 Feb 1876 6 Toews, Susanna B., 8 Jan 1878 7 Toews, Agnes B., 5 Mar 1880 8 Toews, Annie, 7 Mar 1881 9 Toews, Margaret B., 7 Nov 1883 10 Toews, Elizabeth, 23 Nov 1886 11 Toews, Elizabeth B., 28 Jan 1887 Parents: Father: Toews, Johann Cornelius, 25 Oct 1793 Mother: Plett, Maria, 30 Mar 1811

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Cornelius P. Toews's memorial?
Cornelius P. Toews's memorial is located at: Original Greenland Mennonite Church Cemetery, Sainte-Anne, Steinbach Census Division, Canada.
When did Cornelius P. Toews death?
Cornelius P. Toews death on 21 Feb 1908 in Greenland, Steinbach Census Division, Manitoba, Canada
Where are the coordinates of the Cornelius P. Toews's memorial?
Latitude: 49.6190280
Longitude: -96.7435600

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Anna Bartel Toews

(1838 - 1918)

Siblings

Rev Peter P. Toews

(1841 - 1922)

(unknow - unknow)

Children

Cornelius Friesen Toews

(1862 - 1924)

Peter C Toews

(1874 - 1935)

Katherina Toews Wiebe

(1876 - 1950)

Katharina Toews Wiebe

(1876 - 1950)

Susanna B. Toews Giesbrecht

(1878 - 1927)

Agnes B. Toews Friesen

(1879 - 1958)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Original Greenland Mennonite Church Cemetery
Sainte-Anne, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.6190280, -96.7435600

2. Greenland Church of God in Christ Mennonite
Greenland, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.6351190, -96.7323020

3. Blumenort Evangelical Mennonite Cemetery
Blumenort, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.6041260, -96.7192820

4. Hochfeld CMC Cemetery
Hanover, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5918670, -96.7675670

5. Blumengard Cemetery
Hanover, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.6067480, -96.7984270

6. Evangelical Mennonite Church of Blumenort Cemetery
Blumenort, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.6051800, -96.6895800

7. Blumenort E.M.C. Cemetery
Blumenort, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5896100, -96.6892100

8. Bergthal Chortitzer Mennonite Cemetery
Blumenort, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5741870, -96.7740270

9. Blumenhof Community Cemetery
Blumenort, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5896000, -96.6633200

10. Silberfeld CMC Cemetery
Hanover, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.6080890, -96.8449120

11. Old Silberfeld Cemetery
New Bothwell, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.6206035, -96.8527183

12. Prairie Rose EMC Cemetery
Landmark, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.6648210, -96.8326140

13. Saint Anne Roman Catholic Cemetery
Sainte-Anne, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.6688360, -96.6456770

14. Mitchell Memorial Gardens
Mitchell, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5339200, -96.7694000

15. Vollwerk Cemetery
Mitchell, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5310900, -96.7712200

16. Clearsprings Cemetery
Steinbach, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5556500, -96.6427670

17. Randolph CMC Cemetery
Randolph, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5455430, -96.8300100

18. Ridgewood Evangelical Mennonite Cemetery
Giroux, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5750710, -96.6149710

19. Evangelical Lutheran Brethren Church Cemetery
Mitchell, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5255970, -96.7672200

20. Steinbach Heritage Cemetery
Steinbach, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5326500, -96.6703100

21. Steinbach Pioneer Cemetery
Steinbach, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5249158, -96.6875950

22. Steinbach Memorial Cemetery
Steinbach, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5170200, -96.6928400

23. Osterwick Giesbrecht Cemetery
New Bothwell, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.6058830, -96.9229170

24. South Osterwick Cemetery
New Bothwell, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5911170, -96.9269670