Preservings 11 (1997) - Plett Foundation

funeral for four children who had died there but
before we got there a fifth child had died. Of those
that were buried two were the children of Johann
Neufeld and three the children of Abram
Doerksen”—Historical Sketches, page 426.
Farming Operations.
Abraham Doerksen was a successful manufacturer
of farm implements in Russia. In Manitoba
he continued to build plows and tools like planes,
saws hammers and spades, with some difficulty to
help out his neighbours and not for gain.
The 1881 fire insurance records show that
Abraham Doerksen Sr. had a modest house, furniture,
wagon, plow, and half share in a threshing
outfit as well as a fanning mill. The insurance coverage
for the threshing outfit was cancelled in 1883.
The same year he purchased a grain mower and a
stubble plow. In 1883 he must have built or enlarged
the barn and in 1884 he added a grass mower
and a rake to his possessions.
It is evident that all the hard work was paying
off and bringing fruit. Both Abraham Doerksen and
son Heinrich were assessed with two quarters of
land in the 1887 assessment rolls of the Municipality
of Hanover. Abraham had 2 horses, 11 cattle
and 2 oxen, for a total assessment $1084. Heinrich
has 2 horses, 4 oxen and 19 cattle, for a total assessment
1741. Of this amount 1028 was cancelled
because he was a minister.
There were no gravelled or proper roads in those
early years. Sometimes the dirt roads were quite
impossible, especially in spring or after a heavy
rainfall. My father remembered how they once
hauled a load of grain. They got so hopelessly stuck
in a mud hole that they unhitched the horses and
led them to dry ground. Then they carried all the
bags of grain to the dry spot. Now they had to disassemble
the whole wagon taking the wheels off,
and carry each out of the mud hole separately. After
everything was on higher ground came the big
job of assembling the wagon, reloading the grain,
hitching the horses, and they were ready to continue
their journey.
They often walked to church when roads were
impassable. Bill Rempel has cited his grandfather’s
(Heinrich Doerksen) diary, that he and his father—
which was Abraham Doerksen at age 73—walked
3 1/2 miles to Chortitz to church.
On June 4, 1909, Rev. Heinrich Doerksen,
Blumengard, recorded in his journal that he had
been in Schönthal during the day, “Abraham
Doerksen’s son Peter was buried after 1 1/2 years
of sickness”—Historical Sketches, page 555.
Retirement, 1916.
My parents John and Helena (Hiebert)
Doerksen had built a small house in Niverville,
where they lived from 1910-16. Then they bought
Helena’s Father’s homestead and moved there.
Grandfather Abraham Doerksen then bought his
son’s house in Niverville, moved there and retired.
My grandfather Abraham Doerksen kept a daily
diary but unfortunately it was burned in the early
thirties. Much valuable information was lost.
Abraham Doerksen also maintained a
“Familienbuch” (Family Genealogy) in which he
kept a record of his family, births, deaths, marriages,
etc. This journal is still extant and shows
his careful and precise handwriting indicating that
No. 11, December, 1997
he was a capable writer.
The grandchildren who remember Abraham
Doerksen, say he was a kind and gentle man always
generously handing them “crow’s eggs” a
round white peppermint candy.
Abraham Doerksen lived long enough to see a
railway constructed through Niverville and better
roads and drainage built. He saw how stores and
businesses prospered. Churches and schools were
established. He realized that his children’s children
would have an easier life. He died on September
20, 1916.
The Spiritual Legacy.
The Doerksens were caring people. They were
faithful in service to God and to people. Three sons
were ministers of the gospel. Son Abraham served
as Bishop of the Sommerfelder church near Altona
for 36 years. He moved to Mexico in 1922 where
he passed away. Son Heinrich ministered in the
Chortitzer church for 46 years. Son David served
in the ministerial of the Sommerfelder Gemeinde,
Saskatchewan for 40 years, for many years as
Bishop. Heinrich and Abraham played leading roles
in various presentations and delegations to the
75
Canadian and Manitoba governments regarding the
school and military issues, a story yet to be written.
Son Jacob was a very good teacher in Strassburg
from 1885-1905. My father John E Doerksen was
a teacher in Schanzenberg from 1905-10. Son-inlaw
Edward Dudman also served as a school
teacher in Chortitz, Manitoba.
Endnotes:
Note One: There is some confusion in the early
sources as the 1881 assessment records of the R.
M. of Hanover show Abraham Doerksen with
SW16-5-7E, Heinrich with NW21-5-7E, and
Abraham with NE20-5-7E.
Sources:
Regina Neufeld, “Abraham Doerksen,” in Fred
Kaita, editor, Niverville (Niverville, 1986), page
81.
Bernhard Doerksen, Family Tree of Abraham
Doerksen (Regina, 1960). 102 pages.
William Schroeder, The Bergthal Colony (Winnipeg,
1986), 141 pages.
Title page and two sample pages of the Familienbuch of Abraham Doerksen 1909.
Historical Annotation to the Abraham Doerksen story, by Henry Schapansky, 914
Chilliwack Street, New Westminster, B. C., V3L 4V5.
Abraham Dirksen (20.10.1805-4.10.1871) BGB A86 was a son of Jacob Dirksen
(21.12.1767-2.2.1806). (See also John Dyck’s note to BGB A 86, based on my Neuendorf
article and references there.) Susanna Klassen was a daughter of Franz Klassen of Neuendorf,
Russia (b.1744), in 1776: Tiegenhagen: 1 son, 2 daughters. Jacob Dirksen (1767-1806) was
living with his in-laws in Neuendorf in 1795. B.H.U. p. 241, Neuendorf #24. After Jacob
Dirksen died, his widow married Johann Neudorf (1.3.1783-15.4.1860), living at Neuendorf
in 1808. This family moved to Osterwick by 1814 where they and the Dirksens are found in
1814. B.H.U. p. 283 #4. Abraham Dirksen (1805-71) was there as well.
Jacob Dirksen (1767-1806) was a son of David Dirksen (b.1740, died before 1802) of
Ellerwald III, 1776: 4 sons, 5 daughters. They came to Russia in 1788 and settled at Neuendorf.
Also B.H.U. p. 240, Neuendorf #4. His wife was a Maria (family name not yet known, b.
1736).
Many of the Old Colony Dirksens are descendants of David Dirksen b. 1740.
In reading the article by Regina Neufeld, Isaac Gunther of Schönthal, Manitoba, does not
seem to be the brother-in-law of Abraham Dirksen (1827-1916). His sister Helena married
Heinrich Görtzen, Chortitz, Manitoba, 1881.