Preservings 11 (1997) - Plett Foundation

Names such as Keating, Steel, Cohoe and
Laing are still in the phone book and make a
living in the community.
The naming of Clearspring Mall and
Clearsprings Road is a compliment to the
early pioneers and their descendants as they
preserve the history of the area. The Macks,
Rankins and Jamiesons, to name a few, would
be grateful to today’s people in keeping the
name “Clearsprings” on the map.
May the success of the past continue in
the future!
Coming in the next issue:
“Clearsprings: 1874-84: The next ten
years” by Ed and Alice Laing will survey
the settlers who came in 1874 to 1884 and
the establishment of a vibrant and successful
community.
No. 11, December, 1997
Peter Keating and his mother-in-law Mrs. Anderson in the buggy. The Keatings arrived in 1872 and homesteaded
on NW12-7-6E, 2 miles north of Steinbach along the present-day Keating Road. Photo courtesy of Wes Keating.
Minister Franz Dÿck (1822-87): Pioneer Recorder
Franz Dÿck (1822-87), Schönsee, Manitoba - Pioneer Minister, Assistant-Aeltester and Church Recorder; by John Dyck, 48 Coral
Cresent, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2J 1V7.
Introduction.
The story of the Bergthal Colony in Imperial
Russia and that of the old-world society
transplanted to Manitoba in 1874, to a large
degree, is the story of the men and women, the
family units, of that pioneering community
whose dedication to a vision inspired them to
do the impossible. The story of Franz Dÿck
(1822-87), BGB B54 is the story of one such
family and one such individual.
His Family.
Franz Dÿck was the son of Jacob Dyck
(1787-1847) and Helena Wall (1792-1874).
Jacob and Helena Dyck lived in Rosenthal in
1808 and in Osterwick in 1814 before moving
to Bergthal with their teenage son, Franz.
Franz’s paternal grandfather was Jacob Dyck
(b. 1754) of Nieder-Chortitz whose other son,
Gerhard (1789-1867), has a number of signifi-
81
cant children: Aeltester Jacob Dyck of Chortitza
(1813-55); Rev. Gerhard Dyck (1821-89); and
Judith (1830-1906), second wife of minister
Jacob Epp of Judenplan and Neu- Chortitz
(Note One).
Franz’ maternal grandparents were Johann
Wall (b. 1768) and Getruda Wall (b. 1769)
whose daughter Judith (1836-1910) married
Aeltester Johann Wiebe (1837-1905) of
Fürstenland, founding Aeltester of the
1910. A group of Schönsee families many of whom later emigrated to Paraguay in 1926. From left to right - back row: Abram Klassen, Jac. Thiessen, A. D. Friesen, John
Klassen, D. W. Friesen (founder of Friesen Printers, Altona), Bishop Johann K. Dyck, son of Franz Dÿck (wearing the dark shirt), Gerh. Klassen, Abram Friesen, Jakob
Klassen and David Klassen. Presumably the Klassen men are the cousins or some other relations of Bishop Johann K. Dyck. This photograph seems to represent the
upper and middle class Chortitzer society of 1910. As such it demonstrates dress and personal attire of the time. The people appear to be self-confident, satisfied with
their place in life, and prosperous. Photo courtesy of Grunthal History, page 59. Mrs. Johann K. Dueck emigrated to Paraguay with her children in 1926.