Preservings 11 (1997) - Plett Foundation

Aganetha Stoesz (1866-1951) with her husband,
Johann Funk. Photo courtesy of Dick F. Wiebe,
Greenland.
son-in-law Funk bought a self-binder for themselves
in Winnipeg and he helped his children
cut their crops in 1893, 1894 and 1895.
Son David Stoesz born Aug. 28, 1870 married
Agatha Kehler on Dec. 30, 1890 and moved
to the West Reserve in 1891. They bought 80
acres of land in the Gnadenfeld district. David
Stoesz’s diary reads as follows, “March 17,
Jacob Kehlers together with our children David
and Agatha moved to the West Reserve. They
had bought 80 acres with buildings in
Gnadenfeld for $1,600.00. This is going to be
a very hard knot, and will need much luck and
blessing to overcome.” They are both buried in
the Kronsthal cemetery, West Reserve.
Son Jacob Stoesz born Nov. 8, 1872 married
Anna Rempel Nov. 19, 1901 and settled in
the Rhineland district between Niverville and
Isle Des Chenes Hwy 59. Jacob like his father
was a prosperous farmer and built a big twostory
house circa 1920. They had 5 children of
which 4 died in the diphtheria epidemic. Only
the youngest son Jacob grew up to take over
the farm when his father passed away in July
29, 1939.
Son Peter Stoesz born Feb. 24, 1878 and
died Mar. 18, 1884.
Daughter Maria Stoesz born July 28,1881
and died Feb. 19, 1951. She first married Peter
Schroeder in April 2, 1901, who died five years
later leaving Maria with 4 young daughters.
One of these daughters, Maria, married
Cornelius W. Friesen, later a minister in the
Chortitzer Church, and whose son, Aron C. S.
Friesen, is currently Reeve of the R. M. of
Hanover. In 1908, April 2, she married
Cornelius C. Friesen who had one son from his
No. 11, December, 1997
first marriage. Counting the children from both
of their first marriages, Maria and Cornelius
had 11 children who all grew up to adulthood.
They farmed in the Osterwick area, later designated
as the Arran School District by the Provincial
Government. One of the grandsons of
the second marriage is Albert Friesen, owner
of Auto City Insurance, Steinbach.
Son Cornelius Stoesz was born Jan. 21,
1885, and died Nov. 21, 1948. He married
Anganetha Kehler and farmed south of Landmark.
They raised 4 children 2 boys and 2 girls
who grew up to adulthood. A son died in his
childhood years. The two married daughters
moved to Paraguay to be with her daughters.
Tribute to Maria Wiebe Stoesz.
Much has been written about Aeltester
David Stoesz, albeit we must not fall short to
give Maria Wiebe Stoesz some credit too. Maria
played an important role, being the wife of an
Elder and Bishop as David Stoesz was. As we
all know, there was nothing that came easy or
instant in those early days; everything was laborious
and hard going.
Besides his ministerial work, David also was
a well-established farmer. Maria must have been
a very busy farm manager and housewife. Besides
all that, she had the duties expected of her
as an Aeltester’s wife such as always being ready
for unexpected company and overnight guests.
David and Maria Stoesz’ oldest daughter
Anganetha (married to Johann Funk) was the
Maria Stoesz (1881-1951) second husband Cornelius
C. Friesen (1882-1966). Photo courtesy of Dick F.
Wiebe.
maternal grandmother to my husband (D. F.
Wiebe). I remember grandmother as being neat
and punctual. She used to tell me many details
of her growing up years in the David Stoesz
home and how she had helped bake, do general
cleaning, gardening and spring housecleaning.
Anganetha went into detail of how they had
done the spring house-cleaning with homemade
91
soaps as the only cleaning agent they had.
Cleaning the whole house had taken a long
time. First they cleaned the white-washed walls
and then painted some parts where it needed
after which it took a while for the paint to dry.
When all was done, put in place, and arranged
in shinning order, they were ready for visitors.
We can take it from this that her mother
Maria Stoesz had taught her daughter well in
maintaining a well-kept household; this was of
utmost importance to them.
It was usually in summertime when most of
the visiting was done, which was also a time when
the woman’s virtuous talents would display their
art in breadmaking, noodle-making, blanket making,
sewing and cooking. They always tried to
make a lot from what little they had. One thing
they all had in common in that era was to wash
and bleach their flour and sugar bags to make
sheets, comforter covers and some clothes for
young children. They would neatly embroider
pillows cases and tea towels were sewn up pretty.
The house cleaning was usually done in
spring. In May 1891, David Stoesz mentioned
in his diary “It is house cleaning time here in
the house, everything is being cleaned and refurbished.”
When the house was all cleaned
from top to bottom, it gave them a content feeling
of pride and they looked forward with pleasant
anticipation to host the visitors and overnight
guests that always showed up.
Mennonite women had to be ready for guests
at any time without notice or warning. To have
extra bedding was essential in those days with
all the people who stayed for the night. This
was especially so for Maria Stoesz as she never
knew who their next night guest might be: it
could have been Andres Lilge from Edmonton,
Alberta or J.Y. Shantz from Ontario, or else
ministers from near and far.
Conclusion.
Some time ago I and my husband D. F.
Wiebe were in Alberta at the celebration of the
Moravian Brethren’s 100th year in Canada.
During the lunch break there was lots of reminiscing
going on. A dear elderly lady came up
to shake our hand and told us the story of how
her grandfather and Pastor Andreas Lilge had
been to Manitoba looking for aid from the Mennonites.
While staying at Bishop Stoesz’s for
night he had insisted that her grandfather sleep
in his bed. “You see, they not only gave them
aid but also had them sleep in the best bed they
had. If it had not been for the Mennonites our
people would have starved to death.” she said
with tears in her eyes.
That reminds me of 1 Timothy 5:17 “Let
the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of
double honours especially they who labour in
the word and doctrine.”
Sources:
David Stoesz and the Bergthal Story: Some
diary notes,” by Lawrence Klippenstein, Mennonite
Life (April 1976), 14-19.
Bill and Trudy Harms Altona, Manitoba,
“House of David and Maria Wiebe Stoesz
record.”