Preservings 11 (1997) - Plett Foundation

Preservings
David Klassen (1813-1900) ‘Kjist”
The story of the David Klassen (1813-1900) ‘Kjist” as told by Harv Klassen, Manager of the Mennonite Heritage Village, Box
1136, Steinbach, Manitoba, R0A 2A0, and great-great grandson of David Klassen.
Description.
The David Klassen chest or “kjist” is a very
important acquisition for the Mennonite Heritage
Village. The exterior of the chest is of
wood, metal and leather. Inside the chest is
lined with paper. The chest measures 80 cm.
long x 40.5 cm. wide x 51 cm. high. The chest
is basically made completely of metal.
The lid is curve-shaped (humped), and is
on hinges so it can open and close. Running
across the lid are 3 wooden straps. The front
and back edges (trim area) of the lid are wooden
as well. The right side handle is leather and
Photograph of the David Klassen chest showing the
exterior finish. Photo courtesy of Harv Klassen, Steinbach,
Manitoba.
Photograph of the David Klassen chest with the lid
opened to show the interior construction, and the
German newspaper comics which were used to decorate
the inside of the lid. This was another unusual
feature about the “kjist” as usually the lid interior
served as a sort of shrine where pictures of Kings and
Queens or sometimes Biblical illustrations would be
prominently displayed. Photo courtesy of Harv
Klassen, Steinbach, Manitoba.
the left side handle is missing.
The chest is decorated at various locations
from the outside with brassy-copper looking
designed pieces. The lock and key are missing
from the front of the chest where the lid joins
the base. The inside of the base of chest is lined
with a peachy coloured paper. The inside of
the lid in lined with a German comic newspaper.
The entire inside of the chest and lid behind
the paper lining is wood. The paper is worn
and torn in some areas. The chest is in relatively
good condition. The chest is believed to
have originated in Russia from the 1860s era.
This old trunk, with its brass fittings, its
insides lined with German comic papers, and
its missing handle recall a different world. The
chest is unique as it is not of Mennonite design
or manufacture. It is interesting to speculate
why David Klassen would have purchased a
chest such as this, as opposed to one made according
to the furniture tradition of his own
culture. Did he simply get a good deal? or was
this something in his character, that he was interested
in the new and unusual?
Family Background.
An artifact without a history is merely an
old item, lucky not to be discarded into the
dustbins of history. It is the story of the artifact
which gives it value and makes it a treasure,
giving it a pedigree, as it were.
This old wooden chest has a story to tell of
the first group of Mennonite immigrants who
came to Manitoba from Russia. It belonged to
David Klassen (1813-1900) who led his people
of the Kleine Gemeinde (KG) Mennonites to
Manitoba in l874. He was already 61 years old
and a respected leader in the community when
he undertook this venture. To come to a new
land to start afresh must have seemed both an
opportunity and a challenge. He was equal to
that challenge.
David Klassen was the son of Abraham
Klassen (1766-1813), of Tiegerweide, Prussia,
where David was born 8 months after his father
died. His paternal grandfather was
Abraham Klassen (1739-1817) listed in
Tiegenhagen in the 1776 census.
But it was on his mother’s side that David
Klassen was related to the KG. His mother
Maria Klassen was the daughter of David
Klassen (1740-1804) listed in Petershagen,
Prussia in 1776 and for whom he was named.
David’s great-grandfather was David Klassen
(1700-80), listed as a wealthy farmer with a
male servant and a female servant, in
Fürstenwerder, Prussia, in 1776. Fürstenwerder
in 1776 was also the home of Hans Plett, another
well-to-do “Groutbua”, ancestor to all
Mennonite Pletts in the world.
Maria had 2 brothers who had emigrated to
Russia, namely, Peter Klassen (1789-1862) who
acquired a Wirtschaft in Rückenau,
Molotschna—whose granddaughter,
Margaretha Klassen was the third wife of Steinbach
pioneer merchant Klaas R. Reimer, and
brother Jakob Klassen (1792-1869) who acquired
a Wirtschaft in Pordenau, Molotschna—
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from whom are descended the KG Classens in
Jansen, Nebraska, and later Meade, Kansas.
Carl Doerksen, Commercial Loans Manager,
Steinbach Credit Union Ltd is a great-greatgrandson
of Jakob Classen.
Mr. and Mrs. David B. Klassen, in Beaver Flats,
Saskatchewan, 1918. David B. Klassen was the son
of delegate David Klassen. Photo courtesy of Furrows
in the Valley, page 446.
Another brother Dirk Klassen (1765-1843)
was a minister in Fürstenwerder, Prussia,
whose daughter Margaretha married Klaas Epp,
a fanatical Separatist-Pietist. Her son Klaas Epp
Jr. (1838-1913) was the infamous leader of a
group of radical separatist-pietists who went
on the famous trek to East Asia in 1880 pursuant
to the “eastward” millennial teachings in
vogue among the Russian Mennonites at the
1902. Jakob R. Klassen, grandson of delegate David
Klaasen, at the age of 20. Jakob R. Klassen was a
farmer, minister and an inventor at heart. Photo courtesy
of Furrows in the Valley, page 446.