Buhr family fonds. -- 1875-1929, 1972-1973, [198-?]; predominantly 1875-1929. -- 5 cm of textual records.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Jacob Buhr (1833-1908) was born in Russia to Jacob and Maria (Neufeld) Buhr. He married Katherina Funk, Schoenwiese, Chortitza in 1855 and moved to Schoental, Bergthal. The family moved to Canada and settled on the Manitoba Mennonite East Reserve in the village of Schoenwiese in 1874 with two surviving children -- Johann Buhr (1858-1942) and Jacob (1870-). In 1881 Jacob Buhr, his wife and eldest son Johann moved to the West Reserve and settled in Edenburg, near Gretna.

Jacob Buhr died on January 13, 1908 and his son Jacob took over the family farm

CUSTODIAL HISTORY

Helen (Buhr) Regier, of North Newton Kansas deposited the records in this collection in 1978.  A ledger book ("Cash book") begun by Johann Buhr (1858-1942), begun in 1892 to record family information, was passed on to the Mennonite Heritage Centre by Larry Kehler, a descentant of this family. (Acc. No. 12-051)

SCOPE AND CONTENT

This fonds consists primarily of letters addressed to Jacob Buhr (1833-1908), Johann Buhr (1858-1942) and Jacob Buhr (1870-1951) received from close relatives in Russia. The earliest letters deal with questions of inheritance resulting from the death of Jacob Buhr's mother (who remained in Russia).  Letters at the turn of the century give the reader a picture of conditions in the Mennonite colonies at that time.  Letters from 1920-1929 addressed to Johann Buhr (1858-1942) and Jacob Buhr (1870-1951) deal with economic conditions in the Mennonite colonies in Russia after the Civil War and questions of emigration. Some letters from the 1970s are addressed to Helen Buhr from her father Jacob H. Buhr of Altona, Manitoba. Items of special interest include a list of wheat sales from 1883, a letter from P. & K. Friesen of Rosthern, Saskatchewan dated 1911 and a small family register kept by Johann Buhr (1858-1942).  There is also a ledger begun by Johann Buhr in 1892 (Cash book) which contains family information.

NOTES

Accession nos. 78-67; 12-051

Location: 2213.

Gothic German handwriting with some translations

Finding Aid: none

This fonds was named "Jacob Buhr Collection" in the Resources for Canadian Mennonite Studies: An Inventory and Guide to Archival Holdings at the Mennonite Heritage Centre published in 1988.