Jacob D. Epp Family Fonds

©Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg , Manitoba . (Last updated September 6, 2013)

Jacob D. Epp Family fonds. -- 1788-1986. -- 1.08 m of textual records, 89 photographs, and 114 frames of microfilm.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Jacob David Epp (1820-1890) was born in the Mennonite village of Chortitza . He came from a family of prominent leaders. His grandfather David Epp (1750-1802) was the Mennonite Elder who negotiated the Charter of Privileges granted the Mennonites by Paul I in 1800. His father Davd Epp (1781-1843) also was a prominent minister.

Jacob D. Epp married Maria Klassen on November 18, 1841 . They were blessed with ten children, one of which died during childbirth. He began his diary writing in 1851 when he was a school teacher on the Island of Chortitza . In 1852 he left teaching on the Island of Khoritza in search of a better way of making a living for his growing family. He and his family settled in the Judenplan, a Jewish agricultural settlement which was about 50 miles west of Chortitza, and farmed there for 25 years. Here he was elected as a minister and served as such until his death. On March 15, 1863 his wife Maria (Klassen) passed away, leaving him widowed with 9 children. On June 25, 1863 he married Judith Dyck (1830-1906). They had 5 children, of which two died at a young age. In the late 1860s and early 1870s he helped his children acquire land in newly established daughter colonies such as the lease-land Nepluiev settlement and Baratov-Shlakhtin, developing near the Judenplan. In 1874 he too purchased a farm in the Baratov settlement and remained here until his death in 1890. His widow and ten of his eleven children and their familes migrated to Canada in the 1890s. She died on July 15, 1906 at Eigenheim , Saskatchewan .

Jacob and Judith Dyck Epp's son Gerhard (1864-1919) married Katharina Janzen (186?-1944) in Russia in 1889. They came to Canada in 1893 with his mother Judith, and their two children, of which the youngest died en route. They were blessed with ten more children in Canada . Gerhard and Katharina remained in Rosenort (near Gretna ) Manitoba until April of 1894 when they moved to Saskatchewan where they purchased a homestead west of Rosthern. On July 21, 1895 Gerhard Epp was elected as a minister into the Eigenheim Mennonite Church . Gerhard and Katharina, like his mother and father, both kept diaries.

Gerhard and Katharina Epp's fifth child, David G. Epp (1897-1986) was born in Eigenheim near Rosthern and married Justina Rempel (1900-1986) on October 3, 1926 . Upon the death of his father (Gerhard Epp) in 1919, he was asked by his mother to take over the family farm which he then ran for 60 years. David G. and Justina Epp were blessed with eight children. In 1983 he and his wife moved from their farm to the home for the elderly in Rosthern. David G. Epp was the fourth generation to keep a diary in the Epp family.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

This fonds consists of four series: 1) Epp Diaries, 1837-1843, 1851-1986 2) Epp Materials, 1788-1811, 1846, 1878-1955 3) Epp Family Photograph Collection, [1920's?] 4) Epp Family Farm Ledgers, 1927-1986.

CUSTODIAL HISTORY

Following the death of Jacob D. Epp (1820-1890) his diaries were sold at auction to members of the immediate family. The majority of these treasures followed the Epp family on their trek to Canada in the 1890s and were passed on through the generations. In 1976 David G. Epp (1897-1986) donated the first items of this collection to the Mennonite Heritage Centre. (Mennonite Historian, Vol.2, No. 4, Dec. 1976). More items were obtained at various times over the years. Some items were acquired from the Mennonite Library and Archives, Bethel College , Newton , Kansas on microfilm. Most of the material was donated by Dennis David Epp, the son of David G. and Justina Epp, in two separate deposits dated October 1997 and April 1998. Three diaries of Katharina (Janzen) Epp were deposited by Carl A. Krause in December 1998. Ted Harder provided a transcription of the marriages performed as outlined in diary 6 in September 2013..

NOTES

Title based on the contents of the fonds.

Arranged and described by Iris Hiebert in July 1998. Updated by Alf Redekopp in July 2008 and Conrad Stoesz September 6, 2013, January 25, 2019, February 11, 2019.

Finding aid consists of a series description with an inventory file list and arrangement notes.

Accession Nos. 76-0??, 97-057, 98-080, 98-090, 98-149, 99-076, 2008-063, 2019-001

Related material: Heinrich Wieler papers and David H. Epp papers at Mennonite Heritage Centre. See also, Harvey Dyck, "Mennonite Community in an age of troubled change: the diary of Jacob D. Epp, 1851-1880" published in Mennonite Historian, Vol. XIV, No. 4 (Dec. 1988), and Harvey Dyck, A Mennonite in Russia : the diaries of Jacob D. Epp 1851-1880 (Toronto, Ont. : University of Toronto Press, 1991). Genealogical data pertaining to the descendants of Gerhard and Katharina (Janzen) Epp can be found in Family Register of Gerhard and Katharina Epp, compiled and produced by Bruno and Carl Epp, July 1998. "Thanks for All Good Things: The Diaries of Katharina (Janzen) Epp 1919-1944," translated by Henry Klaassen, edited by Maureen Epp, 2008.

SERIES DESCRIPTION

Epp Diaries. -- 1837-1843, 1851-1986. - 86 cm of textual records and 93 frames of microfilm.

This series consists of original, photocopied, microfilmed, transcribed and/or translated diaries of David Epp (1781-1843), Jacob D. Epp (1820-1890) and wife Judith (Dyck) Epp (1832-1906), Gerhard Epp (1864-1919) and wife Katharina (Janzen) Epp (1889-1944), and their son David G. Epp (1897-1986).

Location: Microfilm #189, Volume 1017:3-7; 2169:1; 2432:3, 4, 7; 4639:1-20; 4636:1-11; 4637:1-4

Epp Materials. - 1788-1811, 1846, 1878-1955. -- 10 cm of textual records and 21 frames of microfilm.

This series consists of materials that belonged to the Epp family. Included are song and poetry books; correspondence in textual form as well as early correspondence on microfilm; documents pertaining to exemption from military service in World War II; World War I and II registration cards; a sermon book; and a Stumpp map of Odessa .

Location: Microfilm #69, Volume 2432: 2, 5, 6, 7; 4637: 5-13

Epp Family Photograph Collection. -- [early 1900s]. -- 89 photographs.

This series consists of Epp family photographs which relate to life on the farm and involvement in the Eigenheim Mennonite Church. Two more photos were added in 2019, of Mrs. Peter Epp and Henry W. Epp at the Newfield school teacher.

Location: Volume 4637: 14

Epp Family Farm Ledgers. -- 1927-1986. -- 12 cm of textual records.

This series consists of financial ledgers that were kept by David G. Epp after he took over the farm for his parents Gerhard and Katharina Epp.

Location: Volume 4638: 1-20

Jacob D. Epp Family fonds inventory file list (arranged by series):

Note on arrangement:

The original David Epp (1781-1843) diary of 1837-1843 (Volume 1017: 3) was originally one complete bound volume which included the diary which his son Jacob D. Epp wrote in the empty pages from 1871-1880. For unknown reasons this diary has been separated from its original bound location and it should be known that the two diaries were written in the same book. The Jacob D. Epp diary entries from 1871-1880 are found in Volume 1016: 3.

The Jacob D. Epp diaries are believed to have had seven volumes, of which diary numbers two and three have been presumed lost in family moves. Diaries number one, four and five are written by Jacob D. Epp. It is believed that diary number six could have been the Epp Family Register written by Jacob D. Epp and diary number seven, the diary of his wife Judith (Dyck) Epp.

There have been several numbering systems used by the various possessors of the diaries over the years. The numbering system believed to have been used by Jacob D. Epp, the original author of the Jacob D. Epp diaries, has been placed in italics and brackets following the file description.

Dennis David Epp, the transcriber of the Gerhard Epp diaries used the following numbering system for the Gerhard Epp diaries:

Volume 4639: 9 is Vol. I, Volume 4639: 12-14 is Vol. II, Volume 4639: 15 is Vol. III, Volume 4639: 17 is Vol. IV and Volume 4639: 20 is Vol. V.

The David G. Epp diaries have been numbered by Dennis David Epp as follows:

Volume 4636: 1 is diary No. 1, Volume 4636: 3 is diary No. 2, Volume 4636: 5 is diary No. 3, Volume 4636: 6 is diary No. 4, Volume 4636: 8 is diary No. 5, Volume 4636: 10 is diary No. 6, [Volume ????:?? is No.7 - see next paragraph], Volume 4636: 11 is diary No. 8, Volume 4637: 1 is diary No. 9, Volume 4637: 2 is diary No. 10, Volume 4637: 3 is diary No. 11 and Volume 4637: 4 is diary No. 12.

The David G. Epp diary from January 1, 1948 - December 31, 1952 which should follow the diary in Volume 4636: 10 is being withheld by the Epp family for photocopying but has been promised to be sent at a later date.

Series 1: Epp Diaries

Microfilm #189

Jacob D. Epp diary. - 1851-1853. (diary No. 1)

Volume 1016

2 Photocopy of Jacob D. Epp diary. - 1851-1853.

Volume 2169

1 Original Jacob D. Epp diary. - Dec. 28 1859 - May 10 1871 .

(diary No. 4)

Volume 4639

1 Transcription of the Jacob D. Epp diary. - Dec. 28 1859 - May 10 1971 .

Volume 1017

3 David Epp diary. -- 1837-1843. (diary No. 5)

3a Photocopy of David Epp diary

(to be used for any further research or copying)

Volume 4639

2 Transcription (handwritten) of the David Epp diary. - 1837- 1843.

Volume 2432

3 Transcription (typed) of portions of the David Epp diary. - 1837-1843. Note: The translation of the Epp diary truncates the originial diary informaton and leaves out a portion of 1837. Included here is a translation of the David Epp diary for March 4- April 30, 1837 (Acc. No. 2002-038).

Volume 1016

3 Jacob Epp diary. - May 11 1871 - Dec. 9, 1880 . (diary No. 5)

NOTE: The diaries listed to this point have been translated and edited by Harvey L. Dyck in the published book A Mennonite in Russia : The Diaries of Jacob D. Epp 1851-1880 (Toronto : University of Toronto Press, 1991).

Volume 4639

3 Original Genealogical Register of the Jacob D. Epp Family, 1870-1890. (diary No. 6)

Extraction of marriages recorded in this diary, prepared by Ted Harder.

Volume 2432

4 Transcription of the Genealogical Register of the Jacob D. Epp, Family. 1870-1890.

Volume 4639

4 Translation and photocopy of original Genealogical Register of the Jacob D. Epp Family, 1870-1890.

5 Photocopy of original Judith (Dyck) Epp diary 1878-1906. Jul. 1906 and Apr. 4 1917 - Jan. 17 1919 written by son Gerhard Epp. Jan. 18 1919 - Mar. 1919 written by Gerhard Epp's wife Katharina (Janzen) Epp. - 1878-1919. (diary No. 7)

6 Photocopy of original Judith (Dyck) Epp diary with transcription and translation. - 1878-1919.

7 Transcription of Gerhard and Judith (Dyck) Epp's diary entries in his mother, Judith (Dyck) Epp's diary. - 1906, 1917-1919; predominant 1917-1919.

8 Original Gerhard Epp diary, Dec. 25 1910 - Apr. 14 1917 (follows his July 1906 entry in his mother, Judith [Dyck] Epp's diary and precedes the Apr. 14 1917 entry in the Judith [Dyck] Epp diary). - 1910-1917.

Volume 2432

7 Original Gerhard Epp diary. - Sept. 15 1892 - June 11 1909 .

Volume 1017

4 Photocopy of original Gerhard Epp diary. - Sept. 15 1892 - June 11 1909 .

Volume 1016

1 Transcription of the Gerhard Epp diary. - 1890-1918.

Volume 4639

9 Photocopy of original and transcription of the Gerhard Epp diary Nov. 5 1890 - Aug. 5 1891 . Also includes additional photocopied items pertaining to the Epp family. - 1890-1891.

10 Translation of the Gerhard Epp diary. - Aug. 31 1891 - Apr. 1 1919 .

11 Original and transcription of the Katharina (Janzen) Epp diary. - April 15 1919 - May 31 1920 ; June 1 1920 - Oct. 17 1920 (photocopy); June 1 1921 - Aug. 15 1922 (original only).

Note: for a translation of the diary by Katharrina Epp 1919-1924, see the digital archival collection or the CMU library for "Thanks for All Good things: The Diaries of Katharina (Janzen) Epp: 1919-1944," translated by Henry Klaassen, edited by Maureen Epp, 2008. CT310.E671 A3 2008 MHL. (2008-076)

12 Translation of the Katharina (Janzen) Epp diary. - Dec. 1 1924 - Dec. 31 1925 .

13 Original, photocopy and transcription of the Katharina (Janzen) Epp diary. - Dec. 1 1924 - Dec. 31 1925 . (Acc. No. 2008-063 for original).

14 Photocopy of original and transcription of the Katharina (Janzen) Epp diary. - Jan. 1 1926 - Dec. 31 1927 .

15 Photocopy original and transcription of the Katharina (Janzen) Epp diaries. - Jan. 1 1928 - Dec. 31 1928 ; Aug. 10 1931 - Dec. 31 1931 ; Jan. 1 1932 - Dec. 31 1932 .

16 Original diary of Katharina (Janzen) Epp. - July 1 1934 - June 11 1935 .

17 Photocopy of original and transcription of the Katharina (Janzen) Epp diaries. - Jan. 1-8 1933 ; July 1 - Dec. 31 1934 ; Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 1935 ; Jan. 1 - Nov. 15 1936 ; Nov 16 1936 - April 4 1938 (original).

18 Original diary of Katharina (Janzen) Epp. - Dec. 2 1940 - Apr. 3 1943 .

19 Original diary of Katharina (Janzen) Epp with postscript by son David G. and wife Justina (Rempel) Epp. - Apr. 4 1943 - Feb. [15?] 1944.

20 Photocopy of original and transcription of the Katharina (Janzen) Epp diary with postscript by son David G. and wife Justina (Rempel) Epp. - Jan. 1 1940 - Feb. [15?] 1944.

Volume 4636

1 Original David G. Epp diary. - Feb 8 1931 - Apr. 6 1932 .

2 Translation of the David G. Epp diary. - Feb. 8 1931 - Apr. 6 1932 .

3 Original David G. Epp diary. - Apr. 7 1932 - Jan. 20 1933 .

4 Translation of the David G. Epp diary. - Apr. 7 1932 - Jan. 20 1933 .

5 Original David G. Epp diary. - Jan. 21 1933 - Feb. 6 1934 .

6 Original David G. Epp diary. Feb. 8 1934 - Dec. 31 1934 ; Jan. 1 1940 - Nov. 4 1941 . (The Feb. 8 1934 - Dec. 31 1934 diary is followed by the five year diary, Jan. 1 1935 - Dec. 31 1939 diary in Volume 4636: 8).

7 Translation of the David G. Epp diary. - Jan. 21 1933 - Feb. 6 1934 ; Feb. 8 1934 - Dec. 31 1934 .

8 Original David G. Epp diary. - Jan. 1 1935 - Dec. 31 1939 .

9 Translation of the David G. Epp diary. Jan. 1 1935 - Dec. 31 1939 .

NOTE: The David G. Epp diary from Jan. 1 1940 - Nov. 4 1941 is found in Volume: 4636: 6.

10 Original David G. Epp diary. - Nov. 6 1941 - July 13 1947 .

11 Original David G. Epp diaries. - Dec. 31 1952 - Dec. 31 1964 . (These diaries are in 12 envelopes).

12 Original David G. Epp diary. -- 1948-1952.

Volume 4637

1 Original David G. Epp diary. - Jan. 1 1965 - Dec. 31 1969 .

2 Original David G. Epp diary. - Jan. 1 1970 - Dec. 31 1974 .

3 Original David G. Epp diary. - Jan. 1 1975 - Dec. 31 1979 .

4 Original David G. Epp diary. - Jan. 1 1975 - Dec. 31 1985 , Jan. 22, 1986 .

Series 2: Epp Materials

Microfilm # 69

Letters from Johann Bartsch and Johann Epp to David Epp. - 1788-1811.

Volume 2432

2 Heinrich Epp poetry booklet. - 1846.

Volume 4637

5 Evangeliums Lieder No. 1 und 2 which belonged to Rev. Gerhard Epp (1864-1919). n.d.

Volume 2432

5 Katharina (Janzen) Epp Christmas and New Years wishes to her parents (7 booklets). - 1876-1881.

6 Booklet of handwritten hymns which belonged to Justina (Rempel) Epp. - 1878-[1880?].

Volume 2432

7 Booklet of poetry and songs belonging to Gerhard Epp. - 1901.

Volume 4637

6 A letter to the Gerhard Epp children from former teacher Ester Lean. - Nov. 12 1910 .

7 David G. Epp's Statement of Faith booklet. - n.d.

8 David G. Epp's military exemption documents for World War II. - Nov. 14 1917 ; Feb. 17 1918 .

9 David G. Epp's registration card for World War I and Justina (Rempel) Epp's registration cards for World War II. - June 22 1918 ; Aug. 20 1940 .

10 Justina (Rempel) Epp's song book. - 1919-1923.

11 A sermon book which belonged to Gerhard G. Epp (Gerhard and Katharina [Janzen] Epp's son). 1952-1957.

12 A Stumpp map of " Odessa ". - 1955.

13 Pocket notebook of Rev. David H. Rempel (Justina [Rempel] Epp's father). - n.d.

Series 3: Epp Family Photograph Collection

Eighty-nine photographs (13 pages) related to life on the Gerhard Epp farm and the Eigenheim Church . - [early 1900's].

Series 4: Epp Family Farm Ledgers

Volume 4638

1 David G. Epp farm ledger. - 1927-1938.

2 David G. Epp farm ledger. - 1938-1945.

3 David G. Epp farm ledger. - 1945-1950.

4 David G. Epp farm ledger. - 1950-1955.

5 David G. Epp farm ledger. - 1955-1960.

6 David G. Epp farm ledger. - 1960-1966.

7 David G. Epp farm ledger. - 1967.

8 David G. Epp farm ledger. - 1967-1968.

9 David G. Epp farm ledger. - 1969.

10 David G. Epp farm ledger. - 1970.

11 David G. Epp farm ledger. - 1971.

12 David G. Epp farm ledger. - 1972.

13 David G. Epp farm ledger. - 1973.

14 David G. Epp farm ledger. - 1974.

15 David G. Epp farm ledger. - 1975.

16 David G. Epp farm ledger. - 1976.

17 David G. Epp farm ledger. - 1977-1978.

18 David G. Epp farm ledger. - 1979-1981.

19 David G. Epp farm ledger. - 1982-1984.

20 David G. Epp farm ledger. - 1984-1986.

Jacob D. Epp family fonds inventory file list (by box volume):

Volume 1017

3 David Epp's diary (1837-1843). - 1871-1880. (diary No. 5)

4 Photocopy of original Gerhard Epp diary. - Sept. 15 1892- June 11 1909 .

Volume 1016

1 Transcription of the Gerhard Epp diary. - 1890-1918.

2 Photocopy of the Jacob Epp diary. - 1851-1853. (diary No. 1)

3 Original Jacob Epp diary (follows the copied portions of David Epp's diary). - May 11 1871 - Dec. 9 1880 . (diary No. 5)

Volume 2169

1 Original Jacob Epp diary. - Dec. 28 1859 - May 10 1871 . (diary No. 4)

Volume 2432

2 Heinrich Epp Poetry booklet. - 1864.

3 Transcription (typed) of the David Epp diary which Jacob Epp copied into his own diary (1837-1843). - 1871-1880.

4 Transcription of the Genealogical Register of the Hacob Epp Family. - 1870-1890.

5 Katharina (Janzen) Epp Christmas and New Years wishes to her parents (7 booklets). - 1876-1881.

6 Booklet of handwritten hymns which belonged to Justina (Rempel) Epp. - 1878-[1880?].

7 Original Gerhard Epp diary. - Sept. 15 1892 - June 11 1909 . Booklet of poetry and songs belonging to Gerhard Epp. - 1901.

Volume 4636

1 Original David G. Epp diary. - Feb 8 1931 - April 6 1932 .

2 Translation of the David G. Epp diary. - Feb. 8 1931 - April 6 1932 .