© Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Last updated January 31, 2003)
Retrieval numbers: Vol. 2109-1
Title: Martin C. Friesen fonds
Dates: approx. 1948-1959
Extent: 31 p.
Martin C. Friesen, minister and farmer, was born on October 6, 1889 in Osterwick, Manitoba. He was the fifth of 12 children born to his parents, Cornelius P. and Katharina (nee Friesen) Friesen. He received an elementary school education in Osterwick, then studied theology on his own. He was baptized in 1909 and became a member of the Chortitzer Mennonite Church. In 1911 Friesen married his step-sister Elizabeth Wiebe. Their marriage produced seven children, four daughters and three sons. In 1924 he was ordained and served as minister for 44 years. During these years he is most well known for leading a large migration of Bergthaler and Chortitzer Mennonites from Manitoba to Paraguay in 1927. In Paraguay he brought about important reforms in both church and school and was able to maintain unity in the colony. Martin C. Friesen died on the afternoon of April 7, 1968 after attending communion.
This fonds contains a small booklet by Martin C. Friesen entitled "Die Wahre Gemeinde Jesu Christi" (The True Church, Jesus Christ). It also contains three letters which Martin C. Friesen wrote to the Bergthal Settlement in East Paraguay in an effort to establish a connection with them. Included with these letters is a small note written by M.W.F. which states that these efforts were unsuccessful.
Friesen, Martin C., 1889-1968
No other finding aids currently available.
Collected by David and Trudy Schellenberg of Winkler for the Christian Heritage Library.
Hand-written Gothic German
Described by Sharon H. H. Brown December,2002.
None
Acc. no. 97-150