© Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Last updated March 27, 2007)


  • Loewen, Isaac, 1865-1918


    Retrieval numbers: Volume 2229; Microfilm No. 185, 231, 348

    Title: Isaac Loewen Fonds
    Dates: 1891-1903
    Extent: 1 cm of textual material
    Extent: 2289 frames of microfilm
    Repository: Mennonite Heritage Centre Archives

    Historical note

    Isaac Loewen was born in Neuenberg, South Russia, on May 31, 1865, to Isaac and Susanna (Krahn) Loewen. The family immigrated to Canada in 1877, settling in Osterwick, Manitoba. Isaac began working for Peter Abrams at the Abrams and Esau store in Gretna. After Peter Abrams died, Isaac married his widow, Susanna (Rempel) Peters, on June 29, 1890. Susanna brought with her seven children. She and Isaac had six more children, but only one survived childhood, a daughter named Susanna. In 1890, Isaac also became Wilhelm Esau's partner in the Gretna store. This partnership only lasted for three years, after which Isaac opened his own store. In 1902, he moved to Osler, Saskatchewan and opened a general store there, transferring his membership to the Rosenort Mennonite Church. While living in Osler, Isaac also marketed grain and provided loans to farmers. In both Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Isaac was influential as a community leader, serving in various capacities including as a member of the Bethel College Corporation (1893), on the Gretna Town Council (1899), as an auditor for the Mennonite Aid Plan (1901), on a committee to establish a ferry across the South Saskatchewan River near Osler, and on various boards for the German English Academy in Rosthern, Saskatchewan. Isaac died from a stroke on December 7, 1918, during the influenza epidemic.

    Scope and content note

    This fonds consists of correspondence and store records. A portion of the correspondence contains letters received from Russia (1895-1898) and the rest concerns various personal and community matters. The store records include ledgers (1891-1903) and account books (1894-1902) from the stores in both Gretna and Osler. Most of the material is handwritten.

    Index terms

    Subject terms

  • Loewen, Isaac, 1865-1918

    Creators

  • Loewen, Isaac, 1865-1918

    Adjunct descriptive data

    Finding aids

    Inventory file list available

    Notes

    Language

    German (approximately 60%, mostly in Gothic script) and English (approximately 40%)

    Arrangement

    Description completed by Joanne Moyer in February 2007.

    Restrictions on access

    None to access

  • Inventory File List


    Volume 2229
    Correspondence received from Russia: photocopies of handwritten Gothic script, 1895-1898.

    Microfilm No. 185
    Project 33
    Correspondence and store ledgers, mostly handwritten in German Gothic script, with some in English and some typewritten, 1891-1898, 1901-1903.

    Microfilm No. 231
    Project 85
    Account book of various customers at his general stores in Gretna, Manitoba (1897-1902) and in Osler, Saskatchewan (1903), handwritten in English.

    Microfilm No. 348
    Project 96
    Account book of various customers at his general store in Gretna, Manitoba, handwritten in English, 1894-1897.