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


  • Rempel, Johann S., 1853-1929


    Retrieval numbers: Volume 591-592

    Title: Johann S. Rempel Fonds
    Dates: 1888-1970 , predominant 1898-1929
    Extent: 15 cm of textual material
    Repository: Mennonite Heritage Centre Archives

    Historical note

    Johann S. Rempel was born on November 9, 1853 (Gregorian calendar) to Johann and Margaretha (Sawatzky) Rempel on the Bergthal colony, in South Russia. He was baptized on May 28, 1873, and immigrated to Canada in 1875 with his parents. He worked in Berlin (now Kitchener), Ontario, with one of his brothers for a year before joining the rest of the family in Manitoba. They first settled in the village of Grünthal on the East Reserve, but as farming was not good in that area, Johann's brothers moved to the West Reserve and to Saskatchewan and Alberta. Johann remained in Chortitz, on the East Reserve, but only farmed for a short period. Because he had acquired proficiency with the English language, he became involved in municipal affairs and was appointed secretary-treasurer for the Rural Municipality of Hanover by Immigration agent, William Hespeler. He held this position from 1901 to 1904 and from 1913 to 1916. He was also a businessman and an inventor of farm machinery. Johann was first married on May 5, 1878, to Katarina Peters in Reichenbach. They had five surviving children. Katarina died on August 25, 1890, and Johann then married her younger sister, Margaretha Peters on October 28, 1890. They had nine surviving children. Johann greatly enjoyed singing and served as the Vorsänger (leader of singing) in the Chörtitzer Mennonite Church for many years. He was known as a strong leader in the community, advocating in favour of public education and in opposition to smoking, and providing hospitality to prominent guests to the community. He died suddenly on May 28, 1929, survived by his second wife.

    Scope and content note

    This fonds contains correspondence, receipts, and other documents related to Johann's farming and business operation, and to his intermittent service in the municipal government. It also contains family correspondence and diaries containing personal notes by Johann and by his wife, Margaretha. Most of the material consists of handwritten originals.

    Index terms

    Subject terms

  • Rempel, Johann S., 1853-1929

    Creators

  • Rempel, Johann S., 1853-1929

    Adjunct descriptive data

    Finding aids

    Inventory file list available

    Related material in other repositories

    Canadian Mennonite University Library: Rempel, Herman. 1988. Johann S. Rempel and Family 1830-1899. Morden, Manitoba: Herman Rempel.

    Notes

    Language

    English and German

    Arrangement

    Description completed by Joanne Moyer in March 2007.

    Restrictions on access

    None to access

  • Inventory File List

    Volume 591
    1. Correspondence, personal and regarding the Ost-Manitoba Waisenamt, mostly handwritten and mostly in German, 1905-1929.
    2. Correspondence, receipts and other documents, primarily concerning farm business and land transactions, in English and German, 1901-1929. Also contains a political publication (1935) and a letter to Jacob P. Rempel (1970).
    Volume 592
    1. Diary and notes in German, 1888-1906.
    2. Diary and notes, some parts by wife Margareta, in German, 1924-1926.
    3. Correspondence, receipts and other documents, primarily concerning farm business and land transactions, in English and German, 1896-1925.
    4. Correspondence, receipts and other documents, primarily concerning farm business and land transactions, and also some church-related documents, in English and German, 1898-1917. Also contains a list of reeves in Hanover (1948) and a clipping from Die Post (1967).