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Friesen, Jacob J. (1870-1960)
Mennonite Weekly Review: 1953 Apr 9 p. 10, 12
Birth date: 1870 May 27
text of obituary:
Personal Reminiscences by Neb. Pioneer
When the writer was nine years old we started to plow with a very gentle team of horses and walking plow. All we had to do when the horses came to the end of the field was to guide the horses to the other side, raise the plow so it could go into the ground, keep one hand on the handles and follow up, and the horses did the plowing, following brother John who was ahead of us with another team of horses and plow.
One day our cows got loose and went away into the neighbor's field about three-quarters of a mile from our home. Brother John sent me to bring them home. I was afraid to go, for a vicious bull was with the cows, but he told me to go and just bring the cows. I went and when I started to drive the cows the bull took after me, knocked me to the ground and rolled me in the stubble field. Oh, how I begged that bull to let me alone. All at once he turned his head to one side, pointed one horn to my breast, and then came down with all his force, but accidentally missed me, the horn going into the ground. The bull suddenly relaxed and slowly went away. I remained quiet on the ground for a few moments, then sprang up and ran to safety.
Our parents sent us to German school where instruction was given in Bible, catechism and other elementary subjects. These schools were held in the fall and winter months usually three or four months in some home in the community.
In by-gone days we had a great desire to attend some higher school of learning. We reached the age of 21 and apparently there was no chance to attend. Later in the fall of 1890 or 1891, after corn picking was finished, father said: "Jacob, du kaunst no Kansas no Schol gone." This was like a bolt of lightning out of a clear sky. We felt we were "walking on air."
Within a few days we were on the way to Hastings as the first leg of the trip to Kansas. From there we were on our way to Halstead, Kansas, arriving there at 7 o'clock in the morning after being on the train for one day and one night. It was a beautiful morning. The very nature seemed to smile on our arrival. From the depot we were directed to the school in the western part of the town, possibly three-quarters of a mile from the depot.
The first person we met here was David Toews of Newton, Kansas. He took us to Prof. C. C. Wedel. After we were introduced and told were we were from, he asked if we had had our breakfast and we said no. So he took us to the dining hall where we had our breakfast. Here we first tried to eat corn mush, but just about all of it remained in the dish.
We had never been away from home before. We roomed with five other boys from Nebraska who had started school there in the beginning of the school year. We knew all of these boys so that helped a lot.
David Toews was a son of Elder Toews of the First Mennonite Church in Newton. We still remember Elder Toews text when he preached some time before this in our church. "Wenn Moses seine Haende empor hob,dann siegte Israel, und wenn er sie nieder lies, dann siegte Amalek.
We were at Halstead in the closing year of that school and the next two years attended Bethel College at Newton, Kansas. This included the day of the dedicatory services, which was an all-day event. On that day many people came from all directions and from far and near. A large tent was setup southwest of the main college building and student's home, which was not quite finished then.
At first from 10 to 14 students roomed in the upper northwest corner room of the school building. For about two weeks all the students that remained on the college campus were taken to a restaurant down town for their meals three times each day in two buses, one drawn by four horses and one by two horses. The charge was 15 cents per meal, and no bus fares. On Sundays the students on the campus attended church services in different churches in town.
We still remember how that college building stood on the knoll, bleak and dreary, not a tree around it, in all its solemnity as a beacon of light-house on the harbor.
In 1895 the times were hard. There were crop failures, a lot of people were unemployed, the banks failed, etc. Somehow we felt led to enter the teaching profession.
We had a school but we had no certificate which qualified one to teach in the district schools. We attended a teacher's institute for two weeks and then came the examinations in 14 to 16 of the common branches to be taught in the district schools. It may be needless to state that we “flunked” in a number of those branches. We had to give up the school.
At that time a teacher's examination was offered each month in the year at the county seat, York. In our leisure time during the months we brushed up in those branches where we had failed, a few each month. When the time for examinations came we drove in to York each month and by the time March came around we had our certificate.
Fortunately we managed to get a school for the three spring months at $20 per month, rode a roan pony every morning and evening five and a half miles and roomed and boarded at home.
From then on, through the grace of God, we were able to remain in the teaching profession for over a quarter of a century, driving with horse and cart from two to three and a half miles each day, except five years in Henderson, when we taught the seventh and eighth grades and German in the high school at $60 per month.
We can honestly state we enjoyed teaching all the way, but the five years in Henderson were the crowning point of all our teaching as far as enjoyment is concerned.
Besides teaching we were engaged in Sunday school work for over 37 years, a work we greatly enjoyed.
During our teaching career, in the summer we helped the neighbors from year to year in the harvest fields, running binders or putting up grain stacks. One year when we were 49 years old we put up 69 grain stacks.
The Lord has been very good to us for which we are grateful to Him. We still have four of the six children that were born into our family. We are not a large family but cover a lot of geographical territory. Emil teaches in Inavale, Nebr., Maria in Portales, New Mexico, Edwin in Wichita, Kansas and Orlando in Denver, Colorado. Orlando's wife teaches in the Denver schools and Edwin's wife in the Wichita schools.
Our parents were Jacob and Anna Friesen. They came here in 1871 when we were a few months past four years and settled one-half mile north of the present town of Henderson near the center of the section 31. Mrs. Friesen was born in 1875 to Johann and Sarah Janzen. We were married on Aug.25, 1898. In the spring of 1899, on April 25, we moved on a farm on the south edge of Henderson where we have lived over 53 years. If the Lord permits us to remain here until the end of our life's path our desire will have been fulfilled. To Him be all glory and honor.
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1960 Sep 1 p. 3
text of obituary:
Original Settler Dies At Henderson, Neb.
J. J. FRIESEN CAME FROM SOUTH RUSSIA IN 1874 MIGRATION
Henderson, Neb. — J. J. Friesen, 90, one of the last two original Mennonite settlers in this community, died Aug. 24 at the Henderson Community hospital, where he had been admitted two days before.
At the age of four years, he came with his parents from South Russia to America in the large Mennonite migration to the prairie states in 1874.
Mr. Friesen, who promoted the erection of the First Settlers monument near Henderson, was interested in Mennonite history and spent many hours writing and reminiscing about past events.
Funeral services were scheduled for Aug. 27 at the Bethesda Mennonite church, in charge of Rev. Paul Isaac, Rev. John Gaeddert and Rev. A. W. Friesen.
He is survived by his widow and four children.
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary:1960 Sep 8 p. 8
text of obituary:
JACOB J. FRIESEN
Jacob J. Friesen was born May 27, 1870 in the village of Morgenau, South Russia. In 1874 he emigrated with his parents, Jacob and Anna Friesen, to America as a member of the first group of Mennonites to settle in York County, Nebr.
They arrived at the immigrant house one mile east of the present site of Henderson on Oct. 14, 1874. Here they were sheltered until the heads of the 35 families built their new homes on the raw prairies of Nebraska. The Jacob Friesen family completed their home one-half mile north of the present village of Henderson before the winter storms arrived. Here our husband and father grew to manhood enduring the hardships and sacrifices generally associated with pioneer life.
In June, 1894 he was baptized upon the confession of his faith in Jesus Christ by Elder Peter J. Friesen and received into the membership of the Bethesda Mennonite Church.
On Aug. 25, 1898 he was joined in holy wedlock with Katharina Janzen. To this union six children were born. Two, Theadore and Levi, preceded him in death.
Father's departure came one day prior to his and mother's 62nd wedding anniversary.
Beginning with the first school he attended, which was taught in the home, he always had an intense interest in education. When the district school was established he attended it, and later he attended private schools taught in the German language.
He had a desire for learning beyond that provided in the local community. Although he felt he had waited a long time for this opportunity, he enrolled in the Halstead, Kan. seminary at the age of 22. After eight months the seminary was moved from Halstead to Newton, Kan. and became known as Bethel College. After two years at Bethel College, he returned home to teach in the district school for 12 months and then enrolled at Fremont, Nebr. Normal School for 10 weeks to continue his education. Following this he spent approximately 25 years teaching in the schools of the community and in the Bethesda Preparatory School. He regarded his teaching in the latter, and that in the Henderson schools, among the greatest joys of his teaching profession.
Early pioneer experiences were reflected in his first teaching positions in the district schools. As a beginning teacher he taught for $20 per month. He traveled to school by horseback, cart, or buggy, braving the stormy blasts of winter.
Close to his heart were his experiences as a Sunday School teacher and Sunday School superintendent. He relinquished this field of service with reluctance and regret after having served faithfully for 38 years.
Early after his retirement from the teaching profession he expressed an intense interest in the historical development of the Henderson community. As a result he wrote numerous articles for local and Mennonite publications. An event of great personal satisfaction to him was the dedication of the historical marker located one mile east of Henderson, which is not only a memorial to the early Mennonite settlers, but also symbolic of the hardships of their pioneer life. Through his telling, writing, and reliving of the early days of the Henderson settlement, he contributed significantly to its historical record.
In the latter years of his life he recognized the deterioration of his health. In an effort to overcome this he would often struggle with activities requiring physical effort so that he might "keep going," as he would put it.
He was admitted to the Henderson Hospital Monday, Aug. 22. Two days later, Aug. 24, 1960, he departed from the cares of this world to join his Master.
Mourning his departure are his beloved wife, a daughter, Maria, of Portales, N. M., three sons, Emil, Central City, Neb., Orlando, Denver, Colo., and Edwin of Wichita, Kan., two daughters-in-law, three grandsons, a sister, Mrs. John Pankratz, two brothers, P. C. Friesen and I. J. Friesen, and a host of relatives and friends.—Mrs. Jacob J. Friesen and Family.
