Hildebrand, John (1863-1949)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1949 Feb 10 p. 1

Birth date: 1863

text of obituary:

DEATH REMOVES ONE OF FEW REMAINING IMMIGRANTS OF ’74

Blumenthal, Man. — The death of John Hildebrand, 85, pioneer farmer of this district, on January 16, removed one of the few remaining links with the original migration of Mennonites from Southern Russia to Manitoba.

The deceased came here with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hildebrand, at the age of 12, via Duluth and Moorhead, thence down the Red River by steamer, in the year 1874.

Mrs. Hildebrand, the former Nettie Wiebe, died in 1941. There were fifteen children, eleven of whom survive; 71 grandchildren, forty great-grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. Katherine Kehler, Paraguay; and a brother, Isaak Hildebrand, Altona.

Funeral services were held Thursday, January 20, from the Sommerfeld church in the village of Sommerfeld of which the deceased was a member. Rev. Gerhard Loewen officiated and burial was made in the village cemetery.