Goertz, Susanna Hiebert (1861-1961)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Jan 23 p. 7

Birth date: 1861 Jan 2

text of article:

PAST 97 YEARS OLD — One of the few remaining immigrants who came from Russia to settle on the virgin Kansas Prairie in 1874 is Mrs. F. H. Goertz of 322 E. First, Newton. She was 97 years old on Jan. 2. Her parents were members of the Alexanderwohl group, which came on the S. S. Zimbria. (Courtesy The Newton Kansan.)

Aged Grandmother Was One Of First Settlers At Alexanderwohl

MRS. F. H. GOERTZ IMMIGRATED WITH PARENTS AND FAMILY IN 1874

The Alexanderwohl area some 15 miles north of Newton was still nothing more than a vast expanse of prairie when Mrs. F. H. (Susie Hiebert) Goertz, now living at 322 E. First Street in Newton, arrived there from Russia with her parents and eight brothers and sisters in the fall of 1874. Only here and there a lonely homestead could be seen looming up out of the tall grass.

Grandmother Goertz, who was 97 years old on Jan. 2, vividly recalls many pioneer experiences of those early days. Much of the plowing was done with oxen. To make a hill for corn planting, two brothers — each with a handplow and one ox — would draw a furrow toward each other from opposite ends of the field and someone would follow to drop the seed onto the ridge.

Built Immigrant Houses

Born in 1861, Grandmother Goertz was 13 years old at the time her family settled here. The voyage across the Atlantic was made in the German ship Zimbria, there being some 200 persons in the group which came from Alexanderwohl in Russia, a Mennonite settlement dating back to 1821. After arrival in Kansas, temporary headquarters were established in Topeka while the heads of families proceeded to the location north of Newton and built the two immigrant houses for which the Santa Fe had furnished the lumber. These houses served not only as the first home for the settlers but also for school and church purposes.

Married in 1882

The Goertz's were married in the Alexanderwohl Mennonite church on March 23, 1882, and became the parents of the following children: Mrs. C. C. Koehn and Henry F. Goertz of Newton, Mrs. A. A. Woelk of Grand Coulee, Wash., Mrs. Emil Schroeder of Hillsboro, and Mrs. B. G. Guhr of Potwin. There are 32 grandchildren, 108 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren, the odlest [sic] of whom is Dale Eugene Becker, who was four years old last September.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1961 Oct 26 p. 6

text of obituary:

— Mrs. Frank H. Goertz, believed to be Newton's oldest resident, died Tuesday evening at the home of her daughter, Mrs. C. C. Koehn, where she had resided for 14 years. Mrs. Goertz observed her 100th birthday last January. She had been bedfast for about four years, but her mind remained clear until her death. Surviving are one son and four daughters, 35 grandchildren, 121 great-grandchildren, and eight great-great-grandchildren. The funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Tabor Mennonite Church.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1961 Nov 16 p. 8

text of obituary:

SUSANNA HIEBERT GOERTZ

I, Susanna Hiebert Goertz, was born Jan. 2, 1861 in South Russia in the village of Alexanderwohl. My parents were Peter Hiebert, born in Prangenau, and Anna Pankratz, born in Freidensdorf [sic Friedensdorf].

In 1874 my parents and their 11 children together with many other families left Russia to find a new home in North America. I was 14 years old when we left Russia, and so with the rest of the family experienced the hardships of pioneer life on the Kansas prairies. The work was hard but out faith was good. We made our home eight miles from the immigrant house. Here we attended church. We used a farm wagon to go to church, and it was generally about 1:30 p.m. when we came home.

I was baptized Aug. 15, 1880 by Elder Jacob Buller and was received as a member of the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church. In 1882 I was married to Frank H. Goertz by Rev. Henry Goertz.

Our home was blessed with nine children, three sons and six daughters. My dear husband, two sons, two daughters, two sons-in-law and one daughter-in-law have preceded me in death.

In 1907 we celebrated our silver wedding anniversary together with our children, relatives and friends. Rev. P. H. Richert and Cornelius Frey each brought a message.

In 1908 when the Tabor Mennonite Church was organized I became a charter member and remained a member until this day. In 1932 we celebrated our golden wedding anniversary. The ministers P. H. Richert, Peter Buller, Peter H. Unruh and Nick Hiebert brought messages.

I have lived together with my husband 59 years and 11 months. Thirty-five grandchildren, 121 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren have been born into our family. (Thus far written by Mrs. Goertz herself.)

Our mother and grandmother out-lived her husband by 19 years, seven months and one day. She reached the age of 100 years, nine months and 22 days. The last 14 years she made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Agnes Koehn.

Mother' faith in God, her patience and cheerfulness will ever be an inspiration to us. — The Children.

(Mrs. Goertz was the oldest resident of the Newton community. — Ed.)

The Mennonite obituary: 1962 Jan 9 p. 27