Toevs, Jacob R. (1847-1920)

Evening Kansan-Republican obituary: 1920 Jan 21 p. 7

Birth date: 1847 Jun 7

Text of obituary:

Rev. J. R. Toevs.

A message was received this afternoon of the death of Rev. P. <sic> R. Toevs which occurred at his home in Mountain Lake, Minn., at 1:00 this afternoon. He is well known in Harvey county and was a resident of Newton for many years and is the father of G. R., Jacob, Gus, Will Toevs and Mrs. G. A. Entz, and the step father of Mrs. C. F. Claassen of Newton, and is also survived by his wife who had always been a resident of Mt. Lake, Minn. No announcements were made of the funeral service.

On Saturday, a message was received by relatives of the illness of Rev. Toevs, and his daughter, Mrs. Entz and son, Jacob, were ready to leave for Mountain Lake when another wire stated that he was improved, but Tuesday a third message came, stating that his condition had become dangerous, and the two lfet here but would not arrive before death summons reached their father.

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Evening Kansan-Republican obituary: 1920 Jan 22 p. 7

Text of obituary:

Rev. J. R. Toevs

The body of Rev. J. R. Toevs whose death occurred Wednesday afternoon at 1 o'clock, will arrive in Newton Saturday afternoon on No. 5. The funeral services will be held at the home of the son, C. F. Claassen Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock and at the Mennonite church on East First at 2:30.

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Evening Kansan-Republican obituary: 1920 Jan 29 p. 5

Text of obituary:

Rev. J. R. Toevs.

The death of Father Toevs occurred January 21, 1920, after less than a week's illness, at his home at Mountain Lake, Minn. Father Toevs was born June 7, 1847 in Germany, where he resided until he came to America in 1884 and located temporarily in Newton. From there he moved with his family to the McLain farm southeast of Newton, where every neighbor became his true friend. After living a number of years on this farm he moved back to Newton and accepted the position as secretary of the Mennonite Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and served in that capacity for thirteen years. In 1912 occurred the death of his devoted wife who had been his companion for more than 40 years.

In 1913 he married Mrs. Anna Janzen of Mountain Lake, Minn., and they made their home at that place until he passed to the new and glorious home beyond, to meet his Lord whom he had faithfully served during his life. Four daughters of Mrs. Janzen and their husbands accepted Father Toevs as a father in their families and extended their love to him.

Father Toeve joined the Mennonite church in 1864 and was a true member. He took great interest in the welfare of all people, particularly the young folks and always had a kind word for the little ones. He also took great interest in education and ws one of the men who helped start Bethel college. In his dealings as a citizen he won the esteem of a large number of friends.

Funeral services were held last Sunday at the Newton Mennonite church, of which he was minister of the Gospel for many years.

Those who mourn the death of Father Toevs are his devoted wife, four daughters and their families and many friends of Mountain Lake, Minn., and his children, Mr. and Mrs. John Enz, Newton; Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Claassen, Newton; Mr. and Mrs. Herman Entz, Whitewater; Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Toevs, Newton; Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Toevs, Newton; Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Toevs, Newton; Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Toevs, Wichita; Mrs. G. A. Entz, Newton; Mr. and Mrs. R. F. Toevs, Nevada, Mo., and their families.

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Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 5 Feb 1920 p. 7

Birth date: 1847

text of obituary:

Toevs. — Rev. J. R. Toevs wurde geboren den 7. Juni 1847 zu Altmünsterberg bei Marienburg, Westpreußen. Seine Schulbildung hatte er in einer Dorfschule genossen. Im Jahre 1846 [sic 1864] wurde er auf den Glauben an Jesum Christum durch den damaligen Aeltesten Gerhard Penner zu Heubuden getauft. Im Jahre 1868, den 5. März, trat er mit der Witwe Helene Entz, geb. Funk, in den heiligen Ehestand und nahm zugleich die Vaterstelle an drei Kindern ein. Aus dieser Ehe sind 10 Kinder, wovon 4 ihm vorangegangen sind. Im Jahre 1912 wurde die Ehe durch den Heimgang seiner geliebten Gattin gelöst. Am ersten Januar 1913 trat er in den Ehestand mit der Witwe Anna Janzen, und blieben hier bei Mountain Lake im Kreise ihre 4 verheirateten Töchter wohnen, die ihn in seiner Krankheit treu und liebevoll bedient haben. Sein Leiden war ein kurzes, aber schweres Herzleiden. Dienstag morgen sprach er noch zwei Verse vom Lied: “Bis hieher hat mich Gott gebracht.” und betete dann das Vaterunser. Zur Tochter Marie sagte er noch, ich freue mich so sehr der himmelischen Heimat, wo er dann mit einem freundlichen Blick hinüberschlummerte zu der ewigen Ruhe dort droben. Sein Leben hat er gebracht auf 72 Jahre, 7 Monate und 11 Tage. Im Predigtamt hat er seinem Herrn 38 Jahre treu gedient, soviel ihm Gott die Kraft dazu gab. Christus war bei ihm das Panier seines Lebens. Er hinterläßt eine tieftrauernde Gattin, 9 Kinder, 46 Großkinder und 12 Urgorßkinder in Kansas, und 4 ihm liebgewordene Töchter und deren Gatten in Mountain Lake, und eine Schwester, Frau Gertrud Claassen, in Beatrice, Nebr. Aeltester J. E. Entz sprach im Hause der Geschwister C. F. Claassen und auf dem Kirchhof. Aeltester W. J. Ewert von Brudertal machte die Einleitung in der Kirche mit Lesen eines Schriftabschnittes und Gebet. Dann predigte Rev. Bernhard Regier über einen Teil des Verses Joh. 12, 26: “Wo ich bin, da soll mein Diener auch sein.” Dann folgte Aeltester H. P. Krehbiel mit einer englischen Predigt über Joh. 7, 14. Den Schluß der Feier machte Aeltester Gustav Harder mit Gebet. Der Chor der Gemeinde sang einige Lieder.

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Mennonite Year Book and Almanac obituary: 1921 p. 22

Text of obituary:

REV. JACOB R. TOEWS

Rev. Jacob R. Toews, son of Jacob and Sara Riemer Toews, was born June 7, 1847, at Altmuensterberg, West Prussia, Germany. Here he received his education in the villages schools, (Dorfschule). In 1864 he united with the Mennonite church at Heubuden, upon the confession of his faith and baptism, administererd by Rev. Gerhard Penner. Already in his youth he manifested a deep interest in the salvation of those in his community. Although not having the advantage of Sunday-school and Young Peoples' Societies, he continued in season and out of season, to conscientiously exercise his Christian experience and faith in private and public, to promote the advancement of the Christian religion wherever the opportunity presented itself.

On March 5, 1868, he married Helena Ensz, nee Funk, of Heubuden, and resided on a farm until 1871, when he disposed of his farm and moved to Sandhof, near Marienburg. Here he found a number of like faith whose affiliation was with the Heubuden church. These he gathered together and held religious services. Not finding a suitable location where these services could be held he opened his own house and preached to them for some years. Meanwhile he was called to the ministry and was given the ordination. Here he continued to minister to the little flock until the year 1884, when he came to America with his family and located near Newton, Kansas, and affiliated himself with the First Mennonite church, of Newton, Kansas. The congregation recognizing his ordination, and his fitness to preach, unanimously elected as one of their ministers. In this capacity he served for a period of twenty-nine years.

When the Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Kansas was organized he was elected its manager, and served the company for a number of years. This new position did not prevent him from the active ministry. He was always active in the work of the Sunday-school and Young Peoples' work. Two years after his coming to America, in 1886, he was elected secretary of the Western District Conference, which position he held for a number of years. Brother Toews was a friend and active promoter of education. He was a member of the committee for the management of the Fortbildungs Schule, in Halstead, and afterwards one of the founders of Bethel College.

In 1912 a dark cloud overshadowed his home and the beloved wife, after forty-four years happy family life, passed from this life, leaving him with his children to mourn her early departure. He found his second wife in the person of Mrs. Anna Jantzen, of Mountain Lake, Minn., and on Jaunary 1, 1913, married her. After this he made his home with his second wife and her four daughters, in Mountain Lake, where after seven years of happy family life, on January 21, 1920, after a brief but severe period of heart trouble, he passed from this life, aged 72 years, 7 months and 14 days. Funeral services were held in the Bethel church on the 23rd, and then his body was brought to Newton, Kansas, where further services were held on the 25th, and all that was mortal of Brother Toews was laid to rest in the presence of a large congregation.