Barkman, Jacob G. (1870-1956)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Mar 15 p. 1

Birth date: 1870 Jan. 21

text of obituary:

Aged Minister Of K.M.B. Church Died

REV. JAC. G. BARKMAN WAS PIONEER OF GNADENAU COMMUNITY

Hillsboro, Kan. — Funeral services for Rev. Jacob G. Barkman, 86, aged minister of the K.M. B. Conference and a member of the original Gnadenau settlement near here, were held March 9 at the Gnadenau church. Rev. D. V. Wiebe, Rev. Wm. Johnson and Rev. S. H. Epp of Meade officiated.

Rev. Barkman died March 4 at the Salem Hospital here, where he had been a patient since Jan. 4 of this year.

A native of the Crimea in South Russia, where he was born in 1870, he came to this country with the original K. M. B. group at the age of four and lived in the Gnadenau settlement which they founded. He was married to Marie Hart in 1895, and they lived on the same homestead near here for many years.

Rev. Barkman was formerly active in the K. M. B. conference and also served on the board of the Salem Hospital. He had been in declining health for some time and had been blind for the past four years.

Surviving are seven sons and two daughters; 22 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; two sisters and two brothers.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Mar 29 p. 8

text of obituary:

REV. JACOB G. BARKMAN

Jacob G. Barkman, son of Peter M. and Anna (Goossen) Barkman, was born on Jan. 21, 1870, in the Crimea in south Russia. In 1874, when he was four years old, he came to America with his parents and settled in the village of Gnadenau southeast of Hillsboro. Soon afterward they moved to the place two and one-half miles south of Hillsboro, where he spent his boyhood and which was his home until he passed away. He received his early training in the Gnadenau school and attended high school in Hillsboro and the institute in Marion.

At the age of 18 father began to tech school and taught seven years. Teaching school meant more to him than just giving instruction in reading, writing, and arithmetic. The realization came to him that he was a teacher of other people's children, and he himself was not saved. Thus God dealt with him and he came under deep conviction. After he had dismissed the children for the day, and was alone in the school-house, he got down on his knees and cried to God for forgiveness of his sins. The Lord graciously forgave him and gave him peace in his heart. At the age of 21, on the confession of his faith, he was baptized by Rev. Henry A. Wiebe and received into the fellowship of the Gnadenau church of which he remained a faithful member until his death.

At the age of 25 gather entered into holy matrimony with our mother, maria hart, and hopefully they founded their hew home. the Lord gave them 47 years together, during which time they enjoyed many triumphs and endured many trials. Mother preceded him in death 14 years ago at the age of 72.

In 1907, when he was 37 years old, father was elected minister by his church, and five years later was ordained. In this capacity he served for many years. He was interested in the work of the Conference, having served in the K. M. B. Conference as secretary, and in various committees. The Salem Home and Hospital received a considerable part of his time and interest. For many years father was active on the board of trustees, and in other capacities he sought to promote the welfare of these institutions.

In his declining years he gradually lost his eyesight. The last four years of his life were lived in physical darkness. He bore this affliction patiently. He enjoyed the blessing of a good memory, and in these years of blindness he drew constantly upon the rich store of memorized Bible verses and spiritual songs.

Father's decline was gradual. On Jan. 4, upon the advice of his physician, he was taken to the Salem hospital for checkup and observation. While in the hospital his strength continued to diminish until Sunday, March 4f, at ten o'clock in the evening he quietly fell asleep.

He leaves to mourn his departure his nine children, Jacob and Lydia Barkman of Newton, Pete and Rose Barkman and Henry and Agnes Barkman, both of Dinuba, Calif., Martin Barkman, Esra and Emilie Barkman, Tom and Helen Barkman, all of Hillsboro, Anna and Henry Esau of Winton, Claif., Katherine Barkman and John Barkman, both of Hillsboro; 22 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; two brothers, Rev. John P. Barkman, of Dinuba, and Dietrich G. Barkman, of Herbert, Sask.; two sisters, Mrs. Mary Siemens and Mrs. Agnes Prieb, both of Herbert, Sask., and a host of relatives and friends. He reached the age of 86 years, one month and 12 days.

Father often expressed the longing to depart and be with the Lord and we are confident that he is now beholding the face of Jesus in whom he trusted, and that he is now walking in the fellowship of all the Saints who have gone before. — The Family.