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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.
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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.
