Siemens, Jacob J. (1896-1963)

Mennonite Weekly Review biography: 1943 Nov 4 p. 3

Birth date: 1896 May 23

text of biography:

Mennonite Rural Life

Altona, Manitoba

MANITOBA FARMER

One of the interesting personalities of Altona and one of the active and progressive farmers is J. J. Siemens. He is the father of five children, Viola 20, John 17, Irene 12, Raymond 10, and Edith 8. Siemens operates about 800 acres of farm land. His father, Johann Siemens, came to Canada from South Russia by way of the United States.

J. J. Siemens is one of the prime movers in the Rhineland Agricultural Society, the Rhineland Agricultural Institute, the Chairman of the Mennonite Agricultural Advisory Committee and in general interested in promoting civic and economic affairs in the local community. Siemens and his family are members of the local Bergfelder Mennonite Church and last year Viola attended the Mennonite Collegiate Institute at Gretna.

One of the unique features about the Siemens farm is the large portion which is devoted to experimental purposes. Siemens works in cooperation with the Governmental Department of Agriculture to see about the possibility of introducing new crops into the area.

This year for instance, he had 10 Acres in Argentine rape at the special request of the Canadian Department of Agriculture to see what the oil producing qualities of this product are. In addition he had five acres of cobbler potatoes and five acres of new early potato called the Warba. This potato is supposed to be ready to harvest by July or early August. Six acres of table beans were planted as experiment to see if they might be introduced more generally as a local cash crop.

Siemens also has 25 acres of sunflowers of two varieties, the Sunrise and the Mennonite. The latter type was brought in from Russia by the Mennonites who raised them in large quantities. Sunflower seed is used for oil extraction purposes and sells at the present time for about five cents a pound. Other items grown on the Siemens farm are 25 acres of soy beans which is registered stock for seed, 80 acres of spring rust resisting wheat; 84 acres of oats; 100 acres of budda [sic Buda] flax of an imported variety that is also raised for purposes of seed multiplication; 110 acres of sugar beets; 20 acres of alfalfa and 10 acres of crested wheat grass.

In addition to the crops mentioned Siemens has about 410 head of Swedish Yorkshire hogs. It is no wonder that he has an annual labor bill of $7,000 with the list of jobs that need to be done on this farm. Siemens is widely known for his progressive methods of agriculture and his active interest in promoting local community interests.

He is a friend of the young people and has done much to promote better understanding between Mennonites in the local community and surrounding non-Mennonite communities.

Note: Death notice in Der Bote 1963 Jul 30 p. 7