Siemens, Julius (1863-1953)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1953 Aug 20 p. 3

Birth date: 1863 Feb 4

text of obituary:

Colonization Leader Died In California

JULIUS SIEMENS HELPED ESTABLISH SETTLEMENTS IN CANADA, WESTERN U.S.

Reedley, Calif. — Funeral services for Julius Siemens of Fresno, Calif., were held in the First Mennonite church of Reedley on July 30, 1953. Peter Ediger, intern pastor, was in charge. Mr. Siemens, a pioneer and leader in colonization work, died on July 27 at the age of 90 years in Berkeley, Calif., where he had gone to spend the summer.

Julius Siemens was horn on February 4, 1863, in Alt-Schoenwiese, Ukraine, Russia. His parents, Peter and Helena Siemens, came to America in 1879 when he was 16 years of age and settled in Mountain Lake, Minn. He was baptized and became a member of the First Mennonite church in Mountain Lake in 1882.

Pioneer Banker

Until he came of age, he worked in his father’s store. He then entered the banking business, first in Newton, Kansas, moving later to the Mennonite colonies of Manitoba, Canada. Here he and his brother operated one of the first banks of that area.

After living in Manitoba for approximately ten years, he returned to the United States. At this time he took up colonization work which became his life interest, first working in the land department of the Great Northern Railroad. Part of his duties was to urge settlers to move west from the Midwest and from Europe. He started the Ulen settlement in Minnesota, and there are families in the Rosthern Colony, Canada, who came there through his efforts.

In his travels westward he visited the Menno settlement in Adams county, Washington, and deciding that this region offered opportunities for home seekers interested in grain farming he moved to Ritzville with his family and opened an office for himself. Here he was active from 1901 to 1910. He came to California 42 years ago, bringing the first Mennonite settlers to Winton, Merced county and later developed the Dixieland Colony in Madera county.

Until the beginning of his last illness, nine months ago, he was seeking new lands which might be suitable for Mennonite colonies. The members of the last group he assisted are farming near Chowchilla, Calif.

He is survived by his widow, Anna, formerly Anna Janzen of Mountain Lake, Minn. On their next anniversary they would have been married 59 years. Four children were born to them of whom three survive: two daughters, Mrs. Esther Esau of Davis, Calif., Elfrieda Siemens of Fresno, and a son, Paul Siemens of Fresno, Calif. There are two grandchildren, Peter and Paul Siemens. A sister, Mrs. Helena Schelly, resides in Walla Walla, Wash.