Toews, Johann B. (1865-1967)

Mennonite Weekly Review bio: 1965 Apr 1 p. 3

Birth date: 1865 Mar 30

text of obituary:

Last of Manitoba Pioneers Marks 100th Birthday

Steinbach, Man. — Relatives and friends from many parts of Canada and the United States gathered here for a special observance honoring John B. Toews of the Greenland Home for his 100th birthday. The event was to take place on March 30.

Mr. Toews, a member of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, is the last remaining survivor of the first Mennonite immigrants to arrive from Russia and settle on Manitoba prairie wilderness in 1874.

He was a lad of nine years when the pioneering group came up the Red River on a paddle-wheel steamer and disembarked near the present site of Niverville. That was in August of 1874. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Toews, were co-founders of the village of Blumenort a mile south of the present village of that name.

Mr. Toews has over 300 living descendants scattered in various parts of the U. S. and Canada. Of 11 children who grew to adulthood, nine ar still living. There are also 65 grandchildren, 230 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.

Mr. Toews life story is to be presented on the CBS television program, “Points West,” over the Winnipeg station on Sunday, April 4, at 6 p.m.

In unusually good health for his age, Mr. Toews is still active and enjoys reading and getting out for auto rides. He has his own typewriter which he uses to write letters to his children and grandchildren. Last year he made an extensive trip to visit family members and relatives in the U. S.

Born March 30, 11865 at Morgenau, South Russia, he was the youngest of 12 children. He was among the early school teachers in the Mennonite settlement here, and farmed for 40 years in the St. Anne district.

In 1887 he was married to Mrs. Regehr, a widow with one son by previous marriage. They became parents of eight children before her death in 1899. He then married Mary Penner of Kansas, and soon after the turn of the century the family moved to Kansas where they farmed for 17 years. During this time Mr. Toews was elected a deacon in the church, in which capacity he served for many years.

In 1918 th family moved back to Manitoba. After the death of his second wife in 1943, he was married in 1945 to Mrs. Jacob Enns and they made their home in Steinbach, entering the Greenland Home about 10 years ago. His third wife died in 1960.

Mr. Toews' living children are John D. Regehr (stepson) of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, Mrs. Agnes Parkman of Steinbach, Peter D. of Livingston, Calif., Jacob D. of Scio, Ore., Henry D. of Montezuma, Kan., Mrs. Anna Reimer of Steinbach, Abe D. of St. Catherines, Ont., Frank P. of Steinbach, and Dave P. of Hillsboro, Kan.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1967 Aug 3 p. 7

text of obituary:

LAST 1874 SETTLER DIES AT 102

Steinbach, Man. — Johann B. Toews, believed to have been the last living representative of the orriginal [sic] Mennonite settlers who came to the prairie provinces in 1874, died here July 8. He was 102.

Born in the Ukraine in 1865, he wrote his memoirs at the age of 97, telling of his early life in Russia and the Mennonite exodus to Manitoba.

Funeral services were held July 12 at the Steinbach Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, where a record number of persons gathered to pay their last respects.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1967 Aug 10 p. 3

text of obituary:

102-Year-Old Pioneer Had 243 Descendants

Steinbach, Man. — The 102-year-old Johann B. Toews, who died at the Bethesda Hospital here on July 8, left behind enough descendants to form a small colony.

By latest count there were 243 — two daughters, six sons, 62 grandchildren, at least 165 great-grandchildren, and eight great-great-grandchildren.

Also surviving are two sons-in-law, seven daughters-in-law, and four stepchildren.

Born in Russia, Grandfather Toews immigrated to Canada in 1874 with his parents and became a veritable encyclopedia of experiences in the Old Country and of early Mennonite history in this part of Canada.