View source for Koop, Katharina Barkman (1832-1923)

Katharina Barkman Koop, Mennonite pioneer, was born on 4 April 1832 in the village of [[Rückenau (Molotschna Mennonite Settlement, Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Rückenau]], [[Molotschna Mennonite Settlement (Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Molotschna Mennonite settlement]], South Russia. She was the fourth of five children born to Jacob J. Barkman (1794-1875) and Gertrude Klassen (1800-1847). In 1850 Katharina was baptized into the membership of the [[Kleine Gemeinde|Kleine Gemeinde]]. She married Johann M. Koop (1831-1897) in 1853 and together they had ten children of which seven survived to adulthood. Katharina died on 28 July 1923 in [[Manitoba (Canada)|Manitoba, Canada]].

Initially Katharina and Johann Barkman lived in [[Muntau (Molotschna Settlement, Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Muntau]], Molotschna. They later moved to Borosenko during the 1860s where a new settlement had been established by the Kleine Gemeinde. In 1874 Katharina and her family were part of the first group of Kleine Gemeinde Mennonites to immigrate to Canada where they initially settled in Blumenort, Manitoba. Then after eight years Katharina and Johann homesteaded in Neuanlage, Manitoba where they established a very prosperous 80-acre farm operation. As was customary, Katharina took turns living with her children after Johann died in 1897. Through a life time of hard work and perseverance, Katharina had established a new life in a new land and with great hope had contributed to raising a future generation.
= Bibliography =
Plett, Delbert F. "Katharina Barkman Koop 1832-1923." <em class="gameo_bibliography">Preservings </em>No. 10 Part II (June 1997): 31-32.
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