View source for Töws, Heinrich (1797-1869)

Heinrich Töws: minister in the [[Molotschna Mennonite Settlement (Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Molotschna Mennonite Settlement]]; born 2 December 1797 in [[Hochzeit (Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland)|Hochzeit]], Danzig, Prussia, the second of six children of Johann Töws (1767-1850) and Sara (Wiens) Töws (1774-1807), (see additional information for further information regarding Heinrich’s family). Heinrich married Magdalena Jantzen (1802-1872) in November 1832 and they had eight children, of which three died in infancy. Heinrich died 20 March 1869 in [[Klippenfeld (Molotschna Mennonite Settlement, Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Klippenfeld]], Molotschna, South Russia.

Heinrich was elected minister of the Mennonite church of [[Lichtenau-Petershagen Mennonite Church (Molotschna Mennonite Settlement, Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Lichtenau, Petershagen]], [[Schönsee (Molotschna Mennonite Settlement, Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Schönsee]], [[Margenau (Molotschna Mennonite Settlement, Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Margenau]], and Pordenau in 1839. When the [[Pordenau Mennonite Church (Molotschna Mennonite Settlement, Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Pordenau Mennonite Church]] was organized in 1842 as one of the three congregations emerging from the one church, Heinrich Töws was ordained as its first elder on 29 September 1842. He was succeeded by [[Peters, Isaak (1826-1911)|Isaak Peters]], who migrated to America in 1874. Little else is known about Heinrich Töws and his work, other than he preached for 37 years and left 1,066 written sermons.
= Bibliography =
Friesen, Peter M. <em>Die Alt-Evangelische Mennonitische Brüderschaft in Russland (1789-1910) im Rahmen der mennonitischen Gesamtgeschichte</em>. Halbstadt: Verlagsgesellschaft "Raduga", 1911: 706.

GRANDMA (The <strong>G</strong>enealogical <strong>R</strong>egistry <strong>an</strong>d <strong>D</strong>atabase of <strong>M</strong>ennonite <strong>A</strong>ncestry) Database, 5.00 ed. Fresno, CA: [http://calmenno.org/index.htm California Mennonite Historical Society], 2006; No. 14853.
= Additional Information =
The parents of Heinrich were Johann Töws (20 June 1767, Vogtei, Gross Werder, Prussia – 26 January 1850) and Sara (Wiens) Töws (16 April 1774, [[Neunhuben (Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland)|Neunhuben]], Danzig, Prussia – 10 May 1807). Heinrich’s father was married three times: his first wife was Maria Fast (24 July 1766 – 23 January 1794), by whom he had one son; his second wife was Sara Wiens, by whom he had six children; his third wife was Catharina Wiens (b. 4 October 1782, Neunhuben, Danzig, Prussia), by whom he had four children.

The wife of Heinrich was Magdalena Jantzen (16 April 1802, Neunhuben, Danzig, Prussia – 13 February 1872, Klippenfeld, Molotschna, South Russia). She was the daughter of Gerhard Jantzen (2 April 1764, Neunhuben, Danzig, Prussia – 14 November 1813) and his second wife, Anna (Epp) Jantzen (26 December 1770, Neumuensterbergerfeld, Prussia – 26 January 1827), by whom he had nine children. Gerhard’s first wife was also named Anna Epp (13 February 1758, Neunhuben, Danzig, Prussia – 21 January 1792, Prussia), by whom he had four children. Heinrich and Magdalena were married in November 1832.

Heinrich and Magdalena had eight children: Helena (died young), Heinrich (died young), Johann, Heinrich, Franz, Anna, Helena, and Abraham (died young).
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