View source for Toews, Johann (1803-1889)

Johann Toews: ordained minister and Ältester of the [[Ladekopp (Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland)|Ladekopp]] Mennonite Church; born 10 December 1803 in [[Schönsee (Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland)|Schönsee]], [[West Prussia]]; married to Catharina Wall (1803-1858), the daughter of minister Johann (1765-1831) and Helena (Klaassen) (1772-1846) Wall; died on 19 February 1889 in Fresenheim, [[Am Trakt Mennonite Settlement (Samara Oblast, Russia)|Am Trakt Mennonite Settlement]], [[Russia]].

Johann was first elected minister in 1832 and Ältester in 1853. As minister and later as Ältester of the Mennonite congregation at [[Bröskerfelde (Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland)|Bröskerfelde]], then in Ladekopp and [[Pordenau (Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland)|Pordenau]], West Prussia, he rendered his brotherhood meritorious services by his vigorous, sympathetic work. In 1836 he took part in the founding of a school (''Vereinsschule'') in Bröskerfelde, contributing the land for the building and grounds. He corresponded with brethren in other countries, especially in Russia. In the ''[[Mennonitische Blätter (Periodical)|Mennonitische Blätter]]'' he repeatedly replied to the articles by Christian Schmutz of Rappenau on mission work, the proposed ministerial training school, and the monument to [[Menno Simons (1496-1561)|Menno Simons]].

His brother-in-law, [[Wall, Johann (1793-1860)|Johann Wall]], and Claas Epp, two ministers of the Ladekopp Mennonite Church in West Prussia led a group of families in the migration to Russia in 1852, where they established the Am Trakt Mennonite Settlement. Toews visited this settlement in 1861.

Johann Toews visited the Mennonites of the [[Molotschna Mennonite Settlement (Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Molotschna]] settlement in the South Russia repeatedly and advocated the founding of the General Mennonite Conference. (See [[Allgemeine Bundeskonferenz der Mennonitengemeinden in Russland]].)

In 1869 Johann Toews migrated to Russia from Prussia and continued to function as the honorary elder for the [[Am Trakt Mennonite Church (Am Trakt Mennonite Settlement, Samara Oblast, Russia)|Am Trakt Mennonite Church]]. 
Very little was known about his life. This may be the explanation why the earlier version of [[Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online (Website)|GAMEO]] included 3 entries for him – Töws, Johann (19th Century), Toews, Johann (1803-1887) and Töws, Johann (1805-1887).

= Bibliography =
Ediger, H. <em>Beschlüsse . . . der Konferenzen</em>. Berdyansk, 1914: 1.

Friesen, Peter M. <em>Die Alt-Evangelische Mennonitische Brüderschaft in Russland (1789-1910) im Rahmen der mennonitischen Gesamtgeschichte</em>. Halbstadt: Verlagsgesellschaft "Raduga", 1911: 719.

Goertz, Adalbert. "List of Mennonite Ministers in Prussia." 23 May 2005. Web. 6 November 2012. [http://www.mennonitegenealogy.com/prussia/prediger.htm http://www.mennonitegenealogy.com/prussia/prediger.htm].

Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. ''Mennonitisches Lexikon'', 4 vols. Frankfurt &amp; Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe: Schneider, 1913-1967: v. IV, 347. 

<em>Mennonitische Blätter</em> (1860): 21; (1862): 15; (1866): 29; (1867): 46, 54; (1889): 59. Scanned copies available at: https://mla.bethelks.edu/gmsources/newspapers/Mennonitische%20Blaetter/

Rempel, Mary. “Church Record of those in the Ladekopp District Marriages, Births, Deaths and Communicants Recorded in each year 1775-1829”. [This is a draft transcription of "1775-1829 Geburten, Trauungen Todesfälle (OK60)” housed at the Mennonitische Forschungsstelle, Weierhof, Germany].  Available online at: https://mla.bethelks.edu/archives/cong_306/cong306.pdf

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[[Category:Persons]]
[[Category:Ministers]]
[[Category:Elders]]