View source for Unruh, Heinrich Benjamin (1847-1883)

Heinrich Benjamin Unruh: a Mennonite elder in the [[Karassan Mennonite Church (Simferopol, Crimea, Ukraine)|Karassan Mennonite Church]], [[Crimea (Ukraine)|Crimea]], [[Russia|Russia]]; was born 24 May 1847 in Waldheim, [[Molotschna Mennonite Settlement (Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Molotschna settlement]], South Russia, the son of Benjamin Unruh (1818-1907) and Maria (Kunkel) Unruh (1828-1903) and the brother of [[Unruh, Kornelius Benjamin (1849-1910)|Kornelius Benjamin Unruh]], (see additional information for further information regarding Heinrich's family). On 4 January 1868 Heinrich married Elisabeth Wall (1846-1922) and they had nine children that lived to adulthood. All of the sons were engaged in religious work: [[Unruh, Heinrich Heinrich (1868-1912)|Heinrich]] and [[Unruh, Cornelius Heinrich (1873-1941)|Kornelius]] were missionaries in [[India]], Gerhard a preacher, [[Unruh, Abraham H. (1878-1961)|Abraham]] a preacher and teacher, and [[Unruh, Benjamin Heinrich (1881-1959)|Benjamin]] a teacher and leader. Heinrich died 17 October 1883 at the age of 36 years in Timir-Bulat, where he was buried.

As a child Heinrich moved with his parents to the Crimea, settling in the village of Schwestertal. After his marriage to Elisabeth, they moved to Timir-Bulat in the Eupatoria (Yevpatoriya) district. Heinrich Benjamin Unruh was chosen as minister by the Karassan congregation in 1874, and as elder three years before his death. P. M. Friesen says that he was the first minister in the Crimea to preach without using the traditional written sermons. He stressed personal conversion before baptism.
= Bibliography =
Friesen, Peter M. <em>Die Alt-Evangelische Mennonitische Brüderschaft in Russland (1789-1910) im Rahmen der mennonitischen Gesamtgeschichte</em>. Halbstadt: Verlagsgesellschaft "Raduga", 1911: 709.

Goerz, Heinrich. <em>Die mennonitischen Siedlungen der Krim</em>. Winnipeg, 1957: 541.

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: #133579.

= Additional Information =
Heinrich’s parents were Benjamin B. Unruh (10 November 1818, Zofyovka, Volhynia – 21 June 1907, Tokultschak, Crimea, South Russia) and Maria (Kunkel) Unruh (6 January 1828, Volhynia – 1903, Crimea, South Russia).

Heinrich’s wife was Elisabeth Wall (24 May 1846, Schoensee, Molotschna, South Russia – November 1922, Tiege, Molotschna, South Russia). She was the daughter of Peter Wall (1804-1846) and Elisabeth Funk (1810-1846). Heinrich and Elisabeth were married 4 January 1868 in Marienruh, Crimea, South Russia.

Heinrich and Elisabeth had 11 children, of which nine lived to adulthood: [[Unruh, Heinrich Heinrich (1868-1912)|Heinrich]], Gerhard, Maria, [[Unruh, Cornelius Heinrich (1873-1941)|Kornelius]], Katharina, Elisabeth, [[Unruh, Abraham H. (1878-1961)|Abraham]], Anna, and [[Unruh, Benjamin Heinrich (1881-1959)|Benjamin]].
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