A. A. Friesen (1885-1948) was born in the village of Schönau in the Molotschna settlement of South Russia. He attended the Halbstadt Zentralschule, taking also the special course in pedagogy, then went on to the Gymnasium in Ekaterinoslav and the University of Odessa. He then took a position as instructor in the then newly established Halbstadt Kommerzschule (School of Commerce) in Halbstadt. For ten years he worked fruitfully in the position, until he came to North America.

In 1920 A. A. Friesen was a prominent member of a study commission of four men sent to America by the South Russian Mennonites to investigate immigration prospects in either North or South America and also to obtain assistance from American Mennonites for the oppressed Mennonites in Russia. When the other members of this commission returned to Europe, Friesen stayed at Rosthern, Saskatchewan, since Elder David Toews was located here. Friesen then helped to prepare for the great immigration movement, and in particular was instrumental in eliminating the restrictions in Ottawa against the immigration of Mennonites into Canada. Between 1922-26 Friesen was a business manager of the Canadian Mennonite Board of Colonization in Rosthern. In 1926 he withdrew to follow his private activities. In 1948 he died at Rabbit Lake, Saskatchewan.

Bibliography

Additional Information

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, p. 404. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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