Johann J. Harder, Mennonite Brethren pioneer minister, the son of Johann Harder (1811-1875), was born in Blumstein, Molotschna, Russia, on 8 August 1836 (N.S. date, 20 August), attended the local school, and was for one year a pupil of the well-known Bernhard Harder. On 16 November 1858, he married Elisabeth Fast (18 January 1838 - 30 December 1898), daughter of Johann Fast (1813-1892) and Elisabeth (Isaak) Fast (1811-1878). After having taught the Friedensruhe school for three years he taught at the Schönau school for an­other four years.

In 1865 Johann Harder joined other landless pioneers who moved to the Crimea. In 1869 he and his wife and 17 others were rebaptized by Jacob A. Wiebe and thus became members of the newly organized Krimmer Mennonite Brethren Church. The correspondence between him and his father, a leading minister of the Molotschna Mennonite Church during this time, gives valuable in­sight into the spiritual atmosphere and struggle of that time. In 1871 Harder was elected to the min­istry and assisted Jacob A. Wiebe in the organiza­tion of the church. Having had more education than Wiebe he played a major role in the early years of the group. In 1874 he emigrated to Amer­ica, settling first in the Gnadenau village near Hillsboro, Kansas. In 1900 he returned to Russia for a visit. He died 23 February 1930 in Hillsboro, Kansas. He was the father of David E. Harder.

Bibliography

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, p. 661. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

©1996-2013 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.