Abraham Jacob "A. J." Koop, of Chortitza, South Russia (b. 8 October 1838, d. of typhus 19 January 1920), was a leading Mennonite industrialist. He married Katharina Paetkau on 18 February 1861; they had 12 children.

A. J. Koop received his training as an apprentice in the workshop and factory of P. H. Lepp, who helped him to get started in industry. Koop established his own factory in Chortitza in 1864. He was so successful that additional factories were built at Einlage and Alexandrovsk. In 1908 they had an output of 610,000 rubles. At Alexandrovsk during that year 288 workers were employed, at Chortitza 81, and at Einlage 100. The factories produced the usual agricultural machinery used by the Mennonites and the Russians of the Ukraine. When, in 1914, Koop's enterprise observed its 50th anniversary it was listed as the second largest of the Mennonite industries in Russia. During the Russian Revolution the factories were nationalized but continued their work. Little is known about the personal life of the founder.

See also Agriculture Among the Mennonites in Russia and Industry Among Mennonites in Russia

Bibliography

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, pp. 224-225. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

©1996-2008 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.

To cite this page: