Kroeker, Cornelius P. (1862-1942)
Cornelius P. Kroeker: farmer; was born on 28 June 1862 to Franz and Margaretha (Plett) Kroeker in Kleefeld, Russia. He was the eldest of five children in the family. He and his family immigrated to Canada landing in Quebec on 20 August 1874. Cornelius was baptized in 1882 in Steinbach, Manitoba and married Katharina (Tien) Toews (1866-1938) on 1 April 1884. The couple had 14 children, two of whom died as infants and two as young adults. Ten months after his first wife’s death in 1938, Cornelius married Katharina W. (Reimer) Barkman (1862-1940). Cornelius died on 6 September 1942 in Manitoba.
Cornelius P. Kroeker experienced many transitions in his life. He spent his early years in the village of Kleefeld in South Russia. When Cornelius was 12 years old, he and his family left for Canada. The Kroekers settled on farmland near Steinbach, Manitoba and soon became wealthy. Cornelius was the only surviving son in the family.
Farming was a success for Cornelius P. Kroeker and his family during the early years. He bought a steam engine and threshing machine, which he used to help farmers in the surrounding areas with their harvests. Twice, he upgraded the steam engine to newer models. Cornelius survived a major illness when he contracted typhoid in his middle age.
The great economic Depression of the 1930s was very difficult for the Kroekers, who had a large amount of property and many machines but not much money. Unable to sell his machines and tools to the impoverished farmers, Cornelius found it difficult to pay his expenses.
Change came again for Cornelius P. Kroeker in 1938, when his wife Katharina died on 16 January after a month’s illness. Ten months later, he married a widow, Katharina Barkman. She died in September 1940. Cornelius died on 6 September 1942.
Bibliography
Barkman, Katie (Kroeker). “Cornelius P. Kroeker (1862-1942).” Preservings No. 12 (June 1998): 77-78.
GRANDMA (The Genealogical Registry and Database of Mennonite Ancestry) Database, 5.03 ed. Fresno, CA: California Mennonite Historical Society, 2007: #6476.
| Author(s) | Susan Huebert |
|---|---|
| Date Published | 2007 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Huebert, Susan. "Kroeker, Cornelius P. (1862-1942)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 2007. Web. 19 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Kroeker,_Cornelius_P._(1862-1942)&oldid=82953.
APA style
Huebert, Susan. (2007). Kroeker, Cornelius P. (1862-1942). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 19 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Kroeker,_Cornelius_P._(1862-1942)&oldid=82953.
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