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THE HOUSE OF DIRK

THE DUERKSEN AND HEINRICHS FAMILIES

I have included some of the records of the Duerksen Family History, recorded by Jimmie Duerksen, "In Search of Freedom" by Russell S. Duerksen, and part of the Historical Collection of Dr. Edward H. Duerksen, PhD., ThD., of the Duerksen International Bible Conferences. Also thanks to the Wedel Heinrichs-Heinrichs Family History compiled by Lois Berndt, daughter of Henry and Fern Japel.

Dr. Edward H. Duerksen has traced the ancestry back to 1475, to a young Dutch Nobleman in the Friedland area of Holland by the name of Duke Van Duser. In 1525, the Duke gave the divided portions of his large estate to another young man. Van Dirk (or Van Doerk) making the young man Duke Van Dirk (Doerk).

Dr. Duerksen suggests that all the Dirks, Duerksens, Durksens, Dircksens, Dirksens, Doerksens and Derksens are descendants of this Duke Van Dirk. Today there is a statue in the square of a small Dutch town honoring Duke Van Dirk. Some descendants of Duke Van Dirk must have become Mennonites around the period of 1625. Family tradition holds that during this period, three of the brothers of the House of Dirk in Holland parted; modifying surnames and adopted their own lifestyles.

The one brother that stayed in Holland became Doerksen; the other two brothers migrated to Prussia and adopted the German form of Durksen. The second brother went on to southern Germany and took the name of Derksen. It is also known that when many of the families arrived in America in such large groups, that the immigration officials spelled and wrote down the immigrant's names as the names sounded to them. Many of the Duerksen families took on the American sounding name of Dirksen, as did most of the Wall and Unruh relatives.

It is at Koenigsburg, East Prussia (now Lithuania) that Dr. Edward H. Duerksen located the first reliable information on individual members of the family. Records show that Johann Duerksen born 1750, married 3 times and had 5 children. He died in 1840 at 90 years of age.

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He had the following children with 1st wife:

1. Johann J. Duerksen (1772-1855)

2. Miss Duerksen

Children from 2nd marriage:

3. Kornelius Duerksen (1789-1884)

4. Sarah Duerksen

Children from 3rd marriage:

5. Gerhard Duerksen (1814-1910)

Johann J. Duerksen (1772-1855) lived his entire life in the Koenigsburg area where he was a butter, cheese and sausage handler. It is said that he housed and fed Napoleon's troops.

Johann J. Duerksen (1772-1855) had 2 sons we know of as follows:

1. Johann Duerksen (1789-1878)

2. Heinrich Duerksen (1809-1872)

In 1817 the above Johann Duerksen (1789-1878) at age 19 along with his younger brother, Heinrich, age 8 1/2 years, said good bye to their father and joined a wagon train that was journeying across Poland to Russia. They eventually arrived in Alexanderthal in the Molotschna Colony of Mennonites that had been established in 1803.

Johann was called Oel-Ohm (ohm being a term of respect, like uncle, and Oel meaning oil). He had an oil press which he would make oil from the hedge mustard, a common yellow Russian weed, to be used for lamps, or to be sold to the Russian peasants, who used it as a substitute for lard during lent.

1. Heinrich Duerksen (1830)

2. Johann Duerksen (1833)

3. Peter Duerksen (1835)

4. Cornelius Duerksen (1838-1912)

5. Jacob J. Duerksen (1840-1904)

6. Gerard Duerksen 1928)

7. Elizabeth Duerksen

8. Eva Duerksen

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Heinrich Duerksen (1830) married Elizabeth Franzen

Heinrich Duerksen and Elizabeth Franzen had 4 children as follows:

1. Heinrich Duerksen married Miss Neufeld

2. Elizabeth Duerksen married Heinrich F. Duerksen

3. Peter Duerksen married Aganetha Krause

4. Marie Duerksen married John J. Nickel

Johann Duerksen (1833) married Aganetha Balzer

Johann Duerksen and Aganetha Balzer had 13 children as follows:

1. Marie Duerksen married John Schmidt

2. Helen Duerksen married Peter Schmidt

3. John Duerksen married Marie Reimer

4. Henry Duerksen married Helen Friesen

5. Peter Duerksen married Agnes Gossen

6. Cornelius Duerksen married Mary Rose

7. Katherine Duerksen married Henry Rose

8. Aganetha Duerksen married D. A. Klassen

9. George Duerksen married Marie Welk

10. Eva Duerksen married John Pankratz

11. Anna Duerksen married John Krause

12. David Duerksen married Marie Friesen

13. Susanna Duerksen married Frank Gossen

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Peter Duerksen married

Peter born and died in Russia, they had 5 children as follows:

1. John Duerksen married Helen Neufeld

2. Julius Duerksen married Elizabeth Schroeder

3. Peter Duerksen married Anna Dick

4. Gerhard Duerksen married Elizabeth Barkman

5. Helen Duerksen married Peter Schroeder

Cornelius Duerksen (1838-1912) married Elizabeth Franzen (1842-1891)

Cornelius, Elizabeth and family arrived in America aboard the SS Wieland on June 15, 1880. They proceeded to Marion County, Kansas where they began to farm. He was also known as a water expert and well driller. After wife Elizabeth died in 1891, Cornelius looked for another woman. One of the prospects was the widow (Carolina Deutschman-Klat) with 4 children who was also looking for a husband.

According to other family reports, Carolina had several male prospects herself, but she chose Cornelius because he had a team of fast horses and a nice buggy, plus she liked the horses. The combined new household now had 12 children with another 2 children to arrive. It's no wonder that Cornelius had fast horses; he probably had to escape once in a while.

Cornelius Duerksen and Elizabeth Franzen had 8 children as follows:

1. John Duerksen (1863-1943)

2. Helena Duerksen (1866-1950)

3. Elizabeth Duerksen (1871)

4. Anna Duerksen (1875)

5. Sarah Duerksen (1876)

6. Jacob C. Duerksen (1880-1975) (known as J.C.)

7. George Duerksen (1884-1966)

8. Cornelius C. Duerksen (1886-1969) (known as C.C.)

Wife Elizabeth Franzen died in 1891, Cornelius remarried in 1892
Cornelius Duerksen and Carolina Deutschman-Klat had 2 more children:

9. Minnie Duerksen (1894-1929)

10. Henry Duerksen (1896-1974) Page 199

John Duerksen (1863-1943) married Rosa Tisch (1867-1951)

John Duerksen became blind at the age of 19 years. He was very concerned that he may be put into a government institution because his father was unable to give him the full attention he required. He thought the best out would be to find a wife. A friend of the Duerksen family had a widowed sister, Rosa Tisch with 3 children still in Russia and wanting to come to America.

John wrote to Rosa and she agreed that if he would send the funds for the passage and some expense money for her and the children, then she would marry him. He sent the money and Rosa arrived, bag and baggage, they were married in Kansas in 1907. They bought a farm and stayed there until 1913. Rosa born 1867 in Poland, she died in 1951 in California.

The 3 children that Rosa brought along from Russia are.

1. Gustav Tisch

2. Flora Tisch

3. Emily Tisch

John and Rosa had 3 more children as follows:

4. Cornelius E. Duerksen (1909) married Iris Peterson (1916) They had 7 children, Carl, Charles, Anita, Leon, Forrest, Debbie and Diletta.

5. John Duerksen (1911-1985) married Margaret Poznoff (1918-1976) (no known children at this time)

6. David Duerksen (1913) married Ethel Larson (1914-1983). They had 2 children, Delvina and Lennia.

Helena Duerksen (1866-1950) married Jacob Lorenz (1866-1945)

Helena Duerksen and Jacob Lorenz had 10 children as follows:

1. John Lorenz (1887-1961) married Elizabeth Wise (1889-1976) they had 3 children, Wallace, Irvin and Elmer.

2. Sam Lorenz (1889-1961) married Hazel Kimsey (1891)

They had 4 children, Orah, Martha, Glyndon and Eleanor.

3. Ted Lorenz (1891-1976) married Edna Hyde (1892-1980) they had 3 children, Ralph, Gladys and Alda.

4. Charles Lorenz (1894-1918) was killed in World War I

5. Fred Lorenz (1896-1984) married Elsie Eder (1900-1983) they had 2 children, Robert and Kenneth

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6. Josh Lorenz (1898-1974) married Marie Dollinger (1899) they had 3 children, Catherine, Carol and Leiand.

7. Esther Lorenz (1901-1980) married Joel Haffner (1899-1983) they had 1 child/Betty Haffner.

8. Elizabeth Lorenz (1903-1983) married Peter Nightingale (1902) they had 2 children, Arlene and Robert Nightingale.

9. Loretta Lorenz (1906-1986) married Sal Peterson (1903-1978) they had 1 child, Donald Peterson.

10. Ruth Lorenz (1908) married George Wedel (1905-1972)

They had 3 children, George, Donna and Cecelia Wedel.

Elizabeth Duerksen (1871) married David P. Gaede (1867)

Elizabeth Duerksen and David P. Gaede had 4 children as follows:

1. Helen Gaede (1890)

2. Hulda Gaede (1893)

3. Lilly Gaede (1896)

4. David Gaede (1901)

Anna Duerksen (1875) married Jacob P. Gaede (1878)

Anna Duerksen and Jacob P. Gaede had 1 child.
1. Bertha Gaede married Wilbert Spady

Bertha and Wilbert had 5 children who were raised by grandparents, Anna and Jacob. The children's parents Bertha and Wilbert were both killed in an auto collision.

Sarah Duerksen (1876) married Fred Klatt (1879)

Sarah Duerksen and Fred Klatt had 1 child.
1. John Klatt

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Jacob C. Duerksen known as J.C. and Lena Buller had 6 children:

1. Esther Duerksen (1905-1905) died in infancy

2. Albert Duerksen (1906) married Ruby they had 1 child, Robert Duerksen

3. Elmer Duerksen (1910) married Bernice

They had 5 children, Eleanor, David, Juanita, Charles and Sharon.

4. Mabel Duerksen (1912-1953) married Merle Clement They had 2 children, Joyce and Donald Clement.

5. Ervin Duerksen (1916-1922) died 6 years of age

6. Victor Duerksen (1918) married June Bringle 1968) they had 2 children, Dick and Jack Duerksen

George Duerksen (1884-1966) married Mary Dollinger (1890-1967)

George Duerksen and Mary Dollinger 10 children as follows:

1. Lillian Duerksen (1910) married Rudy Schlenker (1906-1947) They had 4 children, Nola, Kenneth, Delores and Marilyn.

2. Helen Duerksen (1912) married Thomas Lamance (1914-They had 3 children, Tom, Charles and Robert.

3. Maybelle Duerksen (1916) married Arthur Bitzer (1899-1976)

They had 8 children, Harlin, Roselyn, Dennis, Gerald, Larry, Victor, Kenneth and Gary Bitzer.

4. Ida Duerksen (1918-1918) died in infancy

5. Arthur Duerksen (1920-1972) married Oletha Spady (1922-They 3 children, Barbara, Gerland and Wanda Duerksen.

6. Bernice Duerksen 91922-1969) married Art Scharf (1915)

They had 5 children, George, Mary, Donna, Patty and Terry.

7. Virgina Duerksen (1925) married Wallace Potter (1923)

They have 5 children Beverly, Phillip, Wallace, Edith and Roger Potter.

8. Jimmie (Harold) Duerksen (1928) married Ruth Brenneise (1925)

Jimmie and Ruth have 2 children. Penny Joyce Duerksen (1960) and Russell Scott Duerksen a SDA attorney and author of the book, "In Search of Freedom". His father, Jimmie has provided parts of this Duerksen section.

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9. Barbara Duerksen (1930) married Lee Uran (1925). They have 3 children, Nicolas, Scott and Ardis Duerksen.

10. Pearly Duerksen (1932-1934) died in infancy

Cornelius C. Duerksen (1886-1969) married Katie Wall (1885-1912)

Katie Wall was the

Katie Wall and Cornelius C. Duerksen had 2 children as follows:

1. Viola M. Duerksen (1910) married F. Burton Martin (1909)

Viola and Burton Martin have 5 children as follows:

[A-1] Gerald Martin (1935) married Claudia (1937)

[A-2] Delores Martin (1938-1938) died in infancy

[A-3] Richard Martin (1943) married Mary Fowler (1945)

[A-4] A. Neil Martin (1945) married Guyenne Peterson (1949)

[A-5] Kenneth Martin (1946-1968) married Ruth Catallie

Kenneth Martin, who was my 2nd cousin, married Ruth Catallie before going overseas with the US Army on July 14, 1968. Within 2 weeks he was killed in Viet Nam in a fierce battle on September 12, 1968. He was Posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his bravery.

2. Evelyn Duerksen (1912) married Lawrence Heath (1914)

Evelyn and Lawrence Heath have 3 children as follows:

[A-1] Glenn Heath (1938) married Lila

[A-2] Lynn Heath (1938) married Joan

[A-3] Faye Heath (1945) married Tui Pittman (1942)

Cornelius C. Duerksen (C.C.) was a carpenter. In 1912 while living at Escondido, California, the family was enjoying a church picnic. Katie suddenly became critically ill. She was rushed to the Paradise valley Sanitarium in a horse drawn buggy type ambulance. Her appendix had already burst and she died a couple of days later. Katie left 2 small children, Viola, 3 years old and Evelyn, 6 months of age. Cornelius later married Lydia Dollinger (1893-1987) and they had 7 more children and 28 grandchildren.

Cornelius C. Duerksen 2nd Marriage to Lydia Dollinger (1893-1987)

Their children are now listed:

3. Alice Duerksen (1914) married Kraid Ashbaugh

They have 4 children Mary, Janet, Carmen and Floyd Ashbaugh

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4. Irvin Duerksen (1917) married Pearl

They have 2 children Ronald and Judith Duerksen

5. Edward Duerksen (1921) married Ruth

They have 4 children, Donald, Gary, Edward and Lori Duerksen

6. Marcella Duerksen (1923-1972) married Wilbur Schiedeman They have 5 children, Robert, Randall, Richard, Ray and Roger

7. Merlyn Duerksen (1925) married Rosemary Halburg

They have 6 children, Denise, Steven, Diane, Lynette, Jonathan and Liesl.

8. Lolita Duerksen (1928) married Albert Hirst (1915)

They have 3 children, Albert Jr., David and Allyson Hirst.

9. Monroe Duerksen (1932) married Patricia Nicholson They have 4 children, Rebecca, Elizabeth, James and Bonnie.

After Cornelius Duerksen's wife, Elizabeth Franzen died in 1891, he married Carolina Deutschman-Klat (1854-1944) and they had 2 children as follows:

1. Minnie Duerksen (1894-1929)

2. Henry B. Duerksen (1896-1974)

Minnie Duerksen (1894-1929) married Frank Whalen (1888-1934) Minnie and Frank had 4 children as follows:

1. Frank Whalen (1914) married Adeline Harris (1911)

2. Eldon Whalen (1918) married Laura Gowdy (1926)

3. Dick Whalen (1922-1985) married Norma 0000)

4. Barbara Whalen married Harold Hull

Henry B. Duerksen (1896-1974) married Elizabeth Toews (1899) they had 2 children:

1. Raymond H. Duerksen (1919) married Zola Rosenburg (1925)

2. William Duerksen (1925) married Peggy Ault (1925)

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Jacob J. Duerksen and Katherina Funk had 8 children as follows:

1. John F. Duerksen (1863-1932)

2. Peter F. Duerksen (1867-1946)

3. Katherine Duerksen (1869-1907)

4. Anna Duerksen (1871)

5. Jacob K. Duerksen (1875-1949)

6. Helen Duerksen (1876-1953)

7. Marie Duerksen (1882)

8. Sara Duerksen (1884) 2nd Marriage to Katherina Harms

John F. Duerksen (1863-1932) married Katherine Warkentin

John F. Duerksen, a pioneer educator in the Mennonite Brethren Church of North America, was born in Alexanderthal, Molotschna Colony, on July 25, 1863, the oldest child of Jacob J. Duerksen and Katharina Funk.

At the age of 15, he was converted and on April 30, 1879, joined the Mennonite Brethren Church. In 1887 he immigrated to America and came to his parents in Kansas who had preceded him three years earlier. He taught school near Lehigh, Kansas 1887-1890 and in a Mennonite school near Buhler, Kansas 1890-1899. John then became principal of the Brethren College at McPherson, Kansas for six years and trained many early leaders of the Church.

In 1905, the Duerksen family moved to Corn, Oklahoma where he established the Corn Academy and a Bible School serving, as it's principal for eleven years. In 1919 he served as assistant Pastor of the Corn M. B. church for sixteen years. John was a very active conference worker and was the secretary of the general Conference from 1919-1921. He was the editor of the Sunday-school quarterly of the M. B. church for many years.

John married Katharina Warkentin on January 9, 1890; to this union 7 children were born. After the death of his first wife Katharina, he married Mrs. Gertrude Warkentin on September 24, 192
1. John died May 1, 1932 and was interred in the Corn, Oklahoma M. B. cemetery. (Courtesy Mennonite Encyclopedia)

Peter F. Duerksen (1867-1946) married Anna Balzer

Katherine Duerksen (1869-1907) married Heinrich Hiebert

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Anna Duerksen and Cornelius Harms had 1 child.
1. Tina C. Harms (1892) married Seibel

Anna Duerksen 2nd marriage to Abraham B. Gaede Anna Duerksen had another 7 children with Abraham B. Gaede.

2. Alvin W. Gaede (1898) married Lena Suderman (1898)

[A-1] Calvin Gaede (1921) married Dorothy Richert

[B-1] Patricia Gaede (1953)

[A-2] Don C. Gaede (1929)

[A-3] Jim Gaede (1934)

[A-4] Beatrice Gaede (1938)

3. Leona Gaede (1900) married Daniel Loewen (1897)

[A-1] Wallace Loewen (1920) married Esther Hiebert

[B-1] Johnnie Loewen (1945

[B-2] Judy Loewen (1946

[B-3] Paul Loewen (1950

[B-4] Connie Loewen (1952)

[A-2] Sylvia Loewen (1921)

[A-3] Don V. Loewen (1925) married Deloris Ratzlaff

[B-1] Daniel Loewen (1949

[B-2] Bradley Loewen (1950

[B-3] Victor Loewen (1952)

[A-4] Joan Loewen (1930)

[A-5] Doris Loewen (1932) married Ted Rempel (1932)

4. Menno S. Gaede (1901) married Anna Frantz (1902)

[A-1] Genevieve Gaede (1930) married Hugh Muller

[A-2] Janet Gaede (1935)

[A-3] Robert Gaede (1937)

5. Edna Gaede (1904) married Henry Penner (1896)

[A-1] Paul Penner (1926) married Olga Classen

[B-1] Dianna Penner (1950

[B-2] Roger Penner (1952)

[A-2] Howard Penner (1927) married Lois Gerbrandt

[B-1] Bryant Penner (1949

[B-2] Rodney Penner (1951

[B-3] Duane Penner (1953)

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6. Esther Gaede (1906) married Henry Lepp (1903) Henry Lepp was born in Saskatchewan, Canada.

[A-1] Naomi Lepp 1933)

[A-2] Elaine Lepp (1937)

[A-3] Lois Lepp (1944)

7. Malinda Gaede (1908) married Ted Groening (1908)

[A-1] Ronnie Groening (1936)

[A-2] Carrol Groening (1938)

[A-3] Judie Groening (1944)

[A-4] Martha Groening (1945)

8. Martha Gaede (1910) married Oliver Lingo (1909)

[A-1] Louis Lingo (1945)

[A-2] David Lingo (1947)

Helen Duerksen (1876-1953) married Dietrich J. Classen

Sara Duerksen (1884) married Jacob D. Ratzlaff

Gerhard Duerksen and wives had 8 children as follows:

1. Katherina Duerksen married George Knaak

2. Frank Duerksen married Katherina Warkentin

3. George Duerksen married Eva Nickel

4. Sara Duerksen married George Kasper

5. Helena Duerksen married Cornelius Duerksen

6. John Duerksen married Minnie Nickel

7. Elizabeth Duerksen married Emil Kliewer

8. Henry Duerksen married Minnie Halle

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Elizabeth Duerksen married Jacob Kroeker

Eva Duerksen married Peter Berg

Miss Duerksen married William Janzen

Kornelius Duerksen (1789-1884) married Katrine Paulewertsen

Kornelius Duerksen was married 2 times and had a total of 14 children; the first 6 children are with Katrine Paulewertsen as follows:

1. Johann Duerksen was a cobbler.

2. Peter Duerksen was a tailor

3. Anna Duerksen married Martin Dueckman

4. Elizabeth Duerksen married Cornelius Duerksen

5. Katherine Duerksen married John Regier

6. Sarah Duerksen 0000 married David Friesen

2nd marriage to Miss Welk

Kornelius Duerksen had the next 8 children with Miss Welk.

7. Kornelius Duerksen

8. Jacob Duerksen

9. Johann Duerksen

10. David Duerksen

11. Gerhard Duerksen

12. Heinrich Duerksen

13. Anna Duerksen married Kornelius Daike

14. Helena Duerksen married Heinrich Friesen

Sarah Duerksen married Peter Penner

Sarah Duerksen and Peter Penner had 6 children as follows:

1. Peter Penner

2. Heinrich Penner

3. John Penner

4. David Penner

5. Franz Penner

6. Sarah Penner

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Gerhard and Anna pulled and pushed their baby carriage all the way from Prussia to Russia.

Gerhard Duerksen and Anna Doerksen had 7 children as follows:

1. Gerhard G. Duerksen

2. Abraham G. Duerksen

3. David G. Duerksen (1850-1910)

4. Johann G. Duerksen

5. Kornelius G. Duerksen

6. Jacob G. Duerksen (1860-1922)

7. Anna Duerksen

Gerhard G. Duerksen

Gerhard was a Gnadenfeld County Supervisor for 26 years. He received Government medals for excellent service. Lived in Alexanderthal, Molotschna Colony.

2. Abraham G. Duerksen married Helena Pauls

They lived in Alexanderthal, Molotschna Colony where he was a blacksmith.

Abraham G. Duerksen and Helena Pauls had 9 children as follows:

1. Anna Duerksen married Enns

[A-1] Gerhard F. Enns M.D. at Chilliwack, B. C.

2. Martin Duerksen Tereker Ans.

3. Helena Duerksen married John Klippenstein

John Klippenstein died in World War I 2nd marriage to Cornelius Unger, he died in Paraguay

4. Franz Duerksen (1883) married Anna Duerksen (1884)

Both Franz and Anna were born in Russia, Franz was a farmer and Anna was a midwife in Paraguay and Canada. They had 8 children, 6 died in infancy, only 2 survived as follows:

[A-1] Kathy Duerksen married Martin Duerksen who was a M.C.C. worker in Argentina.

[A-2] Erma Duerksen married Jacob Wiens they lived in Paraguay.

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5. Abraham Duerksen (1885) married Anna Janzen they both remained in Russia.

6. Peter Duerksen (1887) married Justina Funk they both remained in Russia.

7. Gerhard A. Duerksen (1889) married Anna Peters they were born in Russia, lived in Vancouver, B. C. Canada.

Gerhard and Anna had 3 children as follows:

[A-1] Helen Duerksen married Henry Kroeker

[A-2] George Duerksen was in the Yukon, Canada

[A-3] David Duerksen died in a mine in B. C. Canada.

8. David Duerksen (1891) married Katherina Janzen they both remained in Russia.

9. Anna Duerksen married Jake Martens they lived in Abbotsford B. C. Canada.

David was a teacher and a preacher, they both stayed in Russia. They had 7 boys and 7 girls, but we have record of only 5.

1. Miss Duerksen married Neufeld

[A-1] Newta Neufeld RN Deaconess, Bethel Hospital in Newton, Kansas.

2. Katherine Duerksen (1889) married Jacob C. Reimer they were born in Russia, Lived in Sardis, B. C. Canada

3. Gerhard Duerksen (1877-1916) married Mariechen Guenther Gerhard was and M. D. in Odessa Hospitals in Russia.

Gerhard Duerksen and Mariechen Guenther had 2 known children

[A-1] Eugene Duerksen was a journalist in Germany

[A-2] Heinz Duerksen was a Lieutenant in the German Army; He was killed in World War II

4. David Duerksen married Mariechen Klassen David was a teacher in Siberia, he died of Typhoid, age 42 years

5. Johann Duerksen 1933) He was also a teacher in Siberia after his brother, David died, he married David's widow Mariechen.

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Johann G. Duerksen was a farmer, teacher and preacher in Landskrone.

Kornelius G. Duerksen was a village farm supervisor in Alexanderthal Molotschna Colony. He had 3 children as follows:

1. David C. Duerksen Preacher and city missionary M.P.G. in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

2. An older daughter a widow in Canada

3. Mrs. J. J. Berg 1953, Dalmany, Saskatchewan, Canada

Jacob G. Duerksen (1860-1922) married Elizabeth Dickmann Jacob was a teacher, farmer and an Orphanage Superintendent in Alexanderthal, Molotschna Colony.

Jacob G. Duerksen and Elizabeth Dickman had 7 children as follows:

1. Anna Duerksen

2. Helen Duerksen lived in Vancouver, B. C. Canada.

3. Gerhard Duerksen

4. Elizabeth Duerksen married Heinrich P. Funk they lived in East Chilliwack, B. C. Canada, all their children I believe are in Canada.

[A-1] Henry Funk Lab work

[A-2] Frieda Funk married Herman Ratzlaff

[A-3] Edward Funk

[A-4] Otto Funk

[A-5] Frau Funk

[A-6] Peter Funk was a student at Tabor College

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We now go to the Heinrich Duerksen (1809-1872) file. He is the 2nd child of 5 of Johann Duerksen (1750-1840) and the 1st wife.

This section is where more connections of my family are tied into the Duerksen Clan.

Heinrich and Catarina both died in Alexanderthal, Molotschna Colony. Heinrich Duerksen and Catarina Adrigan had 6 children as follows:

1. John Duerksen (1836-1919)

2. Elizabeth Duerksen (1838-1914)

3. Abraham Duerksen (1843-1886) killed by lightning

4. Jacob Duerksen (1841-1915)

5. Cornelius Duerksen

6. Anna Duerksen

The family came to the United States In 1886 and on their arrival, they changed the name to Dirksen. John and his two wives had 5 children as follows:

1. Henry J. Dirksen (1860-1929) married Mary Derksen

[A-1] John H. Dirksen married ?

[B-1] Esther Dirksen

[B-2] Virgil Dirksen

[A-2] Henry H. Dirksen married Mary Treber (No reported children)

2. John Dirksen (1870-1945) married Maggie Fast (1874-1944)

[A-1] Edward Dirksen (1899) married Lucille Whitnack 000

[B-1] Edward Dirksen (1933) married Patricia McConnell

[C-1] Wendelynn J. Dirksen (1960)

[C-2] Peter W. Dirksen (1962)

[C-3] Todd E. Dirksen (1964)

[C-4] Thomas A. Dirksen (1968)

[A-2] William Dirksen (1901) married Fern Anderson

[B-1] Gladys Dirksen 1928) married William Robinson (1930)

[C-1] Harold L. Robinson married ? D-1 Karen Robinson (1956-D-2 Jimmie Robinson (1957-D-3 Julia Robinson (1959)

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[A-3] Arthur Dirksen (1904) married Bertha Unruh (1905)

[B-1] Joyce Dirksen (1930) married Kenneth Pitts (1928)

[C-1] Dorothy J. Pitts (1950)

[C-2] Fred Pitts (1954)

[C-3] Rocklin K. Pitts (1962)

[A-4] Rachel Dirksen (1914) married Derwin Morse (1909)

[B-1] Merle Morse (1948) married Ellen Van den Hoven (1947)

3. Agnes Dirksen married Adam Rembolt

4. Eva Dirksen married John Rexin

[A-1] Lydia Rexin

[A-2] Carl Rexin

[A-3] Marie Rexin

[A-4] Henry Rexin

5. Justina Dirksen married Henry Dirksen (1870-1915)

[A-1] Sarah Dirksen

[A-2] John Dirksen

[A-3] Pete Dirksen

[A-4] Agnes Dirksen

[A-5] Kate Dirksen

[A-6] Paul Dirksen A-7 Simon Dirksen A-8 Eva Dirksen

Elizabeth Dirksen (1838-1914) married Isaac Heinrichs Sr.

Isaac Heinrichs and Elizabeth Dirksen lived in the Alexanderthal Valley-Mulltch state in Russia, 150 miles east of Odessa. Isaac Heinrichs Sr. became very ill in Russia, perhaps a nervous breakdown. The Russian authorities put him in an institution and gave his wife Elizabeth her mid-wife training so she could earn money to pay for her husband's care. The three children were placed among the parent's brothers and sisters to raise. The 3 sons were sent to America with relatives at different times.

Elizabeth remained in Russia; her husband recovered and was sent home to Elizabeth. When he discovered that his children were all gone to America, he had a relapse and died. Elizabeth was also nursing an ill daughter of a Regehr family. The parents had made arrangements and had passports to come to America, but the ill daughter died, so the Regehr family brought Elizabeth to America in their daughter's place. Elizabeth may have been registered under the name Rose Regehr as she entered the U.S.A.

Elizabeth later found and joined her sons in Turner County in the Dakota Territories. She helped her son Isaac raise his daughters. Later in life she married her brother in law, Peter Heinrichs. They are both buried at Escondido, California.

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Elizabeth Dirksen and Isaac Heinrichs Sr. had 3 children as follows:

1. Isaac Heinrichs Jr. (1863-1951)

2. Heinrich J. (Henry) Heinrichs (1869-1943)

3. John Heinrichs

I should give a bit of background on Anna Heinrichs. Her mother Maria Siemans (1821-1897) first husband was Jacob Toews (1818-1856) was killed in the Russian War. Maria and Jacob had 5 children.

Their eldest son David J. Toews (1844-1915) was the father of my aunt Anna Toews Wall, my stepmother, Helen Toews Penner Wall and the grandfather of my 1/2 brother. See the Toews Connection for more details.

After husband Jacob Toews was killed, Maria Siemans married Peter Heinrichs. They had 1 child, Anna Heinrichs, born April 25, 1858 in Russia. When Anna grew up she married Cornelius Wedel, born September 22, 1856 also in Russia. Anna Heinrichs and Cornelius Wedel came to America in 1879 and settled in the Dakota Territory.

Cornelius Wedel (1856-1885), the first child of Henry Wedel (1832) and Marie Wedel was my father's cousin, he was employed by the railway company as a brakeman. At Marion Junction, Dakota Territory, on October 7, 1885, he was crushed between two railroad car couplers and died instantly.

Cornelius's brother Jacob married Susie Hiebert and 3 of their children married 3 of my cousins. Also Cornelius's younger brother Pete Wedel (1871) married my father's sister, Margaret Wall.

Cornelius Wedel and Anna Heinrichs had 4 children as follows:

Henry C. Wedel and Mary Sperling had 4 children as follows:

1. Oswald Wedel (1912)

2. Reuben C. Wedel (1914)

3. Delores Wedel (1921-1931) died young

4. Edna Wedel (1934)

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1. Mary Wern (1902)

2. Dave Wern (1904)

Anna Wedel (1886-1920) 2nd marriage to Joseph Japel 1943) Anna Wedel and Joseph Japel had 4 children as follows:

3. Frank Joseph Japel (1906)

4. Henry John Japel (1908)

5. Jessie Ann Japel (1910)

6. Helen M. Japel (1915)

Following the untimely death of Cornelius Wedel, Anna Heinrichs then married Isaac Heinrichs Jr. (1863-1951).

Isaac Heinrichs Jr. had lived with the Duerksens, in Russia, as his father was ill and in a government institution. He came to America as a stowaway and landed in the Port of Philadelphia in August of 187
6. He became a citizen of the United States on October 23, 1894.

Isaac Heinrichs Jr. and Anna Heinrichs Wedel had 4 children as follows:

1. Marie (Mary) Heinrichs (1887-1971)

2. Elizabeth Heinrichs (1890-1973)

3. Katherine Heinrichs (1893-1968)

4. Isaac 111 Heinrichs (1895-1895) died in infancy

With the birth of the 4th child, Isaac III born September 16, 1895, resulted in complications. Baby Isaac lived only 1 month. Mother Anna Heinrichs died two weeks later on September 30, 1895.

Husband Isaac Heinrichs Jr., had his hands full and got his mother Elizabeth (Dirksen) Heinrichs to help him but it was too much for them. The 3 stepchildren, Peter, Henry and Anna were sent to live with their grandparents, Peter and Mary Heinrichs who lived in the New Home area of Stutsman County. Isaac Heinrichs then married Minnie Matteis.

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Isaac Heinrichs Jr. 2nd marriage to Minnie Matteis (1895) Isaac and Minnie then had 9 more children as follows:

5. John E. Heinrichs (1910)

6. Herbert Heinrichs (1911)

7. Isaac Heinrichs (1912)

8. Ruben Heinrichs (1914)

9. Jake Heinrichs (1916)

10. Louis Heinrichs (1917)

1. Fritz Heinrichs (1919)

2. Ted E. Heinrichs (1925)

3. Baby Heinrichs [0000] died in infancy

1st: child of 12 of Isaac Heinrichs Jr. and 1st of Anna Heinrichs Wedel Marie (Mary) Heinrichs (1887-1971) married Peter Voth (1884-1932)

For this family see the Voth section.

Elizabeth Heinrichs (1890-1973) married Gottfried Koening (1883-1959)

Elizabeth Heinrichs was born on August 10, 1890 at Richville, North Dakota and died February 23, 1973, burial at Pendleton, Oregon. Elizabeth Heinrichs and Gottfried Koening had 10 children as follows:

1. Josephine Koening (1909) B. Woodworth, ND

2. Leah Koening (1910-1977) B. Woodworth, ND

3. Martha Koening (1912) B. Pettibone, ND

4. Edward Koening (1914) B. Pettibone, ND

5. Hattie Koening (1917) B. Pettibone, ND

6. William Koening (1918) B. Pettibone, ND

7. Vernon H. Koening (1922) B. Pettibone, ND

8. Ferdinand Koening (1924) B. Pettibone, ND

9. Ruth Koening (1926) B. Pettibone, M.D. 10. Vanice Koening (1930) B. Heaton, ND

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Katharine Heinrichs born May 12, 1893 at Richville, North Dakota and died July 25, 1968 in Pendleton Oregon burial at Evergreen Hill cemetery in Staples, Minnesota. Ralph George Baird born February 23, 1893 at Revere, Minnesota. They were married in 191
2. Ralph Baird died on April 13, 1977 and was buried at Staples, Minnesota. He was the son of Charles Baird and Cora Young.

Katherine Heinrichs and Ralph Baird had 7 children as children:

1. Fern Marjorie Baird (1913)

2. Nora (Jackie) Baird (1916)

3. Phyliss Ruby Baird (1920)

4. Howard Orvil Baird (1922-1945) Killed on Okinawa, WW11

5. Claude Arthur Baird (1924)

6. Doris LaVonne Baird (1928)

7. Ralph Duane Baird (1935)

Isaac's mother, Anna Heinrichs Wedel died of childbirth September 30, 189
5. Baby Isaac lived to October 16, 1895 when he died of cramps, according to Logan county Clerk of Court, Napoleon, North Dakota.

Henry Heinrichs was engaged to be married to one of the Guenther girls who he came to America with. Once here he broke off the engagement and married Justina Faust. Henry had the Post Office in their home in New Home, North Dakota. He next became a grain buyer in Hitchcock, Oklahoma where he owned several grain elevators.

Henry Heinrichs and family went to San Francisco after the earthquake in 190
6. He helped with the cleanup, with the 15 teams of horses, wagons and drivers he brought with him. The children helped clean bricks and his wife Justina opened a boarding house for the drivers.

Justina Faust was Mrs. D. Funk's sister. Heinrich (Henry) was born in Russia, he and Justina both died in Chowchilla, California.

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Henry and Justina had 6 children now listed with offspring:

1. Julius Heinrichs (1840-1925) married Clara Epp

[A-1] Kenneth Heinrichs married Madalyn ??

[A-2] Julius Heinrichs married Jean Reboch

2. Elizabeth Heinrichs (1843-1914) married Pete Toews

3. Hulda Heinrichs (1879) married Abe Toews

[A-1] Dorothy Toews

[A-2] Melvin Toews

4. Carl Heinrichs (1898- married Adelia Winter

[A-1] Luella Heinrichs

[A-2] Lucrita Heinrichs

[A-3] Robert Heinrichs

[A-4] Carl J. Heinrichs

[A-5] Judy Heinrichs

5. Otto Heinrichs (1905) married Hilda Dick

[A-1] Lloyd Heinrichs married Frieda Weins

[A-2] Robert Heinrichs married Marilyn

6. Theodore (Ted) Heinrichs (1908) married Mable Federicksen

[A-1] Ralph Heinrichs

[A-2] Margerie Heinrichs married Tuck ?

[A-3] Fred Heinrichs

Little is known of John Heinrichs and Anna Wall, it is believed that they may have settled somewhere in Canada.

Sarah Funk born November 19, 1845 was a sister to my great aunt, Anna Funk Wall. Sarah passed away May 8, 1917. Abraham Duerksen and Sarah Funk had 10 children as follows and a name change:

1. Sarah Dirksen (1866-1870) died in infancy

2. Peter Dirksen (1868-1870) died in infancy

3. Henry Dirksen (1870-1918)

4. Sarah Dirksen (1872-1876) died in infancy

5. Mary Dirksen (1874-1928)

6. Elizabeth Dirksen (1876-1945)

7. Katherina Dirksen (1878-1943)

8. Sarah Dirksen (1881-1953) (finally got a Sarah)

9. Abraham Dirksen (1883-1960) 10. Eva Dirksen (1885-1886) died in infancy

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Sarah Dirksen (1866-1870) died in infancy

Remember the family changed the name spelling to Dirksen Henry Dirksen and Justina Dirksen had 9 children as now listed with their offspring:

1. John Dirksen (1890) married Katherina Voth (1894-1976) Katherina Voth is the

[A-1] Bernard Dirksen (1911)

[A-1] Evelyn Dirksen (1912)

2. Peter Dirksen (1891) married Lena Peters

[A-1] Ruben Dirksen

[A-2] Violet Dirksen

[A-3] Margie Dirksen

[A-4] Marvin Dirksen

[A-5] James Dirksen

3. Sarah Dirksen (1892) married Frank Richard

[A-1] Geraldine Richard

[A-2] Clifford Richard

4. Tobias Dirksen (1893-1893) died in infancy

5. Agnes Dirksen (1894) married Ernest Unruh (1897)

[A-1] Madge Unruh (1917) married Ray Allen

[B-1] Dale Allen (1935

[B-2] Lee Allen (1937

[B-3] Jimmy Allen (1941- twin B-4 Joanne Allen (1941) twin

[A-2] Marshall Unruh (1919)

[A-3] Melda Unruh (1920) married Herbert Lowrimore

[B-1] Denny Lowrimore (1942

[B-2] Jerry Lowrimore

6. Kate Dirksen (1895) married Edward Jensen

[A-1] Bernice Jensen

[A-2] Merlin Jensen

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7. Paul Dirksen (1896) married Enna Felgner (Paul Dirksen had burned to death)

[A-1] Laverne Dirksen

[A-1] Eugene Dirksen (adopted)

8. Simon Dirksen (1903) married Viola Baumbach (no children found)

9. Eva Dirksen (1906) married Ernest Unruh

Ernest Unruh was married to Agnes Dirksen as his wife, after the death of Agnes; Ernest married the sister Eva, and raised Agnes's 3 children. Ernest and Eva had 2 more children as follows.

[A-1] Johnnie Unruh

[A-2] Dean Unruh

Mary (Maria) Dirksen (1874-1924) married John Hiebert

John Hiebert (my 2nd cousin) was the 6th child of Peter Hiebert (1821-1895) and Minnie Fuller (1843-1915) (my grandmother's twin sister). Also John's sister Margaret Hiebert was my uncle Frank Wall's 1st wife.

Elizabeth Dirksen (1876-1945) married Dietrich Loewen

Katherina Dirksen (1878-1943) married Unruh

Sarah Dirksen (1881-1953) married Jacob F. Richert

Abraham Dirksen (1883-1960) married Christina Huget

Abraham Dirksen and Christina Huget had 4 children and their offspring as follows:

1. Ruby J. E. Dirksen (1905)

2. William A. Dirksen (1910)

3. Vera L. Dirksen (1911)

4. Orval D. Dirksen (1921)

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Ruby J. E. Dirksen (1905) married John C. Michalenko

1. Eva Dell Michalenko (1927)

2. Delvin Michalenko (1931)

3. Donovan Michalenko (1943)

William A. Dirksen (1910) married Juanita Roadman (1910)

1. Marilyn Dirksen (1933)

2. Lavonne Dirksen (1935)

3. Dianne Dirksen (1941)

4. Melody Dirksen (1948)

Vera L. Dirksen (1911) married Arnold Schmidt (1914)

1. Larry Schmidt (1937)

2. Janelle Schmidt (1941)

3. Charrie Lane Schmidt (1949)

Orval Darvin Dirksen (1921) married Eileen Beckner (1920)

1. Michael Dirksen (1941

2. Steven J. Dirksen (1944)

3. Kathleen M. Dirksen (1947)

Eva Dirksen (1885-1886) died in infancy

Now go back to the 4th child of 6 of Heinrich Duerksen and Catarina Adrigan

Jacob Duerksen (1841-1915) married Elizabeth Funk (1846-1895) (first wife)

Elizabeth Funk, born November 19, 1846, was a first cousin of my great aunt Anna Funk Wall. She also was a sister of Sarah Funk who had married her brother-in-law Jacob H Dirksen after her first husband Abraham Dirksen was killed by lightning on Friday afternoon, September 24, 1886. Jacob's first wife Elizabeth Funk had died on May 14, 1895. Jacob and Sarah were married on the same day one of her daughters married. The (probable) double wedding took place in or near Napoleon, ND. Very likely it was held at the Richville SDA church North and east of Napoleon in German Township.

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Jacob Duerksen then married his sister-in-law, Sarah Funk, and cousins then became brothers and sisters in a large household. However, before Elizabeth died

The children were registered with the new name Dirksen.

1. Anna Dirksen (1872)

2. Jacob J. Dirksen (1877)

3. Cornelius J. Dirksen (1879)

4. Abraham Dirksen (1881-1919)

5. David J. Dirksen (1885-1956)

6. Katarina Dirksen (1888)

Anna Dirksen (1872) married John Thiessen (First Marriage)

Anna Dirksen and John Thiessen had 5 children as follows:

1. Jacob (Cub) Thiesen

2. Cornelius Thiesen

3. Knute Thiesen

4. Lydia Thiesen

5. Elizabeth Thiesen

After John Thiessen died, Anna Dirksen then married Cornelius Dirksen (1858) the son of Benjamin Dirks who changed his name to Dirksen after filing for his homestead land.

Cornelius Dirksen was my grandmother's (Eva Dirksen's) brother. Their parents were Benjamin Dirksen (1824) and Susanna Wedel (1830). Several of the children of Anna and Cornelius Dirksen and their offspring lived in Canada. Anna had another 7 children with Cornelius.

2nd child of 6 of Jacob Duerksen and Elizabeth Funk.

Jacob J. Dirksen (1877) married Lena Peters 1902)

Jacob J. Dirksen and Lena Peters had 3 children as follows:

1. David D. Dirksen married Ella Jacobson

2. Katie Dirksen married John Schapansky

[A-1] Clifford Schapansky

[A-2] Ruby Schapansky married Joseph Petrik

[A-3] Virgil Schapansky

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3. Edith Dirksen

Jacob J. Dirksen 2nd marriage to Mathilda Thorn (1883) and their children as follows:

4. William Dirksen

5. Daniel Dirksen (1909) married Hazel Robinson

[A-1] Daniel Dirksen married Kat ?

6. Minnie H. Dirksen (1912) married Earl Anderson (1905-1973)

[A-1] Jack L. Anderson (1931) married Delores Johnson

[B-1] Craig Johnson (1950 - Delores's child) married Michael Anderson (1952)

[B-2] Vickie Anderson (1954

[B-3] Gail Anderson (1955)

[A-2] Ronald L. Anderson (1940) married Carol Yost (First Wife)

[B-1] Ronald Anderson (1962-)

Children by 2nd wife Ann

[B-2] William Anderson (1967

[B-3] Robert Anderson (1970)

Cornelius J. Dirksen (1879-1971) married Dora Teske (1882-1954)

Cornelius J. Dirksen and Dora Teske had 4 children as follows:

1. Ruth Dirksen (1905) married William Burt (1905-1959)

[A-1] Vernon Burt (1927-1949) married Jean Brauer (1926)

[B-1] Jeanetta Burt (1950) married Richard Brantley (1953)

[C-1] Jennifer Ellen Brantley (1973)

[B-2] Vernon V. Burt (1952)

[B-3 Glenn B. Burt (1953)

[B-4 Donald L. Burt (1955)

[B-5 Bruce A. Burt (1957)

[B-6 Charles R. Burt (1958)

[A-2] Robert Dean Burt

[A-3] Dorothy Burt

2. Louis T. Dirksen (1906) married Vernice McCulloch (1911)

[A-1] Delores Dirksen (1947) married Harold Unsell (1947

[B-1] Jennifer Lynn Unsell (1970)

[B-2] Stephanie Jean Unsell (1972)

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3. Melvin Dirksen (1908) married Violet Sprague (1910)

[A-1] Robert G. Dirksen (1939)

[A-2] David R. Dirksen (1942)

[A-3] Enga Inez Dirksen (1950) married Altamys de Almeida (1940)

[B-1] Gregory Almeida

[B-2] Jeffery Almeida

4. Aldina Dirksen (1910) married Arthur Dimick (1908-1966)

[A-1] Harley Dimick (1933) married Janette Davis (1935)

[A-2] Byron Dimick (1936) married Lois Olsen (1938)

Abraham Dirksen (1881-1919) was helping several men move a house from Sykeston, ND to New Home. There was an accident and the logs supporting the house rolled on him and he was killed.

David J. Dirksen (1885-1956) married Drusie Lyman (1885-1949)

They had 3 children:

1. Velda Dirksen (1905) married Earl Froemming (1900)

[A-1] Muriel E. Froemming (1926) married Victor Olson (1916

[B-1] Roselind Olson (1949)

[A-2] Donna Froemming (1932) married William French (1932)

[B-1] Dianna Kay French (1953)

[B-2] Sandra Lynn French (1959

[B-3] Glenn Earl French (1963)

2. Alta G. Dirksen (1907) married Sparrey

[A-1] William L. Sparrey

[A-2] Carol Jean Sparrey

3. Elizabeth Victoria Dirksen (1926)

Katrina Dirksen (1888-1963) married Peter Sperling (1887-1969)

1. Vivian Sperling (1909) married Ernest Cabral (1901-1956) (Vivian may have been married 3 times)

2. Leonard Sperling (1912-1984) married Ruth Isaac

3. Lenora Sperling (1922) married Clifton Anthony Ray

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Now go back to the 5th child of 6 of Heinrich Duerksen and Catarina Adrigan.

Cornelius Dirksen (unknown file as yet)

Eva Dirksen married Cornelius Guenther (1864-1936)

Eva Dirksen and Cornelius Guenther had 11 children as follows;

1. Cornelius Guenther

2. Mary Guenther

3. Frank Guenther

4. Jake Guenther

5. Henry C. Guenther

6. John Guenther

7. Elizabeth Guenther

8. Abe Guenther

9. Pete Guenther

10. George Guenther

11. Martha Guenther

Cornelius Guenther married ?

[A-1] Mathilda Guenther

[A-2] William Guenther

[A-3] Nellie Guenther married Nickols

[A-4] Delia Guenther

[A-5] Ernest Guenther

[A-5] Herbert Guenther

Mary Guenther married Henry Loewen

[A-1] Herbert Loewen

[A-2] Frank Loewen

[A-3] Nettie Loewen

[A-4] Martha Loewen

[A-1] Ted Guenther

[A-2] Harry Guenther

Jake Guenther married ?

(They had 5 children) they may have lived in Canada.

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Henry C. Guenther (1882-1957) married Maria Unruh (1888-1976)

Maria Unruh was the 8th child of Johan Unruh (1847-1897) my grandfather's brother. Maria Unruh was born at Bingham Lake, Minnesota and died at Dallas, Oregon. Henry Guenther and Maria Unruh had 2 children as follows:

[A-1] Mable Guenther (1910) married Erwin Cunningham

[B-1] James Cunningham (1939)

[B-2] Judy Cunningham (1943) married Don Jacobson

[A-2] Gladys Guenther (1921) married Thomas King (1914-1980)

[B-1]Michael Martens (1939) by first marriage

[B-2] Thomas G. King (1943) married Sheila Anderson

[C-1] Liesel King

[C-2] Isaac King

[B-3] Rosemary King (1950) married Hoyt Todd
2nd marriage to Mike Kentlin

John Guenther married ?

[A-1] Lavina Guenther

[A-2] Harvey Guenther

[A-3] Donnie Guenther

[A-4] Johnny Guenther

Elizabeth Guenther married Goertzen

[A-1] Clarence Goertzen

[A-2] Melvin Goertzen

[A-3] Elmer Goertzen

Abe Guenther married ?

[A-1] Vernell Guenther married Migdat

Pete Guenther (No children)

(Pete Guenther was a Chiropractor in Shafter, Ca.

George Guenther married ?

(George Guenther was a postman in Shaf ter, Ca)

[A-1] Eugene Guenther

[A-2] James Guenther

[A-3] Fred Guenther

11 child of 11 of Anna Dirksen and Cornelius Guenther Martha Guenther married Fadenrecht

[A-1] Eva Fadenrecht

[A-2] Olferd Fadenrecht

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>BENJAMIN DIRKS (DIRKSEN) and SUSANNA WEDEL FAMILY (Great Grandparents)

According to old family records of the Duerksen Clan, I located my Great, Great, Grandparents (on my mother's side), Mr. and Mrs. Johann Duerksen. I believe that they had a large family, however at this time, I have record of only 3 children as follows;

l. Benjamin (Duerksen) Dirksen (great grandpa)

2. Abraham (Duerksen) Duerksen

3. Aganetha (Duerksen) Buller

Note: The Abraham Buller Aganetha Duerksen book (p.15) states that Aganetha's mother died about 1846 and that her father, Heinrich Duerksen, married again. It states that, "There were several children by this wife, namely Heinrich, Wilhelna and Peter. The brother also traveled to America and lived for a time near Marion Junction, SD, but moved to the state of Washington about a dozen years ago." The Buller book was written by Aganetha's son William in 1915. We know that Abraham E Duerksen died near Marion. Further GRANDMA v4.25 shows Abraham E Duerksen's parents as Johann David Duerksen and Maria Reimer.

Benjamin and brother Abraham with their wives and families departed Europe from Antwerp and arrived in America aboard the SS Nederland, docking in Philadelphia on July 25, 1875. The ship's passenger list shows their surnames as being spelled, Dirksen. Benjamin and family retained this spelling, however, Abraham and family returned to the Duerksen spelling.

Note: Supporting evidence has yet to be found verifying that Abraham and Benjamin were brothers. -md

Sister, Aganetha, with husband, Heinrich Buller and family departed Europe from Bremen and arrived in America aboard the Leipzig docking at Baltimore on October 12, 1875.

Benjamin, brother Abraham and sister, Aganetha with their families all came to the Dakota Territories in late 1875 and settled near Parker and Marion, South Dakota.

Benjamin Dirksen (1824) married Susanna Wedel (1830). They had lived in Hirschau, Molotschna settlement. The passenger list on their arrival in Philadelphia shows the following 4 children:

Eva Dirksen age 19 years (my grandmother), Cornelius Dirksen age 16 (who would marry first Elisabeth then Anna Dirksen, daughters of Jacob H Dirksen and Elisabeth Funk), Anna P. Dirksen age 10 (who would marry Peter C. Wall) and Susie Dirksen age 8 (who would married Zack Walters).

In addition Benjamin's younger brother, Abraham and family are listed as passengers on the same ship.

Abraham Dirksen age 40 years Fanner (1834-1904)

Elizabeth Dirksen age 38 Wife

Anna Dirksen age 14

Elizabeth Dirksen age 13

Abraham Dirksen age 10

John Dirksen age 8

Catherine Dirksen age 7

Heinrich Dirksen age 4

Maria Dirksen age 2

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Sister Aganetha, husband Heinrich Buller and their children arrived in America aboard the Leipzig sailing from Bremen and docking at Baltimore on October 12, 187
5. The passenger list shows the following:

Heinrich Buller age 41 years farmer

Aganetha Buller 33, wife

Maria Buller 8

Heinrich Buller 6

Helene Buller 3

Cornelius Buller 11 months

Abraham Buller 2 months

We will now continue with the Great, Grandparents.

Susanna Wedel was the sister of Henry Wedel's wife of the Wedel Connection; also Henry Wedel was a brother of Marie Wedel, wife of Daniel Unruh. Benjamin Dirksen and Susanna Wedel were probably born in or near the Molotschna Colony.

Benjamin and Susanna settled near Parker, South Dakota. Benjamin spelled his name Dirks on his homestead papers, which was witnessed by grandfather Peter Wall and his brother Henry Wall.

(Benjamin may have had a second wife named Katharina -cw)

Their 4 children are again listed as follows:

1. Eva Dirksen (1856-1928)

2. Cornelius Dirksen (1858)

3. Anna P. Dirksen (1864-1939)

4. Susanna Dirksen (1867-1945)

Eva Dirksen (1856-1928) married Peter T. Unruh (1851-1916)

Eva Dirksen was the grandmother on mother's side, their report will be found in the Unruh section.

Cornelius Dirksen (1858) married Anna Dirksen (1872)

Cornelius Dirksen born December 5, 1858 in Southern Russia, his wife Anna Dirksen born August 5, 1872. She was the daughter of Jacob Duerksen and Elizabeth Funk. This was Anna's 2nd marriage, the first having been married to John Thiessen. The marriage and children of Anna Dirksen and John Thiessen may be found in the Duerksen, and Heinricks Family section.

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Cornelius Dirksen and Anna Dirksen had 7 children as follows:

1. Anna Dirksen married Bud Tate

2. Benjamin Ben Dirksen married Kathleen Connelly (They had 3 sons)

Benjamin and Kathleen moved their family to Lake Williams, North Dakota and later to the Battleford (Meadow Lake) area of Saskatchewan

Ben and his half brother Cub, mother's cousins came from Meadow Lake during the 1940's and built the kitchen cabinets in the addition that mother built to our log home on the homestead at Love, Saskatchewan.

3. William Dirksen married Nellie Rector

They had 1 son, Everett Dirksen and wife Ruth , who lives in North Battleford, Saskatchewan.

4. David Dirksen married Winnie Stannard (They had 1 son, a hairdresser in Winnipeg, Manitoba)

5. Raymond Dirksen single

6. Minnie Dirksen married Ernie Hazzard

[A-1] William Hazzard

[A-2] Marjorie Hazzard married Shrock

7. Maynard Dirksen married Ruth Hess (1911)

Anna P. Dirksen (1864-1939) married Peter C. Wall (1862-1950) Anna P. Dirksen born on December 10, 1864.

Anna P. Dirksen is grandmother's sister and Peter C. Wall is an uncle on father's side of the family. Their report will be found in the Peter Wall and Mary Duller Section.

Susanna Dirksen (sister of grandmother) born March 5, 1867 in Russia. She married Zack Walters born of Dutch parents of Pennsylvania. They lived most of their lives at Lake Williams, North Dakota. Susanna died January 10, 1945 at Sykeston, North Dakota.

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Susanna Dirksen and Zack Walters had 11 children as follows;

1. Henry Walters (1889-1957)

2. John Walters (1890-1950)

3. Daniel Walters (1891-1923)

4. Daughter Walters died in infancy 5. Mary Walters (1896-1897) died in infancy

7. Lydia Walters (1898-1937)

8. Annie Walters (1900-1956)

9. Albert Walters (1903-1976)

10. Amanda Walters (1905)

1. Benjamin Walters (1908)

Henry Walters born February 6, 1889 at Freeman, South Dakota. He was a single man and died in 1957 at Carrington, North Dakota.

John Walters born June 11, 1890 at Freeman, South Dakota. He also

Was single and died in 1950 at Missoula, Montana.

Daniel Walters born April 25, 1891 at Freeman, South Dakota. He also was single and died in 1923 at Bismark, North Dakota.

Mary Walters born June 7, 1896 died age 6 1/2 months.

Lydia Walters born May 5, 1898 at Freeman, South Dakota and died June 4, 1937 at Bismark, North Dakota.
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Lydia Walters and John Greggerson had 6 children as follows:

1. Hans Greggerson

2. Albert Greggerson

3. Eleanor Greggerson married Reiler

4. Helen Greggerson married Reiswig

5. Bernice Greggerson

6. Tena Greggerson married Herbert Volmer

[A-1] Susan Volmer

[A-2] Kenneth Volmer

[A-3] John Volmer 1979)

Annie Walters (1900-1956) married Joe Patzner

Annie Walters born April 14, 1900 at Sykeston, North Dakota and died in 1956 at Robinson, North Dakota. Annie Walters and Joe Patzner had 5 children as follows:

1. Roy Patzner 1944) was killed in the Battle of the Bulge in December of 1944, during World War II, against Germany.

2. Elvin Patzner

3. Robert Patzner

4. Carl Patzner

5. Adam Patzner

Albert Walters (1903-1976) married Erma C. Nafus Nebauer (1913-1993)

Albert Walters born April 10, 1903 at Sykeston, North Dakota. Married Erma C. Nafus Nebauer born September 16, 1913 at Steele, North Dakota. Erma died July 30, 1993 at Grangeville, Idaho. Erma was the daughter of Ed C. Nevus and Mary E. Camp. Albert passed away June 9, 1976 also at Grangeville, Idaho.

Albert Walters and Erma Nebauer had 3 children as follows:

1. Elsie M. Walters (1934) married Dale H. Reuschlein

Elsie Marlene Walters born March 22, 1934 at Steele, North Dakota. She married Dale H. Reuschlein on November 3, 1952 who was the son of Herbert L. Reuschlein and Cary Sloan. Dale died on May 15, 1983. Elsie Walters and Dale Reuschlein have 4 children.

[A-1] Vernon D. Reuschlein born 1953 at Jamestown, North Dakota.

[A-2] Marleen E. Reuschlein (1954) married Lawrence Brugememan (1977

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Marleen E. Reuschlein born June 23, 1954 at Lake Williams, North Dakota. She married Lawrence Bruegeman (born September 12, 1938 at Cottonwood, Idaho) on December 10, 1977 also at Cottonwood, Idaho. Marleen and Lawrence have 5 children as follows:

[A-1]. Donald Bruegeman (1969) by Lawrence former marriage.

[A-2]. Jennifer Bruegeman (1978

[A-3]. Patricia Bruegeman (1980)

[A-4]. Theresa Bruegeman (1983)

[A-5]. Scott L. Bruegeman (1987)

3. Lloyd A. Reuschlein (1955) married Mary Schoo

Lloyd Albert Reuschlein born September 11, 1955 at Grangeville, Idaho, married Mary Schoo on May 10, 1977 at Frankfurt, Germany; they have 2 children as follows:

[B-1] Dale L. Reuschlein (1978) born at Fort Ord, California.

[B-2] Dean L. Reuschlein (1979) died in infancy at Fort Ord.

4. Clifford Lee Reuschlein (1956) born at Grangeville, Idaho.

2. Carol Walters (1936-1972) married Howard Gainsforth 1974)

3. Flossie Walters (1940) married Robert Tabbert

[A-1] Mark Tabbert

[A-2] Rita Tabbert

Amanda Walters (1905) married Albert Johnson . (lived in Seattle, Washington)

Amanda Walters and Albert Johnson have 7 children but we only found 2 at this time:

1. Phyllis Johnson

2. Ruby Johnson

1. Benjamin Walters (1908-1909) died in infancy.

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Abraham was born in South Russia on March 11, 1834. Elizabeth Buller born in 1836, also in South Russia, was the daughter of Benjamin Buller and Anna Sperling.

Abraham and Elizabeth had 11 children, 8 of which were born in Russia and 3 in America. One daughter died in Russia. On coming to America, they took up a homestead near Marion South Dakota and farmed there until Abraham died at the age of 70 years.

Their children are as follows:

1. Anna Duerksen (1859-1929) married Henry A. B. Thiessen

2. Elizabeth Duerksen (1862-1898) married Peter Thiessen

3. Abraham Duerksen (1864-1924) married Sarah Tieszen

4. Katharina Duerksen (1865-1866) died in infancy

5. Johann Duerksen (1866) married 1st Marie Voth 2nd Anna Tieszen 3rd Tina Wall

6. Katharina Duerksen (1868-1927) married Peter B. Fast

7. Heinrich Duerksen (1871-1955) married Helena Tieszen

8. Maria Duerksen (1873-1947) married Peter J. A. Wiens

9. Helena Duerksen (1876-1961) married 1st John B. Friessen 2nd Charlie Mitchell

10. Margarita Duerksen (1878-1916) married 1st George Schmidt 2nd Fred Westerman

11. Aganetha Duerksen (1881-1976) married Peter R. Tieszen

NOTE: I have partial family records of only 3 of the above children.

Abraham Duerksen born November 14, 1864 in the Molotschna settlement in South Russia. He married Sarah D. Tieszen, daughter of Dirk Tieszen and Anna Wiens. Sarah was born in Russia on December 24, 1865.

She married Abraham Duerksen in February of 1885. Abraham died at Marion South Dakota on March 30, 1924. Sarah passed away on March 15, 1947 at Mountain Lake, Minnesota.

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Abraham and Sarah had 12 children as follows:

1. Anna Duerksen died in infancy

2. Sarah Duerksen

3. Abraham Duerksen

4. Elizabeth Duerksen

5. Aganetha Duerksen

6. Margarita Duerksen

7. Anna Duerksen

8. John Duerksen

9. Katherine Duerksen

10. Mary Duerksen died age 21 years

11. Henry Duerksen

12. Martha Duerksen

Maria Duerksen was born on February 16, 1873 at Hierschau, Molotschna South Russia. She married Peter J.A. Wiens on December 15, 1891. Peter Wiens, son of Jacob Wiens and Helena Olfert was born on February 23, 1872 at Dorf Fernhiem.

Maria and Peter were farmers and lived at Marion, South Dakota, and Mountain Lake, Minnesota and then returned to Dolton, South Dakota where Peter died on February 11, 1936. Maria passed away on April 18, 1947.

They had 8 children as follows:

1. Peter Wiens born August 14, 1893, Marion S.D. married Hulda Ensz. Peter died December 24, 1961 at Lakoma, Oklahoma.

2. Mary p. Wiens born October 30, 1896, Marion, S.D. married Jacob P. Dick in 1919.

3. Jacob P. Wiens born September 8, 1898, Marion, S.D. married Emma Decker, on January 4, 1939.

4. Abraham P. Wiens born October 10, 1899, Marion, S.D. married Eva Tieszen, on May 25, 1922.

5. John Pk Wiens born October 16, 1900, Marion, S.D. married Leona Ratzlaff on January 13, 1924.

6. Henry P. Wiens born February 1, 1905, Mountain Lake, MN married Elizabeth P. Tieszen on May 20, 1926.

7. Elizabeth Wiens born September 25, 1906 died 35 days later,

8. Lena Wiens born January 21, 1909, Mountain Lake, MN. Married Frank Goosen on January 25, 1932.

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Aganetha Duerksen born April 21, 1881 at Parker, South Dakota. She married Peter R. Tieszen, son of Peter D. Tieszen and Susanna Deckert.

Husband Peter was born on March 30, 1881 and passed away on September 25, 1942.

Aganetha passed away on December 19, 1976 at Freeman, South Dakota.

They had 6 children as follows:

1. David R. Tieszen born September 20, 1902, married Lydia Adrian on December 6, 1923.

2. Willie R. Tieszen born September 10, 1904, married Bertha Adrian on September 21, 1926.

3. Clara R. Tieszen born June 5, 1907, married John C. Ensz on April 11, 1926.

4. Edwin R. Tieszen born July 11, 1915, married Laleta Somerby.

5. Verda Tieszen (twin) born March 31, 1920 married Lyie Cooper.

6. Lloyd Tieszen (twin) born March 31, 1920 (lived 6 weeks.)

Now go back to Great Grandfather's sister, Aganetha

They arrived in Parker, South Dakota late in October of 1875 where they took up a homestead. Heinrich Buller was also a blacksmith by trade. He passed away on March 2, 1916 at Parker, South Dakota.

They had 6 children as follows:

1. Maria Buller (1866)

2. Heinrich Buller (1869)

3. Helena Buller (1871-1904)

4. Cornelius Buller (1873)

5. Abraham Buller (1875)

6. Peter H. Buller (1878)