Q iesbrecht Family Jacob Ciesbrecht m. Elizabeth Driedger , b. 21 Feb 1819, d. 14 Feb 1890. The Giesbrechts were Mennonites. The Mennonites are a Christian people who trace their roots to the early 1500s. They descended from an Anabaptist Church that originated in Friesland and Holland in the 1530s. The name Mennonite is taken from their founder, Simon Mennon . The Mennonites opposed the teachings of the Catholic Church. They disagreed with infant baptism, the taking of oaths, the holding of public office that required use of force, and the military services. They spent several hundred years fleeing persecution, first in the Lowlands, then Prussia, and finally Russia, from where they had to depart in 1875 for Canada because of their opposition to the dominant Catholic Church and their astute ability to prosper as farmers. Jacob Ciesbrecht and Elizabeth Driedger had a son: +Abraham b. 28 Feb 1846. Elizabeth Driedger Giesbrecht came to Canada with her second husband, Johan Janzen . Their ship arrived in Quebec City on 19 July 1875, from where they travelled over land to their new home in Blumenfeld, Manitoba . Elizabeth's son, Abraham, and his wife and son came at the same time. Abraham b. 28 Feb 1846, d. 3 Sept 1923, son of Jacob Giesbrecht and Elizabeth Driedger , m. 15 Feb 1867 Helena Martens , b. 29 Aug 1848, d. 9Jan 1890. Abraham and Helena homesteaded in Emerson, Manitoba . Abra¬ ham moved to Saskatchewan in 1895, built a house in Nevanlage, and broke and cropped 75 acres. Abraham Ciesbrecht and Helena Martins had 17 children includ¬ ing a son: +Johan b. Russia, 8 July 1868. Johan b. 8July 1868, d. 9 Oct 1953, son of Abraham Giesbrecht and Helena Martins , m. 18 March 1900 Gertruda Peters, b. Ebenfeld, Manitoba , 7june 1879, d. 11 March 1970, daughter of David Peters and Katharina Muller. Johan was naturalized as a Canadian citizen with his father, Abra¬ ham, in Emerson, Manitoba , on 21 Dec 1882. Just after his marriage, Johan obtained entry to his homestead which grew in size to 60 acres. Johan and Gertruda lived in Blumenthal, Manitoba . 119