Week 48 of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Prompt - Next to Last

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Week 48

Prompt – Next to Last

I am next to last of 7 children. I have always loved its obscurity. I'm not the “baby of the family” and not the first born blazing trails for all my siblings to follow. I am the child that just is and quietly lives without attention. As the younger of the brood, I got to sit back and observe my siblings. I learned from their mistakes with mom and dad. I got to benefit from parents who had been down this garden path before and nothing would phase them or maybe it was they were too exhausted.

As this topic came up I was working on my paternal grandfather – Franz Peters. And as it turns out he is a “next to last child”. Go figure. Here is what I know about him and his siblings. 

Franz Peters was born July 29, 1876 in Plum Coulee in Manitoba. This town is about 1 hour south of Winnipeg and 1/2 hour from the US border. He was the first child of David and Katharina Peters (nee Mueller) born in Canada. His parents and siblings arrived in Quebec City on July 19, 1875 aboard the S. S. Canadian ship and immediately went on to Manitoba over the next week or two via train, boat and wagon.

His siblings in order starting with the oldest are:

Katherina Peters (1849 – 1943);

She was born in South Russia. Probably from the Chortitza Colony which was the German speaking Mennonite Colony. The Mennonites were given it in the 1780's in order to colonize Russia. They came from West Prussia. In particular they lived in the Schoenhorst Colony within Chortitza. Today it is Zaporizhia, Ukraine. Katharine was 16 years old when she immigrated to Canada with her siblings and parents. She married Heinrich Penner and they were part of colony that moved from Hague to Mexico. Katherina died somewhere in Mexico.

David Peters (1860 – 1861);

He died at 9 months of age in September of 1861.

Susanna Peters (1862 – 1862);

She only lived 24 days.

Klaas Peters (1863 – 1863) ;

He died 10 days after he was born.

David Peters (1864 – 1925);

He was born in Chortitza Colony in Russia. He was about 10 years old when he arrived in Canada along with his siblings and parents. David married Susanna Goertzen October 24, 1886. They had 7 children and all but one made it to adulthood. They moved to Saskatchewan like much of the Peters family. He died May 22, 1925 in Blumenthal, Saskatchewan. Susanna lived another 9 years after and as far as I know she never remarried. She died in Saskatchewan.

Maria Peters ( 1866 – 1866);

She died at 5 months of age.

Susanna Peters (1867 – 1921);

She was born in Chortitza in South Russia. Susanna was 8 years old when she came to Canada. She was 17 years old when she married David Woelk in July 26, 1885 in Manitoba. They had 15 children. Only 7 of their children made it to adulthood. Susanna died January 21, 1921 in Manitoba just under 4 years after her husband's death – also in Manitoba.

Helena Peters (1869 – 1927);

Helena was born in Chortitza, South Russia on January 8, 1869. She was 6 years old when she immigrated to Canada with her siblings and parents. At 18 years of age on December 29, 1887 she married Johann Martens. He only lived a few short years after their marriage, dying Dec 16 1889. Helena and Johann had one son together named what else but Johann. He lived until 1952. Less than 4 months after Johann's death, Helena remarried to an Abraham Wiebe. They had 5 children together. Helena died on April 10, 1927. Just two years later Abraham died.

Johann Peters ( 1870 – 1870);

Johann lived two weeks.

Maria Peters (1871 – 1892); Isaac Peters ( 1871 – 1871);

On March 28, 1871 they had twins, again born in Chortitza, South Russia. Isaac died the same he was born. Maria was 4 years old when she came to Canada. Maria married Herman Peters – possible related cousin. They married July 20, 1890 in Manitoba. They had one girl named Maria who was born and died on Feb 5, 1892. Sadly the mother, Maria died 19 days later on February 24, 1892. I have no further details on when Herman Peters died.

Eva Peters ( 1873 – 1902);

She was born March 4, 1873 in Chortitza, South Russia. She was just a toddler of 2 years when she came to Canada. On July 31, 1892 at the age of 19 years old she married Abram Bergen who was 22 years old. Eva and Abram had 7 children. 5 lived to adulthood. 1 died at 1 year of age. Their last child named Franz was born and died on December 9, 1902. This is also the death date of Eva. She died at 29 years of age and of probable childbirth complications.

Judith Peters (1874 – 1905);

Judith was the last child David and Katherina bore in Chortitza, South Russia on November 7, 1874. She was just 8 months old when she immigrated to Canada. At 20 years of age on December 4, 1894 she married Jacob Ginter in Manitoba, Jacob was 24 years old and also born in Russia. Together they had 7 children. I know of 2 dying in infancy but most I do not have a date of death. I believe some of this family also immigrated to Mexico.

Franz Peters (grandfather) ( 1876 – 1952);

Franz (my grandfather) was the first child of David and Katharina Peters born in Canada. Franz married Elisabeth Dueck on Feb 2, 1902 in Blumenthal, NWT ( Saskatchewan was not a province at this time). They had 11 children of which two died at or shortly after birth. The first deceased child was born in 1906 and was named David Peters. He must have died before 1909 as that was when the name was re used on a male baby. The second deceased child was born 1911 and was born Jacob Peters. There was a son named William (Bill) born in 1913 and thus we believe the first Jacob must have still been living as a new name was used on the next male. They had a daughter in 1914 named Shirley. My father, Jacob was born in 1917. Thus it would make sense that by that time the first Jacob died and Jacob was used again. Franz died in a Saskatoon hospital on April 15, 1952. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Saskatoon. Elisabeth and some of her children moved to Vancouver where they lived out their lives. She died 20 years after her husband on January 16, 1972 and was buried in Vancouver's Mountain View Cemetery as mentioned before. 

Gertruda Peters ( 1879 -1970).

She was born June 7, 1879 in Manitoba. On March 18 1900 at 21 years of age she married Johann Giesbrecht and I believe this was by then in Hague. They had 6 children and as of yet I do not have their complete information. Gertruda died March 11, 1970, 26 years after her husband. I believe she died in Saskatchewan. 

It is tragic. It is familiar. It was “normal”. My great grandparent's had 15 children however very few made it to adulthood. I'm glad that my grandfather, the second to last, survived, married and had children.

Wendy