John J Hildebrand
Row 1300Plot 1322
Biographical Info
John was born in Russia in 1907.
John’s father was a minister in the Mennonite Brethren Church, as well as being a farmer. In 1917 Father was drafted into the army. Because of his religious convictions, he chose to serve with th eRed Cross. Mother was left with six children, the oldest of whom was only eleven years of age. In addition, during father’s one year absence, twins were born. Several years later in 1920 Father died in a flu epidemic. By this time there were nine children in the family, the oldest being fourteen.
The family lost everything in the Revolution which started in 1917. It was at this time that the decision was made to move to Canada. Preparations were made, and when they were ready to leave it was discovered that there was a problem with the papers. As a result John and his sister Anna had to stay behind, following one month later.
On arrival in Rosthern, Mother’s brother Peter G. Warkentin met them. The family lived with the Warkentins till spring. In spring, Mother moved to a little house in Waldheim. The whole family worked to pay for the house, the furniture and the other necessities such as wood, coal, flour, groceries and clothing.
After one month in Canada, John went to work for Phillip Krikaw.
John married Doris Andres on October 15th, 1939. John traded his 1927 Chevrolet for a milking cow, Margaret received a cow from her parents. John bought four horses, second hand implements and started mixed farming.
In 1945 they bought two quarters of land which they had been renting, then rented a third quarter from Jacob Spielman. A few years later they purchased the third quarter.
In the winter time, roads were blown full of snow. So they usually travelled by sleigh; it was a covered sleigh with a little stove, in which we burned firewood. They were very comfortable in their caboose. In later years the roads were opened by forming snow clubs.
In 1969 John and Margaret moved to Waldheim and commuted back and forth to the farm.
In 1970, they lost their son K. Daryl in death after a short illness.
In February of 1990, John’s wife Margaret passed away.
In May of 1991, John married Margaret Thiessen (Adrian)