Abraham J. Klaassen

Abraham J. Klaassen was the eldest son of Johan A. Klaassen. Abraham J. did not emigrate with the rest of the family to South Russia because he was employed as a farm manager on the farm of the widow Justina Hardern (nee Toews or Toewsin). With the mass exodus of Mennonite farmers, the widow Hardern was desirous of moving there herself but under the requirements laid down by the Empress (Catherine the Great) could not do so without a husband. In order to facilitate this move, Abraham J. and Justina were married in 1806, although she was 15 years his senior. They emigrated to South Russia shortly after their marriage and settled in Blumenort, a village in the close vicinity of Tiege where Abraham's father Johan had set up his tailoring shop. One daughter, Helena, was born of this marriage. Justina died in May, 1829, and later that year Abraham married Margaretha Goosen (age 21). This union had three kids: Abraham A. (my great-great grandfather), Gerhart and Margaretha, who died as a young girl. Abraham J. died in 1846 at the age of 63. Later that year, his widow married Nikolai Siemons, a man 9 years her junior.