Heinrich Dirks

Heinrich Dirks was my great grandfather's father-in-law after he had married Margarete Dirks. Heinrich Dirks was born and raised in the Mennonite colony in Southern Russia. He was the first missionary to Sumatra, Indonesia. There is a book written about him that is available at Amazon ("Daring the Impossible").

He married Aganeta Schroeder (1844-1911 and they had nine kids. (whew!!):

Elizabeth (1870-1930), Heinrich (1872-1939), Evangeline (1873-1966), David (1874-1926), Maria or Mariechen (1877-1957), Margarete (who married my great grandfather, 1878-1964), Anna (1880-1925), Hans (1884-?), and Herman (1885-1938).

Evangeline, Maria and Margarete eventually emigrated to Canada.

Below are pictures of most of the children of Heinrich and Aganeta Dirks.

A Description by Charlotte Dirks of the Death of Heinrich Dirks

Heinrich had had a heart attack and was sitting in his rocking chair, in which it was easier to breathe than if he were lying down. He lived for several days and remained alert and always recognized Heinrich Jr. and Maria, his son and daughter who were caring for him.

On the day before he died, he kept asking them, “Don’t you see them? They are all here! Suitan Mogol is sitting on my right side…” He was talking of the Batak Christians. Suitan Mogol was the datu or witch doctor, i.e. priest, magician, doctor and fortune teller all rolled into one. He had accompanied Heinrich to the ship during the family’s exit from Sumatra. Once he had told Heinrich, “When I am alone in my hut, I pray to a God whom I do not know. Maybe he is the same God as yours. But I cannot convert now because of my position. But when you come back and we'll be old, then tell me about your God.”

Heinrich Dirks wanted to go back to Sumatra for a visit in 1915 and had paid for his ticket already, but he had a heart attack and died soon after.