Samantha Biehn

Family/Spouse: Clemens Snider. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Census: 1911, Guernsey, Saskatchewan

Notes:

Snider, Doreen and Sam Steiner. "Sharon Mennonite Church (Guernsey, Saskatchewan, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. September 2005. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 2 January 2007 www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/s5368me.html

Sharon Mennonite Church (Guernsey, Saskatchewan, Canada)

The Mennonite community at Guernsey, SK had its origin in the winter of 1903-1904 when a committee from Berlin (now Kitchener), Ontario inspected the Saskatchewan Mennonite Reserve at the encouragement of Peter and John Jansen of Nebraska, who were land agents for the Saskatchewan Valley and Manitoba Land Company. A delegation of five men travelled west in May 1904, but they were not impressed with the many sloughs full of spring run-off. In June of that year, a second group made the trip and they reserved a sizable block of newly surveyed unbroken territory in what was known as the Quill Lake Mennonite Reserve. Homesteads of 160 acres could be acquired for an entry fee of $10 and a commitment to reside on the homestead for six months in each of the following three years.

In 1905 the first settlers left from Ontario, followed in 1906 by another group. On a Sunday morning in May 1905, about 30 Mennonites, newly arrived from Berlin, Ontario, gathered in a tent for their first worship service. The tent was erected on the homestead of their deacon, Aaron Biehn. They worshipped God, thanking him for safe travel and asking for his blessing on their endeavour to establish a new community in a new land. The first sermon in the community was preached by Eli S. Hallman. That day, Hallman was affirmed as their minister. A short time later, a Sunday school was organized under the leadership of Israel Cressman.

The congregation met each Sunday at the Biehn home. In July 1907, the Waterloo school was built on the southwest corner of the deacon’s property. The next year, the Sharon congregation hosted the Alberta Mennonite summer conference in the Waterloo schoolhouse and became a member of the Alberta-Saskatchewan Mennonite Conference. The dream of a church building was realized in 1911, when a 30 ft. by 40 ft. building was erected at the crossroads, on land donated by the minister. Using volunteer labour, the cost of the building was $2,300.

Over the years the people faced many hardships, including raging prairie fires, early frosts, hailstorms, tornadoes, drought and blowing sand, swamp fever and other ailments. In spite of these difficulties, they established beautiful farms and the Sharon church community thrived.

Eventually, attendance at the church diminished. A potash company bought up several farms, forcing some families to relocate. When young people found employment elsewhere and when grain elevators, stores and schools closed, the congregation also suffered.

In 2003, the difficult decision was made to close the doors of Sharon Mennonite. The final service was held 27 June 2004. Some of the remaining members transferred to the North Star Mennonite Church at nearby Drake, SK.

Ministers prior to 1960 included Eli S. Hallman, Moses H. Schmitt, Isaiah S. Rosenberger, Burton Weber, Daniel Schlabach, Stanley Shantz, Aaron S. Biehn and Edwin Bowman. The last minister was John Dueck.

In 1925 there were 100 members; in 1955, 136; in 1965, 156; in 1975, 112; in 1985, 78; in 1995, 112; in 2000, 112. The congregation was affiliated with the Northwest Mennonite Conference (1906-2004) and the Mennonite Church (1906-1999). The language of worship was English.

Aaron married Mary U. Bowman on 24 Oct 1882 in Residence of bride's father, Waterloo County, Ontario. Mary (daughter of Joseph Bowman and Leah Unger) was born on 25 Aug 1861 in Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, Ontario; died on 25 Sep 1924; was buried in Sharon Mennonite Cemetery, Guernsey, Saskatchewan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Census: 1911, Guernsey, Saskatchewan

Notes:

By 1911, the family of Aaron Biehn and Mary Bowman had relocated from Waterloo County, Ontario to Guernsey Village, Township 33 in range 23 west of the 2nd M, Humboldt, Saskatchewan.

Married:
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~maryc/water82.htm

011722-82 (Waterloo Co) Aaron L. BIEHN, 27, farmer, Waterloo Twp, Waterloo Twp, s/o Aaron & Hannah married Mary U. BOWMAN, 21, Wilmot Twp, Waterloo Twp, d/o Joseph & Lea, witn: Joseph BOWMAN of New Dundee & Aaron BIEHN of Strasburg, 24 October 1882 at the Residence of the Bride's Father.

Notes:

Ezra Eby book:

Aaron Biehn, "was born March 16th, 1814. He was married to Hannah, daughter of Christian and Magdalena (Shantz) Schneider, May 8th, 1838. She was born March 8th, 1815, and died September 12th, 1884. They resided on his father's and grandfather's farm a mile west of Doon where he still has his home. Their family consisted of nine children.

Aaron married Hannah Schneider | Snyder. Hannah (daughter of Christian Schneider and Magdalena Shantz) was born on 8 Mar 1815; died on 12 Sep 1884; was buried in Pioneer Park Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From Ezra Eby Book

Joseph Bowman, "the second son of Benjamin and Susannah (Bechtel) Baumann, was born near Berlin, May 11th, 1821. He was first married to Leah, daughter of George and Catharine (Kraft) Unger. They resided near Manheim where she died. After his first wife's decease he was married again to Amanda, daughter of Christopher Cress. They resided in Blenheim where they both died. He died July 3rd, 1889. He had a family of nine children, six of whom are of the first wife.

Joseph married Leah Unger. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From Ezra Eby book:

Abraham Biehn, "was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, February 7th, 1781. He was married to Veronica, daughter of Isaac and Barbara (Reiff) Shantz. She was born November 14th, 1789, and died July 27th, 1876. They resided on lot No. 1, Biehn's Tract, about one mile west of Doon, on the farm where his father had located in 1800. Here old Abraham Biehn and his wife resided until their death. He died November 3rd, 1858. their family consisted of five children."

Abraham married Veronica Shantz in 1808. Veronica (daughter of Isaac Shantz and Barbara Reiff) was born on 14 Nov 1789 in Pennsylvania; died on 27 Jul 1876 in near Doon, Waterloo Township, Waterloo County, Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From Ezra Eby Book

Veronica Shantz, "was born November 14th, 1789. In 1808 she was married to Abraham Biehn, a farmer. They resided near Doon where she died July 27th, 1876.

Christian married Magdalena Shantz. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From Ezra Eby Book

Benjamin Baumann, "eldest son of Wendel and Maria (Huber) Baumann, was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, February 15th, 1787. He was married to Susannah, daughter of Joseph and Magdalena (Allenbach) Bechtel. She was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, June 16th, 1797 and died September 19th, 1870. In spring of 1815 he came to Canada, prospecting the country. He found Waterloo to be a favorable county for the forming of settlements. In fall of the same year, he in company with Jonathan B. Baumann and John Brubacher (Deacon Johney), returned to Pennsylvania. In 1818 he, in company with Christian Burkholder and family, John Good and family, old Betty Baumann (wife of Peter Baumann), old Esther Cressman, Samuel Bechtel and others, came from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania to Waterloo County, Ontario Canada, making the journey in 28 days. On arriving here he settled on lot No. 54, German Company's Tract, township of Waterloo, about two miles south-east of Berlin, where he resided until his death. The farm is now owned by his son, Rev. Samuel Baumann. They had a family of nine children.

Benjamin married Susannah Bechtel. Susannah (daughter of Joseph Bechtel and Magdalena Allebach) was born on 16 Jun 1797; died on 19 Sep 1870 in Waterloo County, Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From Ezra Eby Book

George Unger, "second son of Adam and Elizabeth (Koehner) Unger, was born in Warwick Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 1802, and came to Canada with his parents in 1812. He was married to Catherine Kraft. After their marriage they moved to Strasburg, Waterloo County, where they resided for many years. When old they moved to Normanby Township, Grey County, near Neustadt, where they died. He died August 18th, 1880. They had a family of eight children.

George married Catherine Kraft. Catherine died in in Normanby Township, Grey County, Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]