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Baerg, Wilhelm (1842–1902)

Proper Title

Wilhelm Baerg fonds

Dates of Creation

1860, 1866, 1882–1883, 1902, 1922, photocopied [ca. 1995, 1997, 1999]

Physical Description

1 file of textual records

Biographical Sketch

Wilhelm Baerg was born September 2, 1842, in the village of Fürestenau. He was married to Katherina Hiebert. They lived for a time in the village of Tiegerweide where a son, Wilhelm, was born on August 7, 1868. Thirteen children were born to this couple, five of whom died early in life.

In 1881, they followed Klaas Epp and began the journey east into Asia where “The Christ” was to appear, according to Epp. Disillusioned with Epp, the family moved to America in 1886. They settled in Kansas for five years and then they moved to Colorado. After two years there, they moved back to Kansas where Wilhelm lived for another seven years. He died early in 1902.

Custodial History

The material in this collection came to the archives in two stages. The first material, Zum Andenken and the passport, was brought to the Centre by Alvina Block in the spring of 1995. It was originally from Sara Jantzen of Waldheim, Saskatchewan, who received it from her father, Gerhard H. Berg (1884–1946). The second donation was also made by Alvina Block in 1997. She received a letter from Joanne (Berg) O’Brien in 1995 with a translation of Heinrich Janzen’s report, as recorded in Wilhelm Baerg’s diary of the trip to Asia. It was translated by Wilhelm’s grandson, Irwin Berg. The obituaries were added after the material arrived at the Centre.

Scope and Content

There are two main pieces in this collection. The first piece consists of genealogical information on the Baerg family that was begun by Wilhelm Baerg in 1860. Information was added after 1860 up to 1924. The second item is a translation of Heinrich Janzen’s report recorded in Baerg’s diary of the trip to Asia, 1882–1883. Other material includes an obituary and a passport. Except for the translation piece, the material is handwritten German Gothic script.

Notes

  • Volume 912.
  • Title based on contents of the fonds.
  • Finding aid consists of a description and a file list.
  • Described by Conrad Stoesz, October 14, 1999.
  • Accession nos.: 1997-024.
  • No restrictions to access.
  • Language: English and German.

File List

Volume 912

  1. Zum Andenken. -- 1860, photocopied [ca. 1995].
  2. Wilhelm Abraham Baerg’s passport. -- 1886, [photocopied ca. 1995].
  3. Translation of Heinrich Janzen's report of the trip to Asia, 1882–1883 by Irwin Berg. -- [ca. 1995].
  4. Obituaries. -- 1902, 1922, photocopied [ca. 1997], 1999.
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