Biographical Sketch

Johannes Tobias Voth was born (21 April 1897) on the Ginden Estate in South Russia (i.e., Ukraine) near the village of Kolimoba, Blumenau, Schoenfelder to Tobias M. and Katherina (Regehr) Voth. As a young lad, he had a crippled leg. However, after many treatments over several years, he was able to put aside his crutches and walk on the strengthened and healed leg.

In 1908, the Tobias Voth family moved to Neu Samara, Russia, and established an Estate farm near the village of Lugowsk, two hours away on horseback. In Lugowsk, Tobias built a large flour mill and a house for the family. During the winter, the family lived at the Lugowsk house, so that the children could go to school. During the summers, they were at the farm estate called Svetlov Ozera or Shining Water.

In 1916, Johannes was mobilized to serve in the Red Cross medic trains, caring for wounded soldiers during the war. Following the Revolution, there were initially more freedoms, even freedom to engage in evangelism and mission work, which was previously forbidden. For a time, Johannes was part of the Soldiers’ Christian Society ministering to soldiers in Moscow, which became The Tent Mission. Johannes returned to Lugowsk in July 1917.

Katherina Bergen was born (16 May 1896) in the village of Pleschanova, Neu Samara, Russia, to Kornelius Gerhard and Helena (Sawatsky) Bergen. Her father was one of the first to build a house of stone in the newly opened farming territory, as the other homes had been built of sod during the first years of settlement.

During the revival times in Neu Samara, Katherina was converted and soon after baptised in the river in 1911. Her parents were also baptised at the same time and the family became part of the Mennonite Brethren Church in nearby Lugowsk. In the course of time, she and Johannes became acquainted and they were engaged in May 1918.

On 5 October 1919, Johannes Voth and Katherina Bergen were married and they set up a home on the Voth Estate, Svetlov Ozera. During the Civil War, the initial freedoms of the Revolution vanished and the Estates were gradually nationalized, with sections parceled out to other families, leaving less and less land for the Voths to farm. Finally, by 1925, Johannes and Katherina Voth had to leave the Shining Water Estate. By this time, they had three children: Walter (b. 1920), Herta (b. 1923), and Holdina (b. 1924). Seeing little economic future in Russia, they applied for and secured travel visas for emigration out of Russia to Canada.

The Voths arrived in Canada on 11 December 1925, spending the first year-and-a-half working for various farmers in the Rivers and Marquette, Manitoba, area until they were able to purchase a farm lot near Springstein, Manitoba, in May 1927. They served as deacons in the Springstein Mennonite Brethren Church.

In 1951, the family decided to sell the Springstein farm and move to Virgil, Ontario, and purchase a fruit farm. After almost ten years on the farm, Johannes and Katherina sold the orchard and moved into the town of Virgil in July 1960. For seven years, until retirement at age 70, Johannes worked as a nursing orderly at the St. Catharines General Hospital.

Johannes and Katherina (John and Tina) raised ten children: Alvin (b. 1926), Tobias (b. 1930), Johannes (b. 1931), Susanna (b.1934), Erna (b. 1936), Edith (b. 1938), and Katherina (b. 1940). They lived to see 28 grandchildren.

They derived much satisfaction helping others, serving the church, and bearing witness to the love of God in their everyday interactions.

Johannes died on 9 February 1973 and Katherina died on 2 June 1976.