Johann Claassen (1840–1886)

4 Dec 1840 – 31 May 1886, born at Klein Lichtenau, died at Beatrice (Nebraska)

Christopher’s 2nd great-grandfather · ancestor no. 22 · generation 5
Evidence: identity documented · link to parents compiled lead

Family

• Parents: Johann Claassen (1810–1874) and Anna Warkentin (1816–1848)
• Spouse: Gertrude Toews (1850–1943)
• Family notes: Johann Claassen + Gertrude Toews (m. 1869)
• Children in this vault: Anna Gertrude Claassen (1878–1971)

Life and evidence

Married Gertrude Toews 3 June 1869 at Altmünsterbergerfeld; farmed her parents’ farm until 1881, then emigrated ‘wegen Gewissensfreiheit’ (‘for freedom of conscience’) — Prussian Mennonites were losing their exemption from military service. Settled west of Beatrice.

Where they lived

• 1840 — Klein Lichtenau
• 1869 — Altmünsterberg
• 1881 — Beatrice (Nebraska)

In their lifetime

• 1852 — 1852 Swiss Mennonites found Berne, Indiana
• 1869 — 1869 The Fieguths move from Prussia to Am Trakt
• 1874 — 1874 Military service ends the exemptions

Pedigree

%%{init: {"flowchart": {"useMaxWidth": true}}}%%
flowchart RL
  n92946304["Johann Claassen (1810–1874)"]
  n56762431["Margarete Wiebe (fl. 1810)"]
  n32840579["Anna Warkentin (1816–1848)"]
  n65014384["Johann Claassen (1840–1886)"]
  n2455890["Abraham Warkentin (fl. 1816)"]
  n34594854["Peter Claassen (fl. 1810)"]
  n57872836["Anna Enss (fl. 1816)"]
  n65014384 --> n92946304
  n92946304 --> n34594854
  n92946304 --> n56762431
  n65014384 --> n32840579
  n32840579 --> n2455890
  n32840579 --> n57872836
  class n92946304,n56762431,n32840579,n65014384,n2455890,n34594854,n57872836 internal-link;

Sources

• MLA Biograph Wiki
• Reid-Schroeder family tree (reidgen.com)

Passenger-list search, 2026-10-31 (Claude)

NARA’s AAD index (German arrivals) has a Johann Claassen on the Rhein (Bremen, arr. New York 1 July 1876, manifest 34121) and on the Ems (Bremen, arr. 9 Aug 1884, manifest 39762), but none in 1881. Neither is shown to be this Johann. Also try Philadelphia and Baltimore arrivals, and spellings Classen/Klassen.

Narratives and research

• History: 1852 Swiss Mennonites found Berne, Indiana, 1869 The Fieguths move from Prussia to Am Trakt, 1874 Military service ends the exemptions, Faith traditions
• Congregations: First Mennonite Church Beatrice
• Governments: Kingdom of Prussia
• Sources: MLA Biograph Wiki, Reid-Schroeder family tree (reidgen.com)

Record compiled 31 October 2026.

About this research

Supporting documentation is linked throughout. This project is an exercise in AI-assisted research and development, and I haven’t manually verified every link or conclusion. All transcriptions and translations of Swiss parish records were made with AI, and their accuracy should be treated accordingly.