Memorable Manitobans: Gerhard Enns Kornelsen (1857-1933)

Educator.

Born in Russia on 28 May 1857, to parents of German heritage, he immigrated to Canada in 1874 and settled near Steinbach in the recently-established Province of Manitoba. He was a pioneer educator at Steinbach School, serving as its first teacher (1887-1911) and Principal (1897-1911). He married Elisabeth Giesbrecht (1855-?) and had ten children: Gerhard Giesbrecht Kornelsen (father of Mary Kornelsen), Aganetha Kornelsen (1880-?), Elisabeth Kornelsen (1882-?), Maria Kornelsen (1884-?), Margaretha Kornelsen (1884-?), Jacob Giesbrecht Kornelsen, Wilhelm “William” Kornelsen (1888-?), Abraham Kornelsen (1889-?), Johan Kornelsen (1893-?), and Agatha Kornelsen (1895-?). He was an member of the local Mennonite Church and was involved actively in the South End Sunday School. He died at Steinbach on 2 February 1933. He was commemorated with the naming of Kornelsen School, the first school at which he taught, and later with the renamed Steinbach Collegiate Institute.

Sources:

Birth registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

“Geo. E. Kornelson, 76, pioneer teacher of Steinbach, Man, dies,” Winnipeg Free Press, 4 February 1933, page 9.

“G. G. Kornelsen dies on Easter Sunday,” Steinbach Carillon, 11 April 1958, page 1.

St. Boniface estate file #2648, Gerhard E. Kornelsen, Archives of Manitoba.

St. Boniface estate file #6164, Jacob Giesbrecht Kornelsen, Archives of Manitoba.

St. Boniface estate file #7501, Gerhard Giesbrecht Kornelsen, Archives of Manitoba.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 14 July 2018

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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