Daniel Balzer (1887–1962)
[ca. 1909].
1 folder of textual records.
Biographical sketch
Daniel Balzer was born on July 24, 1887, in Schardau, Molotschna, south Russia to Jacob Balzer and Katharina Ediger (1847–1916). Here he grew up and attended school. When he was twenty six he was baptised by Johann Sudermann into the Mennonite Brethren church at Alexanderthal. During the first World War he was required to work in the medical Corps on the trains. He was captured by the German army and held as a prisoner of war. After the war, and his release, he married Maria Heinrichs and settled in the Terek Colony. Throughout his life, Daniel farmed but had an inner passion for writing poetry. The newly weds were married only for a short eight months when she died. Daniel then married his sister-in-law, Maria, who had been married to his brother David. David had been killed in 1918, during the war when he worked for the Red Cross. Daniel became step father to eight children that his new wife brought to the marriage. After five years of marriage, she died of diabetes. Daniel married for a third time, this time to Sara Toews in 1925. They had eight children together, four boys and four girls.
In 1925, the family immigrated to Canada and lived for a number of years in Eyebrow, Saskatchewan, and later in Vauxhall, Alberta. In 1957, they moved to Vancouver, B.C. In 1959, he was diagnosed with diabetes. He died of cancer on May 12, 1962, at the age of 74.
Scope and content
The material in this collection consists of copied excerpts of Daniel Balzer’s poetry handwritten in the German Gothic script.
Custodial history
The item in this collection was donated by Mrs. Katharina (Balzer) Esau of Winnipeg, Manitoba donated it to the Centre in March of 1974. She was the oldest of the eight children of Maria and David Balzer.
Notes
- Volume 912.
- Described by Conrad Stoesz January 6, 2000.
- Accession nos.
Textual file list
Volume 912
- Copies of excerpts of poetry by Daniel Balzer. – [ca. 1909].
CDS.
