The Baratov-Schlachtin Colony was established in 1870/71, consisting of four villages, one of which was Gnadental. The Klassens arrived approximately in 1898, based on the fact that Jacob and Margaretha (Ens) Klassen’s second child was the first of their children to be born there. Jacob’s mother died, in Schoendorf, in 1896, and therefore, It is likely that Jacob’s father, Jacob Klassen (1839-1916), joined them there at approximately the same time. Records show that he died in Gnadental in 1916.

     Reportedly, these settlements did well, economically, but political events created conditions that shortened their stay here, and indeed, their stay in Russia. World War I, the Russian Revolution, and Civil War destroyed any semblance of order and removed any sense of security they may have felt. Coupled with this, they had to endure a typhus outbreak and famine in 1922, even though no Gnadental lives were lost during the famine.

     Jacob J Klassen, who had become an ordained minister by this time, advocated vigorously for emigration to Canada. The opinions of B. B. Janz were widely respected within the Mennonite colonies of South Russia, and his opinion, offered in 1922, was that “emigration was the only viable solution…”. Even though some resisted and some leaders urged them not to leave, most took the advice of B.B. Janz to heart.

     The majority of Gnadental residents joined Klassen in the exodus. Selling their property was futile at best since non-Mennonites were disallowed by authorities from buying these properties as a prevention against cultural assimilation. Furthermore, so many were leaving, resulting in difficulty to find buyers. So what happened is that these properties were either occupied by sons of emigrants or new neighbours moved in.

     Forty years later, a visiting tourist noted that only three of the original buildings in Gnadental were still standing – the school and two private residences. Jacob Klassen’s was one of them.