Michael Loewen
While our Loewen family line is traceable to 1735, earlier information is somewhat contradictory. Providing information with any degree of certainty beyond that is difficult at best, leaving me (and anyone else who has interest) with a ‘puzzle’ to unravel.
Genetic data is increasingly being used to determine approximate geographic area of origin, as well as for establishing relationships between family lines. Several years ago, the ‘Mennonite DNA Project’ was launched, with two principal researchers being Tim Janzen (Portland, Ore.) and Glenn Penner (Ontario). Both have had a long and avid interest in genealogy, and both bring a scientific/medical background to this research.
The project was limited to individuals of ‘Low-German’ Mennonite descent, and when the invitation to participate was extended, I was pleased to be included in the group of volunteers. Consequently, results from samples submitted have been processed by the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, with the results made available to participants and in particular, to Janzen and Penner for analysis. Both men have published guides and analyses of the data, both of which have been very enlightening.
Possibly the most interesting pieces of information for me have been the findings that all individuals with the ‘Loewen’ surname, share a common progenitor, dating to a period of time between 400 and 600 years ago, corresponding to the time period when surnames were first used; and secondly, that we fall into a ‘Haplogroup’ known as ‘Frisian 2’, originating from the regions in north-western Europe (present-day Netherlands). It should be noted that this information is inferred only, however, the researchers feel these results reflect a high degree of accuracy.
Of related interest, is the fact that a ‘Loewen’ individual dating back 400 years is the only one known at present, based on information in the GRanDMA1 database. This individual’s name is Michael Loewen, and there exists interesting anecdotal information regarding his personal history. The fact that he is the only one known, coupled with the conclusion that all Loewens share a common progenitor dating back to a period of 400 to 600 years, begins to lend increasingly more credence to the long-held belief, based on oral/anecdotal history, that Michael Loewen (1604 – 1710) is our ancestor! Added to this is the fact that Michael was born in Elbing, Prussia, where our ancestors lived prior to emigrating to Russia in 1819.
In my possession, I have a copy of a letter dating back to the 1940s, provided by Abram I. Loewen (nephew to Abraham J. Loewen). Abram Loewen was a pastor, and also owned and operated a book store. He appeared to have an interest in these kinds of matters. In short, this letter provides a brief overview of the Loewen genealogy, tracing our family’s roots to Michael Loewen (1604—1710). In addition, the letter includes a brief biographical sketch of Michael. The research of H.H. Neufeld, who penned this letter, has been disputed, and at this point, I would not be willing to argue with those findings. I will only say that too many unrelated accounts of this individual exist, some dating back to the 19th century, to make one reluctant to dismiss the account too quickly.
Heinrich H. Neufeld was the 6th great grandson of Michael Loewen (1606—1710)
“Our Grt, Grt, Grt Grandfather, Michael Loewen was born in 1606. He married Sara Eckhart in 1630, at the time of the “Rottenkrieg” (Red War) I Germany. Michael Loewen was sent to Germany by the Russian Kaiser to bring the war to an end. His heroic portrait is to be seen carved in stone in Margenwerder (Marienwerder?), Germany, by the arched gate where the Kaiser’s procession entered. He was a general. Here he married. He became a Mennonite and was baptized by Georg Hansen. They lived in Margenwerder (?). He became 100 years old.”
This is a translation of the first paragraph, which is both interesting as well as questionable in some respects. There is no record of a “Red War”, however, the author may have meant the Thirty Years War. A “Russian Kaiser” is an impossibility, but “Prussian” may have been meant. At this date, however, there was no Prussian Kaiser. Margenwerder has never existed, but Marienwerder was a well-known Mennonite settlement. Furthermore, Michael was born nearby, in Elbing. As for a carving at the gates to a city’s entrance, the modern Polish city of Kwidzyn was formerly known as Michelstadt, lending credence to the story of a hero named Michael.
The remaining portion of this letter provides a genealogical record of Michael up till the early 1800s.
Glenn Penner, a respected genealogist and researcher, particularly related to our Prussian history, has written a scholarly article on the “Legend of Michael Loewen”, which brings a more objective perspective to the questions around Michael Loewen’s descendants.