Johannes “John” Kerbes – Early Settler
Johannes (John) Kerbes was the fourth son born to Liisu and Mihkel Kerbes on November 7, 1880, in Tver, Russia. The family were serfs in Estonia, and with the hope of owning land, they moved to Russia. There they were given four acres of land and a cow. This was a private deal with the landowner, a Mr. Brunt. The men had to work for him in the forest until the debt was paid off.
When the young men reached 25 years of age; they had to serve in the Czar’s army for seven years. The Russians needed manpower in their conflict against Japan between 1903 and 1905. To avoid conscription into the Russian military, Johannes Kerbes and Alec Liiv came to Canada in 1903.
The Estonians were promised certain benefits in return for their relocation to Russia, such as not having to serve in the military, not having to pay taxes for a certain period of time, and having freedom of religion. These turned out to be LIES!
John Kerbes left Estonia at the age of 23 in 1903. He travelled by ship from Liverpool, England, and arrived in Halifax, N.S., on September 25, 1903. The ship had a total of 752 passengers: 47 in cabins and 705 in steerage, for. After John arrived in Halifax; his only suitcase was stolen, leaving him with nothing. He managed to work his way west to the Red Deer, Alberta, area and on to Sylvan Lake. Eventually he settled in the Linda Hall district and worked on tobacco farms, apple orchards, and whatever jobs he could get. In 1904, John filed on a homestead at N.W.1/4-20-37-19-W4th Meridian for a $10.00 fee and ownership of 160 acres of land. When he homesteaded, it was easier to walk to Red Deer than to take a team of oxen, when he needed supplies and his mail. In the absence of roads, the return trip would last four days. He would camp by a slough and cook some oatmeal for himself. In later years, he went to Blumeneau Store, 16 km north of his homestead, for mail and supplies.
In 1909, John married Sophia Wartnow; whom he had met near Sylvan Lake. Sophia, born in January 1891 on the family’s homestead south of Stettler, was the daughter of Michael Wartnow and Elizabeth Kask. John and Sophia resided on John’s homestead and had four children:
Julia (1910–1987) married Dick Hennel
Alexander1(912–1966) married Hazel Galleberg
Archie (1914–2003) married Rosella Viger
Hilda (1916) married Chummy Dancocks
In 1910, the Estonian community decided to build a community hall, Linda Hall. John Kerbes donated an acre of land for the site at N.W. ¼-20-37-19-W4th. John was the Secretary of the “Linda Eesti Põllumeeste Selts” or “Linda Estonian Farmers Organization.” He was a member of the Docendo School Board for many years. When the Kerbes children attended Docendo School, the Kerbes family lived on the Liiv place.
In 1910, Johannes’ brother Jaan, his wife Annette, and their three children, as well as Liisu Kerbes immigrated from Estonia, and they all lived with John and Sophia and family in the two-room house. In 1911, another brother, Peter, wife Julia, and eight children also immigrated, and the entire clan lived together for six weeks. Jaan and Peter’s families later homesteaded west of Big Valley, also known by the locals as Kalev.
Sophia died of cancer on August 2, 1918, in Calgary General Hospital. She left a letter to her daughter, Julia (aged 8) instructing her to look after Archie, Alec, and Hilda and to keep them clean. Sophia was buried in the Estonian cemetery near Linda Hall. Following the funeral, John Kerbes sat by the door of the old log house with his violin wrapped in one of Sophia’s blouses.
In 1920, John married Sophia’s sister, Minnie, in Stettler, and they lived on the homestead until 1927. Minnie and John had five children:
Helen (b.1922) married Pat Mulligan
Ernie was born in 1925 on the homestead. He married Irene Sivacoe
Marjorie (b. 1927) married Bill Olive
Geneva (b. 1929) married Don Parker
Jim (b. 1930) married Helen Mulhbach
In 1927, Ernie’s family moved to their current farm site at S.E.1/4-13-37-20-W4th. They built an Estonian sauna of logs. When the bathhouse began to deteriorate, a lumber sauna was erected. The sauna was enjoyed by many people for a lot of years. The Kerbes children attended Spring Lake School.
John and Minnie worked very hard and raised their family of nine children in a home filled with music, song, Estonian culture, and customs. John taught the four boys to play the violin. Ernie says “Archie was the best violin player in the family”. Archie learned to play the violin, guitar, and piano and was able to take a few lessons, and mastered piano-accordion. In the early years, John, Archie, and Alec played at local dances and functions, including their supper! Helen played the piano and sang. She competed in Music Festivals and was the pianist and singer with her cousins “The 4K’s”-for many years. Helen resides in Penticton, B.C., and enjoys entertaining seniors in Lodges and at various functions.
Oscar and Annie (Wartnow) Raho were married in 1932. Archie Kerbes on the piano, and Ed Raho on the violin, played for their wedding dance at Spring Lake School.
Archie Kerbes also played the piano with his cousins’ band, the 4K’s at different times.
Ernie and Jim Kerbes play the violin by ear and are always called upon at family gatherings and parties to entertain. This tradition is carried on by Ernie and Jim’s grand-children, Nathan Kerbes and Stephanie Marshal.
To quote Ernie Kerbes “There was always a piano or a violin being played in John and Minnie Kerbes’ home, and lots of singing in Estonian and English.” Along with the music and singing, there was dancing by young and old! Grandchildren of John and Minnie recall many happy times visiting, singing, dancing, and of course enjoying the homemade headcheese and rye bread that Minnie always served at celebrations.
Ernie Kerbes married Irene Sivacoe in 1953, and they lived in the farmyard with John and Minnie; raising a family of five children. John Kerbes did not learn to drive a vehicle. In 1959, John and Minnie retired to Stettler, where Minnie was employed at the Stettler Municipal Hospital. John passed away May 8, 1963, and was buried on May 10, 1963, in Lakeview Cemetery in Stettler. Minnie moved back to the farm in 1966 and later into a mobile home in Big Valley, to be near her daughter, Marjorie Oliver. Minnie Kerbes passed away on October 30, 1977, in Stettler and was also buried in Lakeview Cemetery.
Like all pioneer families, the Kerbes’ endured many hardships, but with lots of hard work, determination, and tenacity, they were able to fulfill the hope and dream of being free and to own their own piece of land. John and Minnie left a legacy of Estonian culture and customs to their large family who celebrate the traditions with the gift of music.
Information was provided by Ernie Kerbes, Jim Kerbes, Shirley Raynard, and Lorraine Gerlitz.
Compiled by Irene and Deane Kerbes, 2006.
