Johann Cornies

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Tiegenhof

Johann(es) Cornies (June 20, 1789, Baerwalde/Bärwalde near Danzig (now Niedźwiedzica ([1] pl), near Stegna village, Powiat Nowodworski (Tiegenhof), Pomorze Voivodship) – March 13, 1848, Ohrloff/Orloff, Molotschna Gebiet) was a Prussia-born Mennonite German settler to Russia.

1 Biography
2 See also
3 Notes
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Biography

He was born as a son of Johann Cornies (born in Mühlhausen/Ostpreußen) and Aganetha Cornies.

He has 3 brothers; Peter Cornies (1791-184x), David Cornies (1794-185x), and Heinrich Cornies (1806-?).

In 1804, his family moved to Chortitza.

He married with Agnes Klassen (1792-184x), and they had same-named son and daughter.[2]

Cornies was the first president of The Agricultural Improvement Society, an Odessa-based commission that supported German colonists. The organization introduced modern farming practices to the colonies and later extended its reach to education and social life. The commission was sponsored by the Russian government with the hope that the master farming techniques of the Mennonites could be introduced to Jewish, Tatar and Russian villages.^[1] The society introduced dryland farming, fertilizer and four-year crop rotation. Planting tobacco and mulberry trees for sericulture were promoted.

Cornies owned a large estate, Jushanlee, a model farm and showplace of south Russia. Crown princes Alexander I and Alexander II as well as other government officials visited the estate. His holdings were expanded by gifts from the government for his services and totaled 10,000 ha (25,000 acres) at his death. He owned a large herd of thoroughbred cattle, 8000 merino sheep and four hundred horses.^[1]

He helped also Jewish peoples' immigration and colonisation.