The Village Frank Newsletter
Volume 22, Number 1
Winter 1992/1993
Sherrie Stahl, editor
Casey Haas Visits The Village of Brunnental – Summer 1992
(Excerpts)
(Page 9)
“…It was my wife’s family that came from Brunnental. She was born Gloria Becker. George Friedrich Becker (b. 30 Jul 1875) was her grandfather and Katherine Elizabeth Melcher 9b. 15 Feb 1877) was her grandmother. Her father was August Becker (b. 5 May 1911).
“Our trip to Brunnental lasted two days and one night. We stayed with a Heinrich Hartung family of German/Russians. He was a wonderful host and fed us well. We ate four meals a day, and three of those were served with vodka. We ate such things as noodle soups and we had fish for breakfast.
“Mr. Hartung was born in Brunnental in about 1934 and was 7 years old in 1941 when his family was deported, along with all the other residents of the village, to Kazakhstan. They returned to Brunnental in 1976 along with 15 other German families. They are preparing to emigrate to Germany, as soon as they are allowed to. They knew the Becker family…
“The conditions in Brunnental are very much as we have heard about in the other villages--- they do have electricity, but no running water. There are no paved streets and no indoor plumbing. There is one store in town (a room about 15 feet by 20 feet) where they sell sacks of potatoes and loaves of bread (not wrapped) and sugar (which is being rationed at 1 kilo per month). There is very little food to be purchased and almost everyone has a garden and raises their own food--- the main occupation is farming.
“Brunnental is located on the east side of the Volga River about 30-40 miles from the river itself. It is also about 90 miles from Saratov. The roads from Saratov were very poor and rough.
(Page 10)
“The are near Brunnental looks like the plains--- there are very few trees left--- the land has been cleared as far as the eye can see. We did find a few of the apple gardens on the outskirts of town.
“There are no mills left, but the dam is still there. It has 12 gates and operating gears, but the rods are missing to operate it. There are planks laying across the top and I walked across--- this is called the Bisjuk River --sp?) and it is only 30-40 feet wide, but then spreads to 100 feet behind the dam.
“There are a few cars in town, but nowhere to get gas. One of the strangest sights is the amount of modern farm equipment, sitting out in fields, that is broken down--- they are unable to get parts to fix it, so it just sits there.”
(Continued later)
Showing posts with label Brunnental. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brunnental. Show all posts
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Kansas and Oregon Volga Germans
The Village Frank Newsletter
Volume 21, Number 3
Fall 1992
Sherrie Stahl, editor
Can Your Help Us Do Research In Your Geographical Area?
(Excerpts)
(Page 2)
COLORADO & KANSAS: …The beet industry developed swiftly and with it the expansion into the South Platte River Valley of northeastern Colorado. A sugar refinery in Loveland was built in 1901, another in Eaton and in 1902 one in Windsor. Others were erected later in Greely, Brighton, Longmont, Fort Collins, and in 1905, in Sterling, Colorado. Loveland in the South Platte Valley had the oldest settlement. In May, 1901 some twenty families, most of them originating in Frank, Russia, came here from McCook, Nebraska. Others arrived from Denver, Sutton and Hastings. Even in 1930 Volga Germans from Frank represented most of the population in Loveland and also in Greeley, Colorado….
(Page 3)
WASHINGTON, OREGON AND CALIFORNIA: The first Volga Germans reached the west coast as early as 1881. Several Frankers were part of the wagon train that left Sutton, and Culbertson and headed west to Ritzville, Washington. In 1888 to 1890 Portland, Oregon received an influx of immigrants from Frank and Brunnental. Another large migration took place in 1907, and another in 1912. (MY NOTES: David and Katherine Ehlenberger first arrived in 1907.)
(Excerpted from the 1923 poem, “A Mournful Song on Brunnental” by Elias Hergert, as translated by Marie Trupp Kreiger.)
(Page 8)
I believe I have listed all
I do not find anymore
Of our dear Brunnental
Only one more, JACOB LEHR.
Now I remember as I end this
That is my in-law, with
JOHN ELENBERGER for spite
Make no further complaint….
Volume 21, Number 3
Fall 1992
Sherrie Stahl, editor
Can Your Help Us Do Research In Your Geographical Area?
(Excerpts)
(Page 2)
COLORADO & KANSAS: …The beet industry developed swiftly and with it the expansion into the South Platte River Valley of northeastern Colorado. A sugar refinery in Loveland was built in 1901, another in Eaton and in 1902 one in Windsor. Others were erected later in Greely, Brighton, Longmont, Fort Collins, and in 1905, in Sterling, Colorado. Loveland in the South Platte Valley had the oldest settlement. In May, 1901 some twenty families, most of them originating in Frank, Russia, came here from McCook, Nebraska. Others arrived from Denver, Sutton and Hastings. Even in 1930 Volga Germans from Frank represented most of the population in Loveland and also in Greeley, Colorado….
(Page 3)
WASHINGTON, OREGON AND CALIFORNIA: The first Volga Germans reached the west coast as early as 1881. Several Frankers were part of the wagon train that left Sutton, and Culbertson and headed west to Ritzville, Washington. In 1888 to 1890 Portland, Oregon received an influx of immigrants from Frank and Brunnental. Another large migration took place in 1907, and another in 1912. (MY NOTES: David and Katherine Ehlenberger first arrived in 1907.)
(Excerpted from the 1923 poem, “A Mournful Song on Brunnental” by Elias Hergert, as translated by Marie Trupp Kreiger.)
(Page 8)
I believe I have listed all
I do not find anymore
Of our dear Brunnental
Only one more, JACOB LEHR.
Now I remember as I end this
That is my in-law, with
JOHN ELENBERGER for spite
Make no further complaint….
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
A Mother's Quest For A Better Life
AHSGR, Vol. 9, No. 1, Spring 1986
A Mother’s Quest For A Better Life
By Harold D. Kauffman
(Excerpts)
(Page 34)
Heeding the invitation of a former German princess, Catherine the Great, who had assumed the throne of the Tsar, they fled poverty and the greedy dukes who conscripted their young men and sold them as mercenaries to the highest bidder. Their homes and small fields had been destroyed repeatedly by the ravages of European wars, and the legions who had bled upon them were made up of their sons.
Knowing the desperation of her countrymen, Catherine appealed not only to their land hunger but also promised freedom of religion and language, financial aid and transportation costs, a tax-free existence for years, and above all, freedom from military conscription in perpetuity. Although some came from other parts of Europe, 27,000 had set out from Germany, abandoning whole villages and frightening their dukes into banning further emigration.
Among these Rhenish and Saxon settlers had been the ancestors of Maria Dorothea and Martin Gruenwald who had helped to found the village that lay southwest of Saratov on the Medveditsa River. The Russians called it Medveditskoi-Krestovoi-Buerak, but the German settlers knew it by the name of its first mayor—Frank.
In 1871 their families had taken them at age 13 to new lands on the east side of the Volga River where they joined a new colony—Krijovar, or as it was known to the German residents: Brunnental, Spring Valley.
(Page 35)
…The lives of the young people followed the seasons. A short period of hard work during the brief Russian summers was followed by the severe winters. Situated in an area that was open to both east and west, the colonists found themselves living in a mixed culture. Although Brunnental was staunchly Lutheran, near it were Roman Catholic, Mennonite and Reformed villages. Interspersed were Orthodox villages of Russians.
Each summer Muslim tradesmen and artisans would come form the area around the Caspian Sea, and it was at Martin’s home that they often stayed while in Brunnental. The settlers realized that the camel was probably well suited to their land, and soon the tall dromedary joined the horses and oxen of their tradition. Camels would eat the Russian thistle and thrive, and so these were gathered in the summer while tender and piled on shed roofs where they provided fodder for the camel in winter.
The broad, splayed hooves of the camels made them sure-footed in the snow, and their wool grew thick and luxurious in the winter cold. In the spring this provided the housewife with a rich crop of wool for spinning into soft, warm garments and blankets.
…As early as 1871 (MY NOTES: 5 years before David Ehlenberger’s birth), the privileges granted by Catherine the Great were revoked. A new interpretation of “perpetuity” was accepted and, after one hundred years, the final blow came in 1874 with the conscription of young men from the German villages for a five-year peiord of military duty.
Maria Dorothea’s eldest son was among those called up in 1901, and upon his return in 1905, he told of the disaster of the Japanese war and of the uprising he had witnessed while on duty in Kiev. As the new head of the family, he convinced his mother that the time had come for emigration. Early in 1907 the second son and his bride departed for Kansas and then Nebraska, preparing for the family to follow the next year.
(MY NOTES: Why is this relevant? David Ehlenberger fought in this same war, and also emigrated in 1907. Additionally, I remember my grandmother [David’s daughter] mention that they stopped to visit relatives in Kansas/Nebraska while en route to Oregon from the east coast on their return from Russia in January of 1914.
Also interesting, is that this story refers to a “David” who was Maria Dorothea’s cousin, who helped her across the frozen plains when her husband died. He saved her life. I have come across very few “David”s in my research of Brunnental, other than this story and my great-grandfather.)
(Page 36)
As the hot summer days wore on, another danger reappeared: cholera raged across the Russian countryside. Anna, Maria Dorothea’s daughter-in-law, began to fear for the lives of her three sons, her own life and loved ones. Adamantly she pleaded that they leave immediately, that winter would be too late.
In concert with relatives and friends, including David, the faithful cousin (MY NOTES: this would eliminate him from being David Ehlenberger because David Ehlenberger emigrated in May, 1907 on the Umbria. There could still be a connection, however.), the widow made arrangements, selling unharvested crops and other possessions for a pittance. In late August thirteen people set out by rail on the first leg of their trip to America.
Conditions on the train were crude. Benches ran down each side of the car; above these were shelves for baggage, and in the aisles lay the large bags and bundles of the emigrants upon which many sat and slept. Lice infested everyone. On the third day, Anna, the daughter-in-law, her guard momentarily lowered, purchased some fresh fruit from a peasant along the route. Within three days she was seized by the horrible disease she so feared.
The entire Brunnental party was put off the train at a small Ukrainian town and lodged in the station. Anna was placed in a rail car on the siding, and her husband and another young man cared for her. On the second day the three were taken by freight car to the nearest city. Upon arrival, they were placed in quarantine on a siding, and the young mother died.
…Once reunited, the party continued to Libau, where on Oct. 7, 1907, they were to embark upon the Russian East Asiatic Steamship Co.’s vessel, Estonia. Twenty days later they arrived in New York after a stormy North Atlantic voyage, during which the barrels of salted meat spilled, spoiling most of the dry staples. Upon arrival at Ellis Island, smallpox was discovered on the ship, and all its passengers were quarantined on a neighboring island for several days.
(Page 38)
…Maria Dorothea had grieved for her missing daughter for years. First came the hardships of World War I, followed by communist Revolution which raged back and forth across the German colonies for several years, both sides wreaking retribution upon the detested Germans.
Surviving this era and the starvation years of 1920 and 1921, Anna Margaret’s husband was executed or deported as a kulak, and his considerable property was confiscated. Another period of deprivation followed in 1928 through 1932 during the first five-year plan when Stalin’s forced collectivization of farm land resulted in another severe famine…
A Mother’s Quest For A Better Life
By Harold D. Kauffman
(Excerpts)
(Page 34)
Heeding the invitation of a former German princess, Catherine the Great, who had assumed the throne of the Tsar, they fled poverty and the greedy dukes who conscripted their young men and sold them as mercenaries to the highest bidder. Their homes and small fields had been destroyed repeatedly by the ravages of European wars, and the legions who had bled upon them were made up of their sons.
Knowing the desperation of her countrymen, Catherine appealed not only to their land hunger but also promised freedom of religion and language, financial aid and transportation costs, a tax-free existence for years, and above all, freedom from military conscription in perpetuity. Although some came from other parts of Europe, 27,000 had set out from Germany, abandoning whole villages and frightening their dukes into banning further emigration.
Among these Rhenish and Saxon settlers had been the ancestors of Maria Dorothea and Martin Gruenwald who had helped to found the village that lay southwest of Saratov on the Medveditsa River. The Russians called it Medveditskoi-Krestovoi-Buerak, but the German settlers knew it by the name of its first mayor—Frank.
In 1871 their families had taken them at age 13 to new lands on the east side of the Volga River where they joined a new colony—Krijovar, or as it was known to the German residents: Brunnental, Spring Valley.
(Page 35)
…The lives of the young people followed the seasons. A short period of hard work during the brief Russian summers was followed by the severe winters. Situated in an area that was open to both east and west, the colonists found themselves living in a mixed culture. Although Brunnental was staunchly Lutheran, near it were Roman Catholic, Mennonite and Reformed villages. Interspersed were Orthodox villages of Russians.
Each summer Muslim tradesmen and artisans would come form the area around the Caspian Sea, and it was at Martin’s home that they often stayed while in Brunnental. The settlers realized that the camel was probably well suited to their land, and soon the tall dromedary joined the horses and oxen of their tradition. Camels would eat the Russian thistle and thrive, and so these were gathered in the summer while tender and piled on shed roofs where they provided fodder for the camel in winter.
The broad, splayed hooves of the camels made them sure-footed in the snow, and their wool grew thick and luxurious in the winter cold. In the spring this provided the housewife with a rich crop of wool for spinning into soft, warm garments and blankets.
…As early as 1871 (MY NOTES: 5 years before David Ehlenberger’s birth), the privileges granted by Catherine the Great were revoked. A new interpretation of “perpetuity” was accepted and, after one hundred years, the final blow came in 1874 with the conscription of young men from the German villages for a five-year peiord of military duty.
Maria Dorothea’s eldest son was among those called up in 1901, and upon his return in 1905, he told of the disaster of the Japanese war and of the uprising he had witnessed while on duty in Kiev. As the new head of the family, he convinced his mother that the time had come for emigration. Early in 1907 the second son and his bride departed for Kansas and then Nebraska, preparing for the family to follow the next year.
(MY NOTES: Why is this relevant? David Ehlenberger fought in this same war, and also emigrated in 1907. Additionally, I remember my grandmother [David’s daughter] mention that they stopped to visit relatives in Kansas/Nebraska while en route to Oregon from the east coast on their return from Russia in January of 1914.
Also interesting, is that this story refers to a “David” who was Maria Dorothea’s cousin, who helped her across the frozen plains when her husband died. He saved her life. I have come across very few “David”s in my research of Brunnental, other than this story and my great-grandfather.)
(Page 36)
As the hot summer days wore on, another danger reappeared: cholera raged across the Russian countryside. Anna, Maria Dorothea’s daughter-in-law, began to fear for the lives of her three sons, her own life and loved ones. Adamantly she pleaded that they leave immediately, that winter would be too late.
In concert with relatives and friends, including David, the faithful cousin (MY NOTES: this would eliminate him from being David Ehlenberger because David Ehlenberger emigrated in May, 1907 on the Umbria. There could still be a connection, however.), the widow made arrangements, selling unharvested crops and other possessions for a pittance. In late August thirteen people set out by rail on the first leg of their trip to America.
Conditions on the train were crude. Benches ran down each side of the car; above these were shelves for baggage, and in the aisles lay the large bags and bundles of the emigrants upon which many sat and slept. Lice infested everyone. On the third day, Anna, the daughter-in-law, her guard momentarily lowered, purchased some fresh fruit from a peasant along the route. Within three days she was seized by the horrible disease she so feared.
The entire Brunnental party was put off the train at a small Ukrainian town and lodged in the station. Anna was placed in a rail car on the siding, and her husband and another young man cared for her. On the second day the three were taken by freight car to the nearest city. Upon arrival, they were placed in quarantine on a siding, and the young mother died.
…Once reunited, the party continued to Libau, where on Oct. 7, 1907, they were to embark upon the Russian East Asiatic Steamship Co.’s vessel, Estonia. Twenty days later they arrived in New York after a stormy North Atlantic voyage, during which the barrels of salted meat spilled, spoiling most of the dry staples. Upon arrival at Ellis Island, smallpox was discovered on the ship, and all its passengers were quarantined on a neighboring island for several days.
(Page 38)
…Maria Dorothea had grieved for her missing daughter for years. First came the hardships of World War I, followed by communist Revolution which raged back and forth across the German colonies for several years, both sides wreaking retribution upon the detested Germans.
Surviving this era and the starvation years of 1920 and 1921, Anna Margaret’s husband was executed or deported as a kulak, and his considerable property was confiscated. Another period of deprivation followed in 1928 through 1932 during the first five-year plan when Stalin’s forced collectivization of farm land resulted in another severe famine…
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Family Names – Clues (1)
AHSGR, Clues, 1979 Edition
Names of Families Residing in the Volga Villages
Submitted by Gerda S. Walker with additions by Arthur E. Flegel
(Excerpts)
(Page 70)
The 1978 issue of Clues listed families and other pertinent information about 27 Volga villages. We were pleased to receive favorable comment and additions from our members who found this material helpful in their research.
Following is a continuation of this project…. We plan to continue with further listings for villages from all areas as they become available.
BALZER (Rssn. names: Pancyr; Balakowo; Golyj Karamysch) Kanton: Balzer
Balzer was a Lutheran village established 1765 with 479 in habitants. Located on the west side of the Volga river (Bergseite) in the C-4 quadrant on the Stumpp map #6.
These family names for Balzer were published in Die Welt Post, 19 Oct. 1939. Jacob Volz collected the history of Balzer when he was a member of the Volga Relief Society dlegation which administered relief work among the Volga colonies in 1922-1923. Lists of the original colonist to Balzer may be found in the Emigration from Germany to Russia in the Years 1763-1862, by Dr. Karl Stumpp and in The Czar’s Germans by Hattie Plum Williams.
(MY NOTES: This is in no way a complete list. The following contains only names which may pertain to known relatives. I will expand this list later on, need be.).
49. Weber
(Page 72)
BRUNNENTAL (Rssn. name: Kriwoijar) Kanton: Seelmann
Burrnental was founded in 1855 by Evangelical colonists who came from overcrowded mother colonies to the new land granted by the Crown to the German colonists. It is located on the east side of the Volga river (Wiesenseite) in the Kanton of Seelmann, Samara district. Located in the D-5 quadrant on the Stumpp map #6.
These surnames are found in a history of Brunnental by the Rev. John Block, Die Welt Post, 22 Rebruary 1940, and in AHSGR records.
Rev. Block wrote that “all settlers to Brunnental came from mother colonies on the Bergseite (west side) of the Volga, Saratov district. The main colonies were Frank, Norka, Kolb and Walter, also Huck. An especially large group came from Frank.
3. Becker (Kolb)
This additional list of names for Brunnental was compiled by the late Rev. Elias Hergert in the 1930’s.
9. Becker
22. Elenberger
35. Hartung
99. Wagner
102. Weber
Population:
1897 – 4520
1912 – 4944
1926 – 2411
(Page 73)
DEHLER (Rssn. name: Beresowka) Kanton: Kukkus.
Dehler (Deller) was founded 1 July 1767 by 55 Roman Catholic families from southwestern German lands. There were 85 males and 86 females under the direction of LeRoy an dPictet. Located near the brook Beresowi on the Wiesenseite of the Volga river, in the C-4 quadarant on the Stumpp map #6/
A history and map of Dehler may be found on page 74 of the 1966 Heimatbuch, Landmannschaft der Deutschen aus Russland, Stuttgart O, Diemerhaldenstr. 48. The history is written by a former resident of Dehler, Dr. M. Hagin. Dr. Hagin states that the names Chevalier, Martell, Masson and Hagin were of French extraction.
3. Becker
(Page 74)
DIETEL/DITTEL (Russn. Name: Oleschna.) Kanton: Frank.
Founded by the Evangelicals. Located on the Bergseite in the B-5 quadrant on the Stumpp map #6.
These family names were known in the village around 1900 – 1923. The list is a combination of names extracted from letters written by Pastor A. Möllmann, of Dittel, to Mr. Jacob Weber of Lincoln, Nebraska concerning the Volga Relief packages sent to Dittle in 1922-23 and a list of family names by the mother of Mr. Richard K. Lackman of Moorhead, Minnesota. It is interesting to note that Pastor Möllmann and the village clerk always wrote “Dittel” while those in the United States spelled the name “Dietel”. We wish to thank Mrs. Victor Weber of Lincoln, Nebraska for allowing us to use the Möllmann letters sent to her father-in-law.
5. Batt
Population:
1788 – 445
1798 – 502
1816 – 939
1834 – 1739
1850 – 2561
1860 – 3181
1886 – 3510
1904 – 5565
1912 – 6569
1926 – 3016
(Page 77)
ADDITIONS TO SURNAMES ALREADY LISTED
The following additions were submitted by Mr. Harold D. Kauffman, Alexander Weber, and Mike Apker….
FRANK:
1. Batt
GRIMM:
2. Weber
Names of Families Residing in the Volga Villages
Submitted by Gerda S. Walker with additions by Arthur E. Flegel
(Excerpts)
(Page 70)
The 1978 issue of Clues listed families and other pertinent information about 27 Volga villages. We were pleased to receive favorable comment and additions from our members who found this material helpful in their research.
Following is a continuation of this project…. We plan to continue with further listings for villages from all areas as they become available.
BALZER (Rssn. names: Pancyr; Balakowo; Golyj Karamysch) Kanton: Balzer
Balzer was a Lutheran village established 1765 with 479 in habitants. Located on the west side of the Volga river (Bergseite) in the C-4 quadrant on the Stumpp map #6.
These family names for Balzer were published in Die Welt Post, 19 Oct. 1939. Jacob Volz collected the history of Balzer when he was a member of the Volga Relief Society dlegation which administered relief work among the Volga colonies in 1922-1923. Lists of the original colonist to Balzer may be found in the Emigration from Germany to Russia in the Years 1763-1862, by Dr. Karl Stumpp and in The Czar’s Germans by Hattie Plum Williams.
(MY NOTES: This is in no way a complete list. The following contains only names which may pertain to known relatives. I will expand this list later on, need be.).
49. Weber
(Page 72)
BRUNNENTAL (Rssn. name: Kriwoijar) Kanton: Seelmann
Burrnental was founded in 1855 by Evangelical colonists who came from overcrowded mother colonies to the new land granted by the Crown to the German colonists. It is located on the east side of the Volga river (Wiesenseite) in the Kanton of Seelmann, Samara district. Located in the D-5 quadrant on the Stumpp map #6.
These surnames are found in a history of Brunnental by the Rev. John Block, Die Welt Post, 22 Rebruary 1940, and in AHSGR records.
Rev. Block wrote that “all settlers to Brunnental came from mother colonies on the Bergseite (west side) of the Volga, Saratov district. The main colonies were Frank, Norka, Kolb and Walter, also Huck. An especially large group came from Frank.
3. Becker (Kolb)
This additional list of names for Brunnental was compiled by the late Rev. Elias Hergert in the 1930’s.
9. Becker
22. Elenberger
35. Hartung
99. Wagner
102. Weber
Population:
1897 – 4520
1912 – 4944
1926 – 2411
(Page 73)
DEHLER (Rssn. name: Beresowka) Kanton: Kukkus.
Dehler (Deller) was founded 1 July 1767 by 55 Roman Catholic families from southwestern German lands. There were 85 males and 86 females under the direction of LeRoy an dPictet. Located near the brook Beresowi on the Wiesenseite of the Volga river, in the C-4 quadarant on the Stumpp map #6/
A history and map of Dehler may be found on page 74 of the 1966 Heimatbuch, Landmannschaft der Deutschen aus Russland, Stuttgart O, Diemerhaldenstr. 48. The history is written by a former resident of Dehler, Dr. M. Hagin. Dr. Hagin states that the names Chevalier, Martell, Masson and Hagin were of French extraction.
3. Becker
(Page 74)
DIETEL/DITTEL (Russn. Name: Oleschna.) Kanton: Frank.
Founded by the Evangelicals. Located on the Bergseite in the B-5 quadrant on the Stumpp map #6.
These family names were known in the village around 1900 – 1923. The list is a combination of names extracted from letters written by Pastor A. Möllmann, of Dittel, to Mr. Jacob Weber of Lincoln, Nebraska concerning the Volga Relief packages sent to Dittle in 1922-23 and a list of family names by the mother of Mr. Richard K. Lackman of Moorhead, Minnesota. It is interesting to note that Pastor Möllmann and the village clerk always wrote “Dittel” while those in the United States spelled the name “Dietel”. We wish to thank Mrs. Victor Weber of Lincoln, Nebraska for allowing us to use the Möllmann letters sent to her father-in-law.
5. Batt
Population:
1788 – 445
1798 – 502
1816 – 939
1834 – 1739
1850 – 2561
1860 – 3181
1886 – 3510
1904 – 5565
1912 – 6569
1926 – 3016
(Page 77)
ADDITIONS TO SURNAMES ALREADY LISTED
The following additions were submitted by Mr. Harold D. Kauffman, Alexander Weber, and Mike Apker….
FRANK:
1. Batt
GRIMM:
2. Weber
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Village Names - Clues (1)
AHSGR, Clues, 1978 Edition
Names of Families Residing in the Volga Villages
Submitted by Gerda S. Walker
(Excerpts)
(Page 58)
In 1940 Mr. Jacob Volz or York, Nebraska, collected the following lists of names of families residing around 1900 in the Volga villages. He did this at the suggestion of Dr. Karl Stumpp who had already begun his work of collecting the names of the German immigrants to Russia. Dr. Stumpp hoped that Mr. Volz would be able to collect the names of the Germans from Russia who migrated to America. Mr. Volz found this to be an impossible task but made an appeal through the German language weekly newspaper, Die Welt Post, requesting individuals to send in the lists of names of families as they remembered them at the time they left Russia. The lists that follow are the result of this effort. Although collected in 1940 they should prove helpful to many who are trying to determine their ancestral village.
(MY NOTES: This is in no way a complete list. The following contains only family names which may or may not lead to blood relatives. I will expand this list later on, need be.).
(Page 59)
BAUER (Rusn. Name: Karamyschewka, also Karamyschka), Kanton: Kamyschin, Later Kanton: Kamenka, Wolost: Sosnowka.
Founded in 1766 by 231 Ev. Lutherans. Located on the Bergseite in the B-5 quadrant of the Stumpp map #6.
From a letter sent to Jacob Volz by Mr. Heinrich Schumann, 2009 A.R. 8th Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 21 Sept. 1939 and published in Die Welt Post, 28 Sept. 1939, p. 7, col. 4,5.
2. Becker
Names from other sources:
1. Gärber
2. Gellerut
3. Mohr
These three men signed the letter asking Catherine II to make Bauer a Crown Colony, for it was being mistreated by deBoff as a Private colony.
Other population figures:
1788 – 331
1798 – 385
1816 – 696
1834 – 1272
1850 – 1874
1857 – 2196
1860 – 2284
1886 – 2617
1894 – 3437
1897 – 4496 (?) [sic]
1905 – 4303
1910 – 4521
1912 – 4596
1926 – 3210
“The origins of the first (Colonists) were from different areas of Germany, for instance the STIEBEN, SCHRÖDER, SCHMIDT and GELROTH’s from Hamburg; the BRUG, FISCHER, STETTINGER, REIS, SCHLUNDT, MOHR and FERTIG from the Palatinate; the EHRHARDT and EIDEMÜLLER’s from Hesse-Darmstadt; RENA from Saxony; KRÜGER, 31 years schoolteacher, 1826-1857, ren (sic) Odenwälder, and the WAGNER’s came from Switzerland. This is the entire ‘Bestand’ composition of the colony Bauer from the beginning of the immigration until the Bolshevik time.” Report of Heinrich Schumann, 2009 A.R. 8th St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
ADDITIONAL DATA ON BAUER
From a letter by Mr. Heinrich Schumann of Milwaukee, Wis. and pub. in Die Welt Post 21 Sept. 1939, p. 7, col. 4 and 5.
A report from the year 1854 gives the following information: “The colony Bauer was composed of 55 families in the beginning. The first church was built in 1807. At first they had an old ‘Kronshaus’ which they had bought themselves from a Catholic village for use as a Prayer and Schoolhouse.”
Their second church was built 1873-1874 and was dedicated on July 14, 1874 by the esteemed Pastor “Boneswetsch. [sic]”* There were two crosses, one of the steeple and the other on the Sacristy. It was a much too windy day to put up the crosses…
(Page 60)
*There were 3 Bonwetsch pastors:
Christoph Heinrich Bonwetsch was Probst of Norka Parish, 1845-1876.
Samuel I. Bonwetsch was pastor at Galka near Bauer, 1858-1874.
Nathanael Gottlieb Bonswetsch, pastor, Adj., Bergseite Volga, 1871-1874.
Pastor at Norka 1876-1877.
NEU-BAUER There are two colonies by the name of New-Bauer listed in the 1955 Stumpp list and map:
1. New-Bauer, Kanton of Krasny-Kut, later Kanton Eckheim, Wolost Jeruslan, founded in 1859. It was located on the Wiesenseite, Ev. Lutheran and located in the F-4 quandrant of the Stumpp map #6.
2. The other Neu-Vauer listed is also on the Wiesenseite in the Kanton of Krasny-Kut, location F-5 on the map with only 86 persons in 1912.
The following is from the 11 April 1940, p. 8, c. 5 & 6 of Die Welt Post. From a personal visit with Mr. Alexander Wagner of Clearfield, S. Dak., who was born in Neu-Bauer on the Weisenseite of the Volga: “It was founded by settlers from the Mother colonies in the years 1850/52… Wagner came with a number of families to Mexico in 1900, and because the immigrants were not accustomed to the climate many of the died of Fever (Malaria?). They quickly left the area and crossed the border into the U.S.A. where they separated. He moved first to Oklahoma and later to South Dakota. The family has a dozen children, ten daughters are married and one son and one daughter are at home.” Jacob Volz.
Population:
1897 – 2042
1912 – 2344
1926 – 1002
(Page 61)
BRUNNENTAL (Rssn. Name: Kriwojar) Kanton: Seelman, Wolost: Bisjuk.
Brunnental was founded in 1855 by families which resettled from the villages of Walter, Frank, Norka and Kolb, with perhaps a number from other villages. It is located on the Wiesenseite in the D-5 quadrant on the Stumpp map #6. Names of families were published in Die Welt Post, 22 Fe. 1940, p. 8, col. 5.
(MY NOTES: This is the complete list given in this particular publication.)
1. Melcher
2. Braun
3. Baum
4. Block
5. Hergert
6. Steinmetz
Nagel is listed but a correction was sent in 14 Mar. 1940 by John Brehm who said Nagels came from Norka.
Population:
1897 – 4520
1912 – 4944
1926 – 2411
(Page 62)
DINKEL (Rssn. Name: Tarlykowka) Sometimes known as: Oberholstein.
Founded in 1767 by 179 Ev. Lutherans. Located on the Wiesenseite, east of the Volga River in D-4 quadrant of Stumpp map #6.
Pub. in Die Welt Post, 15 Feb. 1940. Jacob Volz does not say who sent in the names.
46. Wagner
47. Weber
Population:
1897 – 3050
1912 – 3586
1926 – 1711
DÖNHOF (Rssn. Name: Gololobowka, also Alt Gololobowka) Kanton: Balzer.
Est. in 1766 by 151 people, Ev. Lutheran Colony. Located on the Bergseite on the B-4 quadrant on Stumpp map #6.
Published 21 Sept. 1939, p. 6, col. 2 in the Dakota Freie Presse. Submitted by John Becking and Henry Kraus of Windsor, Colorado.
7. Becker
Names from other sources:
1. Kaiser/Keiser
2. Stecker/Stecher
3. Wagner
Population:
1788 – 711
1798 – 870
1816 – 1436
1834 – 2508
1850 – 3846
1857 – 4465
1860 – 4593
1886 – 4886
1891 – 6499
1894 – 6416
1897 – 7833
1905 – 7516
1910 – 8017
1912 – 8330
1926 – 5039
Names of Families Residing in the Volga Villages
Submitted by Gerda S. Walker
(Excerpts)
(Page 58)
In 1940 Mr. Jacob Volz or York, Nebraska, collected the following lists of names of families residing around 1900 in the Volga villages. He did this at the suggestion of Dr. Karl Stumpp who had already begun his work of collecting the names of the German immigrants to Russia. Dr. Stumpp hoped that Mr. Volz would be able to collect the names of the Germans from Russia who migrated to America. Mr. Volz found this to be an impossible task but made an appeal through the German language weekly newspaper, Die Welt Post, requesting individuals to send in the lists of names of families as they remembered them at the time they left Russia. The lists that follow are the result of this effort. Although collected in 1940 they should prove helpful to many who are trying to determine their ancestral village.
(MY NOTES: This is in no way a complete list. The following contains only family names which may or may not lead to blood relatives. I will expand this list later on, need be.).
(Page 59)
BAUER (Rusn. Name: Karamyschewka, also Karamyschka), Kanton: Kamyschin, Later Kanton: Kamenka, Wolost: Sosnowka.
Founded in 1766 by 231 Ev. Lutherans. Located on the Bergseite in the B-5 quadrant of the Stumpp map #6.
From a letter sent to Jacob Volz by Mr. Heinrich Schumann, 2009 A.R. 8th Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 21 Sept. 1939 and published in Die Welt Post, 28 Sept. 1939, p. 7, col. 4,5.
2. Becker
Names from other sources:
1. Gärber
2. Gellerut
3. Mohr
These three men signed the letter asking Catherine II to make Bauer a Crown Colony, for it was being mistreated by deBoff as a Private colony.
Other population figures:
1788 – 331
1798 – 385
1816 – 696
1834 – 1272
1850 – 1874
1857 – 2196
1860 – 2284
1886 – 2617
1894 – 3437
1897 – 4496 (?) [sic]
1905 – 4303
1910 – 4521
1912 – 4596
1926 – 3210
“The origins of the first (Colonists) were from different areas of Germany, for instance the STIEBEN, SCHRÖDER, SCHMIDT and GELROTH’s from Hamburg; the BRUG, FISCHER, STETTINGER, REIS, SCHLUNDT, MOHR and FERTIG from the Palatinate; the EHRHARDT and EIDEMÜLLER’s from Hesse-Darmstadt; RENA from Saxony; KRÜGER, 31 years schoolteacher, 1826-1857, ren (sic) Odenwälder, and the WAGNER’s came from Switzerland. This is the entire ‘Bestand’ composition of the colony Bauer from the beginning of the immigration until the Bolshevik time.” Report of Heinrich Schumann, 2009 A.R. 8th St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
ADDITIONAL DATA ON BAUER
From a letter by Mr. Heinrich Schumann of Milwaukee, Wis. and pub. in Die Welt Post 21 Sept. 1939, p. 7, col. 4 and 5.
A report from the year 1854 gives the following information: “The colony Bauer was composed of 55 families in the beginning. The first church was built in 1807. At first they had an old ‘Kronshaus’ which they had bought themselves from a Catholic village for use as a Prayer and Schoolhouse.”
Their second church was built 1873-1874 and was dedicated on July 14, 1874 by the esteemed Pastor “Boneswetsch. [sic]”* There were two crosses, one of the steeple and the other on the Sacristy. It was a much too windy day to put up the crosses…
(Page 60)
*There were 3 Bonwetsch pastors:
Christoph Heinrich Bonwetsch was Probst of Norka Parish, 1845-1876.
Samuel I. Bonwetsch was pastor at Galka near Bauer, 1858-1874.
Nathanael Gottlieb Bonswetsch, pastor, Adj., Bergseite Volga, 1871-1874.
Pastor at Norka 1876-1877.
NEU-BAUER There are two colonies by the name of New-Bauer listed in the 1955 Stumpp list and map:
1. New-Bauer, Kanton of Krasny-Kut, later Kanton Eckheim, Wolost Jeruslan, founded in 1859. It was located on the Wiesenseite, Ev. Lutheran and located in the F-4 quandrant of the Stumpp map #6.
2. The other Neu-Vauer listed is also on the Wiesenseite in the Kanton of Krasny-Kut, location F-5 on the map with only 86 persons in 1912.
The following is from the 11 April 1940, p. 8, c. 5 & 6 of Die Welt Post. From a personal visit with Mr. Alexander Wagner of Clearfield, S. Dak., who was born in Neu-Bauer on the Weisenseite of the Volga: “It was founded by settlers from the Mother colonies in the years 1850/52… Wagner came with a number of families to Mexico in 1900, and because the immigrants were not accustomed to the climate many of the died of Fever (Malaria?). They quickly left the area and crossed the border into the U.S.A. where they separated. He moved first to Oklahoma and later to South Dakota. The family has a dozen children, ten daughters are married and one son and one daughter are at home.” Jacob Volz.
Population:
1897 – 2042
1912 – 2344
1926 – 1002
(Page 61)
BRUNNENTAL (Rssn. Name: Kriwojar) Kanton: Seelman, Wolost: Bisjuk.
Brunnental was founded in 1855 by families which resettled from the villages of Walter, Frank, Norka and Kolb, with perhaps a number from other villages. It is located on the Wiesenseite in the D-5 quadrant on the Stumpp map #6. Names of families were published in Die Welt Post, 22 Fe. 1940, p. 8, col. 5.
(MY NOTES: This is the complete list given in this particular publication.)
1. Melcher
2. Braun
3. Baum
4. Block
5. Hergert
6. Steinmetz
Nagel is listed but a correction was sent in 14 Mar. 1940 by John Brehm who said Nagels came from Norka.
Population:
1897 – 4520
1912 – 4944
1926 – 2411
(Page 62)
DINKEL (Rssn. Name: Tarlykowka) Sometimes known as: Oberholstein.
Founded in 1767 by 179 Ev. Lutherans. Located on the Wiesenseite, east of the Volga River in D-4 quadrant of Stumpp map #6.
Pub. in Die Welt Post, 15 Feb. 1940. Jacob Volz does not say who sent in the names.
46. Wagner
47. Weber
Population:
1897 – 3050
1912 – 3586
1926 – 1711
DÖNHOF (Rssn. Name: Gololobowka, also Alt Gololobowka) Kanton: Balzer.
Est. in 1766 by 151 people, Ev. Lutheran Colony. Located on the Bergseite on the B-4 quadrant on Stumpp map #6.
Published 21 Sept. 1939, p. 6, col. 2 in the Dakota Freie Presse. Submitted by John Becking and Henry Kraus of Windsor, Colorado.
7. Becker
Names from other sources:
1. Kaiser/Keiser
2. Stecker/Stecher
3. Wagner
Population:
1788 – 711
1798 – 870
1816 – 1436
1834 – 2508
1850 – 3846
1857 – 4465
1860 – 4593
1886 – 4886
1891 – 6499
1894 – 6416
1897 – 7833
1905 – 7516
1910 – 8017
1912 – 8330
1926 – 5039
Monday, February 9, 2009
Village Names
AHSGR, Work Paper No. 23, Spring 1977
Present-Day Names of Former German Volga Colonies
By Emma Schwabenland Haynes
(Excerpts)
(Page 1)
Officially, no Soviet Germans are allowed to reside in the colonies from which they were deported in 1941, and as time passes on, the present-day Russian inhabitants have a tendency to forget that these villages were founded by German-speaking people. On the other hand, the descendants of emigrants from Russia, now living in the New World, who have always heard these villages referred to by their German names, would have trouble finding their position on a modern map of Russia. For that reason, Dr. Stumpp has undertaken the tremendous task of trying to determine the names by which the former German colonies are now known. In order to do this, he acquired modern Russian maps of the various regions (oblastj) in which the Germans used to live. Then he compared these maps with those showing German names before 1941. He recently sent to me the results of his work as far as the colonies on the Volga are concerned, but is continuing his research on the Black Sea and other German groups. These findings will eventually be printed in some publication of the Landsmannschaft der Deutschen aus Russland.
After the Volga colonies were founded (1764-1776), the inhabitants formed the habit of referring to their villages by the name of the first mayor. Eventually Russian names were assigned, but the people had become accustomed to the German terms and used the Russian nomenclatures only in official documents. The only exceptions to this rule can be found in the colonies of Jagodnaja Poljana, Kamenka, Krasnojar, Norka, Orlowskoje, Paulskoje, Semenowka, and Schtscherbakowka. In the same way the Black Sea colonies also had Russian names in addition to the German ones.
(Page 2)
…In ten cases, the Russian name is different from the one used before 1941 but still bears a noticeable resemblance. These can be found in the colonies of Bettinger, Boiroux, Frank, Kolb, Krasnojar, Kukkus, Oberweditskij Krestowoj Bujerak. Today it is simply known as Medweditza.
…But, since information about the former colonies is practically non-existent, it is possible that some of these places are neighboring Russian villages. For that reason, Dr. Stumpp requests that anyone having exact information about the present name of these sixteen German villages should let him know.
(MY NOTES: This is in no way a complete list. The following contains only village names which may pertain to known relatives. I will expand this list later on, need be.).
GERMAN VOLGA MOTHER COLONIES
German Name:
Frank
Russian Name Before 1941:
Medweditskij Krestowoj Bujerak
(MY NOTES: David lists this official name in his family bible as the birthplace of his father.)
Russian Name After 1941:
Medweditza
PARTIAL LIST OF VOLGA DAUGHTER COLONIES
German Name:
Brunnental
Russian Name Before 1941:
Kriwojar
Russian Name After 1941:
Kriwojar
Present-Day Names of Former German Volga Colonies
By Emma Schwabenland Haynes
(Excerpts)
(Page 1)
Officially, no Soviet Germans are allowed to reside in the colonies from which they were deported in 1941, and as time passes on, the present-day Russian inhabitants have a tendency to forget that these villages were founded by German-speaking people. On the other hand, the descendants of emigrants from Russia, now living in the New World, who have always heard these villages referred to by their German names, would have trouble finding their position on a modern map of Russia. For that reason, Dr. Stumpp has undertaken the tremendous task of trying to determine the names by which the former German colonies are now known. In order to do this, he acquired modern Russian maps of the various regions (oblastj) in which the Germans used to live. Then he compared these maps with those showing German names before 1941. He recently sent to me the results of his work as far as the colonies on the Volga are concerned, but is continuing his research on the Black Sea and other German groups. These findings will eventually be printed in some publication of the Landsmannschaft der Deutschen aus Russland.
After the Volga colonies were founded (1764-1776), the inhabitants formed the habit of referring to their villages by the name of the first mayor. Eventually Russian names were assigned, but the people had become accustomed to the German terms and used the Russian nomenclatures only in official documents. The only exceptions to this rule can be found in the colonies of Jagodnaja Poljana, Kamenka, Krasnojar, Norka, Orlowskoje, Paulskoje, Semenowka, and Schtscherbakowka. In the same way the Black Sea colonies also had Russian names in addition to the German ones.
(Page 2)
…In ten cases, the Russian name is different from the one used before 1941 but still bears a noticeable resemblance. These can be found in the colonies of Bettinger, Boiroux, Frank, Kolb, Krasnojar, Kukkus, Oberweditskij Krestowoj Bujerak. Today it is simply known as Medweditza.
…But, since information about the former colonies is practically non-existent, it is possible that some of these places are neighboring Russian villages. For that reason, Dr. Stumpp requests that anyone having exact information about the present name of these sixteen German villages should let him know.
(MY NOTES: This is in no way a complete list. The following contains only village names which may pertain to known relatives. I will expand this list later on, need be.).
GERMAN VOLGA MOTHER COLONIES
German Name:
Frank
Russian Name Before 1941:
Medweditskij Krestowoj Bujerak
(MY NOTES: David lists this official name in his family bible as the birthplace of his father.)
Russian Name After 1941:
Medweditza
PARTIAL LIST OF VOLGA DAUGHTER COLONIES
German Name:
Brunnental
Russian Name Before 1941:
Kriwojar
Russian Name After 1941:
Kriwojar
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