USA > Kansas > Ellis County > German-Russian settlements in Ellis County, Kansas > Part 4
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These details portray but in part the activity of the settlers. Various interests, even in the early years, drew many from the settlements to other towns. The largest contingent is that at Hays, whose Catholic congrega- tion has 230 Russian families. 145 The Ellis congregation has now some 80 Russian families, 146 Walker, 34.147 Beyond the confines of Ellis county are now 42 families in Gorham, 148 and 15 in Park, 149 who lived originally in Ellis county. New settlements have not as yet arisen in the county, but a nucleus to such has been formed by the erection of churches: Emmeram, 41 families originally from Herzog;150 Antonino, 54 families from Munjor;151 Hyacinth 28; Yocomento, 6;152 Vincent, 10153 Russian families. In Wichita county, about 26 families from Ellis county in 1892 founded Marienthal, 154 while in Graham county the founding of St. Peter (named Hoganville till 1898) was an enterprise undertaken by 11 families from Herzog in 1894. At present there are about 95 families there, 6 from Marienthal, Wichita county; 2 from Liebenthal, Rush county; 1 from Munjor; all others from Herzog. 155
Even at the present day it is not unusual to find several married children remaining in the home of the parents, all forming one large family. This explains the many early marriages (at eighteen and sixteen respectively) of the first years and even of the present, as this step did not involve the care of a household and the many responsibilities attaching thereto. The land apportionment of Russia still operates in the way of excluding girls from inheritance. The land is divided among the boys, a present in the manner of a dowry at marriage being usually the only portion of girls. In a general way this system is equalizing, as nearly all marry. The status of woman is to all purposes that of a "Hausfrau," the home being the sphere of her activity. In the early days she took her place in the harvest field, but of late years this has grown rare. The large family is proverbial among the settlers, and from every standpoint the family life is pure, divorce and illegitimates being practically unknown. The withdrawal from work on the part of men yet robust, mentioned above, is practiced by some few even in the land of unlimited activity. 156
The conservatism implied in the above is evidenced in the customs that
the colonies Herzog and Catharine. May 2, 1903, President Roosevelt received an ovation at Vic- toria, the society and school children turning out in a body. The train stopped four minutes. (Victoria Chronicle, pp. 79, 80.)
NOTE 145 .- Rev. E. Heyl, O. M. Cap. NOTE 146 .- Rev. M. Neff, O. M. Cap.
NOTE 147 .- Rev. P. Dockler, O. M. Cap.
NOTE 148 .- Rev. L. Wahlmeier.
NOTE 149 .- Rev. P. Hoeller.
NOTE 150 .- Rev. A. Herrman, O. M. Cap.
NOTE 151 .- Rev. B. Heim, O. M. Cap.
NOTE 152 .- Rev. E. Heyl, O. M. Cap.
NOTE 154 .- Rev. Leo Egger, O. M. Cap.
NOTE 153 .- Rev. E. Trischler, O. M. Cap.
NOTE 155 .- Leonard N. Dreiling.
NOTE 156 .- It is hardly necessary to state that the settlers have faults. As in every large body there are some who are intemperate; broils have happened, but with diminishing frequency. The villagers are distrustful of strangers, a result of their confidence having been abused, and in part a relic of Russian conditions. This distrust withdraws in some instances money from circulation. They are tenacious of opinion (what farmer is not?), untruthfulness is not infre- quent, while on the other hand the promised word of the old settlers was good as gold even to the political candidate.
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Kansas State Historical Society.
Holy Cross Church, Pfeifer, Kan.
still obtain after a lapse of thirty years. In part these attach to the eccle- siastical feasts. On the eve of Christmas a lady dressed in white with girdle of blue, and with face veiled, appears in each family as herald of the "Christ Kindlein" (Christ-child). The tinkling of a little bell without, a knock, and she enters with the greeting: "Gelobt sei Jesus Christus." She inquires for the youngest child, has it say a prayer as evidence of dili- gence in this regard, and then gives it Christmas presents. The older children are frequently chastised with a rod because of delinquencies which
are recounted. Gifts follow; a quantity of nuts are thrown in the air, and as the children scramble for their possessions the apparition is gone. Each child (in Catharine) on Christmas and Easter calls on its sponsors (at bap- tism) to wish them a happy feast, and is rewarded by sweets, which it bears away in a white cloth. On New Year the little ones visit their rela- tives and friends, wishing them a Happy New Year ( "Ich wuensche Euch ein glueckseliges Neujahr, langes Leben, Gesundheit, Friede und Einigkeit, nach dem Tode die ewige Glueckseligkeit").157 In this instance they now receive coin, but originally sweets. The young men celebrate New Year by shooting ("Neujahr anschiesen") before the houses of their relatives and friends. This serves as an introduction for wishing a Happy New Year in the words recorded above. In return they receive refreshments, and the young ladies pin a ribbon to their coat. In Holy Week the church bells are silent from Thursday till Saturday. In this interim the boys who serve in church go about the village announcing with wooden clappers the time of the "Angelus" and of divine service. After mass on Holy Saturday they go from house to house collecting eggs as meed of their service. Easter morn ushers in the Oster-Haas (Easter rabbit). Each child prepares a nest on the porch or near the house. The little ones are aroused from sleep by the cry: "Der Haas hat schon gelegt" ( the rabbit has laid).
In the early days, and to some degree still, a variety of marriage customs prevailed. Oral invitations, known as "Noethigen," were served by two men deputed by the fathers of the bridal couple. These men bore a cane to
NOTE 157 .- "I wish you a happy New Year, long life, health, peace and unity, after death eternal happiness."
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German-Russian Settlements in Ellis County.
which a ribbon was attached. One form of invitation, in use in Schoenchen, is as follows :
" Wir kommen nicht hergeritten,
Wir kommen sicher geschritten ;
Braut und Braeutigam, sie lassen Euch bitten,
Sie lassen Euch laden insgemein,
Ihr sollt auch Hochzeitsgaeste sein.
Zehn Gaens-die muessen dran,
Neunzehn Huehner und der alte Hahn,
Die sind gefuettert und so fett
Wie ein altes Wagenbrett.
Dann kommt auch gleich die Kathrin Woes,
Und kocht auch gleich die dicken Kloess ;
Sie kocht sie nach Belieben
Und kocht auch gleich die roten Rueben.
Potz Blitz! Was faellt mir ein !
Ich hab' ja vergessen den Branntwein.
Wenn Ihr Uns unser Stoecklein ziert, So sagen wir auch wo Ihr hingehoert." 158
As implied in the invitation, the man was rewarded with refreshments or an additional ribbon was attached to his cane. In Catharine written in- vitations were used. The eve of the feast, known as Polterabend (racket- eve), was marked by the hilarity of the young folks with dancing and music. On the morning of the day itself, before going to church the bridal couple knelt on a cloth spread on the floor, facing each other and with hands joined, to receive the blessing of their parents 159 and relatives present. On the way to church the bride walked in advance of the groom; returning from church the order was reversed; both ways a veritable fusillade (at present with shotgun and blank shells) was kept up by young men of the party. Though seated at table the bridal couple did not partake of food with the others, but ate alone in another room after the meal. While at table (dinner: Herzog, Pfeifer, Liebenthal, or supper: Schoenchen) the bride was robbed of one shoe by the two cooks (the best in each relation- ship) or any one present (Pfeifer) ; this shoe, as indispensable for dancing, was redeemed for money by the best men (it being customary to have four witnesses), which money was given to the bride (Pfeifer) or to the cooks (Herzog). Dancing was begun after the festal meal by the bridal couple and witnesses, and during this dance presents were pinned to the bride's
NOTE 158 .- Rev. C. Menig. 'Tis not on horse with much ado, 'Tis staid on foot we come to you, Of 'bride and groom to be' in lieu; They now invite you, one and all: Be wedding-guests, both great and small.
Ten geese shall die, and not one hen,
No, not one less than nine and ten, And too the ancient chanticleer, As plump and round as wheel or sphere. Aunt Kate the spoon and pan will wield The dumplings firm and fat to yield, To suit the most exacting taste; And beets as well she'll bake and baste. Dear me! Forgot I not the best, The brandy that awaits the guest ?- Now round my rod a ribbon twine That I may tell you place and time.
NOTE 159. - A like blessing is given when married children leave their parents' home to es- tablish a household.
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Kansas State Historical Society.
dress, presents being of a corresponding nature, such as paper money, dry goods, etc. It was customary for the sponsors of the bridal pair (at bap- tism and confirmation) to give a present at marriage. "Kranzkuchen" are a peculiarity of Pfeifer. These are cakes, plaited and with a hole in the center ; through this the left arm was introduced, the guests thus having the cake at hand while holding their glass with the right.
It is also customary for one offering best wishes on occasion of name- day to bind a ribbon around the right arm, above the elbow, of the man celebrating the feast. 160
When the bishop visits the colonies inland it is still custom to have an escort meet him. These so-called vorreiter (advance riders) are young men on horseback, the bridle decked with ribbons, who gallop before the bishop's carriage, the number being four or more. 161
Half a century ago A. Schneider wrote of the colonists in Russia that they loved to come together and play cards-Durack, Kopfbauer and Solo 162_ specific Russian games. The same is true of their descendants in Kansas, and if one remembers that many of the old men cannot read, one can better understand that they thus pass the long days and evenings. On occasion of a wedding a game of cards known as "Klopfen" is indulged in. In this instance a little money is staked.
Both old and young delight in song. The songs are for the most part sacred, and are contained in the "Geistliche Halszierde," a prayer- and song-book first published about 1846. 163
The following is a popular profane song, with music, which has been transmitted by tradition, not by. print:
RURAL SONG.
NOTE 160 .- Various communications. The varieties of these customs are many and in no village are they absolutely uniform. They are gradually falling into disuse.
NOTE 161 .- October 5, 1892, 150 riders of Herzog escorted Rt. Rev. J. J. Hennessy from Munjor to Herzog. (Victoria Chronicle, p. 36.)
NOTE 162 .- Historisch-politische Blaetter, vol. CXV, p. 426.
NOTE 163 .- I have seen copies of 1847 (2d ed., printed in Saratow), 1862, 1907 (printed in Budapest.)
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German-Russian Settlements in Ellis County.
SONG. I.
Wie schoen ist das laendliche Leben !
Ein Haeuschen auf gruenender Flur Mit schattigen Baeumen ungeben- Wie gluecklich macht mich die Natur ! Im Schatten der gruenenden Baeume Da sitz' ich so gerne allein,
Es wiegen goldene Traeume Die schoene Vergangenheit ein.
II.
Die Schwalbe sitzt oben an Dache, Sie zwitschert ihr Morgenlied vor;
Ich hoere sobald ich erwache Der Voegelein lustigen Chor.
Die Wachtel schlaegt in den Getreide,
Die Lerche singet in Hain,
Es stimmet auf gruenender Haide
Die Lerche so froehlich mit ein.
III.
Zufrieden leb' ich auf dem Lande
Obgleich ich kein Edelmann bin;
Es schwinden im mittleren Stande
Die Tage so froehlich dahin.
Ein Strahl der erwachenden Sonne
Draengt sich in mein Stuebchen herein;
Ich fuehle unsaegliche Wonne, Kein Koenig kann gluecklicher sein.
A peculiar interest attaches to the Schuetzengesellschaft (marksmen society) founded in Catharine at suggestion of Leonard Mittelmeier in 1877. Original members were twenty-four, till in 1889 ten were added, the loss meanwhile being three. The officers, in each instance the best marksmen of the year, were: King, captain, lieutenant, and color bearer. The king wore a broad green scarf, was privileged to fire the first three shots (later only the first shot), and received as prize $1.75. The other officers wore green badges and received as prizes $1.50, $1.25, $1. Annual feast was Pentecost Monday. The target was three and one-half feet in diameter, with five rings, the center five-eighths inches. Only muzzle-loading rifles and round bullets could be used; firing distance was 350 feet. Funds were raised by a charge of two cents for each shot, and fifty cents on entering the society. The number of shots recorded for 1884 is 862; 1885, 796; 1887, 884; 1888, 752; 1889, 669. In 1889 the society dissolved, owing to loss of its funds through dishonesty. 164
The St. Francis Society, in Munjor, has existed since 1882; 165 the St.
NOTE 164 .- A. Walter. A notice of the first feast, see in Ellis County Star, vol. II (1877), n. 6. NOTE 165 .- Rev. J. Becker, O. M. Cap.
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Kansas State Historical Society.
Fidelis Society, in Herzog, since September 21, 1890.166 Both are local benefit societies. Of recent years a number of other societies have been organized, but some settlers still retain an antipathy to all societies as a thing having no precedent in the colonies on the Wolga.
The first settlers were conspicuous because of the large coats lined with sheepskin which they wore in winter. The upper part to the waist was close-fitting; the lower part was attached at the waist in folds after the manner of a skirt, causing it to spread below. Winter caps were high and elliptic. Throughout the year the men wore boots with shafts into which the trousers were put; these shafts were sometimes dec- orated with flowers embroidered in silk. Women and girls wore neither hats nor bonnets, but small black shawls, which were often embroidered with flower designs in colored silk. Despite recent encroachments of the hat the shawl still holds sway. The men on their arrival wore long hair, i. e., from the crown to the neck; many of the older men still adhere to this custom.
Owing to their seclusion the colonies in Russia retained their native tongue (German), but few acquiring a knowledge of the Russian language. The settlers of Ellis county still speak German, and there is to-day not a child of these settlements that cannot speak German as well, and frequently better, than English; this heritage is still fostered at home and in the par- ish school. The spoken German has much similarity to that spoken in the Palatinate and in Bavaria. Some varieties in the language of the different villages still obtain, such as the pronunciation of e as ä, a, ō, ī, in such words as Weizen, stehen, etc. One peculiarity is that words are employed in a sense that is obsolete, as "bloede" in the sense of timid; or in a sense otherwise humorous, as "abscheulich," as adverb to express a superlative; or in a sense wholly unusual, as "frech" (courageous), "geistreich" (proud), "ruchlos" (wild), "schlau" (crooked), "unmuendig" (bashful), "scharf" (fast). It has been remarked that the settlers are never embarrassed in speech, having a readiness of coining new words, or giving existing words a new meaning should circumstances demand it. This may in part explain the unusual application of words. Because of these peculiarities of speech even one familiar with German often fails to arrive at the thought it is meant to convey.
There are in use a number of Latin expressions, such as "cito," "contra," "versuadieren" (persuadere), "stante pede"; these undoubtedly were in- troduced by such as had studied Latin in the seminar. Various French words, such as "boutel, charmant, courage, goulaien (goulu), malheur, palitot, parapluie, precis, rendezvous, reprimand, " are still in use. This has its explanation in the predilection for French words by Germans which had its rise towards the close of the sixteenth century, and still obtained at the time of the exodus of our colonists from Germany. It was in part due to an influx of French-speaking persons (as prisoners of war) into the colonies after the expedition of Napoleon I, and after the Crimean war. Such fami- lies of those who have settled in Ellis county are, e. g., Storm and Vonfeld. Numerous Russian words have been incorporated into the language of the settlers. Such are "ambar" (granary), "arbus" (watermelon), "galosch" (overshoe), "kaback" (wages), "kaftan" (coat), "kalatsch" (white bread),
NOTE 166 .- Victoria Chronicle, p. 24.
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German-Russian Settlements in Ellis County.
"kaluntsch" (swing), "kardus" (cap), "plotnik" (carpenter), "polschupka" (large overcoat), "prostoi" (common). 167 168
Tradition states that most of those who settled on the Wolga were artisans (weavers, cobblers, tailors, etc.) and but few farmers. 169 The new home called for agriculture, and in addition to cereals the colonists on the Wolga cultivated tobacco and raised cattle. The emigrants to Kansas were practi- cally all farmers. The table on page 36, compiled from the book of Ath. Karlin, may be regarded as typical of the efforts and rewards of the average settler.
Some few of the settlers brought with them seed wheat (e. g., the Walter family in 1876 brought ten pounds of Turkish or spring wheat ; some of the large body that arrived in August, 1876), 170 but this was inadequate to the demands. 171 Their early efforts with spring wheat were due to the fact that this had been cultivated with success in Russia. Experience has taught that winter wheat must be preferred.
In early days tobacco, seed of which had been brought by the first settlers, was cultivated extensively. There is record of one colony produc- ing 10,000 pounds in 1877.172 At the present day a few still raise tobacco, Herzog being in the van. 173 Watermelon seeds were brought over by the first arrivals and have thrived well. The cultivation of other vegetables, and cattle raising, have remained on a small scale.
Contemporary records laud the settlers as "industrious and econom- ical." 174 Taking results as the best measure of efforts, the table on page 525, compiled with much labor by B. M. Dreiling from the tax list, and showing the real estate owned by the German-Russians in 1899 and 1909, will best evince their claim to this praise. 175
When it is remembered that most of the arrivals were poor 176 it is plain
NOTE 167 .- Most of the words in the above lists are due to Messrs. B. M. Dreiling, A. Kuhn and A. Meier.
NOTE 168 .- The frequent recurrence of the same Christian name in the same family has given rise to a number of distinctive appellations in use : The large, small, long, fat, red, black, shorn, etc. It is frequently only thus that a person can be distinguished from others of the same name.
NOTE 169 .- A. Schneider, l. c. p. 419; A. Walter, 10a, who refers to an old chronicle, Bauer p. 18.
NOTE 170 .- A. Walter, H. Depperschmidt.
NOTE 171 .- See Ellis County Star, vol. I, n. 2: colonists get wagon loads of seed from Hays. NOTE 172 .- Ellis County Star, vol. II, n. 18.
NOTE 173 .- 1909, John P. Braun raised 1000 pounds.
NOTE 174 .- Ellis County Star, vol. I, n. 19, 23; vol. II, n. 5.
NOTE 175 .- A comparison with 1876, the year of arrival of our settlers, is furnished by the map showing settled land in Ellis county, and the statement that then 17561/2 acres were under cultivation. ( Fifth Annual Report of State Board of Agriculture, Topeka, 1877, pp. 27, 145.) Without fear of exaggeration, it may be said that 75 per cent of the "cultivated" land in Ellis county is in the hands of the German-Russians.
NOTE 176 .- Following details are of interest: While in Topeka, 1875-'76, the Karlin family had bought 1 brown gelding, $80; another, $60; 1 brown mare, $65; 2 geldings, $115; 2 oxen with yoke and chains, $70; 3 cows, $85; harness, $24; 1 wagon, $73; 2 plows, $36; 5000 pounds flour @ $2.50 per 100 (A. Karlin, pp. 8, 9). Jacob Schmidt had $2095 on his arrival. The first year he in- vested $1312.90 in horses and cattle (Schmidt, p. 8). B. Brungardt in 1876 bought a half section of an old soldier for $1000 ( B. Brungardt). Such cases are exceptions. J. Lang, on his arrival in Topeka, 1875, had $300. He purchased 3 horses and 1 cow, which were stolen; he then with Jos. Stremel bought 2 horses, 1 wagon, 1 plow (J. Lang). I. Vonfeld on his arrival in Victoria had $3 (I. Vonfeld). The three families Urban had together 1 pair oxen, 1 plow; the boys by working in Salina earned money to buy a second pair of oxen; later they bought one horse, and the next spring another. Of those who arrived in 1878, but two families were well-to-do. No homesteads could be had then near Herzog, and railroad land cost $5 to $8 (Linnenberger, II, pp. 35, 36).
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Kansas State Historical Society.
Planted acreage.
Crop, bushels.
-
Year.
Winter wheat.
Spring wheat.
Corn.
Winter wheat.
Price, cents.
Spring wheat.
Corn.
1876
9
20
1876-'77
22
24
390
80-90
@ 15-20
1877-'78
36
14
16
@ 18
50
@25
@ 20
1878-'79
47
5
30
@ 11
60-65
@18
@ 20
1879-'80
65
30
12a
@ 10
1880-'81
70
Oats.
30
@ 18
1.05
Oats.
40b
1881-'82
100
25
@ 20
60-70
@ 10
1883-'84c
115
12
37
@ 17
100
@ 8
1884-'85
120
12
40
@ 4ª
40
@30
@ 20
1885-'86
140
11
31
2,000
45-87
510
372
1886-'87
150
34
2,000
60-80
e
1887-'88
160
27
25
2,302
100
f
1888-'89
182
30
4,350
684
1889-'90
152
12
585
1890-'91
111
7
11}
1,800
80-85
150
175
1891-'92
120
9
19
3,700h
45-55
180
162
1892-'93
65
53
i
1893-'94
145
16
780j
1894-'95
135
23
49
3201
30-40
280
5-6a
1895-'96
83
7
12
820m
7-8a
1896-'97
160
3,500
66-1.05
1897-'98
170
2,580n
50-65
a. Crop total failure (Schmidt, p. 9). Men worked in Colorado. Seed wheat furnished by U. P. R. R. @ $0.65 (A. Karlin, p. 13).
b. Chinch bug (A. Karlin, p. 14).
c. No record of 1882-'83.
d. Much rain, worms, chinch bug, Hessian fly, etc. (A. Karlin, p. 18).
e. Chinch bug (Karlin, 21).
f. Drought (Karlin, 22).
g. Drought (Karlin, 24).
h. Very good year (Schmidt, 11).
i. Total failure in wheat (Schmidt, 11). June 26, 1893, first good rain since August, 1892 (Victoria Chronicle, 41).
j. Total failure (Schmidt, 11). End of June, 1894, hail (Victoria Chronicle, 43); hail June 23, 1894 (Karlin, 30).
k. Drought (Victoria Chronicle, 43).
l. 6 bu. per acre (Schmidt, 11); end of April wind tore out grain (Victoria Chronicle, 45).
m. 7 bu. per acre (Schmidt, 11); end of May hail north of Victoria, June 6 south of Victoria (Victoria Chronicle, 49); grasshoppers devoured cabbage, cucumbers, watermelons, tomatoes (Karlin, 34).
n. 40 acres resown, because eaten by grasshoppers (Karlin, 37).
g
265
k
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German-Russian Settlements in Ellis County.
that their possessions were wrested for the most part from the stubborn glebe. The table on this page shows the personal property of the settlers in 1899 and 1909. This too was kindly compiled by B. M. Dreiling from the assessment rolls. Unhappily the records of 1889 were burned.
ACREAGE AND VALUATION of lands owned by the Ellis county Russian settlers, taken from the tax rolls for 1899 and 1909 .*
1899.
1909.
TOWNSHIP.
No. of acres.
Valuation.
No. of acres.
Valuation.
Big Creek
9,966
$153,768 00
19,250
$522,944 00
Buckeye
160
1,914 00
8,960
138,675 00
Catharine
12,640
157 551 00
24,920
459,933 00
Ellis
6,900
103,675 00
Freedom
5,840
69,408 00
12,480
200,492 00
Hamilton.
1,120
15,915-00
Herzog
15,637
255,771 00
20,560
480,555 00
Lookout
6,520
72,225 00
26,560
508,820 00
Pleasant Hill
480
3,690 00
9,480
49,594 00
Saline
320
3,000 00
3,680
67,065 00
Smoky Hill.
3,520
34,900 00
Victoria
11,940
143,520 00
14,480
412,830 00
Walker.
8,340
98,100 00
16,000
402,480 00
Wheatland .
10,160
136,617 00
28,640
554,460 00
Totals.
82,003
$1,095,564 00
196,550
$4,052,338 00
* This list does not include land rented or partly paid. It does not show the land-holdings of the Liebenthal, most lands of the Pfeifer and much of the possessions of the Schoenchen settlers which are in Rush county.
PERSONAL PROPERTY assessed against the Russian settlers of Ellis county.
TOWNSHIP.
1899.
1909.
Big Creek
$7,098 00
$202,287 00
Buckeye.
11,035 00
Catharine
7,307 00
123,793 00
Ellis ..
23,830 00
Freedom
2,580 00
74,550 00
Hamilton
3,685 00
Herzog.
28,764 00
131,585 00
Lookout.
6,297 00
130,938 00
Pleasant Hill.
47 00
32,249 00
Saline.
675 00
11,210 00
Smoky Hill.
12,015 00
Victoria
10,764 00
140,360 00
Walker.
3,336 00
84,530 00
Wheatland
7,881 00
126,495 00
Totals
$74,743 00
$1,108,562 00
The first who came to Victoria found as the only buildings the present depot and one other house. Near Munjor was one dwelling (of J. Schlyer) ; the sites of the other villages were as yet unsettled. The English colonists who had founded Victoria in 1873 gave employment to a number of the German-Russians, also an Englishman, some distance from Munjor. Most found employment on the railroad, and the money thus earned was invested in land and stock. A source of income, 1876-'78, was the sale of buffalo
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Kansas State Historical Society.
bones, strewn far and wide over the prairie, which brought from five to seven dollars per ton. The earliest dwellings were board tents. As the season advanced sod houses or dugouts were built. Houses of stone (which required labor rather than money) and of lumber (which required money) succeeded as freedom from other occupation and wealth allowed. Many buildings of recent years are large and commodious. Some of the small houses in the villages have their explanation in this, that they are not de- signed to be a home (which is on the farm), but a temporary shelter on Sundays and holidays when attending divine service. The want of timber and the need of economy led to the use of "mist-holz" (compost of manure and straw) as fuel, which is still used. The spinning wheel was and is yet in use in some homes. Knitting too, is still a favorite occupation of some few.
Great was the poverty and suffering among the colonists in the years 1893-'97. Harvest there was practically none (compare table, page 524) ; the settlers were forced to pay exorbitant interest for loans; land depre- ciated so as to be almost valueless; even school children, for want of proper nourishment, became so listless that they remained on their benches rather than play during recess. 177 In spite of all, the stout-hearted men remained, till with the year 1897 a bountiful harvest rewarded their endurance.
A bright page this in the history of Kansas which relates the quiet and unassuming conquest of a one-time desert178 with staid adherence to old customs, thus presenting the strange spectacle of "Gemuetlichkeit" in the land of the "strenuous life."
The above happenings are the outcome of a peculiar chain of circum- stances that has few parallels in history. The horrors of the seven-year war (1756-1763) that had involved most of Europe had led men to regard a home where immunity from military service was guaranteed as a veritable 'Eldorado.' It was again the military spectre that a century later brought the descendants of these lovers of peace to the land of stars and stripes. To the early hardships that for many decades made literary pursuits impos- sible and to the poor estate of learning, which was suppressed by those by whom it should have been fostered, 179 is due that but few of the settlers in Ellis county can state the home of their ancestors in Germany. 180 Printed records, as those of Landau, Sulz, Karlsruhe, Speier, Rastadt and Muenchen, which were founded 1809-1811 in southern Russia, giving the names of the first settlers and their homes in Germany, 181 seem not to exist. Many whose
NOTE 177 .- Various communications. The majority of settlers remained true to agricultural pursuits. Some are engaged in mercantile business, others practice a trade (stone mason, car- penter) alone or in addition to farming. The exploitation of gold on the banks of the Smoky Hill river (1900-'02-see Waldemar Lindgreen, Tests for Gold and Silver in shales from Western Kansas, Washington, 1902), and a similar attempt near Catharine (section 28, township 13 south, range 17 west), were failures.
NOTE 178 .- Pike's Journal of 1805 (Prentiss, History of Kansas, p. 24). Kansas Historical Collections, vol. IX, pp. 101-114.
NOTE 179 .- See Bauer, book I, ch. 2-5; book II, ch. 5-6.
NOTE 180 .- The Brungardt family have preserved the tradition that their maternal ancestors came from Ornbau, Bavaria ( B. Brungardt); Jacob Schmidt (p. 3 ) states that his grandfather, Peter Schmidt, was born in Lindheim in Isenburg-Buedingen ( now Hessen-Darmstadt ). Such details are rare.
NOTE 181 .- Rev. Conrad Keller, in Deutscher Volkskalender, Odessa, 1909, pp. 104-129. Such records could probably be made from the parish registers in the colonies and the lists which the Russian government had of all immigrants who were required to repay to the government most of the sum of five million rubles expended for colonization. (See Bauer, pp. 12, 105-6). Mr. Jos. Linnenberger states that manuscripts of A. Schneider are still preserved by a relative in Marien- thal, Russia; also that Rev. Th. Beratz, pastor in Herzog, Russia, has written a work on the colonies which he contemplates publishing.
39
German-Russian Settlements in Ellis County.
names are here chronicled are no longer in the land of the living, and the time is not far distant when all the pioneers of our German-Russian settle- ments will have passed from the stage.
The question as to whether our settlers know nothing of their ancestors is a difficult one. A few can state from what village in Germany their an- cestors came, but it must be admitted that most cannot. These records could undoubtedly be found in the parish registers in Russia and Germany. Some settlements near Odessa which date from the first two decades of the nineteenth century have printed details of all persons who founded the set- tlements. A like service could probably be performed for the settlers on the Volga. Without doubt an extensive literature, both Russian and Ger- man, exists, of which we have no knowledge. While, then, it is true that most of our settlers know little of their ancestors, such records may, and probably do, exist. The sum which the Russian government expended to colonize the region near the Volga was repaid by the colonists, which goes to indicate that the government had a complete list of persons and expend- itures.
BIBLIOGRAPHY.
MANUSCRIPT.
Linnenberger, Jos., sr. Book (letter-paper size) of over 600 pages. Re- lates the early history of several colonies on the Karamann; a chapter is devoted to the emigration to America. This book is referred to in this article as I. A smaller book treats in particular of the emigration to Kansas and is cited as II.
Walter, August, relates on 34 pages (copy size) the emigration from Ger- many to Russia, and from Russia to the United States, with a full list of the settlers in Catharine; but one side of the page is numbered; a and b in this article refer to the front and reverse of the pages.
Karlin, Athanasius. Diary (though begun only February 8, 1889) gives de- tails of his trip to Kansas, of crops from 1876 till 1897 (34 pages, memo- randum size).
Schmidt, Jacob. Family book (11 pages, ledger size) begun 1843, relates important family matters till 1904. Some notes of general interest are cited above.
The monastery chronicles of Victoria and Munjor contain some items of in- terest which are frequently referred to. All these manuscripts are. German.
PRINTED.
Schaab, Christopher (school teacher in Pfeifer, Russia), gives in the St. Joseph's Blatt (published in Mt. Angel, Ore.), vol. XXI (1909) n. 35 (Aug. 27), n. 41 (Oct. 8), n. 43 (Oct. 22), n. 45 (Nov. 5), n. 48 (Nov. 26), many details of the emigration to Russia and subsequent develop- ment, from a manuscript he secured in Semenowka.
A. Z. (=A. Zottmann: Communication of Dr. Jochner, of Munich, Feb- ruary 10, 1910) in Historisch politische Blaetter (published in Munich, Bavaria), vol. CXV (1895), pp. 417-430, gives similar details from a manuscript of Anton Schneider of Mariental, written in 1863, and pre- served in the seminary at Saratow.
40
Kansas State Historical Society.
Zottmann, Al. Franz X. von Zottmann, Munich, 1904, 8vo, XII, 220 pages. Biography of the second bishop of Tiraspol, in which diocese the Russian colonies lie. The details, pp. 100-105, are taken from the manuscript of A. Schneider.
Katholische Missionen (published by B. Herder, Freiburg, Baden and St. Louis, Mo.), vol. XXXIV (1906), pp. 97-101, 127-130, relates the emi- gration to Russia, early hardships and especially ecclesiastical conditions and development.
Bauer, Gottlieb, Geschichte der deutschen Ansiedler an der Wolga seit ihrer Einwanderung nach Russland bis zur Einfuehrung der allgemeinen Wehrpflicht (1766-1874) nach geschichtlichen Quellen und muendlichen Ueberlieferungen, Saratow, 1908, IV, 182 pp. depicts emigration to Russia, hardships, political conditions and corruption.
Eastman, Philip, published a sketch of the Ellis county settlements in the Kansas City Star, August 5, 1906. This was reproduced in various pa- pers, e. g., in part in "Herold des Glaubens," St. Louis, October 17, 1906 (German translation).
Epp, V. Rev. Hyacinth, O. M. Cap. Deutsche Russlaender in Kansas, in "Seraphischer Kinderfreund" (published at Pittsburgh, Pa., by Capuchin Fathers), vol. VI, n. 12 (Dec. 1904), vol. VII, n. 1-7 (Jan .- July, 1905), treats of emigration to Kansas, and especially of ecclesiastical develop- ment. A similar series (from the pen of Rev. Severin Scharl, O. M. Cap.) was published in the "Seraphic Child" (Pittsburgh, Pa., Capuchin Fathers), vol. VI, n. 8-9 (Aug., Sept., 1907), vol. VII, n. 1-4 (Jan .- Apr., 1908).
Ellis County Star, vols. I-V (1876-'80), were kindly lent by J. H. Downing, editor and publisher.
The data in Prentis, Noble L., A History of Kansas (Winfield, Kan., 1899),
pp. 147, 148; revised ed. (Topeka, 1904), pp. 147, 148, are exact. In Cutler's History of the State of Kansas (Chicago, 1883), p. 1290, there is some confusion of the villages (Munjor is named Catharine, Catharine is named Schoenchen, Schoenchen is named Munjor) .
Fuer Musse-Stunden, vol. II, Cologne, Bachem, 1894 (?), p. 57-60, repro- duces an article of the "Koelnische Volkszeitung," which relates condi- tions in the Russian colonies on the Wolga in the '90's.
Keller, Konrad, Die Deutschen Kolonien in Sued-Russland, Odessa, 1905, XII, 306 pp., designedly excludes the Wolga colonies (p. IV).
.Stach, J., Die Deutschen Kolonien in Sued-Russland, Prischib, 1905 (Part I), 216 pp., seems not to treat of the colonies from which the Ellis county settlers came.
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