Volume 2 Issue 3 - May 2006 - ISSN 1559-3592

THE HOMESTEADERnewsletter of the harvey county genealogical society

THE GERMAN-RUSSIAN MENNONITES: A DILIGENT PEOPLE© 2005 by Diana G. (Buller) Carmichael

Printed with permission from Diana G. (Buller) Carmichael, a descendant of those diligent Mennonites

The term ’German-Russian’ (or ’Russian-German’) is the identifier of the migration of the Mennonite people, since the documented historical roots of Mennonites today are found in the early sixteenth century Anabaptists, many of whom are traced to their origins in the Netherlands. These ancestral congregations were perceived as a threat to the Catholic church and reformers of the day, so were constantly persecuted for their beliefs. They eventually followed the leadership of Menno Simons (born in Witmarsum, Friesland in 1495; died in Wüstenfelde, Germany on January 31, 1561), who had joined the Anabaptist movement in 1536, and from whose name the word Mennonites (’Mennisten‘) is derived. Their position on church membership was that it should be an adult decision, rather than infant baptism, and their views of the Bible and discipleship led them to practice non-resistance (refusal to bear arms, swear allegiance to any earthly authority, hold political office, or sue in a court of law). Thus strongly committed to following these precepts, they wandered Europe seeking religious freedom and were scattered throughout Switzerland, Holland, Germany and Prussia (Polish Russia). In her Manifesto of July 22, 1763, Catherine the Great (born a Princess in Germany on April 21, 1762), Empress of Russia, offered a vast region of the royal lands for agricultural development to the persecuted peoples of all faiths with the promises, among other things, that they could practice their beliefs with no restrictions, not be required to pay taxes to the treasury, and would not be pressed into military service. The Mennonites were a highly prosperous agrarian culture on the steppes (prairies) of Russia, the major economic resources being grain, sheep, silk, orchards, and dairies. However, after the death of Catherine (November 17, 1796), the exemption from military service eventually changed. In order for the Russian empire to build a more efficient army, the new monarchs of the country increasingly insisted on drafting Mennonites (which became effective in 1874). This precipitated the idea for emigration and, once again, the Mennonites began looking for new homes. Their search pointed them across the Atlantic Ocean toward the Americas where other Mennonite groups had already prospered. During the years 1873 and 1874, the largest migration of German-Russian Mennonites to the United States from Russia took place. The two largest colonies to immigrate were from the Chortiza (Khortitsa) and Molotschna. One of the places they came to was Kansas, where they were encouraged by land grants to develop farms adjacent to the new Santa Fe railroad. Besides Harvey County, the German-Russian Mennonites made their homes in Marion, McPherson, and Reno counties in Kansas. These Mennonites introduced the hard winter wheat (‘Turkey Red’) to Kansas when they first began planting it in 1874 and 1875. Volume 1 of Kansas: A Cyclopedia Of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. (Standard Pub. Co. Chicago : 1912. Vols. I-II edited by Frank W. Blackmar) states, “The large influx of these people followed an investigation on the part of advance committees, which determined upon Harvey county as a suitable locality in which to settle. This was a very important circumstance in the growth of the county, as they are a thrifty and industrious class of citizens, and they have contributed toward the general prosperity of all lines of business.” Harvey County still has one of the largest Mennonite populations in the United States, and although their lifestyle has become more modernized, they are known as a warm-hearted and friendly people famous for their hospitality and good cooking. There are numerous contributions they have made to Harvey County, with their most visible and recognized influences being nearly two dozen Mennonite churches, two colleges, a nationally recognized mental health organization, the national headquarters of the Mennonite Church USA (Newton), the headquarters of the Western District Conference (North Newton), and the Mennonite Publishing Network and Herald Press. Bethel College (North Newton) was established in 1887 by German Mennonites from Russia and is the oldest Mennonite college in North America; it is affiliated with the Mennonite Church USA. Hesston College (Hesston) was established in 1909 by the Mennonite Church USA. The Mennonite Church in Halstead was the first organized in the county in the Spring of 1875 and had sixteen members. A newspaper published in the interests of the Mennonites and published in the German language, ‘Zurheimath,‘ was first issued in Halstead on January 6, 1876 with David Goerz as editor; the name was changed to the ‘Bundesboten’ in January, 1882.

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Daniel Stuart ’Dan’ Buller was born January 21, 1890 in McPherson County, Kansas to Heinrich ‘Henry’ Buller and Sara Schmidt. He was baptised on May 15, 1910 in Alexanderwöhl Church, Göessel, Marion County, Kansas. On January 28, 1917, he married Maria ‘Mary’ Ratzlaff in Marion County, Kansas. She was born June 27, 1895 in Hoffnungsau, McPherson County, Kansas, the daughter of Jacob Peter Ratzlaff and Marie ‘Mary’ Unruh. According to the 1920 United States Census, Dan, Mary, and their first two children, were residing in Hillsboro, Risley Township, Marion County, Kansas on January 21, 1920. Dan was a farmer in Marion County in the early years, raising wheat and probably caffir corn, living on the farm next to his parents. Eventually, the family moved to Walton, Harvey County, Kansas. Dan worked at Hopkins Produce on and off. Hopkins bought cream, eggs, and chickens and other fowl. A grocery store in Walton was owned by a man named Carl Budde who owned a Model T Coupe. My father (a son of Dan and Mary) remembers going with his father in that car to a grocery warehouse in Newton to get things for Mr. Budde. As this was during the ‘Depression’ years, Dan did other odd jobs around the area when there wasn‘t enough work with Mr. Budde. The family moved to Newton during the summer of 1933 into a house on East Fourth Street about a block west of High Street for a few months, and then to 1204 East 12th Street. Hopkins also moved his business to downtown Newton on East 7th Street, one-half block east of Main Street. Dan would work there on Saturdays all day until late into the evening for $1.00. My father said he also worked there on Saturdays from eight in the morning to five in the evening for 25 cents (for the whole day) washing the buckets people would bring in when they sold their cream to Hopkins. When they lived on East Fourth Street, the children attended McKinley School. The later children went to Cooper School (when the old building was still located on the south part of the block) when they lived on East 12th Street. Their lunch was homemade bread with lard, which was sprinkled with salt or sugar depending on their taste for that day. They had homemade butter to use once in a while since the family had a roan cow called ‘Roanie.’ Dan worked with the WPA (Works Progress Administration) most of the time, and during that period he worked for the county when they were cleaning the streams around bridges. It was then that he was somehow hit by a log, which was the cause of the cancer that

developed in his jaw and neck, and led to his eventual early death. He was often hospitalized after that and subsequently couldn’t do much work. He had also been hurt in 1910 when either a farm wagon or hayrack rolled over him. About once a month the family received commodities at the courthouse: beans, prunes, dried eggs, powdered milk, and other miscellaneous items, which for a large family did not last long (Dan and Mary had ten children). There was a fellow who would drop off old wooden crates that my father would chop up for kindling to use for the family’s cooking and heating. During this time, there were what they called bums who just wanted a handout, and hobos who were willing to work for a meal. Since they lived next to the railroad tracks and highway, a few of each wound up at their door. Mary generally gave the hobos a meal, but she didn’t have them do anything because the boys of the family could do the work themselves. The meal Mary usually gave out was cornmeal lard, or cornmeal mush as they called it then (now it’s called grits). Sometimes there was canned mutton, which my father said he liked very much; he was unhappy that she saved the mutton to serve for company sometimes.

Dan died of the previously mentioned cancer on February 3, 1942 at Bethel Deaconess Hospital, Newton, Harvey County, Kansas and was buried February 6, 1942 in Greenwood Cemetery, Newton, Harvey County, Kansas. Mary later married Charles W. Stein on September 12, 1943; he died on November 10, 1960. Mary then married Dietrich S. ‘Dick’ Klassen on October 2, 1964 in Hillsboro, Marion County, Kansas; he died May 14, 1978 at Salem Nursing Home, Hillsboro, Marion County, Kansas. Mary died of ventricular fibrillation on February 28, 1976 in the Peabody Memorial Nursing Home, Peabody, Marion County, Kansas and was buried March 2, 1976 in Greenwood Cemetery, Newton, Harvey County, Kansas.

GenerationsBy Diana G. (Buller) Carmichael

Daniel Stuart ‘Dan’ BULLER& Maria ‘Mary’ RATZLAFF

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TraditionalGerman-Russian Mennonite recipes:

ZWIEBACH

3 tablespoons dry granulated yeast1 teaspoon sugar

1 cup water3 cups milk, warm

1 cup shortening or butter, softened2 eggs, optional4 teaspoons salt1/4 cup sugar

11-12 cups flour

Dissolve yeast with sugar in warm water (follow temperature guideline yeast package). Add warm milk, shortening, eggs, salt, and sugar. Stir to mix ingredients. Add 5 cups flour and beat well. Add remaining flour, enough to make a soft dough. Knead well. Let rise until double in bulk. Knead down and let rise again. Form into small round buns, placing one on top of another. Place larger sized buns on the bottom and smaller ones on top. Let rise until soft to touch. Bake at 425-450 degrees for 12-15 minutes. Makes 4-5 dozen.

RUSSIAN PANCAKES

Fast, easy, and great right out of the pan!

3 eggs (beaten) 2 1/4 cup milk 1 teaspoon salt 1 1/4 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Mix flour and milk with baking powder and salt; add eggs. Batter should be thin. Pour about 1/3 cup batter into large frying pan. Tip pan so batter spreads out very thin over bottom of pan. Brown on one side and then turn on the other side when bubbles form and one side is brown enough to suit taste. Usually eaten rolled up with filling of choice - jelly, fruit, vegetables, etc.

Heinrich and Sara (Schmidt) Buller wearing typical Mennonite dress. They were the parents of Daniel Stuart Buller (great-grandparents of Diana G. [Buller] Carmichael).Several of their descendants have made their homes in Harvey County, but many more have spread out over the United States and other areas of the world.

Daniel Stuart Buller, 1911 (age 21)

OF INTERESTSunday, June 18 at 3:00 p.m. - Norman E. Saul, professor of history at Kansas University, will present the program “The Kansas Miracle: Mennonites, Volga Germans and Turkey Red Wheat“ at the Harvey County Historical Museum & Archives, 203 North Main, Newton, Kansas. This is a presentation of the Kansas Humanities Council. Free and open to the public.

BOARD MEETINGSHCGS Board Meetings are open to the public, and anyone with an

interest in Genealogy or the HCGS is encouraged to attend. Meetings are currently held at 7:00 p.m. in the Source of Light building conference

room, 901 SW 14th Street, in Newton.

Upcoming Meetings: May 18 - June 15 - July 20

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MENNONITE RESEARCH & INTEREST RESOURCESThere are thousands of research resources and items of special interest relating to the Mennonites. The following is just a very small sampling:

If you GOOGLE the keyword ‘Mennonite’ it provides an amazing 7,360,000 results. Use the keywords ‘German-Russian Mennonite’ to get 10,300 results - but simply adding an ’s’ to the word ‘Mennonite’ will give 12,400 results. Apparently, it’s more popular to refer to us as German-Russian rather than Russian-German, for a keyword search using ‘Russian-German Mennonites’ gives only 626 results. URL: www.google.com. (Results numbers as of April 15, 2006.)

The offices of the Mennonite Church USA, along with Provident Bookstore, are located in the Mennonite buildings at 716, 722, 726 North Main, Newton, Kansas and are part of the Main Street Historic District Number 2; listed on both the National and Kansas Register of Historical Places.

Mennonite Church USA Historical Committee & Archives. URL: www.mcusa-archives.org.

Haury, David A. Index to Mennonite Immigrants on United States Passenger Lists, 1872-1904, North Newton, Kansas: Mennonite Library and Archives, 1986.

Mennonite Heritage Museum, 200 North Poplar, Goessel, Kansas. Tele: 620-367-8200. URL: http://skyways.lib.ks.us/museums/goessel.

Saul, Norman E. “The Migration of the Russian-Germans to Kansas” (Kansas Historical Quarterlies, Spring, 1974, Vol. 40, No. 1, pages 38-62). URL: www.kancoll.org/khq/1974/74_1_saul.htm.

The Linguistic Atlas of Kansas German Dialects (LAKGD) project is from the University of Kansas Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures aims at collecting and preserving samples of spoken German in Kansas, identifying the major characteristics that differentiate the many varieties spoken, creating maps to show where German was/is still spoken, and digitizing samples of recordings and making them available for online access. URL: www.ku.edu/~germanic/lakgdhomepage/main.htm.

Voth, Norma Jost. Mennonite Foods and Folkways from South Russia, Intercourse, Pennsylvania: Good Books, 1990.

ODESSA is a digital library dedicated to the cultural and family history of the millions of Germans who emigrated to Russia in the 1800s and their descendants, who are now scattered throughout the world. The document collection consists primarily of digitized books and records plus indexes of microfilms and research aids that enable users to trace individual and family migrations since the early 1800s. It is made freely available by the author and by the Germans from Russia Heritage Society, on whose server the library resides. URL: www.odessa3.org.

Tiessen, Henry Bernard. The Molotschna Colony: A Heritage Remembered, Kitchener, Ontario: author, 1979.

Warkentin House, 16-room Victorian home completed in 1887 by Bernhard and Wilhelmina Warkentin is located at 211 East 1st Street, Newton, Kansas. Tele: 316-283-7555.

GRANDMA, short for Genealogical Registry and Database of Mennonite Ancestry, is a project of the California Mennonite Historical Society. URL: calmenno.org/grandma/index.htm.

Wiebe, David V. They Seek a Country: A Survey of Mennonite Migrations, Hillsboro, Kansas: Mennonite Brethren Publishing House, 1959; 2nd edition. Freeman, South Dakota: Pine Hill Press, 1974.

Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies, Tabor College, 400 South Jefferson, Hillsboro, Kansas 67063. Main switchboard: 620-947-3121. URL: www.tabor.edu/library/center.php.

Mennonite Quarterly Review, quarterly journal devoted to Anabaptist-Mennonite history, thought, life and affairs; cooperative publication of Goshen College, the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary and the Mennonite Historical Society. Email: mqr@goshen.edu. URL: www.goshen.edu/mqr.

Hiebert, Clarence. Brothers in Deed to Brothers in Need: A Scrapbook about Mennonite Immigrants from Russia, 1870-1885, Newton, Kansas: Faith and Life Press, 1974.

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1847 Molotschna Colony

Voters’ Lists

Voters’ lists were originally compiled in late September - early October, 1847. The names of 1,075 owners of farms in the 43 villages of the Molotschna Colony at that time comprise the lists. The following list is for Alexanderwöhl Village (Molotschna Colony, Taurida Province, South Russia):

1. Martin Kornelius 2. Heinrich Block 3. Heinrich Görtz 4. Peter Hiebert 5. Heinrich Schmidt 6. Peter Unruh 7. David Voth 8. Widow Görtz 9. Jakob Gäddert 10. Heinrich Unruh 11. Heinrich Balzer 12. Jakob Pankratz 13. Heinrich Franz 14. Heinrich Unruh 15. Jakob Buller 16. Gerhard Giesbrecht 17. Heinrich Schmidt 18. Jakob Schmidt 19. Heinrich Voth 20. Andreas Schmidt 21. Franz Banman 22. Peter Freÿ 23. Johann Schröder 24. Jakob Schmidt 25. David Richert 26. Heinrich Buller 27. Peter Wedel 28. Heinrich Schmidt 29. Andreas Schmidt 30. Heinrich Buller

ANABAPTIST HYMNALDER AUSBUND, NO. 31

We wander in the forest darkWith dogs upon our track

And like the captive silent lamb,Men, bring us prisoners, back.

They point to us amid the throngAnd with their taunts offend,

And long to let the sharpened axOn heretics descend.

LOW-GERMAN FOLK RHYMEBegged, given, borrowed, and taken,Destitute, sick, hungry, and forsaken,

Thus father and mother fled from Prussia,To the wild steppes of South Russia.

THE MENNONITE VILLAGES

OF SOUTHERN RUSSIA

Molotschna Colony VillagesAlexanderkrone, Alexandertal, Alexanderwöhl, Altona, Blumenort, Blumstein, Elisabethtal, Fabrikerwiese, Felsental, Fischau, Franztal, Friedensdorf, Friedensruh, Fürstenau, Fürstenwerder, Gnadenfeld, Gnadenheim, Gnadental, Grossweide, Haubstadt , Hamberg, Hierschau, Jushanlee, Kleefeld, Klippenfeld, Konteniusfeld, Ladekopp, Landskrone, Lichtenau, Lichtfelde, Liebenau, Lindenau, Margenau, Mariawohl, Marienthal, Muntau, Muensterberg, Neu-Halbstadt, Neukirch, Niklaidorf, Ohrloff, Pastwa, Paulsheim, Petershagen, Pordenau, Prangenau, Rosenort, Rückenau, Rudnerweide, Schardau, Schöenau, Schönsee, Sparrau, Steinbach, Steinfeld, Tiege, Tiegenhagen, Tiegerweide, Waldheim, Wernersdorf

Chortiza (Khortitsa) Colony Villages Blumengart, Burwalde, Chortitza, Einlage, Kronsweide, Kronstal, Neuenburg, Neuendorf, Neuhorst, Nieder-Chortitza, Osterwick, Rosenbach, Rosengart, Rosenthal, Schöneberg, Schönhorst

Yazykovo Colony Villages Adelsheim, Eichenfeld, Franzfeld, Hochfeld, Nikolaifeld, Paulsheim, Petersdorf, Reinfeld

Schlachtin-Baratov Colony Villages Gnadental, Gruenfeld, Neu-Chortitza, Sofievka, Steinfeld

Borozenko Villages Annafeld, Blumenhof, Ebenfeld, Eichengrund, Felsenbach, Friedensfeld, Gruenfeld, Heuboden, Hochstaedt, Nikolaital, Rosenfeld, Schöndorf, Steinbach

Memrik Villages Alexandrovka, Kalinovo, Karpovka, Kotlyarevka, Lessovka, Marinovka, Michailovka, Nikolayevka, Orlov, Zhelanaya Station

Sagradowka VillagesAlexanderfeld, Alexanderkrone, Altonau, Blumenort, Friedensfeld, Gnadenfeld, Muensterberg, Neu-Halbstadt, Neu-Schönsee, Nikolaidorf, Nikolaifeld, Orloff, Reinfeld, Rosenort, Schönau, Steinfeld, Tiege

Fürstenland Villages Alexanderthal, Georgsthal, Michaelsburg, Olgafeld, Rosenbach

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Program Notes by Kelly Krotz

The February general meeting of the Harvey County Genealogical Society was held Saturday, February 18th at

1:00 p.m. at the Mennonite Library and Archives on the Bethel College campus. Several members of the society braved the cold and wind to attend this informative program.

The Mennonite Library and Archives is a joint venture of Bethel College and the Mennonite Church, USA. Mr. John Thiesen provided an overview of the MLA holdings, insightful tips on how to find genealogical information and also answered members’ questions. The MLA holdings include both published and unpublished

works. They have an extensive photograph collection and many oral histories that researchers may find useful in their projects. There are numerous volumes of self-published family histories and Mennonite church records available to genealogy hunters to peruse. The material concentrates on the Russian Mennonites who settled in this area, but one can find information on other groups, too.

If you are thinking that there is very little information available to persons with no Mennonite family background – think again! The MLA holdings include regional history information for Harvey County and many of the surrounding counties in Central Kansas. One society member with no family ties to the Mennonites was able to locate the year her great-grandfather passed away within minutes of browsing through some of the MLA’s holdings. This elusive date had been perplexing her for several years!

There is a plethora of information available at the MLA. Hours of the MLA are from 10:00 a.m. to Noon and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. On the first and third Thursdays of the month they are also open in the evenings. The MLA also has information available online at their website: www.bethelks.edu/services/mla. Visit the MLA soon and add to your collection of information about your families!

The Homesteader is published bi-monthly by the Harvey County (Kansas) Genealogical Society, PO Box 75, Newton, Kansas 67114. To be added to the mailing list, submit materials, or for more information about the content listed herein, contact Darren McMannis, Newsletter Editor. HCGS reserves the right to edit submissions and other material for space, content, clarity, grammar, and spelling. This newsletter may be freely photocopied and distributed, as long as it is not reproduced for profit or other personal gain. Special thanks to Diana Carmichael for compiling the information contained in this issue.

The Quarterly Program on Saturday, May 20 will be a hands-on learning experience covering Cemetery Transcription, will be held at Greenwood cemetery (check website for details). We will meet at noon and begin with a short instruction period, so bring a sack lunch and drink to enjoy during the informal discussion. Worksheets and other handouts will be provided. We recommend bringing a lawn chair for those attendees who might require rest periods. Contact the society by May 17 if you will be attending. In case of inclement weather, the workshop will not be rescheduled during this year.

WINNERS OF OUR DRAWINGThe society’s booth at the Harvey County Home & Garden Show in April was a wonderful experience. So many nice folks stopped to enter our drawing, chat about their ancestors, and relate some very interesting family stories. A couple of us manning the booth even met some cousins from our family branches! And speaking of the drawing — our two winners are Alice Miller and Avalee Weeks, both of Newton, Kansas. They each receive a free membership in the society for 2006 which includes all regular member benefits. Congratulations to Alice and Avalee!

Society Web SiteExciting news — drum roll please! The society has it’s own domain! The deciding factor (among other things) was to be able to offer research information in database form. Although we greatly appreciate our regular web space that is hosted on RootsWeb (we will continue to use that space as a ‘cousin’ site of sorts), due to their policy on databases and various other concerns, we made the decision to acquire a domain. There was much study and discussion of the benefits and issues involved with taking on such a task, the most important being that you, the members of the society, and genealogists in general, would reap the rewards. The domain is currently in the process of being developed and databases are being built. This is something that cannot possibly happen in just a few days or weeks, but may take several months before everything is as it should be for online access. However, we will soon begin to mirror our current site files on the domain so that everything is all in one spot for ease of use in the future. You may visit the society’s domain at www.hcgsks.org — announcements and other updates will be posted there for you to stay abreast of the latest news pertaining to the domain and its ‘grand opening’ schedule. Please be aware that there are the inevitable ‘down’ times during which you will be unable to access one or the other of our web sites as work is done on each (which is normal even on a good day anywhere on the world wide web) — just try again at a later time or another day.

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