This is all I know. I did know him growing up, he lived in Rockford, IL and died in 1981. We always thought his mothers name was Bertha, but it doesn't look that way. Henry was 2 when they came over. I am his only Grandchild. I would appreciate any help you have. I would just like to know more about out family. They were always so secretive. I am sure worried about being deported. The information below, is from the Ellis Island records....... First Name: Heinrich (Henry) Last Name: Eifert Ethnicity: Russia, German Last Place of Residence: Larat..., Russia Date of Arrival: Apr 11, 1913 Age at Arrival: 2 Gender: M Marital Status: S Ship of Travel: Pretoria Port of Departure: Hamburg Manifest Line Number: 0020 First Name: Amalia (Henry's mother) Last Name: Eifert Ethnicity: Russia, German Last Place of Residence: Larat..., Russia Date of Arrival: Apr 11, 1913 Age at Arrival: 31 Gender: F Marital Status: M Ship of Travel: Pretoria Port of Departure: Hamburg Manifest Line Number: First Name: Alexander Last Name: Eifert Ethnicity: Russia, German Last Place of Residence: Larat..., Russia Date of Arrival: Apr 11, 1913 Age at Arrival: 8 Gender: M Marital Status: S Ship of Travel: Pretoria Port of Departure: Hamburg Manifest Line Number: 0018 First Name: Amalia Last Name: Eifert Ethnicity: Russia, German Last Place of Residence: Larat..., Russia Date of Arrival: Apr 11, 1913 Age at Arrival: 6 Gender: F Marital Status: S Ship of Travel: Pretoria Port of Departure: Hamburg Manifest Line Number: 0019 It doesn't look like the father of Henry came over with them. Maybe he came at another time, or maybe he died in Russia? Henry's death certificate from IRAD should tell you his father's name. Thank you for any help you can give me, Robin Schulze Kansas City, Missouri ************************************** AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at http://www.aol.com.

Billings Gazette Billings, MT 25 Mar 2007 BIG TIMBER - Victor Steinmetz, 84, of Big Timber, formerly of Glendive and Hardin, passed away March 22, 2007, in Big Timber. He was born July 22, 1922, in Hardin, a son of Henry and Eva Burnhart Steinmetz. He grew up and attended schools in Hardin. Following his education, he worked for the Holly Sugar Corporation as a truck driver. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, served during World War II and received his honorable discharge. Vic married Amelia Heiser on Feb. 10, 1948. The couple made their home in Hardin until 1975, when they moved to Glendive. While in Glendive, Vic worked as a carpenter, retiring in 1984 and eventually moving to Big Timber in 2005. He was a member of the Catholic Church, Glendive Veterans Club and the Moose Lodge. His passion was collecting agates. His parents; sisters, Lea Hert, Lydia Schaak, Elizabeth Steinmetz and Esther Zimmer; and brothers Fred, Emmanuel and Henry Steinmetz, preceded Vic in death. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Amelia; three daughters, Jane (Steve) Pitsch of Big Timber, Marjorie (Vince) Haugeto and Wanda (Greg) Kukowski of Colorado; his brother, Harry (Jean) Steinmetz of Hardin; seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Rosary will be recited 6:30 p.m. Sunday, March 25, in the Bullis Funeral Chapel. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Monday, March 26, in the Chapel. Interment with military honors will follow in the Fairview Cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Greeley Tribune Greeley, Colorado 03-25-2007obit: Nov. 15, 1920-March 23, 2007 Age: 86 Residence: La Salle Tribute: Martha W. Kitzman was born near La Salle to August and Elizabeth (Hetterle) Warner. She attended eight grades at the Beebe Draw School. On Aug. 12, 1938, she married Elmer Kitzman in Greeley. For 30 years they farmed together in the La Salle, Wiggins and Platteville areas. They retired to their home in La Salle in 1973. Mr. Kitzman was a member of the Silver Banner Club, Platte Valley Grange, Sunrise Sams, a 4-H Leader, OFF Club, Beebe Draw Neighbors and La Salle and Kersey Seniors. She loved raising flowers and listening to country music and baked many chocolate chip cookies. Mrs. Kitzman died Friday at the Hospice and Palliative Care of Northern Colorado inpatient unit in Greeley. Survivors: Her husband, Elmer Kitzman of La Salle; her children and their spouses, Frances and Jerry Roth of Fort Collins, Charlene and Jim Marker of Scottsbluff, Neb., and Elmer "Bink" and Audrey Kitzman of Platteville; an honorary daughter, Betty Eirich of Greeley; six grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-granddaughter. Preceded in death by: Her parents, three sisters, Frieda Roth Herbel, Evelyn Meisner and Alma Heinle, two stepfathers and five stepbrothers. Services: 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Allnutt Funeral Service Macy Chapel. Cremation. Notes: Instead of flowers, contributions may be made to the La Salle Volunteer Fire Department in care of Allnutt, 702 13th St., Greeley, CO 80631. Go to www.allnutt.com <http://www.allnutt.com> to read an online obituary, sign the family guestbook and send condolences.

Billings Gazette Billings, MT 24 Mar 2007 FAIRVIEW - Funeral services for Freida Schlothauer, 90, of Fairview, are at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 25, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Sidney, with Pastor David Warner officiating. Interment will be in the Fairview Cemetery under the direction of Fulkerson Funeral Home. Freida was the warm and gentle heart of the Schlothauer family. She will be remembered for her quiet ways, her kindness, her faith and her delightful sense of humor. Fredericka Bieber was born on Nov. 24, 1916, to German immigrants Peter and Fredericka Whittmier Bieber, on a homestead near Hilda, Alberta, Canada. She was the ninth of 10 children. The family moved to South Dakota, where the children started school. As an adult, Frieda told her children that she was afraid to start school because she didn't speak English. In the spring of 1922, they relocated to Sidney, where the Holly Sugar Corporation was recruiting families to help build a sugar factory and work in the beet fields. The older children learned to hoe beets and the younger ones thinned behind them. They attended the Newlon School south of Sidney. Soon the family moved to a farm on what later became known as the Pomeville place. The children attended the Bieber School located on the southeast corner of the farm. Freida was a member of the first confirmation class of what is now St. John Lutheran Church in Fairview. She was the last surviving charter member of the church. Freida met Dave Schlothauer while he was working on a farm south of her parent's place. Later in life, Freida recounted to her children that Dave courted her in a Ford Roadster with button down curtains. Dave and Freida were married in Sidney on Nov. 21, 1936. During the first year of their marriage, they lived with her parents and later shared the house with her brother George and his wife Alvina. In the spring, Dave and Freida moved to the Jake Reidle farm, where they thinned beets and helped with the harvest. In the fall of 1939, they bought four acres of land east of Fairview and had a house moved in from the hills. Dave and Frieda's first two children, Donald and Kenneth, were born in this house. In the spring of 1941, they moved to land near Nohle. It was during these years that Harold was born at the Broadhead Nursing Home in Fairview. In the spring of 1945, Dave and Freida bought 80 acres in North Dakota two miles east of Fairview. This is where they farmed and made their family home for the next 30 years. Charlene was born in the fall of 1945 and Linda eight years later. In 1968, Freida's wish for a new house came true. After all of the kids were grown, Dave and Freida enjoyed traveling to the southwest each winter. They owned a winter home in Yuma, Ariz., for several years, where they had good times with other snow birds and visitors. Dave passed away in August of 1990. Freida continued to live in the country home until 1999, when she moved to Fairview. Two years later, she relocated to the Lodge on Lone Tree Creek in Sidney. Throughout Freida's life, she demonstrated a love of reading, traveling and learning about all of life. She enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening, quilting, agate work and craft projects of all sorts. Freida played a great hand of whist and enjoyed many card and board games. She was an excellent cook and her family will long remember the great German dishes and pies that were a specialty. Freida is survived by her sister, Anna; her children, Don (Sandra), Ken (Stephanie), Harold (Loretta), Charlene Hogarty and Linda Soderlind; her grandchildren, Kelly, Vicki, Shannon, Casey, Rob, Dirk, Lonna, Michael, Kate, Cynthia, Kimberly, Erica and Dave; and her great-grandchildren, Grant, Gabriella, Xander, Brock, Ashley, Jade, BayLee, Nadia, KennaDee and Aiken. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Dave, three brothers and five sisters.

Billings Gazette Billings, MT 24 Mar 2007 On Wednesday, March 21, 2007, John Bernard Neibauer, our beloved dad, brother, and friend, entered into eternity with his Lord and Savior. John was a fun-loving and devoted dad and grandpa, ever mindful of his kids. He was born on June 25, 1930, in Minneapolis, to Dorothy June (Cook) and Mathias John Neibauer, where he spent most of his childhood. When John was in high school, the family moved to Mandan, N.D. It was there that he met the love of his life, Joyce Henderson. John and Joyce were voted the most popular couple in high school before graduating from Mandan High School in 1947. They were later married on Aug. 12, 1950, and together, they had 10 children and enjoyed 56 years of marriage. John was by her side as Joyce went to be with the Lord on Nov. 20, 2006. At the age of 9, John got a tattoo with his nickname "Jack" on it. At the age of 13, John boarded the train from Minneapolis to Billings for the first time, by himself, to begin work as a cowboy on the Cormier Ranch, south of Billings, herding cattle from Fly Creek to Pryor Creek by himself. This summer work continued until he graduated from high school. During high school, John was a starting tackle for the 1946 and 1947 Mandan High School football team that celebrated two consecutive undefeated seasons and went on to become the North Dakota State Champions. John attended college after high school on a football scholarship before he entered the Army, where he was a member of the 47th Division Viking Squad stationed in Mississippi. In 1952, they moved to Billings, where John worked for the Montana Power Company as a lineman. He retired as city foreman underground in 1987. During his career with Montana Power, John received a commendation for his heroic act in the rescue of a woman from an auto accident on the Montana Avenue overpass in Billings. During his lifetime, John was an avid hunter. Many a tale was told at hunting camp - a tradition he has passed on to his son Bernie and grandson Kyle. John fought the good fight and lived a good life. He was a good man and will be missed by all. His wife and his children were his most cherished and prized possessions. We love you, Dad, and we'll see you on the other side! John was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce; his son, Douglas Gerard; his sister, Lois Senn; and his brother, Mike Neibauer. John is survived by his children, Deborah (Andy) Lawson of Pompeys Pillar, Susan Hendrickson of Staunton, Va., Karen (Ahmed) Matar of Billings, Stephanie Neibauer of Minneapolis, Mary (Troy) Hendrickson of Townsend, Linda (Glen) Luebking of Littleton, Colo., Nancy (Mark) Bartlett of Elizabethtown, Pa., Douglas (Junko) Neibauer of Moreno Valley, Calif., Marge Nikkola of Minneapolis, Elizabeth Romans of Minneapolis, Joan Neibauer of Castle Rock, Colo., Frances (Lewis) Ball of Missoula, Tom (Sandy) Neibauer of Round Rock, Texas; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Cremation has taken place. Vigil service will be 5 p.m. Sunday, March 25, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary. The Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Monday, March 26, at St. Patrick's Co-Cathedral, with Rite of Committal at Holy Cross Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Patrick's Co-Cathedral Building Fund.

Fort Collins, Colorado Coloradoan Article published Mar 23, 2007 Jane J. Kochenburger DOB:2/2/1931 DOD:3/21/2007 Jane J. Kochenburger of Fort Collins passed away peacefully on March 21, 2007, in Fort Collins. She was born on the family farm a few miles south of Mott, N.D., on Feb. 2, 1931. Her father was Henry Mehrer and her mother was Amelia Wiege Mehrer. Jane attended the Mott public schools until her senior year in high school when the family moved to Greeley. She was graduated from Greeley High School in 1949. In 1953, Jane graduated from State College of Education with a major of elementary education. After her marriage to John she lived two years in Longmont and two years in Virginia with the military. In 1957 Jane and John moved to Fort Collins where they continue to reside. Jane was an elementary teacher in Longmont, Newport News, Va., and she substitute taught for the Poudre School District. Since 1957, her church home was Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Collins and her friends in Naomi Ruth circle were special. When in good health, she was involved in various church and volunteer activities, these included: the AAUW, Hospital Auxiliary, PTA, Jaycees, Lawyers Wives, and several charities. Jane was a member of the Order of Eastern Star. Family and children were always paramount and were the most important things in her life. For many years, Jane collected Fostoria coin glass and sterling silver Christmas ornaments. She loved to cook and use the old family recipes. Jane was married to John E. Kochenburger for more than 53 years. She had two children, her son John R. Kochenburger, and daughter Jean A. Kochenburger. Joshua R. Kochenburger, is her grandson and the delight of her life. Jane is also survived by her brother, Arnold Mehrer, of Bismark, N.D., and her sister, Louvre Alexander of Bogalusa, La. Visitation will be held from 5 p.m to 7 p.m. on Friday at Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive St. Memorial service is at 10:30, Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church on 301 E. Stuart St. Followed by a private burial on Wednesday, March 28. Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church or TLC Preschool or the Fort Collins Lions Foundation in care of Bohlender Funeral Service, 121 W. Olive St., Fort Collins, CO 80521. Friends may send condolences to the family at www.bohlenderfunerachapel.com

Scottsbluff Star Hearld Scottsbluff, NE 23 Mar 2007 Edna Schaub, 87, of Gering, died Monday, March 19, 2007, at Northfield Villa Medical Center. Her funeral service will be at 10 a.m., Friday, March 23, at the Gering Zion Church with Pastor Paul Hebbert officiating. Inter-ment will be at West Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Gering Memorial Chapel. Memorials may be given to Prairie Haven Hospice or to the Heart Fund. Tributes of sympathy may be left at www.geringchapel.com. Edna was born Oct. 11, 1919, in Gering, to John and Mary (Kerbs) Schaub. She worked for Dr. Harvey for a number of years. She was a charter member of the Gering Zion Church. Edna loved to crochet. She will be missed by all who knew her. Survivors include her brothers Daniel Schaub and Ben and wife Joyce Schaub both of Gering; her sisters Mary and husband Fred Gross and Pauline Schwindt all of Gering; and six nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Emanuel and Harold and sisters Betty and Alice.

Scottsbluff Star Hearld Scottsbluff, NE 23 Mar 2007 LOVELAND, Colo. - Mary Magdalena "Lena" Gannon, 108, of Loveland, Colo., died March 21, 2007, at Sierra Vista Health Care Center. Recitation of the Rosary will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, March 26, at St. John's Catholic Church followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m., with the Rev. Joseph Hartmann officiating. Interment will be at Loveland Burial Park. Viewing will be at the Kibbey-Fishburn Funeral Home, Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. and prior to the rosary service Monday. Memorial contributions to St. John's Catholic Church of charity of donor's choice in care of Kibbey-Fishburn Funeral Home, 1102 N. Lincoln Ave., Loveland, CO 80537. Lena was born Dec. 14, 1898, to Matthias Schaefer and Josephine Sieper in Okarche, Oklahoma. She spent her early years there and came to the Denver area in 1922. She married George Edward "Ed" Gannon in Denver on Oct. 25, 1934. For many years, she assisted her husband in the insurance business in Scottsbluff. After his retirement, they moved to Loveland in 1947. She was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, the Council of Catholic Women, and the Legion of Mary. Lena loved her large, extended family, her Church, and until a few years ago, participated in church activities and bridge clubs. Lena has been an inspiration, role model, good friend and neighbor, and will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her. Survivors include a stepdaughter, Dorothy Gannon Randell of Green Valley, Ariz., and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1969 and all of her brothers and sisters.

Billings Gazette Billings, MT 22 Mar 2007 HARDIN - Martha E. Burd, 83, longtime Hardin resident, passed away early Tuesday, March 20, 2007, in the Heritage Acres Nursing Home. She was born Sept. 23, 1923, in Hardin, a daughter of Heinrich and Catherine Neibaur Frickle. She grew up and received her education in Hardin. She started work at an early age for Kelley's Variety Store, later Ben Franklin's Store and Ludrick's Clothing and in 1961, was employed at Ricker's Drug Store, retiring in 1974. Martha married Oren C. Burd on Nov. 4, 1945, in Hardin, and the couple enjoyed 59 years of marriage before he passed away in 2004. She enjoyed the times she could spend outdoors, fishing, hunting and boating with Oren. Martha was well known amongst the family for her awesome cooking and excellent pie-making. She was a past president of the VFW Auxiliary, was a Lady Elk and was a member of the Big Horn County Senior Citizens, Historical Society and the Methodist Church. Martha was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Oren; two brothers, Henry and Herman Frickle; and three sisters, Amelia Roh, Lydia Zier and Esther Jacobsen. Survivors include several nieces and nephews, including Barbara (Jay) Yorgason and Sheryl (Curtis) Haworth of Billings, Leroy and Les Frickle and Ruth Benzel of Hardin. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Friday, March 23, in the Bullis Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow in the Fairview Cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Casper Star Tribune Casper, WY Harold 'Harry' Nab Thursday, March 22, 2007 TORRINGTON -- Funeral services for Harold "Harry" Nab, 86, will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 23, 2007 at the First Wyoming United Presbyterian church in Torrington with the Rev. David Lee officiating. He died on March 19, 2007 at Goshen Care Center. He was born Harold Nab, the son of John and Suzanna (Kinfather) Nab, on July 28, 1920, at Fort Morgan, Colo. Both parents were immigrants from Russia and came to the United States at an early age. They then made Colorado their home for a few years. From there the couple moved to the North Platte Valley to raise their family. He received his education in McGrew, Neb., and also the Huntley school systems. On Dec. 31, 1940, he married Helen Bauer at Torrington. Together they farmed and raised their family. He loved and enjoyed working and planting the crops along with yard work. He especially enjoyed raising registered Black Angus cattle. When his boys were in high school he supported their efforts and involvements in the Future Farmers Of America. This led to him receiving Honorary Chapter Farmer award. He farmed until 1980 and retired that year. Along with farming, he worked the spring and summer months for Torrington Ditch Company. He also worked for Holly Sugar during Harvest campaign. He was a member of the First Wyoming United Presbyterian Church of Torrington, Future Farmers of America and the Beet Growers Association. He is survived by his wife, two sons and their wives, Ronald Eugene Nab and Timothy Harold Nab, all of Torrington; one daughter, Rebecca Ann Young of Phoenix, Ariz.; three grandsons and three granddaughters; many nieces and nephews; eight great-grandchildren and one great-great- grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers and two sisters. Memorials can be made to the First Wyoming United Presbyterian Church or the Cattle Association. Arrangements are under the direction of the Colyer Funeral Home.

Hi Dennis, The same was true with all of the distant cousins that I have found in the last few years. None of those from the first two generations of Volga German immigrants were willing to talk freely about Russia. That puzzeled me a great deal until one of them sent me copies of letters written by family members who were trapped in Russia after 1917. The unbelieveable sufferings described in the letters helped me understand. I have come to believe that their silence was part of a gift of freedom to their children, freedom from the helpless rage they felt when they were unable to save their dear ones, freedom from the bitterness and guilt they carried about the great tragedy suffered by the families who remained in Russia, and who suffered and died in the horrific genocides perpetrated by Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin. A quick way to find out about all of this is check out Steve Schreiber's Websites. Go to the site below. Click on Famine and then try Deportation. It's a sad story that must not be forgotten. http://www.volgagermans.net/volgagermans/ Fred Betz ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dennis" <dennis@sewald.name> To: <GER-VOLGA@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 12:29 PM Subject: [GV] Mum About Parents > Hello all. I'm new to the list and have many questions, but one nagging > one. Why didn't many Volga immigrants when in the US not talk about their > parents. On both sides of my family Sewald and Pfeif, none of my Uncles > or > Aunts know about their Grandparents history. Any reason why from this a > gust group? > > > > Thanks, > > Dennis L. Sewald > > Denver, CO > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > GER-VOLGA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

I am one of those that was in school "lower grades" during WWII and I can tell you it still hurts me when I think about it and also when I see something on the net about it. It is a very deep scare that just won't heal so I suggest to you to accept what they tell or told you and drop it. We are one of the larger groups the government has not recognized they screwed us around during those times. It took them 4 years to clear me for a top secret clearance in early 50's, when I got I told them to shove it where the sun don't shine. End of my frustration, for today anyway. One thing--my father was so darn scared he would be sent back. As I see it the visa was only for a 6 month visit then they would be required to return which very few did. I asked him one time after convincing him he was here for 80 years and to darn old that they would not want him back at that age, we then had a good talk, he told me they did not want anybody over there to be identified as this may cause them severe harm and they did not trust the government there or here, keep mouth shut, keep out of trouble. Kenny Loveland, CO Hello all. I'm new to the list and have many questions, but one nagging one. Why didn't many Volga immigrants when in the US not talk about their parents. On both sides of my family Sewald and Pfeif, none of my Uncles or Aunts know about their Grandparents history. Any reason why from this a gust group? Thanks, Dennis L. Sewald Denver, CO ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to GER-VOLGA-request@rootsweb.com with the

Dennis, The AHSGR web site, under Frequently Asked Questions, states the following: "During World War I and World War II there was a great deal of animosity towards German immigrants and German-speaking immigrants in this country. Many states passed legislation restricting the use of the German language as a measure to curtail the influence of their German populations. Either forcibly or voluntarily, many German-speaking citizens restricted or concealed their "Germanness." After World War II came the Red Scare, and although most of the German-Russian immigrants entered this country before the Bolshevik Revolution and implementation of Communism, the fact that they were from Russia was reason enough for antagonism to be brought against them. Many German-Russian families found it easier to conceal their origins rather than endure the prejudices that a large part of society held towards their language, culture and country. As a result, many descendants of Germans from Russia are learning, late in life, of their heritage and origins." This topic has been vigorously discussed here in the past, and based on the previous discussions I think the above might explain some cases, but not all. Maggie -----Original Message----- >From: Dennis <dennis@sewald.name> >Sent: Mar 21, 2007 2:29 PM >To: GER-VOLGA@rootsweb.com >Subject: [GV] Mum About Parents > >Hello all. I'm new to the list and have many questions, but one nagging >one. Why didn't many Volga immigrants when in the US not talk about their >parents. On both sides of my family Sewald and Pfeif, none of my Uncles or >Aunts know about their Grandparents history. Any reason why from this a >gust group? > > > >Thanks, > >Dennis L. Sewald > >Denver, CO > > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to GER-VOLGA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hi fellow GR -- This is the First 2007 German Origins report. As of this report, First Settlers Lists, with annotations, have been newly added for Bergdorf(Od), Blumenort(partial)(Menno), Boregard, Brabender, Glueckstal(Od), and Keller. In addition, there are many new confirmed orgins (in red). The Bergdorf and Glueckstal entries represent the first indexing here of the monumental work being done by the Glueckstal Colonies Research Association -- what they are doing is simply extraordinary! We now have entered in the German Origins portion of the AHSGR web site: http://www.ahsgr.org/german_origins.htm. mostly confirmed origins information on four Black Sea area colonies plus some mostly unconfirmed information on Mennonite villages there; unconfirmed origins information for six Belowesch colonies; and mostly unconfirmed, but increasingly confirmed, origins information for 57 Volga colonies which now have their First Settlers' Lists (FSL) and Mai & Marquardt info, along with some Stumpp info up on the site. Those colonies included so far are Bergdorf(Od), Blumenort(Menno), Glueckstal(Od), Gueldendorf (Od) and Hoffnungstal (Bess) in the south; Belaja Besha, Gorodok, Kaltschinowka, Rundewiese, Grosser Werder, Kleiner Werder of Belowesch; and in the Volga area: Anton, Balzer, Bangert, Bauer, Bettinger, Boaro, Boregard, Bradbender, Dietel, Dinkel, Dobrinka, Doenhof, Dreispitz, Enders, Goebel, Graf, Grimm, Fischer, Frank, Herzog, Holstein, Huck, Jagodnaya Polyana, Jost, Kamenka, Katharinenstadt, Kautz, Keller, Koehler, Kolb, Kraft, Krasnoyar, Kratzke, Kukkus, Kutter, Laub, Lauwe, Leichtling, Louis, Mariental, Merkel, Messer, Moor, Mueller, Norka, Orlovskaya, Paulskaya, Pfeifer, Pobochnaya, Preuss, Roethling, Rothammel, Schuck, Sewald, Stahl-am-Karaman, Volmer, and Walter. The confirmed (in red) origins data portions of the site continue to grow as more of you share your origins research results with me for use on the site. On the introductory page there is a relatively new section of spectacular Origins success stories. Send me your own! Once again, I want to emphasize that the German Origins project is intended to include information regarding the origins of settlers in German Russian villages no matter where they were in Russia. I welcome and will include data for any colony in any region. Send it in and it will be included. If it does not show up, remind me ... oversights happen and can be corrected. There are 15 more Volga FSL in the first three volumes of Professor Pleve's books, plus two Glueckstal villages nearly ready to go. The order of the next entries, as currently planned, is: Caesarsfeld, Kano, Kassel(Od), Cheisol, Jost, Neudorf(Od), Degott, Husaren, Dehler, Hoelzel, Hildmann, Ernestinendorf, Galka, Franzosen, Philippsfeld, Leitsinger, Obermonjou, and Niedermonjou -- unless one of you asks to have a village moved up in priority to just after the one on which I am currently working plus any village requested by someone else before your request comes in. That's all it takes -- one request -- first come, first served. Currently there have been no requests for any of the Volga villages. It takes me from one to four weeks to enter a colony depending on its size and on other priorities in my life. I am now working on Gaesarsfeld. A priority list has been established for those Volga colonies for which First Settlers' Lists have not yet been published and to which I do not have access. As they become available to me, the first priorities among these villages for entry into this index, based on requests from you out there, are: Hussenbach, Stahl-am-Tarlyk, Schwab, Shcherbakovka, Schoenchen, Rohleder, Reinhard, Warenburg, Straub, Schilling. The index improves with every update. My knowledge gets better and I continue to acquire better maps and finding lists for the villages and towns of the Germanies. So if you have an interest in finding a place, that was not adequately addressed in a previous update, it might not be a total waste of time to check it out after each new update to the GO index. The following is repeated (slightly revised, July 2006) from the first 2005 report: If you are a Village Coordinator and your village is up on the site now, I would greatly appreciate you checking the relevant entries. You will 1) discover some errors which you can happily tell me about, 2) find out one or two new things about the folk who first came to your village, and 3) discover that you know of some verified origins which you can then tell me about so I can add that valuable information to the site. If you are not a Village Coordinator, if you will check your family names in the index, you may find out some interesting things you may not have known before, or you may discover that you know of some verified origins which are not on the site which you can tell me about so that I can add that valuable information to the site. As I enter the data, I do my best to identify the German places that are mentioned in the First Settlers' Lists as the place from which emigrants to Russia departed. This effort may provide new hints for you, or you may find that I have mis-identified a place which will enable you to educate me. I have acquired good, new maps of the old German Duchies, Counties, Principalities, Baronies and the like, so my identifications are getting better ... but I still get stumpped (pun?) regularly and have so much more to learn! Teach me. However, it turns out, I think most folk will have fun checking out this new index. Enjoy! Cheers, Dick Kraus, AHSGR German Origins project coordinator and Alexandertal VC 28 March 2007 ____________________________________________________________________________________ We won't tell. Get more on shows you hate to love (and love to hate): Yahoo! TV's Guilty Pleasures list. http://tv.yahoo.com/collections/265

Hello all. I'm new to the list and have many questions, but one nagging one. Why didn't many Volga immigrants when in the US not talk about their parents. On both sides of my family Sewald and Pfeif, none of my Uncles or Aunts know about their Grandparents history. Any reason why from this a gust group? Thanks, Dennis L. Sewald Denver, CO

Don't know the reason, but for some of us it was endemic. I pestered my grandmother for 30 years before she finally told me some stuff about life on the Volga. She kept telling me she came here to forget all that .... Dick Kraus ----- Original Message ---- From: Dennis <dennis@sewald.name> To: GER-VOLGA@rootsweb.com Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 3:29:41 PM Subject: [GV] Mum About Parents Hello all. I'm new to the list and have many questions, but one nagging one. Why didn't many Volga immigrants when in the US not talk about their parents. On both sides of my family Sewald and Pfeif, none of my Uncles or Aunts know about their Grandparents history. Any reason why from this a gust group? Thanks, Dennis L. Sewald Denver, CO ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to GER-VOLGA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ____________________________________________________________________________________ Don't get soaked. Take a quick peek at the forecast with the Yahoo! Search weather shortcut. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/shortcuts/#loc_weather

Some of the GR immigrants weren't farmers. My Grossvater came to Portland, Oregon in 1912 and worked as a blacksmith's assistant per the 1920 US census. Sally Katharinenstadt, Wiesenmueller On Wed, 21 Mar 2007, Allan R. Lenhardt wrote: > I'm not sure how much GR immigrants benefited from the Homestead Acts. The > first Homestead act was in 1862, and by 1880 the best available land along > rivers and streams had been taken. When my Norwegian ancestors homesteaded > in 1884 they had to go to the eastern plains of Montana to find land ( an > area with very little water). There was also the Forest Homestead Act of > 1906 and the Homestead Act of 1912, but I can find very little homesteading > activity after 1910. There are certainly pockets of activity that can be > pointed to, but these were more in dry land farming areas, and pretty short > lived. By far the biggest transfer of government lands to individuals took > place in the 19th century. I don't know of any GR migration to Montana till > after the river valleys had been settled and the irrigation projects were in > place. I'd be interested to know what happened in the Dakota's and other > areas where GR's settled. > > > > You can find interesting information on this subject by visiting the > Homestead National Monument website. You can access it through the National > Park Service at www.nps.gov <http://www.nps.gov/> > > > > > > Allan R. Lenhardt > > 240 East Drive > > Baton Rouge, LA 70806 > > > > (225) 344-1424 > > (225) 223-3121 (cell) > > > > Life is God's novel. Let him write it. > > Isaac Beshevis Singer in Voices for Life (1975) > > > > _____ > > From: KLpelzel@aol.com [mailto:KLpelzel@aol.com] > Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 9:36 AM > To: arl@imt.net; GER-VOLGA@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [GV] travel to US > > > > Purchasing / taking ownership was not that big a problem. The Homestead Act > (the original one and the later one) provided a great opportunity to "prove > up" land and then become the owner. Vacant land was in abundance. The real > issue was avoiding the scammers who distributed brochures with lies about > the quality of the land and the climate, who were supported by the > newspapers and the railroads and banks - all of whom had a vested interest > in unloading millions of acres. Interest rates were less than 6% through > 1929 (when they were less for obvious reasons). The Volga Germans were > treated like any other susceptible buyer. There are good discussions on this > topic in two great books: The Sod House Frontier 1854- 1890 and The Worst > Hard Times . > > > > > > _____ > > AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from > AOL at <http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000339> AOL.com. > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to GER-VOLGA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

I'm not sure how much GR immigrants benefited from the Homestead Acts. The first Homestead act was in 1862, and by 1880 the best available land along rivers and streams had been taken. When my Norwegian ancestors homesteaded in 1884 they had to go to the eastern plains of Montana to find land ( an area with very little water). There was also the Forest Homestead Act of 1906 and the Homestead Act of 1912, but I can find very little homesteading activity after 1910. There are certainly pockets of activity that can be pointed to, but these were more in dry land farming areas, and pretty short lived. By far the biggest transfer of government lands to individuals took place in the 19th century. I don't know of any GR migration to Montana till after the river valleys had been settled and the irrigation projects were in place. I'd be interested to know what happened in the Dakota's and other areas where GR's settled. You can find interesting information on this subject by visiting the Homestead National Monument website. You can access it through the National Park Service at www.nps.gov <http://www.nps.gov/> Allan R. Lenhardt 240 East Drive Baton Rouge, LA 70806 (225) 344-1424 (225) 223-3121 (cell) Life is God's novel. Let him write it. Isaac Beshevis Singer in Voices for Life (1975) _____ From: KLpelzel@aol.com [mailto:KLpelzel@aol.com] Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 9:36 AM To: arl@imt.net; GER-VOLGA@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [GV] travel to US Purchasing / taking ownership was not that big a problem. The Homestead Act (the original one and the later one) provided a great opportunity to "prove up" land and then become the owner. Vacant land was in abundance. The real issue was avoiding the scammers who distributed brochures with lies about the quality of the land and the climate, who were supported by the newspapers and the railroads and banks - all of whom had a vested interest in unloading millions of acres. Interest rates were less than 6% through 1929 (when they were less for obvious reasons). The Volga Germans were treated like any other susceptible buyer. There are good discussions on this topic in two great books: The Sod House Frontier 1854- 1890 and The Worst Hard Times . _____ AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at <http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000339> AOL.com.

Purchasing / taking ownership was not that big a problem. The Homestead Act (the original one and the later one) provided a great opportunity to "prove up" land and then become the owner. Vacant land was in abundance. The real issue was avoiding the scammers who distributed brochures with lies about the quality of the land and the climate, who were supported by the newspapers and the railroads and banks - all of whom had a vested interest in unloading millions of acres. Interest rates were less than 6% through 1929 (when they were less for obvious reasons). The Volga Germans were treated like any other susceptible buyer. There are good discussions on this topic in two great books: The Sod House Frontier 1854- 1890 and The Worst Hard Times . ************************************** AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at http://www.aol.com.

Sheridan Press Sheridan, WY 19 Mar 2007 Fred Miller Funeral services for Fred Miller, 95, of Sheridan will be 2:15 p.m. Tuesday at Sugarland Ridge Retirement and Assisted Living Center with the Rev. William Heine officiating. Cremains will be in Sheridan Municipal Cemetery. Arrangements are with Champion Ferries Funeral Home. Mr. Miller died Friday, March 16, 2007, in Sheridan Manor. He was born March 31, 1911, in Park City, Mont., to Jacob and Katherine (Zier) Miller. He moved to Hysham, Mont., when he was 2, Ranchester in 1918, and Sheridan in 1923. Mr. Miller took over his parents' beet farm south of Sheridan and ranched in this area, retiring in 1980. In the 1930s he was a boxer, participating in the numerous "smokers" in the Sheridan area. He was a member of Lions Club and Immanuel Lutheran Church. He played cards, cribbage and traveled. Mr. Miller was preceded in death by his wife, Clurus, and eight brothers and sisters. Survivors include one daughter, Beverly Medlock of Westminster, Colo.; one sister, Lydia Miller of Casper; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1300 W. Fifth St., Sheridan, WY 82801.