Galka, Saratov, Volga

Submitted by Jayne Dye.

1. The book, Galka – a German Settlement on the Volga has been made available in English – with much thanks to translators - see the Galka web page listed above.
2. It is a Doctoral Dissertation written by a PHD candidate in Economics, Max Praetorius, at the University of Leipzig in Germany. 1910 [Pub. 1912]

This week I received a request from a Japanese Professor in Waseda University, Tokyo. He states:

My special field is a socio-economic history of Russia, particularly on the problems of village community (Mir) in the modernization of Tsarist Russia, but I started to study a history of Volga Germans. I collected materials in Stuttgart, Moscow, San Francisco (Hoover Institute) and so on. Prof. Dr. Pleve (Saratov) is my friend. I am now writing a history of the village GALKA, mainly on the basis of the study of Max Praetorius (GALKA: eine deutsche Ansiedlung an der Wolga, Leipzig, 1912). I want to collect information on the history of village GALKA.

Yours sincerely,
Takeo SUZUKI, Prof. Dr., born in 1943

I am absolutely amazed that another Study will be done on Galka. I hope anyone who can contribute information will do so. In addition I will put him in touch with cousins who are now in Germany, but from Galka descent, and the one person I know in the US who was born there, is still alive, and looking forward to the 2004 convention. She lives in Modesto.

Prof. Dr. Suzuki has also suggested that he might do a family study on the Wunsch line which all are willing to do.

Newly found: Two 2nd Cousins descended from my Father’s sisters who did not leave Galka with their parents and younger siblings. They were located through the German Red Cross who got their permission to send me their addresses. It was all made possible through the efforts of another Volga German, Lida Stricker, whose grandson did all the legwork and computer work. Hint: He is unemployed if you want to hire him to try to do the same for you.

Several new people have contacted me with information on their Galka Ancestors. My data base is enlarging slowly but surely.

We have the one chart which I ordered on the Galka WUNSCH Surname. If anyone out there has ordered another surname chart on Galka, I would love to know about it.

At the last convention I learned that Erlenbach is a daughter colony of Galka (I had only known about Neu-Galka and Alt-Galka) so I am hoping to gather more information on this village. I have been given quite a bit this year.

It is still my intention/desire/wish to extract ALL the Ger-Rus information from all 400 of the “St. Alban’s Border Crossing Cards” – which includes some landing cards. No progress at all. NARA will sell them to me for $30 each. The Public Library of Cincinnati owns them but will not let them go out for interlibrary loan. The LDS-FHC is just not within my reach – time, distance and cost. I am running out of ideas, though, so if someone has a brainstorm, please share.

After Yakima, John and I stopped by Headquarters hoping to help unload the truck. To our chagrin, we suffered a flat tire, had to change to the toy spare, drive at 45 miles per hour until we found a town where we could buy a real tire and have it put on. We lost over 1 and one-half hours due to this. Therefore we arrived at Headquarters too late, the truck was already unloaded.

We also took some time to visit the Family History Center in Salt Lake City and found their supply of books on our Ger-Rus subject to be very sparse. The volunteer could only find Dr. Karl Stumpp’s book. I donated two copies of Galka in English and asked the acquisitions department if they had a list of publications from AHSGR. They did not. Headquarters gave us one, which I mailed to the LDS Family History Library after some discussion and emails back and forth. Today this answer came:

Jayne,

As a follow-up, I wanted to let you know that our collection development specialist for Russia has ordered sixteen additional books from the AHSGR list. He also indicated that we do have many of the items in our collection already, based on his search of our catalog.

Joe Everett – (in acquisitions LDS FHC.)

Submitted by Merrill & Dorothy Kerbs Younkin.

This report on the Galka Village approximately 60 miles south of Saratov on the Volga River reflects little activity during this past year. Information about the status today is that the village it is entirely occupied by Russians families. It was said that the only German in Galka is the wife of the town mayor. Not much is known of the German families that were there before World War II and what may have happened to them during the Stalin years.

These past few years have not been as productive as I would have liked because of the lengthy medical problems. Now I take one day at a time but I am getting back to spending more time with my AHSGR activities. I hope to make up some of the lost time as Village Coordinator for the Galka village in the future.

There have been a number of inquires regarding the village of Galka this past year. They include the names of Schimpf, Riffle, Kerbs, Herbel, and Shick. Most were looking for any information related to their names. Some wanted any reference I might have related to other villages of Holstein and Dreispitz.

Most interesting is the GOTTFRIED RIFFEL NEWSLETTER that is published by Judy Riffel from Baton Rouge, LA. This publication is a detail record of the Riffel family who settled in Marion, Kansas at the turn of this century.

The highlight of the year from my vantagepoint is the effort of Jayne Wunsch Dye in the translation of the Galka Dissertation that was originally published in Germany around 1912. This was a worthwhile project and I personally commend her for her effort.

I was saddened from the death of Kathy O'Malley earlier this year. She did more than anyone else in providing information of villages surrounding the village of Galka in her newsletter of The Lower Volga Villages Sheet. Our exchange of information regarding these villages was very helpful in my efforts as village coordinator. She never hesitated to provide information whenever I ask for help. We will miss her.

I have nothing further to add only to say I will try to do better in 2004. I am planning to be at the convention in Modesto next year, God willing.

Gnadenfeld, (Neu-Moor/Moor), Samara, Volga

Gnadenfeld Web Site

Irma A. Waggoner W098

Gnadenfeld is a small “daughter colony” on the weisenseite of the Volga, formed from the “mother colonies” of Moor, Balzar, Hussenbach, Norka, Donhoff and others.

Due to the small population of Gnadenfeld, I do not receive many requests for information.

I continue to collect surnames from Gnadenfeld and Moor, including ship records, declarations of intent, naturalization records, census records and obituaries.

Since I live in Lincoln, NE, I am available to look up information at AHSGR for researchers.

Grimm, Saratov, Volga

Grimm Web Site

Grimm Mail List

Ken Leffler L259

The year 2003 was an average year for the village of Grimm. I received approximately 15 inquiries for information and added some names to the database as a result of my efforts on the SOAR project.

We have recently found an individual source in Russia who is able to get us copies of quite a few records out of the archives in Engels and Saratov. There are various types of records and they will require translation after we receive them. We currently have a fund of $900 donated by three individuals, which we are using to order some evangelical church records. I hope this is a major source of data for the village.

We had a wonderful evening in Yakima on village night but had very little exchange of data as the surname charts have not yet arrived. We still hope Igor will meet his commitment to deliver them by year's end. It was great to see the Tenants again and Esther Krause who has missed the past two conventions due to health problems.

I am currently entering the data from the fifteen names from Grimm in the book German Migration to the Russian Volga (1764-1767) Origins and Destinations by Brent Alan Mai and Dona Reeves Marquardt. This book is well worth the money.

I ordered the book, Los Abuelos Alemanes del-Volga by Alberto Sarramone, and I am trying to find data on Grimmers who went to South America. This is tough as I am not fluent in Spanish.

I continue to get excited whenever I get new data as each bit gets us closer to tying our ancestors back into Germany.

Güldendorf, Grossliebental, Odessa, Kherson

Curt Renz R002

Güldendorf Materials available for research in my possession: 1830-1849 Güldendorf Family Book

1833-1848/1850 Güldendorf birth/death register
1851-1889 Güldendorf birth register
1851-1891 Güldendorf death register
1899 Güldendorf birth/marriage/death register
1901 Güldendorf birth/marriage/death register
1902 Güldendorf birth/marriage/death register
1903 Güldendorf birth/marriage/death register (on order)
1904 Güldendorf birth/marriage/death register
1905 Güldendorf birth/marriage/death register
1906 Güldendorf birth/marriage/death register (on order)
1907 Güldendorf birth/marriage/death register
1908 Güldendorf birth/marriage/death register
1910 Güldendorf birth/marriage/death register (on order)
1911 Güldendorf birth/marriage/death register (on order)
1912 Güldendorf birth/marriage/death register
1916 Güldendorf birth/marriage/death register

Güldendorf family groupings including a number of those who moved to other villages as well as data from numerous EWZ records.

Several photos of the village from the early 1940's

 A hand-drawn map of the village from the early 1940's (currently being digitized)

Several photos of the few remaining cemetery headstones taken in 2000. Numerous obituaries for those born in Güldendorf and died in America (ca 630)

Numerous letters sent from Güldendorf and published in German-American newspapers between 1903 - 1938 (all but 69 translated)

A history of the village written in 1848

The 1858 village Revision List (census)

Extractions from 1859-1885 births/deaths of families who moved to daughter villages Annental, Eigenfeld, Gnadenfeld, Lichtenfeld & Wilhelmstal

I am not able to track if/when requests come via AHSGR or another source.

Herzog, Saratov, Volga

Roger A. Toepfer T095

Jerry Braun B489 / L

See Fischer village for combined report.

Holstein, Saratov, Volga

Holstein Web Site

Donald and Lorna Young

We have had very little activity this year with the exception of four inquiries.

We were unable to attend the convention in Yakima.

Something that might be of interest is, my wife’s great grandfather Christoph Knaus came to the USA in 1909 with his son and daughter-in-law. When he died, no grave marker was placed on his grave, just a tree planted. This past year, the tree died, so the family all got together and had an “iron cross” made for the grave. It sure is nice. The cemetery is in Windsor, CO.

Huck, Saratov, Volga

Huck Web Site

Dennis Zitterkopf Z005

Village night at the Yakima convention was a roaring success with 14 Huck descendants from seven states (including Hawaii!) crowded around two tables. Talking with old friends and meeting new ones, sharing and examining information, and rediscovering distant cousins kept the crowd occupied.

2003 has been another good year for the Huck village. The web site received slightly over 1100 visits since the 2002 report, and now includes 49 researchers. The 17 surname charts known to exist for the village are listed with instructions about how to obtain a copy (many are privately owned and not available through AHSGR). I’ve responded to 59 inquiries during the period of January through August 2003. Several of these were from Argentina and Germany.

There has been no change in status for the absence of village records from 1858 to 1888. This is particularly frustrating and a disappointment because many of the inquiries I’ve received are asking for information during this dark period (especially for those from Argentina).

Two new translation projects have been initiated and are continuing. Translations of the Huck related letters listed in the AHSGR booklet Letters from Hell are being posted on the Huck site as they become available. Copies of the German text from Die Welt Post have been distributed to the researchers who volunteered to help with the project. The letters add a personal touch for Huck descendants to the stories of starvation and hardship that our ancestors endured during the 1920 and 1930 period. The second project is translation of the Huck related portions of Los Abuelos Alemanes del Volga, written by Alberto Sarramone. These sections list the names of the persons from Huck who were among the original settlers for various villages in Argentina. We will not be posting the translation on the web site due to copyright restrictions but plan to share the information with interested persons. (This project may be cancelled as a result of the recent posting by Teri Helzer for the same material.

I am (slowly) accumulating family surname data for Huck with a goal of preparing a village database. 

Hussenbach, Gashon, Samara, Volga

Hussenbach Web Site

Paul Lais L235 / L

Submitted by Paul Lais and Louise Potter

This has been a very busy year due partly to the Convention held in Yakima in June and partly due to much sickness in the family.

Approximately 15 people attended Village Night where there was much sharing of information. I had all the Hussenbach charts purchased and which have been received by various Hussenbach descendants. I also had a card file of obituaries and family group cards. Many of the obituaries were obtained from the booklet Kirchenbote Obituaries, an Index for the years 1956 to 1963 published by the Central Washington Chapter AHSGR, and the supplement, which was published a year ago. The above information was taken from the Kirchenbote publication, a German language church messenger. Pictures from Ships of our Ancestors with information taken from the surname charts were displayed. A book of the Hussenbach Review newsletters, which was published by Paul Lais, June 1994 to March 1999, was also displayed.

Perhaps the highlight of village Night was a special treat provided by RoseMary Guenthner of sugar beet syrup and bread. After looking at RoseMary and Howard Guenthner’s video of the making of sugar beet syrup, we can really appreciate all the work it took to make this delicious treat. Thanks RoseMary!

Two surname charts have been received this year, which were shared by Irene Rube (Fries) and DB Schwartzkopf (Ebert). There are approximately 15,000 names of Hussenbachers and their descendants in the database. To date we have received 18 surname charts and include: Ebert, Frank, Fries, Fuchs (2), Hilderman, Jordan, Kreuzer, Kroh, Leis / Lais, Muck, Propp, Riel (2), Rommel, Rosenoff, Rothenberger, Schatzel, Stenzel and Suppes.

Two of our people have shared recent trips and pictures. Roger Schreiner visited Hussenbach and Shirley Hurrell and a group from the Portland Chapter visited Budingen, etc., in Germany.

I have been in correspondence with about 20 researchers this year. Some of the names being researched include Leis, Fuchs, Lipsack, Weitzel, Fries, Stenzel, Schwartz, Reichert, Siefert, Schwindt, Peppler, Rexius, Propp, Herman, Waschenfelder, Gidich and Tittle.

Paul Lais, VC for Hussenbach Gaschon, has recently moved to Wyoming and has a new email address as reflected above.  He is looking forward to hearing from all his correspondents.

Hussenbach, Linevo Ozero, Saratov, Volga

Hussenbach Web Site

Louise Potter P051 / L

See Hussenbach, Gashon, Samara, Volga above for combined report.

Johannesdorf, Karlsruhe, North Caucasus

Bonnie J. Anderson

Greetings from Kansas City!

I am very happy to report that the Caucasus is no longer a “black hole” of GR history. Work continues in searching for and collecting all existing materials concerning the villages of KATHARINENFELD, (now Bolnisi), S. Caucasus, JOHANNESDORF and KARLSRUHE (N. Caucasus), and the remaining 150+ Caucasus villages/chutors as outlined below:

A. STATUS REPORT

QUERIES:
Research assistance requests, mostly look-ups, continue at the rate of about one per week for me or my co-coordinator, Arthur Flegel. Unfortunately, at this point, we do not have enough specific information to answer most “look-up” requests adequately. One request in 2003, however, via a reference librarian in Salt Lake City, concerned recent returnees from Kazakhstan, originally from Johannesdorf, N. Caucasus, and a huge personal surprise for me. Via e-mail, Helene Kowal of Hanover and I have established that we are closely related (Schilling: Hussenbach/Volga > Cauc.), and that I am the first relative with whom they had been in contact in over 60 years!

TRANSLATIONS & PUBLICATIONS:
A recent book by a Russian historian concerning the North Caucasus German settlements; a second will be translated beginning in December. Various other books and articles in Russian and German await translation.

RECORDS ACQUISITION:
During the past six months, significant steps have been taken regarding location of church and other records:

In June of this year, we received confirmation that Lutheran church records exist for the South Caucasus German villages located in Georgia from 1817 to approx. 1920, as well as various other types of records, such as deportation lists, church/governmental correspondence and village reports. We are working through a private individual in Georgia to begin obtaining this information.

Regarding church and other records for the German villages in Azerbaijan (So. Caucasus), I have a new contact in Baku now who is willing to assess what records exist in the archive there, their condition and availability. We are also working to establish contacts in other areas of the North Caucasus, focusing during 2003 and 2004 on Krasnodar krai and Stavropol krai. While all this is still quite tentative, hopes run high.

Note: Records are not only in printed Cyrillic and various versions of Cyrillic and German script, but also in Georgian. We probably will have to deal with additional languages as well—Azeri and Turkish, for example.

TRAVEL TO THE CAUCASUS VILLAGES:
We are also in the early stages of planning a group trip to the Caucasus through a GR travel agent that will focus on the German settlements. Groups of Germans have also made this journey for a number of years.

ORGANIZATION & FUNDING:
It was decided earlier this year that the formation and administration of a traditionally organized group involving formal membership accounting, a paper-based newsletter, mailings, etc. is not feasible for the Caucasus project coordinators, Arthur Flegel and Bonnie Anderson. Instead, our concentration for the next few years will remain focused on collecting existing materials, the ordering and translation of publications as they appear (usually in Russian and German), writing and publication, and expansion and strengthening of contacts for archival records acquisition throughout the Caucasus. A digital-based network for GR Caucasus research is being discussed, perhaps using established avenues of communication such as the GR electronic mail lists administered through NDSU in combination with other options via AHSGR and GRHS.

Costs thus far related to the Caucasus project have been covered by a few individuals who are committed to seeing materials accumulated and to pursuing archival records sources so that information can be made available to all GRs. However, additional donations or other assistance to underwrite related costs will soon be needed.

B. VC GOALS FOR 2004

1. Coordinate the growing group of known Karlsruhe descendants (mostly U.S. and Canada), and work on the family list. (Also, much confusion about the seven or more GR settlements called Karlsruhe is still evident in many queries.)
2. For Johannesdorf and Karlsruhe, publication of the translations of two recent books from MIPP/Moscow about the North Caucasus. settlements. Two other books, through individual researchers, are also scheduled for completion (i.e., translation from Georgian>German>English and publication) during the next few months.
3. Translation, translation, translation!! Submit a growing stack of accumulated articles, books, a dissertation, etc. for professional translation as funds permit, and/or find volunteers to translate. In fact, we no longer face a lack of information; we now face growing pains alongside the need for a third co-coordinator.
4. Continue pursuing contacts for archives concerning the N. Caucasus.
   settlements, and continue assessing sources of information or partnering, especially in academia and outside the U.S.
5. Highlight and advance the Caucasus project through articles/photos, etc. in the AHSGR/GRHS journals.
6. Revise Stumpp’s Caucasus settlements map, time and volunteers permitting.
7. Further coordination efforts within the small group of AHSGR/GRHS Caucasus VCs.
   Any questions or comments about this report or the Caucasus Germans are welcomed and encouraged.

Josefstal / Schwabe Khutor, Saratov, Volga

Josefstal Web Site

Edward R. Gerk G054

This past summer I was able to visit Russia again. I was able to visit the archives in Volgograd, and I found the staff there very professional and very helpful.

I was able to look at any document I wanted, up to 10 files per day. I found that a complete inventory for the Josefstal village archive had actually been done in about 1946. I assume that the ones for the other Volga villages that have their archive here are the same.

The files for Josefstal are lean and incomplete...they consist of various files leading up to the revolution and then the Soviet period up until 1941. Most of these files consisted of various collective farm stats and some personal notes. The pre-1917 files deal with the construction of the first Church, some land disputes, bread loans. What is fascinating are the decisions of the village government, signed by most of the men in the village.

Of interest was the fact that the village had to report all birth, death and marriages to the Volost government. Therefore, this could be another source for info rather than the Church books. The Josefstal records had just a few years of this, but it included all such events for every family.

At the same time I looked at some of the original Church books for Koehler, from 1839 to 1861.

I continue to get some inquiries from my web site dealing with Josefstal.

Copies of the documents I received will go to AHSGR. I was also able to get a copy of the 1858 census for Marienfeld, which I intend to translate and sell for about $25. All proceeds will go towards getting other village census material, if possible.

Jost, Samara, Volga

Jost Web Site

Taryn M. Holmes

There have been four queries for the village of Jost over the past year.
The surnames: TERMER; RING; FUCHS; DELLOS; REINHARD; FLACH; BUSCHEL; MUELLER;  ROEHRIG/STIER; SCWABENLAND; HERZOG/WENIG; EHOFF; and SHIMMEL.

The website is available, but the links are not yet active. I am currently transcribing names for the 1798 census. Dodie, the village coordinator of neighboring Laub has promised to volunteer her photographs and details of her recent visits to the village. All of this information will be posted to the website.

Research continues for the village. There had been a contact in Germany who previously named many families known to her to live in the village. I am attempting to correspond with her to find out if she has any further information.

Kamenka, Saratov, Volga

Kamenka Web Site

Rosemary Larson L033 / L

This report is being submitted for Kamenka and Pfeifer since many of the inquiries pertain to both.

This year has brought requests from Canada; Mexico, Ecuador, many from Argentina; as well as the United States.

Many inquiries are for information on immigrants other than Kamenka or Pfeifer. I try to find the requested information or direct them to a website or VC.

I maintain websites for Kamenka and Pfeifer.

Karlsruhe, Burlatzki, Caucasus

Map 13, Quadrant H-3

Bonnie J. Anderson

See Johannesdorf village for combined report.

Katharinenfeld, Luxemburg, South Caucasus

Bonnie J. Anderson

See Johannesdorf village for combined report.

Kautz, Saratov, Volga

Kautz Web Site

D. Michael Frank F244

This past year I completed the conversion of Elaine Frank Davison's ten volumes of Unsere Leute von Kautz to compact disk. Information from these volumes is now easy to distribute to those who are researching the families of Kautz. Comments have been positive. Requests for the CD or information about it have been averaging about one every week and a half. With the request for the CD, I now also generate and supply Kautz descendant and ancestral charts relevant to the requestor from the Kautz database. Several complimentary copies of the CD have gone to Germany and Russia for those close relatives who have access to computers and who have been keen to progress of our Kautz genealogy.

There have been requests for surname charts for which I have been able to supply. Charts for specific surnames have been in low supply so I've had to make copies. Complete separate genealogical files for each of the 19 Kautz Charts are being made so a GEDCOM file of a particular surname will be able to be sent to each Kautz chart requestor.

As requests come in for the CD or charts, I continue to update the Kautz database from new information offered by the requestor.

My cousin, Dorothy Robinson Brandner, has graciously volunteered to index a massive amount of Kautz-related information from Elaine, which would otherwise have taken a back seat to other pressing projects. Her efforts have yielded new valuable information and photographs, which will be incorporated with other new information into the 11th and 12th volumes of Unsere Leute von Kautz, which are now being compiled. Dorothy is working to preserve those original papers which will deteriorate over time if left untreated. In the process of researching preservation techniques, she is learning a lot about chemistry and her efforts are starting to bear fruit.

I have begun my own research of some of the 22 Kautz founding families back to Germany, like the Frank line, which has been documented back to Schriesheim, walking distance to Heidelberg. There are enough clues and time to continue this work with good chances of some immediate successes with some of the families.

Köhler, Saratov, Volga

Joe Gareis G265

I fielded about one request per month for information on Koehler. I heard from Argentina, Canada, Germany, the U.S. and France. Most asked for family history data. I have often been able to surprise people with older information than they expect, from the 1798 Census and the list of settlers in 1767. However, I have been hampered by the lack of information for the 19th century. 

Barb and Nick Bretz have been compiling village genealogies using newly available Census data and other sources, and are beginning to bridge the 19th century gap. They are currently busy incorporating family histories they received this year. Barb and Nick Bretz are looking to expand on this work and have agreed to share the VC responsibilities for Koehler in the coming year.

It was a good year for surname charts related to Koehler, not that I had much to do with that. Family histories were completed for the surnames Bauer, Bretz, Klug, and Reichenborn this fall. At the beginning of the year, AHSGR records showed only one chart for the surname Klein. Still on order are charts for the Reikart and Gareis. Please let me know if I am missing any. 

I translated a historical piece describing a bloody revolt against the Bolsheviks that took place July 1918 in Koehler, and simultaneously in the villages of Leichtling, Hildmann, and Semenowka. This was from a book titled Verschollene Heimat an der Wolga, written in German by Edmund Imherr, who was born and raised in Koehler. The uprising was a defining event for those who remained in the village during the 20th century. I am currently working on translating other chapters from this unique source of information on Koehler and plan on expanding the search for historical sources.

Kolb, Saratov, Volga

Sarah (Kanzler) Hammarstrom H419

Thelma (Koch) Sprenger S653 / L

Pauline Dudek D018 / L
Honorary VC

Submitted by Thelma Sprenger.  See Frank village for combined report.

This year has not been as productive as I would have liked for Kolb research. My husband had many trips to the doctor and a few hospital stays that took up my time.

I have several inquires that have gone unanswered but are on file and I hope to get to them one day soon.

What has been completed in the last year is the translation of the Zion UCC church records in Ritzville and the records for Immanuel church that was located on the Adams/Lincoln county line between Ritzville and Odessa, WA. The Immanuel records will be given to the Odessa museum and the Zion records will be kept at the Zion church in Ritzville.

Sorry I do not have the knowledge to have a website for Kolb. The new information for family names is shared with Doris Evans who enters it into her Frank database. Frank and Kolb were located just a short1. distance from each other and many families are related.

Kukkus, Samara, Volga

Betty Muradian M005 / L

Eleanor Sissell S329 / L
Data Entry

Submitted by Betty Muradian

This year was spent studying Pleve’s book, Einwanderung in das Wolgagebiet 1764-1767, on the original settlers of Kukkus and how many of them appeared in the Kukkus 1798 census, and the Kukkus map of 1921. Although there were many different names who first settled in Kukkus, these are the ones that still remained in 1921: Baum, 3 Becker families, Dittenbier, Engelmann, Gerlach, Getz (Gtz), Heinrich, Hergenrder, Herzog, Isheim, Ilberg (Ohlberg), Krum, Kuhn, Kukkus, Maser, Rosental, Schafer, Schaub, and Weigand.

This is a sample of what can be found in the Pleve book: Hergenrder, Johann 25, Reform rel., Bttcher (barrel maker), out of Isenburg-Raubach. Frau: Pilippina, 18.

Many original settlers left Kukkus to go to other villages and live, and many new names appeared in the 1798 census and especially, on the 1921 map of Kukkus

Several family reunions, large and small, took in Germany the last year or so. Bob Heinrich sent an exciting report of their family reunion in Braunfels-Werdorf area. These travel reports are saved and have much information in them for future travelers

Dennis and Alberta Ohlberg traveled to Germany to visit his sister, brother and cousin, who had been here in the Fresno area a few years ago

The book, Kukkus, a German Village on the Volga is still being printed and sold at the Central California AHSGR Museum and Library in Fresno

Anyone having questions on their Kukkus ancestors can write or e-mail for information

Every year new books and information on the villages are available.

Submitted by Eleanor Sissell

The data base for Kukkus includes 9756 individuals. There have been many queries for information this past year. Those who ask for information I ask to
send more information for the database about their family. Most of the people are members of AHSGR. Those who were not, I suggested they visit the AHSGR web site and encourage them to become members. One person needed to know where a village was located in Poland. I was able to find the location and sent a list of film numbers of church records for that village.

I have added at least two hundred names this year. Some of the names I extracted from the two books sold by the Central Washington Chapter at the Yakima convention. These books were extractions of German newspaper obituaries. It included birth as well as death information. I put the sources of information in the individual's note files so others may know where I got the information. If there is not a note on an individual, there usually is for the head of the family I was working on.

I hope this next year to make sure each individual in the database has a note about the source for the information I received. I would also like to make a hard copy of the database to be kept at Lincoln.

It has been a pleasure to work with the people who are descendants of former residents of the village of Kukkus, "A Village on the Volga".

Laub, Samara, Volga

Donita ('Dodie') Reich Rotherham 

This was my first year as Laub Village Coordinator. I believe I took on far more than I should have but all in all it has been an interesting year.

I responded to several requests from Laub ancestors and provided information from Stump and Pleve’s books.

I also published my first newsletter, The Laub Links, and sent it to those listed in the clues book. To date only 5 people have requested future news letters be mailed to them. I’m not sure if it was the newsletter or just a lack of interest!

In August I took a group of 10 people to Russia whose ancestors came from Laub. We spent 10 days in Russia and approximately 6 days in Saratov area where we visited Laub, Kukkus and Warenberg.

In Laub we met a German man, Mr. Schafer, who had been deported to Laub from St. Petersburg after Stalin shot his father. He and his mother had not been deported to Siberia as his mother had a skill the communists needed in the village.

This gentleman knew much about Laub and showed us the former Lutheran Church and Ministers house. The church was spared destruction by removing the steeple and using it for grain storage. The minister’s house is now the local grocery store. We were able to see the minister’s house and actually purchase a few trinkets for souvenirs.

 Mr. Schafer was able to show us the former German Cemetery. At first I couldn’t believe it as last year we were told the cemetery was across the street from the village. However, he took us to an area north of the main village right on the bank of the Volga. There he pointed out the cemetery area and led us cautiously to the bank. The bank is very unstable and we had to be careful not to stand on areas breaking away from the main bank. As we looked over the bank we could see coffins and bones protruding the bank. He told us the river is constantly washing away the cliff and exposing the remains.

The next day we went to Laub again and found a way down to the river. There on the bank were many human bones, hair, clothing, etc. We could look up and see many coffins protruding the bank. In one coffin we could see the skull of the individual and some coffins we could see bones and clothing sticking out. There were many coffin parts floating in the river. It was very moving and of course very sad to think that this is the final insult to our dear ancestors.

The cemetery is located on the northern edge of Laub and at this point we also found a path to Jost. Unfortunately, we did not have time to walk the path as the day was getting late and we still had the trip back to Saratov ahead of us.

I also visited Doenhoff and Norka on the west side of the Volga. I was able to get many more pictures this year and will share with the VC’s from the aforementioned villages.

We had a real treat this year as a lady in Kukkus invited all of us to a lunch at her house. Of course, all of this was prearranged with our travel agency but the experience was really great. If we return again we are going to try to do this in the village of Laub.
In Saratov we stayed in a nice hotel on German Street in the heart of Saratov. We visited the crystal factory and did a walking tour of the many German built homes and buildings of the city. The German influences are everywhere.

We were supposed to spend 2 days at the research center in Engels but once again, we were given only a couple hours in the center. The center has so much information but of course, the books are old and should not be handled frequently. We all would like to help the center move forward and allow us to do research but it is hard to change mindsets. I am working with one of the volunteers to see how we can set up a donation system to help restore records and make them available to the Volga German ancestors who wish to do research.

I am also trying to determine where Laub families were deported in 1941. I have made contact with a gentleman from Laub, now living in Germany. I have shared Laub information with him as he is trying to get his children out of Russia. He was a young man when his family was deported but perhaps he will have some information to share.

I am also continuing to receive the Landsmanschaft magazine from Germany. The organization holds meetings every even year in Stuttgart. Many Germans from Russia attend and they hold village nights to assist families seeking information on loved ones. I hope to attend the 2004 meeting.

The next issue of The Laub Links will be published this winter.

Lauwe / Laube, Samara, Volga

Helen Bernice Madden M363 / L

In my activities as VC for Lauwe, year 2003 has been one of busy and fruitful times, some of them frustrating. Local chapter and California District Council (which includes 2004 the Convention) obligations as well as the Yakima convention and travel to visit relatives have had priority. Consequently, apologies are in order to those folks who subscribe to my newsletter. Hopefully, one will be forthcoming before the end of the year. Village night in Yakima was a productive one for me. I usually don’t get much activity, but luckily, I was able to meet a couple GRASMICK families there.

Several requests for information have come to my attention, the majority by way of the internet. It appears that some are from folks that are not members of AHSGR. I know this is not always easy to ascertain, but my time spent in answering their queries (most lacking any information that is pertinent to researching the family) is worth knowing about their membership. I have learned this the hard way. A request from a surname connected to my family took a lot of time, and my enthusiasm in finding a new relative got in the way. I found out later that they were not AHSGR members. The expense I have entailed in acquiring data on my family is considerable and through my association with AHSGR, I have gained much in my research.

One of the activities on which I have focused is research on the MARKUS surname. This came about when I learned of a young exchange student from Germany came to a little southeastern Colorado town of (pop. approx. 500) for her senior year in high school. The young lady’s name is Inessa MARKUS. It was learned by the sponsoring family that she was German-Russian. This inspired an inquiry since it happens that several MARKUS families live in nearby towns.

Inessa, overwhelmed by the coincidence, wrote her mother, Ida, for family information that she was not aware of. We hit the “jack-pot”. What Ida did not know about the family, she was able to get from a 95 yr old aunt, who also lives in Germany. She is, Anna Margaretha GÖRINGER [b 23 March 1908 in Lauwe] and can be found on the GÖRINGER surname chart that I have. After graduating, Inessa has returned to Germany. This, in turn, has prompted me to travel to Germany [Sept 15] to make contact. I plan to write of my experience in my next newsletter

Louis, Samara, Volga

Louis Web Site

Thelma Mills M357

1. I received 114 inquiries, and answered each and everyone. Most were resolved, but I have the unresolved inquiries in a “working on” file. I will keep trying as I feel it is important to those searchers. Quite a few of these resulted from a book of Argentina which I purchased, and let it be known that there were many Russian-German surnames listed!
2. We have purchased more Mariental and Louis reference material - mostly from Kevin Rupp and Tony Leiker.
3. During my travels this summer, I managed to get copies of quite a few immigration papers, Naturalization, Declarations of Intention, Certificates of Arrival, Oath of Allegiance, etc. Most of these were on the Kinderknecht’s, as I have been trying to locate my father’s citizenship papers - to no avail. Nevertheless, I always try to gather others while I am doing this search.
   
   These papers are fabulous - they are HISTORICAL documents. Some of them renounce their allegiance to the following:
   
   George V, King of Great Britain and Ireland, the sovereign of Canada
   Nicholas II, Emperor of all of Russia
   Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
   Alexander, Czar of the Russian Empire
   Alexander III, Czar of Russia
   Present and future government of Russia
   Russia or any independent within the boundary of the former Russian Empire
   William II, Emperor of Germany
4. I was able to purchase a Genealogy Chart on the family of Conrad Hermann - this from Dr. Michael D. Giessel
5. My newest web page is of LOUIS, RUSSIA - URL listed below
6. I did attend the GRHS convention in Rapid City, SD this September - my daughter lives close by, and we both thoroughly enjoyed it. Learned many things, and loved the speaker from the Ukraine. She was excellent. This was my first GRHS convention, as I most always attend the AHSGR conventions, and do plan to attend the next one in Modesto, CA
7. Received two interesting e-mails, which I want to include here:
   
   Hi Thelma -
   
   Denise forwarded your message to me about what I may have seen in Mariental, Russia this summer. First of all, I have another e-mail address for you at “southwind”. Is this an old one?
   
   Between the digital pictures I took and the ones sent to me by a couple of cousins who were on the trip, I think I have over 50 pictures of Mariental. It was very hard to get the “whole” picture of the town, but I’ve attached three of them. What you should get is a picture of the town sign, a view of the village taken from our bus, and what I think is the main drag. Let me know if you have any problems downloading them. If you want to send me your address, I’ll make a CD of all the pictures I have.
   
   The day we visited Mariental was the second day we traveled out from Saratov in search of the villages. We stopped at Liebenthal first, then Urbach. We actually went to Mariental twice! It was so blasted hot while we were there and air conditioning is not that common in Russia. However, in Mariental we found a beer/food/dance hall that had air conditioning and we really didn’t want to leave! I know we at first overwhelmed the woman who ran the place and her daughter came over to help. The food she had was a combination of a sort of pizza, sandwiches, and many things stuffed in pastries—from fruit to potatoes. We also drank quite a bit of beer and enjoyed the coolness. When we left, we headed west of Mariental in search of Graf and our bus driver wasn’t able to get down the road. Our Russian tour guide waved down a car that came by, and next thing I know, three people from our tour group were driving off with the owner in the car down the “road” to Graf, and his wife was on the bus with us. So, we went back to the hall in Mariental. Needless to say, they were very surprised to see us again and quickly started putting more beer in their cooler. Thelma, I can hardly express how kind these people were. A few more of her friends came in and they put on music. Someone else brought in several buckets of apricots and put them on the tables. Then they insisted we dance. Maybe a couple of our group would get up and dance at first, but one Russian woman would dance over to a man in our group with her hands coaxing him out on the dance floor. I think she managed to get almost every male in our group out there eventually—even the young ones. I have a lot of this on film. It was very much a highlight of our trip.
   
   Fr. Julian Haas was one of the coordinators of our trip and many people in the tour group were in the Haas family. In Mariental, they did talk to a woman who was a possible relative. From what I understood, she and her mother had come back to Mariental from Siberia. This was the first time we found a Volga German in any of the villages. In the other villages, many would say they remembered the Volga Germans, but there were no longer any living there.
   
   In the villages we visited previous to Mariental (Zug, Obermonjou, Wittman, Urbach, Liebenthal) we had stopped at the cemeteries in search of family graves. There would be maybe a single grave with the tombstone in German, but most of the graves did not predate WW II. Therefore, our bus did not stop at the Mariental cemetery. In talking to Tony Leiker (he took a group to Russia last month), he said the Mariental cemetery was a highlight of their trip, so I’m very disappointed we didn’t stop. Here are excerpts from conversations I’ve had with Tony since he came back:
   
   The Mariental cemetery and Rohleder were my highlights of my tour of the colonies. The Volga German part of the cemetery appears to be completely in place except for all the tombstones in German and one large stone in the ground. There are quite a few in tombstones in Russian with German names. We took photos so you will get to see them. I will also have them interpreted as it is difficult to read them in the Russian alphabet.
   
   Did you notice all the mounds behind the tombstones in Mariental where obviously people were buried but the stones were missing?
   
   Did I tell you that we found a human lower jaw with a tooth at the Mariental cemetery? I picked it up but the gals got grossed out so I dropped it again but sure wish I had not done that. I could have had DNA testing done to see if it was a Volga German.
   
   I haven’t received any pictures from Tony yet, but am sure that he could tell you much more about the cemetery.
   
   Terri
   
   
   This email below is in reference to my web page and the story of Lilia.
   
   
   Subject: thank you!
   
   I have written you before, I am the son of Eugene Kinderknecht from Delta, Colorado and have met you there at my parents' home. I just wanted to thank you for all of your efforts in putting this together for us. To be able to read and understand some of what our ancestors have gone through. I think we take many things for granted.
   
   My father has taken it to heart, to build something up to pass it on to future generations of Kinderknechts (his drive for this desire came from the letters of Lilia). A goal in which I will be joining him in really soon, as I plan to move to Delta and help him with his business.
   
   Again THANK YOU!!!!!!!
   
   ROBERT LEE KINDERKNECHT
   
   
8. We were gone all summer, and are finally back home, having traveled over 6,000 miles in order to attend all of the family functions that were scheduled this summer. Never have I seen so many celebrations in one summer!!! Glad to be home, So far behind with all of my projects.