Village Coordinator Reports 2006
Villages G-L
VC Newsletter Editor Michael Frank
| G | H | J
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Galka, Saratov, Volga
2006 Village Report for Galka
Sorry to be late in providing this report. Dorothy and I have been involved
in the village of Galka and surrounding villages for many years. In fact, we
were involved in researching that area for the past twelve years. Dorothy's
family came from the village of Galka and other villages staring around 1878.
Her grandparents arrived in United States in 1904 and settled in Marion County
Kansas.
Over the years as village coordinators we have accumulated a good file on
that area. We have responded to many inquiries in that time period and we
enjoyed village night at the conventions meeting with people with similar
objectives.
This has not been a good year with few contacts concerning the village of
Galka. In addition, Dorothy had a stroke one year ago in December. She had
made some progress in recovery and lengthy rehabilitation. Then there were
some adverse changes and she passed away in September. The history of her
family and her interest in ASHGR were important to her. As she would have it,
I will continue to be active in ASHGR activities and will complete the
research of her family and hope to publish her papers next year.
Merrill V. Younkin
AHSGR Village Coordinator for Galka
Glückstal Colonies Research Association
Glueckstal Web Site
2006 Village Report for Glückstal,
Neudorf, Bergdorf and Kassel and daughter colonies
It has been another full year for the Glückstal Colonies Research
Association. The group planning our next book, under the leadership of Homer
Rudolf, met and discussed possible topics in addition to the continuing
projects of authenticating origins, passenger lists, EWZ records, and the
translation of the numerous files already purchased from the archives.
Purchased church records from the post St. Petersburg period will be
translated and included. Thus the scope of the book, the eighth undertaken by
GCRA, has been decided, the work has been divided, and now the various members
are completing their tasks in preparation for the 2008 publication date.
Individuals who missed contributing to the last volume are encouraged to get
their materials in for this volume.
We continue to be pleased by the reception of our documentary "Heaven
Is Our Homeland, The Glückstalers of New Russia and North America." It
has now won three industry awards in international competitions, one each in
2004, 2005, 2006. First was a "Crystal Award of Excellence" in the
2004 "Communicator Awards", based upon the storytelling ability and
technical excellence. Next was a "Silver Telly" in the 2005 "Telly
Awards" Competition, for receiving a score of 9 or higher out of a
possible 10 points. Finally, it received a 2006 Gold Aurora Award in the
Documentary-Historical category. Programs in this competition are judged on a
fixed score in the areas of creativity, message, effectiveness and technical
excellence. "Heaven Is Our Homeland" was produced for GCRA by
Roadshow Productions in cooperation with Prairie Public Television, both
headquartered in Fargo, ND.
Work is in process by Harold Ehrman, desktop publisher, on a much needed
index of our 2004 book "The Glückstalers of New Russia and North
America: A Collection of History, Genealogy, and Folklore."
A copy of the origins of Glückstal residents that appeared in the 2004
book has been sent to Dick Krause for inclusion on the origins site he is
developing for AHSGR.
The GCRA Listserve, under the auspices of NDSU, continues to be popular.
Our website with web mistress Penny Raile, is also popular.
GCRA membership remains about 400, and these members receive two
newsletters each year, a total of 64 pages of research material and
information related to descendants from the colonies. This newsletter is also
sent to 24 archives and research groups in North America and Europe. Inquiries
come in from North America and Europe fairly consistently, and an effort is
made to respond to them.
The death of Gwen Pritzkau this past spring has left a huge hole in our
group, as Gwen had superlative research skills and was well known at the Salt
Lake City Family History Library. We are grateful for her friendship, as well
as her considerable contributions to GCRA and the research of the Germans from
Russia.
From Margaret Freeman, Glückstal Colonies Research Association,
researching the villages of Glückstal, Neudorf, Bergdorf and Kassel, and the
daughter colonies.
Glückstal, Glückstal, Odessa, Kherson
Glueckstal Web site
See Glückstal Colonies Research
Association for combined report.
Glückstal Daughter Colonies
See Glückstal Colonies Research
Association for combined report.
Gnadenfeld, (Neu-Moor/Moor), Samara, Volga
Gnadenfeld Web Site
2006 Village Report for Gnadenfeld, Moor
and Neu-Moor
Gnadenfeld, (Neu-Moor/Moor), Samara,Volga
Gnadenfeld, (Russian name Kirovskoye), was a small "daughter"
colony, on the weisenseite of the Volga, with many of the families coming from
the "mother" colony of Moor, (Russian name Klyuchi). It was also
known as Neu-Moor, so there is confusion as to the originating colony of
families.
I do not receive many requests for information from Gnadenfeld, due to the
small population of the colony. This year I have had several requests for
information from the colony of Moor.
At present I am working with a family from the small
"grand-daughter" colony of Neu-Moor, (Russian name Pogranichnyy),
which was located near the colony of Merkel, and formed in the 1920's by
families from the "mother" colony of Moor. This adds to the
confusion of the colony names.
Since many of the families from Gnadenfeld came from the "mother"
colony of Moor, I continue to collect surnames from Gnadenfeld and Moor,
including ship records, declarations of intent, naturalization records, census
records and obituaries.
Irma A. Waggoner, V.C.
Graf, Samara, Volga
2006 Village Report for Graf &
Neu-Obermunjou
Nothing new.
Kevin Rupp
Grimm, Saratov, Volga
Grimm Web Site
Grimm Mail
List
2006 Village Report for Grimm
This year was again very uneventful for the village of Grimm. I was able to
glean a small amount of data from obituaries but the lack of any new data is
hampered by the fact that the 16 charts ordered years ago have
not arrived nor has any new data since the census revision of 1858.
I was unable to attend the annual convention in Lincoln and certainly
missed talking with the Grimmers on Village Night.
Ken Leffler
AHSGR Grimm Village Coordinator
Güldendorf, Grossliebental, Odessa, Kherson
2006 Village Report for Güldendorf (by
Odessa)
I continue to extract Einwandererzentralstelle (EWZ) records and Deutsches
Auslands-Institut (DAI) records posted on www.odessa3.org
and enter into my family groupings files. A few files were ordered earlier
this year from the Odessa Regional State Archive and the Russians translated
for me in Odessa. Finding someone with the ability to translate the German
script has proven difficult.
Curt. Renz
Güldendorf Village Coordinator
Herzog, Saratov, Volga
Herzog Web Site
See Fischer for combined report.
Hoffnungstal, Akkerman, Bessarabia
2006 Village Report for Hoffnungstal (Bessarabia)
I continue to extract Einwandererzentralstelle (EWZ) records and Deutsches
Auslands-Institut (DAI) records posted on www.odessa3.org
and enter into my family groupings files. Dale Wahl continues as the editor
for the 12th year of the Hoffnungstal, Bessarabian newsletter.
Curt. Renz
Hoffnungstal Village Coordinator
Holstein, Saratov, Volga
Holstein Web Site
2006 Village Report for Holstein
The village of Holstein had about 10-15 new contacts this year. One person
sent a copy of their family research. I found another family history in the
boxes of books at the AHSGR convention. The 1834, 1850, and 1858 censuses have
been translated. I put on the Internet all of Rachel Smith's 1500 obits she
typed. Rachel gets lots of positive emails about the obits. The last time I
checked, the Holstein database had about 25,000 names.
Edith Bottsford
Holstein Village Coordinator
Huck, Saratov, Volga
Huck Web Site
2006 Village Report for Huck
Only limited activity and little new research related to village Huck has
occurred since October 2005. The usual occurrence of occasional inquiries from
persons (usually non-members) asking about information related to their
surname was received. I refer them to Huck researchers who are performing
research for the surname or answer their questions as best as I can. One
inquiry was received from a person in Germany. There were no inquiries from
Argentina during the past year, which is a disappointment, but because of the
gap in Huck records from 1858 to 1888 I've been unable to be of much
assistance to persons from Argentina who usually have little more than the
name of their grandparents to work with. I know we all have hopes for the
initiatives being made by AHSGR to help us locate and obtain records from
archives in the former Soviet Union.
I did redesign the Huck village database and can now merge data from the
various sources. Having more hours in a day would help increase my completion
rate for that project.
An exhibit of Huck Parochial Records was added to the village site this
year. I've reached the limit of the allowable storage for the site so will
have to delete something in order to continue to expand what we have online.
Translations for the existing "Letters from Hell" project have
slowed to a full stop and translation help is still needed.
Village Night at the Lincoln convention was well attended. We have a
"regular" crowd that fills two tables to overflowing which enables
us to have an evening of information sharing as well as renewing friendships.
The Huck website can be found at the link above.
Dennis Zitterkopf
AHSGR Village Coordinator, Huck
Husaren, Saratov, Volga
2006 Village Report for Husaren
I am a new Village Coordinator. I have had several requests for information
about this village but have found that there is little information available.
Information has been requested for three surnames: Rollheiser, Schiefelbein
and Kamlowsky. We recently put in a request for the census
information for Schiefelbein and Kamlowsky. We should have the information
once the payment has been received.
I have received information and pictures from Gene Brown (Braun).
From the "History of Josefstal" there is a list of families from
Husaren who moved there. From six families there were 39 people. Surnames are
Distel, Kisser, Rollheiser, and Schiefelbein.
From the "Extracts of cases handled by Foreign Settlers Office of the
Saratov Region 1723-1868", the surnames mentioned are Braun, Durban,
Brill, Hildenberger, Schiefer, Mineter, Rollheiser, Riehl, Stamm, Dietz,
Savitzsky, Munster, Seitz, Hofer, Altmeier, Konrad, Junker, Rekoshevsky,
Avdotya, Distel, Basgal, Promm, Schmidt, Schneider, Kaiser, Schiefelbein,
Kamlowsky, Anastas, Weingart, Heimling, Voida?, Baumgart, Streitenberger,
Dukart, Suchsdorf, Zeier, Seewald, Schroder, Deib?, Schonfeld, Engraff,
Hergenreuder, Naab, and Neuman.
I intend to create a webpage.
Sheri Rose
Hussenbach, Gashon, Samara, Volga
Hussenbach Web Site
2006 Village Report for Hussenbach,
Gashon, Samara, Volga and Hussenbach, Linevo Ozero, Saratov, Volga
I have received very little information on Hussenbach this year and have
received very few inquiries.
Paul Lais and I have been corresponding with two people from Germany, one
who is researching the Tittel line. The other person has contacts with quite a
few people whose ancestors were from Hussenbach, Gaschon. She has sent us a
list of those people who were still living in Gaschon in 1941 at the time of
the relocation.
Some of the names being researched this year include Hermann, Dewalt,
Schneidmiller, Stiglitz and Tittel.
I was unable to attend convention this year, really miss those contacts. I
am unaware of any charts that have been ordered.
I have ordered two census records from Brent Mai, which will add many new
names to the database.
Louise Potter - Hussenbach, Linevo
Paul Lais - Hussenbach, Gaschon
Hussenbach, Linevo Ozero, Saratov, Volga
Hussenbach Web Site
See Hussenbach, Gashon for combined report.
Johannesdorf, Karlsruhe, North Caucasus
2006 Village Report for Johannesdorf,
Karlsruhe and Katharinenfeld
VILLAGES: JOHANNESDORF, KARLSRUHE (North Caucasus); KATHARINENFELD (South
or Trans-Caucasus)
My work on these villages has been suspended for some time because of the
illness and death of my husband, Randy. We were totally surprised by a
diagnosis of a malignant brain tumor in December, 2005; he passed away June
14, 2006, at age 57. In the meantime, Arthur Flegel, co-coordinator of the
Caucasus project, continues to gather information and field requests. My
activities will resume at a later date.
ARCHIVE RECORDS: I received a small batch of digitized archive records from
the Stavropol archives on residents of Johannesdorf and Karlsruhe, including
some of my Schilling and Sommerfeld families. These will be processed and
translated further at a later date, but the fact that they have surfaced,
along with comments received during the retrieval process, indicates that the
Stavropol archive does indeed have a wealth of information on the North
Caucasus Germans.
Records of the Trans-Caucasus Germans (villages that were mostly in
present-day Georgia, Azerbaijan and eastern Turkey) can be researched for a
fee from the archive in Tbilisi, Georgia, via their Web site, also in English.
We know the Tbilisi archive, another GR treasure trove, holds all the existing
church records for the South Caucasus villages, deportation records, and more.
German, Russian and Georgian script in combination is common.
Milo Bauder, another AHGRS/GRHS colleague, continues work on his personal
family history, having ties to that region. Milo's trip to Georgia and other
activities during recent years have also contributed significantly to opening
more doors and expanding contacts with the German community in Tbilisi.
TRANSLATION IN PROGRESS: A series of about two dozen letters written by
Jakob Sommerfeld of Karlsruhe, N. Caucasus, and a 2001 Russian publication on
the history of the North Caucasus German settlements.
RESEARCH FUTURE: Archival information is available at several locations in
the Caucasus. It will take continued nurturing of contacts and persistence,
plus funding, to make it surface. The result could be a tremendous
contribution to our growing body of knowledge about the history of the Germans
in Russia, as well as great strides in our personal family histories and their
ties to other German settlement areas. What is needed most is a third
co-coordinator or a consortium (whether formalized or informal) of GR/Caucasus
researchers who will work together to carry this effort forward.
Bonnie J. Anderson
Johannestal, Berezan, Odessa, Kherson
Johannestal Web Site
2006 Village Report for Johannestal and
Beresan
The number of queries for Johannestal has slowed down to about four this
year. Curiously, I can almost always supply some information but the inquirer
seldom replies back with a thank you or acknowledgement.
I last updated the Johannestal web page on June 11 and I would like to
rewrite it, adding more information on each of the original settlers.
Most of my time is spent on doing level II translation of the St. Pete
reports that have been coming to us (the BDO RIG of GRHS). I am currently
working on the Lutheran birth records for 1913 in the Worms-Johannestal
parish. Completed reports have been posted on http://www.beresan.com
.
Ray Heinle Gilbert, Arizona, USA
GRHS and AHSGR Village Coordinator Johannestal, Beresan, Odessa, Russia
Josefstal / Schwabe Khutor, Saratov, Volga
Josefstal Web Site
2006 Village Report for Josefstal
Requests for information about Josefstal have come at a standstill. This is
most likely because my cousin in Germany and I are in contact with most of the
interested folks with ties to this village. We have managed to re-unite two
families this past year with relatives in the USA. This is, of course, the
most exciting thing you can imagine!
We continue to slowly get additional archival records from Russia, but at
this point, very few are of a genealogical nature. Copies are made and
submitted to AHSGR archives.
The hunt is on for additional records in additional archives!
Respectfully Submitted,
Ted Gerk
Village Coordinator, Josefstal
Jost, Samara, Volga
Jost Web Site
2006 Village Report for Jost
In the few months I've been Village Coordinator for Jost, I've had two
inquiries. I'm hopeful that these connections will lead to additional names
for the village database.
During the Lincoln convention, I was able to gather Jost birth records for
1794-1803 from the file of an adjacent village. I'm in the process of adding
these names to the Jost database, along with known Jost family names from the
surrounding villages. I will also add obituary information as I receive it.
If you have Jost connections, PLEASE contact me. Every little bit helps
fill in the pieces.
Beth Mueller Davenport
Jost Village Coordinator
Kamenka, Saratov, Volga
Kamenka Web Site
2006 Village Report for Kamenka and Pfeifer
For the villages of KAMENKA and PFEIFER, many requests have been received,
especially from Argentina. The German-Russian's in Argentina are eager to
learn about their ancestry. There has been an exchange of information about
their churches and some vital records, mainly death records.
The Kamenka church books contain the records from 1797 to 1867. Since some
of the books have been restored, the records now contain the years 1863 to
1897. Birth and Marriage records are available from 1892 to 1921. These
records are available from the Saratov archives in Russia.
As far as can be determined the Kamenka church books from 1797 to 1867
contain the records for Pfeifer and Husaren.
At the AHSGR convention mention was made of a number of immigrants to the
Volga area who came from Scheswig-Holstein area having been invited there by
the Danish ruler. Not finding conditions suitable they immigrated to the Volga
area upon hearing the invitation of Catherine the Great. Schleswig-Holstein is
the place where my Wiesner stepfather migrated to from Baden Durlach and then
went to Kamenka upon hearing Catherine's invitation.
It continues to amaze me about all the genealogy that comes to light by
avid researchers.
Respecfully submitted,
Rosemary Wiesner Larson
Karlsruhe, Burlatzki, Caucasus
See Johannesdorf for combined report.
Kassel, Glückstal, Odessa, Kherson
See Glückstal Colonies Research
Association for combined report.
Katharinenfeld, Luxemburg, South Caucasus
See Johannesdorf for combined report.
Katharinenstadt, Samara, Volga
Katharinenstadt Web
Site
2006 Village Report for Katharinenstadt
I¹m now working on the 1850 census list from Katharienstadt and the 1857
census is now being translated and being sent about 100 families at a time.
There are over 500 families in the 1857 census.
I did receive e-mail from a Anton Werth in Germany from the colony of
Schoenchen wanting information.
Kevin Rupp
Kautz, Saratov, Volga
Kautz Web Site
2006 Village Report for Kautz
Throughout the preceding year I have received 14 requests for information
concerning ancestors related to Kautz. The requests have fallen off during
summertime and into this fall. All requests were answered. There were many
other surname and full-name requests that were 'shots in the dark' from
non-AHSGR researchers, where there was no relationship to Kautz found. Still,
the checking needed to be done to be sure. Several requests led to information
that pointed to other colonies and the requestor was directed to the
appropriate Village Coordinator.
I spent two days this summer at the Family History Center in Salt Lake City
reading microfilmed German church records for several surnames and towns in
Germany from which our Kautz ancestors were thought to have originated. Some
of the ministers' handwriting from the 1600's and 1700's was very readable. I
assume others were using a jackhammer while they wrote. As they aged, the
quality of their handwriting didn't improve and didn't stay the same. I have
researched three additional sets of microfilm at a local Family History Center
near my home, with little positive result. The surnames I expect to find in
each film are very rare. I'll consult with other researchers to determine
where I might be able to improve my results.
The month of October has brought my job of editing the annual reports of
Village Coordinators to the forefront. The submission of these reports is
winding down as October wanes and I look forward to having 100% of the
submissions edited and forwarded on to Teri Helzer by the first or second week
in November.
My day job has kept me very busy and on the road much of this past year. I
expect to reverse course on December 1 and should have more time to devote to
Kautz activities in the future.
D. Michael Frank
Kautz Village Coordinator, AHSGR
Klosterdorf, Swedish Colonies, Nikolaev and Kherson
See Alt-Schwedendorf for combined report.
Köhler, Saratov, Volga
2006 Village Report for Köhler
We have not accomplished as much as we had hoped because we are unable to
find volunteers to trans-literate the Koehler church records we obtained. We
are asking researchers to send their family files to us so we can add them to
the village database. It is growing and we are finding many cousins of whom we
were not aware.
Joe Gareis, Nicholas & Barbara Bretz
Village Coordinators for Köhler
Kolb, Saratov, Volga
2006 Village Report for Kolb
I have had eight inquiries this past year. Two of those were for the
Libsack chart which our Big Bend Chapter sells. They both purchased a chart.
Of the eight inquiries I was able to help four with some family research. A
Benzel family chart was received this year.
I work closely with Doris Evans, who is the Frank village coordinator. She
has all the Kolb information on her database as I do not have a separate Kolb
database.
Sometimes it seems I don't accomplish much and then I hit a jackpot for
someone so will keep plodding along.
Thelma Sprenger
Village Coordinator, Kolb
Konstantinovka, Samara, Volga
Konstantinovka Web Site
See Alt-Schilling for combined report.
Krasnoyar, Samara, Volga
2006 Village Report for Krasnoyar and
Reinwald
With the villages of Krasnojar and Reinwald there have been few inquiries,
where other villages have a larger group of people to draw from.
I am a second-generation Volga German and do the best I can to keep records
current. I work full time and do not have the luxury of attending conventions
and meetings like many others who are retired. I maintain my membership with
AHSGR, the Northern Illinois chapter, (my family is from the Jefferson Park
area of Chicago) and the Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter (many of my relatives
have connections to the Sheboygan, Wisconsin area as well as Saginaw,
Michigan.) My cousin, George Valko, has been doing a lot of research with DNA
and has scheduled several lectures in the Chicago area including the Arlington
Heights Library. He has also managed to contact several members of the Veller
family who are living in Kazakhstan and he has traced our Veller relatives
farther back in Germany prior to the Vellers immigrating to Russia.
AHSGR, unfortunately, is starting to lose members by death. Those long time
members are the age of what my father would be if he were alive, people who
are in their late 70's and early 80's and are retired.
I plan to continue to work as village coordinator for Reinwald and
Krasnojar and do the best I can. I think back to the days when I first joined.
Everything was done by regular mail. Often it took many months to get
responses from people. There were months that nothing was going on and then
all of a sudden I was overwhelmed with information and queries. I consider
this last year as a year of nothing and am hoping that in the next few months
I will again be overwhelmed with information.
All of my records are on computer files and backup copies are stored in our
safety deposit box. If for any reason that anything happens to me, my husband
is fully aware that copies of all my files are to be sent to AHSGR.
Susie Weber Hess
Village Coordinator - Krasnojar and Reinwald
Kratzke, Saratov, Volga
Kratzke Web Site
See Ahrenfeld for combined report from
Brent Mai.
2006 Village Report for Kratzke
I didn't have any data inquires for the Kratzke colony and though I have
done this since AHSGR started the program, I am writing you to say I am not
going to continue as village coordinator.
Brent Mai has been doing the reporting on Kratzke for the last four years
and he does a wonderful job of it with all his sources of data. I feel he will
continue to do so for anyone.
I have enjoyed it very much and learned much about the village as it is my
husband's mother's village - her mother was a Dietz who married a Mai. My
books are at AHSGR Library and were written many years ago. A small folder on
the village tells of things I heard of the village when I did the first Dietz
Book in 1975 and later in the newer book in 1992.
Good luck to all you researchers in the years to come. You all do a
wonderful job.
Ethel Lock
Kronental, North Caucasus
See Alexanderfeld for combined report.
Kukkus, Samara, Volga
2006 Village Report for Kukkus
There was not much action on Kukkus inquiries this year. The book, "Kukkus,
a German Village on the Volga", is still being printed and can be
purchased at the Fresno AHSGR Museum (all proceeds going to the Museum
upkeep). The information in this book was collected mostly from native
Kukkusers. Sadly for us, most of these people are deceased, so our only hope
for the historical information has to be found in archives or writings that
haven't been released or found.
I am still asking for any recent photos of Kukkus with the thought of
making a portfolio of all that have been collected. The decision as to how to
present these photos to interested parties has not been decided on at this
time. Any suggestions for this solution would be greatly appreciated. There is
much historical information in these photos if one takes the time to study
them.
Unfortunately, the censuses of 1775, 1834, and 1857 have not been found,
and this leaves a big gap for genealogy. Eleanor Sissel has compiled thousands
of names for Kukkus. You might find your Kukkus names among these.
Betty Muradian
Kukkus Village Coordinator
Kulm, Bessarabia
2006 Village Report for Kulm, Leipzig,
and Tarutino
Since the completion and printing of my "Extended Relationships of the
Kulm, Leipzig, Tarutino Communities in Bessarabia, Russia," people have
ordered and been able to use that resource effectively. It elicits further
query only on rare occasions.
My available time is now involved in gathering data covering all the German
settlements in the North Caucasus. This includes communities settled by people
from the Volga and Black Sea regions, Bessarabia, as well as the Tschernigov
and Mennonite areas.
Occasional requests for help are being answered with the information
available.
Bonnie Anderson who lost her husband through an untimely death from cancer
has worked with me on this project in the past, and I am looking forward to a
time when she can again devote more of her valued effort to this significant
research.
Respectfully submitted,
Arthur E. Flegel
Kutter / Brehning, Saratov, Volga
Map 6, Quadrant C-4, 51 02 N 45 32 E
2006 Village Report for Kutter
Greetings from the obscure little village of Kutter (Popowka, now Karamysch)!
The only research I have done in the past year was to check out the origin of
the original Kutter settlers in GERMAN MIGRATION TO THE RUSSIAN VOLGA
by Brent Mai / Dona Reeves-Marquardt, finding that many of the settlers were
married in Büdingen. However, I have not found the origin in Germany of my
ancestor, Kaspar Beltz. The town of origin on our surname chart is unclear, but
was translated as "Hergerbort?" in Hesse-Nassau. Even when traveling
in that area of Germany, people had not heard of it.
I have had one query in the past year, but was unable to find any trace of
the person for which information was requested: Johannes Joseph Schneider,
born 18MAR1880, with birthplace noted as POPAUK. A brother was named Nick
Schneider, born 25OCT1878. The family was Roman Catholic, although Kutter was
established as a Reformed village. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who
might have a record of him.
I was fortunate to receive information about a female ancestor with surname
of Shenkel whose ancestors came from Dönhof/Denmark/Pfalz. I regret missing
the convention where the professor from Germany spoke on this migration.
However, a trip to Poland was my alternative. It proved to be the trip of a
lifetime. I walked the streets of Torun, which a grandmother visited when she
was twelve years old. Also, crossed the Vistula at various times and traveled
parallel to it, where my paternal German ancestors worked as farmers, stone
masons, teachers, and one an Hussar.
We are no longer publishing a newsletter. However, copies of the previously
issued ones are still available, as well as photos of Saratov.
Frances Meyer Nelson
Kutter Village Coordinator
Lauwe / Laube, Samara, Volga
2006 Village Report for Lauwe
As VC for the village of Lauwe, I'm sorry to report that there has been no
activity this past year as has been the case now for several years.
Unfortunately, my poor health has affected my involvement as Village
Coordinator. I stopped writing a newsletter several years ago due to lack of
interest. I may have no other choice but to resign as VC for the village of
Lauwe.
Thank you for understanding my position due to the ravages of cancer.
Sincerely,
Bernice Madden
Leichtling, Saratov, Volga
Leichtling Web Site
2006 Village Report for Leichtling
This has been a very quiet year for Leichtling as far as inquiries go. We
have had a few, but many less than in years past.
This, however, has also been a big year for Leichtling since we were able
to purchase the 1834 and 1850 census reports. We were able to also have them
translated. This has taken many hours to do and I am grateful to the
translator. I have spent many hours compiling the translations to be able to
present them in a meaningful manner.
The website still continues to get a large amount of hits (views) and was
also reworked this last year a bit. It can be found at the link above. The
database was updated twice and needs to be again. The 1834 and 1850 census is
now available on that website also. As always I am looking for items to place
on the website.
Darryl Boyd
Village Coordinator, Leichtling
Leipzig, Bessarabia
See Kulm for combined report.
Lillienfeld, North Caucasus
See Alexanderfeld for combined report.
Louis, Samara, Volga
Louis Web Site
2006 Village Report for Louis and
Mariental
I am having problems again - due to the partial breakdown of my laptop in
May while on vacation. I first lost the use of the complete right half of my
keyboard. Since I had several thumb drives, I immediately started saving my
information - from most important then on to next most important, etc. I
couldn't even type a dot.com as my "dot" wouldn't type - my arrows
wouldn't work - and so on. I didn't get to my e-mails in time (my older ones)
so I do not have a count on the inquiries I received during the few months
while my laptop was working. Now the socket where my power cord plugs in will
not receive the power.
My webpage will need to change again. I hope someone would be able to help
me with it. Any takers? I'm a quick learner! I have so much information to add
to my webpage, but do not have the control of it in order to make the changes.
I am also working almost full time on my family book, trying to get it
finished this winter. Once I have it published and have control of my web page
again, I will have much more to report. I'm just having too many problems at
the present time.
I am trying to get my September 2006 newsletter ready to publish. I had to
wait until I returned home to Arizona in order to reload my programs on my new
laptop. I still publish my newsletter four times a year, and plan on putting
all of them on my web page in the future. I love doing the newsletter, and
have many people sending me information.
In reading Kevin Rupp's report, I am interested in the information he
received to add to my Louis webpage, if he chooses to share. It sounded
interesting.
I will say that all of the inquiries that I received in 2006, all were
answered and help was provided within a few days, if not right away.
I did attend the AHSGR Convention in Lincoln this summer, and really
enjoyed it again. One thing I regretted was that I did not volunteer to help
at the convention this year. Everyone should volunteer because you meet and
get to know so many more people, making it special for you. I usually always
help for a few hours in between the various activities I wish to attend and
look forward to doing this. I even have my daughter and sister volunteer when
they attend with me - and they enjoy it immensely. They think the Germans from
Russia are a great bunch of people! I finally decided to become a "life
member" this year due to Arthur Flegel donating some money for each
pledge, and also the statement made that life memberships are going up in
2007.
It's great being a Village Coordinator - I love doing it.
Thelma Mills
Village Coordinator for Mariental, Louis & Chasselois
Additional report for Louis
Although I am not a VC for this colony I do have interest in it because of
my grandmother Rosa (Graf) Rupp being born there and trying to find her
Kessler family. I have made contact with a family by the name of Viktor Pink
who, come to find out, his great grandmother is a sister to my great
grandfather from Louis. Because of this connection we have started a
correspondence. His family lived in Louis until the deportation in the 1940¹s
and then was sent to Siberia. They returned to Germany in the 1990¹s and I am
working on getting their story. He sent me the Kesslers, Graf¹s and Pink
families from the 1893 family list book from the Engels archives. Because of
this I have received many of the 1893 families from Russia as well as the 1890,
1902, 1903, and 1904 marriage records. I am supposed to be
receiving the 1850, 1892, and 1893 marriage records in November.
Kevin Rupp
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