FIRST ISSUE —

Volume 1 Issue 1 June 1996.

Beresan DistrictBeresan DistrictINCLUDESINCLUDES;

(Those in bold arethe first villages.)Alexanderfeld, Alexandrovka,Annenthal, Annovka,Antonowka, Bagdanovka,Benderhof, Biswanje,Christina, Christofovka,Domaneveka, Dvorjanka,Eigengut, Felsenburg,Friedensdorf, Friedrichstal,Gardegai, Gotta, Grise,Güldendorf, Halbstadt, Heck,Hoffmannstal, Hoffnung,Hoffnungsburg, Johannestal,Kantakusenka, Kapitanovka,Karlevka, Karlsruhe,Katharinental, Kavkas,Klein Karlsruhe, Klundovo,Kratovka, Landau, Lerisk,Lichtenfeld, Lubo-Alexandrovka, Manov,Marienfeld, Marlanavka,Michaelowka, München,Navaselevka, Neu Karlsruhe,Neu Lustdorf, Neu München,Neu Rohrbach, Neu Worms,Neusatz, Novo-Amerika,Novonikolajevka, Olgino,Otschakov, Petrowka,Pokrovskaja, Rastadt,Rohrbach, Rosenthal,Savidovka, Schlosser,Schmalz, Schönfeld,Sebastiansfeld, Selingera,Skarupka, Slepucha, Speier/Speyer, StadnaJa-Bulka,Steinberg, Steingut,Stuttgart, Sulz,Swenigorodka, Vossessensk,Waterloo, Wilhelmsthal,Wolksov, Worms, Wowtsche

(this list is not all inclusiveyet — if you have additions,please provide to the LeadEditor)

Many of these identifiedchutors and villages needmuch research.If you have anybackground information onthem, please share with us. Thanks

Well folks - some of you werebeginning to wonder if there wasanything behind the talk of a BeresanNewsletter . . .

We have found that there is indeedplenty of interest in such an effort, andhave been able to find adequatevolunteers to get it started.

We will do 3 issues the first year(June, October and next February) andthey will consist of about 12 pages pereach issue.

The costs for this firstyear is;

USA $3Canada $4*Europe/other $6*(* - All in US funds please!)(Pleae make checks payable to andforward to Dale Wahl, 7370 GrevenaAve NE, Bremerton WA 98311-4046))

One of the first things you willprobably note is the large number ofvillages and chutors listed to the left.

As time goes on and we find moreinformation on some of these villageswe will share it here in the newsletters.We will undoubtedly be adding to thissizable list.

You will be pleased to note that wehave been blessed by the great volume

of total experience and knowledge we havein those who will be subscribing to thisnewsletter and supporting it’s publication.

With involvement from thosesubscribing and working on thisnewsletter, at a level each of us can becomfortable with, we will surely see thiseffort be an extremely positive undertakingthat we can all be proud of.

Many of us will learn great amounts ofinformation concerning our early ancestorsin the Beresan District.

As we share these datawe already have among usand discover yet moreinformation, we will

stimulate each of our minds to great andinteresting levels. This is going to be fun!

Please remember,it is an “our”newsletter!

In this issue;Line-up for Newsletter . . . . . 2Letter to the Editors . . . . . . 2Founding of the Beresan Colonies . . 3Map of Odessa Area . . . . . . 6Unknown photos - can you identi fy? . . 7The Name Game . . . . . . . 8—————————————————————————Pic tures page 7 f rom V i l l age Coord inator o fWater loo, Worms and Rohrbach - Lucy Simpson.

We owe a very special thank you to Aubrey BMarthal ler o f Salmon Arms B.C. who provided usgreat insight into many of the v i l lages l isted to thele f t . We wi l l try to share this data with you inlater issues.

A very special thanks to Aubrey

—— F I R S T I S S U E — F I R S T I S S U E —

This area is reserved for a masthead picture.

(if you have a good representative panoramic picture thatwould offer a positive masthead for this newsletter - andthe rights of the picture is not an issue, please forward a

copy of it to your Lead Editor for consideration)

Beresan District Odessa NewsletterBeresan District Odessa NewsletterPage 2

LETTERSLETTERSMary (Dilger) Sawyer (23 Feb 1996)Hemit, California

I am interested in the following villages: Christina (NeuSofronowka), Michailowka (Michailofka) and Felsenberg. I havebeen unable to locate these villages on any of the maps.

My great, great grandparent, Jakob Dilger, son of PhilippDilger of Schweighofen, Rhinepalatinate, Germany emigratedto Katharinental, Beresan District, Ukraine in 1809. Jakob isone of the founding families. The plat map of Katharinentallists seven Dilger families.

My great grandfather was Franz Dilger. In 1892, mygrandfather, Wilhelm Dilger and family moved to Michailowkawhen my father, Ludwig Dilger, was 10 years old. My AuntEleanora Dilger Paul told her daughter Ann, that she went toschool and church in Christina. Michailowka did not have achurch or school at that time. The villagers shopped inWossessensk (Vossessensk).

My great aunt, Magdalena Dilger Berger lived in Felsenberg.The Berger family emigrated to Mandan, Morton County, NorthDakota, 24 December 1910 through Ellis Island ImmigrationHeadquarters. The Wilhelm Dilger family emigrated to Halifax,Nova Scotia, Canada and arrived 7 June 1913. They enteredthe United Sates at Port Huron, Michigan ImmigrationHeadquarters and arrived in Mandan 14 June 1913.

Do you know of any one that is working in the above areas?Are there any maps available with the above village names

on it?

(RESPONSE from Dale Lee Wahl)I knew this Felsenberg had some special meaning for me -

you see we have a VC (Village Coordinator) for Felsenberg inthe Beresan District and we have searched and searched forhis village . . . I had given up on it, but I think now we mayhave found it with the data you provided here in your letter!

I have copied the corner of the Odessa map by Stumpp .... Ithink this is one of those things that has gotten us caught upin the middle of what Cherson was and what Odessa was . . .we tend to equate them one to the other and think of them inthe same geographic frame -when that is a trap .

On a Cherson map you will find that Felsenburg will showas being in Cherson. But using the later Odessa area map, wesee that now Felsenburg was across the Bug River into theGebiet Nicolajew!

Your Micahilowka was also called Friedensdorf, and yourChristina was also called Nowo Sofronowka. . . .

If we look at from Catherine to Khrushchev. The Story of Russia's Germans by Adam Giesinger, on page 114, we find allthree of them grouped at the bottom as being "East ofVosnesensk" . . . I think if you will look at the corner of theStumpp map that you will see that Wosnessensk andVosnesensk are one and the same (on the West side of the BugRiver).

Line-up for Line-up for NewsletterNewsletter

Editor, Lead Merv Rennich/R060Assistant Editor Leo Gottier/G089Assistant Editor Carol McCormack/M150Assistant Editor Roland Wagner/W011Assistant Editor Dale Lee Wahl/W078

Technical Advisors: German Language _________________Computer _________________Photography ______________________________ ______________________________ _________________

Archives: Maps _________________Village Pictures _________________Pedigree Charts _________________Family Group Charts ________________German History _________________Russian History _________________USA History ______________________________ ______________________________ _________________

Village Coordinators: Felsenburg .... George Hoff/H072Güldendorf .... Curt Renz/R022Johannestal... Carol Fuchs/F061Johannestal... Ray HeinleLandau.......... Diane Wandler/W090Landau.......... Zita GieserNeu Lustdorf.. Elsie Heuther/H008Neusatz ......... Ken Aisenbrey/A013Rastadt.......... Diane Wandler/W090Rastadt.......... Letty Schoch/S193Rohrbach....... Arletta Baskins/B115Rohrbach....... Rosemarie Dinkel/D022Rohrbach....... Nancy SchroederRohrbach....... Ed Schulz/S043Rohrbach....... Lucy Simpson/S046Speier............ Diane Wandler/W090Waterloo ........ Betty Rennich/R103Waterloo ........ Lucy Simpson/S046Worms........... Arletta Baskins/B115Worms........... Mary-Lynne Harding/H187Worms........... Nancy SchroederWorms........... Ed Schulz/S043Worms........... Lucy Simpson/S046Worms........... Dale Wahl/W078

(The addresses for most of the editorsand these Village Coordinators can befound in the latest issue of the GRHS DerStammbaum.)

Volume 1 Issue 1Volume 1 Issue 1 Page

FOUNDING OF THE GERMAN SETTLEMENTSFOUNDING OF THE GERMAN SETTLEMENTSIN THE ODESSA DISTRICT AND THE ORIGININ THE ODESSA DISTRICT AND THE ORIGIN

OF THE IMMIGRANTSOF THE IMMIGRANTSby

Dr. Karl Stumpp(This article is used with permission from the GRHS Heritage Review No. 17 - April 1977, page 20-28. All of the material in the article has not been taken

here, but should be of interest to those with ancestors from the neighboring districts of Grossliebental, Kutschurgan, and Glückstal.)

Article appearing in the German Heimatbuch for 1956, published by the Landsmannshaft der Deutschen aus Russland,Stuttgart-O, Diemershaldenstrasse 48, West Germany.

Translated from the German by Theodore Charles Wenzlaff.

The oldest German segregated settlements in Russia were those on the Volga River (1763-1768). Thenfollowed the Mennonite settlements near Chortitza (1789). Probably the largest emigration movement outof the different parts of Germany, especially out of the southern and southwestern parts of Germany,occurred, however, during the years 1804 to 1810 and in the years immediately thereafter.

During this time, German colonists settled in the Odessa District (formerly the governmental districtCherson). "Czar Alexander I continued in an improved form the settlement policy begun by Catherine II.On the 20th of February 1804, the privileges of the colonists who were in Russia and of those yet to comewere confirmed by an imperial ukase. The Minister proposed to accept only qualified and well-to-do headsof family, however, who could pursue in a truly systematic way the cultivation of the steppe." On thisbasis, a large immigration began in 1804 and mother colonies throughout the Odessa District werefounded (as shown on the accompanying map).

In the District, there were four distinct groups of colonies, as follows:

1. The Grossliebental colonies founded from 1804 to 1806 by 7 Evangelical and 4 Catholic colonies.(Eleven mother colonies.)

2. The Glückstal colonies founded from 1808 to 1809 by 4 colonies, all Evangelical. (Four mothercolonies.)

3. The Kutschurgan colonies founded in 1806 by 6 Catholic colonies.

4. The Beresan colonies founded from 1808 to 1817 by 11 colonies of which 4 were Evangelical and 7were Catholic.

III. THE BERESAN COLONIES

After the peace treaty of the 29th of December 1791 between Russia and Turkey, the strip of land lyingbetween the Bug and the Dniester Rivers went to Russia. Many generals and officers who took part in thewar became landowners with the obligation to settle the region with people from the interior of Russia.

When this experiment proved unsuccessful, the Russian government decided to invite immigrants fromforeign countries to the area, especially from Germany. Then followed the settlement of Grossliebentaldistrict in 1804-05 and the Kutschurgan district in 1808.

The Beresan River (formerly Rodos or also Sagrius) is a steppe river which contains water throughoutthe year only in its lower reaches and is dry throughout the summer in its upper part. Its source was atthe German colony Waterloo from which it flowed south through Speyer, Landau and Sulz. The valley ofthe Beresan is unusually fertile and was, therefore, heavily populated. The most of the German immigrantscame from the Rhine provinces laid waste by Napoleon I. The emigrant caravans, for the most part, wentoverland through Bohemia, Silesia, Moravia, Galicia to the border city of Radziwillow where they wouldusually stop for rest, sometimes for two months. The first caravan arrived in the summer of 1809, followedby the second arriving in Odessa in the fall.

The Catholic colonies of Speyer, Landau and Sulz were established in the valley of the Beresan; the(Continued on page 4)


Catholic colony Karlsruhe in the valley of the Fuchs, a branch of the Beresan; the Rastatt and Müchen inthe valley of the Tschitschekleja. At the same time, the two Evangelical colonies Rohrbach and Worms wereestablished in a valley adjoining the Tilgul (or Tiligul). The establishment of the Catholic colonyKatharinental followed in 1818 in the valley of the Fuchs; the Evangelical colony Waterloo at the source ofthe Beresan; and the Evangelical colony Johannestal on the Sasik. At first, all of these colonies were a partof the Grossliebental district but after 1813 they were constituted as the Beresan colonial district with aland area of 55,597 dessiatines with its administrative seat at Landau.

The colonists of Landau were from the following places: 66 families from the Rhine Pfalz and 27 fromAlsace. A Central School (teachers' training school) was established in Landau in 1907, followed by aschool for young girls, a hospital, a poor house and an orphanage. Landau had 1,363 inhabitants and9,228 dessiatines of land in 1918.

Sulz was established in 1809. Most of the inhabitants came from the Bavarian Palatinate. When acolony inspector visited Sulz shortly after its founding, to his question, "What kind of craftsmen haveyou?", he received the answer, "Stocking weaver, soap boiler, silk weaver, maker of cherry brandy, kegbinder, .. Irritated, the inspector interrupted, "Yes, but for heaven's sake, have you no farmers?" But evenso the people of Sulz developed into excellent farmers. Sulz had 4,402 dessiatines of community land and40,000 dessiatines of purchased land, with 1,837 inhabitants.

Karlsruhe (Catholic) was founded in 1810. Of the inhabitants, 42 families came from Baden, 26 fromthe Bavarian Palatinate and 3 from Alsace. After overcoming early difficulties, Karlsruhe became one of theprettiest and richest colonies of the district. A classical school for young men was established there by theReverend Scherr. Karlsruhe had 5,450 dessiatines of community land and 50,000 dessiatines of purchasedland with a population of 1,932 persons.

Speyer (Catholic) was founded in 1809 by inhabitants as follows: 68 families from the Rhine Pfalz, 23from Alsace, 10 from the Bavarian Palatinate, 22 from the German city Pirmasens (Rhine Pfalz), 9 fromRastatt in Baden and 2 from Bruchsal in Baden. The Speyer colony had 7,896 dessiatines of land and1,895 inhabitants.

The Catholic colony Katharinental was established in the valley of the Fuchs from 1817 to 1819.Thirty-four families came from Baden and 17 from the Bavarian Palatinate. Katharinental had 5,816dessiatines of community land and 1,400 inhabitants.

Evangelical Johannestal was founded in 1820 in the valley of the Sosizka and was so named in honorof General Insowo whose given name was Johannes (Iwan). Of the inhabitants, 27 families came fromWürttemberg, 5 from Prussian Poland, 1 from Saxony and 1 from Switzerland. Most of the inhabitantswere Lutherans with some Reformed. On account of a lack of water, the village was removed one verst(about two-thirds of an English mile) to the south in 1833. The colony possessed 4,165 dessiatines ofcommunity land and had 1,216 inhabitants. Besides farming, fish culture was practiced in the four damsbuilt there.

Waterloo (Evangelical) was settled twice: in 1819 and in 1833. The first settlement site lacked water, asdid Friedrichstal located eight versts south of Waterloo and Stuttgart four versts northeast. Theinhabitants of the three villages, therefore, requested permission of the authorities to establish a newsettlement. Thus Güldendorf near Odessa was established. Twenty families, however, remained inWaterloo who together with newly arriving families colonized Waterloo in 1833 for a second time. In time ofdrouth, the settlers had to obtain their water from Speyer seven versts away. They also built cisterns inwhich they collected rainwater. Most of the inhabitants of Waterloo were from Württemberg with 13families from Baden, 2 from Rhenish Bavaria, 6 from East Prussia and 1 from Austria. Community landcomprised 2,761 dessiatines, purchased land 1,280 dessiatines. The population numbered 645.

The Evangelical colony Rohrbach was founded in 1809. The first 100 families were from the followingplaces: 33 from Baden, 4 from Wurttemberg, 7 from East Prussia and 56 from Alsace. In 1813, thefollowing additional families arrived: 22 from East Prussia and 4 from Württemberg. Sixteen families fromBaden also came there in 1817. In subsequent years, many of the inhabitants went to other colonies, tothe Caucasus and to Bessarabia. Rohrbach had 2,300 inhabitants in 1918. The community land amounted

(Continued from page 3)

(Continued on page 5)


to 8,528 dessiatines to which were added 1,640 dessiatines by purchase and 9,000 dessiatines by lease.Besides farming, many vineyards were grown.

Evangelical Worms was established in 1810 in the valley of the Zerigol, a small branch of the Tilgul.The inhabitants cane from the following places: 36 families from Alsace, 14 from Baden, 6 fromWürttemberg, 4 from the Rhine Pfalz, 2 from Voigtlande, 1 from Westphalia and 1 from Saxony. Theallotted or assigned land amounted to 3,881 dessiatines to which were added 5,800 dessiatines ofpurchased land. The inhabitants numbered 2,130. The asylum for the deaf and dumb for the entire:Black Sea district was located there, standing beside the Lutheran and Reformed Church

The Catholic colony Rastatt was established in 1810 in the valley of the Tschitschekleja because theBeresan valley was already over populated. The inhabitants came from the following places: 54 familiesfrom Baden; 27 from the city of Weissenburg, Alsace; from the Rhine Pfalz, 15 families from the city ofSpeyer, 7 from Annweiler, 5 from Germersheim and 2 from Landau; 1 family from the city of Trier in theRhine land, 3 from Brandenburg and 5 from Mähren. There were 5,428 dessiatines of land and 3,691inhabitants.

The Catholic colony München together with Rastatt, was founded in 1810. The water situation therewas even more critical than elsewhere. München suffered many severe reverses: in 1825, nearly all thelivestock died from disease; a crop failure in 1834 almost reduced the colony to extreme poverty; and in1838,Munchen was struck by an earthquake. The inhabitants came from the Rhine Pfalz, Baden andAlsace. They had 2,940 dessiatines of land; the population numbered 1,928.__________________________________________

A word must be said about the statement "from Alsace." The numbers shown are not always reliable. Asmeeting points for emigrating, Weissenburg in Alsace and Karlsruhe in Baden were favored. So it mayhave happened that the emigration papers showed Alsace, for example, as the country of origin whereasin actuality the place of origin may have been elsewhere. That applied to all as well as to the Evangelicalcolonies (Worms, Rohrbach).

S U M M A R Y In summary, four points are established concerning the colonists of the Odessa District:1. The immigrants of the Odessa District, for the most part, came from the southern and southwestern

parts of Germany. Northern Germany (Prussia) was hardly represented.2. The inhabitants of the Catholic colonies, for the most part, came from the Rhineland, the Rhine Pfalz,

Baden and Alsace with, on the other hand none from Württemberg.3. Among the Evangelical colonies, the Swäbians (of Württemberg) predominated4. A large number of immigrants from Germany came the roundabout way across Hungary where some

settled temporarily. They still remained Germans, which their dialect revealed.

BERESAN DISTRICT YEAR POPULATION ACRES OF LAND

NAME RELIG. FOUND 1918 1926 1918 . Landau Cath. 18l0 2,403 24,916Sulz Cath. 1809 1,821 2,476 11,885Karlsruhe Cath. 1810 1,982 14,715Speyer Cath. 1809 1,895 2,415 21,319Katharinental Cath. 1817 1,400 15,703Johannestal Ev. 1817 1,773 1,231 20,853Waterloo Ev. 1833 995 10,913Rohrbach Ev. 1809 2.300 3,054 35,950Worms Ev. 1809 2,180 21,827Rastatt Cath. 1809 3,691 15,876München Cath. 1809 1,928 1,172 7,938



(This map is used with permission from the GRHS HeritageReview No. 17 - April 1977, page 28)


Anyonelookfamiliar?

Please seephotocomments onlast page . . .

If you canidentifyanyone inthese twopictures,pleasecontact,

Lucy Simpson300 Gardenia DrCheyenne WY

82009


A name is simply a label that has been attachedto someone or something . . by someone.

Most of the time there is a logical reason for it,but that is not necessarily always the case. We, asAmericans, have become too involved with the"labeling" game. Let's say that so and so has aparticular name or label (exact spelling anecessity), he can thus be neatly filed into thatspecific category. We have a tendency to forget thatwe are dealing with the variable human element.In years past, it was very important to marrywithin your own religion. The first considerationwas what "religious label" did he or she carry?Baptist, Jewish, Lutheran, Catholic etc., in theprocess forgetting the most important factor . . . ..were they christian?

It really doesn't matter what you call it.Supposing that we were to call an orange . . . . . .a potato. That wouldn't make it one! It is what itis! To Quote Shakespeare."

"What's in a name? That which we call a roseBy any other name would smell as sweet."

We call ourselves German-Russian and yetthere are some of us who are none of the latter andvery little of the first. If you have the opportunityand inclination to go back 8 to 10 generations, itwill become obvious that a "pure" strain of onenationality no longer exists. Also by changing thespelling of names, some have changednationalities!

Here are a few examples (using some of thenames from my own background). In tracingCHRISTMANN, (a perfectly acceptable Germanname), back to Erlenbach-Pfalz, the last entry forhim on the parish register states, "This man willfrom here on be known as Johann AdamChristmann" In reading further, I find his name tobe Johann Adam CHRISTILLIS! Following back onthis I find his father to be Georg JakobCHRISTYLLIAS, the son of Johann GeorgChristyllias, who shows up in the Erlenbachrecords some 55 years before Johann AdamCHRISTMANN. The name Christyllias is obviouslynot German, possibly Greek or Roman. Why andhow he came to Erlenbach is not known. The nameof Woddle has, over 4 generations, progressivelychanged from WODELEUX-WODELET-WODELE toWODDLE, French to German. A French couple,Ernst REICHARD and Anne Marie LAVANGE,

moved to Herxheim-Pfalz about 1712 and by 1742have a grandson by the name of JohannesREICHERT, again French to German. The parentsof Johann Michael Hilfer, born 18 April,1717, arelited thus, Martin Hilfer (acceptable) and SuzanneBRITT (very English look and sound). Thereappear to be no other Britt's recorded in thisparish register and for 30 years, 3 differentpastors spell the name Britt exactly the same. . . .. .An English milk maid who ran away from home?Perhaps!

There are many more instances involving othernationalities. Whatever their reason for changing,accidental or otherwise, these reasons areirrelevant. The fact remains that changes didoccur. Maybe it's a bit like having a bottle of clearwater to which you add 1 drop of red color, theresult is pink, 2 drops and it's rose-colored, but 4drops and you have to call it red!

Now, you say . . . . . . why label a nationality?O-kay, then let's not, we'll just say that the peoplewho lived in Germany had a tendency to look thusand to do so the French thus and thus and so on.They were different people with separate culturesand origins. Nationality does make a difference tothe extent that you are a product of your heredityand your environment. No other variables affectwhat you are or will be. Physical characteristicsare passed on from generation to generation,something like family heirlooms. We are powerlessto change our height or the color of our eyes, etc.However, beliefs, values and personality traits arepassed on through daily living. A lot depends onwho we are in daily contact with and how theyaffect us. The culture and ideals of our parents arewhat they are because of what their parents andgrandparents were before them.

When working on genealogy, do so with anopen mind, especially where names are concernedand particularly in regard to the spelling of thosenames. Errors in spelling and penmanship havebeen, and will continue to be, with us as long as ahuman hand guides the pen. The only alternativeto accepting a particular name 'as written', is tosearch other sources and hopefully come up withthe most correct form of that name. This is not along, tiresome process, it often produces some


THE NAME GAME or i s i t THE GAME NAME?THE NAME GAME or i s i t THE GAME NAME?by

Phyllis Hertz Feser(This article is used with permission from the GRHS Der Stammbaum No. 5 - April 1976, page 1-4. )


interesting and enlightening clues.

Researching your family history is a veryrewarding experience. Label it "Ancestral Line","Family Tree", "Stammbaum", "Ahnentafel", oreven call it a "Bush", if you wish. But do it! It doesgive you the opportunity to learn something of whyand how you came to be uniquely you!

The following list of names was translated fromthe book "Deutsche Kolonie in Süd-Russland",published by the North Dakota Herold in 1922,author unknown.

This list contains only some of the names of thepeople who left the 7 Catholic colonies between(approx.) 1891 and 1914. It also lists the first townwhere they stopped, which for many was just that,a first stop. They later moved on to settleelsewhere. There appears to be a repeat of some ofthe names, this may or may not be the case. Often


LANDAU Lorenz Frank-Schefield,NDJoseph Dukart-Dickinson,NDRudolph Dukart "Ludwig Dukart "John Dukart "Joseph Jäger "Georg Brinster-Schefield,NDRaphael Huck- "Peter Wilhelm-Dickinson,NDAdam Müller- "Hieronymus Kary- "Mathias Huck- "Markus Immel-Schefield,NDMichael Miller-Dickinson,NDGeorg Kary- "John Badinger "Georg J. Kary "Lorenz Wock "John Wock "Joseph Böspflug "Rochus Böspflug "Georg Stolz "Emil Decker "John Decker "Dan Decker "Christ Decker "Peter Decker-Schefield,NDRaphael Berger-Dickinson,NDWilhelm Berger-Bridger,MontanaJohn Wilhelm-Lefor,NDNick Berger-Taylor,NDJakob Berger- "Franz Wilhelm-Dickinson,NDPeter Walter-Schefield,NDMichael Olheiser-Bridger,MontanaRudolph Olheiser-Dickinson,NDAdam Wilhelm "

John Wanner "Michael Wanner "Xavier Dukart "Raphael Schmaltz-Dickinson,NDHieronymus Friedrich- "Adam Friedrich- "Franz Hegel-Richardton,NDEmanuel Frank-Dickinson,NDMichael Gress "John Hegel "Georg Hegel-Schefield,NDMartin Hegel-Dickinson,NDMichael Ott-Gladstone,NDGeorg Ott-DeSart,NDE. M. Stolz-Dickinson,NDAnton Walliser- "Anton Wanner "Joseph Zander- "Georg Dukart-Fortuna,NDHeironymus Kautzmann-St.Xavier,Mont.Christ Huck-Schefield,NDJoseph Hirsch- "Raphael Jahner- "Vincent Jahner- "Michael Jahner-Regent,NDM. P. Jahner- "Gottlieb Olheiser-Schefield,NDJoseph Kary-Fayette,NDAnton Kary "Georg M. Schmaltz "Michael Schmaltz "Emanuel Hartmann "Georg Kuntz-Manning,NDValentine Kuntz-New Hradec,NDVik Friedrich-New England,NDJakob Wilhelm-Regent,NDRaphael Fleck-Richardton,ND

Anton Fleck-Crosby,NDGeorg Fleck- "Raphael Fleck- "Michael Fleck- "Markus Zimmermann-Richardton,NDJohn F. Zimmermann- "John Hoff-Richardton,NDFranz Hoff "Liborius Hoff "Peter Gress "Rochus Gress "Kasper Gress "Markus Gress "Aquilinus Gress- "Markus Dauenhauer- "Rochus Fleck- "Raphael R. Fleck- "Clemens Fleck- "Christian Jäger-Taylor,NDJohn Berger-Richardton'NDJoseph Jonas- "Joseph Helfrich-Sedley,Sask.F.F.Zimmermann-Richardion,NDJakob Amann- "Georg Immel- "Joseph Koch-Dickinson,NDRudolph Frank- "Georg Frank- "Franz Hartmann- "Joseph Stein-Sweetbriar,NDJohn Kuntz-Mansfield,OhioPeter Matz-Dickinson,NDGeorg Matz- "John Matz- "Lorenz Dauenhauer-Regina,Sask.Philipp Stark-Columbus,ND


sons were named after their fathers and so on,nephews after uncles and great uncles. There mayhave been 3 generations with the same nameswho, in fact, did come to the United States.

Over the years there have been a variety ofspellings for the same name. Such as, Hegal-Hegel-Hegale, Jeager-Jager-Yeager,Obrigschgewitsch-Obrigewitsch, Schaff-Schaf-Schaaf, Reiss-Reis-Rice, Freed-Freidt, Heid-Heidt-Height-Heit, Jantzer-Yantzer, Hoffman-Hofman-Hoffmann, Froelich-Frolich Frohlich-Froehlichand so on 6 brothers all with a different spellingfor the same name.

This was due to a number of reasons, errors intranslations, inability to read German signatures,mis -pronunciation and some carelessness. Thenames listed were translated letter for letter fromthe German book. The name of the colony they leftin Russia is at the top of each list.


Peter Dukart-Regina,Sask.Kasper Schmaltz- "Adam Fleck-Robinson,NDRaphael Reis-Manfred,NDGeorg Walliser-Heaton,NDMichael Glaser-Bismarck,NDJoseph Glaser-Haverhill,Sask.Raphael Olheiser-Robinson,NDNikodemus Peter-Haverhill,Sask.Johann Koch- "Anton Moser-Haverhill,Sask.Joseph Reis-Manfred,NDJoseph Philipps-Mandan,NDJakob Koch-Judson,NDAnton Frank-Schefield,NDAloys Friedrich-Marshall,NDVinzenz Michel-Estevan,Sask.Joseph Müller-Sweetbriar,NDRaphael Fleck-Mineral Springs,NDRochus Michel-Estevan,Sask.Christian Koch- "Willibald Schöner- "Raphael Kuntz-Gladstone,NDRochus Kuntz-St.Louis,MissouriRaphael V. Kuntz-Manning,NDLudwig Glaser-Bismarck,NDPeter Jahner- "Joseph Heidt-Dogden,NDEmanuel Dukart-South Heart,NDLiberatus Walliser-Powderville,MT

KARLSRUHE John Steckler-Dickinson,NDJoseph Röther "John Pfau "Nick Messer "John Renner "Franz Friedt "Philipp Friedt "Paul Messer "John Geiger "Peter Praun "Paul Braun "Joseph Braun "Augustin Braun-Mineral Springs,NDJohn Ihly-Chilco,IdahoJohn Scheeler-Dickinson,NDPhilipp Landeis- "Ludwig Landeis-Flasher,NDJakob ReisenauerDickinson,NDPeter Eleth- "Mathias Mester-Mandan,NDJakob Hellman-Racine,WisconsinHilarius Hopfauf-Dickinson,NDJohn Bleile- "Joseph Schuller- "Joachim Böhm- "Valeatine Muth-Ellingson,SDAlexander Muth-Dickinson,NDMichael Heinz- "Jacob Heinz-Zenith,NDAnton Schoch-Schefield,NDJacob Hoffmann-Mandan,NDGeorg Hoffmann-Billings,MTRobert Hoffmann-Killdeer,ND

(Continued from page 9) Georg Hoffmann-Mandan,NDFranz Pfau-Glendive,MTAndreas Pfau-Casselton,NDGeorg Ihly-Dbwman,NDJoachim Ihly-Dickinson,NDAnton Ihly- "Gregor Messer-Glen Ullin,NDJohn Messer-Antelope,NDPeter Messer-Glen Ullin,NDHieronymus Böhm-Petaluma,CAGeorg Wolf-Dickinson,NDPeter Anton-Bismarck,NDVinzenz Pfaff-Hebron,ND

SPEIER Valentin Kuhn-Richardton,NDGeorg D. Berger-Timmer,NDJohannes Würtz-Glen Ullin,NDMichael Hörner-Richardton,NDMartin Berger-2059 Scarth St.ReginaAnton Würtz-Almont,NDValentin Hörner-Richardton,NDMichael Jahner-Estevan,Sask.Christ Krank-Dickinson,NDJohn Hörner-Richardton,NDJohannes Kuhn-Regina,Sask.Adam Würtz-Almont,NDHieronymus Dinius-Richardton,NDA. M. Jahner-Vienfait,Sask.Franz Perger-Regina,Sask.Michael Berger- "Alex Jahner-Estevan,Sask.Christian Berger-Richardton,NDKarl Berger- "John F. Berger- "Franz Krank-Dickinson,NDPius Renner-Richardton,NDJakob Renner- "Franz Renner- "Michael Renner- "Christian Renner- "Johannes Renner- "Dominik Wetzetein- "Valentin Wetzstein- "Franz Dinius-Hebron,NDPhilip Schaf-Richardton,NDJacob J. Messmer- "Peter Hatzenbuhler-Dickinson,NDPhilipp Vogel "Franz X. Wanner "Franz Heck "Raphael Kuhn "John P. Wanner-Schefield,NDValentin Schaf-New England,NDAlexander Schaf- "Raphael Schaf-Dickinson,ND

SULZ Alexander Heidt-Dickinson,NDDaniel Heidt- "John Huthmacher- "Lucas Huthmacher-Mary,NDValentin Huthmacher-Fayette,NDGeorg Fischer-Dickinson,NDValentin Ehlis-Dickinson,NDFredrich Braxmeier- "Jakob Ehli "

Erasmus Braxmeier-Solon,NDJosepk Kupper-Dickinson,NDHieronymus Meckler "Konrad Segmiller "Joseph Sattler "Johannes Thomas "Philipp Thomas "Florian Zimmermann "Franz Ehlis-Schefield,NDDaniel Ehlis- "Dominik Huthmacher-Fayette,ND AntonRebsam-Manning,NDJoseph Weber-Lefor,NDMarkus Armbrust-Dickinson,NDKasper Armbrust-Gorham,NDJoseph Ehli-Selz,NDErasmus Weber-Henrietta,TexasJordan Huthmacher-St.Paul,MNMartin Kupper-Harmon,NDJohannes Rebsam-Manning,NDRaphael Rebsam-Mary,NDAnton Wetsch-Roscoe,NDStanislaus A.Wetsch-Bismarck,NDAnton Huthmacher-St.Anthony,NDJohann Meckler-Bismarck,NDLudwig Hoffmann-Richardton,ND

KATHARINENTAL Frank A. Böhm-Mandan,NDKasper Kuntz-Dickinson,NDAdam Fitterer-Glen Ullin,NDMichael Mischel-Richardton,NDThomas Martin-Odense,NDFranz C. Kuntz-Dickinson,NDJohannes Klein "Sebastian Mischel "Georg Mischel "Peter Mischel "Nickolaus Kuntz "Peter Fitterer-Schefield,NDFranz D. Weiler- "Adam Fitterer-St.Joseph,NDKarl E. Fitterer- "Joseph Weiler-Richardton,NDGeorg Adam Böhm-Mandan,NDMichael Heiser-Dickinson,NDGeorg Weiler-Schefield,NDJoseph Weiler-Richardton,NDAdam Weiler- "Ferdinand Mischel- "Adam F. Mischel- "Franz Weiler- "Vincenz Haff-Dickinson,NDPeter Haff- "Joseph SchÜtzmann-Richardton,NDJoseph Heiser-Manning,NDKasper Schützmann-Richardton,NDPeter E. Heiser-Manning,NDWilhelm Schützmann-Richardton,NDJohannes Flink- "Franz Flink- "Georg P. Mischel-Gladstone,NDFranz Klein-Dickinson,NDStephan Weiler-Richardton,NDJoseph Klein-Mott,NDF.J. Rung-Dickinson,ND



Joseph Fitterer-Schefield,NDStephan Heiser-Dickinson,NDFranz Bullinger-Grey Bull,MTPeter Jantzer-Dickinson,NDSebastian Böhm-Fayette,NDGeorg Jantzer-Sweetbriar,NDPeter P. Jantzer-Sanger,NDSimon Flink-Mandan,NDStephan Sturn-Sweetbriar,NDGeorg Weiler-Schefield,NDAdam Keller-Lemmon,SDDominik Klein-Mott,NDValentin Doll- "Joseph Steiner- "Nikolaus Steiner- "Johannes Steiner- "Rochus Stein-Willa,NDSimon Kuntz-Richardton,NDMartin Kuntz-Regent,NDGeorg Schützmann-Taylor,NDPeter Böhm-Mandan,NDNikolaus Böhm-St.Cloud,MNGeorg L. Klein-St.Vincent,NDMichael Bullinger-St.Anthony,NDFranz Jantzer-St.Vincent,NDHeironymus Dillmann-Mandan,NDFlorian Deibele-Lalfour,NDJohannes Kastner-Glen Ullin,NDFranz Dillmann-St.Anthony,NDGeorg Doll-Mandan,NDAnton Doll- "Adam Dilger-Glen Ullin,NDFranz Haff-Sweetbriar,NDMichael Heidt-Mandan,NDJakob Böhm- "Michael Klein-New Salem,NDJakob Martin-St.Joseph,NDAdam B¨ohm-Mandan,NDThomas Martin-St.Joseph,NDFrederich Böhm-Mandan,NDMathias Kohler-Glen Ullin,NDJohn Jochim- Bismarck,NDFranz Jochim- "Wilhelm Dilger-Mandan,NDSimon Flink- "Franz Flink-Richardion,NDFranz Steiner- "Joseph Hörner-Mandan,NDGottfried Meyer-Solon,NDGeorg Stroh-St.Anthony,NDGeorg Sturn-Sweetbriar,NDFranz Zentner-Makoti,NDJohn Fitterer-Mandan,NDPeter Fitterer- "Joseph Keller-Mott,NDGeorg Keller-New England,NDJacob Rung- Billings,MTL.F. Zentner-Richardton,ND

RASTADT Thomas Reis-Dickinson,NDPeter Reiss- "Karl K. Schmidt-South Heart,NDJohannes Schmidt-Daglum,NDMichael Schmidt-South Heart,ND

(Continued from page 10) Kasper Hirsch-Eland,WisconsinJohannes Hirsch-Bowman,NDLudwig Sticka-Schefield,NDIgnatz Sticka- "Adam Wandler- "Jakob Wandler-New England,NDJakob Hitschrich-Fayette,NDAdam Hitschrich- "Joseph Hitschrich-Bismarck,NDJacob Reichert-Hirschville,NDFranz M. Reichert-Taylor,NDAmbrose Reichert-Manning,NDKarl Haag-New Hradec,NDAndreas Reichert-Manning,NDAdam Reichert- "Johannes K. Haag-Snow,NDNikodemus Haag- "Anton Haag-Belfield,NDFrank Ell- Billings,MTJacob Jordan-Schefield,NDAdam Jordan-Mary,NDKarl Koffler-Dickinson,NDJoseph Koffler- "Anton Koffler- "Peter Koffler-Taylor,NDMathias Kilwein-Dickinson,NDMichael Reisenauer- "Linius Koch-South Heart,NDPaul Eberts "Andrew Fischer-Daglum,NDFranz Frolich-South Heart,NDJoseph Frolich-Dickinson,NDJohannes H. Frölich "Johannes Frölich "Heironymus Frölich "Jacob Reiss-New England,NDJoseph Obrigewitsch-Dickinson,NDJohannes Obrigewitsch- "Ignatz Obrigewitsch-Ukraina,NDMathias Obrigewitsch-Belfield,NDAnton Obrigewitsch- "Fred Emineth-Rosebud,NDFrank Emineth-Youngtown,NDStephan Emineth-Blue Grass,NDSebastian Emineth-Center,NDFlorian Emineth-Rosebud,NDAnton Schwindt-New Hradec,NDFranz Schwindt- "Johannes Schwindt-Dickinson,NDAndreas Schwindt- "Mathias Schwindt-Lefor,NDPaul Schwindt-Dickinson,NDJohannes Haag-New Hradec,NDJoseph Metz-Dickinson,NDFranz Frölich-Dickinson,NDAdam Ehrmantraut- "Anton T. Ehrmantraut- "Xavier Reichert-Bridger,MTPaul Reichert- "Johannes Ehrmantraut-Min.Springs,NSebastian Wandler-Willa,NDJoseph Wandler-Belfield,NDAnton Kilwein-Post Falls,IdahoMichael Kilwein- "Georg Kilwein "Peter Kilwein "Joseph Kilwein-Daglum,ND

Michael Ehrmantraut-Mariental,SaskLeo Pfoh-Estevan,Sask.Peter Herauf-Dodge,NDEdward Eberle-Dickinson,NDJ. J. Koffler "Adam Wagner "Joseph Deibele "Anton Degele "Georg Degele-Laurel,MTKarl Kessel-Dickinson,NDAnton Herauf-Daglum,NDJoseph Reisenauer-Dickinson,NDAdrian Eberle "Ignatz Reisenauer-Dickinson,NDNikolaus Sticka-Schefield,NDRaphael Sticka- "Jakob Sticka "Cyriak Wandler "Adam Wandler "Dominik Wandler "Peter Kilwein-Regent,NDHeironymus Kopp-Dickinson,NDPeter Koch-Davin,Sask.Xaver Koch-Dickinson,NDPaul Koch-Vibank,Sask.Clemens Koffler-Amidon,ND

MUNCHEN Michael Scherger-Dickinson,NDJohannes Metz- "Martin Metz- "Georg Metz-Belfield,NDFranz Hecker-Dickinson,NDMax Hecker- "Johannes Scherger- "Jakob Hecker-Lefor,NDGeorg Hecker-New Hradec,NDJoseph Gieszer-Dickinson,NDPhilipp Klug Sr- Dickinson,NDPhilipp Klug Jr.- "Peter Klug- "Sebastian Klug- "Wilhelm Meier- "Johannes Meier- "Nikolaus Wollbaum- "Jakob Stroh- "Jakob Heck-Daglum,NDF. R. Hecker-Gorham,NDLeonard Hecker-Belfield,NDMartin Hecker- "Mathias Hecker-Dickinson,NDLeonard Hecker Jr.- "Georg Schmidt-New Hradec,NDCarl Schmidt- "Benjamin Bullinger- "Joseph Faller-Dickinson,NDSebastian Schropp- "Hieronymus Schropp-Holdfast,Sask.Joseph Schropp-Billings,MTFranz M. Meyer-Dickinson,NDMax Meier- "Stephan Kessel-Belfield,NDRaphael Stroh-Manning,NDJohannes J.Hecker-Prelate,Sask.Konrad Scherger- "Menrad Scherger- "Johannes Klug- "


Beresan District Odessa NewsletterBeresan District Odessa Newsletter

Merv Rennich - Lead Editor11313 N Route 91Dunlap IL 61525

Inside This IssueInside This IssueLine-up for Newsletter . . . . 2Letter to the Editors . . . . . 2Founding of the Beresan Colonies 3Map of Odessa Area . . . . . 6Unknown photos . . . . . . 7The Name Game . . . . . . 8

Michael Thome- "Georg Thome- "Markus Heil-Richardton,NDPhilipp Scherger-Prelate,Sask.Franz Gieszer-Hirschville,NDJohannes Bosch-Belfield,ND

*end of list*


California. Both Emma and Christina were born in Worms, Beresan, Russia. Photograph was taken inSacramento, CA, and was probably a German-Russian family.

(School Photo)This photo is said to be John Zimbelmann's school classroom in Rohrbach, Beresan, Russia. Lucy Simpsonwas given this photo and told that her grandfather, Jacob Kraft b. 1883, helped build this school inRohrbach. Sitting on the left are 11 boys and on the right are 12 girls. In the middle is one man (JohnZimbelmann) and one young adult. There were many John Zimbelmanns and this John was probably relatedto Jacob Kraft's wife who was Anna Marie Zimbelmann.

PHOTO COMMENTSPHOTO COMMENTS (page 7)(Family Photo) Rudy Rudolph Redmann, son of PeterC.and Emma (Kraft) Redmann, hadthis photo in his possessions when hedied. The photo was given to OscarLennick, Bismarck, ND, after hiscousin died, Oscar gave it to LucySimpson, the family genealogist.Rudolph Redmann b. 1924 and d.1993 was a child when the familymoved to Bluegrass, ND, where he wasreared and educated. He worked in theNew Salem, ND, area as farm laborerfor many years. Emma had a sisternamed Christina, who moved to Lodi,

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