Vol 6 Issue 3 - GRHS Home Page

Beresan District Villages 

(Those in bold are first villages.) 

Alexanderfeld, Alexandrovka, Annenthal, Annovka, 

Antonowka, Bagdanovka, Bendeerhof, Biswanje, Christina, 

Christofovka, Domaneveka, Dvorjanka, Eigengut, 

Felsenburg, Friedrichstal, Gaaregai, Gotta, Gradenfeld, 

Grise, Guldendorf, Halbstadt, Heck, Hoffnungstal, 

Hoffnung, Hoffnungsburg, Johannestal, Kantakusenka, 

Kapitanovka, Karlevka, Karlsruhe, Katharinental, Kavkas, 

Klein Karlsruhe, Klundovo, Kratovka, Landau, Lerisk, 

Lichtenfeld, Lubo-Alexandrovka, Manov, Marienfeld, 

Marlanavka, Michaelowka, Munchen, Navaselevka, 

Neu Karlsruhe, Neu Lustdorf, Neu Munchen, Neu Rohrbach, 

Neu Speyer, Neu Worms, Neusatz, Novo-Amerika, 

Novonikolajevka, Olgino, Otschakov, Petrowka, 

Pokrovskaja, Rastadt, Rohrbach, Rosenthal, Savidovka, 

Schlosser, Schmatz, Schonfeld, Sebastiansfeld, Selingera, 

Skarupka, Sjepucha, Speir/Speyer, Stadnaja-Bulka, 

Steinberg, Steingut, Stuttgart, Sulz, Swenigorodka, 

Vossessensk, Waterloo, Weidenberg, Wilhelmathal, 

Wolksov, Worms, Wowtsche. 

This list is not all inclusive — if you have additions, please 

provide to the lead editor. Many of these identified chutors 

and villages need much research. If you have any 

background information on them, please share with us. 

Thanks. 

Inside This Issue page 

Unidentified Zentner-Krieger Pictures 1 

Rastadt Village Surname List 2 

Historical Sketch of St. Peters Parish 

and the Founding of the Colony of 

Katharinental - The Year 1893 3 

The Lahn Brings German Russian 

Passengers From Beresan District to 

America 4 

Inconsistencies between the English 

edition and the new German edition of 

Rev. Konrad Keller 5 

Worms Colonist Johann Bareth to Marry 

Rosina Kress 6 

Contributions Toward a History of the 

German-Russian Settlement Java, SD 8 

BDO Personal Family History Web Sites 9 

Beresan District 

Odessa Newsletter 

A publication for those who have a genealogical interest in the 

Beresan District of Odessa, South Russia. 

Volume 6 Issue 3 February 2002 

Unidentified Zentner-Krieger Family/Friends 

By Betty Kersting 

The pictures below belonged to my Grandmother, Margaretha 

Krieger Zentner. If you can identify any of the people in these two 

pictures, please either e-mail 

me tiny@tritel.net or write to 

me at: Betty Kersting, 670 

Hwy 114, Powell, WY 82435. 

The picture to the right 

(the three girls) was taken in 

Richardton, North Dakota. 

Nothing was written on the 

back to identify the girls. Do 

you know who they are? 

The second picture (below) 

was also taken in Richardton, 

North Dakota. 

If you have unidentified 

pictures that you would like to 

post in the newsletter, please 

send them to: 

Gayla Gray—Lead Editor 

gaylagray@msn.com 

or by snail mail to: 

1829 NE 23rd Ct. 

Hillsboro, OR 97124 

Page 1

Newsletter Line-up 

Lead Editor Gayla Gray / G118 

Assistant Editor: Merv Rennich / R060 

Assistant Editor Carol McCormack / M150 

Assistant Editor Roland Wagner / W011 

Assistant Editor Dale Lee Wahl / W078 

Subscriptions Arletta Baskins / B115 

Archives: 

Maps Jeff Hatzenbeller 

Village Coordinators: 

Felsenburg George Hoff / H072 

Felsenburg Ralph Huff 

Guldendorf Curt Renz / R022 

Johannestal Carol Fuchs / F061 

Johannestal Ray Heinle / H207 

Landau Diane Wandler / W090 

Landau Zita Gieser / G093 

Neu Lustdorf Elsie Heuther / H008 

Neusatz Ken Aisenbrey / A013 

Rastadt Diane Wandler / W090 

Rastadt Letty Schoch / S193 

Rohrbach Arletta Baskins / B115 

Rohrbach Rosemarie Dinkel / D022 

Rohrbach Nancy Schroeder 

Rohrbach Ed Schulz / S043 

Rohrbach Lucy Simpson / S046 

Rohrbach Erwin Ulmer/U005 

Speier Albert Berger 

Speier Valerie Ingram / I009 

Speier Diane Wandler / W090 

Stuttgart Ruth Iseminger / I007 

Sulz Albert Berger 

Sulz Valerie Ingram / I009 

Waterloo Betty Rennich / R103 

Waterloo Lucy Simpson / S046 

Worms Arletta Baskins / B115 

Worms Nancy Schroeder 

Worms Ed Schulz / S043 

Worms Lucy Simpson / S046 

Worms Dale Lee Wahl / W078 

Worms Edwin Ulmer / U005 

(The addresses for most of the Editors and most 

of the Village Coordinators can be found in the 

latest issue of the GRHS Der Stammbaum.) 

Mark Your Calendar 

32nd Annual GRHS Convention 

August 8-11, 2002 

Radisson Inn. 

Bismarck, North Dakota 

33rd Annual GRHS Convention 

September 4-7, 2003 

Rapid City, South Dakota 

Beresan District Odessa Newsletter - Volume 6 Issue 3: February 2002 

Page 2 

Rastadt Village Surname List 

By Mitch Roll 

This is a list of known Rastadt inhabitants. Early settler family surnames are 

marked with an "*". No census information is available on Rastadt after 1816. 

A: ACKERMANN, AMANN, ANTON*, ARQUIN*, ASPERGER*, 

B: BALLWEBER*, BAUMANN, BAUMGRATZ*, BELITZER (BELLEZER)*, 

BENKOWSKI*, BENTZ (BENZ)*, BECKENMEIER (BACKENMEIER), 

BERGER, BERGERT (BURGHARD), BRECHT*, BREMANN, BREMER, 

BRÜNNEL* (BRUENNEL), BURGER*, BUSCHOLL (BUSHCELL), 

BUTSCHER, D: DARATH (DARATHA)*, DAUM*, DAUNHAUER, DEIBELE 

(DEIBLE, DEIBLEL, DEUBLE?)*, DETLING, DILLMANN, DILSCHNEIDER, 

DINIUS, DUBLESIER*, DUEREN, DUKARDT, DÜRREIN* (DUERREIN), 

E. EBERLE*, EBENAL (EPINAL)*, EBERTS*, EHLY*, EHRMENTRAUT 

(EHRMANTZANE?), EICHHELM (EKHELM)*, EICHSTETTER 

(EICHSTAETTER, EISTÄTTER)*, ELL*, EMENET* (EMENOT), ENGEL, 

EPINAL, ERHARD*, EWERLIN, F: FAIG, FAININGER (FEININGER)*, FÄTH 

(FATH, FAETH, FETT)*, FETTMANN*, FISCHER*, FÖRDERER 

(FERDERER, FOERDERER, FERNER?)*, FORTMEYER*, FRIED, 

FRIEDMANN*, FRITZ*, FRÖHLICH* (FROEHLICH), FUCHS*, G: GAIL 

(HEIL)*, GANDERMANN* (GENDERMANN?), GANZ, GARECHT 

(GARRECHT), GARTNER (GÄRTNER, GAERTNER), GASS*, GEHEL 

(GEIL?)*, GEIER, GEIGER, GEISEL, GEKATH, GELZINGER* (GELSINGER), 

GENTHER, GERION, GOTTSELIG*, GÖTZFRIED* (GOETZFRIED), 

GUSTIN*, H: HAAG*, HAFFNER*, HAJECK, HARTH, HAUER*, HÄUSER* 

(HAEUSER), HECHT*, HECK, HEIL*, HELBLING, HERAUF (HOERAUF?), 

HERRSPIEGEL, HIMMELSPACH, HIRSCH*, HITSCHERICH, HOFFER*, 

HOLZMANN*, HÖRNER (HOERNER, HERNER?), HORWAT* (HORWART?), 

HUCK, I: ILLNER*, J: JORDAN, JOS (JOOS, JOHS?)*, JOST*, K: KARY, 

KAUTZMANN, KELLER*, KESSEL, KIELSTEIN, KISTNER, KISSLER, 

KLEIN*, KOCH*, KOCHNER, KOFFLER*, KOPP*, KRAFT, KROLL*, 

KÜHLWEIN* (KUEHLWEIN), KUHN, KUNS, L: LANDIES, LANZ (LANTZ)*, 

LEDIGE*, LEHNERT* (LENERT), LEITNER*, LERNER*, LISKA* (LISGA), 

LÖBENSTEIN* (LOEBENSTEIN), LUDWIG*, M: MAIER, MALSAM, 

MARSALL, MARTALER (MARTHALLER), MARTIN*, MASSER* (MASER), 

MAYER*, MEIER, MELINGER, MERDIAN, METZ*, MEYER (MEIER)*, 

MORITZ*, MÜLLER* (MEULLER, MUELLER), N: NACHBAUER, NAGEL*, 

NOE*, O: OBERLANDER, OBERLE*, ODENBACH*, OBENLOCH*, 

OBRIGEWITSCH, OSWALD*, P: PAULENZ*, PETER, PFOH* (PFOO, POO), 

POLJAKOW, PRETZER* (PRETZLER?), R: RAPP*, REDLER, REICHERT*, 

REINHARD (REICHARD?)*, RESCH (ROESCH, RÖSCH?)*, REIS (REISS), 

REISENAUER, RENNER, RETTLER (RETLER), ROLL*, ROTH, RÖSSLE 

(ROESSLE, RÖSLER, ROESLER, RESSLER?, RÖTHLER?)*, RUF (RUFF), 

S: SCHALL (SCHAAL, SCHOLL?)*, SCHAEFER, SCHARDT, SCHERGER, 

SCHLOSSER, SCHMIDT (SCHMID, SCHMIT, SCHMIED)*, SCHNEIDER*, 

SCHWAMM, SCHWINDT, SEELINGER*, SEGMÜLLER* (SEGMUELLER), 

(Continued on page 10)

Note: This is a continuation from the June and October 

2001 issues. Words in parenthesis are the Translator’s 

addition for clarity. 

Two groups arrived in the summer of 1893, coming 

from Klosterdorf and Mühlhausen. They left Russia on 

Whitsuntide (50 days after Easter) and embarked on the 

Polaria, at Antwerp, and landed without incident in 

Quebec. On the 21st of June 1893, they arrived in 

Balgonie and were met by Andreas and Wilhelm Ehmann. 

The latter had settled somewhat west of Kronau. The new 

settlers immediately went land hunting and proceeded to 

Regina to apply for their own land. They also bought some 

oxen, and shortly thereafter erected a small house and 

broke a bit of land in order to establish their homesteads. 

were: 

The new settlers from the colony of Mühlhausendorf 

1. Andreas Fahlmann and his wife, Elisabeth Frey 

and 2 children, Christopher and Elisabeth. 

2. Johannes Fahlmann and his wife, Katharina 

Ehmann and 5 children, Andreas, Maria, 

Anastasia, Johann and Adolph. 

3. Andreas Fahlmann and his wife Anna-Maria 

Troppmann and 2 children, Mathilda and Maria. 

4. Joseph Fahlmann and his wife, Anastasia Weber 


and 3 children, Robert 6, Joseph 4, and Johannes 

2. 

Historical Sketch of St. Peters Parish and the Founding of the 

The families from the colony of Klosterdorf were: 

1. Joseph Ehmann and his wife Mariana Reinlander. 

2. Joseph Ehmann (son of above) and his wife, 

Colony of Katharinental - The Year 1893 

By Reverend Father H. Metzger 

Translated by A. Becker and Sister Bernadine Kletzel 

Reprinted from Heritage Review with permission from GRHS 


Margareta. 

3. Albert Ehmann and his wife, Josephina Klein. 

4. Georg Ehmann and his wife, Mathilda 

Rokaschevski. 

5. Jacob and Elisabeth Ehmann, both single. 

At the same time the following arrived from Crimea: 

1. Michael Seiferling and his wife, Clara Neigum 

and 4 sons, Sebastian, Paul, Friedrich, and 

Andreas. Four daughters, Anna-Maria, Helena, 

Katharina and Karolina. 

2. Alexander Schneider and his wife, Katharina. 

3. Friedrich Schneider, single. 

4. Mathias Obrigevitch, his wife and one child came 

from Rastadt. 

Phillip Materi, who came to Canada with his father in 

1891, had been living in the neighboring parish of St. 

Paul (Vibank). In 1897 he moved to the community of 

St. Peter, where he later married. This family had 

come from Franzfeld (South Russia). 

The Founding of the Colonies 

What the settlers from South Russia found the 

most difficult was the loneliness of the wide open 

prairies. They had previously lived in colonies (in South 

Russia) and could not accept the solitude and the distance 

from one another. Consequently, they immediately made 

plans to establish colonies, modeled after those in Russia. 


Researching how my great grandparents came to 

America was a long and painful experience for me. I spent 

many hours in the library as well as on-line searching. No 

one seemed to know when Friedrich and Elizabeth Ohlhauser 

came to America. After two years of searching, I finally 

discovered they came to America April 28, 1897 from 

Bremen, Germany on a ship called the Lahn. My great 

grandparents, from Neu Freudental, were heading for 

Ellendale, North Dakota. The reason it took so long for me to 

find them is because they were listed as Ohlhanssler instead 

of Ohlhauser. The new American Family Immigration Center 

at: http://www.ellisislandrecords.org can make your search 

for your ancestors a little easier. Just remember to use 


The Lahn Brings German Russian Passengers from Beresan District to America 

By Gayla Ohlhauser Gray 

Beresan Passengers Arriving in New York via the 

Lahn on May 12, 1893 

Last Name First Name Age Origin 

Barr Alexander 4½ Karlsruhe 

Barr Maria 20 Karlsruhe 

Barr Sebastian 41 Karlsruhe 

Barr Stanislaus 15 Karlsruhe 

Barr Magdalena 9 Karlsruhe 

Barr Leo 1½ Karlsruhe 

Barr Elisabeth 4½ Karlsruhe 

Barr Anna 39 Karlsruhe 

Bechler Michael 20 Karlsruhe 

Boehm Joachim 30 Karlsruhe 

Boehm Katharina 25 Karlsruhe 

Boehm Regina 1½ Karlsruhe 

Boehm Hyronimus 4 Karlsruhe 

Eckroth Philipp 18 Karlsruhe 

Eucher Elisabeth 20 Speyer 

Eucher Andreas 24 Speyer 

Eucher Veronica 4½ Speyer 


alternative spellings and don’t give up. Below may be some 

of your ancestors who also came to America on the Lahn 

arriving in New York on May 12, 1893. 

©Michael Palmer—Claremont, California 

Reprinted with permission 

Lahn: Built by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, 

Glasgow, Scotland, 1887. 5,681 gross tons; 464 (bp) feet long; 49 feet 

wide. Steam triple expansion engine, single screw. Service speed 18.5 

knots. 1,030 passengers (224 first class, 106 second class, 700 third 

class). Built for North German Lloyd, German flag, in 1887 and named 

Lahn. Bremerhaven-New York service. Sold to the Russian Navy in 1904 

and renamed Russ. Scrapped in 1927. To order a picture of this ship 

contact the American Family Immigration History Center. Source: 

American Family Immigration History Center. 


Ferderer Jacob 7 Karlsruhe 

Ferderer Ottilia 11 Karlsruhe 

Ferderer Valentine 14 Karlsruhe 

Ferderer Theobala 10/12 Karlsruhe 

Ferderer Karl 38 Karlsruhe 

Ferderer Hyronimus 9 Karlsruhe 

Ferderer Magdalena 32 Karlsruhe 

Fried Katharina 2 Karlsruhe 

Fried Franz 38 Karlsruhe 

Fried Ludwig 6 Karlsruhe 

Fried Magdalena 38 Karlsruhe 

Fried Michael 2/12 Karlsruhe 

Fried Regina 4 Karlsruhe 

Gais Jacob 20 Karlsruhe 

Heid Rosa 9/12 Sulz 

Heid Sophia 22 Sulz 

Heid Daniel 27 Sulz 



Inconsistencies between the English edition and the new German edition of 

Rev. Konrad Keller Die Deutschen Kolonien in Südrussland 

(The German Colonies in South Russia) 

By Roland M. Wagner 

Note: This is a continuation from BDO Volume 6 Issue 1: June 2001. 

The Historischer Forschungsverein der Deutschen aus Russland in Nürnberg has released a new edition of Fr. 

Keller’s classic two volume study of the German colonies in South Russia. The availability of this German edition made 

it possible to do side-by-side comparisons of sample paragraphs to double-check the accuracy of Tony Becker’s English 

translation. In general it held up well, quite faithful to the original. Dr. Joseph Height, a former professor of German and 

a renowned author on the German-Russians, also attested to the quality of Becker’s translation. 

However, as is always the case, some errors inevitably creep into long, detailed lists of information. The editor 

of the German edition, Anton Bosch, states that the authentic spellings of the family and place names were preserved. 

When I compared the two editions on the census data for the Beresan colonies, I found several inconsistencies. My com- 

parison focused only on the names of the family heads and the places of origin, I did not do a detailed comparison of the 

wives, children, or their ages. In the table below an asterisk denotes the presumed correct entry. This comparison is 

based on the first edition of the English translation by Tony Becker. Apparently, Tony made several corrections in his 

second edition. This table will be continued in future issues of the newsletter for the villages of Speier, Karlsruhe, 

Kathariental, and Rastadt. Landau was presented in the June 2001 BDO issue. 

Colony English Edition German Edition Families 

Sulz Genovefa (first name; Genovefa 20, 62 

Sulz Michael Armbrust, “adopted” Shown only as “?” 25 (=26 in English edition) 

Sulz Bietigheim, Bd. (Baden) Bietingen, Bd. (Baden) 34 

Sulz Stebner (surname) Stöbner 40 

Sulz Schwetzingen, Bd. (Baden) Schetzingen, Bd. (Baden) 45 

Sulz Family 63 Family 63 is skipped, shown as 64 

Sulz Family 64 Family 64 is shown as no. 65 

München Ofterheim, Bd. Osterheim, Bd. 10 

München Stübich (surname) Stübisch 11 

München Birlenbach, Als. Erlenbach, Als. 12 

München Dörrenbach, Pf. Dörnbach, Als. 24 

München Wiedmann (surname) Weidmann 26 

München Gelnhausen, Hessen Gellhausen, Hessen 38 

München Godramstein, Als. Gütter am Stein, Als. 40, 41 (German edition also 

adds that these families were 

Evangelisch). 

München Hepfner (surname) Heptner 43 

Page 5


About Allowing Worms Colonist Johann Bareth To Marry Rosina Kress and Her 

Attaching At Bareth’s Family—FILE 252-1-613, 1827-1830 

Submitted by Wilhelm P. Kemendics 

Report 

To: Odessa Foreign Settlers Bureau 

From: Supervisor Counselor Wesmann 

January 24, 1827 

Worms colonist wheelwright Johann BARETH wishes to 

marry emigrant Rosina KRESS arrived in 1817 through the 

Ismail quarantine. 

It is seen from the Beresan district office report #1797 

dated 29 December of the year expired, addressed to the 

Liebental district office that there are no obstacles from the 

Worms community as to their marriage, but Rosina KRESS 

is still not reckoned among the colonists and just listed in the 

Peterstal list among others with the number 11. The list 

mentioned is presented at the report #3287 from December 

20 of the year expired, with the request as to their official 

enrollment. Presenting this circumstance to the Bureau for 

reasonable consideration, I ask most humbly to resolve and 

make an injunction. 

Odessa Foreign Settlers Bureau 

Counselor Wesmann 

#189, Gross-Liebenthal 

January 13, 1827 

#23, 27 January 1827 

HEARD: German colonies supervisor counselor 

Wesmann's report #189 from January 13 as to desire of 

Worms colonist wheelwright Johann BARETH to marry 

emigrant Rosina KRESS who arrived in 1817 through the 

Ismail quarantine. It's known from the Beresan district office 

report #1797 and that of Liebental district as well, that there 

are no obstacles from the Worms community as to their 

marriage although Rosina KRESS is still not reckoned 

among the colonists being just listed among others at the 

Peterstal list with the number 11. The list mentioned is 

presented at the report #3287, with the request to officially 


enroll the colonists. Submitting the circumstance for 

reasonable consideration, counselor Wesmann asks to not 

leave him without injunction after passing a resolution. 

AFTER MAKING INQUIRIES it turned out that: 

1. In the Worms census at #52 Michael BARETH is listed 

along with his wife, four sons and two daughters, among 

them Michael's son Johannes 25 years old with wife Maria 20 

years old. No more BARETHs are listed at the colony of 

Worms. 

2. Emigrant Rosina KRESS arrived in 1817 through Ismail 

quarantine along with her brothers Friedrich, Johann and 

sister Johanna, each person owes a state quarantine duty of 50 

Roubles. 

3. Supervisor Wesmann has submitted the list of emigrants to 

be enrolled at the Liebental district colonies, among them 

those below pertaining to the colony of Peterstal, listed with 

the number 11: 

- Rosina GRESS 21 years old, maid 

- Her sister Johanna 16 years old, maid 

The list mentioned is at the Bureau disposal. 

Secretary /signature/ 

RESOLVED: Since it's seen from the paper that Johann 

BARETH is listed at the Worms census at his father's family 

and has a wife, to charge counselor Wesmann with taking a 

paper as to supposed new marriage of the colonist 

mentioned, by correspondence with the Beresan office, and 

to allow Johann BARETH to marry colonist KRESS 

provided him to be widower, informing the Bureau then to 

make injunction as to allocating colonist KRESS at 

BARETH's family at the colony of Worms. 

To supervisor Wesmann 

#447, 5 February 1827 


The Bureau lets you know regarding your report #189 

dated January 13, last year as to desire of Worms colonist 

Johann BARETH to marry Rosina KRESS arrived in 1817, 

that as it turns out that Johann BARETH is listed at the 

census with wife Maria, you have to get a paper regarding his 

supposed new marriage to emigrant KRESS, by contacting 

the Beresan district office. To allow him, BARETH to marry 

KRESS provided him to really be widower, with giving a set 

certificate to clergy then, informing the Bureau for making 

injunction as to enrollment of her, KRESS at the colonist 

BARETH's family. 

To: Odessa Foreign Settlers Bureau 

From: Counselor Wesmann 

Report 


#4414, 30 November 1828 

On my report #189 from 13 January 1827 regarding 

desire or Wormser Johann BARETH to marry emigrant 

Rosina KRESS arrived in 1817, the Bureau has let me know 

that since it's turned out that Johann BARETH is listed in the 

census listing along with his wife Maria at his father Michael 

BARETH, I was charged with getting a paper from the 

Beresan district office regarding supposed Johann 

BARETH's new marriage to emigrant Rosina KRESS, to 

allow BARETH to marry KRESS provided him to really be 

widower, with giving a set certificate to clergy then, 

informing the Bureau for making injunction as to enrollment 

of her, KRESS at the colonist BARETH's family. 

After getting an authentic information that Wormser 

Johann BARETH is in fact a widower, since his wife Maria, 

with whom he lived during 12 years, died in Peterstal on 19 

March 1826 and buried by Josephstal priest Eibel, I 

forwarded the marriage certificate #805 on March 14 of the 

year expired to the Liebenthal district office to oblige 

Johann BARETH to give a guarantee regarding her, 

KRESS's quarantine duty before he gets the certificate, to 

keep the guarantee letter at the Liebental district office then. 

The Beresan district office has been informed of all of that 


above as was supposed. The case is over therefore. 

To: Liebental district office 

Counselor Wesmann 

#723, 28 November 1828 

#3505, 4 November 1829 

Former supervisor of German colonies Wesmann 

informed the Bureau that Worms colonist Johann BARETH 

dwelling in Peterstal, wished to marry Rosina KRESS arrived 

in 1817 through Ismail quarantine but not enrolled yet. There 

were no obstacles from the Worms community as to the their 

marriage but, since it turned out that Johann BARETH was 

listed in the Worms census along with his wife Maria at his 

father Michael BARETH, he, Wesmann was charged with 

getting a paper from the Beresan district office regarding 

supposed Johann BARETH's new marriage to emigrant 

Rosina KRESS, to allow BARETH to marry KRESS 

provided him to really be widower, with giving a set 

certificate to clergy then. 

After execution of this order former supervisor Wesmann 

reported that he got an authentic information that Wormser 

Johann BARETH is in fact a widower, since his wife Maria, 

with whom he lived during 12 years, died in Peterstal and 

was buried there, and forwarded the marriage certificate to 

the Liebenthal district office to oblige Johann BARETH to 

give a guarantee regarding KRESS's quarantine duty before 

he gets the certificate, to keep the guarantee letter at the 

Liebental district office then. 

The Bureau informing the Liebental district office of that 

above, charge it with checking if a BARETH-KRESS 

marriage certificate has been really forwarded to the office 

and where it is kept exactly. Also to ascertain if colonist 

BARRET has contracted a marriage to KRESS and where he 

lives now. To inform the Bureau about that immediately, for 

making injunction as to enrollment of emigrant KRESS at 

BARRETH's family, in case if she is in fact in marriage with 

BARRET.

Note: Reprinted from the December 1976 Heritage Review 

with permission from GRHS. 

Walworth County, Java, South Dakota 

On April 27, 1889 I arrived with my wife at Eureka. 

My home colony was Landau in the district of Odessa; my 

wife's was Klein-Neudorf. When we arrived there, Eureka 

was the chief target of German-Russian immigration. We 

met no acquaintances but found many good people who 

were glad to help their fellow countrymen in any way they 

could. I came to America to acquire land, so my first 

question was where could I get it. We were told that there 

should be good land about 20 to 24 miles southwest of 

Eureka and so we set out immediately with Schumacher's 

black horses. At that time it was rare for a farmer to have 

horses. Most had only oxen. We met a man who for a 

dollar was willing to seek out a claim for us. A gentle 

valley cut through the land that we examined and we liked 

that very much. However, we had no knowledge of the 

endless prairie and thus accepted what our leader pointed 

out. He showed us only land that was not rolling and thus 

we believed that the hilly land around us would always 

remain open pasture and hay land. But in a few years all 

the land had been taken, for the most part, by German- 

Russians. The hilly land is just as good as ours. All the 

land here is undulating, has about two to three feet of 

black soil, and is underlain with yellow clay. 

Among those who homesteaded land here with me some 

20 years ago I would mention the following: Jacob J. 

Aman, Jacob Stiegelmeier, Peter Hartman Jr., F. Hartman, 

Wilhelm Moser, Jakob Wolf, John Fiechtner, Karl Krause, 

and Johanas Krause. 

I used to be a Russian soldier but got tired of it. 

Although I had a good position I decided to emigrate to 


Contributions Toward a History of the German-Russian Settlements in North America 

Collected and edited for the Dakota Freie Presse October 21, 1909, F.W. Sallet 

Translated by La Vern J. Rippley, St. Olaf College 


America, for my father and brothers were also going to 

America. Since I departed for America straight from the 

military I had no time to earn money for the trip. So I took 

a portion of my father's money and set out. I arrived in 

America as good as broke. There was no way to make any 

money here. I asked myself what I should do with my 

land? I could not get rid of it, not even for a minimal price, 

because at that time we were paying the same price for a 

claim as we had to pay for a team of horses. But now I'm 

happy that nobody bought the land from me. 

I had to endure some hard times. Only those who have 

experienced a similar situation, trying to get established on 

the wild prairies without money, earnings and without any 

help can understand how we had to live at the outset. 

But the bad times had their good side. People pulled 

together and became better friends. Worship services had 

to be conducted in the small sod houses in which we 

ourselves lived and our prayers were more earnest than 

they are today. Men and animals became so used to living 

with each other that when a farmer drove to church on 

Sunday, his cow wanted to come along and on occasion it 

happened that a pig or a dog followed the wagon to 

church. 

It took a year before I could get a cat, two years to get 

a dog. On the wide open prairies there was nothing but 

buffalo paths, worn down four or five inches, and the 

bones of destroyed buffaloes, some antelope, and 

occasionally a rabbit. Because the prairie burned so often, 

there was very little wildlife. Today there are plenty of 

rabbits and prairie dogs. Back then each farmer had two or 

three horses, about the same number of cows, and there 


Baumann Family History 

heli.best.vwh.net/genealogy/baumann.html 

Bender Genealogy 

feefhs.org/surname/frg-bend.html 

Bertsch (Andreas Sr. ) Family 

www.twin-cities.com/ed/tree/d0000/g0000079.html 

Brandner/Kraus Family 

freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~coleen/brandner/ 

desc03.htm 

Ellestad/Sauter Family Tree 

sites.onlinemac.com/ellestad/ellestad/index2.htm 

Flink Family Tree 

freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~riedinger/g025.html 

Greiss (Michael) Family 

biochem.uthscsa.edu/~griess/Michael_Griess_history. 

pdf 

Heinle Family History 

www.heinle-web.de/odessa5.htm 

Hirning (Wilhelm) Family 

www.hirning.org/andreas/a_william.html 

Jasmann and Magelky Family History 

home.quixnet.net/~ecrtree/ed/dat0.htm 

Kercher Family 

www.gencircles.com/users/kencunm/2/data/131 

Koerner Family History 

www.pressenter.com/~gregboe/koerner_genealogy.htm 

Kosts of Worms, Russia 

members.aol.com/viking1807/page9.html 

Landsiedel, Descendants of Christian 

www.geocities.com/mcintoshcond/landsiedel_tree.html 

Noel Family Information 

www.mcn.org/2/noel/letters8.htm 

Roll Family 

www.rollintl.com/roll/towns.htm 


BDO Personal Family History Web Sites 


Wokal Family Genealogy 

familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/w/o/k/ 

Christopher-D-Wokal/ 

Ullmer, Descendants of Andreas 

www.geocities.com/Heartland/Acres/9176/gene1-0001. 

html 

Zink Family Tree 

freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~merlaan/zink/fh01/ 

fh01_001.htm 

(Continued from page 8) 

was enough government land where he could make hay. 

But there was not always enough hay for the few animals 

we had. Now-a-days every farmer has 10 or 15 horses and 

more, as well as about 25 to 40 head of cattle and still there 

is enough hay to feed his animals. Today each farmer has 

two, three or four quarters of land and some 200 to 300 

acres under plow and even then enough hay - proof that it 

rains more now then 20 years ago. Back then we also 

planted corn but we rarely got a crop. You ought to see our 

corn fields today. We harvest about 40 bushels per acre. 

This year once again we will have a good corn crop. The 

same holds true for everything we plant. In the initial years 

I planted trees twice. They grew well at first but then died 

off. Today I have trees on my land that are 40 or 50 feet 

tall. At first we drove to church on Sundays with a team of 

oxen. Church was conducted in some farm house. Now we 

drive our two beautiful horses hitched to a nice buggy to a 

large, beautiful church in which there are still plenty of 

empty pews. The reason for that, however, is not a lack of 

rain but discord among people. Nearly everybody has a 

different faith and there are so many different sects. There 

ought to be but one religion even as there is only one 

baptism. But I do not want to start preaching; everyone has 

the freedom to believe as he wishes. 

Jacob Aman


In 1896, an exchange or trade was made with the 

Canadian Pacific Railway for a quarter section of land, in 

order to establish a farmer-colony. The company (C.P.R.) 

also sold the north-east quarter of section 7, township 16, 

range 16, at a price of $2.50 per acre. The land was 

bought for the colonists in the name of three (3) trustees, 

namely Johannes Obrigevitch, Anton Schmidt and 

Raymond Dielschneider. The south portion of the quarter 

was divided into lots, and the northern part, through 

which the “Many Bone Creek” meanders was left as 

pasture land. In the spring of 1897, some of the people 

began building houses on their lots. The work continued 

at great speed, so that quite a number were able to pass 

the winter of 1897 in the little village. 

The proprietors of the first lots were: 

1. Jacob Reinhard 

2. Johannes Wollbaum 

3. Simon Schmidt 

4. Georg M. Koch 

5. Joseph Obrigevitch 

6. Hyeronimus Ebenal 

7. Raymond Dielschneider 

8. Peter Herauf 

9. Johann Obrigevitch 

10. Anton Schmidt 

11. Christoph Fahlmann 

12. Johannes Eberle 

Since the inhabitants in the Seven (7) Colony were 

mostly from Rastadt, they gave their colony the name of 

Rastadt. 

At the same time, a similar colony was formed on 

section 14, township 16, range 17. These inhabitants were 

mostly from München and Mülhausen. For a time it was 

known as Fourteen (14) Colony but later became known 



as Katharinental. 

The quarter section of land upon which 14 Colony was 

established was bought through trustees Johann and 

Georg Bast from Sebastian Schropp for $150.00. 

Subsequently, it was divided into lots and 21 families 

settled there. 

The first proprietors were: 

1. Benedikt Ferner 2. Peter Dielschneider 

3. Johann Thomas 4. Andreas Bengert 

5. Heinrich Bengert 6. Wilhelm Thomas 

7. Johann Bast 8. Johann Ell 

9. Johann Reinbold 10. Andreas Fahlman 

11. Andreas Koch 12. Wilhelm Reinlander 

13. Andreas Wollbaum 14. Franz Bast 

15. Georg Bast 16. Joseph Fahlmann 

17. Adam Ell 18. Leonhard Ferner 

19. Ignatz Ell 20. Thomas Ackermann 

21. Michael Sherger 

This colony was originally called St. Peter. 

Subsequently, with the establishment of the post office, it 

became known as Katharinental, the first postman, 

Wilhelm Reinlander, having come from the colony of 

Katharinental in South Russia. 

This article will continue in the June 2002 issue with 

the Founding of the Speyer (Speier) District in 1898 and 

1899. 


SINGER*,SITTER*, SPANIER*, STARK*, STECKER, 

STECKLER (STICKAR?), STEIFF* (STEIF),STIEDER* 

(STIEDNER?), STIEGNER, STEINHARD, STICKA (STIK, 

STÜCK)*, STROH,STRUM*, SUTTER*, SWALLEN, T: 

TEIBELE, THALER*, THAMM, THOMÄ* (THOMAE), 

TRAUB* (TRUMB?), TROST*, U: ULRICH*, V: VOGT*, 

W: WAGNER*, WANDLER*, WEBER, WEINBERGER*, 

WEINERT, WEISS*, WEISSBECK, WETZEL*, WILD, 

WILHELM*, WINTERSTEIN*, WIRTHMÜLLER*, 

WÖHLINGER, WORMSBECKER (WORMSBAECHER), 

Z: ZAHNBRECHER* (ZANDBRECHER), ZWIRNER*



Hellmann Hieronymus 2 Karlsruhe 

Hellmann Jacob 24 Karlsruhe 

Hellmann Valentine 5/12 Karlsruhe 

Hellmann Christian 9 Karlsruhe 

Hellmann Marga. 24 Karlsruhe 

Janzer Franz 4/12 Karlsruhe 

Janzer Rosa 6/12 Karlsruhe 

Janzer Regina 21 Karlsruhe 

Janzer Marianna 3 Karlsruhe 

Janzer George 34 Karlsruhe 

Janzer Anna 27 Karlsruhe 

Janzer Lorence 2½ Karlsruhe 

Kopp Angelina 11 Karlsruhe 

Kunz Veronica 4/12 Landau 

Kunz Coelestina 8 Landau 

Kunz Maria Eva 28 Landau 

Kunz Raphael 3 Landau 

Kunz Rochus 32 Landau 

Kunz Valentine 4½ Landau 

Lerner Julianna 7 Rastadt 

Lerner Barbara 28 Rastadt 

Lerner Michael 31 Rastadt 

Lerner Joachim 2 Rastadt 

Lerner Rochus 5/12 Rastadt 

Lerner Johannes 9 Rastadt 

Lerner Josef 4 Rastadt 

Lerner Marga 3 Rastadt 

Renner Elisabeth 30 Karlsruhe 

Renner Joseph 19 Karlsruhe 

Renner Ambros. 4 Karlsruhe 

Renner Mathias 34 Karlsruhe 




Renner Michael 2 Karlsruhe 

Renner Karl 6/12 Karlsruhe 

Rother Caroline 4½ Karlsruhe 

Rother Christina 37 Karlsruhe 

Rother Joseph 38 Karlsruhe 

Rother Ludwig 13 Karlsruhe 

Rother Margareta 12½ Karlsruhe 

Rother Elisabeth 15 Karlsruhe 

Rother Barbara 8 Karlsruhe 

Wack or 

Wark 

Wack or 

Wark 

Johann 22 Karlsruhe 

Brigitta 18 Karlsruhe 

Weber Anton 4 Sulz 

Weber Velmentina 7 Sulz 

Weber Elizabeth 2 Sulz 

Weber Joseph 35 Sulz 

Weber Katharine 35 Sulz 

Weber Wilhelm 8 Sulz 

Weiler Adam 19 Karlsruhe 

Wormsbecker Elisabeth 17 Rastadt 

Wormsbecker Franz 19 Rastadt 

To find the ship your ancestor came to America on try 

the URLs below: 

http://www.ellisislandrecords.org/ 

http://208.249.158.172/russia/like_grhs.htm 

http://www.angelfire.com/ks/gerrus/ 

Remember to use soundex or alternative spellings for 

the surnames you are researching. Also, you can search 

using just the first two letters of the last name. 

The June 2002 issue of the BDO newsletter will 

include information on another ship that brought Beresan 

passengers to America.

Beresan District Odessa Newsletter 

This is the 3rd issue for the sixth year of publication. The 

next issue is scheduled for June 2002. 

It’s time to renew your subscription. 

7th year dues should be submitted by May 15, 2002 to 

receive all 7th year issues. 

Subscription rates are: 

USA: $3 per year* Canada: $4 per year* 

Europe/Other $6 per year* 

* - all in US funds please! Send checks payable to: 

Arletta Baskins 

20919 Little Valley Road 

Polsbo, WA 98370 

This newsletter is being published for those who have an 

interest in the villages of the Beresan District Odessa, South 

Russia. Many contribute to each issue but there is always 

room for more participation. If anyone wishes to get involved 

they are welcome and should contact Gayla Gray at the return 

address below or gaylagray@msn.com by e-mail. 

Beresan District Odessa 

Newsletter 

Gayla Gray - Lead Editor 

1829 NE 23rd Ct. 

Hillsboro, OR 97124 

Beresan District Odessa Newsletter - Volume 6 Issue 3: October 2002 


All submitted material should include a statement that 

gives permission for use in the newsletter. Pictures are 

welcome. We have a scanner to digitize images and all output 

is done on a laser printer. Material will be returned when 

requested and if possible return postage or an SASE is greatly 

appreciated. 

Every attempt is made to keep the copyright of the items 

carried in the newsletter as reuseable as possible. That means 

you have the freedom to use this data in your family work, 

unless we have noted otherwise. However, before using any 

data please examine the cited sources carefully and make sure 

you don’t use anything in a manner that it was not intended to 

be used. Using any of this data for anyone to gain a profit is 

not the intent of this newsletter and is prohibited. 

Subscription rates are set to recover material and mailing 

cost only. All time and most other expenses are donated by 

the editors and those involved in producing each issue. 

Ideas for articles and improvements to the newsletter are 

most welcome. Please address them to the Lead Editor.

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