Inside This Issue. Bessarabia - Map #1 with permission of AHSGR. April 1998 Volume 4 Issue 1

Transcription

1 April 1998 Volume 4 Issue 1 Bessarabia - Map #1 with permission of AHSGR Inside This Issue Jakob Hofer Turtle Lake ND 3 Original Plat Map of Hoffnungstal 4 Gottlieb Wahl born Eureka SD First Evangelical Luthern Chruch 6

2 ast year after we had brought back the Karlstal file from the state archives in the City of Odessa, we shared some of the data from that file here with you. We reflected then that this file was well over 400 pages and that much of it s contents is in the Russian hand. Well folks we now have a lady who is going to help us read the Russian pages in this file. She is Laura Smith who lives in Pullman Washington. Laura will be very busy over the coming months with helping us translate from Russian to English parts of many of the census that are being brought back out of old Russia for several of our Odessa villages. As Laura was going through this very large Karlstal file for the first time, she pointed to the map of Hoffnungstal that we had not Page 2 Volume 4 Issue 1 Karlstal File Translation Notice Any person desiring to photocopy material from this newsletter can do so freely as long as there is not a profit for any individual or organization. This newsletter is being provided by n researchers for Bessarabian researchers. If any reference is provided to a copyrighted source - you must take care of your own copyright usage. Common Shorthand and Abbreviations Genealogy Shorthand ; * - born/birth b - born/birth + - death or died d - death or died oo - marriage m - marriage Abbreviations ; Wü - Württemberg, Germany geb. - geboren (born/birth) remembered being in this file. You will see a copy of that map on page 4 of this newsletter. As we can better explain the entries on this map, we will do so. In the mean time study this A note from Curt (concerning the Aug 97 issue 3-2 of this newsletter) One item of clarification I believe should be made concerning the map at the bottom of page 7. The Stumpp listing of Karlstal is a village that was founded in 1899 and by 1914, had 193 people in it. (See Sallet, pg 133) To my knowledge, there is yet to be uncovered a map of the original Karlstal. Curt map a little recognizing that this map is over 150 years old and is the first map known to be drawn of our village - while it was still known as Plot 9. KLÖSTITZ Parish A copy of Fond 6, Inventory 1, File 1245 was obtained by Dale Wahl this past year from the Odessa State Archives. Copies of this file was provided to both the GRHS in Bismarck and the AHSGR in Lincoln. Rick Rye of AHSGR has translated the Russian portion of the file and we will be providing that translation as follows. In the January 1998 issue of the Bessarabian newsletter, we carried this whole file of the 1819 file concerning the breaking of the Bessarabian area into two pieces (departments). What was to become our Hoffnungstal over 20 years later was even then defined as No. 9. Here is an exert of page 41 of the Bessarabian newsletter 1-3. (The Second Department headquartered in the colony of Klöstitz) Names of Bessarabian Colonies Name before Name proposed Imperial No. Settlement by the Office Name Notations 4. Skinoskii [?] Ekaterinovskii Leipzig 3. Kogilnitskii Anninskii Berezina 2. Alexandrovskii Alexandrovskii Borodino 8. Chagskii [?] Nikolaevskii Klöstitz Pastor and Oberschultz of 2nd Department reside in Klöstitz 10. No. 10 Alexeevskii Tarutino 14. No. 14 Ivanovskii Arcis 15. No. 15 Petrovskii Brienne No. 9 Not yet settled No. 13 Not yet settled Subscriptions for this newsletter is on an annual basis consisting of issues in Apr/Aug & Dec. Please forward subscriptions to Curt Renz at this address; Curt Renz 1218 Wheeler Ames IA The subscription for each year. USA - $3.00 Canada - $4.00 Europe - $6.00 (in U.S. funds/dollars please)

3 Volume 4 Issue 1 Page 3 Jacob Hofer - Turtle Lake ND References: Curt Renz files on < See: "Immanuel Hofer - of Theobald Hofer / Katharina Beutel ( Hoffnungstal )" Turtle Lake 50 th Anniversary book Pages 170 & 171 Albert Eisenbeiss' book page 333 (1125) Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Hofer At the age of eight years, Mr. Hofer, who was born on August 26th, 1894, immigrated to America from Russia with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Emanuel Hofer. They arrived at Winnipeg. Canada, where they stayed for two weeks before going to Harvey, North Dakota. From here, they traveled with team to his grandfather, Andrew Bossert's home, six miles southwest of Mercer N. Dak. It was about the year 1903, when he settled in this area, six miles northeast of Turtle Lake where his father's homestead was located. Here he grew to manhood. At the age of 21, he went to Montana and homesteaded about 35 miles northwest of Miles City. In 1918, he was drafted into the United States Army and after six week's training at Fort Lewis Washington, was sent overseas where he participated in the Battle of St. Mihiel and the Battle of Meuse Argonne. When the armistice was declared, he was in a hospital in France recuperating from wounds received in the Argonne Battle. He returned to the United States in the spring of 1919, and was discharged from the army on April 25th, Mr. Hofer farmed with his father until 1920 when he married Dina Bauer, on May 30th, at Artas, S. Dak. They lived on several different farms in the next few years, until 1927 when they moved to their present home which was formerly known as the William Leirboe farm, two miles north and one mile east of Turtle Lake. His first wife having passed away, Mr. Hofer was married to Leontina Schimke on April 10th, 1927, at Harvey, North Dakota. Mr. Hofer, who attends the Peace Lutheran Church of Turtle Lake, has served as township clerk for ten years and township supervisor for six years. Their children are: Casteneda of Minot, North Dakota; Lavina of Sacramento, California; and Marvin of Turtle Lake. Mr. and Mrs. Emanuel Hofer The Emanuel Hofer family came to America from Russia in Their family was merely a part of the vast immigration movement to this country because of the poor economic system of their former home. Mrs. Hofer was the former Christine Bossert. Several weeks were spent at Winnipeg, Canada before actual entrance into the United States was accomplished, Harvey, North Dakota being their first stop. From here they went to the home of Mrs. Hofer's parents, south of Mercer, North Dakota. Still, later, a homestead was taken up six miles northeast of Turtle Lake. With the exception of a few years of residence in the village of Mercer, N. Dak., Mr. and Mrs. Hofer resided at the homestead farm until the time of their death in 1937 and 1934, respectively. There were twelve children born to the Hofers who were of the Lutheran faith. They are: Jacob and Reinhold of Turtle Lake, Mrs. Adolph Hofer, Sheyenne, N. Dak.; Edward E., ( deceased ); Mrs. Jess Heflen, St. Cloud, Minn.; Mr. T. J. Kundert, Salem, Oregon; Walter Hofer, Lodi, Calif.; and Emanuel Hofer, Java, S. Dak. Four of the twelve children died in their youth. Three of the four passed away within an eleven day period, during the diphtheria epidemic in about 1910, and one child died shortly after their arrival in McLean County.

4 Page 4 Volume 4 Issue 1 Original Plat Map of Hoffnungstal The line above says Plan of plot 9, Bessarabian Oblast near the colony of Klöstitz

5 Volume 4 Issue 1 Page 5 ca 1894 Gottlieb Wahl * 1865 This Gottlieb Wahl is Great Grandfather to editor Dale Lee Wahl. Gottlieb Wahl, son of Wilhelm Wahl and Eva Christina Müller. Born, 26 Jan 1865, in Hoffnungstal, Bessarabia, South Russia. Died, 28 Sep 1940, in Twin Falls, Twin Falls, ID. Baptism: 31 Jan 1865, in Hoffnungstal, Bessarabia, South Russia. Christened, 13 Apr 1880, in Klöstitz, Bessarabia, South Russia. Burial: Oct 1940, in Twin Falls, Twin Falls, ID. Immigration: Jun 1886 (in accordance with citizenship application 21 May 1888 in Campbell Co). The Campbell County SD Register of Deeds worked up a listing of the WAHL folks in the Campbell county records for Merle Wahl in July Merle has provided copy of that information to the family archives. Following from that list is pertinent to this individual. "GOTTLIEB WAHL NW1/ No Wahl found in this description when following.through the index book NW1/ P obtained through further provisions sold by Sheriff's Deed to Sarah J Sisson and......assigned to John Schmidt Jr on " The 1895 Campbell County census taken by the state of South Dakota reflects Gottlieb and his young family. It shows Gottlieb as 30, Karolina as 26, Gottlieb as 5, Anna as 3, and August as 1. He married Carolyn Hinsz, 23 Dec 1888, in Eureka, McPhearson, SD (Eureka Archives Records, still Dakota Territory). Born, 19 Sep 1869, in Brienne, Bessarabia, South Russia. ca 1926 Children; i. Gottlieb G. Born, 18 Feb 1890 ii. Fred Born and died, circa 1891 iii. Anna Born, circa 1892 iv. August W Born 29 Mar 1894 v. Caroline Born circa 1895 vi. Otto Born, circa 1897 vii. Lydia Born 16 May 1898 viii. Willia Born 10 Jun 1902 ix. Christine Born 19 Jul1904 x. Emanuel Born circa xi. Danny. Born circa 1908 xii. Ida Born 9 Aug xiii. Albert Eugene Born 12 Oct 1915 ca 1939

6 Page 6 Volume 4 Issue 1 The First Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Iowa Synod in Campbell County, Dakota Territory, 1886 (Writtin by Wm. Boettcher) (continued from issue 3 3 page 30) Peter Schmidt, Johan Schmidt, Jr., the Knoepfle family and the Fred Leicht family invited some of the people who came as far as 5 and 6 miles on foot, to go with them for dinner so they could be back for the meeting. About 3 o'clock everybody was back again. The pastor opened the meeting with prayer and song, then spoke to his hearers and put the proposition to them about organizing a congregation. He told them, with the organization of a congregation here, and another place, you can organize a parish, then call a pastor who will serve you. Then you can have services, perhaps once or twice a month as now it will take several months before he can be back again. The field was too large for one man to cover. It was agreed to organize and elect deacons and other officials that were needed. The plan was made but not finished, as some suggested that they should have a little time to get the name that would be fitting. The organization was laid over until the next meeting in about 2 months. It was about Tuesday theweek following the service at Uncle Johan's farm that Pastor Geiszendoerfer departed and Uncle Johan directed him to drive south about 5 miles and there see Johannes Zeller, also a good Lutheran from the old country, and who stayed over winter in Scotland in and was also acquainted with Pastor Bischoff. Then from later reports that we had, Pastor Geiszendoerfer spent a whole week there and had services there at the Zeller home. It was getting near the fall of the year when word came one day that the pastor would be here on a certain Sunday. This time Pastor Geiszendoerfer and Pastor Groenlund came to the Johan Zeller farm first and there held their services, and also, as I understood it, organized their congregation and called it Hoffnungstal. Then the two pastors came to Uncle Johan's place, held services there and after the morning service, announced a meeting for the afternoon. That afternoon the congregation was organized and the new congregation was called Hoffnungsfeld. Our people here had seleced the name for our congregation Hoffnungstal also, but Zeller's people, such as the Ehrmans', the Heisers', Holzwarths', Becks', Bauers', and a Schick and a few more who came from Hoffnungstal, Kherson in Russia, and as they were ahead of us by a Sunday, we had to accept Hoffnungsfeld. That same Sunday Hoffnungstal and Hoffnungsfeld formed one parish. The winter of 1886 came with a lot of snow and bad roads. The Milwaukee Railroad was extended to Bowdle, and the people did not have to go to Ipswich. My lot was, I had to stay with Uncle and Aunt Schmidt that winter of The road passed right through the yard. Uncle had a fairly large house and also quite a lot of shelter for stock and enough feed to carry them through the winter. When there was snow on the ground the people who had to come, passed the Johan Schmidt farm as a rule and stopped there over night. I do not recall that Uncle Johan ever turned anybody away when they came and asked if they could stop overnight. After these travelers had taken are of their teams and were in the house, Aunt Minna had the soup on the table and everybody in the house was asked to partake of what ever we had. After the meal was over and the table cleaned, the men who were there, sat back and made their smoke. When everybody was smoking then Uncle Johan would ask them if they were newcomers, where they came from in the old country how they came over, where they are living now, and what church they were a member of. After this person had told his story the next man had to go through the same test. They all seemed to be glad and happy to tell someone. Then Uncle Johan would tell his story from the time they arrived at Menno, the meeting of Johan Klaudt and Pastor Bischoff, the letter he wrote to the pastor and the coming of Pastor Geiszendoerfer and the organization of the Hoffnungsfeld Congregation. I was then a lad of 8 years, had no books and nothing to do but sit there in the corner and listen to Uncle Johan's story every night. Towards spring, I could repeat every wod of the story as I have written it up to now. In the spring of 1887 the first pastor that came was Pastor A. Hahn from Leola. He came about every 6 or 8 weeks, held two services every Sunday morning at Hoffnungstal and after dinner at Hoffnungsfeld, and sometimes another service at the Michael Wenzel farm about 5 miles from the Hoffnungsfeld, or Uncle Johan's farm, as the people came from near and far. The home of Uncle Johan was too small to hold the people, so it was decided, in the spring of 1887, to build a church building. There was no money among the people, (Continued on page 7)

7 Volume 4 Issue 1 Page 7 (Continued from page 6) so it was decided to build out of sod. When it was decided to build and the date was set when to start, the committee in charge picked a few young men with teams to go to the Missouri River and get the necessary lumber for the church. The others had to plow up the sod and build up the walls. Uncle Johan, a cabinet maker, and Martin Fry, also a cabinet maker, got the job of building the benches and theplatform to put the altar on. After the walls were up, the roof on, and plastered with mud, Pastor Hahn dedicated the church, and this sod church was the first Lutheran church of the Iowa Synod built in the Campbell County Dakota Territory in 1887 and it served for a number of years. In the absence of the pastor, Uncle Johan would read the service every Sunday for years, then he asked that someone else should release him. My father, Karl L. Boettcher, was then elected and he read the services for years and then he and Uncle changed off. As stated beforepastor Hahn came from Leola. His field was too large and he could not cover it regularly. The Synod sent him a helper and this helper he sent to Eureka to take care of Hoffnungstal, Hoffnungsfeld, and the church of Michael Wenzel's farm and the one southwest of Eureka. Now I will tell you a little story of the pastor that came to Eureka. One Philip Kraus, living about 15 miles east of Eureka, farmed there in the year of I will now tell you how I came to this story. Philip Kraus lived in Eureka quite a nmber of years, and he was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church. He passed away in Some months before he passed away he sent someone to the bank and asked me to come down to his house as he wanted to see me. During the day I was always busy, so I told him I would see him after supper. I called on him. After we had our business taken care of and he asked me where I was from, where I lived before and to which church I belonged, I answered all his questions and I told him that I was confirmed in Eureka by Pastor Reinhardt, and that Pastor Reinhardt came after Pastor Zimmerman. After I mentioned Pastor Zimmerman's name, he smiled and said, "Will you have time to listen to a little story which happened to me one day?" I said "Yes, I am always ready to listen to a good story and as it comes from an old man like you I know it's going to be good." Here is how he started. "It was in the summer of I was getting ready to go to town to get some repairs and other needed supplies. I hitched up my team to the lumer wagon, drove over to the hay stack, put an armful hay in the back in the wagon box, and started for town. When I came down to the road, which was used by us then to go to Eureka, I saw a man walking, carrying a satchel and a rain coat over his arm and every once in a while he would wipe his forehead and slowly trudge on. When I first saw him I thought he was some kind of peddler, and as I had no use for a peddler I felt like passing him up and let him shift for himself. I felt sorry for him as it was quite warm, so when I came up to him I asked him where he was going and he said, in nice high German "To Eureka." I said, "Throw your satchel back in the wagon and sit on the hay." I did not want a peddler sitting beside me on the seat in front. After driving a little ways I asked him what he is selling and he gave me the answer, "Selling the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those that believe it." So I says "Whoa" to my team and stopped. Then thinking a minute if he is one of the Sect Preachers I will make him get ff and walk. I said to him "Who are you?" Then this young man said "I am a Lutheran pastor and my name is August Zimmerman. About eight miles west of Eureka there are two Lutheran Congregations who called me to serve them with the gospel. " Then Kraus said "I really felt ashamed of myself for treating this young pastor so rough." After a minute I felt like myself again and asked him to forgive me for treating him so rough and since he was or is a Lutheran pastor he can now come up front and ride beside me on the spring seat. I also told him that I was a Lutheran and Pastor Hahn has served our congregation. Pastor Zimmerman told Kraus that he, Zimmerman, came to Leola and stayed a short time to get the instructions which he was to follow when he got to Eureka. Pastor Zimmerman stated that he rode from Leola to the Jacob Muhlbeier farm with Mr. Muhlbeier who happened to be in Leola that day. From the Muhlbeier farm he intended to walk to Eureka, so Philip Kraus picked him up and brought him to Eureka. When the got to Eureka, Kraus stopped at a feed lot back of the Doering Bros. store and told Pastor Zimmerman to wait for him. After his team was taken care of they went into the store and Kraus said, "You stay right here until I get back. I know where to find the man who will take you to your destination." About 20 minutes later Kraus found the old man, Jacob Ehrman, who was one of the charter members of Hoffnungstal Congregation. Ehrman came to meet the pastor, and in a short while they left. This ended the story of Philip Kraus, and the beginning of Pastor Zimmerman. "Later on the story was told that on the first Sunday in Hoffnungstal, Pastor Zimmerman preached in the home of Johanes Zeller. After (Continued on page 8)

8 Page 8 Volume 4 Issue 1 (Continued from page 7) dinner they drove the 5 miles north to the Hoffnungsfeld sod church where Pastor Zimmerman served every 4 weeks. In the spring of 1889 he held his confirmation class there and in 1889 he started in Eureka. After Pastor Zimmerman was here several months, some of his members persuaded him to file on a 160 acre tract of lad, which he did. The parish built him a sod house and barn, and there he brought his bride too after he was married. In 1893, after the confirmation class was over, Pastor Zimmerman was sick and resigned. When he left, Pastor H. Reinhardt came. He served Hoffnungsfeld a number of years. As the Eureka parish was so large and could not be properly served, the parish was divided. The congregations southwest of Eureka, Hoffnungstal and Hoffnungsfeld formed one parish, and Pastor Harff served us for quite a while. At Hoffnungsfeld Congregation some of the church members were coming along fine until one farmer had a better crop than the other, and jealousy crept in. A few words by people that were not members of our church, and they started to drift away. Some of the members sold out to non-members and that reduced the membership. The old sod building needed repairs and there was no money to build a new one. Things went from bad to worse and in 1900, when I left home, they held their service in the schoolhouse. Inlater years the few remaining members dissolved and joined the Hoffnungstal Congregation. All that remains of that once large Hoffnungsfeld. Congregation is the cemetery which is located on the NE¼ of the NW¼ of Sec Campbell County, South Dakota. This was the first Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Iowa Synod in Campbell County, South Dakota. In the book called "The Story of the First Dakota District of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Iowa," I have read in it 'out I never found the Hoffnungsfeld Congregation mentioned, as while this book was written, the Hoffnungsfeld Congregation had been dissolved. There are still some people left who can remember that there was a Hoffnungsfeld Congregation. This closes my story as I saw it and the stories I heard in connection with it.eureka, South Dakota December 15, 1950 Wm. Boettcher HOFFNUNGSFELD CHARTER MEMBERS 1887 Johan Schmidt, Peter Schmidt, Christian Bossert, Johan Schmidt, Jr., Jacob Knoepfle, Sr., Jacob Knoepfle, Jr., Karl L. Boettcher, Ludwig Nasz, Johan Scherbenske, Christof Vilhauer, Fredrich Doermeier, Martin Fry, Friedrich Thurn, Ludwig Schmidt, Sr., Ludwig Schmidt, Jr., Philip Schott, Wilhelm Wahl, Jr., Christian Naasz, Christian Wahl, Wilhelm Wahl, Gottlieb Wahl, Samuel Krause, Fredrich Leicht, Jacob Mueller, and Philip Vilhauer. Obits Katharina SCHLEPP - geb. Müller (provided by Linda Johnson - from her Aunt B.) Katharina Schlepp daughter of Adam and Anna Miller was born in Hoffnungstal 18 August 1876 died 28 August 1953 Baptized and confirmed by Pastor peters.1902 she married Emmual Schlepp and had 5 children after coming to America they farmed near Java, South Dakota later near Hoven and still later northwest of Lowry. In 1940 retired and lived in the town of Lowry. Husband died in 1952 and 28 Aug 1953 she died. Survived by one son Alex Java Rosa, Mrs. Emil Christman Selby S. Dak. 6 grandchildren 4 sisters Alex ADOLPH (this data was shared with us by Linda Johnson of Seattle WA thanks Linda) July 18, 1947 * 1st Pg, 2nd Col Alex Adolph Funeral Held Friday In Montana Funeral services were held in the Wier chapel in Roundup, Mont., at 2:30 p.m., Friday for Alex Adolph, 61, with Rev. Walter Leege of the American Lutheran church officiating. Burial was made in the Roundup cemetery. Mr. Adolph died suddenly at the Musselshell Valley hospital Sunday evening about 11:30, about an hour after being admitted there following a heart attack. He had been in his usual health that day and had attended services at the church in the morning and afternoon and attended the quarterly church meeting that evening, suffering the attack shortly after arriving home. Alexander Adolph was born in Wornburg, Russia November 2, 1886 and came to the United States on November 2, 1907 arriving in Sheboygan, Wis., on his 21st birthday. In 1908 he went to Winnipeg, Man., Canada and later that year to Cavalier, N.D. In 1910 he went to Roundup, Mont. whe he filed on a homestead north of there that fall and at the same time secured employment in a coal mine at Klein, Mont., where he worked until During the Christmas holiday season in 1916 he came to Java to visit and there met Miss Emelia Wahl, who became his bride on January 1, 1917, and the young couple began farming on his homestead. Due to several years of poor crops, they left their place in 1919 and moved to a farm, northwest of Java where they farmed for 9 years. (Continued on page 9)

9 Volume 4 Issue 1 Page 9 and more obits (Continued from page 8) In 1928 they returned to their old homestead where they lived until last fall when they moved to Roundup. He is survived by his wife; four sons, Bernard, Albert, Oscar and Wilfred; one daughter, Lorraine; one grandson; two brothers, John and August of Roundup; three sisters, Mrs. Lydia Wacker and Mrs. Mary Barghultz of Roundup, and Mrs. Helen Lucas of Miles City, Mont. His parents; two brothers, Fred of Selby, and Henry, and one son, Carl, preceded him in death. Among those from this vicinity who attended the funeral were; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Wahl of Mound City, Ed Wahl, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Wahl and Doris and Mrs. Louisa Wahl of Selby, Carl H. Wahl of Leola, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Wahl and Christ Schnaible of Java, Mrs. R. C. Hepper and Mrs. John Pfitzer of Mobridge. Emanuel SCHLEPP (this data was shared with us by Linda Johnson of Seattle WA thanks Linda) May 16, 1952 * 1st Pg, 1st Col Pioneer Lowry Man Passes Away Saturday Funeral services are being held on Thursday, May 15, at the Congregational church at Lowry for Emanuel Schlepp, 77, who passed away at 8:20 p.m. Saturday, May 10 at a Bismarck, N.D. hospital after an illness of two years duration. The Rev. J. Rothenberger will conduct the services and interment will be made in the Lowry cemetery. Emanuel Schlepp was born November 6, 1874 at Hoffnungsthal, South Russia, the son of Jacob and Magdalena Schlepp. On January 24, 1902 he was united in marriage with Katherina Miller in Kloestitz, South Russia and the same year the young couple came to this country, making their home on a farm near Java in Walworth county. Later the family farmed near Hoven and then near Lowry. Mr. Schlepp retired from farming in 1940 when he and his wife established their home in Lowry. He has been a member of the Lowry Congregational church since He is survived by his wife; one son Alex, residing south of Java, two daughters, Mrs. John Schnaible (Erna), of south of Java and Mrs. Emil Christman (Rosa) of Selby; and six grandchildren. Two sons preceded him in death in infancy. (very difficult to read) John L NAASZ (this data was shared with us by Linda Johnson of Seattle WA thanks Linda) July 18, 1947 * 6th Col John L. Naasz Is Victim Of Heart Attack Last Week Relatives received word here last Friday of the sudden death from a heart attack of John L. Naasz, 58, of Worden, Mont., well known former Java resident, while he was engaged in irrigating sugar beets on the Cleveland ranch, near Ballantine, Mont., at 7:30 a.m., Thursday, July 10. The body was found by neighbors. Although he had been in fair health, he had previously suffered spells of unconsciousness on five different occasions. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Monday, July 14, at the German Congregational church at Worden. Burial was made at Ballantine. John L. Naasz was born November 18, 1888 near Java, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig Naasz, and grew to young manhood in this vicinity. He was married here to Miss Christina Helm and the young couple made their home in Java where he was engaged for a time in the mercantile business and later followed the carpenter trade and was a cream buyer. Some years ago they family moved to Napoleon, N.D., where they resided until 1937 when they moved to Pompeys Pillar, Mont., where they lived for nine years, moving last year to Worden, near Billings. He was a member of the German Congregational church in Worden. He is survived by his widow; four daughters, Mrs. Edna Delzer of Napoleon, N.D., Mrs. Elsie Schauer of Dawson, N.D., Lucille and Lucinda, at home; two sons, Milbert of Pompeys Pillar, and Ervin of Worden; one brother, Adam Naasz of Stockton, Calif.; three sisters, Mrs. Ted Kundert of Bowdle, Mrs. Ed J. Miller, of near Java, and Mrs. Jake Merkel of California; and seven grandchildren. Among the relatives who attended the funeral were; Mr. and Mrs. Ed. J. Miller and daughter, and Christ Schnaible of Java, Mr. and Mrs. Ted Kundert of Bowdle, Mr. and Mrs. Christ L. Helm and Larry, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Wahl and Doris, Mrs. Louisa Wahl, and Ed Wahl of Selby, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Wahl of Mound City, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Delzer of Napoleon, N.D., and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Schauer of Dawson, N.D. Most of the obits that Linda provides us comes from years of work with the Java SD newspaper.

10 Page 10 Volume 4 Issue 1 Letters from Hoffnungstal these letters from Hoffnungstal that were published in many of the German language newspapers in this country are very precious for our understanding the history we are interested in Hoffnungstal, Bessarabia 24 April 1916 Hoffnungstal, Bessarabia 15 July 1916 Dear sister and brother-in-law, be wholeheartedly greeted by us with the psalms 90 and 91. We received your dear letter from May 29 on July 14. Please write more often, since a letter from you brings great happiness into our sad existence. Our dear old mother Aippersbach went to her last rest on June 8. O how happy she must be, no more having to be afraid, the worries all of it behind her. She was with me during the last few years and she died in my house. Our old teacher Rossmann also went to rest with God. He had been sickly but did not want to give up his job. He fainted on the pulpit and often a person had to finish reading the sermon. That is how he lingered until his life went out like a candle. The old pastor Peters died a sudden death last year. During an evening service he collapsed up on the pulpit. Brother-in-law Kessel died this year on Good Friday and left his wife and six children in bitter poverty. Three are serving in the army but three are still small. Old Mrs. Laib died last year on May 11 and old Haas, along with two sons and one daughter died this year. Oh, how happy they must be! We are done with the harvest, but the threshing will start. Workers are few and expensive. Harvest is poor and the payments and misery are great. May God with all his might help to gain peace. Greetings from your niece Minna, who's husband is serving in the war and please give our regards to all our dear relatives without exceptions. Johann and Minna Aippersbach the above letter was sent to Peter Schmidt and given to us for print. as translated by Elli Wise December 10, 1996 Eureka Rundschau 28 December 1916 May the Savior's mercy and love be with you and all of us, Amen. Heartfelt regards and kisses to you, dear parents, from your children Jakob and Christina Weisshaar and our four children. The fifth is dead as I already wrote you about. Thank God we are still healthy and wish you the same. Our Edward has now gone too, to dig "Okoppy" but for how long we do not know. Dear parents and siblings, with a heavy heart I am going to have to give you sad news. Our dear sister Katharina died on April 17 and left three small children as orphans. She died of smallpox and for eleven days she had to suffer a great deal of pain. There was no healthy spot found on her body nor on the inside. She was so disfigured that she did not look like a human anymore. In the eleventh night, at 12:30, she passed in the Lord to wake up yonder. You can imagine what kind of Easter we had. Tuesday evening before Easter, she came down with it. She had cleaned and painted the kitchen and must have gotten a cold, that is maybe why the pox did not come out. The Sunday evening before, she had come to visit with her children. At Jacob Friedrich's, there were two field cutter women and she and her children got shots from them. Then I went with her to the Litzen Farm to a gathering: that was the last time. Wednesday afternoon, Friedrich Schaefer's wife came by and asked to send someone down to Kathrine. We sent our daughter there for three days, but all the people were afraid of this illness. Since Katharina was so bad off, she had called the old Braun. She and Mrs. Schaefer did sit with her to the end. She is an angel. They switched sleeping with my niece who lives in the valley. Yes, they did a lot for her but they were worn out. I visited each day also. One night Katharine sang so beautifully. The old Braun said that she would never forget the melody. One time Katharina asked: "grandmother, why don't you sing along?" "Oh," grandmother said, "I did not want to interrupt." Then Katharina said: "can't you see the many that sit by my bed? One said, sing along." The next morning she told me that herself and she was in good sprits until the end. I wrote about all to Jacob. That was very difficult for me and I am sure, even harder on him. For Easter, she had (Continued on page 11)

11 Volume 4 Issue 1 Page 11 (Continued from page 10) sent him two Posylki with stuff and 15 Rubels. Jacob is not always well either. He received 12 letters from her in February and shereceived ten from him. She received two letters before she took ill and one before her body had been taken. The poor dear did not know of his wife's death and was still wishing her health as she was dead in her casket and was being carried to the cemetery. He also wrote that he is in touch with you but can't write to you since he cannot get stamps. He is in Finland at the border of Sweden. The children are still together, our oldest daughter Christiana is with them and grandfather. My niece does a lot too. We would have taken in the children but we did not want to tear the household apart. Katharina had kept it all together for Jacob to find so when he got home. But who knows what will come now. She sowed lots of crops, had 5 horses, 4 piece of cattle and 10 sheep. They did not suffer; they have bread and all, but now, the mother is taken away. With best regards, we remain yours, Christina Weißhaar. The above two letters were sent to us by Immanuel Hofer from North Dakota with the note: The first of the two letters is the last one I received from my sister Katharina. She died over there as I had received her letter here, as the second letter from my other sister states. Eureka Rundschau 17 August, 1916 as translated by Elli Wise 10 December 1996 Additional Obits The last week of December 1997, Curt went through some of Der Staats-Anzeiger and found some additional obits for Hoffnungstal that have been added to the list - read by paper date and person Dec. 23, 1930 Gottfried Bauer March 6, 1931 Gottfried Bauer April 21, 1931 Barbara Zimmermann, nee Wahl Dec. 11, 1931 Gottfried Weisshaar Jan. 15, 1932 Gottfried Weisshaar Feb. 12, 1932 Johannes Aldinger March 4, 1932 Barbara Wahl, nee Wolf March 20, 1934 Wilhelmine Albrecht, nee Miller April 10, 1934 Johann Schuh July 13, 1934 Wilhelmine Vielhauer, nee Schmidt Nov. 20, 1934 Regine Naasz, nee Schott Dec. 25, 1934 Jakob Rieker Feb. 12, 1957 Pauline Wutzke, nee Kleingartner May 15, 1957 Katharina Schweigert, nee Hencke Recent Obits The following obits have recently been sent to be added to the collection that Curt is holding for us. Berreth, Magdalena [Ehret] 1923, Rundschau Bossert, Magdalena [Weishaar] 1967, Kamloops Sentinel Bossert, Maria [Weisshaar] 1926, Sendbote Ehret, John 1936, Java Eisenbeisz, Christian 1931, Java Horst, Elisabeth [Hindemith] 1938, Java Laemmle, Wilhlem 1932, Java Lunzman, Emilia [Miller] 1964, 10. Naasz, Fred 1937, Java Naasz, John 1933, Java Oster, Johann 1931, Java Pfitzer, Christian 1918, Rundschau Schlepp, John 1937, Java Schnaible, Karl 1930, Java Schott, Barbara [Obenauer] 1926, Kirchenbote Schuh, John 1934, Java Wahl, Peter 1907, DFP Weisshaar, Johannes 1932, Kirchenbote Wenzel, Magdalena [Gebhardt] 1906, Eureka Post Thanks to all who have sent these obits to Curt Hoffnungsal Films (LDS) of interest; Family books; Births; Deaths; Marriages; (see Klöstitz records) (St Petersburg films also contains records of births, deaths and marriages.) Addresses: Curt Renz, 1218 Wheeler, Ames IA Dale Wahl, 7370 Grevena Ave NE, Bremerton WA 98311

12 Dale Lee Wahl 7370 Grevena Ave NE Bremerton WA stamp