Founders:

Martin Sieben

Jacob Schwab

Stephan Heit

Jacob Schell

Konrad Schwab

Johann Förster

Johann Butbilopky

Johann Obholz

Nicolaus Seib

Michael Schuck

Matthias Schönfeld

Johann Peter Phillip

Adam Dammderfer

Gottlieb Diel

Heinrich Hein

Naitive of Schuck

Native of Volmer

Native of Volmer

Native of Volmer

Native of Volmer

Native of Dehler

Native of Dehler

Native of Dehler

Native of Dehler

Native of Dehler

Native of Dehler

Native of Dehler

Native of Dehler

Native of Dehler

Native of Dehler

Burried in the town cemetery

Burried in the town cemetery

Burried in the town cemetery

Burried in the town cemetery

Burried in the town cemetery

Emigrated to another province (Córdoba) or other countries

Emigrated to another province (Córdoba) or other countries

Emigrated to another province (Córdoba) or other countries

Emigrated to another province (Córdoba) or other countries

Emigrated to another province (Córdoba) or other countries

Emigrated to another province (Córdoba) or other countries

Emigrated to another province (Córdoba) or other countries

Emigrated to another province (Córdoba) or other countries

Emigrated to another province (Córdoba) or other countries

Emigrated to another province (Córdoba) or other countries

Golden Jubilee of the German-Russian Settlements of Ellis and Rush Counties, Kansas. Hays, KS: Ellis County 

by DREILING, B.M. News, 1926. 128p. Page #: 126

THE PEOPLE The Empress Catherine permitted the settlers on the lower Volga to choose thier own form ofgovernment, demanding of them only that they submit to the prevailing form of civil law.Their choice was a kind of communal government, each colony being ruled by a Mayor(Vorsteher), assisted by two or four Councilmen (Beisitzer) and a Secretary (Schreiber).The legislative body consisted of all the heads of families.Since 1798, however, several colonies formed a circuit, the highest official of which was called the Obervorsteher. The Obervorstehers in turn were subject to the Comptoir in Saratov. The Comptoir was established March 17, 1766, and was made up of an Oberrichter (Supreme Judge) and two Mitglieder (Members), a Secretary, A Bookkeeper, a Translator, two Physicians and a Surveyor, all of whom were subject to the Protective Chancery (TutelKanzlei) in St. Petersburg.To some extend the immigrants to Ellis County introduced these institutions in their new home. Thus, from April till the fall of 1876, Herzog had its Vorsteher, Town Crier (Buettel), and Gemeinde versammlung (Legislative Body), and originally homesteads were sought with a view to distribution by lot as was customary in Russia. But when it was discovered that such a local government body possessed no authority in the United States, it was abandoned and the settlers submitted their differences to the properly constituted authorities for settlement.Communal life, however, remained, for when settling in America the first thought of the newcomers was to find land suitable for farming, and in quantities large enough to permit the founding of colonies. Unlike in Russia, these colonies were united by no legal bond. Rather, a degree of rivalry existed between them which only the passing years have mollified. The communistic character of the settlements has served to unite the inhabitants more closely in social life. Especially in the early years, each village resembled one large family. Living as they did, secluded from practically all outside influence, the colonies gradually underwent a rather slow but healthy developement, which permitted the settlers to retain the good they inherited, and at the same time adopt the advantages of their new country.When they arrvied in Ellis county the imigrants were, for the most part very poor, having exhausted all their resources on their long journey. The families who came with any considerable sum of money were the exceptions. If in the course of time they bettered their condition, it is due solely to their industry, economy and perseverance in the face of trying difficulties. In 1876, Ellis County was still practically a vast unbroken prairie. At Victoria the newcomers found the present railroad station and one other house, with the ranch of an Englishman here and there in the vast nearby territory.To construct some kind of shelter for themselves on their newly acquired land demanded the first attention of the immigrants. In some instances, the first dwellings were rude board tents, which were replaced, as the season advanced, by sod houses or dugouts. Generally, however, the sod houses were built at once. Only a few of the settlers could enjoy the luxury of a two or three-room frame house in the early days. Later, though, as propserity increased, houses of stone, which required labor rather than money, and of lumber, which required money, took the place of the dugouts throughout the colonies.Description of the sod houses: the walls were built of sod cut from the prairie. Trees and saplings gathered on the creek banks formed the rafters and supports for the roof which was made of plain boards covered with a layer of dirt several inches thick, firmly packed. The -interior of the house usually contained two rooms -- a small anteroom containing the fireplace and the cooking utensils, and a larger one which served as living, dining, and bed room. -In some cases the larger room had a wooden floor, though more often the bare earth had to serve this purpose.The larger room contained the stove, which was used for baking and heating. This was of home construction, built of sunbaked brick made of soil mixed with a good portion of straw. The stove was so constructed that almost anything combustible could be used as fuel. Straw, sunflowers and wood were used, and in the absence of these, "mist-holtz" had to serve the purpose. This latter fuel was made by letting the accumulated manure of the barnyard heat and decompose to a certain degree, then spreading it out in a circular plot ten to twelve inches thick. After this, a number of horses were made to tramp around in it and thoroughly mix it. The mixing process completed, it was cut into blocks and dried in the sun. This fuel, when properly prepared, produced intense heat and was very well adapted for use in the stoves.Cooking utensils were few and simple: a tripod, a few iron or copper kettles, and a small assortment of dishes being sufficient for the preparation of the meals, which consisted mostly of one course, except on feast days, when more elaborate meals were prepared.Like everything else, the furniture of the house was of the simplest: wooden bedsteads made of plain boards, mattresses filled with straw or hay, tables made of rough lumber, and benches from four to eight feet long, which took the place of chairs.The interior walls were frequently white-washed and the entire house kept neat and clean; the women took a special pride in having an attractive, well-kept home.The clothing of the early settlers was very plain, most of it made at home by hand, as they were unacquainted with sewing machines. Coming from a land of long, severe winters, they were prepared to meet similar conditions here. All brought with them heavy fur-lined overcoats, felt boots, and long topped boots, i.e., boots with shafts, into which the trousers were stuck. These latter were worn year round. Especially peculiar were the large sheepskin coats, woven with the fur on the inside. The upper part to the waist was close-fitting and lower part was attached at the waist in folds after the manner of a skirt, causing it to spread below. As headgear the newcomers wore a cap (carduse), somewhat similar to the cap worn by boys in later years, but which at the time was somewhat of a novelty and attracted quite a bit of attention. The women and girls continued to dress as they did in Russia. They wore neither hats nor bonnets, but were contented with small, black shawls which they frequently embroidered with flower designs in colored silk. On their arrival in America, the men wore their hair long, i.e., from the crown to the neck. This custom gradully disappeared.Though originally a large percentage of the immigrants who settle on the Volga were artisans, all were compelled by circumstances to devote themselves to agriculture. In addition to cereals, they also cultivated tobacco and raised cattle. Of those who later came to America, practically all were farmers, and, as a general rule, all remained true to their calling here in Ellis County.A few of the settlers brought with them small quantities of seed - spring wheat, tobacco and watermelons. Spring wheat, which was successfully cultivated in Russia, did not thrive well here, and after a few experiments was discarded and only winter wheat sown. In the early days tobacco was extensively cultivated. Watermelons thrive well and were quite generally cultivated for home use. The cultivation of other vegetables, however, as well as of cattle, was carried on only on a very small scale. Maize and kafir corn were raised as food for the cattle.On their first arrival in Ellis County, lack of resources prevented the settlers from doing much farming, and in order to make a living they hired themselves out as laborers. The English colonists, who in 1873 founded Victoria, gave employment to a some while the majority found work on the railroad. With the money they earned by their labor, they bought land and stock, and as conditions allowed devoted themselves exclusively to the development of their farms. Owing to their seclusion, the settlers in Russia retained their native tongue, German, and few ever acquired a thorough knowledge of the Russian language. The spoken German closely resembles that spoken in the Palatinate and in Bavaria.As a class, the people were very conservative, and for a long time clung tenaciously to a number of peculiar customs. In part these customs were connected with the various ecclesiastical festivals. Thus, on Christmas Eve, a lady dressed in white, with a girdle of blue and face veiled, would appear in each house as the herald of the "Christ Kindlein" (Christ Child). The first sign of her approach was the tinkling of a small bell, followed by a knock at the door. Entering she saluted all with the greeting: "Gelobt sei Jesus Christus" (Praised be Jesus Christ). Next, calling for the youngest child, she would recite some short prayer as evidence of diligence in this regard, and would then reward it with gifts. The older children were then summoned and not infrequently mildly chastised for various faults committed, after which they too received presents. Finally, a quanity of nuts were thown into the air and as the the children scrambled for them the white-robed herald departed.On New Year's Day the children visited their relatives and friends to wish them a Happy New Year, always employing the same formula: "lch wunsche Euch em gluckseliges Neujahr, langes Leben, Gesundheit, Friede und Enigkeit, nach dem Tode die ewige Gluckseligkeit.' (I wish you a happy New Year, long life, health, peace and unity, and after death eternal happiness.) For this greeting the children were rewarded with sweets.In Holy Week Church bells were silent from Holy Thursday till Saturday. During this time it _ was customary for the altar boys to go through the villages with wooden clappers to announce the time of divine services and of the Angelus. After Mass on Holy Saturday, they went from house to house collecting eggs as their reward for services rendered.A great number of marriage customs prevailed in the colonies, differing considerably in the various villages. Thus, oral invitations to the wedding were served by two men deputed by the fathers of the bridal couple. These men carried canes to which a ribbon was attached, and walked through the colony inviting the chosen guests, using for this purpose, a special formula. At Catharine, however, written invitations were always sent out.The evening before a wedding, known as polterabend (rachet eve), was given over to music, dancing and general merry making. Before going to church on the wedding day the bridal couple knelt on a cloth spread on the floor, facing each other and with hands joined, and received the blessing of their parents and of all relatives present.At the dinner which followed the wedding the bridal couple, though seated at table, did not partake of food with the guests, but later on took their meal alone in another room. While at the table, the bride was robbed of one shoe, which had to be redeemed with money by the best man. After the festive meal, dancing was begun by the young husband and wife and the marriage witnesses. During the dance presents were pinned to the bride's dress.The settlers were great card players, frequently coming together on an afternoon or evening to play Durack, Kopfbauer and Solo, all specific Russian games.In Russia each settler received as his portion an area of land in keeping with the number of male members of his family, females being disregarded. A remnant of this custom was found in Ellis County. Farms were generally divided among the boys of the family, while a present in the manner of a dowry was the usual portion for the girls.The status of woman was to all purposes that of a Hausfrau," the home being the sphere of her activity. In the early days she also lent a hand in the harvest fields. The large family is proverbial among the settlers and from every standpoint their family life was pure, divorce and illegitimacy practically unknown.The details given have portrayed only part of the character and activity of the settlers. Various interests, already in the early years, and even more so later, drew many from the settlements to other towns. The largest contingent went to Hays, whose Catholic congregation soon had several hundred Volga-German families among its members. A good number also moved to Ellis and Walker in Ellis County, and to Gorham in Russell County.Several new settlements were formed by the building of churches at Emmeram, Antonino, Hyacinth, Yocemento, Vincent, Severin and other convenient locations.The story of the quiet and unassuming conquest of the one time desert by the Volga-Germafl immigrants is one of the brightest pages of the history of Kansas. They faced great difficulties but met them with faith and courage.RELIGIONThough by no means a friend of the Catholic religion, Catherine the Great did not molest the Catholic colonists. Her commissaries had promised prospective settlers that they would always be supplied with ministers of their respective denominations, and this promise was faithfully kept. The people whose history we are writing were all Roman Catholics, and it is certain that even on their journey from Germany to Russia, priests accompanied them. Thus, for example, we read of a Father Corbinian, a Capuchin of Melniza, Bohemia, who in 1767, accompanied a group of emigrants from Kassimow to their new homes on the Volga, ministering to them in all their spiritual needs -- baptizing infants, blessing marriages, administering the sacraments and burying the dead.Once the colonies were founded, the first priests to minister to the spiritual needs of the newcomers were Franciscan and Capuchins. The nationality of these priests is doubtful, but all could speak the German language fluently, and they were greatly beloved by the people because of their deep spirituality and unassuming character. They were sent by the government, and, as seems most likely, came from St. Petersburg, Riga, Ribal, Libau and various other cities of the Baltic provinces, where they were probably doing missionary work at the time the Germans settled in Russia.The Franciscans and Capuchins were soon followed by Dominicans and Trinitarians, all fervent priests filled with love of God and zeal for the salvation of souls. Unfortunately for the colonists, these men soon died off, and in their stead the government sent Polish priests, entirely ignorant of the German language and without sympathy for German customs and manners. Under their inefficient ministration the colonists lost much of their zeal for religion. Apparently conditions became so bad that the settlers complained to the government, demanding priests who could speak German. As a result of this appeal, ten Jesuits well versed in German were sent to the colonies on the Volga in 1803, and the Polish priests were recalled. The Jesuits remained until 1820, when they were banished. Under their guidance the colonies underwent a religious renaissance, the effects of which were to last for years to come. It was during this period that the foundations were laid of that lively faith, touching devotion, and whole-souled adherence to the Catholic Church which characterized the people.For some unexplained reason the Jesuits were forced to leave in the fall of 1820. Once more Polish Regulars, Dominicans, Carmelites, Trinitarians, Vincentians and Lazarists, took charge of the colonists. For some reason or other they ministered to their flock in a very haphazard manner and were gradually supplemented by secular priests from various Polish dioceses. After the erection of the diocese of Tiraspol in 1847, German secular clergy gradually replaced their Polish brethren.When the colonists arrived in Ellis County, there was no Catholic Church on the Kansas Pacific Railroad west of Salina. To offset this want as much as possible, the settlers erected in each village a large wooden cross about which the entire community gathered for devotions on Sundays and holydays. Usually these devotions consisted in the recital of the prayers for Mass, the rosary, and litanies, together with religious hymns. This custom which, with the exception of Schoenchen, was universal in the colonies, was faithfully maintained until 1879.The first priest to visit the colonies was Rev. Adolf Wibbert who said Mass for the newcomers for the first time about April, 1876. At the time he was stationed at Salina. In March he had paid a visit to Fort Hays where he said Mass occasionally and had promised to visit the new settlements on his next trip. From this time, until the advent of Rev. Valentine Sommereisen, he observed the following schedule: On the third Saturday of each month he held divine services in the public school at Ellis; on Sunday, in one of the barracks of Fort Hays; on Monday, at Liebenthal, to which place the inhabitants of Schoenchen and Munjor came; on Tuesday, at Herzog; and on Wednesday, at Catharine. In August, 1876, Rev. Martin Kuhn, then rector of Epiphany Church, Leavenworth, paid the colonies a single visit.In October, 1876, Rev. Valentine Sommereisen took up his residence at Hays and assumed the spiritual charge of the colonies. These he visited regularly once a month until May, 1878. He was the first priest to visit Pfeifer.On January 31, 1878, Rt. Rev. Louis M. Fink. O.S.B., Bishop of Leavenworth, in whose diocese the colonies were, together with Rev. Hyacinth Epp, O.M.Cap., commissary of the Capuchins who had come to Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1873 because of the Kulturkampf" then at its height in Germany, visited Herzog. Bishop Fink had asked the Capuchins to take spiritual charge of the colonies and after some hesitation -- the number of Capuchins being small -- Fr. Hyacinth accepted, Rev. Matthew Hau, O.M.Cap., and Rev. Anastasius Mueller, O.M.Cap., established themselves at Herzog. Father Matthew died about a month later, and was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Calasanctius Mayershofer. On August 25, 1883, Bishop Fink entrusted to the Capuchins the spiritual care of all Catholics in Ellis County north of the Smoky Hill River. Three colonies south of the river, Pfeifer and Schoenchen in Ellis County and Liebenthal in Rush County, were at times in the care of the Capuchins, and at other times under the direction of the secular clergy.The largest and most important of the Volga-German colonies in Ellis County was Herzog, which was located in the southeast quarter of Section 1, Township 14, South of Range 17, This was one-half of a mile north of the English colony of Victoria which, through the instrumentality of the Kansas Pacific Railroad, had been founded in 1873, when a group of English and Scotch immigrants arrived under the leadership of George Grant, and established the town of Victoria, named for the queen of England. By the year 1880, most of the English and Scotch settlers had left the area, either to return home or to seek a less severe climate elsewhere. A few did, however, remain in this area. The most notable contributions of these settlers were the introduction of black Aberdeen Angus Cattle to the United States, and the name adopted when the towns of Victoria and Herzog were amalgamated.The founders of Herzog were: Andrew Billinger, Alois Dreiling, Anton Dreiling, Nicholaus Dreiling, Leonard Hammerschmidt, Jacob Hammerschmidt, John Goetz, John Kreutzer, Michael Rome, John Sander, Michael Storm, John Van der Dunkt, lgnatius Vonfeldt, lgnatius Weigel, Jacob Arnhold, Joseph Braun, Frank Weber, John Geist, Jacob Geist, William Geist, Anton Hermann and Peter Quint. All these left Saratov, Russia in company with numerous other emigrants, on October 24, 1875, and arrived in Baltimore, Md., on November 23. From Baltimore they traveled west to Topeka, where they stayed throughout the winter. On the eighth day of April, 1876, they came to Victoria and erected their first dwellings on the east bank of Victoria Creek, a little west of the present town.Religious services were first held near a large cross erected at a convenient place in each village. With the coming of a priest, a private dwelling was used for this purpose. Only later were churches of modest size and furnishings built. At Herzog the first church was a lean-to, of about 40 x 24 feet, built against the south side of Alois Dreiling's house. It could accommodate only part of the congregation. Hon. Walter C Maxwell, a Catholic Englishman living south of Victoria, undertook to build a stone church for the settlers. In June, 1877, he had collected $700, the total sum subscribed was $1,500, and the only condition attached was that the settlers haul the necessary stone. In August, 1877, plans and specifications had been completed by Herny Bergsland who also received the contract. This church, dedicated to the Sorrowful Mother, measured 60x30x16 feet. It soon proved to be too small, and on June 9, 1879, the Kansas Pacific Railroad Company, at the solicitation of Rev. Hyacinth Epp, O.M.Cap., donated ten acres in the northwest quarter of Section 7 for a church and school. Rev. Anthony Schuermann, O.M.Cap., altered the original design of Rev. Joseph Calasanctius Mayershofer, O.M.Cap., and superintended the building of the new church, which measured 168x46x35, and had a seating capacity of 600. The cornerstone was laid on June 1,1880; itwas consecrated by Rt. Rev. L. M. Fink on October 19, 1884. The cash cost of construction was about $8,000, $1,875 of which Father Anthony collected in England and Westphalia on the occasion of a visit to Rome in 1884.On July 3, 1904, the building of a new church was officially announced. It was decided that every man over 12 years of age was to contribute to the church $45 yearly. Cutting of the rock for the church began January 11, 1905. The digging of the foundation for the new church began November 19. Progress continued and toward the end of March, 1909, the dismantling of the old church commenced. Holy Week Services were therefore omitted that year. The cornerstone was laid October 4. Papers of the county and state indicated that this was one of the largest, if not the largest, church west of the Mississippi. In May, 1911, the bells were install in the church tower. The nave was 220 feet in length. On August 27, 1911, the Most Reverend John Cunningham dedicated the new St. Fidelis ChurchOn July 19, 1912, Mr. William Jennings Bryan, an unsuccessful presidential candidate three different times, visited this area and while he was here he visited the monastery. Greatly impressed by the magnificent structure he dubbed the church The Cathedral of the Plains. This helped his reputation here more than his knowledge of politics.Although the churches were humble and lowly the spirit of genuine devotion and true Christianity were evident within them. Attendance at divine services by the settlers was said to be exemplary. Many attended several or all the Masses on Sundays and holydays, as well as Vespers and Benediction in the afternoon. The services on Candlemass Day (February 2), the feast of St. Blaise (February 3), and during Holy Week were always well attended. On the feast of St. Mark (April 25,) the Rogation days (the three days before the feast of the Ascension), and the feast of Corpus Christi, every man, woman and child took part in the procession which was quite lengthy when the weather permited. For example, the processions from Catharine, Munjor and Pfeifer terminated at Herzog, a distance of eight to ten miles, and the Herzog procession wended its way to Munjor. While walking, the people prayed the rosary and litanies, while the choir sang German and Latin hymns in honor of the Holy Eucharist.The conduct of the people during the divine services was always very devout. On entering a pew the usual salutation was, Gelobt sei Jesus Christus" (Praised be Jesus Christ). Occassionally worshippers could be seen praying with outstretched arms in honor of the five wounds of the crucified Savior. Whenever a member of the community died, the villagers gathered together for the "Todten Wacht, during which the rosary was prayed every hour. At Catharine it was customary on the occasion of a death to ring the church bell at evening. This drew all the people to church, where they prayed a rosary for the repose of the soul of their departed brother or sister. This was repeated each evening until the funeral.As a general rule, children were brought to church for baptism soon after birth. Formerly only such names were given to them as could be found in duly approved "Legende der Heiligen" (Lives of the Saints). For girls, the name of the Blessed Virgin Mary was the general favorite, though St. Catherine, St. Margaret, St. Ann and St. Rose were frequently chosen as patron saints. For boys, the most common patrons were St. Joseph, St. John, St. Michael, St. Anthony and St. Francis. Frequently double names were given, such as Mary-Anna, Anna-Catherine, Anna-Margaret, John-Jacob, John-Joseph, John-George, etc. In everyday use these were usually contracted into one: Marian, Ammerkret, Hansjakob, Hansjoseph, and Hansjoerg.EDUCATIONIn Russia during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the education of the common -people was sadly neglected. In fact, the colonists on the Lower Volga, together with the native Russian peasantry, were the victims of a deliberate policy on the part of the government to discourage, for political reasons, the eduction of the mases.The German immigrants, however, refused to let their children be deprived of an educaion. Receiving no help from the government, they erected private schools in each of the colonies and attempted, as best they could, to instruct the children. Each village was forced to finance its own school. No money could be raised by taxation, and the people themselves were poor. All these causes worked together to prevent the schools from developing to any noticeable degree. A Schulmeister (schoolmaster), who at the same time was sacristan and choir director presided over each village school, some of which contained as many as two and three hundred pupils. There was no division into grades, no standard textbooks, in fact no system whatever. Conditions such as these readily account for the fact that many of the pioneers in Ellis County could neither read nor write.After coming to the United States the immigrants attempted to educate their children. Private teachers, who taught in German only, were employed to conduct school in some private dwelling. Thus, at Herzog, Peter Linenberger, who had studied at the seminary at Saratov, was a teacher first in the home of John Sander, and later in the home of Alois Dreiling. At Schoenchen, John Dreher taught in his own home, while at Catharine, Jacob Schmidt, who had been a schoolmaster in Katharinenstad, Russia, instructed the children regularly for years.These private schools were, however, temporary makeshifts. Once the colonists learned that schools could be maintained by taxation, school districts were organized, public school teachers employed, and the English language taught. It is with the parochial schools, however, that the history of the development of education in the colonies was most closely connected, and in these schools the greatest progress was made.The first parochial school in Ellis County was opened at Victoria in September, 1879, by Sisters Agatha and Aurea, of the Congregation of St. Agnes, who had come to Victoria for this purpose on August 29.Until 1888, the church built by the Hon. Walter Maxwell served the double purpose of church and school. In that year Father Anselm Bayrau, O.M.Cap., built a large, four-room school which measured 66x30x23 feet. Northeast of the school a convent was built for the Sisters who until this time had lived in an annex to the church. A new, larger school building containing eight large class rooms was completed in July, 1898, by Father Gabriel Spaeth, O.M.Cap.The beginnings in the parochial schools were very humble. In the first years the curriculum was reading, writing, arithmetic, religion and singing. Both German and English were~ employed, the former in the morning and the latter in the afternoon. In addition to the sisters, who taught daily, the pupils received religious instruction at stated times from the pastor,. who likewise conducted periodic examinations.For a number of reasons progress was rather slow in the early days. Many of the older people were not very enthusiastic about education and attendance at school was irregular and intermittent. Children were frequently kept on the farms as long as possible in fall, and were removed from school very early in spring. Not accustomed to special assessments, many parents found the fee of fifty cents per month per child to be quite a burden. At home and on the village streets the only language used was German, and, as a result, the children made little headway in English. Though they learned to read and write it, fluency in speech was lacking.

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