Early Chronicles

FORWARD

HISTORY OF THE HUTTERITE PEOPLE AND THEIR 

CONTACT WITH THE LOW GERMANS AND

THE SWISS ˙MENNONITES

1528 to 1959

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HOW CHRISTIANITY SPREAD AND THE FIRST

        The large volumes or details in the Hutter Church Chronicle will interest historians but not the average man. That is the reason why the average Hutterite knows so little about his history, as interesting as his history is. Reading these large volumes is, to them, like looking for a needle in a haystack, and he finds not enough interest. We shall try and relate their history very briefly and present it as simply as possible. We will include their contacts with the Swiss and Low German Mennonites, the early days and now.

        Several incidents in my life induced me to study the Hutterite history from the days when I was a young boy. My parents lived close to Wolf Creek Colony, and the elderly people of the colony called me “Little Bohemian” just to tease me. I did not like that and complained at home to Grandma, who lived with us, and my parents. They all said there was nothing wrong with that, because Mendel’s were Bohemian. When old folks from the neighborhood gathered at our home, I so often heard the statement in their conversations  that our people (Hutterites) were from all corners of the world. We are here justified telling those who do not know where these four corners are. Some of our information is from a book written by Min. Jacob Wipf, who died at the Elm Spring Colony over 60 years ago. When the Hutterites moved to South Russia from North Russia in 1842, he was the first one  prepared for a  teacher and was sent to High School at Halbstadt where the low-Germans lived. He was one of the school teachers of Hutterite villages. He no doubt knew all the Hutterite people personally. The book he wrote was never printed. Consequently, there is only one copy and we are in possession of this copy. Many years ago it was given to us as a gift through circumstantial development, due to the fact that we were always interested in Hutterite history.

We never thought of writing this short history but took an interest in the history only to satisfy our own desire. But, after publishing the Freeman Courier for many years and many far away reading the paper and noticing that we knew the history quite well, were asked by quite a few to write  them a short history of the Hutterite people. Our time is too limited to write each one individually so we conceived the idea of printing a very brief history. It seems a person gets more interested in his people when he gets older. His birthplace becomes an interesting spot and the place where he spent his childhood days he can never forget. We were only three months old when our parents left Russia, yet we take special interest in Russia. This book is dedicated to the Pioneer Hutterites or America

J.J. Mendel, Freeman, South Dakota.

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HUTTERITE COLONY STARTED

        The Christian History begins after Christ ascended to Heaven. The Jews and Gentiles told the young Christian generation that Jesus was stolen from the grave. That is why the grave was empty. This made many of the young Christians doubt whether that resurrection story was true and the Christian Church worried about their young generation. So, the Christian generation sent a delegation of Christians to Rome to see the Emperor. The Jerusalem country belonged to Rome and when they arrived in Rome they asked the Emperor what Pilate of Jerusalem wrote about Jesus. The Emperor handed Pilate’s letter to them and the letter written by Pilate and the Emperor said this: Something happened here that we cannot figure out. We crucified the man Jesus because there were so many complaints against him. He was buried, the grave sealed, yet after three days he walked around with his friends for 40 days then ascended to heaven. So, Pilate became the biggest witness. The delegation went back home to Jerusalem and this report wiped away all the doubt about the resurrection. But Rome kept on persecuting the Christians and many were killed during Emperor Nero’s reign and his wife was blamed because she belonged to the Jews.  For many years the Christians went through terrible suffering until Constantine became Emperor of Rome. He was good to the Christians, helped them, appointed them to office in many cases. This ended their troubles and Christianity spread all over and that became the Catholic Church. The Church located one Bishop in Rome and one in Constantinople to do mission work in Austria. He spread the gospel over a large field in Austria but the highest authority was still in Rome. In the course of time the Bishop in Constantinople did not agree with Rome on some questions and they separated. The Bishop in Constantinople worked north into Russia and this is called the Greek Catholic Church. This makes the Catholic Church the oldest Christian Church in the World. The next important religious move was the Reformation by the Great Man of God, Martin Luther. His father intended to prepare him for a lawyer but Martin’s choice was church work. 

        In 1725, Felix Manz, Conrad Grebel, George Blaurock and Balthaser Hubmeier started the Anabaptist movement, and the movement soon spread all over Europe. They opposed child baptism and the first that were baptized in Switzerland were: Mantz, Grebel, Blaurock and Balthaser. They started the Anabaptist Church move and the move soon spread all over Europe.

        The birthplace of the Mennonite Church was in Zurich, Switzerland, where the above four were baptized first and started the Anabaptists. This history is dedicated to the pioneer men and women who did so much to pave the way for the community and we reserve the deeds of these pioneers, both living and those who are gone to the great beyond. Today we are on the threshold of a new era and we must have the same foresight which brought pioneer men and women to this community. Let us move forward with steadfast purpose and confidence. Only then will we be worthy of the trust which was left to us by these pioneers.

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GENERAL INTRODUCTION

        When this was written in 1959 the Hutterite history covered a period of 430 years. The first 240 years they lived in Austria, Hungary, Moravia and other localities and is a story of persecution. From 1552 to 1592 was a peaceful period and 50 colonies were established with a population of about 15000 souls. The first communistic colony was established in 1528, 20 miles north of Pressburg in Austria.

        When they emigrated to North Russia in 1770 their number of souls was less than one-hundred and thirteen families. In 1842 when they moved to South Russia from North Russia they again counted 69 families, 205 male and 210 female. When they emigrated to America in 1874 they numbered 169 families. This gives you a superficial picture.

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CHURCH CONDITIONS IN 1500

To understand the Hutterite history you must go back to the Reformation time and look at the church conditions of those days. It reminds you of what Prophet Isaiah said: Chapter 80, Verse 2: “For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall rise thee and his glory shall be seen upon thee.”

        The enemies of the Christian Church at first were the Jews and the Gentiles. Many years after the ascension of Christ, Emperor Constantine was the ruler of the Roman Empire and he was very friendly to the Christians and counted himself as one.

        This condition created political influence in the Christian Church and ultimately formed and developed the Catholic Church which as a state Church, had absolute control of church problems until the great man of God, Martin Luther, started the Reformation in 1517. All those with Luther protesting against the rules were called Protestants. People were either Protestants or Catholics. This divided the labor group working for Lichtenstein Brothers. One faction said it was wrong for Lichtenstein to tell Ahnly not to touch anybody because the Emperor’s instructions were not being carried out. The other faction said the instructions were good and they kept on arguing the question. Lichtenstein listened for a while then said he did not want two factions on the place and all those who thought he had done wrong by telling the Emperor officer to not attack any of his workers were to leave the place. He and 190 left the Lichtenstein place with Jacob Wiedeman as their leader. He had four assistants and one happened to be Bohemian by the name of Jacob Mandel.

        The instruction from the Emperor was that all those working for Lichtenstein Brothers must be Catholics or they would be punished.

Soon these Protestants were divided on the question of baptism. One group believed in baptizing only adults and the other group believed in infant baptism. This former class was called the Anabaptists (Wiedertäufer) which means rebaptizer. The leaders of the Anabaptists were Felix Mantz, Conrad Grebel, George Blaurock, and Balthouser Hubmeier. They were the first rebaptized. These Anabaptists were persecuted and many fled to Moravia, a province in Austria and now Czechoslovakia and other countries.

        Because of this religious liberty, Moravia became the asylum for the persecuted in Switzerland, Germany, Holand, Belgium, Austria and other countries where Anabaptists were found. The birthplace of the Mennonite Church is in Zurich Switzerland. 

        The big band owners in Moravia were glad to have these persecuted people on their estate to build the country, especially the two Lichtenstein brothers, John and Leonard.

        They controlled a big tract of Land and they also respected the Anabaptists church questions and Leonard Lichtenstein was baptized by Hubmeier. The name of this place was Nickelsburg.

        In a short time many hundreds of Anabaptists gathered at this locality, and Emperor Ferdinand watched developments at Nickelsburg. One day he sent Prozus Ahnly, an officer with authority, to execute all those at Nickelsburg who refused to go back to the Catholic Church.

        When Ahnly approached Nickelsburg, Leonard Lichtenstein sent a special messenger to meet Ahnly and told him if he wanted to save his life he must go back home and Ahnly returned. Because a war broke out with Turkey the Emperor had his hands full. Nothing was done to punish Lichtenstein for his defiant act or Ahnly for neglecting his duty. 

        This divided the Anabaptists into two groups. One group contended that it was wrong for Lichtenstein to threaten Ahnly with killing and the other group opposed this contention and said it was not wrong. Lichtenstein then advised the group that disagreed with him to leave the place because there would be no harmony with two groups opposing each other on the same place.

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HOW THE FIRST COLONY STARTED

        In the Spring of 1523 a group of about 190 disagreeing with Lichtenstein left the place with Jacob Wiedeman and their leader. He had four to assist him and one happened to be a Bohemian by the name of Jacob Maendel. On the way they were camping at a certain place. At this camping place Jacob Wiedeman spread his coat on the ground in their presence and said: “Let us do like the Apostles have done in Acts 2.” He and everyone laid his possessions on that coat. Some needed help and those that had possessions were willing to sacrifice. This was the beginning of the first Hutterite Communistic Colony. The motive was to help those that needed help and take care of them. Their circumstances developed in such shape to convince them to see that the best move was to do like the Apostles have done and eliminate the question of how much to donate by donating all to help your brother. And, up to this day, 500 years later, not one of their members was taken to a poor house, to a feeble minded institution, Home for the Aged, etc. They take care of all of them whether he is strong as a giant or helpless as a invalid 

        Many of the present day political and economic communists say if communism works out successfully with the Hutterite Colonies why will it not succeed in the state. Theoretically it seems that way but not in practice. When people from research departments come with this question our simple answer is: “If you take the religious background away from these Hutterite Colonies that will be the beginning of the end of all the Hutterite Colonies.” 

        Some years ago a chain or colonies called the Llano Colonies were established in the southern states for economic purpose only. All died a natural death. Not one is left today. At Jamesville south of Freeman a few years ago South Dakota spent over $41,000.00 in less than a year to establish a colony to help poor people to live cheaper. A little later the place was sold to the present Jamesville Colony and they are prospering. The conscience of the religious communist is trained to say, “What is mine is also yours. I am my brothers keeper.” The political and economical communist sees the quest from a different angle, and says, “What is yours is also mine.” Modern political communism is the biggest question this world is facing today.

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THE FIRST HUTTERITE COLONY ESTABLISHED IN MORAVIA, AUSTRIA 1528

        The group of people that left the Lichtenstein place with Wiedeman as their leader had now organized as a Communistic organization. They were invited by land owners at Austerlitz, Moravia and here is where the first Communistic colony was established 1528, 20 miles north of Pressburg, later called Hutterite Colony. Land Owners furnished them with buildings and anything they needed. 

        About two years after the founding of this colony Jacob Hutter came up from Tyrol, about 200 miles away, where the Anabaptists had much opposition. He visited the colony and joined it. He was a hat maker by trade. He was a very active and influential man and before long the colony was named after him. The Hutterite Colony — Hut means in German “hat.” So the name Hutterites really means “hat maker.” A few more colonies were soon organized and established and after 50 years they had some 50 colonies with a population of 15,000 writes Wiedeman in the Rechenschaft a book that contains the articles of faith.

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OCCUPATION, SCHOOL, CHURCH

        The heavy land owners were glad to have the Hutterites on their estate because they were honest and industrious and helped to build up their country. They had full confidence in them and paid no attention to those who hated them, mocked and despised them or laughed when they saw them pray before and after eating. All that made no impression on the land lords. They listened more to statements like the Lutheran Church historian Professor J. H. Kurtz made when he wrote about the Hutterites and said, “They are noted for their sincere piety, exemplary discipline, strict industry, fair and conscientious dealing, unexampled patience in suffering and martyr courage and martyr joy.” Some of the men were tilling the soil and many were working at different trades like blacksmith, mason, watchmaker, tanner, furrier, shoemaker, potter, doctor, etc. Everyone worked for the common good.

        They paid much attention to their schools, believing that home, school and church are responsible for the young generation. The teachers were ordained for their work like ministers. After children were through school every boy and every girl took an occupational training course which prepared them for some kind of work which helped the colony much in a material way. But, conditions became more unfavorable.

        At first Moravia was tolerant, but in 1622 the Hutterites were forced to leave and went to other places. They asked Mennonites for support and received help from them. 1760 Empress Theresa asked that all children must be baptized by a Catholic Priest. Their books were taken from them, their ministers were thrown in prison. Catholic Priests brought the message and Hutterites were compelled by soldiers to attend service. Community of goods was given up for 14 years but was later introduced.

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THEIR NATIONALITY

,        The Anabaptist people and Lichtenstein brothers were persecuted people coming from many countries in Europe. That is why the old Hutterites so often said our people came from all four corners of the world.,

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242 YEARS IN AUSTRIA

        They lived 242 years in Austria. During their stay in Austria they made their home in several provinces and also a short time they were under Turkish control. So many died as martyrs. They were never persecuted for Communistic living. Infant baptism, not swearing and the nonresistant doctrine, were the three causes for persecutions by the state church. Thousands died but remained faithful. It’s indescribable how they were tortured, burned, torn with irons, roasted on beams, locked up in a house and all burned together, hanged to a tree beheaded, gags put into their mouths, so they could not testify before dying. Whole colonies just disappeared during these persecution days but many found each other again. The methods of persecution were beyond description. The persecution leaders aimed for the leaders first. After they had the leaders, and the prominent members of the colony, others left in discouragement. Young men were offered prominent government positions and easy living if they would give up their faith. But, many young men sooner died as martyrs than accept a prominent position and a good time.

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MOVE TO RUSSIA

        After going through many storms and much distress during the 242 years in Austria and over 3 years in Hungary, a door opened in Russia. The heart of prominent Russian war general, Samitin, was touched and he had sympathy for them when they fled to the Walachia in Turkey. This general advised them to emigrate to Russia where they would find religious freedom. He gave them a wagon and a team of oxen, and necessary papers to cross the line into Russia. He also advised them to see the field Marshall of Russia, Count Romanzof. They accepted this advice and started on their journey to Russia with five ox teams, some cows and some sheep. On their journey they went through many hardships and often prayed for a time when they could eat enough bread to satisfy their hunger. Russia and Turkey were at war and many times they were robbed and mistreated by soldiers on the highways. They left the main roads and traveled through valleys and hills without a road so as not to be seen by Turkish soldiers who followed the main roads to destroy towns.

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ARRIVED AT WISCHENKA, RUSSIA 1770

Wischenka in North Russia was their destination and when they came closer to Wischenka Count Romanzof sent 10 Cossack soldiers to meet them and take care of them. Some left wives and children in Austria and they were brought later where it was possible.,

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THEY LEFT WISCHENKA

        They left Walachia, where they had stayed about two years in Hungary. The other years to make up the 242 years, were spent in Austria. They arrived in Wischenka April 10, 1770. They entered into contract with Romanzof and had a home again. Count Romanzof was very good to them and advanced them money to start. Less than 100 souls made up the group, 13 families. When those still in Austria heard the good news that they had found a home and were enjoying a religious liberty many more came to Russia and joined them. It might be mentioned why Russia was so tolerant. When Catherina the II ascended the throne in Russia she was convinced the people of Russia would never build up Russia. She was looking for German settlers. She cannot be admired as a character, but she was a shrewd ruler. Large tracts of land were not developed. Europe was always in a turmoil of war, just like today. Catherina II was shrewd enough to know that the common people never want war, the rulers cause the wars. She was looking for settlers that would build up her country. The best inducement she could think of was to offer exemption from military service for 100 years to all the Germans that came to Russia to live. They were also granted full religious liberty. When this news spread, German people from Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Austria flocked to Russia and met a warm reception in Russia. All the Germans coming to Russia to live had to promise to do no mission work in Russia. The people of Russia belonged to the Greek Catholic Church and should not be disturbed in religion.

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WISCHENKA COLONY — A BUSY PLACE

        There was great activity at Wischenka Colony. The men folks were well trained in their trades and were busy at work early and late in the fields or in the shop. They were also very particular about their school. They even had a kindergarten department where children were admitted at the age of 3 years. They soon had their own doctor, Dr. Wurz, but he left the colony with 3 children and went to Moscow. After Dr. Wurz left, Dr. Sam Wipf was their doctor. Later Dr. Ephrahim Gross, grandfather of Min. Paul F. Gross of Freeman, S. Dak., was the colony doctor. He left the colony also, but his wife and three children remained.

        Two other young men prepared for the doctor profession, but they left the colony when they were ready to practice. There were no medical schools like today. They took a course at the office of Count Romanzof’s family doctor.

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NEW MEMBERS JOINED THE HUTTERITE COLONY

        While at Wischenka the colony received new members. When the forefathers of the East Freeman people, the Swiss Mennonites, left Switzerland and moved to Northern Austria they stayed there only about 7 years. Then they moved to Russia and settled down in Russia, Poland in 1797.

        Several stayed with the Hutterite Colony for sometime but nearly all left again to join their people. Four brothers were Millers: John, Jacob, Joseph and Peter, — John and Jacob went back to their people in Poland, Russia but Joseph and Peter stayed in the colony. Joseph Miller’s children were all daughters. Peter Miller was the grandfather of the late Jos. A. Miller in Freeman, father of Mrs. John J. Tschetter, the banker in Freeman. SD and a cousin to the late Min. Christ Mueller in East Freeman. Mathias Hofer came to Wischenka after he was in prison for 16 years. The Gross family came from Andrew Gross of Hungary and he joined the colony in 1781. Jacob Walter went back to Hungary to get his family.

        The Deckers are descendants of two Prussian widows who came with their children and joined the colony. We made a special search for our own forefathers and find that Paul Mandel, a Mr. Tital and a Mr. Wollman, everyone single, joined the colony in 1780. The name Tital disappeared because his children were all daughters. Joseph C. Kleinsasser and Peter C. Kleinsasser were grandsons of this man Tital. Tital’s daughter, Mary, was married to Math Kleinsasser, grandfather of Jos C. and Peter C. Kleinsasser.

        From the above mentioned Wollmann all the Wollmanns descend. These three men came from Austria. Paul Maendel was a Bohemian, was baptized by Min. Kuhr, Dec. 10, 1783, and died in Hutterthal in 1846. We often heard our grandmother say he had a Bohemian tongue and could never talk the Hutterite language correctly. He always had that Bohemian accent.

        It was in the latter 1790’s that the three Schrag sisters, Anna, Maria, and Katharina joined the Hutterite colony. They had made their home with their brother at the Swiss Mennonites, East Freeman people. Their brother had no children. These three sisters were very conscientious in church matters. The Swiss Mennonites practiced feet washing after the Lord’s Supper was served, but the Hutterites did not practice feet washing. So, these three sisters went into a room alone to do it because their conscience was trained to practice feet washing.

        Maria Schrag was married to Min. John L. Wipf’s father Johann Wipf. Anna Schrag was married to George Waldner, father of John W. Tschetter’s mother. Katherina Schrag was married to George Waldner’s brother Johann Waldner, who died. His widow with two sons and one daughter went back to her people in Poland. One of these boys was the grandfather of the late Peter M. Waldner, father of Professor Ben P. Waltner, former Freeman College teacher. All the East Freeman Waltner’s are descendents of these two boys. The name was changed to Waltner from Waldner.

        The second husband of Maria Schrag was Enoch Kleinsasser. Her first husband died and left her with two sons and three daughters. The son John was the father of the late Min. John L. Wipf and the son Joseph was the father of the late Dr. A. A. Wipf’s father. One daughter was married to Abraham in Canada, one daughter was married to Peter Entz and the descendants are all members of the Elm Spring Colony. Maria, the third daughter, was the mother of Joseph Pullman, father of the late Jake J. Pollman of Freeman.

        The second husband of Maria Schrag was Enoch Kleinsasser. The writer knew him personally and caught many frogs for him for fishing. This may sound like a fish story but is a fact. This man, Enoch, was close to 90 years old and I was a kid of some 4 years. Enoch was an uncle to our grandmother and she was staying at our home near Wolf Creek Colony now called the “Wolf Creek Colony Place” by the public.

        This Maria Schrag had two daughters with her second husband. One was the first wife of Min. John Waldner who died in Freeman after he left Jamesville Colony. The second daughter was the first wife of Michael Hofer who at the age of 103 years died. The Min. John Waldner was the step-father of the late Dr. J. H. Wipf of Freeman.

        Another party joining the colony at Wischenka was Mrs. Anna Witte of Danzig. Her husband, a merchant,-- died and her son disappeared so she and her daughter joined the colony. Her daughter was married to John Waldner and this Waldner was the grandfather of the late Mrs. Min. John L. Wipf mother of Mrs. John K. Hofer (Druggist).

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COLONY WAS PROSPERING

        The colony was prospering at Wischenka and their membership increased wonderfully. Church work received much attention. Under the pressure they had passed for so many years, there was a danger for some to become fanatic and radical and some prominent members were affected. A Hofer contended that Jesus never ate breakfast and followers of Christ should not eat breakfast. He also insisted that all prayers should be spoken so all can hear the prayers. When the colony declined to obey his advice he left the colony and stayed with a Wiebe family in Prussia and never came back. His wife remained in the colony. A Kleinsasser insisted to have prayer meetings at 12 o’clock at night because or Psalm 119 verse 62. And they had few similar cases where members went to extremes.

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THE GOOD DAYS ENDED

        The good days ended when Count Romanzof died and his son took affairs into his own hands. His aim was to reduce the Hutterite Colony to serfdom. To avoid that, the colony petitioned the Czar. John Waldner and Jacob Walter personally went to St. Petersburg to present a petition to the Czar Alexander I in 1801. The Czar offered them crown land 15 miles from Wishenka near the river Desna. During their 32 years stay in Wishenka 172 died and are buried at Wishenka. When Romanzof heard about the name he threatened them with trouble and told the Czar about it, but the Czar said, “No worry, I will protect the colony.”

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30 YEARS AT RADITSHAWA

        In 1802 they left Wishenka and moved to the other place. The crown advanced them $4,000.00 to build the new place, the money to be paid back in 10 years. In this place the Hutterites made poor history. The trouble is mostly attributed to a certain extent to conditions there. 

        The influence of a small Russian station next to their door caused trouble. How far to keep away from outside influence and how tolerant to be is a delicate question. The conservative class and the liberal class disagreed on the question of how far to go in the association with outsiders and in this case with Russian outsiders. To go to extreme is a human weakness and it was the extremists that divided the people into two groups, the liberals and the conservatives. In a divided house there is no cooperation. The constant friction between the two groups, the Min. John Waldner group, the liberals, and the Min. Darius Walter group the conservatives ended in disbanding and was caused by trouble within their own gates. They discontinued community life in 1819 of their own volition and lived in two small villages privately. Another cause for disbanding just at this time was a fire that destroyed their buildings. This Min. Walter was the grandfather of the Darius Walter who was the leader in establishing the Wolf Creek Colony west of Freeman in 1874. The small Russian station close to the colony caused their trouble and they now lived in a timber country chopping wood. 

        When we visited Mr. Zimmerman, general manager of the Amana Society at Amana, Iowa, for a week in 1922, he said that a colony should never be located close to a town. They felt the influence from Cedar Rapids, a city close to the seven Amana Colonies.

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HUTTERITES CONTACTS WITH SWISS AND LOW GERMANS

        The Hutterites, the Swiss Mennonites in Poland and the Low German Mennonites in South Russia were always in touch with each other. The Hutterites knew that the low Germans in South Russia were prosperous and the low Germans in South Russia knew that the Hutterites were poverty stricken, and had a hard struggle some 600 miles north. John Cornies wrote the Czar about their condition. John Cornies of South Russia was a very influential man at home and with the government. He was sent to Raditshawa with a government man to see what could be done. A trip of 650 miles in a buggy to see if they could do something for the Hutterites.

        Michael R. Hofer, who died at Freeman, South Dakota on October 25th, 1932, at the age of 103 years was born in Raditchawa on August 4th, 1829, and was 13 years old when Cornies and the government man came to Raditchawa. Hofer always enjoyed telling us how it happened. The government man gave orders that every family go out to the front of their home. When they were all out Cornies and the government man drove through the street slowly to take a good look at all the faces and when they came to the end of the street the government man said to Cornies, “They look like a group in good health. If you are willing to assume the duty of managing people, let them move down to South Russia into the Molatschna district.” Cornies said he would. That closed the deal. In 1842, the Hutterites, 69 families: 205 male and 210 female, moved to South Russia.

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IN SOUTH RUSSIA 1842 TO 1874

        The first village they built in South Russia was Hutterthal in 1842. The second village they built was Johannesruh in 1853 and was two miles away from Hutterthal. At Johannesruh all were brick buildings.

        The third village was Hutterdorf, started in 1859 and located 130 miles away on the west side of Duieper River. In 1868 about 200 miles away New Hutterthal started on the west side of the Duieper.  Just before emigrating to America people from Hutterdorf started a village called Sheromet in 1874, but very little was done there. The crown advanced the Hutterites 15,000 rubel to start in 1842 but by this time all was paid back to the crown.

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CORNIES HAS DONE MUCH WORK FOR HUTTERITES

        Cornies helped them in many ways. He started evening schools for those not able to read or write because in Raditchawa schools were neglected. The regular school work during the day was in the charge of able teachers from Malotschna. In the course of time the village sent young men to the Malotschna high school in Halbstadt. Two of the young men sent were Peter Gross, a brother of the late George Gross who is the father of John G. Gross. He died northwest of Bismark, N. Dak., some 40 years ago. The other young man sent to the high school in Halbstadt was Jacob Wipf, known to old people by the name of Jacob-lehrer (Jacob Teacher). He died at the Rockport Colony on June 6, 1896. He was the leader or founder of the Lehrerleut.

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LIVING IN SOUTH RUSSIA

        While living in South Russia the Hutterite people were more or less divided in church work. Conscience can be trained and many were still communistically minded or inclined despite the fact that they disbanded in 1819 and had no common ownership since that time. In their reading service in church some sermons were strong in favor of common ownership and some ministers struck out the clauses that emphasized common ownership, which suited the group not in favor of common ownership, but the conscience of the older people was trained for common ownership. More than one attempt was made to organize part of the village as a colony and leave the others in the village in private ownership but it turned out to be a failure. Be that as it may, the people were very prosperous during their stay in South Russia and the time came when the two groups could separate with less trouble and that was when the Russian government withdrew the 

exemption of military service which all the Germans enjoyed for 100 years. Regardless of church affiliation, the Hutterite now looked for a location in America. Each one had his choice. The Hutterite in favor of private life located on the farm. Those in favor of common-ownership could join a colony here in America.

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NOW MOVING TO AMERICA

        A delegation was sent to America by the Swiss Mennonites. The Poland Mennonites living in South Russia and the Hutterites decided to send 2 delegates. The delegation consisted of 12 men: Wm. Ewert, Jacob Buller, Tobias Unruh, Jacob Peters, Henry Wiebe, Cor. Baur, Cour. Toews, David Klaasen, Leonard Suderman, Andrew Schrag, Min. Paul J. Tschetter, Lorentz Tschetter. The second last named was Min. D. W. Tschetter’s father and the last one named was our grandfather.

        They sailed from Hamburg, Germany, May 14, 1873. After seeing Minnesota, Canada, Dakota Territory, Nebraska and other states, the Tschetter picked Red River Valley, in North Dakota as first choice. On the way back home they stopped in Elkhart, Indiana and other Mennonite settlements. Mr. Hiller was the N. P. Railway land agent at an annual salary of $5,000.00, and he was the man who introduced them to President Grant.

        When the two Hutterite delegates returned to Russia, they reported conditions here and it was decided to sell out and emigrate to America. Hutterdorf and their branch Colony Sheromet were the first to leave in the spring of 1874. Another group that left in 1874 were five families of the New Hutterthal village, namely Min. Paul J. Tschetter, Joseph Tschetter, Jacob Tschetter, Josua Hofer, Joseph Hofer. They came as far as Elkhart, Indiana, where they stayed over the winter.

        The land agents here got busy and met the Hutterdorf people in New York. Instead of going to the selected land in Red River Valley, N. Dak., that the delegates had selected, they went to Lincoln. Nebraska. It was very hot and dry at Lincoln that summer in July, and 36 children died. Also, a Darius Stahl who was born in Wischenka in North Russia, died.

        They all got discouraged and left for Yankton. They knew Daniel Unruh went there in 1873 and settled in Dakota. He met our 2 delegates in New York, so they decided to leave for Yankton. When they arrived in Yankton they could not take out their baggage. It was garnisheed $500.00 to pay their boarding place at Lincoln. They used their money and paid it. The land agent at Lincoln had promised them everything free but, they learned now that was conditional in case they locate at Lincoln.

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JUST TWO COLONIES ESTABLISHED

        This Lincoln group established the first two Hutterite Colonies in S. Dak., the Bon Homme Colony and the Wolf Creek Colony. Min. (Schmied) Michael Waldner was the leader of the Bon Homme Colony. Min. Darius Walter was the leader of the Wolf Creek Colony. The Bon Homme Colony bought the Burleigh ranch, their present location, for $25,000.00. The Wolf Creek Colony settled down east of Silver Lake on 29 Quarters at the present Schartner place. After spending one winter at Silver Lake in the spring or 1875 they bought the present Wolf Creek Colony placefor $750.00 and moved to the place the same spring. The Jim River was the inducement where they could open a mill by water power.

        In 1877 another group of Hutterites came from Russia with Min. Jacob Wipf and Min. Peter Hofer. Both were leaders and established Elm Spring Colony. These are the three original colonies.

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SEPARATION TIME FOR HUTTERITES,

,        The Hutterites now had a good chance to decide private homes or colony homes. Upon arriving from Russia those favoring colony life joined a colony. Those favoring private life settled down on a farm. The groups settled about 50-50. From 1874 to 1879 some Hutterites arrived from Russia every year. In 1879 the last people arrived. Min. Michael Waldner and Joseph Waldner from Bon Homme Colony were sent to Russia and the mission was to induce new comers to join the colony. The men and women who married Low Germans remained with them.,

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CONTACT WITH LOW GERMANS IN SOUTH RUSSIA.

        During their stay in South Russia near the Low Germans who were there since 1790 and were wealthy, many of the Hutterite girls worked for the German families and some were married to Low Germans. Those classes of people associated more or less. Some young men were married to Low German girls. The father of the late Elias G. Wipf had a brother who was married to a Low German lady and this family resided at Inma, Kansas. One of their daughters was married to Min. J. Esau, and one of the Esau daughters is the wife of Paul Hofer of Hutchinson, Kansas. Min. John L. Wipf’s sister Elizabeth was married to Mr. Goosen and one of their daughters became the second wife of Min. Paul Gross (Parkuhl Vetter). When Dr. A. A. Wipf’s grandfather died in Russia the widow married a Stahl. This was the father of Mr. D. R. M. Hofer’s father George Stahl, who died in Freeman. Their children are Stahls and live in South America. When Dr. A. M. Lorentz was in South America he met one of these Stahls.

         A William Fast was married to a Hutterite girl and when she died the children were adopted by Hutterites in Russia. Daniel Wurz adopted Jake Fast. Andrew Miller adopted John Fast. Paul Hofer adopted Mary Fast. Jacob Janzen married a sister of Min. Michael Waldner of Bon Homme Colony and the family stayed with the Hutterites. They were the parents of the late C. J. Janzen of Parkstadt, and Joe A. Glanzer’s mother.

        In 1932 when we were in Alberta, Canada we met an Unger and he happened to be the son of Mr. Unger who married our mother’s aunt, Barbara Tschetter. At Saskatoon, Canada we happened to meet a man by the name Boldt who was a cousin to the late Mrs. John M. S. Hofer. Millionaire Wollman married a step daughter. This millionaire Wollman was a brother to Franz Wollman who settled down northwest of the Wolf Creek Colony when he arrived from Russia. The late Franz Wollman of Beadle was his grandson.

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NOW ALL IN AMERICA

        At the end of 1879 all the Hutterites were here in America, settled down either in one of the colonies or on a farm. In Russia they lived in the following villages. 

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RESIDENTS OF HUTTERITE DORFS IN RUSSIA

Compiled by Arnold M. Hofer

In his book, History of the People of the Freeman Area printer J. J. Mendel gives a list of the family heads of the residents of Hutterthal and of New Hutterthal. Of those living in Hutterdorf and Johannesruh he also lists the wife’s name. Of those in Scheromet he merely says that eleven families from Hutterdorf founded it shortly before coming to America. Who those eleven were we can only speculate. Since they all came to America in 1874 on the same ship with the Hutterdorf people it may be possible to glean most of them from the list of those passengers. This I have not done. 

        The Centennial Committee thought that there would be interest on the part of some to know the identity of these residents from the different villages. So, in as much as possible, they were identified with their passenger number on the ship list of passengers as contained in our 1974 publication, The History of the Hutterite Mennonites. Also, their commonly used nicknames, that I felt were not offensive, were also used for identification purposes. 

        Upon investigation, one finds that the ship lists contain families not found in Mendel’s list. One reason for that is that, whatever source Mendel had for his list, it does not appear to be complete. Another is that new families were formed after the list was compiled. For Johannesruh, we know from other records that 1872 was census time. It probably is the same for the other villages but we cannot be certain. 

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New Hutterthal 

Neu Hutterthal village had 22 familes.

Andrew Hofer        Brother to “Rutschield.” Son was Joe A. Hofer (Deutscha Fritz). 

Joshua Hofer, Sr.        Probably father of Joshua below and of “Rutschield” died in Russia 

Joshua Hofer, Jr.        Brother of “Rutschield” 

Joseph Tschetter        Brother to delegate Paul Tschetter. This is father of “Sep Paula” and “Dicka Chek” 

Joseph Hofer        Brother of “Rutschield.” Father of Mrs. Min. D. M. Hofer 

Paul Walter         “Stunna Paul” Lived 10 miles northwest of Freeman.

Min. Paul Tschetter         Delegate to America 

John Tschetter        Son of delegate Lawrence, died in Bremen on way to America 

M. Waldner         ?? probably brother to John below 

John M. Waldner        Brother to “Motzel Peter” who lived 3 miles north of Freeman 

George Gross        Lived in Molan Twp. south of Freeman

Jacob Mendel.Sr.                 Died in Russia. Father of D. J. Mendel. Grandfather of Printer J. J. Mendel

John Tschetter        Known as “Tschetter Hannas” father of  Min. Hannas Paul, minister at New Hutterthal

Jacob Wollman        Great grandfather of Harvey Wollman, former governor of S.D.

Jacob Tschetter        Son of delegate Lorentz. Known as “Pfof.”

Lorenz Tschetter        Delegate to America

Jacob Tschetter        Father of delegate Paul Tschetter

David Tschetter        Son of the above Jacob Tschetter. Known as “Schneidela.”

Joseph Wollman        Was a brother of Jacob Wollman

David Hofer        Brother to “Rutschield” was grandfather of Dr. Ernest Hofer, Freeman

Min. Joseph Wipf        Father of Min. David J. Wipf (Elias David) minister at New Hutterthal

Jacob J. Tschetter        Father of Min. J. M. Tschetter, Missionary to blacks in North Carolina

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Hutterthal

Hutterthal was found in 1842. The preachers of the village

were Min. Martin Waldner, Min. Michael Stahl and Min. Jacob Wipf.

There were 32 familes as follows:

Jacob Stahl        In Wolf Creek Colony in 1880

Martin Stahl        in Tripp Colony in 1880 #209 Sl

Michael Hofer        Known as “Öl-Michael”

Min. Michael Stahl        Minister in Wolf Creek Colony

Andrew Miller        Father of Joe A. Miller, Freeman

Benjemin Stahl        Father of Min. Michael Stahl

Peter Hofer        Father of “Baer Yop.”

Samuel GIanzer        Grandfather of Jacob H. Glanzer of near Bridgewater

Mathias KIeinsasser        ?? -age 72 when he came to America on Mosel #384

Michael Hofer #2        This probably is Mike K. Hofer’s (Krumpa Mike) paternal grandfather.

Paul Hofer        Known as “Peter Paul.” (His father really was David but he was raised by his uncle Peter)

Min. Martin Waldner        Settled south of Wolf Creek Colony. Father of Min. Christian Waldner in Dariusleit Colony,

Michael Wollman        Settled north of Olivet. Known as “Motzela” (after his father). 

Peter Mendel        Lived northwest of Freeman. 

Zacharias Wipf         Lived southwest of Bridgewater, S.D. Grandfather of Min. D. S. Wipf

Mathias Hofer        Brother to “Rutschield.” Father of “Motz Yuschua.” Huron area.

Michael Hofer        “Ruta Michael” father of Min. Joseph M. Hofer in Huron Area

Joshua Hofer        Probably died in Russia

Andreas Gross        In 1880 was in Bon Homme Colony. #108 Sl

Joshua Wollman        Probably died in Russia

Jacob Hofer #4        “Baer Yop”

John Tschetter        Couldn’t identify. Should probably be Peter Tschetter, founder of Tschetter Colony.

Paul Stahl         Probably died in Russia. 

Jacob Tschetter        Father of “Billy Motz” and “Billy Isaac.”

Joseph Tschetter        Can’t identify

Joseph Pollman         Settled 2 miles east of Clayton. Father of Jeremias near Onida

Paul Pollman         Father of Joe and Sam south of Bridgewater

Sam Decker        Known as “Bammal Sommel” Father of John Decker near Miltown

David Hofer        Probably died in Russia.

Jacob Walter        Known as “Dermitzke Yokob” father of “Bismark” near Clayton

Min. Peter Hofer        Minister in Elm Spring Colony in 1880

Peter Entz         Elm Spring Colony in 1880

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Johannesruh

Johannesruh had 61 familes, with 259 children.

The preachers of the village were Min. John L. Wipf and Min. Paul Hofer.

John Wipf and Susanna        In Bon Homme Colony in 1880 “Zander Hans” #200  Sl Schwagger Vetter’s father

Daniel Wurtz and Susanna        Lived southwest of Bridgewater. Had a son “Daniel Yop” in Canada.

David Knels and Rosina        Remained in Russia

Jacob Knels and Miena        Lived northwest of Freeman. Son Jacob died in State hospital

John Decker and Susanna        In Bon Homme Colony in 1880 #200.01 Sl

Jacob Decker and Mary        Jacob died in Russia. Wife is passenger #180 on the Mosel

Mathias Glanzer and Anna        Grandfather of Min. J. P. Glanzer

Paul Glanzer and Anna        Father of Joe P. Glanzer of Freeman

Lorentz Tschetter and Maria        Father of Joseph Tschetter 

Joseph Tschetter and Maria        Lived in Freeman in retirement. Known as “Silber Fuch”

Jeremias Wollman and Anna        Lived west of Freeman. 

John Hofer and Anna        Min. at Neu Hutterthal Church-known          “Yahoon”

Michael Hofer and Maria        “Über-schultz” of Johannesruh. 

Paul Hofer and Anna        Min. at Hutterthal Church. Known as “Paulela Paul.”

John Waldner and Susanna        In Elm Spring Colony in 1880

Joseph Wipf and Katherina        Tripp Colony in 1880 census. Was a brother to Min. John L. Wipf

Joseph Wald. and Margaret        could not indentify 

Zacharias Klein. and Maria        Father of Min. John Z.; grandfather of Min. J. J. (Dinuba)

Elias Wipf and Magdalena        In Elm Spring Colony, Brother to colony founder Lehrer Wipf

Michael Hofer and Anna        “Rutschield.” Got to be 103 years old

Peter Hofer and Susanna        Minister in Elm Spring Colony in 1880

Isaac Tschetter & Elizabeth        Father of “Klana Isaacle” and the “Yosh” Tschetters

Sam Hofer and Susanna        Bro. to “Paulela Paul.” Father of Paul S. Hofer. Wife was Anna, not Susanna

George Wald. & Magdalena        In Elm Spring Colony in 1880. Father of Mathias below

Mathias Waldner and Sarah        In Elm Spring Colony in 1880 census

John Hofer and Rachel        In Elm Spring Colony in 1880. Father of John L. Hofer, California

Joseph Klein. & (Stalinna?)        In Elm Spring Colony in 1880

Enoch Klein. and Elizabeth        Lived near Freeman. His son was “Enoch Daffid”

Joseph Klein. and (Anna?)        Father of above Enoch. (Anna should be Justina),

Jacob Hofer and Rebecca        “Tatala” in the Wolf Creek Colony

Samuel Hofer and Rachel        Brother to “Öl Michael.” Was in Wolf Creek Colony in 1880

Michael Mendel and Maria        In Elm Spring Colony

John Kleinsasser and Dora        Died in Russia. Ancestor of fisherman Math Kleinsasser, Freeman

Jacob Klein. and Katherine        Lived near Freeman “Hon’s Jokob” Father of Joe K. Kleinsasser

Paul Kleinsasser and Maria        Grandfather of John P. Kleinsasser (Morgan) died in Russia

Paul Mendel and Katherina         Died in Elm Spring Colony at age 99 

Paul Mendel and Anna         Father of John A. Mendel, Marion 

Paul Gross and Katherina         Lived near Clayton. Grandfather of Clarence Gross N-E. of  Bridgewater 

Paul Gross and Susanna         Lived 1 mile south of Olivet with son George “Shultz Jerg” 

David Gross and Sarah         Lived 1.5 miles south of Olivet. Son of above Paul, “Schultz David” 

William Gross & Katherina         Lived south of Bridgewater, father of mail carrier “Uncle Sam,”  Freeman 

Andrew Klein. and Katherina  and Marie  Ancester of Lewis Kleinsasser, Freeman 

Paul Glanzer and Barbara         Probably parents of Mathias, Paul, and Samuel Glanzer 

Sam Glanzer and Susanna         Father of S. S. Glanzer. Grandfather of Dr. A. S. Glanzer 

Jacob Hofer and Rebecca         “Tonkey Yoppela.” Arnold Hofer’s great grandfather 

Jacob Gross and Susanna         Lived in Freeman area. Son of Andreas

Mathias Waldner and Anna         Father of “Motzel Peter” who lived 3 miles north         of Freeman 

Christian Stahl and Justina         In Bon Homme Colony in 1880  #200.44 Sl

Daniel Stahl and Justina        Daniel died in Russia. Justina in Bon Homme

Enoch Kleinsasser and Anna         See Mendel’s Book pg. 11 1872 census. 

Mathias Waldner and Sarah         This is a repetition of Mathias above according to “Übershultz’s” 

John Kleinsasser & Susanna        Their son was “Honnes Zarius,” Huron area 

Andrew Kleinsasser & Anna         Parents of Andrew A. Kleinsasser of Huron area

Joseph Waldner and Maria         (Should be Walter) known as “Groupeta,” father of Andrew J. Walter 

Joseph Wurtz and Maria        Probably the brother to John Wurtz the Miller at Wolf Creek Colony in 1880

Jacob Wipf and Katherina        In Molan Twp. in 1880. Parents of “fly Reweka” 

John Wipf and Katherina         Min. John L. Wipf of of Hutterthal Church, Freeman 

David Klein. and Katherina         Homesteaded where Freeman now stands

Jacob Hofer and Katherina         In Wolf Creek Colony in 1880 

Andrew Decker and Mary         Father of John Decker of Huron who got to be old 

Isaac Walter and Anna         Father of Min. Jacob I. Walter

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Hutterdorf

The village of Hutterdorf consisted of 47 families.

Fred Waldner and Katherina         Patriarch of “die Fritze.” 200.23 SL

Michael Wurtz and Esther         Lived West of Freeman. Grandfather of Mike C Wurtz of  Langham 

John Stahl and Esther         #86 in 2003 Schmiedeleut Family Record

Min. David Waldner and Katherina  Minister at Hutterdorf in S.D. Later moved to Canada 

Zacharias Walter and Margaret  In Wolf Creek Colony in 1880 

Fred Gross & Katherina & Sarah Dr. Gross’ Grandfather #168 in 2003 Schmiedeleut Family Record (Katherina is a daughter from his first marriage)

Jacob Hofer and Anna Miller (Jacob)

Vetter’s Father #159 in 2003 Schmiedeleut Family Record

Joseph Walter and Sarah Lived near Freeman. Father of Paul Jos. Walter near Huron who got to be 99 years old 

George Wipf and Anna “Zonder Yerg” Freeman area

George Waldner and Katherina  “Kammer Jerg” Langham, SK. #165 Sl

Moses Stahl and Maria  In Molan Twp. near Freeman in 1880 

Min. John Hofer and Susanna Minister at Hutterdorf

Joseph Waldner and Susanna son of the above “Kammer Jerg”

George Waldner and Katherina son of the above “Kammer Jerg”

Paul Stahl and Katherina probably #198 Sl

Jacob Janzen and Maria Patriarch of “die Janzen” in the Hutterites

John Hofer and Susanna “Jana” #137 in 2003 Schmiedeleut Family Record

Min. William Tschetter & Elizabeth Pastor of Hutterdorf near Freeman: grandfather of Min. P. P.  Tschetter 

George W. Tschetter and Katherina Son of above. Lived near Freeman

Christian Kleinsasser and Anna Father of Joe C. and Peter C. Kleinsasser 

Joseph C. Kleinsasser and Maria Parents of bachelor Peter J. Keinsasser near Freeman 

Peter C. Klein. & Susanna & Maria Parents of Mrs. Printer J. J. Mendel (first wife) 

David Hofer and Anna Bro. to Min. John Hofer at Hutterdorf 

Min. Darius Walter and Anna Minister at Wolf Creek Colony 

George Hofer and Margaret Minister at Wolf Creek Colony. Father of  Min. John Hofer,  Hutterdorf

Paul Walter and Sarah In Wolf Creek Colony in 1880 

Jacob Walter Minister at Wolf Creek Colony in 1880 census 

Henry Stahl In Wolf Creek Colony in 1880 census.         Listed as school teacher 

Daniel Wollman Wolf Creek Colony in 1880 

Frank Wollman Settled near Wolf Creek Colony. Later moved to Canada 

Andrew Wollman could be #96 or #142 Sl

Jacob Fast Settled on the prairie

John Stahl In Tripp Colony in 1880 census 

Jacob Knels In Bon Homme Colony in 1880 #200.16 Sl

Joseph Waldner In Tripp Colony in 1880 census could be  #149 Sl

Min. Jacob Hofer Minister at Bon Homme Colony          #200.07 Sl

Jacob Hofer Blacksmith in Wolf Creek Col. in1880 

Eleven families from this village started a colony at Sheromet, only a short time before emigrating to America. Prediger Jacob Hofer and Prediger Michael Waldner were the preachers.

Sl stands for Schmiedeleut Family records

Some notes, nicknames and numbers were added by David Gross

        When the Hutterites moved to Russia in 1770 they counted 13 families, less than 100 souls. In 1842 when they moved to South Russia they had 69 families. When they moved to America in 1874-1879, 152 families.

        The ministers of Hutterdorf and Sheromet were Min. William Tschetter, Min. David Waldner and Min. Darius Walter served the part of the village organized as a colony while Min. David Waldner served the part of the village that lived privately in Russia.

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THE THREE COLONIES AFTER 30 YEARS

        The statistical report of the three organized colonies: Bon Homme, Wolf Creek, and Elmspring shows great prosperity. The first 30 years their number increased to 242 families, living in 12 different colonies. The Bon Homme group included Milltown, Rosedale, Maxwell, Beadle. The Wolf Creek group included Spink, Tschetter, Jamesville, and the Elm Spring group included Rockport and New Elm Spring.

        Moving to America was separating time of those favoring colony life, and those favoring private ownership were: Bon Homme and Wolf Creek settled in 1874 and Elm Spring in 1877. Wolf Creek settled just east of Silver Lake where they owned 29 quarters, but stayed there only one year then moved to Wolf Creek Colony place in 1875.

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1904 STATISTICAL REPORT OF THE THREE COLONIES AND THEIR BRANCH COLONIES,

,   Claims of

Name of Colony        Land        Families        Cattle         Sheep 

Spink         20         15        150        900

Tschetter         16         16        150        900

Wolf Creek        40         25        500        1800

Rockport         30         27        350        1200

New Elmspring        21         21        200        1200

Elmspring        30         29        350        1200

Milltown        21         24        350        1000

Rosedale        21         15        300        600

Maxwell        30         19        400        1000

Beadle        20         10        150

Bon Homme        40         25        400        600

Jamesville        30         20        300        900

Total         320        242        3600        7300,

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SOME MOVE TO PENNSYLVANIA

        We shall give a brief account of some of the moves made by the colonies in 1884. Several families of the Bon Homme Colonies moved to Economy, Pennsylvania where the Rappish communistic colony was located. After staying there for two years, they returned with the exception of Sam Kleinsasser, who died a few years ago. When these families came back from the Roppish colony they bought the Milltown place in 1886. Four young men west of Freeman namely, Geo D. Hofer, Sam Wipf, Paul F. Gross and Jacob J. Wollman, also went to the Roppish Colony. After staying there for some time all four returned. That colony was founded by O. Rappe in 1730 but at this time was in charge of Henritz and Lentz. They were very strict in church regulations. If a member slept during service he was called by name and he sure remained awake after that. The colony owned oil wells and was worth 80 million. Only single persons could be members. Their will stipulated, “If only 6 members are left one third goes to the United States, one third to friends in Germany, and the rest to the six members left.”

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A COLONY AT TRIPP

        Just before 1880 fifteen men of the Bon Homme colony filed on land at Tripp at two places to start a colony. After about two years they sold out to Tiedeman and Taylor and moved to Economy, Pa., for two years and then bought the Milltown place.

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A COLONY IN CANADA

        In 1898 the Wolf Creek Colony started a Colony at Dominion City, Manitoba, Canada but later sold out and bought the Lake Byron place in Beadle in 1905.

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CONTACT WITH AMANA IOWA COLONIES

        The colonies here were in close touch with the seven Amana, Iowa colonies. In 1880, eighteen-year-old Michael Hofer of Bon Homme Colony, brother of Jacob Hofer, the Wolf Creek Blacksmith, went to the Amana Society in Iowa to receive medical treatment for his eyes. He remained there and married Miss Metz. The Amana Colony people came to America and lived at Buffalo, N.Y., but in 1854 moved to Iowa. Two Lutheran Ministers are the founders of the Amana Colonies. They started in Germany and Mrs. M. Hofer’s grandfather, Christ Metz, was the leader. When they moved to Iowa a girl from Bon Homme Colony also joined the Amanas.

        When Bon Homme organized a second location, the Tripp Colony, this new colony was able to borrow some money from the Amana Society.

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ARTICLES OF FAITH

The articles of faith of the Hutterites and the Mennonites were the same with the exception of communistic living. Both coming from the Anabaptists, both believing in baptism upon confession of faith, both believing in the non-resistant doctrine, also not swearing but only affirm and live a single life. From 1842 to 1870 the Hutterites lived as neighbors with the Low German Mennonites. Low German teachers were teaching the Hutterite children. Low German ministers were called to officiate at occasions where a minister was needed. They started to use Low German song books often called, The Luther Song Books, instead of using the old Hutterite song books. This changing of song books and church customs divided people. Conscience can be trained and with two different factions confusion is caused.

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HUTTERITES ALL AMERICA

When the Hutterites arrived here in America some joined the colony and some moved on private farms. The division was about 50-50. The division was made by families. With Mennonite churches in East Freeman and at Silver Lake, it helped them to feel more at home as far as church work was concerned. They stayed independent churches until later some joined the General Conference, some the K.M.B. Conference and others. At first these independent Hutterites on the farm felt lonesome on the farm after living in villages in Russia for many years. That was the social side of their troubles. Some even talked about going back to Russia, but not one left.

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NOT MANY SEE RUSSIA

Only very few Hutterites have seen Europe since they left there. Min. D. M. Hofer and wife visited Russia when he was sent over to distribute food in 1935. Min. M. Waldner of the Bon Homme Colony and Min. David Hofer of James Valley, MB, visited Europe but not Russia. They visited many places where the Hutterites spent their first 242 years in Austria, Hungary, and other places, and met people that still speak the Hutterite dialect. In 1870, Min. Michael. Waldner and Joseph Waldner of the Bon Homme Colony went back to Russia on a mission to convince the Hutterites still in Russia to join the Bon Homme Colony.

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LAST YEARS IN RUSSIA,

,We might also mention that during the last years in Russia teachers had to be able to teach the Russian language besides the German. School age was 7 to 14 years. School term was 6 months. School had a very large attendance and advanced scholars were used to assist the teacher.,

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IN 1879 ALL HERE

In 1879 the last Hutterites arrived from Russia and they were mostly from Johannesruh and Hutterthal. The Hutterdorf people arrived here in 1874 and the New Hutterthal in 1875 with the exception of the 8 families arriving here in 1874 and staying in Elkhart, Ind., over winter. At first services were held in the homes.

        The New Hutterthal Mennonite Church worship services in the years of 1874 to 1888 were conducted in the homes. Ministers serving were: Paul Tschetter 1874-1919, John D. Hofer 1884-1914, David J. Wipf 1910-1937, Paul J. Tschetter 1910-1945, Albert Ewert 1947 and is the present minister in 1961.

        The New Hutterthal Church also had the following members in the Jim River. In the south, first was Min. David Gross and George Gross south of Olivet, and north of Olivet Dave L. Tschetter, Paul Tschetter, Paul J. Hofer, Min. Joseph Hofer, Andrew Wollman, Jacob Mendel, Martin Waldner, John Tschetter, his father John Tschetter Sr., and John Decker near Milltown. At first the Neu Hutterthal minister served them but later they elected Min. Joseph Hofer for their minister. Min. Paul J. Tschetter was elected minister in Russia when only 21 years old. 

        Salem K.M.B. Church was organized in 1884. Meetings were held at Silver Lake Church Nov. 12, 1886, Dieterich Goosen and John Tschetter were elected as ministers of the group, and meetings were held in a school house. The following ministers were elected in course of time and served gratuitously: Dieterich Goosen, John Tschetter, John Z. Kleinsasser, Jacob J. Hofer, Joseph J. Glanzer Sr., Joseph W. Tschetter, David W. Tschetter, Jacob I. Walter. These ministers served till 1952. Since then Min. J. J. Kleinsasser served and is still serving at this time 1959.

        The oldest church is the Hutterdorf Church. In the early days Hutterdorf members held services south of Freeman and their ministers were David Waldner and Min. Elias Wipf. Later all attended the Hutterdorf Church west of Freeman. Min. P. J. Stahl was the last minister. 

        The first Hutterthal Church was located one mile south of the present Hutterthal location. In 1898 a building was erected on the present location by Zacharias Kleinsasser and Peter C. Kleinsasser as carpenters, and the old building was moved on the Henry Adrian place near Silver Lake. The first ministers of the Hutterthal Church, Min. John L. Wipf and Min. Paul Hofer, both were elected in Johannesruh, Russia. The other two ministers of the Hutterthal Church were Min. John Waldner, who came from Hutterthal Russia in 1879, and Min. John Kleinsasser. He was also a minister of the Hutterthal Church and sold his farm here to John Tschetter and joined the colony. He died in New Elmspring Colony, Alberta, Canada. Min. John Waldner joined the Jamesville Colony, but later left the colony and died in Freeman.

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THE SOCIAL PROBLEM

        Living together so long made quite a melting pot and it took years for those on the farm to separate from some of the customs. Those on the farm still had the colony style of dress, the cooking was of the same order and they speak the same dialect today. Some of the church customs were not changed for many, many years, the custom of the congregation to rise when the text was read, and kneel for prayer. For many years girls on the farm were married to young men in the colony.

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THE SCHOOL PROBLEM

One big problem soon faced the Hutterites on the farm and that was the school problem. At first they were teaching only German. Some of the first teachers were: 

Jacob Jeremias Wollman, John L. Hofer, Min. John L. Wipf, Min. John Z. Kleinsasser and Paul Decker. These teachers were able to teach in German language, but were not able to teach in the English language. The first young men going away to attend college were: D. M. Hofer, Min. John Kleinsasser, D. J. Mendel, Dr. A. A. Wipf, Druggist J. W. Wipf and others.

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SCHOOLS IN RUSSIA

In the old country they had parochial schools and taught Bible in school and had no Sunday school. Here in the United States teaching Bible in the Public School is against the law so Sunday Schools were organized some 60 years ago.

        Some 60 years ago quite a number of young men attended different colleges preparing for teaching because religion was not allowed in Public Schools like in Russia. The Mennonite congregations in East Freeman, West Freeman and Dolton had a meeting and started a drive to locate a college in Freeman so that young people could prepare for the profession of teaching here at home. This would save expense and keep the young people under home influence, under the parental roof. West Freeman was not much interested in this drive at first with the exception of Min. John L. Wipf and D. J. Mendel. These two men took big interest right from the start, and their field was West Freeman. When we think of the conditions of the early days and the school question in those days, our heart is filled with gratitude that we had men who visualized the future and realized the necessity of opening a school, namely Freeman Junior College, an institution that is accredited by the State since 1914. The school opened in 1902. The school, Freeman Junior College was not opened as a conference school, and is not a conference school today.

        The school was founded by the leaders of different Mennonite Conferences in this part of the state and belongs to members of these conferences. The Board Members are always of one of these Mennonite Conferences, the General Conference, the Krimmer Mennonite Conference, The Mennonite Brethren Conference, The E. M. B. Conference, etc. Its an interdenominational institution. They found enough common ground to make it such, and it belongs to the members of these Conferences. 

        It’s an accredited institution and has prepared hundreds of young people for their desired profession. Ex-students are in mission fields, in the pulpits, in schoolrooms, and all kinds of church work. Teaching seems to be a stepping stone to other professions in so many cases. Because of this arrangement that it belongs to members of different conferences, the smaller conference members feel more at home as members.

        When we study the mission work of Freeman Junior College, it makes us think of 1898 when we attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls. In physical science we came to pages where science explains how this world came into existence, “The Nebular Hypothesis.” It explains all was vapor and gas, and started to rotate. Solids were formed, pieces flew away, one was earth and the other pieces were the planets. Our teacher said, “I believe this world was created the way the Bible tells us.” The professor emphasized how important it is to have a teacher who believes the Bible. Some time ago a mother called us and told us her daughter is attending Freeman College and they have a book which talks about the Nebular Hypothesis. This mother was disturbed about it, so I told her my experience at Augustana College, and she saw how important it is to attend a Christian School and have Christian teachers.

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SOME MOVE TO CANADA

Several years after the Freeman settlement was started some moved to Canada to look for greener pastures. Those leaving first in 1888 were Franz Wollman, near the Wolf Creek Colony, and his sons Andrew, Paul and Joseph. His son Franz Wollman went to Russia in 1886 to get financial help from his uncle, Mr. Wollman a millionaire, operating a factory under the firm name of Lepp and Wollman. On his return Franz disappeared in New York, said a report. His wife and three children joined the Wolf Creek Colony.

In 1890 a second group left for Canada consisting of Mike Wollman, Mike Wurz, and Jake Wurz.

In 1891 the third group moved to Canada consisting of Joseph J. Gross, Joseph J. Walter, John Janzen, Josua Wollman, Jacob Walter, Wm. Janzen, John S, Wipf, Jake Wurz, Min. David Waldner and sons John and David, Andrew J. Kleinsasser and Henry Walter.

In 1895 Joseph Kleinsasser and Joseph Waldner moved to Canada.

In 1901 another group left for Canada, namely Andrew Stahl, Peter A. Miller, George G. Waldner, Christ G. Waldner, Jacob Tschetter, Joseph J, Waldner, Mike G. Waldner, Jake J. Wollman. They settled at Langham.

In 1902 another group left for Canada, namely Christ Wurz, Paul Decker, Paul J. Waldner, Jake J. Waldner and Joseph J. Waldner and all settled at Langham.

In 1904 the following moved to Langham, Canada, Paul A. Miller, Mrs. Andrew Miller, A. A. Miller, John J. Hofer and Jacob G. Gross and his sisters Mary and Rebecca.

In 1888 a group settled in Manitoba at first then moved to the Guernsey country Sask.

The 1890 and 1891 group settled mostly at Yorkton, Canada. Later some families moved to Langham from Yorkton. In all about 45 Hutterite families then lived at Langham.

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SOME MOVED TO CHASELEY, N. DAK.

When the West Freeman settlement was about 25 years old. Young couples found it hard to get a home of their own because land prices raised every year. They looked for a new location and started a settlement at Chaseley, North Dakota, in the latter 1890’s. Those locating were: Paul W. Tschetter, Paul D. Wipf, Joseph J. Kleinsasser, Christ Kleinsasser, Jacob B. Hofer, M. J. Hofer, Min. Paul F. Gross, and  Wm. Kleinsasser. Not all came the first year.

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BEADLE AND SPINK SETTLEMENT

This settlement was started in 1901 when David M. Waldner moved to a farm in Spink County. In 1902 the first settlers from West Freeman located in Beadle County, half a dozen families. The first settlers, all coming from West Freeman were: Math E. Kleinsasser, Paul Stahl, Min. John Z. Wipf and a few others. Soon many more sold out in West Freeman and moved to Beadle to double and treble land acreage. Today its settlement of 30x30 miles, has nice churches in the country and several in Huron besides the Huron Rescue Mission Station in Huron, founded by Min. Joe E. Wipf.

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DINUBA, CALIFORNIA SETTLEMENT

In 1909 several families in Beadle County moved to California and located at Dinuba. Their leader was Min. John Z. Kleinsasser.,

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SULLY SETTLEMENT,

In 1919 a number of families moved from Beadle to Sully County and also some from West Freeman.,

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MORA, MINNESOTA SETTLEMENT

In 1934 a small settlement was started at Mora, Minnesota by some Beadle County families that left Beadle because of the drought years. When the drought years were over they returned to Beadle.

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IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

We said that the last Hutterite people arrived here in 1879. The migration time was separation time for the Hutterite people. Those favoring colony life joined a Colony and those favoring to live on private farms settled down on farms. Whether on the farm or in the colony the big question now was to foster a spirit of loyalty to their faith with the young generation. The book “Martyr’s Mirror” “Martyrer Spiegel” was in many homes. This book was written by Van Brecht in Holland and Peter Miller translated it from the Dutch to German. Fifteen men, after fasting and prayer, worked for three years to complete the work. Some 60 years ago this book was sold in some Freeman stores and quite a number of the old folks in the community had it. Mennonite History tells us there was a time when close to 75 percent of the Mennonite denominations left the church because of liberality and compromising with other movements. At first, the Hutterite Churches on the farm existed as independent Mennonite denominations. For many years now they have belonged to different Mennonite conference but, mostly to General Conference and K.M.B. Conference. We stated that at one time the Mennonite Church lost many members by extreme liberality and compromising with other movements.

        We are inclined to believe that the Hutterite Churches are facing that situation now. Much of this is caused because they prepare for the ministry and church work in schools that do not know anything about our heritage. They come back with new ideas and customs. Conscience can be trained and if training is in different directions there is no harmony, only confusion. The Hutterite Mennonite belong to several different Mennonite conferences. Let the young people prepare themselves in their respective conference schools as much as possible.

        The different Conferences have enough common ground to cooperate. Freeman College is good proof. Members of five different Conferences keep the institution on the map. Members of these different Conferences serve on the Board of Directors. Personally the Mennonites believe in the non-resistant doctrine. They believe you are personally doing the killing and are responsible for the death. Other churches believe the state is doing the killing and you are not responsible for the death. All churches believe in the 6th Commandment, Thou Shall Not Kill.

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EAST FREEMAN

        The East Freeman people came from Switzerland and when persecuted moved to Austria near Russia. They stayed there only 7 years, then moved to Russia and settled down in Poland, Russia, not very far from the Hutterite Colony that had located in Russia in 1870, at Wischenka. After suffering for generations, the Hutterites had now found a place where they could enjoy religious liberty. The Swiss or East Freeman people established a village Edurdsdorf. The second village was built at Haridischa and the third at Waldheim in Poland. When compulsory mandatory exemption was announced in Russia in 1773, that induced them to move to Russia. When the exemption expired in 1873, they looked towards America. Andrew Schrag went with a deputation as a delegate to investigate. When Schrag returned with a favorable report preparations were started to emigrate to America. The first 10 families left in 1874 and arrived here in Yankton with Schrag as their leader. During the month of August 1873 Daniel D. Unruh came with his family and a few others and arrived in New York. Mr. Unruh was a native of Cremia, Russia, and a member of the Mennonite Church. They came as far as Elkhart, Indiana. He looked at land west of Menno. but he, with his group, decided to spend the winter in Yankton. He later founded his home in Childstown for the rest of his life.

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SILVER LAKE

        The Silver Lake people, like the Hutterites and East Freeman people, came from the Anabaptists. Their home was in Holland. Many years ago we were presented with a book by the late Min. Henry P. Unruh, of Avon. This book is a history of the Low German Mennonites of Silver Lake. This book is a source of most of our information. We learned from this book that the Low German forefathers came to the United States from Russia but before coming to Russia they lived in Prussia, and before coming to Prussia, Holland was their home. They belonged to the Anabaptists in Holland. About 1580 they moved to Poland. King Sigermund welcomed them and promised religious freedom. In Poland were many swamps and they drained the low lands and their work of building up that country was much appreciated. They liked it in Poland but after a war Poland was divided. Russia took one third, Austria took one third and Prussia took one third and that was where they lived. Their liberties were infringed upon more and more and they faced many restrictions. Now they were not allowed to preach their church services in Low German language from the pulpit. They had to preach in High German Language. Their good days ended. To get relief they sent delegates to Russia to see what inducements they would be offered. These delegates returned with good news. Russia offered each family 175 acres of land free from the government providing no land would be sold without the consult of the government. They would also be allowed to operate industries or factories and no war operation would be allowed on their land and no saloons without consent. They would be exempt from military service and soldiers would not be allowed to quarter in the villages. They must keep roads and bridges in good shape. In 1789 the first group of over 200 families arrived in South Russia from Danzig, Prussia and started the Chorititz settlement adjoining Duieper River. From 1803 to 1805 other groups arrived from Prussia, over 340 families. This new group established the Malotschna settlement on the Malotschna River about 100 miles east of the Alt Kolonier settlement at the River Duieper. The second group had more money but the first group helped them just the same. All were prospering in their new localities. But, the good days ended when the government withdrew their military exemptions in 1873. A delegation of delegates, accompanied by others, were sent to America. Among them were: Wm. Ewert, Jacob Buller, Tobias Unruh, Jacob Peters, Henry Wiebe, Cor. Bour, Cor. Toews, David Klassen and Leonard Schroeder. When the delegates returned they had good news. They decided to move and the first ones arrived here in 1874 and started the Silver Lake settlement.

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TROUBLES OF ALL KINDS

        After reading how much our forefathers had sacrificed for their religious convictions we wonder how much our grandchildren would be willing to sacrifice for their religious convictions. How many would sooner sacrifice their home and their possessions acquired by the sweat of their brow than their religious convictions? If not, who is responsible if the heritage of their forefathers is not appreciated? Goethe, the poet says: “Was du erbst von deinen Vätern erwerbes um es zu besitzen” (what you inherit from your fore-fathers work diligently to possess it). The best medium to accomplish this depends on the home, the church and the school. Do not neglect these three institutions. Several years ago we opened a Lutheran Church paper and we found on the first page a picture that was instructive to us. There were three pictures on the page, a house, a school building and a church. In front of the building a child was standing and an inscription read, “These three institutions are responsible for this child and the young generation.” Home, School, and Church are responsible for our young generation and they can accomplish the most if all three institutions co-operate. At the 100th Anniversary or the Missouri Lutheran Synod in 1947 in Freeman, ample proof was produced to show that their many Parochial Schools are the cause, to a great extent, for the wonderful growth of the Synod during the past 100 years, The Hutterite Colonies after 480 years, is proof that there is cooperation between home, church, and school and the heritage of their forefathers is impressed indelibly upon the young generation. The conscience is trained in the younger years. How many revivals would have to be conducted to induce young people to join the colonies? Colonies have no trouble, generally speaking, keeping their young people in the Colony because they believe it’s the place God wants them. How fortunate people are if they have faith in God. When the Freeman people moved here from Russia they had faith that Divine Providence would shape their destiny. Their delegates from Russia to this country to find a location in 1873 had picked the Red River Valley country in North Dakota. Unexpected developments brought them to this locality here, with East Freeman and Silver Lake as neighbors. Belonging to the same church and the whole community is a strong church community and that means much. When the Christian Church was less than 100 years old the enemies of the church were so loud in their claim that the resurrection report was only a story, Jesus was carried away. A few leaders of the Christian Church went to the office of the Emperor in Rome and they found a letter which Pilate wrote to the Emperor and stated that something had happened at Jerusalem that is beyond conception. We crucified the man Jesus, we buried him, sealed the grave but, after a few days he was again living and associated with his friends for 40 days. The Pilot letter settled the question. Our generation is in danger today because there are so many conflicting movements. Some say if my Conference does it, it’s right. Some say break with your organized body and be independent. Some are for a one church move, some for non-denominational. The Bible is the Word of God and is not changing. Corrective actions are needed even in a Conference. We find in Mennonite history there was a time when they lost more than half of their membership and the cause was the conscience was trained in several directions and resulted in confusion caused by all kinds of spiritual moves they came in contact with. Today one big danger is to compromise with the word on some questions.

        People who study our troubles and crime wave claim this condition is chargeable largely to the breakdown of the American home because the home has less hold upon children than in any other generation of the past. The reason for this is because children come in contact with outside influence so much that this outside pressure wields a bigger influence on the child than the influence by home. 

        The home, the church and the school are responsible for the child and these three must co-operate. When our people lived in Russia the preacher, as a rule, was the teacher. Bible history was studied in school but, when the people arrived here they found it against the law to teach Bible in public school. Sunday schools were started and some churches opened Parochial schools and the people had confidence in Parochial schools even if they had never attended one. Years ago a man representing the Chicago Herald arrived in Freeman to look for a boy to sell papers. We told him we did not know the boys in town but, he should call on the teachers of our two schools, the Public School and the Parochial school. “Well,” he said, “if you have a Parochial school that is the place where I will call on the teachers. The boys in that school all come from Christian homes generally speaking and I have confidence in them, and will go and see them.”

        The East Freeman people, the Silver Lake people and the West Freeman people always co-operated on different undertakings. When some of them moved to Freeman these three churches felt responsible for these Freeman people and every Sunday a minister of one of the three churches spoke. They had no church building and had services in a school and other places. In the course of time they decided to build a church in Freeman. The following people met to discuss the question of a church building: George Gross, A. Gering, Paul R. M. Hofer, A. D. Schmidt, John Borman, John W. Tschetter, Sam Walter, Jake M. Wollman, Joe C. Graber, Joe A. Miller, Joe L. Wipf and Jake J. Graber. They elected a committee of 5 trustees, namely: A. Gering as Chairman: Jacob M. Wollman as Secretary, Sam Walter as Treasurer, George Gross and John Borman.

        The present site was bought from A. Gering at $15.00 and a building was erected in 1898. The three carpenters were: Joseph C. Gross, Peter C. and Zacharias Kleinsasser donated labor. The amount of $2,000.00 had been accumulated and it was decided to build. The size was 28 feet wide, 48 feet long. John Schroeder of Dolton was the contractor to take charge of the construction with the brethren donating their labor. The building was completed the same summer and dedicated with Min. Christian Kaufman and Min. Christian Mueller in charge. These two ministers with Joseph Kaufman and John L. Wipf occupied its pulpit until joined in 1902 by Min. H. A. Bachman, who came to Freeman to assume his duties at the new college.

        Min. Wm. Unrau is the present minister in 1961. They have a new church building which was dedicated May 11 1952 and a new parsonage was erected in 1953.

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THINGS OF INTEREST

        Be sure to read this it you are interested in East Freeman and Silver Lake and West Freeman. These three groups have many things in common, like Freeman College, Home for Aged, M.C.C. Work, etc. East Freeman people came originally from Switzerland. Because of their persecution they moved from Switzerland to Austria in 1790 but the new location was not liked so they moved from Austria to South Russia in 1797. The Silver Lake people come originally from Holland. Persecution caused the move to Poland in 1580, where King Siegmund welcomed them and they enjoyed religious freedom for many years. Later this locality became part of Prussia and in the course of time their rights were infringed upon. They were not allowed to preach in Low German dialect. They had to use the High German language in the pulpit and they met other infringements. In 1789 the first group of 200 families moved to Russia and started the Molotschna settlement in South Russia. The West Freeman people came from almost every nationality in Europe but organized their first Hutterite Colony in 1528 in Austria. They moved to Russia in 1770 and settled down at first in North Russia, but in 1842 moved to South Russia. These three groups emigrated to America in the 1870’s. They were always in contact with each other because all three groups came from the Anabaptist move. The trouble of the Low Germans in Poland started in 1772, when after a war Poland was divided, part of it was annexed to Austria some to Russia, some to Prussia.  

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        “The 17 branches of Mennonites have a membership of over 125,000. Until about 50 years ago there were no college or university men in Mennonite pulpits.” -Dr. J. E. Hartzler.

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        We say on another page that circumstantial developments caused us to write this short history, but we feel we ought to be more specific. It was in 1914 when my wife’s father was on his deathbed and we visited him. Banker Anderson of Bridgewater happened to be there and told us he had asked so many of our people about our early history but not one could give him an answer. So we told him a short history of the Hutterites. Grandpa told my Mrs. to hand us that short Hutterite history book written by his sister’s husband Min. Jacob Wipf in 1840 and it was presented to him before he died. Min. Wipf and Min. Peter Hofer started the Elmspring Colony in 1877. He wrote this short history in the early 1840’s. The Hutterites moved from North Russia to South Russia in 1842. The village had sent this Wipf and Peter Gross to a high school in a Low German village so our village could have their own teachers instead of getting one from the Low Germans. 

        Our new comers met trouble they never expected and that was the language question. They were all German, but made an effort from the time they arrived to learn the English language. The changing of language in the home and church made them meet many unpleasant conditions. It’s only several years ago that they changed the English language in church. Many a grandmother cannot talk to her grandchild because some grandchildren cannot speak German. Our own experience is quite a lesson to us. We have published all English papers since June 1st, 1902, and in business and politics we prefer to use the English language but, when it comes to the Bible we are thinking in the German language. The many verses we memorized in our younger days and Bible History all was in the German language. There is such a thing as thinking in a language.

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MENNO SIMONS

        Menno Simons joined the Mennonite group in Holland 11 years after the first church was organized in Zurich, Switzerland in 1825. He was a Catholic Priest, but when he joined the Mennonites he became a leader and those with him were called Mennonites. Just like when Jacob Hutter joined the colony, two years after the colony was founded they called them Hutterites because he became their leader.

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MORE THINGS OF INTEREST

        When the old timers came from Russia they appealed for Divine help and had the faith that Providence would guide their destinies. They had faith in God who can raise the dead, calm the storms, stop sun and moon from moving, can make lions live with sheep and can conquer giants. The Hutterite delegates selected the Red River Valley in North Dakota for the settlement but circumstantial developments brought them here close to East Freeman and Silver Lake people.

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        We have three original colonies in the United States, Bon Homme established in 1874, Wolf Creek established in 1874, Elm Spring established in 1877. Each one of these three original colonies and its branches belong to one Conference, the Bon Homme Conference, the Wolf Creek Conference and the Elm Spring Conference. In 1950 when this report was made Wolf Creek had 26 branch colonies, Elmspring 24 and Bon Homme 38, nearly all located in Canada. When they moved to Canada Wolf Creek and Elm Spring Colonies located in Alberta and the Bon Homme Colonies located in Manitoba.

Today (2007) Bon Homme (also known as Schmiedeleut) have branched to 178. Wolf Creek (the Dariusleut) have 153 colonies and Elm Spring (the Lehrerleut) have 134 colonies. All have colonies in Canada and USA. 

A report taken in 1904 of the three original Hutterite Colonies, Wolf Creek, Bon Homme, and Elmspring gives them as owners of 320 quarter sections of land, 242 families, 36,000 head of cattle, 10,700 sheep. They lived in 12 colonies. In 1950 another report was taken and over 80 colonies were reported. Wolf Creek had increased to 20 colonies, Elmspring to 24 colonies, and Bon Homme to 38 colonies. All the colonies settling in Alberta, Canada were from Wolf Creek and Elm Spring. All the colonies settling in Manitoba were from Bon Homme. Our three original Hutterite Colonies kept on spreading out and today (2007) we have appro. 500 Hutterite Colonies in Canada and the United States. 

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        Remember the birthday of the Christian Church was at Pentecost and the New Testament Days began in Palestine. The Church of Christ is the Salvation institution, the Guardian Tutor in the Holy Spirit, the Word of God is the medium. So many Christians died as martyrs for their faith. One Bishop of the Catholic Church was in Rome and one in Constantinople. About 500 A.D. the Bishop in Constantinople had a big mission field in Austria and gained a large membership. It became a question whether this new field should belong to Rome too and resulted in a split. After that we had the Greek Catholic Church and the Roman Catholic Church. The Greek spread into Russia.

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The machinery used in Russia for threshing was a flail and a stone.

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THOSE COMING FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES

Following are the Hutterite family names and the Country they come from.

Miller                Germany

Gross                Germany

Decker                Tyrol

Wollman        Austria

Wipf                Austria

Waldner                Switzerland

Stahl                Austria & Hungary

Hofer                Tyrol

Mendel                Bohemia

Wurz                Bohemia

Kleinsasser        Austria

Pullman                Austria

Walter                Germany

Glanzer                Austria 

Knels                Denmark

Tschetter        Bohemia

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        In 1870 a cloud of fire appeared in a clear sky and traveled over Russia from North to South like the cloud leading the children of Israel and people figured it was an omen of danger for Russia.

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        The Hutterite people lived in Russia 100 years and no case of intermarriage with Russians is reported. Strong home influence accounts for that. 

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        Min. Elias Walter of Standoff Colony in Alberta wrote a book on the Patriarchs in 1925 which is found in many homes. 

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        The Hutterite Villages in Russia had a village granary to store grain for hard times.

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        In Russia all Mennonites had Parochial Schools and Sundays were not so important at the time. Churches had trouble opening Sunday Schools about 70 years ago because it was something new. In some localities those opposing the Sunday School separated and built a new church but, before long they started a Sunday School also.

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        Min. Martin Waldner, Min. Michael Stahl, Min. John Waldner and Min. Jacob Wipf were the Ministers in Hutterthal, Russia; Min. Peter Hofer was minister in Johannesruh which was three miles away.

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        In Russia, funeral services were held in the home. When a child died only invited people attended the funeral services. Meals were served.

        On April 25, 1894 George, age 10 days died; son of Joseph and Elisabeth Kleinsasser. This is believed to be the first funeral held at Milltown Colony, SD or even perhaps in all the colonies. It was held by Prediger Jacob Hofer on April 26, 1894.

Source: Milltown Colony, SD. Kirche Buch

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        Time has changed conditions so much. When grandmother went to school in the 1880’s all she needed was a plain dress and shawl, and wooden shoes and stockings. Today’s style is toeless shoes, anklets, etc.

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        The Rappish Colony in Pa., was very good to the Hutterites and advanced them $4,000.00 for a start when they arrived from Russia.

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        So far the oldest Hutterite on record was 103 years. He was Michael R. Hofer and he died in 1932. Paul Mandel was next. He died at the Elm Spring Colony, age 99 years and 9 months. Mrs. Christian Waldner died in Alberta, Canada in 1955 at the age of 99 years.

        Peter Entz from Waldeck Colony, SK lived from Sept. 21, 1897 to Apr. 23, 2000. 

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        The Hutterites had one millionaire, Andrew Wollman in Russia. He made the money in the Lepp and Wollman Factory. He was married to Miss Lepp. 

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        The Hutterites prospered for a time in Moravia and Hungary. They had some 50 colonies with a population close to 15,000 people. The colonies were prosperous, filled prominent positions and had good schools. When prosecutions started they left the country and not even 100 entered Russia at first but, some came later.

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        To show you how strict and particular people were with their children in the old country village listen to this. “Gluecksthal with population of 2000 people, they had one Reformed and one Lutheran Church and the churches were always on very friendly terms. The young people had to attend Sunday school until they were 20 years old. If one missed Sunday school he had to pay 5c fine. If that fine was not paid by the time he was married the minister was not allowed to marry him. All people had to attend church services on Sunday. Church members were not allowed to attend Markets on Sunday, but were expected to visit the neighbors and friends. In case an article was stolen and the party that stole it was discovered, the party with the stolen article had to carry it through the street, hold it up high and stop at every crossing for a while. The Schultz, (Mayor) and the school children marched along with the offender. At every crossing where they stopped the Mayor made a short speech telling the children how important it was to live right and be obedient to home, church and school. At the end of the march the offender received five lashes on the back. All this left an indelible impression on the children who saw it. A performance like that in our country would decrease the crime wave. People who make it a study claim reaction of children to pictures is about 8 times greater to children than to adults. That gives movies and TV a great responsibility.

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        When the Hutterites lived in Russia the village sent two young men, Jacob Wipf and Peter Gross, to the Halbstadt High School to prepare for teaching. That is why the Elm spring Colony was always called Lehrerleut (Teacher People). He was the founder of the Elm Spring Colony in 1877 and was very prominent, not only with the colonies, but also outside. He wrote a short history of the Hutterites when still in Russia in 1842 and we are in possession of this book.

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        Washington and Jefferson, our early Presidents of the United States, said they wish we would never have any large cities because it’s easier to raise a clean family in the country. Our forefathers lived on a farm, but when land became scarce some moved to town but, the church did not like to see them move to town.

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        When they came to America, Hutterite leaders asked President Grant for military exemption and he told them all are exempt from military service in the United States who have conscientious scruple against killing in war and are exempt in this country not only for 100 years but always. And it’s a fact the government has been very considerate of the conscience of religious minority group.

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        Conscience can be trained. In the early days nobody would dare to pray unless hands were folded. In church service people knelt for praying, when the text was read all rose, but they did not rise when the benediction was said. Church history reports the first Christians were standing when praying in church to be closer to God above. 

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        In the early days Bible names were given to new arrivals but today most any name is given new babies. Or at least a German name such as Frederick, Gretal etc… 

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        The first Mennonite settlement in the United States was established in 1662 in Delaware but they were not welcome by the other settlers and left the place. The first permanent settlement by Mennonites was located at Germantown, Pa., in 1683 where 13 families settled. Here they came in contact with the Quakers and conducted church services together. This happened where the present Philadelphia is located. Here is where the first protest against slavery was presented to the government signed by three Mennonites and several Quakers in 1688. 

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        When the West Freeman people left Russia and emigrated to America a few remained in Russia like the Millionaire Wollman family, a Stahl family and others. Their children and grandchildren met a lot of trouble when Russia turned over to the Communists. We have a letter from two sisters who are now in Canada. They are distantly related to us. Their grandmother was an aunt to our mother. We received a letter from them and it breaks your heart what they write. Their grandmother, Barbara Tschetter, was married to Mr. Unger. Barbara was a sister to the father of the late Paul J. Tschetter who served the Neu Hutterthal church as elder for about 50 years. Another brother of Barbara is Peter Tschetter who is the founder of the Tschetter Colony and another brother was John Tschetter, who lived a half mile east of the Tschetter Colony. 

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THINGS OF INTEREST TO THOSE INTERESTED

        German people prospered in Russia and became autocratic. They looked down upon the Russian people. That is why no intermarriages were reported.

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        When the first East Freeman, West Freeman and Silver Lake people arrived here in Yankton in 1874 a charter of about 25 frame buildings and shacks was all that you could find in the Mother City of Yankton, yet it was the State Capitol. Many houses were built of sod. Houses, Schools and Churches were kept warm by Buffalo chips or twisted hay. Ox team was used for traveling in a sled or wagon. Farmers in those days were neighborly and helped each other.

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        Jacob Knels died in the Yankton State Hospital. He was born in 1862 and died in 1942. He was a promising young man. Jacob was baptized March 21, 1880 and was a member of the Neu Hutterthal Church. In 1884 a cyclone passed their place when he was plowing and the fright caused mental derangement. He was taken to the State Hospitat where he died January 26, 1942.

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EARLY DAYS PLOWING

        The people worked very hard. Most work was done by hand with not much machinery. They had very far to go to a railroad town. The nearest town was Yankton. Women often walked to Yankton with a basket of eggs to buy groceries and returned home the next day, a 30 mile trip.

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        Jacob Graber Post hauled mail from Yankton to Silver Lake in 1870 to 1878 at $200.00 a year. Two trips a week were made with one horse and a buggy.

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        Wm. Kleinsasser bought the Freeman Livery barn from Jake Weber in 1896 and sold it to Jake Weber in 1898 and moved back to North Dakota.

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        When the two delegates were sent by the Hutterite people to America to look for a location in 1873 they met Mennonite people over east who complained that they commence to use the English language more or less in the church. Our delegates said that would never happen with our people. We will stick to the German language. But they were poor judges. The sermons in every West Freeman church are in English language every Sunday because so many of the young generation cannot understand German. However, the colony churches are still in German.

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        The following are Elders for Canada Colonies; Prediger Peter Hofer, James Valley, Manitoba, for Schmiedleut; Prediger Paul Gross, Pincher Creek, Alberta for Dariusleut and Prediger J. J. Wipf, Macmillan Colony, Coyley, Alberta for Lehrerleut. (1960)

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        The Hutterites knew the back ground of the families and that guided them when electing a minister. A minister must be liberal and not stubborn and careful when electing their officers.

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        Of all those who emigrated from Russia to America, only one died on the way and was buried in Bremen, Germay. He was a brother to the late David L. Tschetter here.

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        Min. J. M. Tschetter’s first wife was the first Hutterite child born in America.

        On Dec 11, 1874, Anna, the daughter of Joseph Waldner and Anna (Kleinsasser) is believed to be the first child born at Bon Homme Colony, SD. Her parents left Milltown Colony in 1894. In 1918, Anna also left from James Valley Colony, SD with her husband Michael Waldner “Mitsch Michel” and their children. 

Source: Bon Homme Colony, SD. Kirche Buch

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OLD TIME MUD HOUSE

        When the pioneers arrived here from Russia in the 1870’s nobody dreamed of a modern house. They erected a mud house like the one above. One end was used for a house, the other end was used for a barn. The mud walls were more than two feet thick. They had a mud oven about seven feet long and a stove room about 10x10 feet at the bottom tapering to a outlet on the roof about 2x2 feet. All houses had the same plan. One end had two rooms, a large and a small. !n the center a hall and the kitchen and the other end had a room, then a 3 foot walk out in the barn, then the pantry room. The oven was heated with straw, hay or manure and later at some places they used wood. Their Grandchildren today use oil furnaces that regulate themselves. All you need today is to set the thermostat at 75 degrees or whatever temperature you want. If the temperature gets below 75 degrees it will start alone and when it gets up to 75 it will stop.

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HIEB STORE

        One of the first establishments in Marion was the Jacob Hieb Store. The Marion Junction was started in 1879 when the Milwaukee road built a line to Mitchell. The town was named after Marion Merrill, the daughter of General Lawler of Milwaukee.

        During the first 75 years of Marion’s Newspaper are: The Marion Gazette, M. A. Fuller, 1879-1880; The Marion Sentinel, James E. Hazlett 1882-1888; Willis Ward 1891; The Marion Tribune, Jas. A. Mallory, 1893-1895; The Marion Record, W. J. Sterns, 1900-1903; James E. Hazlett, 1903-1910; Peter J. Kaufman; 1911; Chas. Hartsough, 1911-1914. W. W. Brady, 1914-1919; Turner County Printing Co. Inc. 1919-1920; W. W. Brady 1920-1942; J. R. Lambert, 1942- 1943; W. B. Houser 1943; D. D. Lewis purchased Record October 1, 1956, leased to Elma Smith and Delmar Klassen February 1957. Purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Keith Robbins January 1, 1958 and they took over management February 1, 1958, and still there in 1961.

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        A fatal day on January 12, 1888, is a day that will not be forgotten by the pioneers of Rosefield Township, when five boys froze to death in a snowstorm. The victims of the storm were: Peter Graber, John Albrecht, John Kaufman, Elias Kaufman, and Henry Kaufman.

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        Those leaving Russia in the fall of 1873 for America are: Min. Paul Tschetter, Joseph T. Tschetter, Josua Hofer, Jacob Hofer, Jacob Tschetter, Paul L. and Lorentz Tschetter of Olivet, George and Joseph Gross, son of George Gross.

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        The Wolf Creek Colony Dam was constructed in 1875, ox teams and spades only were used.

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        In 1884 Franz Wollman went to his rich uncle in Russia for some money but never returned.

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        The first ones moved to Chaseley, N. D., in the late 1897.

1909 Rev, Joseph M, Hofer was elected minister. 1912 Min. Elias J. Wipf was elected minister. 1914 Min. John P. Hofer elected minister. 1917 P. J. Stahl became minister.

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        To get an idea what father and mother went through, read about Mr. David Kleinsasser. He farmed on the 160 acres that is now part of Freeman. The north east quarter of that section. He died in 1879 and Mrs. Kleinsasser, who was the mother of Mrs. John K. Hofer, then homesteaded on that quarter. She planted 3 acres of flax which was sown by hand. The yield was 8 bushels per acre and when ripe was pulled out and threshed with a hand flail. The whole crop was sold for $20.00. Today this would not even pay for an auto license, but at that time many little necessities for life were bought. We might also mention that Mrs. Kleinsasser was later married to George Gross in 1881. He died in 1894 and her third husband was Min. John L. Wipf and he died in 1922.

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        Mrs. Jacob P. Maendel said her father Paul Decker was teaching school for $12.00 a month. But, after all it was not so bad, you got 12 pounds of coffee for $1.00.

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        Way back in the 1880 four young men: Paul F. Gross. Jake J. Wollman, George D. Hofer and Sam Wipf went to Pennsylvania where they entered the Roppish Colony, which accepted only single men. After staying for some time they returned. One of the three Min. Paul F. Gross died on October 9, 1956, age 92 (Great Uncle of Barbara J Waldner at Brantwood Colony). Wipf died at Langham, Wollman died at Strassburg, N. D. Hofer died in West Freeman.

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HUTTERITE COs GAVE UP THEIR LIVES FOR GOD

These are the graves of brothers Joseph and Michael Hofer, members of the Rockport Hutterite Colony who gave up their lives at the hands of the state for their faith in a God who abhors violence, particularly the taking of other human lives.

        Their story, recounted widely in some circles, especially in the years immediately following World War I, is disheartingly similar to the countless others which comprise a significant part of Anabaptist history. A third brother, David, who endured the same treatment as Joseph and Michael, later recorded the accounts of their persecution, as have several historians.

        In the spring of 1918, four members of Rockport Colony were drafted: brothers Joseph, Michael and David, and Jacob Wipf, a brother-in-law. They were inducted into the U.S. Army at Camp Lewis, Wash., on May 25. While on the train from South Dakota to Washington the other recruits jeered the Hutterites, even cutting their beards and hair. 

        At Camp Lewis they refused to sign a card promising obedience to military commands, refused to fall in with their platoon and refused to wear their military uniforms. All four were court-martialed on June 10 and sentenced to 37 years in prison, later reduced to 20.

        The four were incarcerated at Alcatraz, the island federal prison in San Franrisco Bay where they were placed in the dungeon’s solitary cells. For the first four days they received no food and only a glass of water every 24 hours. Because they still refused to wear the military uniforms, they were clothed only in their underwear. They slept on the cold, wet concrete floor without blankets.

        They spent the last 36 hours in the dungeon “strung up” — their hands manacled so high to the bars that they could barely touch the floor. 

        By the time they were released on the fifth day, the men were suffering from scurvy and covered with insect bites. Their arms were so swollen they could not get the sleeves of their jackets over them.

        For the rest of their time in Alcatraz they experienced regular beatings, including one by the prison chaplain — and were allowed into the prison yard only for an hour every Sunday. 

        This treatment continued despite an Oct. 10, 1917, memo from the Adjutant General of the Military to all camp commanders instructing that conscientious objectors be treated with “tact and consideration.”

        In letters home, David Hofer repeatedly assured their families that they were well. While their physical status may be questioned, his letters leave little doubt about their spiritual health. He repeatedly mentioned the honor of being chosen to suffer for God.

        He promised us, his children, that he will be with us till the end, David wrote his wife and children. “Let us be in good confidence to him, and fall on our knees and pray that he shall give us power to stand for what we have promised.”

        In late November the four men were transferred from Alcatraz to Fort Leavenworth, Kan. After four days and five nights of travel, they arrived at Leavenworth at 11 p.m. and, chained together and carrying their luggage, herded up the hill to the prison, all the while prodded by bayonets.

        By the time they reached the prison gate they were drenched in sweat, despite the raw, wintry weather. They were then forced to stand outside in their underwear until 1 a.m. All four were roused at 5 a.m. to stand again outside.

        In the morning Joseph and Michael complained of chest pains and were immediately hospitalized. Meanwhile, Jacob Wipf and David Hofer were sent to solitary confinement for refusing to work in the prison.

        When Joseph and Michael fell ill, Wipf sent a telegram home to their wives, who immediately took the train to Kansas. They were delayed a day when they were accidentally sent to Fort Riley. By the time they arrived late at night, both Joseph and Michael were near death. When the wives returned, the next day Nov. 29, Joseph had died. His wife discovered his body prepared and laid in the casket, dressed in the military uniform Joseph had refused to wear while alive.

        Michael died Dec. 2 with his father at his side. His last words were, “Come Lord Jesus, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” Joseph Hofer was 24 years old and left his wife and two children, ages 2 1/2 and 1. Michael was 25 and left his wife and a daughter less than a year old. 

        Their deaths helped precipitate many of the Hutterite colonies moving to Canada. 

Sources: Rich Preheim and Hutterite Studies - revised by editors

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        In 1936 Prediger Michael Waldner was in the office where the first Bible was printed in 1524.

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        700 families in South Russia moved from Dukoborzen to Canada, These people left the Greek Catholic Church. (Known as Dukobors — they lived in communities in BC)

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        David Knels remained in Russia when the others moved to America.

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        To show you how strong the people were for Church service in the early days, we heard Mrs. Jeremiahs Wollman walked three miles to Church and was taken sick in Church and died from a heart attack there in the Hutterthal Church.

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HUTTERITE NAMES

Tschetter - (Czeterle, Zetterle) - This name is recorded in Hutterite history as far back as 1760 when Abraham Tschetter, at Sabostiste, Hungary was arrested for opposing the government church. He was taken fifty miles away to the town of Erlau where he was imprisoned in a convent with the Jesuits. He gave up the faith and became a Catholic. Lorenz Tschetter was arrested in 1766, imprisoned for one year because of his faith. He rejoined the Bruderhof at Walachia upon his release and from there to Russia. Those with this name were among the families coming to America in 1874. The Tschetter name carries on from these and is found in Dariusleut, Schmiedleut and the Prairieleut of America.

Waldner - (Waltner) - A Hutterite family name coming from Amiach, Carinthia, Austria in 1756. Jerg Waldner, his wife Anna and their three children, Christian, Johannes and Maria fled to Transylvania in 1755. There they joined the Hutterites where John was chosen preacher and is the chronicler of the Klein Geschichtscbuch. Johann’s son Andreas married Kathrina Schrag from a nearby Swiss Mennonite village in 1797. Upon Andreas death his wife Kathrina took her six children back to join the Swiss group. From Transylvania they moved to Walchis and later to Russia. They took the name Waltner, which is common among the Swiss Mennonites in Kansas, and South Dakota. Michael Waldner established the Bon Homme Colony at Tabor, South Dakota in 1874. Waldner is common among the Brotherhoods and the Prairieleut of today.

Kleinsasser - A common Hutterite name originated from Amiach, Carinthia, Austria. Johann Kleinsasser was leader of the group of Lutherans expelled from Carinthia and who fled to Transylvania, under the leadership of Maria Theresa. In 1755, this group went to Alwinz where they joined the Hutterites. With Johann Kleinsasser were his wife Barbara, a daughter Christina, and his brothers Stephanus, and Mathias and Joseph. In 1763 Johann was ordained the leader of the Hutterites. This name is very common among the Brotherhood and the Prairieleut today. 

Fast - Through inter-marriage this Mennonite name from a Low German village came into the Hutterites. 

Knels - A name first seen in the Hutterites in 1783 when a widow Lisel Knels and her two sons Abraham and Johannes joined at Wischink, Russia, coming from the Low German Mennonite village of Franztal in East Prussia. This name is almost extinct today with only two families of the name in the Brotherhood in 1958. 

Glanzer - A family name from Carinthia. They were expelled because of their refusal to accept the Catholic faith and taken to Transylvania. Christian Glanzer and family settled in Romos, a village west of Hemianstadt. In 1755 they joined the colony with the group that went to Alwinz. They came to the United States in 1874 and since that time there are many Glanzers among the Schmiedleut and the Prairieleut today.

Hofer - A name that originates in Carinthia, Austria where they were staunch Lutherans. Ulrich Hofer was chosen steward of the Hutterian Brethren in 1542,. This was the first time the Hofer name was mentioned among the Hutterites. Around 1750 the country demanded the Catholic religion; therefore many people were driven from their homes and fled to Transylvania where they met with the Hutterites. Among these were Michael and Mathias Hofer from Amiach and their brother Johannes Hofer of St. Petersburg with his wife, Anna, and their seven children, Johannes, Michael, Christian, Paul, Jacob, Anna, and Barbara. All the Hofers in the Brotherhood and Prairieleut derive from these Hofers.

Gross - A German name possibly from Austria Tirol. Jacob Gross, (Jacob von Waldschut) a furrier from South Germany was a very successful Anabaptist leader in 1525. On September 15,1527 he was seized with Hans Hut at an Anabaptist meeting in Augsburg. After being imprisoned for almost four years he recanted on June 22, 1537. The name was recorded in 1528 during the early Anabaptist movement, first appearing among the Hutterites in 1782 when Andreas Gross, his wife Christina, and son Jerg came to the group. Christina and Jerg accepted the faith and were baptized. Jerg is the ancestor of all the Grosses in the Brotherhood and the Prairieleut in America and Canada.

Decker - (Dekker) - A Mennonite and Hutterite name of old Flemish background in West Prussia. It was first mentioned in Schonse in 1695. From there it spread to Poland and Russia. In 1783, a group of 15 Mennonites from a Low German village joined the Hutterites at Wischink, Russia. Among them were Elsie Dekker, a widow with her five children, Hein, Jacob, Heinrich, Benjamin, and Eva. The name Decker, is carried on from the descendants of Benjamin to America and Canada and is found among the Lehrerleut, Schmiedleut and the Prairieleut. When the first Hutterite Brethren began their emigration to the United States in 1874, a John Decker is named among the first group to leave Russia. These people settled in Dakota and established the Bon Homme Colony, the first Hutterite Bruderhof in America.

Jansen - A Mennonite name that came into the Hutterites through inter-marriage with the Low Germans in Russia.

Mendel - (Maendel, Mandel, Maendelig) - In 1529, Jacob Mendel was “Diener der Notdurft” with the Hutterian Brethren formerly administrator of the Lord of Lichtenstein at Nicholsburg, Moravia. His birthplace is unknown. Hans Mendel died a martyrs death in 1560. He was bound to a ladder and thrown into the flames. He was from Tryol, the village of Albuns near Gufidaun. Among the group from Sabatich to Wischiok in Russia was Paul Maendelig of Czech origin. He became the ancestor of the Mendels of today in the Lehrerleut, the Schmiedleut and the Prairieleut.

Miller - (Muller) - A common Mennonite name. A Peter Muller and Joseph Muller with his wife Elizabeth and two children, Joseph and Barbara were among the Lutherans who fled to Transylvania from Unter-Amlach, Carinthia, Austria. Miller descendants are found among the Prairieleut in America.

Pollman - Pullman (Polman, Bolman) - In 1784, with a group coming from Sabatisch and Lebarto join the Hutterites at Wischink, Russia were Tobias Bolman and wife Susanna (son-in-law of Jacob Walther) and Andreas Bolman with his wife Roesel and six children: Johannes, Adam, Maria, Barbel, Kathrina and Eva. Joseph Bolman and his wife Judith and children, Lisel. Mariela, Annele also joined this group. This name is common among the Prairieleut of America, but not found in the Brotherhood. 

Stahl - A Hutterite name that first appeared in 1663 when a Johannes Stahl was taken prisoner at Zobelhof, Hungary by the invading Turks. In 1757, another Johann Stahl with his wife and four children is mentioned, at Alwinz, Transylvania. After this the name is common among the Hutterites and is found among the Dariusleut, the Schmiedleut, and the Prairieleut of America.

Walter - (Walther) - The oldest Hutterite family name in existence today. The earliest Anabaptist member of the family was Franz Walther, a barber-surgeon from near Maulbronn, Wurttemberg who joined the Hutterites in 1580. He was chosen Diener des Worts in 1597 at Pribitz, Moravia. In 1746 Zacharias Walther was chosen elder of the Hutterites, but was imprisoned for his faith. Later he joined the Catholic State Church. His only son Jacob immigrated to the Ukraine from Sabatish, Hungary, with his wife Kathrina and two sons Jacob and Darius in 1784. In 1874 Preacher Darius Walter came from Russia with several families and established the Wolf Creek Colony ten miles west of Freeman, South Dakota. All the Walters in the Dariusleut and Prairieleut are descendants.

Wollman - (Walemann, Woleman) - The name of Hans Waleman is mentioned in the Klein Geschechtsbuch during the 30 years war. Later Jacob Waleman from Sabatisch, Hungary, with his wife Asseneth and five children, Andreas, Michael, Barbel, Judith, Asseneth and a Katherina Waleman and her two children Joseph and Gretel are listed as joining the colony, at Wischink, Russia in 1784. They were with the Brethren when they came to America. The descendants are found among the Schmiedeleut, the Dariusleut, and the Prairieleut.

Wurz - (Wurtz) - A family name among the Hutterite Brethren for over 400 years. Joseph Wurtz was chosen as preacher in 1611 at Neumuhl, Moravia, Austria. In 1650 Moses Wurtz was chosen preacher at Sabatisch in Hungary. In 1755 Andreas Wurz from St. Peter and his wife Margreta and five children, Christian, Elizabeth, Magdalena, Christina and Anna joined the Hutterites at Alwinz and Rreuz, and the Prairieleut in America and Canada all come from Andreas Wurz

Wipf - Michael Wipf was Elder, or head preacher, at Alwinz, Transylvania from 1694 to 1717. The Wipf family name has been among the Hutterite Brethren since this time. They came to the United States in 1874. 

Tschetter 

Tschetter, also spelled Czeterle and Zetterle, is a Hutterite family name. In 1760 Abraham Tschetter at Sobotiste, Hungary, vigorously opposed a Jesuit who had been sent by the government to catholicize the Hutterian Brethren and who was preaching in their meeting-house. Tschetter was soon arrested and taken to Erlau, about 50 miles from the Bruderhof, and imprisoned in the Jesuit Monastery prison. Here he gave up his faith and became Catholic. Lorenz Tschetter was imprisoned in 1766 at Alwine, Hungary, for his faith. Upon his release in 1767 he went to Walachia with the rest of the Bruderhof, and from there to Russia, where the family increased. Paul and Lorentz Tschetter were among the twelve delegates from several Mennonite branches in Russia who came to (he United States and Canada in 1873 to look for land and in 1874 led some 40 families to Dakota. Paul Tschetter became a leader of the group that joined the K.M.B. Church. His son J.W. Tschetter was long a K.M.B. city missionary in Chicago.

In 1957 five Tschetters were serving as head preachers in Hutterite Bruderhofs of the Dariusleut, vis., Paul J. Tschetter of the Thompson Bruderhof, Christian Tschetter of the Husher (Rosebud) Bruderhof, Jacob Tschetter of the Howl Ranch (Tschetter) Bruderhof, Lorentz R. Tschetter of the Riverside Bruderhof, and Peter S. Tschetter of the Holt Bruderhof. There were also four Tschetter ministers in the G.C.M. group, among them P.P. Tschetter of Kingman, Kansas 

Paul Tschetter

Paul Tschetter (1842 - 1919), was born in Blumenort, Molotschna, South Russia. He became a member of the Hutterian Brethren in 1860. In that year he was married to Maria Walter. Five sons and five daughters were born to this union, among whom was Joseph W. Tschetter, for many years a minister of the Krimmer Mennonite Brethren in Chicago. In 1866 he was ordained to the ministry and in 1883 to the office of elder. He is buried in the Neuhutterthal cemetery, located 45 miles northwest of Yankton, S.D., on the homestead which he too came to in America. In 1873 Tschetter was a member of the delegation sent to St. Petersburg in the matter of continued exemption from military service. Because the answer was not satisfactory a delegation of twelve Mennonites and Hutterites visited the American frontier in 1873 to investigate the possibilities of emigration. Among the twelve were Paul Tschetter and his uncle Lorenz Tschetter, both of Hutterthal. Tschetter appeared before President Grant to plead for exemption from military service for his people who were to settle in America. The diary of his deputation journey to America in 1873 presents a keen analysis of the work and observations of the Russian delegation. In 1874 Tschetter brought his family to America and settled in South Dakota. He never lived in a Bruderhof and thus did not practice the Christian Communism of the Hutterian Brethren. He was a leader in the group which joined the Krimmer Mennonite Brethren Conference. 

Waldner

Waldner (Waltner), a Hutterite family name stemming from Aemlach, Carinthia, Austria. Jorgen Waldner was one of the Lutheran Carinthia exiles who was expelled to Hungary in 1755 because he refused to accept Catholicism. He was sent to Transylvania, and there united with the Hutterian Brethren at Alwinz. His son Johannes Waldner, a preacher, was the chronicler of the Klein- Geschichtbuch. He died in Russia on Dec. 14, 1824. During this time the Hutterites abandoned their practice of community of goods. Michael Waldner, also a preacher, reinstituted community of goods in 1859, and joined the emigration to the United States in 1874, where they established the first American Bruderhof at Bon Homme, 20 miles west of Yankton, S.D. The name is now found in the Hutterite communities in South Dakota, Montana, Alberta, and Manitoba. There are 34 Hutterite ministers with this name. The name, as found in the General Conference Mennonite Church, (Waltner) is of Mennonite origin. Erland Waltner is president of Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Ind., and Lena Waltner is instructor in an at Bethel College. Harris Waltner and James Waltner are G.C.M. pastors in Kansas.

Waldner, Christian, chosen to the Hutterian Brethren ministry June 26, 1898, and confirmed by Darius Walter in Canada. After the death of Elias Walter he became the elder of the Dariusleut, living in the West Raley Bruderhof in Canada. He died Feb. 23, 1937.

Waldner, Johannes (1749-1824), born near Villach, Carinthia, of Lutheran parents, with whom he migrated on the order of Empress Maria Theresa to Transylvania in 1755, along with other Lutherans. Here the entire Carinthians exile group turned Hutterite and became the very soul of a revitalization of the brotherhood. In his later years he wrote his recollections, called Denkwürdigkeiten, as a sort of continuation of the old Hutterite chronicle, the Geschicht-Buch. Thus grew a remarkable new book, the Klein-Geschichtsbuch der Hutterischen Bruder (first printed in 1947). Waldner wrote the story only to the year 1802; the remainder to 1947 was done by other writers. In this work he mentioned his own experiences at different places.

        In 1767 Waldner shared the dramatic flight of the brotherhood across the mountains into Romania (Walachia) and all their subsequent hardships until the Brethren found a new home in Ukraine, first in Vishenka, later in Radichev. In 1782 he was elected preacher, and in 1794 bishop of the entire brotherhood. In 1818 an unfortunate conflict arose as one group wished to give up the principle of community goods. Waldner insisted on continuing this time-honored principle in spite of all external difficulties. “I would rather die at the stake than to abandon the old practice”. Thus a split occurred and Waldner moved to a new place near by called Neudorf. In 1824 he died at the age of 75.

        Waldner began writing his Denkwürdigketen in 1793, but he prefaced this personal story by a brief recapitulation of Hutterite history as found in the larger chronicle and amplified it by records otherwise unknown. This resulted in a brilliant history of the Hutterites, more condensed than the older (Britmichel) chronicle, and yet full and rich. Johann Loserth, who read this work for the first time ca. 1930, considered Waldner an outstanding historian, with a unique skill in making events live.

        This revival of the interest in history was only secondary to Waldner’s more central achievements. His main concern was the revival of the old and genuine spirit of the Hutterites as it had been at the time of the great bishop Andreas Ehrenpreis (d. 1662). A major avenue to this end was the collection and rewriting of the old sermons which at Waldners time had almost been forgotten. New sermon books were produced by Waldner and his co-workers, taken from old sermon notebooks. Waldner also incorporated excerpts from these sermons into the Klein-Geschichtsbuch. This made an invaluable inheritance for the brethren, which has continued alive to this day and which is the very center of all their piety. Waldner also renewed the old Gemeindeordnungen and insisted on their observance. In short, he became the rejuvenator of the brotherhood at a time when it was particularly difficult to continue the tradition. That the Hutterites could survive so strongly through the ages (after the conclusion of the heroic first century) is due mainly to the work of three outstanding men: Ehrenpreis, Waldner, and Elias Waldner. 

Waldner, Michael, a Hutterian Brethren minister, chosen in 1856 in Russia, and confirmed in office in 1858. With Jakob Hofer he re-established community of goods in 1859. He died Oct. 13,1889, in the Bon Homme Bruderhof in South Dakota, at the age of 55 years, having served in the ministry 33 years. 

Johannes Waldner Dies

        Johannes Waldner died on the 14th of December 1824 at the age of seventy-five years at the village of Neudorf. He served in the ministry for forty-two years. The entire congregation entrusted to him for thirty-one years. He was one of those who came from Carinthia to Transylvania, fled over the mountains, suffered persecution in Wallachia, suffered whipping and plunder, as can be read in a book, which he personally wrote in his own handwriting up to 1802. 

        After the death of Johannes Waldner, Jacob Walther was elected elder of the entire congregation who took faithful charge of the fallen congregation with the help of Brother Joseph Kleinsasser. Shortly after the death of Brother Johannes Waldner, two brethren were elected for the ministry, which fell upon the brethren Jacob Hofer and George Waldner, a son of the deceased Johannes Waldner. This took place January 10th, 1825. 

        The congregation suffered great poverty in its private ownership, so that many were short of bread. Everyone had to see for himself how to survive with wife and children which was a difficulty under the meager land ownership. In various ways and means they had to earn their bread with blacksmithing, turning, weaving, pottery, digging and working in the timber felling trees and transporting them. Only a few of them had one horse. Otherwise everything was done with oxen. It was a miserable life. Even the school which we and our forefathers always considered one of the first necessities was entirely neglected. Children grew up who couldn’t read or write a single letter. This had never happened in any period of our history. Our congregation was threatened with ruin in temporal as well as spiritual existence. 

Kleinsasser

Kleinsasser, a common family name among the Hutterian Brethren. Its progenitor was Johannes Kleinsasser (d. 1779, Vishenka, Russia) of Aemlach, Carinthia, Austria. He was a leader of the group of Lutherans expelled from Carinthia and taken to Transylvania by Maria Theresa when they refused to return to the Catholic Church. In 1755 the group went to Alwine, where a number, including Kleinsasser was baptized and appointed as leader on probation in 1762 and ordained in 1763. The name is now found in South Dakota, Montana, Manitoba, and Alberta. 

Kleinsasser, Johannes, of Aemlach in Carinthia, Austria, was the leader of the Protestants who were persecuted in their homeland and were by compulsion settled in Transylvania in the 1750’s. By this time the heterodox were not simply banished from the country, for the refugees might then strengthen a hostile power, but were sent to a crown land, which enjoyed certain freedoms. Kleinsasser took his family with him; his wife Barbara, and four children, Stephan, Mathias, Joseph and Christina. In Transylvania Kleinsasser united with the group of his compatriots who refused to give the oath of allegiance to Maria Theresa, believing the oath to be forbidden by the New Testament. Thus he deprived himself of the right to a home and land, and united with the Hutterites at Alwine, which entailed privation, hardship, and want. His son Stephan died the first year in Transylvania. The following year he and his family were transferred to Kreuz. A pious man, he held his brethren to continued prayer. 

When the small group took steps to order its life in spiritual and temporal affairs, the vote for leader in 1761 fell on Kleinsasser, and after he had been baptized with Joseph Muller in 1762, and received instructions on the essential doctrines, such as baptism, communion, marriage, exclusion from the group and reception, he was installed as leader on April 27, 1762 and confirmed in that position in January 1763. The Alwine colony gave him the necessary books for study. Thus the congregation had a shepherd. His position was an extremely difficult one, not wanting in mistreatment and chains. It was therefore decided to try to find a place where they could live more peacefully. They found such a place in Wallachia, and in 1775 established themselves there. But peace was shattered by the Russo- Turkish war with its terrible consequences. Kleinsasser’s suffering at the hands of Turkish and Tartar robber bands was described by Johannes Waldner who later became the leader and chronicler of the brotherhood. “I prayed,” he writes, “to the Lord in this distress: 0 Lord, wilt Thou thus make an end of Thy church, and quench Thy truth and Thy light and let it perish?” That is Impossible!” 

The offer of Count Rumyantsev to give the plundered brotherhood a peaceful home on his lands was very welcome. In Vishenka, Kleinsasser used his talents to develop the colony. Weaving made a good start the first year; pottery was successful by 1773, a smithy and mills were built. A room was built for the meetings of the elders, and also a cold pantry. In 1778 they built the big and little schools, and in 1779 a chapel, which was later turned into a nursery. 

Waldner reports that God granted blessed years with good crops; the brotherhood recovered from the extreme poverty of previous years. “Hansel” Kleinsasser, elder and leader of the entire brotherhood, died at Vishenka on Oct. 16, 1779, in his fifty-third year, having served the brotherhood with the utmost devotion for 18 years. 

Gross, Gross, a Mennonite family name. On the basis of historical inference, and in the absence of published genealogies, the Gross family name may have had its inception in the Austrian Tirol among the early Hutterites, though this is not established. The name appears among the Hutterites in Russia after the migration of 1770. When, in 1819, the practice of community of goods was abandoned at Radicheva, there were Grosses among those who abandoned the practice. During the emigration of Hutterites to America following 1874 the name Gross appeared among those who settled on the non-communal farms in South Dakota. 

In the following years independent churches were organized, composed entirely of non-colonist Hutterites. Some of these churches joined the Mennonite (GCM) conference, and a number of their members, leaving the farm for the town, or marrying Mennonites, joined Mennonite (GCM) congregations. The name appears predominantly among the South Dakota Mennonites. Harold H. Gross has been dean of the Freeman College since 1945. 

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COMMUNAL FARMERS-THE HUTTERITE BRETHREN

by Marvin P. Riley

        The Hutterites are farmers living in small agricultural villages commonly referred to as “colonies.” There were 91 Hutterite colonies in North America in 1950 with a total population of 8,500 persons. Fifteen of these colonies were located in South Dakota and had a population of slightly over 1,200 members. The total acreage owned by the South Dakota colonies in 1950 was approximately 54,000 acres or an average of about 3500 acres for each colony.

        Renewed interest in the Hutterites has been stimulated in South Dakota by the location of colonies in Beadle, Faulk, Hand, and Spink counties in recent years. This article is the first phase of a study designed to provide information on the organization of Hutterite Colonies and communal farming. Among the questions many South Dakotans are asking about the Hutterites are: “Who are these people? Where do they live? What do they believe?”

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WHO THEY ARE

        The answer to this question is not as simple as one might think. As a religious group the Hutterites are not a new sect but a very old one. They originated in Moravia in 1528, an offshoot of the Swiss Brethren. They are one of the many Anabaptist groups that arose directly out of the Protestant reformation struggles of sixteenth century Europe.

        The founders of the Hutterian Brotherhood subscribed to the Anabaptist beliefs of adult baptism and the separation of church and state. Like the Swiss Brethren, they were strongly opposed to war. In addition the Hutterites interpreted the New Testament literally, insisting on the complete sharing of worldly possessions. Many of these beliefs ran counter to those held by the established churches of that day and, as Europe was in an almost constant state of war, the rulers were not tolerant of pacifists. Consequently, the Hutterites as well as other Anabaptist groups were often the object of severe persecution.

Jacob Hutter

        In 1533, Jacob Hutter, the Anabaptist preacher from whom the sect derives its name, joined the group and became their pastor. Through the efforts of Hutter and his assistants a well-defined communal pattern was established which has continued to the present. Hutter was burned at the stake in 1536 for his convictions.

Hutterites in Europe

        The history of the Hutterites in Europe includes three periods. Almost a century was spent in Moravia, approximately a century and a half in Hungary, Transylvania, and Wallachia, and a little more than a century in Russia.

        In Moravia the nobles considered the Hutterites good tenants and protected them from attacks by the Catholic Church and the Emperor as long as possible. However, the power of the nobles was broken in 1620, and the Hutterites were forced to flee Moravia. For more than 150 years they wandered through Hungary and neighboring countries. Although often close to extinction, a small group always managed to survive and carry on the faith.

        Finally, upon invitation of Catherine the Great, the surviving Hutterites moved to Russia in 1770 to settle the Ukraine frontier. There they were given refuge and allowed to practice pacifism. An edict nullifying their grant or exemption from military service was issued in 1871. After an appeal to the crown failed, their nonresistance policy demanded they emigrate.

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WHERE THEY LIVE

Settlement in Dakota Territory

        Approximately one hundred Hutterite families arrived in Yankton from Russia between 1874 and 1879. These families divided about equally, one group choosing to establish colonies, while the other families chose to settle on private farms. Many of the latter group have become affiliated with the Mennonite Church.

        The Hutterites established their first colony in Dakota Territory about 18 miles west of Yankton in 1874. The Colony was named Bon Homme. Because the leader of this colony, Michael Waldner, was a blacksmith (Schmied) by trade, these people and their descendants were called Schmiedeleut (the Smith’s people).

        Later in 1874 another group of Hutterites arrived and settled about 12 miles west of Freeman under the leadership of Darius Walter. They established Wolf Creek Colony. Their descendants are called Dariusleut (Darius people). New Elm Spring Colony was founded by the third group which came in 1877 and were led by two teachers, this group settled northeast of Parkston. Descendants of this group are referred to as Lehrerleut (Teacher’s people).

Early Daughter Colonies

        The period from 1878 to 1913 was a time of increase in the number of colonies in South Dakota. By the process of branch colonization the three mother colonies established daughter colonies along the James River.

        By 1913, Bon Homme had placed three daughter colonies: old Milltown, old Maxwell, and old Huron. Milltown Colony had two daughters of her own - old Rosedale and old James Valley. Wolf Creek (mother colony of the Dariusleut) had produced five daughters by this time, old Jamesville, old Tschetter, old Spink and Richards. Old Jamesville had a daughter of her own—Yale colony. Branch colonies of Old Elm Springs (Lehrerleut) included old Rockport, New Elm Spring, and Milford. Thus, in 1913, there were 17 Hutterite colonies in South Dakota—6 were Schmiedeleut; 7, Dariusleut; and 4, Lehrerleut.

        (2007) Now there are 180 Schmiedeleut colonies; 156 Dariusleut; and 136 Lehrerleut.

        When the population of a colony reaches 100 to 150 persons, the membership is divided approximately in half. One half remains at the colony site, the other half (the daughter colony) is assisted in setting up a colony at a new location.

Migration to Canada

        Strong sentiment against the Hutterites German culture and conscientious objection to war along with proceedings to annul their corporation charters created a difficult situation for the Hutterites in South Dakota during World War I. As a result, 12 colonies left the states for Canada in 1918. Four more colonies had followed by 1934. Only Bon Homme colony remained.

Present Colonies

        In 1934 Bon Homme started Rockport Colony near Alexandria on the site of a vacated colony. The 1935 Legislature passed a law allowing communal societies to incorporate, and in 1936 one colony returned to South Dakota from Canada.

        Contrary to a common conception, only six of the present South Dakota colonies have come from Canada. The first one to come was New Elm Springs, a granddaughter of Bon Homme, which settled near Ethan. (They branched from Maxwell Colony, MB then to Sundale Colony, “Alsask” from 1932–1935) Another granddaughter, Jamesville, returned from Huron Colony, MB in 1937 to its present site near Utica. (Thorndale “Sharpe” 1924-1929 to Roseile 1929-1937) Tschetter, (from Barrickman to Teulon1934-1936 and back to Barrickman again) founded in 1941, is a great granddaughter of Bon Homme which reoccupied an old colony site near Olivet when it came from Canada. Spink, from Bon Homme, and Huron, from Jamesville, were started in 1944 on old colony sites near Frankfort and Huron, respectively.

        In 1945, Rosedale was established near the Rockport Colony from which it came. During 1948, Glendale, a third Bon Homme granddaughter, came from Canada to locate near Frankfort, Pearl Creek came from Huron, MB and settled near Iroquois, and Maxwell from New Elm Springs, located near Scotland.

        Four colonies began in 1949—Bon Homme started the Platte colony near Academy; Rockport began Riverside north of Huron; Tschetter started Gracevale near Winfred; and Millerdale, a granddaughter of Bon Homme, came from Milltown, MB to a site southwest of Miller. Blumengart, a great-granddaughter of Bon Homme from Blumengart, MB settled north of Wecota the following year. The most recent colony was started in 1955 when Jamesville bought land near Raymond to begin the Clark colony. All of the present 17 South Dakota colonies belong to the Schmiedeleut group.

The first New Elm Springs colony was of the Lehrerleut group; the present New Elm Springs Colony is of the Schmiedeleut group.

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WHAT THEY BELIEVE

        The Hutterites are readily distinguished from their rural neighbors by their garb and mode of life. The men have full beards and black denim clothes. The women wear dark full skirts and headscarves; the colony has a machine shop, communal dining hall, and plain church. All these attest to a people living an unusual life. Why do these people live as they do? To understand the Hutterian way of life it is necessary to know what they believe. 

Central Beliefs

        Dr. Lee Deets, (Lee E. Deets, The Hutterites: A Study in Social Cohesion. Times and News Publishing Co., Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 1939, pp. 16-28.) in his study of Hutterite communities in the 1930’s, found that all sanctioned activity within the community is ordered around central beliefs. Any consideration of their central beliefs would undoubtedly include the following:

The Hutterian way of life is God-sanctioned and God-commanded. Relation to the Diety is governed by the belief that God is the creator, the supreme all-powerful being to whom all else one should give obedience. For them, the Hutterian way of life is sanctioned by an infinitely wise Deity who must be obeyed even to martyrdom. Their beliefs are regarded as expressions of the will of God as revealed through a literal interpretation of the scriptures.

The principle of communal living

        The Hutterites believe in and practice communal living, holding their goods and property in common. Basic to their principle of communal living is the concept of Christian love. They believe that the highest expression of the Christian ideal of brotherly love is possible only through the self-denial and sacrifice that is involved in communal living. The idea constituting the principle of communal living is revealed in a statement from their petition to President Woodrow Wilson in 1918:

        “Our community life is founded on the principle,” 

        “What is mine is thine,” or in other words on brotherly love and humble Christian service, according to Acts 2:44-45; “And all that believed were together, and had all things in common; and sold their possessions and goods and parted them to all men, as every man had need.”

        The importance the Hutterites attach to the principle of communal living is indicated by another statement from the same petition:

        “Our community life is based on God’s Word, and we could not serve God according to the dictates of our conscience if we were not permitted to live together in our communities. Our members would, by the help of God, suffer what He may permit, rather than consent to leave the community life.”

The principle or nonresistance

        Their interpretation of Christianity is that Christians are not to serve in war nor are they to take revenge. The principle or nonresistance is not unique to the Hutterites as it is practiced by other religious sects such as the Quakers and the Amish. Biblical admonitions cited to support the belief in nonresistance include: Luke 2:8-20; Isaiah 2:1-4; Micah 4:1-4: and Romans 12:14-21.

Avoidance and nonconformity

        Hutterites desire, as is also true of such groups as the Amish, to remain as far as possible from the influences of the outside world. Worldly pleasures are to be avoided. The plain, simple life preferred. Christians, according to their belief, should not be conformed to the world (Romans 12:2). Nonconformity is expected in those things in which standards of the world conflict with Bible standards. Their occupation of farming and location of their communities in relatively isolated rural areas help to maintain their principles of avoidance and nonconformity.

Other Related Beliefs

        The preceding enumerated beliefs of the Hutterians are not to be considered all-inclusive. Growing out of and in many ways supporting the central beliefs are many other doctrines which help cement their religious and social structure. Among these are admonitions against pride, patterns of discipline, and restrictions on apparel and ornamentation. These more specific teachings also have scriptural basis and are just as binding as the central beliefs. They help to translate the central beliefs into rules for practical living.

Colony        Parent Colony        Established        Nearby Town        Re-location                Place of Re-location

SCHMIEDELEUT 

Bon Homme        Europe        1874        Tabor                 Never  

Milltown*        Bon Homme        1878        Milltown                 1918-22                Manitoba, Can

Maxwell        Bon Homme        1900        Scotland                 1918                 Manitoba, Can. 

Rosedale        Milltown        1901        Alexandria                 1918                 Manitoba, Can.

Huron        Bon Homme        1906         Huron                 1919                 Manitoba, Can.

James Valley**         Milltown        1907        Huron                 1919                 Manitoba, Can.

Rockport        Bon Homme        1934        Alexandria                 Never

New Elm Springs         Maxwell, MB        1936        Ethan                 Never

Jamesville        Huron, MB        1937        Utica                 Never 

Tschetter        Barrickman, MB        1941        Olivet                 Never

Spink        Bon Homme         1944        Frankfort                 Never

Huron        Jamesville        1944        Huron                 Never

Rosedale        Rockport        1945        Mitchell                 Never

Glendale        Bon Homme, MB        1948        Frankfort                 Never

Pearl Creek        Jamesville        1948        Iroquois                 Never

Maxwell        New Elm Springs        1948        Scotland                 Never

Platte        Bon Homme         1949        Academy                 Never

Riverside        Rockport        1949        Huron                 Never

Gracevale        Tschetter        1949        Winfred                 Never

Millerdale         Milltown, MB        1949        Miller                 Never

Blumengart        Blumengart, MB        1950         Wecota                 Never

Clark        Jamesville        1955        Raymond                 Never

DARIUSLEUT

Wolf Creek*** Europe        1874        Menno                1918                Alberta, Can.

Jamesville        Wolf Creek         1886        Lesterville                1918                Alberta, Can.

Tschetter        Wolf Creek         1896        Menno                1918                Alberta, Can.

Lake Byron****         Wolf Creek         1899        Huron                1918                Alberta, Can.

Spink        Wolf Creek         1905        Frankfort                1918                Alberta, Can.

Richards        Jamesville         1906        Forrestburg                1918                Alberta, Can.

Yale        Wolf Creek        1913        Huron                1918                Alberta, Can.

LEHRERLEUT

Old Elm Springs         Europe        1877        Parkston                1918                Alberta, Can. 

Rockport        Old Elm Springs        1890         Alexandria                1934                Alberta, Can.

New Elm Springs         Old Elm Springs          1900         Parkston                 1918                Alberta, Can.

Milford        Old Elm Springs        1910        Carpenter                1918                Alberta, Can.

        *The Milltown Colony settled first near Tripp, SD, and in 1884 moved to Tidoute, Pennsylvania from where it returned in 1886 to settle near Milltown, SD.

        **The James Valley Colony first settled near Buffalo, SD and in 1912 moved to its site near Huron, SD.

        ***The Wolf Creek Colony first settled near Silver Lake and in 1875 moved to its site near Menno.

        ****The Lake Byron Colony first settled in Manitoba, Canada, and in 1905 the whole colony returned to SD, and settled near Huron. They have a somewhat involved movement between South Dokota and Montana from the period of 1912 to 1936.

SOURCES

        A. J. F. Ziegelschmidt, Das Kleine Geschichtsbuch der Hutterischen Brüder, Carl Schurz Memorial Foundation, Philadelphia, 1947, pp. 460-62. Also Norman Thomas, “The Hutterian Brethren,” South Dakota Historical Collections, Vol. 25, 1951. pp. 273-74, and South Dakota State Council of Defense Report; 1917-1919, pp. 62-63.

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WHEN PEOPLE CAME TO THIS COUNTRY

J. J. Mendel

        The first thing on the program upon arriving at Yankton was to look for an ox team or a team of horses. After a man had a team he slowly wended his way north through the tall grass. Sometimes a horse and an ox were hitched together. The future was dark. There were hopes and anxieties about the qualities of the land. It took much courage to undertake building up and developing of a new and untried region but, all were embued with ambition and enthusiasm. 

        After reaching this locality and picking their homestead, some kind of a home was needed. The sod house or shanty was put up and some mud houses were built. Along the Jim River some had log cabins. They had the timber. Soon small claim shacks began to dot the prairies. For the wall, sod or mud was used and, over the planked roof, loose earth or sod was spread. Later the thatched or straw roof was used on some buildings. In some cases planks of native timber were used. As poor as these old timers were, they had to face blizzards, prairie fires, grasshopper plagues and other ravages of nature. Snowstorms blew snow through the keyhole into the room and piled up inside. There were no plowed fields to stop a prairie fire.

        The people were industrious and soon these shacks were replaced by better homes and family life changed. The home was arranged similar to the homes in Russia. The house had only a dirt floor. A brick kiln separated the house into two rooms. This kiln was called a Russian stove and served them for heating and cooking. The bread was baked in the oven, in long pans. Borst, sauerkraut, baked potatoes, roasted meats etc. were also cooked in the oven. The oven was heated with straw or hay. There was very little furniture in the house and often when visitors came boxes had to be used for seating.

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FAMILY LIFE

        People were simple but sociable. In Russia they lived in villages and the change here made them feel very lonesome. To break lonesomeness they hitched up a team. The whole family would drive to neighbors to spend Sunday afternoon or evening.

        The homestead bride was a modest damsel. No formality on her wedding day! Nobody dreamed of a honeymoon trip or a long write-up in a newspaper. Hand in hand they proceeded to their plain home to share life’s joys and sorrows. A rolling pin, a potato masher and some plain pieces of homemade furniture was all the newlyweds expected and they were satisfied because they knew only simplicity of life.

        Women used a piece of red handkerchief for a hair ribbon, no face powder decorations, simple clothing, no white and brown shoes and a pair of boots (Rohrstiefel) for men. The shoes were bought big enough to save the search for a corn cure. High heels were not known. The stockings mother knitted did not have all kinds of colors, like Jacob’s coat.

        The home was illuminated with tallow dips or candles. The water was pulled up in a bucket from a well. In case of sickness the neighbors were very helpful and accommodating, not only in helping with the work but also in suggesting treatments. They would come and sit through the hours of the night with the afflicted one. It was neighborly duty with them to render this service, which is being done today by a special nurse. In case of death undertakers were unknown. The neighbors would continue their service sitting with the departed, digging the grave, and performing other acts of helpfulness. To charge for this service would have been a disgrace. The coffin was homemade by some local carpenter. Flowers for the coffin were absent. The doctor in those days had to be a real hero to respond to a call 30 or 40 miles away.

        The Christmas spirit moved quietly in those days. A cheap doll for a girl and a cheap toy for a boy. In those days holidays were not as much commercialized as today. The “why” was more impressed on the children.

        On Sunday morning the whole family drove to church, some by horse, some by ox team drawing a lumber wagon. Services were much longer than today. 

        A party who has been a clerk in a Freeman store for almost fifty years says in the old days women came to town twice a year, spring and fall. Store conditions have changed and so have the customers. The customers are harder to satisfy than they used to be because there are so many varieties to select from.

Parents living on the farm who had children of school age found it inconvenient here compared to Russia where they lived in a village. At first the school term was only three months but soon the school year was much longer. Dressing was very simple. Evenings were spent at home by young and old. Fathers were busy making some homemade articles and mothers kept their spinning wheel running. Youngsters were busy making some playthings at home, yet those pioneer children and grandchildren enjoyed life just as much, if not more, than many today who are spoiled by their indulgences.

        In those early days people believed in going to bed early. They believed in the saying, “Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” When one borrowed money from another, the man who borrowed the money took the money and the note so he would know when the note was due. That shows their honesty and confidence in each other.

        The children were always under home influence while today so many are under outside influence. The auto contributes much to this change. We do not want to be a calamity howler but, it’s an actual fact, in pioneer days the people, young and old, were more content and more grateful than now with all our modern conveniences and the highest standard of living in the world, and possessing the highest degree of intelligence attainable. This “push button age” is not enough appreciated by our present generation. A person must go through hardship before he can appreciate good days. Too many are born today with a golden spoon in their mouth.

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PIONEER FARMING

        Early day farming was a matter of hard work and very limited return for your sweat, just barely sufficient for food supply and a few dollars in cash. These settlers were all farmers in the old country and they were determined to stick to that occupation here in America. They knew how to operate a farm in the old country but it was like an experiment station to them here. No county agent could be consulted for advice. The government had three methods of granting land. The government was very anxious to have the land settled. A man or woman had a chance to file on a homestead. Filing fee was $14.00 and you had to live on the land. You could also file on a timber claim and plant 10 acres of trees. You could also file on preemption after you filed on a homestead. It cost $200.00 to prove a timber claim. If one could prove that someone did not live on his homestead, the title could be contested. They were called “claim jumpers” and were very unpopular. In the early days when land was opened for settlement people rushed for land like thirsty cattle to a pond.

        The first thing a farmer needed was a walking plow to turn the sod. The power to pull the plow was usually an ox team. Today if you want more power you give more gas. At that time they used a bigger whip or twisted oxtail for more power. Other machines needed were a seeder and a drag. Much sowing was done by hand. They also needed a grass mower, rake, and harvester for cutting the grain. For the binding straw was used as long as the binding was done by hand. In a few years the self-binder was invented. At first wire was used for binding but they changed to twine binding because cattle died due to wire in the straw. Mice and crickets liked the change. For corn planting the hand planter was used and some claimed to plant as many as 9 acres a day. They worked long hours in the early days. 9 acres meant walking many miles in plowland.

        Threshing seemed to have a social side for the young people because there was a crew of some 20 people. If not enough beds, some slept in the haymow. Mother had to work hard to feed the crew. The machine was driven by horsepower, 5 to 7 teams walking in a circle. They protected gardens by a ditch around the garden to keep livestock out. Labor was paid 75 cents a day or $15.00 a month. To get a supply of flour, wheat was taken to the mill and exchanged for flour.

        In the early days people cooperated without a Co-op. Co. organization. If a building was lost all the neighbors helped to build it without pay. The winter of 1880-1881 had many snowstorms and the snow on the flat roofs of the barns of mud and sod often caved in and the cows had to be taken out of the barn through the roof.

        The closest market was Yankton and produce was hauled to Yankton by ox team. Wheat was sold for 40 cents a bushel, eggs 6 cents, butter 6 cents. But, the time from 1890 to 1900 improved much. Old homes and barns were replaced by new ones, more modern machinery was used. Steam engines were being used, and gasoline engines came in for threshing and other purposes. More buggies and carriages were bought. Salaries for teachers varied from, $16 to $50 a month. Around 1900 land price raised to $50 an acre and many went north to file on land. What would the old pioneer, who went to his eternal resting place some 65 years ago, say if he would see the present conditions: Ñairplanes flying, autos moving 90 miles per hour, combines cutting and threshing the grain, when he had to cut, bind, shock, stack and thrash his grain. Or, compare the tractor plowing to ox-team plowing or the conveniences in the house: the electric washer, ironing, etc. Hauling the grain to Yankton at 40 cents a bushel seems trouble enough.

        The year 1879 when the first train whistle was heard in Freeman ended much trouble and developed many wonderful improvements. The first train whistle in Freeman was sweeter music to the old timers than anything that was ever sung here since that time, and we know how much good singing is heard in Freeman.

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WHY SOME MOVED NORTH,

        Land raised in price and young people went north to file on land. By 1900 land sold at $15 to $25 an acre.,

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THINGS WORTH KNOWING

        It’s amusing looking back to your childhood days and hearing the sound of the coffee grinder in the kitchen early in the morning. In the early days they always bought green coffee. Another thing to think about is the burning of hay and straw for heating. When bedtime came the stove was filled up with hay or straw but the next morning when the fire was started there was ice in the water pail. Those lucky enough to have flax straw were on easy street because it gave more heat. In those days they had no rugs, and the ashes on the floor were no bother. Seeding was done by hand and when harvest time came grain was cut. You grabbed a handful of grain, made your straw band tied it around the grain, and dropped it to the ground. The harvester machine did the cutting and it took 3 men to do the binding. Today the combine goes over the grain and its ready for the market.                                          

We hear so much these days about cyclones. The first cyclone was seen here on August 28, 1884. It moved from the Clayton vicinity towards the Neu Hutterthal Church vicinity in the afternoon and killed Elias Wipf, 74 years old, his daughter in law Mary and her 8 year old son, and caused much damage at different farms.

To give you an idea how different conditions were in the early days, my uncle and teacher D. J. Mendel taught school at $16.00 a month. When we started teaching in 1898 our salary was $35.00 a month. We taught for four years and the last year received $50.00 a month. This gives you an idea how conditions changed.

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CHANGES SINCE 1875

        This settlement is 80 years old and nearly everything has changed except the beautiful sunshine. We have today the same beautiful sunshine the pioneers had 80 years ago and the same climate. These two things man cannot change. They remain the way the Creator made them. The best way to realize the many changes is by enumerating them, and we shall try to mention at least some of them.

        The ironing was done by heating the flat iron on the stove. Now the electric power is used.

        Buffalo chips were gathered for fuel. 

        Nobody talked about garages or airports or filling stations.

Eggs were brought in from the farm in a pail filled with oats. If they didn’t like the eggs you could always sell the oats.

        Young men went to the city to learn the English language. Jacob Hieb of Marion, and John Schamber went to Sioux City to learn the English language.

        There was no wristwatch or alarm clock. The farmer unloaded his corn with a small shovel. There was no elevator.

         There were no farm organizations. Today a farmer spends much time at his writing desk to fill out all kinds of papers.

        Limestones were gathered on the farm river hills and converted into lime after being placed on the fire in an oven for some 10 days and nights, and used for building.

        Women and girls were doing considerable fieldwork. The Spinning wheel was also kept busy so the girls had warm stockings when winter came.

        Twisted hay was used for the stove.

        Compare the plowing with an ox-team and a walking plow in the early days to plowing with a tractor. The man sitting under an umbrella steering the tractor and sometimes even listening to his radio while plowing.

        Vacations and 8-hour days were unknown in the early days and how could they go out and travel by ox team? Today it’s an annual affair with most of the people.

        In the early days when milking was done the milk had to be placed where it was cool, then skimmed, churned, and taken to the market. Today we have the milking machine. The electric button is pressed to start the separator, and the creamery man calls daily to take the cream.

        In the early days farmers raised broomcorn and made their own brooms. Many of the early settlers had no wooden floor for years. The mud floor was strewn with sand to keep it smooth and easier for sweeping. Today their children use the electric carpet sweeper.

        They used twisted hay and straw when they had no wood to fill up the stove. Today they turn on the electric switch or the bottle gas stove.

        Yeast was made at home. Today if the store has no yeast the only substitute is bread from the bakery.

        The girls never dreamed of an artificial complexion in the pioneer days. There were just as many pretty girls as now, and maybe more. Girls used to have braids. Now they have bobbed hair and permanents.

         Farmers started to work at 5 in the morning and worked till dark. Lunch was brought out between meals. Now they don’t quit even at dark some days but run the tractor all night to make up time to go on vacation.

        12 teams and a large force of men were needed to operate a threshing machine. Now the combine cuts, shocks, threshes and one man operates the machine.

        Tallow dipped candles were used for light. Now you press a button and you have light.

        Water was pulled from the well in buckets. Now you turn on the faucet and you have the water.

        Men in business had to add long columns of figures. Now the adding machines do it.

        Compare the washday with the washboard to the present electric washer.

        The simple life was preached by Teddy Roosevelt about how to find pleasure in work, but it was actually practiced by the pioneers long before him.

        When the supply of molasses was low mother took a jug to the store and it was filled up from the big barrel. Some had their homemade molasses. Sugar cane was planted and hauled to the syrup press where the syrup was prepared. One press was located in Wittenberg and one at the Wolf Creek Colony. These two served the vicinity.

        Meat was salted and smoked to prepare it for keeping. Now they take it to the locker and put it in the deep freeze.

        Sidewalks were made from planks and the cracks were big enough for a high-heeled shoe to get stuck in the crack but, at that time shoes had big heels and nobody was bothered. If by accident a man dropped a piece of silver money and it rolled into the crack the plank was raised and the money was not lost. Weeds grew up through the cracks on Main Street. How much different now!

        Stores trusted everybody, never took an inventory, placed orders almost a year ahead and made money. With the changing styles today you cannot do it that way. Now orders are phoned in in the morning to be sure to get the article in the afternoon.

        Swan Lake was a very important place for people here. They had a branch land office. Min. Paul F. Gross served on the star route between Freeman and Swan Lake.

        Women folks had to sew, knit and run the spinning wheel besides cooking. Today with a sewing machine and all conveniences they get more time to attend society clubs.

        The first few years no interest was taken in politics. Now you can meet a little pinheaded politician almost on every street corner before election.

        Money was very scarce in the early days and the rate of interest high. The highest interest on record that was charged was 60 percent.

        As an optimist and a hustler, never forget the early merchant. He had long hours from early till late in the night every day.

        With poor transportation some articles got very scarce at times. In 1876 kerosene sold in Deadwood at $10.00 a gallon. They had a pony express from St. Joseph, Mo., to San Francisco, Calif.

        In the early days farmers raised many wagonloads of watermelons. Every spring much sod was turned and the seed was planted in the soil and no more cultivation was needed. Today it’s not so easy to raise watermelons. Even county agents cannot stop weeds from growing.

        The menu was simple in the early days. Sauerkraut, borst, homemade bacon, homemade cookies, etc. Nobody was operated on, or had high blood pressure so people must have lived right. They ate to live and now live to eat. A prominent hospital physician told us not long ago that he is wondering why there is not more sickness as little attention as people pay to their diet. Anything that tickles the palate is swallowed regardless of consequences.

        In the early days every man in town had a cow for the milk supply. The boy had to feed and water the cow after school and mornings, and also keep the barn clean. It was also his job to see that the wood box was filled. Once in a while you heard Mama say, “This is the last time I tell you Sonny, to have that wood box filled.” This training of the boy to work was worth much more than the milk. Not long ago a disease among cows was reported in a large city and people began to worry. A city boy said, “We don’t need to worry, we get our milk from the bottle.” But our boys know the milk in the bottle comes from the cow. In the early days, in many cases, the boy went to the farm when school closed and learned to work on the farm during the summer. No doubt he got just as much good out of that training as any boy scout today.

        The stockyards were always a busy place. Kids are always anxious to see something and all of us remember how a gang of kids would sit on the high wooden fences and watch the buyers and farmers unload stock.

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PIONEER LIFE

        Pioneer Life on the Dakota prairies was not easy, especially for those who had experienced the luxuries of their Russian homes.

        When the early settlers came there were no landmarks to designate where one section ended and another began. They had to take a surveyor along to locate the sections of land, for as far as the eye could see there was nothing but tall grass and no sign of any road. That is why the fathers had to take a surveyor along to mark the corners of the sections by little mounds of dirt and numbered poles.

                Supplies had to be brought from Yankton, fifty miles away. There was no city or village any closer, except perhaps the one at Swan Lake. Sioux Falls did not exist. The trip to Yankton had to be made with horse and wagon or possibly oxen. It took a day to drive to Yankton. A day was spent in making the purchases and then another day to return. Water also was a big problem. It had to be hauled sometimes a great distance.

        They plowed up the sod and with the sod they laid the walls of their homes. Even the ends were laid up into the gable. This was covered with boards and sod was placed on the roof which would not permit the heat to escape in the winter. These houses did not have a floor, only a roof. They were warm homes for the winter but, they were built no larger than necessary.

        The sod had to be broken with horses or oxen. Then came the task of removing the many rocks, both large and small. For years one could see large piles of rocks on every farm. Tons of rocks had been laboriously gathered, hauled on a stone boat, and then dumped on these piles. Now with the advent of the bulldozer, many of these piles have been deeply buried to make room for better farming.

        Then there was the great scourge of prairie fires. Fireguards had to be plowed around homes and feed stacks. One old grandmother, who as a girl went through these experiences, tells how one day a fire was seen approaching. Hurriedly, the valuable things like bedding and chairs were put into the well, hoping to save them, even if the house would be consumed. The house was saved but, a spark landed in the well and the valuable possessions therein were destroyed.

         Fuel also was hard to get. Some was found along the river, but that involved hard work and hauling. Hay was made not only for feed, but also for fuel, for this took the place of coal for the winter. Buffalo chips or cow dung was also gathered. The old Russian stoves were so built that prairie hay and marsh grass, as well as straw, could be burned to heat the homes and to cook the meals. In the upper part of the cavernous chimneys, almost a room in itself, were hung the hams and bacon to be smoked. Within the chimney was found a smaller stove on which the food was cooked.

        Blizzards also added to the dangers of early pioneer life. One old pioneer tells how during the blizzard of 1881 he was caught out in the pasture. It was futile to try to drive the cattle or to find his way home. He got down on his hands and knees and with his bare fingers felt for the depressions made by the cattle going to and from the creek to the barn. Thus he found his way back to the barn and safety.

        Being a religious people, determined that their faith should be preserved for their children, the Russian Mennonites organized churches and established schools from the start. We began our day school immediately, November 1875. This school continued until 1879. Peter Goertz was teacher. Teacher Goertz also started a Sunday School in 1878. The Sunday School met on Sunday afternoon during the summer months. The sessions lasted about two hours. Some of these children, now grown, tell of how they were taken to certain homes for their instruction in the fundamentals of learning. Some were left in the home of the schoolteacher to board with him for the school term. These early settlers clung tenaciously to the German language. It was used both in school and church but, the daily language was Low German.

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MEMORANDA

by John P. Kleinsasser

        My parents came to this country from Russia in 1879. We originated in Switzerland. Finally, at the invitation of Catherine the Great, our people went to Russia. People that don’t like me have called me a dumb Russian, until the time of the Sputnik.

        My parents came to Yankton. From there by oxen, my father bought lumber and settled on the SWA of Section 11-99-56. I still live on that place.

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Stories

        Father built a sod house. The floor was good South Dakota dirt. Father often told me he shot prairie chickens from the door of the house. Antelope often came to eat some of the crops. The lakes and rivers were filled with fish, and nobody bothered you if you fished with a net. A group of farmers would go to the James River to fish and often caught tons of fish. The fish were packed in snow on the north side of the house. Fish could be had anytime. As soon as the house was built and the family moved, my parents started breaking some sod. My brother Jake told me how the parents would break the sod. Father staked out the land. Mother led the oxen. Father steered the plow. My brother Paul had a long stick to drive the oxen. My sisters Elizabeth and Anna planted Squaw corn, melons, and pumpkins.

        The town of Marion had a flourmill. The people from North Freeman would go there to have wheat ground. The story is told of a farmer who could not read or speak English went to Marion for flour. About a mile out of Marion he read a sign which said “Marion one mile,” read it “Marion ohne Mülle.” So he turned around and went back home. History did not record what his wife told him when he came home without the flour.

        My mother’s parents lived about 3 miles from our home as the crow flies. She wanted to visit her mother as many young married women do. Two oxen were hitched to the wagon and mother and the children were put into the wagon. Mother directed the oxen with a haw and gee. Everything went well till they came to the lake on Johnny Gross’ land. The oxen were hot and thirsty so they went into the lake with the wagon and mother and the children. The oxen could not be moved until they had cooled off.

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Prairie Fires and the Grasshoppers

        Prairie fires were rather common. My parents had the cows staked out for pasture north of our home. Mother saw the smoke from a prairie fire. She ran out where the cows were, cut the rope and saved the cows.

        Another time, our barn started burning. Father had the livestock in the barn. He could not get the sheep out any other way except to bodily pick them up and throw them out. When the door was opened the sheep would come back in. He got badly burned in that fire.

        Father said that there were so many grasshoppers they clouded the sun and naturally ate all the crops, grass and all.

        Our farm has always been in a hail streak. Father was farming 5 quarters of land. One day he had made one or two rounds with the binder when the hail came and beat the whole crop into the ground. We usually had hail once or twice in three years.

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Snowstorms

        1888 was the year of the big snowstorms. Father said that the well was covered with snow fourteen feet deep. He dug steps in the snow down to the mouth of the well, pulled up the water, then walked up the steps to water the livestock. The snow was so deep that if one got off the beaten track he would sink into the snow and had a hard time getting back. Father hauled straw from someone east of our place. He had four oxen hitched up. He would tie the straw with ropes to make a bundle out of it then dragged it home that way. If one of the oxen would get off the road he had to be pulled back with the other oxen team.

        During the winter he took mother home to her mother. Father said it was very cold but the windows of the house never froze. He had no fire in the house so it was nearly as cold inside as it was outside.

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Summer Time

        The grass was so tall that if a cow or horse would lay down they could not be seen or found until they would get up. The grass was used for fuel. The grass was twisted into rope and then the fire was fed. The women and men were busy making a living so they were happy. Later there was quite an advance made in fuel. They used cow chips. Another method was to make blocks out of well-tramped sheep manure. It would be dried and used for fuel. A few acres of crops were planted. Father told me that there was a field of corn but, before it could be harvested, the wild ducks ate it all. If he would shoot at them on one end of the field they would fly to the other end until the whole field of corn was devoured.

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Threshing

        The first threshing machine had a straw carrier and a man on the straw pile pushing the straw away. The strings had to be cut by hand and the machine fed by hand. The grain was all sacked and usually stored upstairs in the house or barn. The machine was driven by horsepower. Six pairs of horses were hitched to the power. Later the machines were driven by a stationary gas engine. Some also used the steam engine. Threshing was always a community affair. If it rained that put a stop to threshing. One morning they looked out and the yard was covered with water so the threshers went back to sleep. When they woke up later they found out it had not rained at all but somebody had drained the water tank. The man on the straw pile often wanted water so he would yell “ho” and the horses would stop, then the man on the straw pile would get his drink. Then, everything had to start over again.

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Education

        Education was rather meager. Many of the people could only speak German. Around the Bridgewater area a traveler stopped at the farmhouse and asked where Bridgewater was. The boy ran to the house and told his mother the man wants bread and water “Brot and Wasser”. To poke fun at someone who had been in school and had not made good, a few stories are told. Stories are told about the farmer who had many cows. He had one son so he sent him to school. He did not do so well so he came home before the end of school. One day a neighbor was visiting and he noticed most of the man’s cows were gone. The son was just then walking across the yard and the farmer said, “That ox took all the cows.”

        Another farmer sent his son to school and when he came home he started a chicken ranch. A few days after the chicks were hatched he came to one of the neighbors and said his chicks were dying. The neighbor asked him what he was feeding them. The young man said, “Why feed them, don’t they suck???”

        Butchering was an event for celebrating. Several families would be invited to come and help butcher. Usually several hogs and a cow or steer would be butchered. I remember a butchering for one of my brother’s wedding. A few days before the wedding a big, fat cow was butchered. In the Bridgewater area a hog was butchered then the men went for some refreshments. When they came back the hog was gone. One of the men rode to the neighbors and asked him if he had seen a dead hog running around.

        The weddings usually lasted three days. Saturday was preparation day, Sunday the wedding, then Monday was clean up day. If it was time for a young man to get married, the boy’s parents and some close friends would go to the girl’s home and ask for the bride. They called it “aufreden.” Usually it had been pretty well arranged before hand and the young couple were engaged. Sometimes it misfired and the young man had to go home without getting engaged. At the weddings there usually were refreshments other than water. The European custom of having beverages served had not been forgotten. The saloons were patronized by some. When someone went to town he would usually go with a wagonload of wheat and come home with just a load on.

        One day a man living west of Freeman went to town with a load of wheat. He needed some dynamite to blast rocks. He bought the dynamite, put the box on the seat of the wagon, got a few more refreshments and started for home. After a while he fell asleep. The horses knew the way home and everything went well until one horse got tired so they got to the side of the road. The wagon wheel hit a hole by the culvert and the farmer fell off. When he woke up he saw the box of dynamite coming down after him. It is said he was stark sober in a flash. The dynamite did not explode. 

        A few personal experiences: When I was 6 years old I started herding sheep. We had several hundred so my sister Katherine and I were to watch the sheep. For nothing better to do we changed clothing and whenever the sheep would go astray I would run to get them to the right place again. That night I got a good licking because I did not do my share of herding. The folks had watched from at home and the one with the dress on had done most of the running after the sheep. I didn’t play that game anymore.

        When I was seven years old my father took me to a 4th of July celebration. For spending money he gave me a dime. When I came home he asked me what I had done with all the money. I also remember that I could not speak enough English to converse with the other boys in town. The best fisherman in town and I went fishing one night in the James River. We set the seines but did not get a single fish. In the morning he said, “I never go home without fish.” While I did the watching for the game warden he took his hoop net and in a short time had half a sack of fish. I went to country school. One morning the mirror showed me that I had the measles. I did not want to stay home from school so I didn’t tell my parents. I drove a horse to school hitched to an open sled. I faced a raw north wind, and when I got to school the measles were gone and so far have not returned.

        As a boy, I usually had something to sell. I remember selling socks and stockings for a firm in Penna. Then I went to selling bluing. When the package came I put it on the windowsill. That night it rained and the bluing got wet and by morning the packages had become unusable. Things went on for a while then I began to get threatening letters from the Bluing Co. The last one said that if I didn’t pay in 5 days they would give the case over to our own state’s attorney for collection. I didn’t have any money and I was sure I was going to jail. My brother Ike was home that summer. He must have noticed that my spirits were quite low. He asked me what was the matter. I told him my troubles. He said that if I worked hard all summer he would take care of my case so I didn’t have to go to jail. You never saw a more helpful boy in your life than I was that summer. I later found out that the state’s attorney mentioned in the letter had been dead for many years.

        People ask me what my mother fed me. It was meat, potatoes and bread.

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Clearing Land

        Our land has always had many rocks. In order not to break up the machinery and in fact break the sod, the rocks had to be cleared. My mother was a pleasingly plump lady. Her weight was put to good use when the large boulders had to be dug out of the ground. She would sit on a timber or crow bar while father would loosen the rock. We had many little stone piles on the farm.

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Blizzard of 1888

        One of my uncle’s had had no water at home for his cattle so he had to take them to his brother for water. He took the cattle on that fateful morning but none ever came home alive. After the storm the cattle were found dead, spread over the prairie. Their nostrils were packed with snow and they all suffocated.

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Threshing

        I remember one time we had hired someone to do our threshing. Father then was sickly. He did most of his supervising from the buggy. He drove up to the machine and he told the operator there was something wrong with his machine. Father suggested that he stop the machine and look at the shakers and sieves. The operator said, “I’m running this machine.” In a few minutes many of his sieves broke. He was repairing the machine for three days. Father had operated threshing machines for many years and had a very keen ear to hear if the machine was operating smoothly. In place of using a jeep or pickup to drive to the field for an inspection father would use a buggy with one horse hitched to it. I usually did the driving for him. He told me many stories of things that happened in Russia and the early days here but I paid little attention to them. When I would drive and hit a rock, he would say, “Turn around and see whether you can hit it harder.”

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Story Telling

        Very few books were read. There were a few of our group who would read books. Some novels were read then. A group of men would come for a visit. The one who had read the story was the guest of honour. Sometimes it would take a whole evening to tell a story. As a boy I would go along and listen to the stories. If the story teller would tell a ghost story I was very scared. In fact, being scared of ghosts has never left me. Even today I am uneasy when I go past a cemetery.

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Schools

        Schools were started soon after the settlers came. A school house was built on our farmstead. The teachers were sometimes men who had nothing else to do or who couldn’t do any other work. I remember the parents speaking of one who had only one leg. When the pupils had a new word that they could not pronounce, he would tell them to repeat it.

        The ministers were usually the most successful farmers. They did not get any pay so they had to be good farmers to make enough money and also to have the respect of the people. Most people measured success by how much money you could make and how much land you had.

        I remember attending the school on our place or rather, going there in the morning. I was 4 years old and mother wanted to get some of her work done so she sent me to school. In a few hours I was hungry and I wanted to go home. I had learned to say, “May I go out.” As soon as I was outside I would crawl past the window and run home. For a joke the teacher would sometimes come out and call me back. Then I had to do it all over again.

        My father got 160 acres of land for a homestead and 160 for a tree claim. Each farmer had to plant 10 acres of trees then he got the 160 acres of land. I don’t know if my father had a pre-emption claim. That was another way to get some land. Those claims cost some money. I think it was $2.00 an acre.

        My mother was a midwife and when a baby was due to arrive she was much in demand. Many of the babies born in that period were brought to the world with the help of my mother. 

        Often gypsies would stop at the farmhouse and beg for something to eat. Mother would never let anybody leave our place hungry. The gypsies would pay for their food by playing some instruments so the children had entertainment and the gypsies had food. 

        The men of the road would also stop for food. Often we found a stone on a post. That was a sign that here you could get food. Some people would call those men tramps or hobo’s. 

        During the last Indian uprising the story got around that the Indians were coming to this part of the state. The doors were bolted overnight and many people were sure they would be attacked and scalped.

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Blood Letting

        There seemed to been a belief that blood letting would cure any disease. The blood letting was done by pricking the skin on the back with a sharp piercing instrument that made many small holes. Then, a cup was put on which worked through sucking. Often a pint or more was taken from a person. Maybe that’s where our blood bank came from. Maybe the blood letters were as successful as doctors are now. You have to believe — as our Saviour said, “Your faith has made you well.”

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TIMELINE IN AMERICA,

(Copied from J. J. Mendel’s diary

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1874

        In July 1874 the first Hutterite people arrived in South Dakota and it’s providential guidance that brought them to South Dakota. The two Hutterites delegates, Min. Paul Tschetter and his uncle Lorentz Tschetter who were sent to America from Russia in 1873, to find a new home, selected a location in the Red River Valley in North Dakota. When the first Hutterites arrived in New York the land agents got busy and directed them to Lincoln, Nebraska, where they stayed one month then moved to South Dakota. Had they located in the Red River Valley, N. Dak. and settled on private farms there would be very little left of them as a people today. The Swiss people in East Freeman and the Low Germans at Silver Lake protested them, more or less, against outside influence in church and social life. In the course of time these Hutterites on farms joined Mennonite conferences. 

        Bon Homme Colony was established on their present location and Wolf Creek Colony was established east of Silver Lake. In West Freeman the Hutterdorf people settled on private farms. Min. Michael Waldner and Joseph Waldner were the leaders of Bon Homme Colony. 

        In 1875 the New Hutterthal people arrived from Russia and settled south of Bridgewater, and some in the Jim River Valley. The Wolf Creek Colony, at that time known as the Dariusleut, settled at Silver Lake. In 1875 they left Silver Lake and bought the Wolf Creek Colony place for $750.00. Min. Darius Walter was their leader. 

        Lorentz Tschetter who was one of the two delegates to America to find a location died that year at the age of 59 years. 

        Min. Michael Waldner and Joseph Waldner of the Bon Homme Colony went to Russia to induce the Hutterites still there to join the colony upon arriving here instead or locating on private farms. 

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1877

The Hutterites kept on arriving from Russia and in 1877 Elm Spring Colony was established with 17 families and the leaders were Min. Jacob Wipf and Min. Peter Hofer.

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1878

By this time some grain was raised but the closest market was Yankton about. 35 miles away. 

At that time many prairie fires destroyed buildings.

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1879

This year all the Hutterites still in Johanneruh and Hutterthal arrived from Russia and settled between Bridgewater and Freeman.

This year the railroad was build through here and Freeman was started on the homestead of Fred Waldner

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1880

This was a very dry year and people were discouraged. Some even talked about going back to Russia.

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1881

This was a cold winter and we had many snowstorms. Trains did not run for months. Hay sold for $20.00 a ton. Crops were poor, wheat had rust and the yield was 3 to5 bushels to the acre.

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1882

Darius and Jacob Walter of the Wolf Creek Colony went to Oregon to look for a new location where the climate was mild because we went through the severest winter. But Oregon did not appeal to them.

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1884

Tripp Colony sold and 19 families move to Pennsylvania. They stayed At the Rappish Colony. After 2 years they returned to SD and bought Milltown Colony.

Frank Wollmann went to Russia to his uncle for some money.

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1886

Several families from Bon Homme Colony which went to Pennsylvania about two years ago have returned to SD and established Milltown Colony. Wolf Creek Colony bought the Jamesville mill place and established Jamesville Colony. (Where today, the Schmiedeleut Jamesville Colony is located).

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1888

On January 12 was that big blizzard that will always be remembered and 128 people lost their lives in SD.

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1889

Prediger Michael Waldner, the founder of Bon Homme Colony died.

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1890

A Prairieleut girl, Mary Glanzer joined Bon Homme Colony and married Andrew Kleinsasser. (Ancestors of the MB Huron Kleinsassers)

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1892

Paul Gross was shot at the Bon Homme Colony island and died.

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1894

This year was a total crop failure. Cows sold from $10 to $15 per head, sheep 90 cents because there was no feed. A mild winter saved the livestock that was left. The country furnished seed wheat in the spring of 1895.

The Joseph Waldner family left Milltown Colony during church service.

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1895

A fair crop was raised this year.

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1898

Nine couples were married at Wolf Creek Colony that year.

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1900

In 1900 nearly all colonies had syrup presses to make molasses from sugar canes. Wolf  Creek Colony had the syrup press – many loads of canes were unloaded there.

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1901

The body of a Prairieleut man has been found near Yankton, cast ashore by the Missouri River. It is thought to be John Wipf who disappeared from Bon Homme Colony on Jan. 8.

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1905

It has been decided to construct a telephone line north of Freeman as far north as Jacob L. Hofer with about 18 farmers on the line.

Nineteen families left for Beadle and Spink Counties with their household goods and machinery from Freeman and some from Dolton and Bridgewater where they will make their homes. The Wolf Creek Colony has purchased 2640 acres and some will move to Spink County. Names among the nineteen families are: Jacob J. Walter, Dave Walter, Joseph Walter, Joseph G. Gross, and Jacob D. Hofer loaded from Freeman. Math Glanzer Sr., A. M. Glanzer, and Sam M. Glanzer loaded in Dolton, and Geo. W. Gross, Jacob T. and Joseph T. Hofer, sons of Joshua Hofer took train at Bridgewater. John Tschetter Sr., and sons Joshua and John of the Tschetter Colony and Christ Hofer and Andrew Wipf of the Wolf Creek Colony left on the same day for new home in Spink County. Paul Wipf and Geo. Hofer of the Wolf Creek Colony left for Beadle where the Colony owned a 3000 acre farm. Henry Walter and Chist Waldner moved down from Dominion of Canada. He moved to the Beadle Colony. 

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1908

The Elm Spring Colony caught 21 wagon boxes of fish.

Quite a few sold corn for 50 cents a bushel.

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1911,

A Sunday School Class was started at the New Hutterthal Church and has an attendance of 30 girls and 45 boys.

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1913

The cost of the auto license from July 1, to Jan 1, is $3.00.

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1916

Close to 4,000 bull heads were placed in Silver Lake.

The Rosedale Colony caught 19 double boxes (Dubel-baxes) of fish. People were well supplied.

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1917

The Wolf Creek Colony sold 850 pigeons in town and have some 3,000 left.

Mrs. Sarah Stahl of Tschetter Colony, who broke her leg in an accident, had to have it amputated and she passed away in the hospital the following day.

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1918

A telegram was received by Joshua Hofer from the War Department that his son Jake was killed in France on October 16.

Two sons of Jacob Hofer of Rockport Colony died in a Washington camp.

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1922

The body of Jacob J. Hofer who was killed in action in France has arrived, accompanied by a soldier.

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1926

Thirty-one souls came up from Wolf Creek Colony near Freeman and will make Lake Byron Colony their home now.

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1957 Census of Schmiedeleut Colonies in USA and 1958 Census of MB Colonies.

1874        Bon Homme                Tabor, SD                90

1918        Bon Homme                Elie, MB                155

1918        Huron                        Benard, MB                123

1918        James Valley                Starbuck, MB                98

1918        Maxwell                        Headingly, MB                135

1918        Milltown                Benard, MB                84

1918        Rosedale                Elie, MB                206

1919        Iberville                        Elie, MB                131

1920        Barrickman                Headingly, MB                124

1922        Blumengart                Plum Coulee, MB        107

1934        Rockport                Alexandria, SD                123

1934        Elm River                Newton Siding, MB        105

1934        Riverside                Arden, MB                81

1935        Waldheim                Elie, MB                106

1936        New Elm                 Springs        Ethan, SD        145

1937        Jamesville                Utica, SD                95

1938        Poplar Point                Poplar Point, MB                151

1938        Sturgeon Creek                Headingly, MB                104

1942        Tschetter                Olivet, SD                144

1942        Sunnyside                Newton Siding, MB        125

1944        Huron                        Huron, SD                135

1944        New Rosedale                Portage la Prairie, MB        195

1945        Rosedale                Mitchell, SD                114

1945        Spink                        Frankfort, SD                142

1946        Lakeside                Headingly, MB                126

1946        Riverdale                Gladstone, MB                140

1947        Rocklake                Grosse Isle, MB                124

1948        Gracevale                Winfred, SD                104

1949        Glendale                Frankfort, SD                130

1949        Maxwell                 Scotland, SD                113

1949        Millerdale                Miller, SD                74

1949        Pearl Creek                Iroquois, SD                130

1949        Platte                        Academy, SD                102

1949        Riverside                Huron, SD                80

1950        Blumengard                Wecota, SD                73

1950        Springfield                Anola, MB                126

1954        Bloomfield                Westbourne, MB                65

1954        Crystal Springs                St. Agathe, MB                91

1954        Oak Bluff                Morris, MB                89

1955        Clark                        Raymond, SD                75

1956        Greenwald                Dencross, MB                92

1956        Spring Valley                Brandon, MB                87

1958        Rose Valley                Graysville, MB                69

Total population of American Colonies is 1,869.

Total population  of MB Colonies is 3,039

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2006 Census of Schmiedeleut MB Colonies

2002        Acadia        Carberry, MB        69

1971        Airport        Portage la Prairie, MB        84

1988        Aspenheim,         Bagot, MB        61

1973        Baker        MacGregor, MB        87

1920        Barrickman        Cartier, MB        107

1954        Bloomfield        Westbourne, MB        94

1998        Blue Clay        Arnaud, MB        88

1922        Blumengart        Plum Coulee, MB        98

1918        Bon Homme        Elie, MB        119

1997        Boundry Lane        Elkhorn, MB        48

1995        Brantwood        Oakville, MB        112

1959        Brightstone        Lac Du Bonnet, MB        89

1974        Broad Valley        Arborg, MB        79

2006        Can Am        Margaret, MB        68

1994        Cascade        MacGregor, MB        68

1983        Clearview        Elm Creek, MB        87

1960        Clearwater        Balmoral, MB        67

1987        Concord        Winnipeg, MB        96

1988        Cool Spring        Minnedosa, MB        88

1954        Crystal Spring        Ste. Agathe, MB        148

1975        Cypress        Cypress River, MB        123

1981        Decker        Decker, MB        125

1959        Deerboine        Alexander, MB        83

1987        Delta        Austin, MB        125

1934        Elm River        Newton Siding, MB        108

1975        Evergreen        Somerset, MB        146

1959        Fairholme        Portage La Prairie, MB        69

1995        Fairway        Douglas, MB        45

1966        Glenway        Dominion City, MB        100

1989        Good Hope        Portage La Prairie, MB        84

1959        Grand        Oakville, MB        112

1974        Grass River        Glenella, MB        94

1991        Green Acres        Wawanesa, MB        108

1955        Greenwald        Beausejour, MB        98

1996        Heartland        Hazelridge, MB        103

1968        Hidden Valley        Austin, MB        104

1959        Hillside        Justice, MB        51

1975        Holmfield        Killarney, MB        95

1962        Homewood        Starbuck, MB        94

1918        Huron        Elie, MB        46

1919        Iberville        Elie, MB        113

1961        Interlake        Teulon, MB        73

1918        James Valley        Elie, MB        118

1997        Kamsley        Somerset, MB        80

1993        Keystone        Warren, MB        62

1946        Lakeside        Cartier, MB        103

Building        Little Creek        Marquette, MB

1981        Maple Grove        Lauder, MB        90

1972        Marble Ridge        Hodgson, MB        117

1918        Maxwell        Cartier, MB        100

1973        Mayfair        Killarney, MB        131

1966        Miami        Morden, MB        112

1994        MillsHof        Glenboro, MB        82

1918        Milltown        Elie, MB        88

1996        Netley        Petersfield, MB        86

1944        New Rosedale        Portage La Prairie, MB        119

1974        Newdale        Brandon, MB        134

1977        Newhaven        Argyle, MB        94

1993        Norquay        Oakville, MB        76

1998        Northern Breeze        Portage La Prairie, MB        60

1952        Oak Bluff        Morris, MB        83

1998        Oak River        Oak River, MB        53

1969        Oakridge        Holland, MB        76

1995        Odanah        Minnedosa, MB        92

1964        Parkview        Riding Mountain, MB        121

1961        Pembina        Darlingford, MB        130

1972        Pine Creek        Austin, MB        43

1996        Pineland        Piney, MB        64

1977        Plainview        Elkhorn, MB        74

1938        Poplar Point        Portage La Prairie, MB        93

1994        Prairie Blossom        Stonewall, MB        69

1967        Ridgeland        Dugald, MB        72

1997        Ridgeville        Ridgeville, MB        64

1969        Riverbend        Carberry, MB        67

1946        Riverdale        Gladstone, MB        82

1934        Riverside        Arden, MB        56

1947        Rock Lake        Grosse Isle, MB        118

2005        Rolling Acres         Eden, MB        64

1958        Rose Valley        Graysville, MB        134

1998        Rosebank        Miami, MB        99

1918        Rosedale        Elie, MB        90

1993        Shady Lane        Treherne, MB        113

1998        Silver Winds        Sperling, MB        74

1993        Sky View        Miami, MB        64

1977        Sommerfeld        High Bluff, MB        110

1977        Souris River        Elgin, MB        89

1963        Spring Hill        Neepawa, MB        90

1956        Spring Valley        Brandon, MB        71

1950        Springfield        Anola, MB        113

1976        Sprucewood        Brookdale, MB        72

1991        Starlite        Starbuck, MB        154

1938        Sturgeon Creek        Headingley, MB        137

1969        Suncrest        Tourond, MB        114

1942        Sunnyside        Newton Siding, MB        91

1984        Treesbank        Wawanesa, MB        59

1987        Trileaf        Baldur, MB        88

1997        Twilight        Neepawa, MB        45

1986        Valley View        Swan Lake, MB        96

1989        Vermillion        Sanford, MB        88

1934        Waldheim        Elie, MB        73

1967        Wellwood        Ninette, MB        84

1992        Westroc        Westbourne, MB        92

1962        Whiteshell        River Hills, MB        99

1981        Willow Creek        Cartwright, MB        132

1979        Windy Bay        Pilot Mound, MB        77

1991        Wingham        Elm Creek, MB        70

1971         Woodlands        Poplar Point, MB        91

                                    Total        9638