 1934 Ak-Mechet, Photo from author Robert Friesen In 1934, 10 “kulak” families were named in a thorough Russian investigation of the Mennonites of Ak-Mechet, Khiva. The report by the NKVD (precursor to the KGB) names all residents, their ages, what they owned and did, a treasure for genealogical research — although the purpose was to punish the most successful. The investigation is below, with Robert Friesen’s insightful analysis, “What is a ‘kulak’?” The community from which 23 families left in desperation for America in 1884, calmed down somewhat after the Khan offered a new settlement closer to the capital city of Khiva. He moved the residents at his own expense, and prosecuted a number of thieves, resulting in some stolen items being returned. Ak-Mechet itself became a haven to many newcomers. 1934 was also the year of Ak-Mechet’s 50th anniversary celebration, when 42 residents who were at least 50 years of age were photographed above. Several (like 78-year old Emil Riesen, top left) were original residents, but some came later. For years, the settlement successfully resisted Communist efforts to collectivize their work and commandeer their children’s education. Sadly, the report concluded just months before the entire community was deported in 1935. The Russians sentenced 10 leaders and their families to exile, one after the other, when the Mennonites refused to comply with their orders. When the trucks came to pick up the families, they were blocked by the women and children of Ak-Mechet, with shouts of “All or none!” The trucks left, but returned a few days later. “All” it would be. This archival document was transcribed in the Russian language by Robert Friesen, in Appendix No. 16, pages 374-380 of his book "Mennoniten in Mittelasien." He kindly translated it into German and gave me permission to publish it here in German and English. I edited the German version after becoming more familiar with the Russian characters, and translated it into English with the help of DeepL. Translation is a bit of art and science, and there may be errors, but I tried to be as true to the original as possible. I have only added bullets for the list of kulaks. The “kulak” label hit close to home, as it was also used on my grandfather’s family, when they were dispossessed of their farm and general store in Trubetzkoye, South Russia in 1929. They had to build a tiny home on a small plot set aside for the landless in Neu-Schoensee, Sagradovka. And here we are, now in Canada, gratefully celebrating Canada Day weekend, while reflecting on the past. - Irene Plett What is a “kulak”? by Robert Friesen From the perspective of Soviet Marxists, the term “kulak” had a pejorative meaning, and was meant to mark the "exploiter" in the village. However, what criterion made a peasant a kulak always remained unclear. After the October Revolution of 1917, and in the context of the forced collectivisation of agriculture from 1928 to 1933 under Josef Stalin, the meaning of the term "kulak" was increasingly extended in the agitation of the Bolsheviks to include all self-employed peasants. These people and their relatives were deported to labour camps (Gulags), or shot as enemies of the people during the de-Kulakisation of the years 1929 to 1932. A few years later, in the course of the Great Terror, hundreds of thousands of kulaks were again shot or deported, especially with the help of NKVD order no. 00447 — also called the kulak operation in NKVD jargon. The Bolsheviks of 1925-1938 distinguished between the batraki (landless labourers), the bednyaki (peasants with land that did not yield enough) and the serednyaki (middle peasants). At the highest level of this socio-economic classification were the so-called kulaks — exploiters. The use of the term "kulak" was equivalent to the word "enemy". He had to be destroyed! In the party documents of the Bolsheviks of the years after the NEP (new economic policy) of 1927 to 1938, it was clearly stated: "The kulaks should be destroyed as a class of oppressors", because the revolution protected "the poor" against "exploitation". Grading the peasant as a "kulak" was effectively a sentence of annihilation. Each peasant had to work their land alone without hiring additional labourers, even for pay, or they themselves would become an "exploiter". These remarks are important to understand the content of the present document, because in several places in the text, it is explicitly emphasized that the Mennonites had employed day labourers. That alone was unlawful. The document below was the basis for the deportation of all inhabitants of Ak-Mechet.- RF. Investigation Report To the Chairman of the Khorezm District Executive Committee Comrade Hasanov (0.11.1934 No.3 / 3928 Khorezm Regional State Archives. A folder of the Khorezm Oblast Executive Committee. List No. 69 / Inventory List No. 1, Department D.-322 Unity Matters. № 546 Personnel lists from the case to investigate the economic power of German colonies. Started on 03.12.1933 - Finished on 20.12.1934 on 103 pages) The settlement of the German Mennonites in the Khorezm district dates back to 1884, after the economic formation of the colony. The Mennonites, numbering 25-30 families, accepted the citizenship of Khan of Khiva in 1904, to this number of farms from the surrounding area "Klausan" [Lausan], 24 farms arrived in the same year, that is, the colony formed 50 farms, and later were joined from Kyrgyzstan, the Volga and Ukraine by up to 62 farms. In total, the land was developed with an area of 50 to 60 hectares. The Kulak part of the colony is exclusively engaged in handicraft and commercial activities. (Comment: This first sentence is already a damning judgement from a political point of view, because "exclusively … commercial” activity means only for oneself and nothing for the state. That is the point of this investigation. - RF.) Before the revolution and after its end, the colony had 56 hectares of cultivated land, of which 58% was used for cotton sowing with annual overfilling under pressure from the district organizations (crop 1000 kg/ha., with a total yield of the local resident population of 600 kg/ha). (Comment: Of a total of 56 hectares of land available to the Mennonites, 58% = 32.5 hectares had to be (and were) sown with cotton. The cotton yield was 66.5% higher for the Mennonites than for other residents, but this was only mentioned in passing. The NKVD were looking for reasons to accuse the Mennonites legally of not personally participating in communal works such as street cleaning and water conduits (Aryks), when that was also paid for! The independent way of life of the Mennonites was a thorn in the flesh. - RF.) The Mennonite colony does not usually take part in direct community work (kazu) or other work-related tasks, and only uses hired labour from the Uzbeks for this purpose. The population receives 10 credited days (Tanap money - Kazu, for a worker, with a payment of 12 rubles). To avoid individual taxation, settlements are made daily with employees doing this work. On April 25, 1934, the German colony of Mennonites has 43 horses, 112 cows, including 56 calves, also 42 steer and 5 donkeys in 52 farms. Until the last few years, the German colony worked the land exclusively with medieval means and only recently has the colony acquired 4 ploughs and 5 harrows. The main income of the German colony comes from animal husbandry, as each farm tries to do its own milk processing. On April 25, 1934, the inhabitants of the colony had 13 milk separators for processing milk. The products obtained — butter, sour cream, curd, are sold by the Mennonites at speculative prices in the Khorezm and Tashaus districts. Another significant source of income in the colony is handicraft production (carpentry and blacksmithing, etc.). (Comment: The word speculative prices is an open accusation against the Mennonites. When demand is high and there is a lack of supply, the prices rise to become “profiteering.” Self-employed work was seen as a criminal activity. Individual carpentry work and blacksmith work were also viewed negatively. - RF.) Two great master craftsmen and contractors are known in the colony:
Some Mennonites who have little land and low yields, do not earn enough income from the small production of crafts in their trade, such as: Gerhard Jantzen, Gerhard Klassen, Hermann Jantzen, Gustav Klassen and others, rent additional land from the local people, such as Emil Riesen - 78 years old, a former wholesaler, Kornelius Pauls, Maria Pauls and others. The rent per Ton. ranges from 3 to 5 rubles. The result of the investigation into the colony from the point of view of determining the economic power of German colony identified the following kulak farms:
Until about 1923, the elder of the colony was elected by the community. Despite the demands of the district authorities to elect a council president, the colony did not take to it. No member of the colony has ever participated in council congresses, the demand of the district administration to thus represent the "will of the community" has not been fulfilled. In the municipal assemblies, women do not have the right to participate and cannot therefore exercise their right to vote. The available 2 houses of prayer require compulsory contributions by each "brother" fixed by the community assembly at 5 to 7 rubles. The community school is supported by community funds because the colony categorically refuses to receive funds from the state treasury. The maintenance of the teacher, amounting to 180 rubles per month and a free apartment, is paid by the community. It should be particularly emphasized that the education of the children is carried out exclusively with old methods and old textbooks, at the insistence of the kulak leadership, which strictly refused to accept Soviet-type textbooks. The activities of the school were not monitored by the district, as the colony refused any intervention by this organization. The law of God is taught 6 times a week. The parents have ceded the right to the school to punish pupils in the school with a belt, a hand or a ruler. Portraits of the former Khan of Khiva, who is regarded by them as a fair administrator, can still be seen in the houses of the Mennonites. In order to prevent any influences from being exerted in the colony except by the top Kulak, authorized persons are assigned to deal with the authorities: a cotton agent, a trade agent, etc. From all the above, it should be noted: The German colony "Ak-Mechet" is still engaged in labour exploitation today. It is absolutely untouched by Soviet influence and up to now also has not had any Soviet organizations, cooperatives, etc. Head of the Khorezm District Department of the NKVD, Porecki. Deputy and operational officer of the district department, Tarasov. Population of Ak-Mechet: 140 (1899), 112 (1902), 155 (1906), 137 (1911), 143 (1913), 150 (1914), 174 Germans (1926), 280 (1929), 196 (1934) - RF. Glossary:
Official Record Investigation into the economic power of the German colony "Ak-Mechet" of the Khiva district, conducted on April 18, 1934 by the brigade of the district executive committee. 1. Toews, Ivan [Johann] Ottovich. Original inhabitant. 4 persons able to work in the family. He himself is 27 years old, his wife Anna is 20 years old, his wife’s father, Ivan [Johann] Funk, is 50 years old, and the wife of the latter, Barbara Ivanova, is also 50 years old. Available working animals: 1 cow, 1 heifer, 1 donkey, 1 horse and 2 calves, has milk separator and wagon, 1.85 Ton. of land. He is the colony's teacher, the land is worked by his 16-year old son Friedrich, is registered with the Raifo and the village council. 2. Dick, Ivan [Johann] Petrovich. Original inhabitant of Ak-Mechet. 2 persons able to work: he himself, his wife Maria, 26 years old. Working animals: 1 cow, 1 heifer, has 1 milk separator. Has ¾ Ton. of land. Is registered with the Raifo and the village council. 3. Pauls, Hermann Franzevich. Original inhabitant. 2 persons able to work: he himself is 37 years old, his wife Maria is 34 years old. Working animals: 1 cow, 1 heifer, 1 donkey, has 1 milk separator in company with 2 neighbours. Has 5.05 Ton. of land, employs day labourers, now employs 1 person, the Mullah Bergan, a resident of the village of Chigirchi Kishlak, who is paid 2 rubles per day, works 20-25 days. Is registered with the Raifo and the village council. His father did not employ day labourers. 4. Pauls, Peter Arslanovich. Original inhabitant of Ak-Mechet, originates from peasants. Able to work: wife Maria is 52 years old, daughter Louise 32 years old, daughter Sara 25 years old, daughter Anna 21 years old, son Franz 20 years old, daughter Helene 17 years old, son Gerhard 16 years old. Has 1 horse and 2 cows, 2 steer, 1 heifer, 1 young bull, a milk separator, 4 Ton. of land, but no land rented. Is registered with the Raifo and the village council. 5. Toews, Otto Ottovich. Originates from peasants. Original inhabitant of Ak-Mechet. Persons able to work: he himself is 31 years old, his wife Katharina 28 years old. Has 1 horse, 2 steer, 2 cows, has 1 milk separator, 3 Ton. of land, none leased. Has 1 worker, an Uzbek, who works seasonally. Is registered with the Raifo and the village council. 6. Quiring, Jakob Jakovlevich. Original inhabitant of Ak-Mechet. 3 persons are able to work, self 44 years old, wife 48 years old, brother Bernhard 21 years old. Has 1 cow, 1 heifer, 1/8 Ton. of land, which he is leasing to Reinhold Pauls in the 1934 season. For this land, he paid 80 kg of wheat, besides which he made a door. Works in the carpenter's workshop, is registered with the Raifo and the village council. 7. Pauls, Cornelia Hermanovna. 50 years old, has 2 sons, Boris and Arthur 15 years old, has 2 cows, 2 Ton. of land leased by Gerhard Dick, a resident of Ak-Mechet, on the condition that the crop is halved. Cornelia is an original inhabitant of Ak-Mechet, registered with the Raifo and the village council, originates from craftsmen. 8. Lepp, Ivan [Johann] Gergardovich. Able to work: he himself is 32 years old, his wife 24 years old, has 1 horse and foal, cow and heifer, 5 Ton. of land, employs 1 permanent worker (German) and in addition a seasonal worker, Uzbek, as needed. An original inhabitant of Ak-Mechet, is registered with the Raifo and the village council, originates from peasants. 9. Bergman, Ivan [Johann] Petrovich. Able to work: He himself is 50 years old, his wife Anna is 50 years old, engaged in carpentry, arrived from the Volga region in 1934. Before the revolution, he had 54 hectares of land, during the harvest and sowing he hired 7 workers. At present, he has no land and no working livestock. 10. Jantzen, Gerhard Gergardovich. Able to work: He himself is 35 years old. Wife Anna is 33 years old, brother Gerhard 20 years old, has 1 horse, 2 cows, heifer and calf, rents 6 Ton. of land at Maria Pauls’ for half the harvest. Original inhabitant of Ak-Mechet, is registered with the Raifo and the village council. Originates from craftsmen, his father was also involved in farming and owned 1.6 Ton. of land. 11. Boldt, Franz Davidovich. Able to work: he himself is 29 years old, his wife Mariam is 25 years old, has no land, works as a day labourer for various people in the colony. He arrived from the Volga in 1931, originates from peasants. 12. Pauls, Maria Heinrichovna. She is unable to work, has 0.25 Ton. of land, which is rented out by Gerhard Jantzen for half the harvest as payment. Original inhabitant of Ak-Mechet, registered with the Raifo and the village council, originates from craftsmen. 13. Pauls, Absalon Abs. Able to work are: he himself is 40 years old, his wife Anna is 44, his son Peter is 13 years old. Has [1] horse and 2 cows, 2 steer, 1 heifer, 6 Ton. of land, which is not leased, has 1 permanently employed German worker. 14. Wiens, Peter Abram. Able to work: he himself is 33 years old, his wife Margaretha is 29 years old, has no land or livestock, works for various people in Ak-Mechet. Arrived from the Kuban region in 1932. 15. Lepp, Alexander Gergardovich. Able to work: he himself is 29 years old, his wife Sara is 28 years old, has 3 horses, 2 cows, 2 steer, 3 calves, [1] milk separator, 5 Ton. of land, has a permanent German worker and 1 temporary Uzbek worker. Original inhabitant, is registered with the Raifo and the village council. 16. Lepp, Aron Gergardovich. He himself is 35 years old, his wife Helena is 35 years old, has [1] horse, [1] foal, 2 cows, 2 steer, 1 calf, 6 Ton. of land. Has 1 permanent employee — German. Original inhabitant of Ak-Mechet, registered with the Raifo and the village council. 17. Wiens, Andreas Korn[eevich]. He himself is 30 years old, his wife Maria is 22 years old, has 3 cows, works in the colony. He arrived from the Kuban in 1932, originates from peasants. 18. Penner, David Korneev[ich]. He himself is 26 years old, his wife Elisabeth is 25 years old. Has [1] cow, no land, works for Willi Gergardovich Lepp, arrived from Aulie Ata in 1932. 19. Riesen, Emil Yakovlevich. Disabled, 78 years old, his wife is also disabled, 60 years old, has 2 cows, 0.055 Ton. of land, which is leased for half the harvest. Original inhabitant of Ak-Mechet, is registered with the Raifo and the village council. 20. Klassen, Gerhard Gerg[ardovich]. He himself is 55 years old, his wife is the same age, son Gerhard is 19 years old. Has [1] cow, [1] milk separator, rents together with his son 200 square meters of land at Hermann Pauls’, after paying only 3 rubles for the seed in 1934. Engaged in carpentry with his sons. Arrived from the Volga region in 1930. Is registered with the Raifo and the village council. 21. Jantzen, Dimitri Petrovich has no land, engages in handicrafts, repair of agricultural inventory, arrived from the colony of Germans in the Volga region in 1929. 22. Riesen, Emil Hermann. He himself is 24 years old, his wife is 22 years old, has [1] cow, [1] Ton. of land, engaged in handicrafts, original inhabitant of Ak-Mechet, is registered with the Raifo and the village council. 23. Jantzen, Peter Dietrichowitsch. Originates from employees. He himself is 34 years old, his wife Elizabeth is 25 years old, has no cattle or land, has been serving in the ITU since April 5 of this year. Before that he was unemployed. He arrived from the German Republic in the Volga region in 1931. 24. Hamm, Bernhard Jacov[levich]. Original inhabitant of Ak-Mechet, originates from peasants. He himself is 25 years old, his wife Anna is 20 years old, has 2 cows, 2 heifers, 1 bull, 5 Ton. of land. In winter he is engaged in his carpentry workshop, is registered with the Raifo and the village council. 25. Hamm, Jakob Mikhailov[ich]. Family composition: self 57 years old, wife Justina 56 years old, children: son Gustav 22 years old, Michael is 20 years old; has a carpenter's workshop. 26. Quiring, Louise Franzevna. Origin: from peasants. Composition of the family: She herself is 26, mother Justina is 56 years old. Working livestock: [1] cow and 2 heifers. 27. Hamm, Nikolai Michael. Original inhabitant. Family composition: He himself is 37 years old, his wife Helena is 29 years old. Children: Son Gustav is 22, Michael is 20 years old. Working livestock: 2 cows, 2 heifers. Has a carpenter's workshop, takes orders. 28. Mandtler, Jakob Jakovl[evich]. He arrived from Aulie-Ata in 1932. Family composition: He himself is 60 years old, his wife Katarina is 63 years old. Has a blacksmith's workshop. Children: daughter Elisabeth is 16 years old. 29. Wall, Kornelius. He arrived from Aulie Ata in 1932. Currently unemployed. Family composition: He himself is 51 years old, wife Katharina is 51 years old, daughter Elisabeth is 18 years old. 30. Pauls, Kornelius A. Family composition: He is 43 years old, his wife Vilda is 33 years old, childless. Owns 3 Ton. of land. Hires seasonal workers during the harvest season. Working livestock: cows (heifers) 2/2 bulls (steer) 2 horse (foal) 1. 31. Pauls, David David. Family composition: self 56 years old, wife Anna 55 years old, children: son 25 years old, daughter-in-law Helena 25 years old. Owns 4 Ton. of land. Hires seasonal workers during the harvest season. Working livestock: cow (heifer), 2/2 steer (young bulls?), 2 horses (foal 1). 32. Hamm, Georgi Yakovl[evich]. He himself is 28 years old, his wife is 24 years old, has 1 horse, 2 cows, 2 heifers, 1 bull, 4 Ton. of land. He hires seasonal workers. 33. Nachtigal, Peter Heinrich. Original inhabitant. He himself is 34 years old, his wife Maria is 27 years old. He has 1 horse, [1] cow, [1] steer, [1] young bull, 3 Ton. of land, has a permanent farm labourer, the Uzbek Matniyazov. 34. Dau, Abram Jacovl[ovich]. He himself is 25 years old, his wife Augusta is 24 years old. He has [1] horse, [1] steer, [1] cow, [1] young bull, 3 Ton. of land. Takes on seasonal labourers. Original inhabitant. 35. Dau, Jakob Yakovlov[ich]. He himself is 53 years old, his father 81 years old, wife Anna 50 years old, daughter Justina 18 years old, has 1 horse, 3 cows, 2 steer, 4 Ton. of land, has seasonal workers. 36. Dau, David Yakovlov[ich]. He himself is 30 years old, his wife Maria is 20 years old. He has 1 horse, 3 cows, [1] steer, 2 heifers, 1 milk separator, 2 ¾ Ton. of land, has a hired worker. Originates from peasants. Original inhabitant. 37. Dick, Eduard Gerhard. He himself is 27 years old, his wife Catherine is 26 years old, has 2 horses, 2 bulls, 2 cows, 1 heifer, 5 ½ Ton. land. Has Uzbek seasonal workers. 38. Ewert, Ivan [Johann] Korneevich. Original inhabitant. He himself is 24 years old, his wife Maria is 27 years old, has [1] cow and [1] horse, 3 Ton. of land, hires day labourers during the harvest season. 39. Ewert, Aron Ivanovich. Original inhabitant. He himself is 29 years old, his wife Maria 30 years old, has [1] horse, [1] cow, 3 ½ Ton. of land, 1 permanent Uzbek worker. 40. Ewert, Ivan [Johann] Petrovich. Original inhabitant. He himself is 50 years old, his wife Maria is 56 years old, his son Ivan [Johann] is 30 years old, has [1] horse, [1] cow, 3 ½ Ton. of land. In winter, he works in his carpentry workshop. 41. Schmidt, Otto Gernichovich. Himself, wife Katherine are 36 years old, son Kornelius 25 years old, daughter Justina 23 years old, has 2 steer, 2 horses, 2 cows, 2 calves, 1 milk separator, 5.65 Ton. of land. There is no land to lease. Has hired 2 German labourers, and an Uzbek, Matjakub, works at sowing. 42. Pauls, Heinrich Heinrich. He himself is 34 years old, his wife Lila is 34 years old. He has [1] steer, [1] horse, [1] cow, 3 heifers, 2.07 Ton. of land. He has hired one farm labourer, the Uzbek, Saur, from the village Tshchigirtschi and pays 1 ruble a day. Original inhabitant. Registered with the Raifo and the village council. 43. Toews, Otto Ottovich. Self and wife 55 years old, son Boris 24 years old, daughter-in-law Anna 19 years old, daughter Margaretha 19 years old, cousin Ivan [Johann] Toews 55 years old, cousin’s wife Anna, nephew Heinrich Toews 19 years old. Has 7 cattle, 2 bulls, [1] horse, 2 leasehold plots, 7 ¾ Ton. of land. Takes on workers during harvest and sowing. 44. Schmidt, Gustav Heinrichov[ich]. Original inhabitant. Family: mother and father incapacitated, wife 22 years old, aunt Elizabeth 56 years old. He has 2 bulls, 3 cows, 2 heifers, [1] horse, [1] plough, [1] harrow, 4.85 Ton. of land, has an Uzbek worker who works 7 days a week. 45. Dick, Gerhard Heinrichov[ich]. Original inhabitant. He himself is 30 years old, his wife Anna is 26 years old. He has [1] horse, [1] steer, 2 cows, 2 Ton. of land, of which 1 ½ tons is rented. During sowing and harvesting he hires Uzbek workers. 46. Riesen, Hermann Emilovich. He is 50 years old, his wife Maria 36 years old, his daughter Justina 18 years old, has 1 cow, 1 Ton. of land. He is engaged his carpentry workshop, provided he has enough orders. When there are many orders, he hires day labourers. Originates from craftsmen. Original inhabitant. 47. Schmidt, Jans Heinrichovich. Original inhabitant. He himself is 33 years old, his wife Elizabeth is 33 years old, relative Elena is 18 years old, has 2 horses, 2 cows, 2 steer, 1 young bull, 2 calves, 1 plough, 4 Ton. of land. Day labourers are employed as needed for sowing and harvesting, as well as for community work (“kazu” in Uzbek). 48. Ewert, Wilhelm Heinrichowitsch. Original inhabitant. He himself is 30 years old, wife Justina 32 years old, a relative Hermann 24 years old, has 2 horses, 3 cows, 1 steer, 1 milk separator, 4 ½ Ton. of land. 49. Pauls, Reinhold Valsovich. Original inhabitant. He himself is 30 years old, his wife Anna is 26 years old, has 1 cow, 3 Ton. of land. Originates from peasants. 50. Ewert, Kornelius Petrovich. Original inhabitant. Originates from peasants. He himself is 58 years old, his wife Maria 58 years old, son Franz 17 years old, has 1 horse, 3 Ton. of land. 51. Quiring, David Hermanovich. He himself is 25 years old, his wife Paulina is 28 years old, has 1 cow, [1] donkey, 0.45 Ton. of land. Arrived from Aulie Ata in 1932. Originates from peasants. 52. Quiring, Abram Yakovlevich. Original inhabitant. He himself is 65 years old, his wife Louise is 70 years old, his daughter is 17 years old, has 1 cow, 1 heifer. Registered with the Raifo. Does not hire day labourers. 53. Töws, Gustav Gustvov. He himself is 50 years old, his wife is unable to work, has 1 cow, came from the republic of the Volga Germans in 1931. Originates from peasants. 54. Pauls, Peter Heinrichovich. Original inhabitant. He himself is 26 years old, his brother 19 years old, has 1 steer, 2 cows, 1 heifer, 1 donkey, 2.6 Ton. of land. His father hired day labourers. 55. Klassen, Ivan [Johann] Ivanovich. Original inhabitant. Works in Novo-Urgench as a gardener, the son of Jakob Classen works in Khiva at a weather station. Arrived from the Donbas in 1932. 56. Wall, Maria Ivanovna. Originates from peasants, single. Arrived from Aulie Ata in 1932. Widow, daughter Helena is 20 years old, has 1 cow. 57. Wall, Herman Hermanovich. He himself and his wife Elena are 20 years old, has 1 horse, 1 cow, arrived from Siebengebirge [Petersburg] in 1932, originates from paupers, is registered with the Raifo and the village council. 58. Schmidt, Walter Heinrichovich. He himself and his wife Augusta are 23 years old, cousin Erna is 21 years old, has 2 steer, 1 horse, 2 cows, 2 calves, 2 Ton. of land. Has hired workers. 59. Töws, Gustav Gustav. He himself is 29 years old, his wife Maria is 27 years old, has 2 cows, [1] milk separator, arrived from the Volga region in 1931. Originates from peasants. 60. Pauls, Abram Petrovich. He himself is 65 years old, daughter Elisabeth is 27 years old, has no land and no cattle, his daughter is engaged in needlework. Originates from craftsmen. 61. Hamm, Katharina Mich. She herself is 55 years old, has no farm and no land, is supported by the society. Original inhabitant. 62. Albrecht, Elisabeth Abramovna. She herself is 74 years old, has no farm and no land, is supported by the society. She arrived from Samara governorate in 1884. 63. Wiens, Elsa Ivanovna works in sewing, arrived from Leningrad in 1932, widow, originates from peasants. 64. Pauls, Hermann Petrovich. Original inhabitant. He himself is 27 years old, his wife Maria is 23 years old, has 1 horse, 1 cow, 1 Ton. of land, hires day labourers. 65. Pauls, Rudolf Petrovich. Original inhabitant. He himself is 25 years old, his wife Elisabeth is 27 years old, has 1 horse, 1 steer, 1 cow and 1 heifer, 2 ¼ Ton. of land. 66. Lepp, Gerhard Georgievich. Original inhabitant. He is 65 years old, his wife Sara is 62 years old, has 3 cows, 1 steer, no leasable land. 67. Penner, Kornelius Wilhelmovich. He arrived from Aulie Ata in 1931. He himself is 56 years old, his wife Justina 40 years old, daughter Maria 22 years old, mother Elisabeth 76 years old, has 2 cows, 1 heifer, ½ Ton. of land, is engaged in locksmithing work. 68. Ewert, Franz Petrovich. He himself is 60 years old, daughter Renate is 28 years old, no cattle and no land. He lives with the family of his son-in-law Lepp, arrived from Aulie-Ata in 1932. Originates from peasants. 69. Nachtigal, Heinrich Petrovich. Self, son Gustav 20 years old, son Hermann 18 years old, daughter Anna 32 years old, has 1 steer, [1] horse, 3 cows, 2 heifers, 3.08 Ton. of land. Originates from craftsmen. 70. Ewert, Heinrich Fedor. He himself is 58 years old, his wife Margaretha is 52 years old, daughter Maria 18 years old. Has [1] horse, 2 cows, 1 boronu (?), 2 ½ Ton. of land, has 1 labourer with a payment of 2 rubles per day, engages in carpentry. 71. Ewert, Fjodor Henrichovich. He himself is 33 years old, his wife Elisabeth is 29 years old, has 1 horse, 1 cow, 1 heifer, [1] milk separator, 3.55 Ton. of land. Originates from peasants. Original inhabitant. 72. Jantzen, Ivan [Johann] Berngardovich. He himself is 55 years old, his wife Anna is 44 years old, has [1] horse, 2 cows, 2 young bulls, 1 milk separator for five farms, 1.05 Ton. of land. Hires seasonal labourers. Originates from craftsmen. 73. Quiring, Franz Ivan[ovich]. He himself is 40 years old, his wife Anna 30 years old, came from the Volga region in 1932. Has no cattle and no land, takes care of the protection of the colony. 74. Jantzen, Hermann Heinrichovich. Original inhabitant. He himself is 30 years old, his wife Sara is 27 years old, has 2 cows, rents ¾ Ton. of land from the Usbek, Jumaniaz Balyncha, on the condition that half the harvest is payment. He is also engaged in carpentry. 75. Hermann, Peter Petrovich. He himself is 55 years old, his wife Maria is 58 years old, has no land and no cattle, works in a carpenter's workshop. He arrived in 1931 and has 2 sons, one works in Leningrad, the other in Moscow at the October railway station. 76. Jantzen, Gregory Ivanovich. He himself is 24 years old, his wife Anna is 24 years old, has 1 horse, 2 cows, 1.7 Ton. of land, has seasonal workers, is an original inhabitant. 77. Jantzen, Abram Gergard[ovich]. He himself is 27 years old, his wife Martha is 22 years old, has 2 cows, is engaged in carpentry, is an original inhabitant and used to work as a craftsman. 78. Quiring, Igor Yakovle[vich]. Original inhabitant. He is 41 years old, his wife Katherina is 39 years old, has 1 horse, 2 cows, 1 arba [a local wagon with 2 high wheels], has no land, is engaged in joinery at a carpentry workshop. 79. Ewert, Hermann Heinrichs. Original inhabitant. He himself is 25 years old, his wife Elisabeth is 25 years old, has 1 horse, 1 cow, 1 steer, 2.45 Ton. of land. A day labourer works at the farm, named Hudabergan, with a fee of 1 ruble 50 kopeks per day and daily meals. Originates from craftsmen. 80. Klassen, Gustav Igorovich. He himself is 29 years old, his wife Anna 23 years old, has 1 cow, 3 heads of small livestock, rents ¼ Ton. of land, the payment of which is half of the harvest, arrived from the Volga region in 1931, is registered with the Raifo and the village council, originates from peasants. 81. Pauls, Maria Igorovna. She herself is 24 years old, her husband Ivan [Johann] Fedorovich lives in Vladivostok, serves in the Red Army, arrived from Aulie-Ata in 1933, is registered with the Raifo and the village council. 82. Dick, Eduard Heinrichovich lives alone, has 1 cow, 1 calf, engages in blacksmithing with his brother Ivan. Originates from craftsmen. Original inhabitant. A total of 196 people [in 52 farms]. The inhabitants own 56 cows, 56 calves, 13 milk separators, [42 steer,] 43 horses, 5 donkeys. 52 [56?] hectares of land are cultivated. Comment: This list does not distinguish between calves and heifers. Heifers are adult calves that after a short time become dairy cows themselves, but are called calves. 58% of the land was planted with cotton. How much land was left for the inhabitants could become clear if the term “Ton.” was known. - RF. I have counted 145.53 Ton. of land owned by the residents. - IUP. Books from Robert Friesen: see attachment. 
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
WriterIrene Plett is a writer, poet and animal lover living in South Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. Categories
All
|
||
RSS Feed
