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Asia Trek Deaths 1880-1884

6/27/2021

2 Comments

 
Picture
Hermann Jantzen's inspiring memoirs

The amazing 1880-1881 trek of Mennonites from South Russia to Central Asia offers many life lessons. Some of those are in the lives lost along the way. It is my hope to honour the dear people who died while following their dream, or that of their family’s, to achieve freedom from military service. A short travelogue accompanies this list of all those found who died until 1884, when the first group left for America. 

The note “to wiki” means that I have transcribed and translated the person’s obituary and sent it to Bethel College’s Biographical Wiki, where you should find it soon. All sources are listed at the end. I continue to search for sources that may identify other names.  

Picture

Hahnsau, Am Trakt
The death of Franz Bartsch’s little daughter delayed the departure of the first wagon train by two days. Identified as:
  • Bartsch, Lisette, #new, b about Feb 1880, d 1 July 1880, Hahnsau, Am Trakt, buried 3 July 1880, Hahnsau, Am Trakt; little daughter of Franz (1854-1931, #1377858) (to wiki). Sources:
    • Franz Bartsch, Our Trek, p. 33, Unser Auszug, p. 25 (death); was 4 months old in May 1880, Our Trek, p. 27, Unser Auszug, p. 22 (birth);
    • Franz Bartsch, Mennonitische Rundschau 15 Apr 1881 p 2; Zur Heimath 7 Apr 1881 p 5-6.
    • Johannes Jantzen, Diary, p. 283 (3 July 1880). 
    • Margarethe Jantzen, Diary, p. 5-6 (June 30, July 1, July 3, 1880) (gives name).

​En route: Train 1
July 3, 1880 Hahnsau, Am Trakt, South Russia - Oct 17, 1880 Kaplanbek, Turkestan. 
A group of 10 families (74 souls) traveled 1,700 miles by wagon train in 15 weeks. Franz Bartsch, Gerhard Jantzen and Peter Dyck wrote about the journey in Mennonite magazines. Bartsch’s memoir was the most significant report on the trek for many years. 

11 children died. Sources:
  • Franz Bartsch, Mennonitische Rundschau 15 Apr 1881 p 2; Zur Heimath 7 Apr 1881 p 5-6.
  • Mennonitische Rundschau 1 Apr 1881 p 4.
  • Franz Bartsch, Our Trek, p. 65, Unser Auszug, p. 46. 
  • Walter Ratliff, Pilgrims, p. 111.

8 identified:
  • Jantzen, Anna #604457, born 1879, died 1880; daughter of Gerhard (1847-1912) - Mennonitische Rundschau 5 Mar 1881 p 1 (to wiki).  
  • Kopper, ___, #new, d 1880, Terelky, Turkestan, buried with 2 siblings at Dzhulus, Turkestan, likely child of Johannes (1856-1937, #311853) (to wiki). 
    • Walter Ratliff, Pilgrims, p 111;
    • Franz Bartsch, Our Trek, p. 45, Unser Auszug, p. 32; 
    • Franz Bartsch, Zur Heimath 7 Apr 1881 p 6. 
  • Kopper, ___, #new, d 1880, buried with 2 siblings at Dzhulus, Turkestan - see above.
  • Kopper, ___, #new, d 1880, Dzhulus, Turkestan, buried there with 2 siblings - see above.
  • Quiring, ___, #new, d 1880, buried with 2 other infants at Ak Tuba, Turkestan, youngest daughter of Jonas (1842-1912, #63765) - Zur Heimath 7 Apr 1881 p 5, Ratliff p 111 (to wiki),
  • Quiring, ___, #new, d 1880, buried at Irgiz, Turkestan, youngest son of Jonas (1842-1912) - Zur Heimath 7 Apr 1881 p 5, Ratliff p 111 (to wiki).
  • Wiebe, Heinrich #187980, b 18 Jul 1879, d 23 Aug 1880 Karabulak, Turkestan; son of Heinrich (1857-1922) - Zur Heimath 7 Apr 1881 p 6 (to wiki). 
  • Wiebe, Jakob #187429, b 10 July 1878, d 14 Sept 1880; further son of Heinrich (1857-1922); (to wiki). 
    • Mennonitische Rundschau 5 Mar 1881 p 1; 
    • Zur Heimath 7 Apr 1881 p 6; 
    • Margarethe Jantzen, Diary, p. 8 (Oct. 21, 1880) (gives date of death).

En route: Train 2
Aug 13, 1880 Am Trakt - Nov. 24, 1880 Kaplanbek, Turkestan. 
A group of 13 families (76 souls) traveled 1,700 miles in 15 weeks. Their journey is well-documented in Martin Klaassen’s diary, and memoirs of his sons, Michael and Jakob. An anonymous writer shares a colourful travel report in Zur Heimath, 21 April 1881.  

Four young men joined them in Orenburg after getting permission to be freed from conscription; their families followed in later trains. 

None died, but twins were still-born. Sources: 
  • Franz Bartsch, Mennonitische Rundschau 15 Apr 1881 p 2; Zur Heimath 7 Apr 1881 p 6.
  • Schmidt twin boys still-born Oct 12, 1880 - Martin Klaassen, Diary, p. 209 (Oct 12, 1880). 

En route: Train 3
July 31, 1880 Molotschna, South Russia - Dec. 2, 1880 Tashkent, Turkestan. 
A group of 63 families traveled 2,600 miles by wagon train in 18 weeks. Kornelius Goossen’s diary of the journey, published in the Mennonitische Rundschau, documented many births and deaths. Helena Warkentin shared an inspiring account of her experiences in “Our trek to Asia.” Elizabeth Schultz also wrote a remarkable account in her autobiography, published in German. 

9 died: 2 adults, 7 children (one was 7-8 years of age, 6 were up to 1 ½ years of age). Sources:
  • Abraham Peters, Mennonitische Rundschau 1 May 1881 p 1-2. 
  • Anna Martens, Mennonitische Rundschau 15 Sept 1881 p 1-2.

7 identified, missing 2 infants: 
  • Baergen, ___, #new, b 21 Nov 1880, d 27 Nov 1880, Turkestan, son of Johann (abt 1849-1887, #9344) from Fischau - Mennonitische Rundschau 15 Apr 1881 p 1-2 (to wiki). 
  • Ekk, ___, #new, died 30 Nov. 1880, Turkestan, son of Kornelius Ekk from Friedensdorf - Mennonitische Rundschau 15 Apr 1881 p 1-2 (to wiki).
  • Funk, ___, #new, born 1879, died Sept. 1880, buried 21 Sept 1880, unknown father - Mennonitische Rundschau 20 Jan 1881 p 2:2 (to wiki).
  • Klassen, ___, #new, born 4 Sept 1880, d Sept 1880, buried 19 Sept 1880; daughter of Johann Klassen from Blumenort, Molotschna - Mennonitische Rundschau 20 Jan 1881 p 2:2 (to wiki).
  • Wedel, Johann, #56526, born 28 Nov 1786, died Nov 1880, Turkestan (after disappearing), buried in Turkestan (to wiki). 
    • Mennonitische Rundschau 15 Apr 1881 p 1-2, 1 May 1881 p 1, 15 Sept 1881 p 1-2; 
    • Franz Bartsch, Our Trek, p. 59, Unser Auszug, p. 41; 
    • Elizabeth Schultz, Aus Preußen, p. 51-52, What a Heritage, p 19-22.
    • Jacob Reimer, From the Molotschna.
  • Wiens, Aaron, #new, b about 1873, died 1880, buried in Turkestan in the desert; son of Dietrich (1833-1881,  #25820) - Mennonitische Rundschau 15 Apr 1881 p 1-2, 15 Sept 1881 p 1-2, 1 May 1881 p 1 (to wiki). 
  • Wiens, Dietrich, #343775, b 1861, d 1880, city of Turkestan, Turkestan; further son of Dietrich (1833-1881) - Mennonitische Rundschau 15 Apr 1881 p 1-2, 15 Sept 1881 p 1-2, 1 May 1881 p 1 (to wiki).  

En route: train 4
July 17, 1881 from Berdyansk, South Russia - Oct 9, 1881 Tashkent, Turkestan.
This group of 11 families (74 souls) met in Berdyansk from their homes in Molotschna and Kuban in the North Caucasus region. Here they boarded a steamboat to Am Trakt, which was considered practical and safer than using horse-drawn wagons throughout. 

Only one child, unidentified, died in Am Trakt while they were loading the wagons. 
Source Mennonitische Rundschau 1 Feb 1882 p 2:1. 

En route: train 5
Sept 1, 1881 Am Trakt, South Russia - Dec. 16, 1881 city of Turkestan, Turkestan (1,600 miles).
This group of 41 families (275 souls) from Am Trakt was well documented in the diary of Johannes Jantzen (1823-1903), its only official minister. Another diary was written by Heinrich B. Janzen. Emil Riesen wrote letters from the trek in the Gemeindeblatt. 

4 died: 1 adult and 3 children. Especially poignant was the 3 children of different families dying in close succession and buried in one grave. Johannes Jantzen writes for 5 Dec. 1881: “On the 4th, brother Abrams’ Franz, and on the 6th, Abram Jantzen’s Hermann, on the 7th, the Bartsch’s Barbara, passed away.“ For the 8th, he writes: “The three children [were] buried in the Russian cemetery." 

Sources: 
  • Emil Riesen in Gemeindeblatt Dec. 1881 p 92 says that before reaching Karabulak, one brother had died; this was Kornelius Neumann. Inaccurate information was taken from this report in Mennonitische Rundschau 15 Jan 1882 p 1-2. By Karabulak, three children had been born, not died.
  • Emil Riesen in Gemeindeblatt May 1882 p 37-39 adds: “Apart from the brother of whose death I wrote to you in the previous letter, only three children died on the whole way to here, and they died in such quick succession that they could be buried together in one grave.”
  • Diaries of both Johannes Jantzen and Heinrich B. Janzen record the 4 deaths.

4 identified:
  • Abrahams, Franz, #new, b about 1876, d 4 Dec 1881, buried 8 Dec 1881 Lohuteck, Turkestan, in a Russian cemetery; son of Franz (1849-1919, #907088).
    • Johannes Jantzen, Aus Preußen, p. 286 (5 Dec. 1881 for death on the 4th; 8 Dec. 1881 for burial); 
    • Belk, Great Trek, p 134; 
    • Heinrich B. Janzen, “Kurzen Überblick” (“on the 4th… Franz Abraham’s 3-year-old son died”...; “d. 4 … Franz Abrahams dreijährigen Sohn …”).
  • Bartsch, Barbara, #new, b 8 Nov 1881, Turkestan, d 7 Dec 1881, Turkestan, buried 8 Dec 1881, Lohuteck, Turkestan, in a Russian cemetery; daughter of Hermann (1847-aft. 1898, #426074) (assuming the same child died as born a month prior). 
    • Johannes Jantzen, Aus Preußen, p. 286 (8 Nov. 1881 for birth to the Bartsch family; 5 Dec. 1881 for her death on the 7th; 8 Dec. 1881 for the burial); 
    • Heinrich B. Janzen, “Kurzen Überblick” (“On the 7th H. Bartsch’s little daughter died”)
  • Jantzen, Herman, #387942, b 1880, d 6 Dec 1881, buried 8 Dec 1881 Lohuteck, Turkestan, in a Russian cemetery; son of Abraham (1852-1920, #387910).
    • Johannes Jantzen, Aus Preußen, p. 286 (5 Dec 1881 for death on the 4th; 8. Dec 1881 for burial);
    • Heinrich B. Janzen, “Kurzen Überblick”. 
  • Neumann, Kornelius, #907531, b 29 Oct 1840, d 2 Oct 1881, Turkestan, buried 3 Oct 1881 near Nikolskiy, Turkestan (54 miles or 86 km from Orsk). 
    • Johannes Dietrich Dyck, Diary, p. 81; Tagebuch, p. 70. 
    • Jacob Funk writes on behalf of the widow in Mennonitische Rundschau 31 Oct 1883 p 3 ("Neuman died on the journey from the Trakt to here and the widow is managing the farm with her children.” Family details are given);
    • Johannes Jantzen, Aus Preußen, p. 285 (30 Sept 1881 pneumonia; 2 Oct 1881 death at 2 a.m.; 3 Oct 1881 burial);
    • Heinrich B. Janzen, “Kurzen Überblick” (his illness en route and death at 2 a.m. on Oct. 2). 

Turkestan city (train 5) 
Occupied from Dec 16, 1881 - Mar 31, 1882, where train 5 spent the winter. The unexpected stop required paying for apartments. 

Note: Dietrich Wiens (1861-1880) also died here en route from Molotschna; see above (train 3).

5 deaths identified in Johannes Jantzen’s diary (1 adult, 4 children):
  • Claassen, ___, #new, b 8 Nov 1881, Turkestan, d 25 Mar 1882, Turkestan (city), Turkestan, buried 26 Mar 1882, Turkestan (city), Turkestan; child of Aaron Claassen (1849-1893, #400126) (assuming the same child died who was born a few months earlier)
    • Johannes Jantzen, Aus Preußen, p. 286 (8 Nov. 1881, birth to the Aron Klassen family); p. 287 (25 Mar 1882: "A. Klassens Kind gestorben, am 26. begraben.”). 
  • Epp, Agnethe, #1454545, buried 4 Feb 1882, Turkestan (city), Turkestan; child of Franz (1841-1913) - Johannes Jantzen, Aus Preußen, p. 287 (4 Feb. 1882).
  • Hamm, Cornelius, #4921, b 25 May 1866, d 4 Feb 1882, Turkestan (city), Turkestan, buried 6 Feb 1882, Turkestan (city), Turkestan; son of Michael Hamm (1827-1882) - Johannes Jantzen, Aus Preußen, p. 287 (4 Feb. 1882, 6 Feb. 1882).
  • Hamm, Anna, #4928, little child, buried 6 Feb 1882, Turkestan (city), Turkestan; further child of Michael Hamm (1827-1882) - Johannes Jantzen, Aus Preußen, p. 287 (6 Feb. 1882) .
  • Ott, ___, #new, d 1 Mar 1882, Turkestan (city), Turkestan, buried 3 Mar 1882, Turkestan (city), Turkestan; child of Dietrich Ott (1862-1921, #767518) - Johannes Jantzen, Aus Preußen, p. 287 (3 Mar. 1882 reports death and burial).

Kaplanbek (trains 1, 2)
Occupied Oct. 17, 1880 - July 25, 1881 by trains 1 and 2 from Am Trakt. 
Not far from Tashkent, temporary lodgings on an estate were offered for the settlers rent-free. 

12 died here, including a “young unmarried sister.” Sources: 
  • Herman Jantzen, Journey of Faith, p 10.
  • Franz Bartsch, Our Trek, p 74, Unser Auszug, p. 50.
  • Franz Bartsch, Zur Heimath, 7 Apr 1881 p 5-6 (unmarried sister).
  • Michael Klaassen, Autobiography, p. 6.

7 identified:
  • Bartsch, ___, #new, b after 17 Oct 1880, Kaplanbek, Turkestan, d before 26 July 1881, Kaplanbek, Turkestan; infant son of Franz (1854-1931, #1377858) - Franz Bartsch, Our Trek, p. 104, Unser Auszug, p. 69. 
  • Jantzen, Abraham, #4932, b 7 Feb 1858, d 2 Jun 1881, Kaplanbek, Turkestan; one of two eldest sons of Heinrich (1830-1902, #4930).
    • church records to GRANDMA (date); 
    • Michael Klaassen, Autobiography p 6; 
    • Jakob Klaassen, Memoirs;
    • Herman Jantzen, Journey of Faith p. 10.
  • Jantzen, Heinrich, #4933, b 25 Nov 1859, d 5 May 1881, Kaplanbek, Turkestan, further of two eldest sons of Heinrich (1830-1902) - same sources as for brother Abraham. 
  • Jantzen, Katharina, #new, d 1881, Kaplanbek, Turkestan, daughter of Gerhard Jantzen (1847-1912) - Margarethe Jantzen, Diary, p. 11 (Feb. 1, 1881: “Letters had arrived again from Tashkent …  Gerhard Jantzens’ Tinchen has died.”)
  • Klaassen, Maria, #4890, b 3 May 1862, d 8 May 1881, Kaplanbek, Turkestan, daughter of Martin Klaassen (1820-1881, #4698) - church records to GRANDMA; Michael Klaassen, Autobiography, p 6. 
  • Philipson, Elisabeth, #457128, 15 Mar 1828, d 1881, Kaplanbek, Turkestan; wife of Eduard Dyck (1837-aft. 1905, #628614) - Maria Jantzen, letter to Cornelius Fröse, 8 Jun 1881. 
  • Schmidt, Heinrich, #new, b 13 Nov 1805, d 25 July 1881, Kaplanbeck, Turkestan, buried 26 July 1881, Kaplanbek, Turkestan.
    • birth date calculated from 75th birthday on Nov 13, 1880, Martin Klaassen, Diary, p. 214 (13 Nov 1880); 
    • Franz Bartsch, Our Trek, p 74, Unser Auszug, p. 50;
    • Jakob Klaassen, Memoirs.


Tashkent (trains 3, 4)
Occupied Dec. 2, 1880 - April 8, 1882 by trains 3 and 4 from Molotschna and Kuban. Those (9 families) joining the Am Trakt group to Bukhara left in 1881; the majority (including 15 families from the Am Trakt group) settled in Aulie-Ata in 1882.

Again accommodation was offered to the settlers rent-free. An outbreak of typhoid fever claimed many lives, exacerbated by the young men stretching the hours they worked to include some hot hours avoided by locals. 

Some 30 [“30 und einige”] graves were reported by minister Jakob Janzen, including the group’s elder, Abraham Peters. Elizabeth Schultz says in her memoir that 80 died, but as it was written long after, the earlier report is more reliable. In his brief memoir, Jacob Reimer reports that 32-36 died.
Sources:
  • Jakob Janzen, Mennonitische Rundschau 1882 Sept 15 p 2
  • Elizabeth Schultz, Aus Preußen, p. 55; What a Heritage, p. 22.
  • Jacob Reimer, “From the Molotschna”.

23 deaths identified:
  • Braun, Tiene, #new, d 1881, Tashkent, Turkestan, buried Tashkent, Turkestan, daughter of Dietrich Braun (1831-1900, #2358) - Mennonitische Rundschau 1 Feb 1882 p 2 (to wiki).
  • Dirks, Aganetha, #124448, b 31 Mar 1881, Waldheim, Molotschna (location or date is off; family was then in Tashkent), d 8 apr 1881, Tashkent, Turkestan, buried Tashkent, Turkestan; daughter of Tobias (1858-1931, #123776) - church records to GRANDMA.
  • Dueck, Maria, #1996, born 1859, died 1881, Tashkent, Turkestan, buried Tashkent, Turkestan; wife of Peter Wiebe (1852-1911, #1995) - Mennonitische Rundschau 1 Feb 1882 p 2, 15 Dec 1881 p 1-2 (to wiki).
  • Eck, Susanna P., #284247, b 30 July 1880, Tashkent (location or date is off), died about 1880, Tashkent, Turkestan, buried Tashkent, Turkestan; daughter of Peter (1839-1929) - GRANDMA, likely from church records used for other family members.
  • Graewe, Heinrich, #265718, b 10 Nov. 1861, South Russia, d 1881, Tashkent, Turkestan, buried Tashkent, Turkestan; son of Heinrich (1834-1917) - Mennonitische Rundschau 15 Sept 1881 p 1-2, 1 Feb 1882 p 2, 23 Feb 1916 p 5 (to wiki).
  • Jantzen, Jakob, #109549, b before 1866, d 1881, Tashkent, Turkestan, buried 1 July 1881, Tashkent, Turkestan; eldest son of Jakob (1844-1917) - Mennonitische Rundschau 1 Feb 1882 p 2, 15 Sept 1882 p 2 (to wiki).
  • Kroeker, Abraham, #new, b 1862, d 1881, Tashkent, Turkestan, buried Tashkent, Turkestan; son of Abraham (d 1865, #27915), stepson of Cornelius Esau (1837-1890, #26638 - Mennonitische Rundschau 1 Feb 1882 p 2, 15 Sept 1882 p 2 (to wiki).
  • Kroeker, ___, #343772, b 18 Oct 1822, d 1881, Tashkent, Turkestan, buried Tashkent, Turkestan; wife of Isaak Thomas Koop (1833-1922, #10418) - Mennonitische Rundschau 1 Feb 1882 p 2 (to wiki). 
  • Nachtigal, Jacob, #81412, born 1878, d 1881, Tashkent, Turkestan, buried Tashkent, Turkestan; son of Peter (1833-1897) - GRANDMA.
  • Pankratz, Elisabet, #274419, b 27 Dec 1837, d 18 May 1881, Tashkent, Turkestan, buried Tashkent, Turkestan; wife of Kornelius Wedel (1830-1881, #341860), who also died - Mennonitische Rundschau 1 Feb 1882 p 2, 15 Dec 1881 p 1-2 (to wiki). 
  • Pauls, Anna #1448691, b 15 Jun 1862, d 1881, Tashkent, Turkestan, buried Tashkent, Turkestan; wife of Dietrich Peters (1859-1932, #2339) - Mennonitische Rundschau 1 Feb 1882 p 2, 1 Feb 1882 p 3:2 (to wiki).
  • Peters, Abraham #2336, b 7 May 1833, d 4 Feb 1882, Tashkent, Turkestan, buried Tashkent, Turkestan; elder (to wiki). 
    • Christlicher Bundesbote 15 Jan 1882 p 5-6, 1 July 1882 p 7;
    • Mennonitische Rundschau 1 Apr 1882 p 3, 1 Aug 1882 p 2:4, 15 Sept 1882 p 2; 
    • Robert Friesen, Mennoniten, p. 58, 313 (to wiki).
  • Reimer, Judith, #1980, b 21 Feb 1831, d 25 Mar 1882, Tashkent, Turkestan, buried Tashkent, Turkestan; wife of Peter Wiebe (1831-1898, #1994) - GRANDMA.
  • Schmidt, Abraham, #280380, b 29 Jan 1879, d 1881 at age 2, Tashkent, Turkestan, buried Tashkent, Turkestan; son of David (1835-1898), twin of David (1879-1952) - source David Schmidt family record. 
  • Schmidt, Helena, #280373, b 9 Sept 1864, d 12 Jan 1882 at age 17, Tashkent, Turkestan, buried Tashkent, Turkestan; further child of David (1835-1898) - David Schmidt family record. 
  • Wall, Johann, #1454506, b 22 Feb 1862, d 1881, Tashkent, Turkestan, buried Tashkent, Turkestan; son of Cornelius (1829-1907) - Mennonitische Rundschau 15 Sept 1881 p 1-2 (to wiki).
  • Wall, Tiene, #new, b 1869, d 1881, Tashkent, Turkestan, buried Tashkent, Turkestan; daughter of “Y.” Wall from Alexanderkrone, likely a typo for Peter Wall #1371482 - Mennonitische Rundschau 1 Feb 1882 p 2 (to wiki)
  • Wedel, Johann K., #276823, b 8 Jan 1862, d 1881, Tashkent, Turkestan, buried Tashkent, Turkestan; son of Kornelius (1830-1881) - Mennonitische Rundschau 1 Feb 1882 p 2, 15 Dec 1881 p 1-2 (to wiki).  
  • Wedel, Kornelius, #341860, b 1830, d 1881, Tashkent, Turkestan, buried Tashkent, Turkestan; died along with wife and son noted above - Mennonitische Rundschau 1 Feb 1882 p 2, 15 Dec 1881 p 1-2 (to wiki).  
  • Wiebe, Aganetha, #276097, b about 1872, d 1881, Tashkent, Turkestan, buried Tashkent, Turkestan; wife of Johann Bergen (1849-1887, #9344) - Mennonitische Rundschau 1 Feb 1882 p 2 (to wiki).
  • Wiebe, Aganetha, #1451843, d 1881, Tashkent, Turkestan, buried Tashkent, Turkestan; wife of Franz Pauls (d. after 1880, #1451844) - Mennonitische Rundschau 1 Feb 1882 p 2, 15 Sept 1881 p 1-2 (to wiki). 
  • Wiebe, Peter, #1998, b 1881, d Feb 1881, Tashkent, Turkestan, buried Tashkent, Turkestan; son of Peter (1852-1911, #1995) - source church records to GRANDMA.
  • Wiens, David, #new, d before 1883 at age 19, Tashkent, Turkestan, buried Tashkent, Turkestan - Jacob Reimer, From the Molotschna.

Samarkand 
In August 1881, about 32 families, mostly from Am Trakt, passed through this area en route to Bukhara.

1 death identified:
  • Pauls, Peter #342839, b 6 Apr 1832, d 19 Aug 1881 (GM says 21 Aug), Samarkand, Turkestan, buried 25 Aug 1881, Samarkand, Turkestan; son of David #1405355 - Martin Klaassen, Diary, p. 221 (25 Aug 1881); Herman Jantzen, Journey of Faith, p. 14.​

Bukhara
Occupied Sept-Nov 1881 off and on, as the group mainly from Am Trakt tried unsuccessfully to settle in this emirate. A group of 10 families returned in April 1882 for 4 months. 

Elizabeth Schultz’s autobiography says that many died here of typhoid fever and blackpox (Aus Preußen, p. 72; What a Heritage, p 31).
8 identified:
  • Andres, Catharina, #1310952, b 7 Dec 1813, d 17 Oct 1881, Bukhara, Turkestan, buried 20 Oct 1881, Bukhara, Turkestan; wife of Christian Wiebe (1805-1856, #16624); mother-in-law of Jacob Toews (1838-1922, #4990), with whom she travelled.
    • Johannes Dietrich Dyck, Diary, p. 81; Tagebuch, p. 70 (Oct. 24, 1881: “Mrs. Wiebe died 8 days ago. They were turned back from Bukhara…” - my translation; translator misread “Fr. Wiebe” as “Mrs. Franz Wiebe”); 
    • Jacob Toews, A Short Sketch, p 27 (very detailed);
    • Herman Jantzen, Journey of Faith, p 19.
  • Bartsch, Johann, #new,  b 7 Mar 1882, Serabulak, Turkestan, d before 10 Aug 1882, Bukhara, Turkestan, infant son of Franz (1854-1931, #1377858); to wiki. 
    • Christlicher Bundesbote, 1 Dec. 1882, p. 6.
    • Franz Bartsch, Our Trek, p. 104, Unser Auszug, p. 69.
  • Fast, Agnete, #814358, b 1881, d Sept 1881, Bukhara, Turkestan; daughter of Gerhard (1853-1924) - Mennonitische Rundschau 1 Feb 1882 p 2:3 (to wiki).
  • Klaassen, Martin, #4698, b 15 Apr 1820, d 25 Nov 1881, Bukhara, Turkestan, buried 27 Nov 1881 Bukhara; teacher, minister and author of Mennonite history (GM says incorrectly d 24 Nov 1881 Serabulak)
    • Martin Klaassen, Diary, p. 224 (25 Nov 1881, written by son Michael); 
    • Michael Klaassen, Autobiography, p 6.
    • Johann Jantzen, Aus Preußen, p. 286 (25 Nov 1881) (died at 10 p.m., buried on 27th)
  • Penner, Peter, #387893, b 3 Jun 1880, d 26 Nov 1881, Bukhara, Turkestan; son of Johannes (1850-1924) - GRANDMA.
  • Unruh, Heinrich, #286861, b Sep 1880, d 1881, Bukhara, Turkestan; son of Cornelius (1840-1909) - note GM says b abt 1881, d infant; Mennonitische Rundschau 20 Jan 1881 p 2:2 identifies birth date; death in Elizabeth Schultz, Aus Preußen, p. 72, What a Heritage, p 31. 
  • Wiens, Dietrich, #25820, b 21 Feb 1833, d 12 Oct 1881, Bukhara, Turkestan (his sons Aaron and Dietrich died en route in train 3); to wiki.
    • Jakob Janzen, Mennonitische Rundschau 1 Feb 1882 p 2; 
    • Johannes Penner, Mennonitische Rundschau 1 Feb 1882 p 2:3;
    • Martin Klaassen, Diary (p. 223, 12 Oct. 1881, translated as I. Wiens).
  • Wiens, Peter, #new, b 14 May 1848, d 5 Nov 1881, Bukhara, Turkestan; unknown father, but at his death, his mother was the widow of Dietrich Peters in Wernersdorf (#792214?); left behind a wife and 4 children (to wiki).
    • Jakob Janzen, Mennonitische Rundschau 1 Feb 1882 p 2; 
    • Johannes Penner, Mennonitische Rundschau 1 Feb 1882 p 2:3.
    • Abraham Peters, Mennonitische Rundschau 1 Feb 1882 p. 1-2 (gives age and family).

Serabulak
Occupied Sept-Nov 1881 off and on when trying to settle in Bukhara; then stayed from Nov. 29, 1881 - Aug. 30, 1882. Train 5 arrived on June 12, 1882. 
This Muslim village near Samarkand hosted the large group evicted from Bukhara, and kindly let them use their Kyk-Ota (Blue Grandfather) Mosque for church services, baptisms, weddings and funerals. The mosque is still standing, and the Mennonites are remembered fondly.  

5 identified:
  • Hamm, Barbara, #4929, buried 28 Jul 1882, Serabulak, Turkestan; daughter of Michael (1827-1882) - Johannes Jantzen, Aus Preußen, p. 289 (28 July 1882).
  • Hamm, Michael, #4725, b 25 Jul 1827, d 30 Jul 1882, Serabulak, Turkestan - Johannes Jantzen, Aus Preußen, p. 289 (30 July 1882).
  • ___, ___, #new (“sister Loepp”), born about 1797, died 29 July 1882, buried 30 July 1882, Serabulak, Turkestan (perhaps connected to Gerhard Loepp, also mentioned by J. Jantzen) - Johannes Jantzen, Aus Preußen, p. 289 (30 July 1882: "Sister Loepp entered into eternal rest in the 86th year of her pilgrimage).
  • Wall, Maria, #342338, b 14 Feb 1808, d 11 Sept 1881, buried 13 Sept 1881, Serabulak, Turkestan (GM now says d 11 Sept 1882 Am Trakt); wife of Abraham Jantzen (1797-1876, #73805); traveled with son Hermann Jantzen (1835-1919) per Robert Friesen, Mennoniten, p. 313.
    • Johannes Dietrich Dyck, Diary, p. 78, Tagebuch, p. 67 (17. Sep. 1881: “Received a telegram yesterday from Samarkand, that old Mrs. Janzen has died.”);
    • Martin Klaassen, Diary, p. 223 (11 Sept. 1881: “Tonight during the worship service our dear aunt Jantzen passed away.” 13 Sept. 1881 funeral); 
    • Jakob Klaassen, Memoirs. 
  • Wiebe, Johannes #187981, b 17 Mar 1882, d 15 Jun 1882, Serabulak, Turkestan; son of Heinrich (1857-1922) - church records to GRANDMA.

Enroute to Lausan
Aug 30, 1882 - Oct. 9, 1882. 
After returning safely through Bukhara with the help of government escorts, the most challenging part of this trek required hiring camels to pass through the Karakum desert, while the men rode horses along another route. It weighed heavily on Heinrich Graewe (1834-1917) to lose his wife and never see her grave in the forest by the Amu Darya river. 

2 deaths identified:
  • Albrecht, Maria, #new, d. 1882, a young woman (Jungfrau) - Helena Warkentin, Our trek to Asia.
  • Giesbrecht, Katharina, #265703, b 26 Jan 1837, d 27 Sept 1882; wife of Heinrich Graewe (1834-1917, #265716) - Mennonitische Rundschau 23 Feb 1916 p 5 (to wiki).

Lausan
Occupied Oct. 9, 1882 - Apr. 17, 1884.
This first settlement in Khiva was plagued by robberies, besides being a wasteland that took much work getting started. The Mennonites’ non-resistance to violent attacks and thefts seemed to encourage the less trustworthy neighbours. The brazen murder of Heinrich Abrahams caused some to pursue migrating to America. Others left to found the settlement in Ak Metchet, Khiva or went to Aulie Ata. When the settlement ended, its population was 333 souls in 80 families. 

10 deaths identified:
  • Abrahams, Heinrich, #343745, duplicate #906825, b 15 June, 1854, d 22 June 1883, Lausan, Khiva, Turkestan (murdered), begraben Lausan, Chiwa, Turkestan; son of Heinrich (1813-1867, #311113), husband of Elisabeth Seiler (1863-1908, #87708) (to wiki). 
    • Mennonitische Rundschau 31 Oct 1883 p 1, 23 Jan 1884 p 2, 2 Apr 1884 p 2, 12 Aug 1908 p 3:2, 23 Sept 1908 p 10:2; 
    • date of death in Jakob Klaassen, Memoirs; 
    • Michael Klaassen, Autobiography p 9; 
    • Elizabeth Schultz, Aus Preußen, p. 116, What a Heritage, p. 58-59; 
    • Walter Ratliff, Pilgrims, p 163-165; 
    • Franz Bartsch, Our Trek, p 114, Unser Auszug, p. 74..
  • Froese, David, #49332, b Nov 1882, Khiva, Turkestan, buried 9 Dec 1882, Lausan, Khiva, Turkestan (GM says d young); son of Franz (1833-1908, #286630) - Johannes Jantzen, Aus Preußen, p. 290 (9 Dec. 1882).
  • Funk, Martha, #35978, b 18 MAR 1882, d 1883, Lausan, Khiva, Turkestan; daughter of Kornelius (1838-1921) - church records to GRANDMA (location is new).
  • Jantzen, Elisabeth, #new, died 30 Oct 1883, buried 1 Nov 1883, Lausan, Khiva, Turkestan; little daughter of a Johannes Jantzen (there were several, including #4934, #387939, #387928, #2343731, #341871) - Johannes Jantzen, Aus Preußen, p. 292 (Oct 30, 1883: “Johannes Jantzens kleine Lieschen gestorben. Am 1. Nov. begraben”). 
  • Jantzen, Elisabeth #387942, b 25 May 1883, d 25 Feb 1884, Lausan, Khiva, Turkestan, buried 28 Feb 1884, Lausan, Khiva, Turkestan; daughter of Abraham (1852-1920) - Johannes Jantzen, Aus Preußen, p. 294 (25 Feb 1884: “Abram Jantzens kleine Elisabeth gestorben und den 28. begraben.”).
  • Jantzen, Jacob, #342332, b 23 Feb 1826, d 18 Nov 1882, Lausan, Khiva, Turkestan - Cornelius Jantzen genealogy to GRANDMA.
  • Kroeker, Katherine, #387840, b 26 Aug 1814, d 25 Oct 1883, Lausan, Khiva, Turkestan; mother of Wilhelm Penner (1854-1929, #387974) - GRANDMA (location detail is new).  
  • Taves, Jacob, #5044, b 3 Apr 1882, d June 1883, Lausan, Khiva, Turkestan; son of Jacob (1861-1922) - church records to GRANDMA (location is new).
  • Toews, Otto, #346662, b 9 Jan 1852, d 21 Mar 1883, Lausan, Khiva, Turkestan, after 5 months illness, buried 29 Mar 1883, Lausan, Khiva, Turkestan, son of Peter (1797-1876) (burial new to GM, death date off 2 days). 
    • Johannes Jantzen, Aus Preußen, p. 291 (21 Mar 1883: "Br. Otto Toews passed away after an illness of five months"; 29 Mar 1883: "Br. Toews buried on the mountain. A little over 31 years old."). 
  • Unruh, Abraham, #280345, b 28 Jan 1881, Tashkent, Turkestan, d 22 Dec 1882, Lausan, Khiva, Turksetan; son of Peter (1842-1928) - church records to GRANDMA (location details are new).

Unspecified location
This individual died in Central Asia before 1885. The family was in train 2, which had no deaths en route. As they also traveled to Samarkand, Bukhara, Serabulak, and Lausan, it could be any of those locations. 

1 identified:
  • Dyck, _?_, #392714, d before 1885, Central Asia, of scarlet fever; daughter of Eduard (1837-aft. 1905, #628614) - GRANDMA.


En route to US
Apr 17, 1884 Lausan, Khiva, Turkestan - Oct 4, 1884 New York, New York. 
Thanks to help from Mennonites in America with the travel costs, 23 families (132 souls) left Lausan for America. They took another route by wagon train from Lausan to Orenburg, Russia; then by train to Germany, then by ship (S. S. Ems and S. S. Fulda) to New York, then by train to Kansas or Nebraska. Many also migrated in later years.    
 
2 deaths are noted from records:
  • Dirks, Heinrich, #124450, b  9 May 1884, Turkestan, d 9 Jun 1884, S. Russia; son of Tobias (1858-1931) - church records to GRANDMA.
  • Toews, Maria, #343752, b about 1883, d 1884 at sea at age 14 months; daughter of Heinrich (1862-1933) - GRANDMA from Der Bote 3 Mar 1948 p 4.

Ak Metchet
Occupied April 23, 1884 - April 1935 until the Mennonites were exiled to Tajikistan.
Of the 201 souls remaining in Asia, many accepted the Khan’s offer of this safe garden oasis near the city of Khiva (now Uzbekistan), after he learned of the troubles in Lausan. The Khan sent vehicles and men to assist with the move at his own expense. 

Here Mennonites thrived in cooperation with their Muslim neighbours, and are remembered fondly for bringing advances to agriculture, woodwork, and photography. Indeed, the Ichan Kala Museum in Khiva is dedicated to the history of these Mennonites. For a time, the settlement even became a refuge for those suffering Communist oppression in southern Russia. 

Maria Jantzen, the wife of Bernhard Jantzen, mentions the tragic loss of several infants, including their little Maria, in a private letter dated 5 Aug. 1884. By 19 Dec. 1885, Johann Jantzen (then in America) reported a stable population of 197 souls (101 adults, 96 children), and another 23 in the cemetery. 

6 deaths in 1884 have been identified:
  • Dyck, ___, #new, b 1884, d 1884, Ak Metchet, Khiva, Turkestan, at 5 weeks of age; son of Eduard Dyck (1837-aft. 1905, #628614) - Maria Jantzen, letter to Cornelius Fröse, 5 Aug 1884. 
  • Esau, Anna, #new, d 1884, Ak Metchet, Khiva, Turkestan, little child; daughter of  Gerhard (1843-1909, #346666) - Maria Jantzen, letter to Cornelius Fröse, 5 Aug 1884.
  • Jantzen, Katharina, #591333, b 1884, d 1884, Ak Metchet, Khiva, Turkestan; daughter of Gerhard (1847-1912, #342342) - Maria Jantzen, letter to Cornelius Fröse, 5 Aug 1884.
  • Jantzen, Maria, #new, d 1884, Ak Metchet, Khiva, Turkestan, young; daughter of Bernhard Jantzen (1859-1916, #342343) - Maria Jantzen, letter to Cornelius Fröse, 5 Aug 1884.
  • Toews, Herman, #new, d 1884, Ak Metchet, Khiva, Turkestan, age 6 months; son of Jacob Taves (1861-1922, #4992) - Maria Jantzen, letter to Cornelius Fröse, 5 Aug 1884.
  • Wiebe, Heinrich, #188261, b 27 Jan 1884, d 18 Jul 1884, Ak Metchet, Khiva, Turkestan; son of Heinrich (1857-1902) - Maria Jantzen, letter to Cornelius Fröse, 5 Aug 1884.
    ​


Picture
“All residents of Ak Metchet over 50 years of age; Jubilee photo at the 50th anniversary of the settlement on
4 May 1934. 42 persons, whose full names are listed at p. 147 of the book “Auf den Spuren der Ahnen”
Photo from the author, Robert Friesen.


Aulie Ata & area

Occupied from Apr 23, 1882 for many years, before most migrated to Germany and America.
This settlement was in the Talas Valley between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan (now in Kazakhstan). 83 families first arrived, most from Molotschna, some from Kuban and 15 from Am Trakt. When village plans were drawn up, young single men were also assigned land, bringing the number of households to 136 in 4 villages. 

Pioneering here was challenging, but more peaceful than Bukhara and Lausan. Four villages (later named Leninpol) grew to six, then 11, with daughter settlements. Aulie Ata accepted 19 families in 1884 when Lausan was dissolved, and later also many fleeing persecution in southern Russia. As late as 2019, there was a small Mennonite community in Rot-Front. 

17 deaths identified until 1884:
  • Bergen, Margaretha, #3503, b 17 Dec 1825, d 20 Nov 1884, Nikolaipol, Aulie-Ata, Turkestan; wife of Peter Dahlke (1838-1897, #3502) - Mennonitische Rundschau 28 Jan 1885 p 2.
  • Born, Helena, #529855, b 1844, d 1883, Gnadental, Aulie-Ata, Turkestan; wife of Johann Regehr (1841-1924, #529856) - GRANDMA.
  • Epp, ___, d spring 1882, Koeppental, Aulie-Ata, Turkestan; a young woman (Jungfrau), daughter of Franz (1841-1913, #1454513) - Mennonitische Rundschau 1 Sept 1882 p 4.
  • Friesen, Maria, #47378, b 8 Oct 1847, d 9 Jul 1882, Gnadental, Aulie-Ata, Turkestan; buried Gnadental, Aulie Ata, Turkestan, wife of David Reimer (1843-1898, #2158) - Mennonitische Rundschau 1 Oct 1882 p 3, 28 Feb 1883 p 2, 21 Nov 1883 p 2. 
  • Goertz, Heinrich, #new, b before 1861, d 1883, Tashkent, Turkestan, of typhoid fever; with Johann who also died, eldest sons of Siebert (1836-1887, #12987) - Mennonitische Rundschau 26 Sept 1883 p 1; 19 Nov 1884 p 1. 
  • Goertz, Johann, #new, b before 1861, died 1883 of typhoid fever, Tashkent, Turkestan; with Heinrich who also died, eldest sons of Siebert (1836-1887) - Mennonitische Rundschau 26 Sept 1883 p 1; 19 Nov 1884 p 1.
  • Goertzen, Katharina, #38349, b 3 Mar 1851, d 9 Feb 1884, Aulie-Ata, Turkestan; wife of George Riffel (1851-1933, #27540) - Mennonitische Rundschau 30 Apr 1884, p 1.
  • Jantzen, Anna, #312503, 21 Aug. 1808, d 22 June 1883, Aulie Ata settlement, Turkestan, died of dropsy on same day as son Heinrich murdered; widow of Heinrich Abrahams (1813-1867, #311113); lived with son Franz (1849-1919, #907088) - Franz Bartsch, Our Trek, p 115, Unser Auszug, p. 74; Mennonitische Rundschau 26 Sep 1883 p 1.
  • Janzen, ___, #new, d spring 1882, Koeppenthal, Aulie-Ata, Turkestan, youth, son of Kornelius from Am Trakt - Mennonitische Rundschau 1 Sept 1882 p 4, 28 Feb 1883 p 1-2.
  • Janzen, ___, #new, d spring 1882, Koeppenthal, Aulie-Ata, Turkestan, youth, another son of Kornelius from Am Trakt - Mennonitische Rundschau 1 Sept 1882 p 4; 28 Feb 1883 p 1-2.
  • Pauls, Peter, #586039, b 2 June 1837, d 15 Dec 1881 (date probably off) Nikolaipol, Aulie-Ata, Turkestan; son of Franz (abt 1788-aft 1836, #102498) - GRANDMA from genealogical papers, Zionsbote 18 May 1892 p 4, and Der Bote 8 Jun 1994 p 12.
  • Peters, Abraham #2341, d 1882, Aulie-Ata, Turkestan, young (date, place new to GRANDMA); son of Abraham (1833-1882) - Mennonitische Rundschau 28 Feb 1883 p 1-2.
  • Wall, Aron, #new, b about 1881, d 1883, Aulie-Ata, Turkestan, under age 3 of smallpox; son of Kornelius from Friedensruh, Molotschna - Mennonitische Rundschau 25 Apr 1883 p 1. 
  • Wall, Elisabeth, #342270, b 16 Aug 1842, d 31 Aug 1884, Koeppental, Aulie Ata, Turkestan, buried 1 Sept 1884, Koeppental, Aulie Ata, Turkestan; wife of Franz Epp (1841-1913, #1454513), died during childbirth - Mennonitische Rundschau 12 Nov 1884 p 2.
  • Wedel, Anna, #new, b about 1881, d 1883, Aulie-Ata, Turkestan, under age 3 of smallpox; daughter of Johann (1844-, #123771) - Mennonitische Rundschau 25 Apr 1883 p 1.
  • Wedel, Katherine, #123705, b 15 Feb 1882, d 7 Mar 1883, Aulie-Ata, Turkestan, of smallpox; daughter of Benjamin (1856-1926, #47606) - Mennonitische Rundschau 30 May 1883 p 2.
  • Wiebe, Abraham, #343812, b 1870, d 1882 Nikolaipol, Aulie-Ata, Turkestan; son of Peter (1831-1898) - Mennonitische Rundschau 1 Sept 1882 p 4 (GRANDMA has earlier estimated birth year from school records; death info is new).

The survivors of these Mennonites can be found worldwide. May we be encouraged even now by the loving memory of those who have gone before us. 

- Irene Plett

Sources
In addition to the GRANDMA genealogical database of the California Mennonite Historical Society, sources cited in obituaries are noted below.
  • Bartsch, Franz, Our Trek to Central Asia, translated by Elisabeth Peters and Gerhard Ens, 1993, CMBC Publications, Winnipeg: CMBC Publications and Manitoba Mennonite Historical Society, 1993, 2002. First published in German in 1907. The author was in train 1, journeyed to Bukhara, and left the trek from Serabulak in 1882.  
  • Bartsch, Franz, Unser Auszug nach Mittelasien [Our Exodus to Central Asia], Halbstadt: H.J. Braun, 1907; North Kildonan, Manitoba: Echo-Verlag, 1948; Lichtzeichen Verlag, 2010. Original text of above translation. Citations are from the 1948 edition.
  • Belk, Fred Richard, The Great Trek of the Russian Mennonites to Central Asia 1880-1884, 1976, Herald Press, Scottsdale. Detailed overview of the five treks. Original thesis available online. Detailed overview of the five treks, but contains errors.  
  • Dyck, Johannes Dietrich, Diary of Johannes Dietrich Dyck (1826 - 1898): Volume I (1871-1888), transcribed and annotated by Willi Frese, Willi Risto and Alexander Wiens; translated by Alf Redekopp, Winnipeg: Mennonite Heritage Archives, 2020. A leader of Am Trakt who did not travel to Asia, but wrote diary entries about some who did.   
  • Dyck Johannes Dietrich, “Tagebuch Johannes Dietrich Dyck (1826-1898) [from the years 1871-1888]”, transcribed and annotated by Willi Frese, Willi Risto and Alexander Wiens, Mennonite Geschichte und Ahnenforschung Chortitza, undated. German version of above. 
  • Friesen, Robert, Mennoniten in Mittelasien, 2012, Samenkorn Verlag. The history of Turkestan is explored in memoirs, articles, letters, a diary excerpt (J. Jantzen, published in full in Schultz Aus Preusen), and government archives. 
  • Gemeindeblatt der Mennoniten, pages as noted. Magazine is online.  
  • Jantzen, Herman, Journey of Faith in A Hostile World: Memoirs of Herman Jantzen, translated by Joseph A. Kleinsasser, ed. Peter Z. Friesen and Wilma Friesen, 2008, Bloomington, iUniverse. The author was in train 1, and journeyed to Bukhara, Lausan, Ak Metchet and Aulie Ata.
  • Jantzen, Margarethe (1865-1910), “Diary of Margarete Jantzen of Hans-Au, Am Trakt, Russia (January 1880-April 1881),” translated by Esther C. Bergen, unpublished. The author was in train 5, and married Michael Klaassen from train 2. Records events before her journey involving many trek members. 
  • Jantzen, Maria, letters to Cornelius Fröse, transcription from Gothic script, Mennonite Library and Archives. 
  • Janzen, Heinrich B., “Kurzen Überblick der letzten 10 verlebten Lebenslaufen” (Brief overview of the last 10 years), undated, translated by granddaughter Hilda Ediger Voth, Dec. 2, 1992. Trek diary of train 5. Note: pages are out of order in both the original handwritten record and the English translation, but the record has value.  
  • Klaassen, Jacob, “Memoirs of our Immigration to Central Asia,” 1964, extracts from Der Bote 1941, translated by Henry Klaassen. The author was in train 2, travelled to Bukhara, Serabulak, and Lausan; to Nebraska in 1884; later to Saskatchewan.  
  • Klaassen, Martin, Martin Klaassen (1820-1881) Diary, translated by Esther C. (Klaassen) Bergen, 1993; revised 2011 by Victor G. Wiebe. Trek begins at p. 201. Teacher, minister and author who died in Bukhara; was in train 2.
  • Klaassen, Michael, Autobiography of Michael Klaassen (1860-1934), ed. Esther C. Bergen. The author, a minister, was in train 2; travelled to Bukhara, Lausan, and Ak Metchet; to Nebraska in 1885.
  • Mennonitische Rundschau, various pages as noted. Translated letters from 1880-1881 are available. Magazine is now online. 
  • Ratliff, Walter R., Pilgrims on the Silk Road: A Muslim-Christian Encounter in Khiva, 2010, Wipf and Stock Publishers. Insightful analysis and dramatic storytelling of the trek and events that preceded it.
  • Reimer, Jacob (1863-1935), “From the Molotschna to Turkestan, Asia.” The author, a minister, was in train 3; migrated to America 1893. The brief memoir is online.
  • Schultz, Elizabeth Unruh, What a heritage: Autobiography of Mrs. Elizabeth Schultz nee Unruh, translated by Annie Schultz Keyes, ca. 1934. Unpublished. The author was in train 3; travelled to Bukhara, Serabulak, and Lausan; to Nebraska in 1884; later to Saskatchewan. The German version is below.
  • Schultz, Elisabeth (Unruh) and Johannes Jantzen, Aus Preußen über Russland und Turkestan nach Amerika. Tagebücher von Elisabeth Schultz (geb. Unruh) und Johannes Jantzen [From Prussia via Russia and Turkestan to America: Diaries of Elisabeth Schultz (née Unruh) and Johannes Jantzen], edited by Robert Friesen, Lichtzeichen Verlag, 2015. Schultz’ autobiography and Jantzen’s diary from 1839-1903. Schultz was in train 3, Jantzen in train 5, and both went to Bukhara and Lausan.
  • Schmidt, David (1835-1898) family record (third document at link). Notes the death of 2 family members in Turkestan and the birth of one.
  • Toews, Jakob, A Short Sketch of My Life, translated by Frank L. and Anna Toews Wenger, May 1963. Autobiography. Includes 1881 letters from the trek, previously published in 1882 and 1937. The author, a minister, was in train 2, travelled to Bukhara and Lausan; in 1884 to Kansas.  
  • Warkentin, Helena, “Our trek to Asia,” 14 Aug. 1932, 1942, translated by Irene Plett, Feb. 22, 2021. The author was in train 3; travelled to Bukhara, Serabulak, and Lausan; to Kansas in 1884. ​
  • Zur Heimath, pages as noted. Magazine is online. 
​
2 Comments
John E. Sharp
4/12/2023 12:15:13 pm

Irene,
Once again, I'm reviewing the fruits of your research, which is such a gift! I'm especially grateful for the Serebulak names, which I will read on my next visit there.

And, the additional names and numbers in all the wagon trains!

Reply
Irene Plett link
4/13/2023 09:36:10 pm

Thank you John! It was your fascinating "virtual tour" of the trek route that got me digging for details. Lovely that you will think of the people when next travelling to Uzbekistan!

Reply



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    Irene Plett is a writer, poet and animal lover living in South Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. 

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