Gregorius Johannes Knoll and Elisabetha Jaeckel

1. Knoll, Anna, “Adam Knoll and Catherine Pfeifer” and “The Knoll and Pfeifer Families in Russia,” biography.
2. Hobbs, Gertrude, “St. Peter, Kansas,” excerpts from "History of the St. Peter Community," The Hill City Times, 30 Aug 1979.
3. Laing, Francis S., German-Russian Settlements in Ellis County, Kansas, Ellis county, Kansas, 1910, reprinted from Kansas Historical Collections, Vol. XI, Kansas State Historical Society.
4. Boyd, Darryl and Dreiling, Trecil (comp.), Rohleder Parish Records 1801 to 1857, https://volgaparishes.com/rohleder_page.html, 2022.
5. Boyd, Darryl and Dreiling, Trecil (comp.), Rohleder Parish Marriage Records 1858 to 1880, https://volgaparishes.com/rohleder_parish/rohleder_marriages_1858-1880_alpha.htm, 2022.
6. Copy of marriage record from Victoria, Ellis, Kansas for Martin Goetz and Anna Catharina Knoll n. Hergert, posted by trecil, Ancestry, 2021.
7. Copy of burial records from St. Peter, Graham, Kansas for Joannes Peter Knoll and Catharina (Krug) Knoll, posted by trecil, Ancestry, 2019.
8. Leus, Pavel M. (Trans.), Rupp, Kevin D. (Comp.), and Leiker, Anthony (Comp.), Revision List (Census) of the Colony of Herzog, Russia (Susly): A Census of the Village in 1834, Hays, KS, 2002.
9. Leus, Pavel M. (trans.), Rupp, Kevin D. (comp.), Herzog, Russia (Susly): A census of the Village in 1850, December 12, 1850, Hays, KS: Kevin D. Rupp, 2002.
10. Pflug, Waldemar (trans.), 1857 Census of Herzog (Susly), Russia, translated from FHL 2373592, microfilmed from the original records in the state archives of Samara province.
11. Source: Year: 1876; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: M237, 1820-1897; Microfilm Roll: Roll 405; Line: 9; List Number: 704, Ancestry.com. New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
12. Year: 1893; Arrival: New York, New York, USA; Microfilm Serial: M237, 1820-1897; Line: 1; Page Number: 7; Ship or Roll Number: Wieland; Ancestry.com. New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
13. Year: 1893; Arrival: New York, New York, USA; Microfilm Serial: M237, 1820-1897; Line: 1; Ship or Roll Number: Gellert; Ancestry.com. New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
14. Staatsarchiv Hamburg; Hamburg, Deutschland; Hamburger Passagierlisten; Volume: 373-7 I, VIII A 1 Band 085; Page: 978; Microfilm No.: K_1750; Month: Direkt Band 085 (1 Jul 1893 - 31 Aug 1893); Staatsarchiv Hamburg. Hamburg Passenger Lists, 1850-1934 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2008.
15. Ancestry.com. U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2010. Original data: Filby, P. William, ed. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s. Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2012.
16. Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
17. United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.
18. Ancestry.com. Kansas, U.S., State Census Collection, 1855-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com.
19. Ellis County News (Hays, Kansas) Friday, 17 Dec 1909, page 4.
20. Images of the prayer cards of Michael Pfeifer and Theresia Pfeifer, posted by Robert Cockerill, Ancestry, 2013.
21. Photocopies of death certificates of Kathrine (Pfeifer) Knoll and Mike Pfifer from the files of Darryl W. Boyd.
22. Photocopy of death certificate of Catherine Goetz, posted by kedpam, Ancestry, 2013.
23. Grave markers of Theresia and Michael Pfeifer and Frank and Catherine Knoll, Saint Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Ellis, Kansas.
24. Gravestone of Katrin and Adam Knoll, Saint Anthony Cemetery, Graham County, Kansas.

ADAM KNOLL AND CATHERINE PFEIFER

by Anna Knoll

Adam Knoll, the son of Johannes Knoll and Margaret Schamberger,* was born in Herzog, Russia on November 11, 1832. His wife, Catherine Pfeifer, the daughter of Adam Pfeifer and Katharine Billinger, was born in Herzog, Russia on November 25, 1834. Their four sons, Michael, John Peter, John, and Peter were also born in Herzog, Russia.

When the family arrived from Herzog, Russia at Victoria on August 3, 1876, Peter was one year old, John was twelve, John Peter was thirteen, and Michael was fifteen.

After their arrival, they did what other settlers did. They proceeded immediately to build a shelter in the village, and within thirteen days, Adam Knoll applied for a homestead, so he would be able to farm as he did in Russia.

On August 16, 1876, Adam Knoll filed homestead application number 344, for a farm northwest of Victoria. The farm was the W1/2, SW1/4 18-13S-16W, and consisted of 71.21 acres. Two weeks later he completed the sod house on his homestead. Five days after that, he established residence on the homestead. He improved the homestead by building a stable on it, digging a well, breaking the sod, and raising crops on the land.

After the family became settled at Victoria, Adam Knoll found employment on the railroad, because he did not make enough money from the homestead to made a satisfactory living. The older sons worked on the homestead, and elsewhere. After Peter was old enough he also helped on the farm, and when he could be spared at home he attended school.

Before Adam Knoll could become the owner of his homestead, he had to become a naturalized citizen, as he did on March 10, 1883. The farm he homesteaded was subsequently patented in his name on November 20, 1883, thus making Adam Knoll the first U.S. citizen to receive title to this tract of land from the U.S. government.

All of Adam Knoll and Catherine Pfeifer's sons married at Victoria. Michael married Anna Marie Riedel in 1878; John Peter married Catherine Hoffman on June 20, 1884; John A. married Elizabeth Dinkel in 1885; and Peter A. married Rose Von Feld on February 11, 1896.

In the summer of 1897, after having lived at Victoria for twenty-one years, Adam Knoll, his wife, their four sons and their families moved to St. Peter, Kansas. Adam Knoll died on November 14, 1901. Catherine Pfeifer died on March 31 1914. Adam Knoll, his wife, and their four sons are buried at St. Peter.

Genealogical information is summarized below about Adam Knoll, his wife, and their four sons and their spouses.


Name                                                                                       Born                                    Died
Adam Knoll                                                                            11-11-1832
            married
Catherine Pfeifer                                                                   11-25-1834

1. Michael Knoll                                                                      2-1-1861
            married
   a) Anna Marie Riedel                                                         9-8-1862
            married
   b) Anna Dietz Bender

2. John Peter Knoll
            married 6-20-1884
Catherine Hoffman

3. John A. Knoll
            married 10-20-1885
   a) Elizabeth Dinkel
            married 8-26-1895
   b) Christine Kessler Meier
            married
   a) Anna Marie Azelborn Schreiner
            married
   b) Ursula Giest Weigel

4. Peter A. Knoll
            married 2-11-1896
Rose Von Feld


* Further research in records from Russia show that Johannes Knoll married Elisabetha Jaeckel, not a Margaret Schamberger. There is no Schamberger family in Herzog or its vicinity, although there was a Schoenberger family. MB

THE KNOLL AND PFEIFER FAMILIES IN RUSSIA

by Anna Knoll

The Knolls and Pfeifers had ancestral roots in Germany before 1766, and in Russia from about 1766 to 1876. the famous Manifesto (invitation) of 1763 of Catherine the Great, then ruler of Russia, induced these families and many of their compatriots to accept her invitation, and migrate to Russia from their homes in and around Bavaria, Germany. This happened at the end of the Seven Year's War, when the people in Germany were weary of war, and were looking forward to a peaceful way of life.

When these colonists accepted the invitation of Catherine the Great to settle in Russia, they looked forward hopefully to a great future. The promises that induced them to migrate to Russia were free land, exemption from taxation and military service, freedom of religion, and other privileges.

After meeting Catherine the Great in Leningrad, Russia, as the first group did, the colonists' great hopes for the future were dashed when they arrived at their destination. They discovered then that their homes were not what they had been promised, and amounted to nothing more than uninhabited steppes.

About 25,000 colonists, mostly from Germany, were settled in the Volga region, near Saratov, on both sides of the Volga River, from 1764 to 1768. They were settled in 104 agricultural villages with outlying farm land. The Knoll's new home, Herzog, was founded in about 1766 near the Karaman River. It was located on the opposite side of Saratov, about 50 miles from the Volga River.

During their early sojourn in Russia, the Volga German colonists struggled mightily to conquer this frontier with its harsh winter climate, in order to eke out a living and to provide a comfortable home. The colonists encountered many adversities during the early years in Russia because of their poverty, their inadequate housing and farming equipment, and the raids by the Kirghiz on the Volga German villages. Their hardships on this frontier land lasted about 25 years, until around 1790, which was a number of years before Catherine the Great passed away.

The most peaceful time the Knolls enjoyed were probably about the time Johannes Knoll and Margaret (Schamberger) Knoll were born, and extended down through the early married life of Adam Knoll and Catherine (Pfeifer) Knoll. In about 1873, after the Knolls had lived in Russia for about a century, the Volga Germans learned that the Emperor of Russia, Alexander, would repeal the special provision - exemption from military service - that had induced their ancestors to migrate to Russia. Unsettling as this news was to them, they had already been wondering where they might find more land for farming because of the continuing increase in the Volga German population.

The mass exodus from Russia, soon after the repeal of the provision exempting the Volga Germans from military service was most likely triggered more by their need for more land than by Russia's change of policy. At that time they had already heard about the land in the United States that could be purchased from the railroads, and also the land that could be homesteaded.

About three years after the change in policy, on April 8, 1876, when Herzog, Kansas was founded, Adam Knoll, his wife, and their sons were already preparing for the three week journey from Russia to Kansas. Soon after their arrival at Herzog on August 3, 1876, Adam Knoll filed a homestead application, which meant that he had to become a naturalized citizen before he could become the owner of the homestead.

Adam and Catherine Knoll's decision to come to the United States in 1876 was a carefully considered decision. It was based on what happened from 1873 until a Volga German colony was established in Herzog (now Victoria), Kansas on April 8, 1876. Adam Knoll and his wife needed time to make this momentous decision because they were then in the prime of life, and were the parents of four minor children.

The first of the series of events that led to Adam Knoll's search for a new home was the repeal in 1873 of the special privileges that induced his ancestors to migrate from Germany to Russia. This event triggered a meeting at Herzog, Russia, in the spring of 1874, where the search for new homes began to be discussed publicly by the Volga Germans. The outcome of that meeting was that five Catholic scouts were chosen to go to the United States to find out if the land that they had heard about was suitable for Volga German agricultural colonies.

The five scouts, and scouts from other Volga German colonies sailed from Hamburg, Germany on July 1, 1874. Their reports about the United States were favorable enough to induce some Volga German families to form a colonizing expedition the following year, in the fall of 1875. Although the members of this colonizing expedition did not know where they would settle when they left Russia, they eventually founded three Volga German settlements in early 1876. One of those founded was by a group of settlers from Adam Knoll's home town, Herzog, Russia.

Although the settlers from the various Volga German villages that formed this colonizing expedition did not all leave Russia at the same time, they did leave on the same ship from Germany. They took passage in Bremen, Germany, on the steam ship Ohio on November 2, 1875, and after a rough 21 day voyage landed in Baltimore, Maryland.

Although the Volga Germans were on the verge of returning to Russia a number of times after arriving at Topeka, they decided to stay after they were shown prairie land in Ellis and Rush counties in Kansas. They decided to found agricultural colonies in early 1876 in these two counties not only because the land resembled the steppes of Russia, but also because the land was being offered to them at prices they could afford. The three Volga German colonies founded in Kansas in 1876 were Liebenthal, Catherine, and Herzog.

Herzog, Russia (now Victoria, Kansas), the place which later became the home of Adam Knoll and his family was located near the geographical center of the United States adjacent to the Kansas Pacific Railroad. It was half a mile north of Victoria, which was then settled by wealthy Englishmen, most of whom eventually pulled up stakes and left. The Volga German village named Herzog was established on April 8, 1876 by 23 families from Herzog, Russia, who named it after their hometown in Russia.

Soon after Herzog, Kansas was founded, Adam Knoll and many other families from Herzog, Russia prepared to emigrate to this newly formed village.

Adam Knoll and his family and other Volga Germans began their journey to their new home in the United States with a 50 mile wagon trip from Herzog, Russia to the seaport Pokrowsk. They traveled by boat across the might Volga River to Saratov. From there they left by train enroute to Bremen, Germany, traveling through Russia, Poland, and Germany.

After taking passage in Bremen, Germany, on the steamship Mosel, of the North German Lloyd Line, they crossed the Atlantic Ocean, and arrived in the Port of New York on July 29, 1876. From New York they traveled by train to the central part of the United States, and on August 3, 1876, reached their destination.

The families arriving and settling in Herzog, Kansas on August 3, 1876 included Adam Knoll (five family members), and Michael Pfeifer, Sr. (13 family members).

ST. PETER, KANSAS

Excerpts from "History of the St. Peter Community"
by Gertrude Hobbs
The Hill City Times, Aug. 30, 1979

The Volga-Germans people started to migrate to America via Russia in 1875 as escapees from the thickly populated country of Germany.  Many were seeking land to farm.

In 1763 and 1767, there were 28,000 Germans were lured to Russia by the lavish promises of Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia.  Due to poverty and unemployment, many Germans migrated to Volga Valley in Russia only to find mistreatment, hardships, and Russianized schools.  The Volga-Germans boys were drafted into the Russian army.  The men and women were shipped to Siberia; however, 175,000 of them froze and starved to death while enroute.  Because of these devastating hardships, a scout from the Volga was sent to America to seek better living conditions.  They found vast amounts of land to be farmed and also a beckoning by the railroad companies for settlement along their right-away.  Hence, the immigration to the U.S. and location in the St. Peter community.

A list of the St. Anthony's Church families around 1909 included Hoffman and Pfeifer families.

In 1894, the first German families came to Bryant Township and concentrated around Hoganville, which was to be moved to the present site of St. Peter in 1900.  Mr. Hogan from WaKeeney promised the first settlers a building for their first church and a cemetery site if they would name the settlement "Hoganville."  It was located on the John Knoll land, Sec. 15-10-25, which is presently owned by Frank Pfeifer and was about one half-mile west of the present town of St. Peter.  In 1895, these few families built a small frame church which satisfied their needs for almost fifteen years.  In 1909-10, a new St. Anthony's Church was built.  Mr. Alex Schueler of Catherine was both architect and contractor.  The new edifice was dedicated in the fall of 1910.

The people were a rather sturdy race of people.  However, finance and the German language were handicaps in the English-speaking community.

Cheap land and a few remaining homesteads beckoned many settlers to (St. Peter).  A small village of mostly sod houses, a church, and cemetery was started.  The first church was a frame house, 20' by 40', purchased at Penokee, and donated by the Close Brothers.

In October of 1898, the site of Hoganville was abandoned and moved to the present site of St. Peter.

Entertainment was provided by having literary in the Banner school building and people rode in lumber wagons to attend.  Usually, the mother and father rode in the wagon seat which would provide a slight amount of give when the rough roads were traversed.  The children sat in the lumber wagon box on a layer of straw or hay with Grandmother's  second-best comforter spread over it.  In cold weather, another quilt was placed over their heads as a protection from the weather elements.

The first St. Peter picnic was established in 1902 by Father Charles Weber.  These gatherings were continued until the early sixties.  Friends and relatives from cities and nearby states would return for these events and visitations with local parishioners.  The picnic events were of one-day duration and a huge noon and evening meal consisting of large containers of roast beef, chicken, vegetables, fruit, homegrown cucumbers, pies, and cakes.  Tables were set up in the school basement to accommodate the multitude of participants who had come from far and near to enjoy this festive occasion.  Games, such as bingo, penny pitch, and dart throw were manned by various parishioners.  The day ended with an outdoor pavilion dance.

They came and they built
without a promise;
Not knowing what the future
encumbered;
Now as we look back, their
hearts were in earnest
They left a heritage to be
remembered.

Written by Terry Hobbs

German-Russian Settlements in Ellis County, Kansas

The immediate cause of the emigration was the military law of January 13, 1874, which subjected all colonists to military service. Factors in its introduction had been jealousy of the Russian neighbors, owing particularly to the drain in the Crimean war, lack of caution on the part of the colonists, who had been led to sign a document inimical to their liberty. The colonists were averse to military service, because, during the six years, it was almost impossible for Catholic soldiers to fulfill even their Easter duty of receiving the sacraments; only members of the Greek church could rise to an officer's rank; treatment left much to be desired.

In June, 1871, an edict had limited the period of exemption from military service to ten years, with the provision that, as to furnishing recruits, the laws ruling colonists should continue in force only till the publication of a general law on military duty. In this period of ten years colonists might emigrate to other countries without forfeiture of any property. This was not generally known. It was emphasized in a peculiar way during a term of court at Novousensk. Balthasar Brungardt, one of the jurors who had been schreiber (secretary) of Herzog for nine years, and whose attention had been called to the paragraph the colonialostaw (law book) by a mirovoj (secretary), entered into a bet with a Mr. Kraft, who denied the liberty to emigrate, both leaving the decision to the procuror (state's attorney) on the morrow. In the presence of several hundred colonists the procurer affirmed the right of emigrating.

It was largely this occurrence which led to a meeting of about 3000 colonists at Herzog in the spring of 1874. Balthasar Brungardt was one of the speakers. His knowledge of the geographical subject he had drawn from a geography imported from Germany, and from Professor Stelling, who taught history and geography in the seminar (college) at Saratow during Brungardt's college days, 1860-'64, being at the same time official of the comptoir. Stelling was born on the Pacific (his father, a native of Courland, washed gold in California), and delighted to speak of America. In his discourse Mr. Brungardt spoke of Brazil and Nebraska as desirable places for new homes, giving preference to the latter place because colder.

A result of this meeting was the election of five delegates, who, at the expense of their respective communities, were to investigate Nebraska, with a view of settling there...Their report was favorable, and subsequently four of the five emigrated.

Toward the end of December, 1874, two other explorers...were sent on a like mission...They spent about a week in Kansas, and returning to their homes reported unfavorably, thus deterring quite a number from emigrating.

With the five explorers mentioned above went Anton Kaeberlein, of Pfeifer, and others as far as New York. Their destination was Arkansas. On his return, A. Kaeberlein reported that the land pleased him, but not the custom of living on farms instead of living in villages...

The first draft of soldiers in the colonies precipitated matters. On November 24, 1874, four were drafted in Herzog; on December 11 twenty-one were drafted in Katharinenstadt. The formalities required of emigrants were a release from the town authorities on a two-thirds vote of the Gemeinde (made up of the heads of families), from the Kreisamt, and, finally, a pass from the governor.

...

The largest single expedition was that which set out shortly after Mr. B. Brungardt had undertaken to secure passes for 108 families at eighteen rubles; after some delays, and some gifts to the governor, all were secured but four; these latter were refused because the persons had drawn red ballots and were held for recruits. A petition to the war department and one to the minister of war were fruitless. As a last resort a telegram was sent to the czar and arrangements made to delay the answer so that it would reach the colony only after all had passed the Russian border. The whole party occupied seventeen coaches on leaving Saratow, June 26/July 8. At Duenaburg they were joined by a party of Mennonites, who occupied ten coaches. The larger body separated at Eydtkuhnen. Some of the first arrivals had complained in letters of treatment on board the ship of the North-German Lloyd, and had advised their friends who contemplated emigration to take another route. Because of this Mr. Weinberg, as agent of the Hamburg-American line, prevailed on some to go by Hamburg; this route was taken by those who settled in Munjor, Schoenchen, and Liebenthal. The others arranged for transportation to New York at thirty-eight rubles, with an agent of Johanning & Behmer of the North-German Lloyd, and to the number of 1454 souls took passage on the "Mosel." In Castle Garden various offers of transportation were made ranging from $18 to 22. These were refused, and finally an agreement made for sixteen rubles (the ruble had then a rating of seventy-two cents) per passenger. The Mennonites went to Nebraska. The others were Peter Braun, Peter Andrew Braun (3), Andrew Brungardt, sr. (8), Balthasar Brungardt (5), Franz Brungardt, sr. (8), Franz Brungardt (2), John Peter Brungardt, Peter Brungardt (6), Peter Brungardt (9), Alois Dening (8), Michael Dening (6), Andrew Dinkel, George Dinkel (4), John Peter Dinkel (5), Michael Dreiling, sr. (3), Anton M. Dreiling (5), Franz M. Dreiling (4), Michael M. Dreiling (4), Peter M. Dreiling (3), John Dreiling, Elizabeth Dreiling, Paulina Dreiling, John Frank, Joseph Kapp, Adam Knoll (5), Michael Kuhn, sr. (4), John Kuhn, sr. (3), Andrew Kuhn (4), John Kuhn (3), Michael Kuhn (10), Michael Kuhn, jr. (3), Anton Mermis (6), Michael Pfeifer, sr. (13), Adam Riedel (11), Martin Riedel (5), Michael Riedel (3), Peter Rome (3), Ignaz Sander (7), Frederic Schamber (5), Andrew Scheck, sr. (3), Andrew Scheck (8), Michael Schmidtberger, John Vonfeld (14), John Wasinger (7), John Windholz, Michael Weigel (10), John Wittmann (8), Peter Wittmann (3), Martin Yunker (8), Peter Yunker (4), all of Herzog, Russia; John Leiker (7), Anton Rupp (8), Caspar Rupp (6), Jacob Rupp (4) of Obermonjour, Russia; Joseph Graf, sr. (5), Martin Quint (8), Michael Quint (8) of Louis, Russia; Henry Gerber of Graf, Russia. All these, excepting Peter Yunker, who remained in Topeka till 1877, made their home in Herzog, arriving in Victoria, August 3, 1876.

Source: Laing, Francis S., German-Russian Settlements in Ellis County, Kansas, Ellis county, Kansas, 1910, reprinted from Kansas Historical Collections, Vol. XI, Kansas State Historical Society. Available at Google Books.

Note: "Name lists are arranged alphabetically; the number in () designates the number of members in the family; at times these numbers include several families, in which case they formed one household; absence of a number denotes that the persons were single. Some Christian names are Englished."

Note: Bolding added by me. MB

Rohleder Parish Records 1801 to 1857

Births and Baptisms

Line: 17
Baptism date: 9 May 1806
Child: Gregory Johannes
Father: Knoll    Franz
Mother: Hochweiss    Elisabetha
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Johan Hergert & Anna Maria Schoenberger
Note: A look at the original record shows that "Gregory" should actually read "Gregorius." MB

Line: 14
Baptism date: 4 Apr 1806
Child: Catharina Elisabetha
Father: Jaekel    Andreas
Mother: Kohlmeier    Catharina
Village: Rohleder
Witnesses: Catharina Hoffman

Line: 21
Baptism date: 24 May 1809
Child: Maria Elisabetha
Father: Jaekel    Henry
Mother: Donau    Anna Maria
Village: Graf
Witnesses: Anton Donau & Elisabetha Meyer

Line: 32
Birth date: 12 May 1827
Baptism date: 13 May 1827
Child: Johannes
Father: Knoll    Johannes
Mother: Jegel    Elisabetha
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Johannes Hergert & Anna Elisabeth Knoll

Line: 28
Birth date: 15 Apr 1828
Baptism date: 15 Apr 1828
Child: Sabina
Father: Schoenberger    Michael
Mother: Brungardt    Catharina
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Johannes Tehre & Sabina Weigel

Line: 55
Birth date: 9 Aug 1828
Baptism date: 12 Aug 1828
Child: Michael
Father: Pfeifer    Johnn Adam
Mother: Billinger    Catharina
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Michael Goetz & Catharina Billinger

Line: 82
Birth date: not listed
Baptism date: 21 Nov 1828
Child: Susanna
Father: Knoll    Johannes
Mother: Jegel    Elisabetha
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Michael Hoffman & noname Kohlman

Line: 30
Birth date: 25 Mar 1830
Baptism date: 25 Mar 1830
Child: Valentin (Hergert)
Father: Illegitmate
Mother: Ergert    Susanna
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Valentin Weigel & Catharina Scheck

Line: 111
Birth date: 30 Nov 1830
Baptism date: 30 Nov 1830
Child: Elisabetha
Father: Knoll    Johannes
Mother: Jegel    Elisabetha
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Aloisius Junker & Elisabeth Kimmel

Line: 80
Birth date: 21 Oct 1832
Baptism date: 22 Oct 1832
Child: Johann Adam
Father: Knoll    Johannes
Mother: Jegel    Elisabetha
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Johannes Adam Sander & Elisabeth Kuhn

Line: 66
Birth date: 26 Jun 1834
Baptism date: 26 Jun 1834
Child: Michael
Father: Knoll    Johannes
Mother: Jegel    Elisabetha
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Michael Wittman & Catharina Kun

Line: 113
Birth date: 19 Dec 1835
Baptism date: 20 Dec 1835
Child: Anna Maria
Father: Knoll    Johannes
Mother: Jegel    Elisabetha
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Johannes Kuhn & Anna Maria Knol

Line: 20
Birth date: 19 Feb 1838
Baptism date: 21 Feb 1838
Child: Franz
Father: Knoll    Johannes
Mother: Jegel    Elisabetha
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Franz Knoll & Catharina Windholz

Line: 31
Birth date: 15 Mar 1839
Baptism date: 15 Mar 1839
Child: Anna Catharina
Father: Hergert    Andreas
Mother: Rome    Catharina
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Georg Kuhn & Anna Maria Hergert

Line: 35
Birth date: 31 Mar 1840
Baptism date: 1 Apr 1840
Child: Michael
Father: Knoll    Johannes
Mother: Jegel    Elisabetha
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Michael Kener & Christina Knoll

Line: 85
Birth date: 29 Jul 1841
Baptism date: 3 Aug 1841
Child: Johannes
Father: Knoll    Johannes
Mother: Jegel    Elisabetha
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Johannes Peter Braun & Margaret Hergert

Line: 56
Birth date: 20 May 1843
Baptism date: 23 May 1843
Child: Catharina
Father: Krug    Johannes
Mother: Beier    Catharina
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Johannes Rome & Catharina Gender?

Line: 127
Birth date: 23 Oct 1843
Baptism date: 24 Oct 1843
Child: Anna
Father: Knoll    Johannes
Mother: Jegel    Elisabetha
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Michael Dreiling & Anna Junker

Line: 25
Birth date: 1 Mar 1845
Baptism date: 3 Mar 1845
Child: Anna Catharina
Father: Knoll    Johannes
Mother: Jegel    Elisabetha
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Peter Brungardt & Catharina Braun

Line: 16
Birth date: 26 Feb 1846
Baptism date: 27 Feb 1846
Child: Catharina
Father: Knoll    Johannes
Mother: Jegel    Elisabetha
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Michael Schoenberger & Catharina Pfeifer

Line: 184
Birth date: 13 Nov 1848
Baptism date: 16 Nov 1848
Child: Peter
Father: Knoll    Johannes
Mother: Jegel    Elisabetha
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Peter Brungardt & Barbara Schaefer

Line: 110
Birth date: 13 Aug 1850
Baptism date: 15 Aug 1850
Child: Catherina
Father: Knoll    Johannes
Mother: Jegel    Elisabetha
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Johannes Wittmann & Katharina Schoenberger

Marriages

Line: 3
Date: 28 Jan 1846
Groom: Pfeifer    Michael
    Age: 18
    Marital Status: S
    Village: Herzog
Bride: Knoll    Teresia
    Age: 17
    Marital Status: S
    Village: Herzog
Groom's parents: Adam Pfeifer & Catharina Billinger
Bride's parents: Johannes Knoll & Elisabetha Jegel
Where married: Herzog
Witness: Adam Sander

Line: 4
Date: 28 Jan 1846
Groom: Knoll    Johannes
    Age: 19
    Marital Status: S
    Village: Herzog
Bride: Schoenberger    Sabina
    Age: 17
    Marital Status: S
    Village: Herzog
Groom's parents: Johannes Knoll & Elisabetha Jegel
Bride's parents: Michael Schoenberger & Catharina Brungardt
Where married: Herzog
Witness: Peter Billinger

Line: 21
Date: 28 Oct 1852
Groom: Knoll    Johannes Adam
    Age: 26
    Marital Status: S
    Village: Herzog
Bride: Pfeifer    Katharina
    Age: 18
    Marital Status: S
    Village: Herzog
Groom's parents: Johannes Knoll & Elisabetha Jaeckel
Bride's parents: Adam Pfeifer & Katharina Billinger
Where married: Herzog
Witness: Peter Schoenberger

Line: 25
Date: 28 Oct 1852
Groom: Hergert    Valentin
    Age: 22
    Marital Status: S
    Village: Herzog
Bride: Knoll    Elisabetha
    Age: 21
    Marital Status: S
    Village: Herzog
Groom's parents: illegitimate
Bride's parents: Johannes Knoll & Elisabetha Jaeckel
Where married: Herzog
Witness: Johannes Kuhn

Line: 13
Date: 19 Nov 1856
Groom: Knoll    Franz
    Age: 19
    Marital Status: S
    Village: Herzog
Bride: Hergert    Anna Katharina
    Age: 18
    Marital Status: S
    Village: Herzog
Groom's parents: Johannes Knoll & Elisabetha Jäckel
Bride's parents: Andreas Hergert & Katharina Rome
Where married: Herzog
Witness: Peter Schönberger

Deaths

Line: 15
Date: 10 Apr 1840
Age: 6 wk
Name of decedent: Knoll    Michael
Village: Herzog
Cause: convulsion
Parents: Johannes Knoll & Elisabeth Jegel

Line: 22
Date: 2 Apr 1843
Age: 7
Name of decedent: Knoll    Anna Maria
Village: Herzog
Parents: Johannes Knoll & Elisabeth Jegel

Line: 59
Date: 26 Oct 1843
Age: 2 d
Name of decedent: Knoll    Anna
Village: Herzog
Parents: Johannes Knoll & Elisabeth Jegel

Line: 15
Date: 28 Mar 1845
Age: 4 wk
Name of decedent: Knoll    Anna Catharina
Village: Herzog
Parents: Johannes Knoll & Elisabeth Jegel

Line: 47
Date: 14 May 1849
Age: 6 mo
Name of decedent: Knoll    Elisabetha
Village: Herzog
Cause: cough
Parents: Johannes Knoll & Elisabeth Jaeckel

Line: 62
Date: 25 Jul 1849
Age: 9 mo
Name of decedent: Knoll    Peter
Village: Herzog
Cause: fever
Parents: Johannes Knoll & Elisabeth Jaeckel

Source: Boyd, Darryl and Dreiling, Trecil (comp.), Rohleder Parish Records 1801 to 1857, https://volgaparishes.com/rohleder_page.html, 2022.

Rohleder Parish Records 1858 to 1880

Marriages

Photo: 106-2
Line: 22
Date: 26 Nov 1861
Groom: Knoll    Johannes Peter
   Age: 20
   Marital status: S
   Village: Herzog
Bride: Krug    Katharina
   Age: 18
   Marital status: S
   Village: Herzog
Groom's parents: Johannes Knoll & Elisabeth Jäckel
Bride's parents: Johannes Krug & Katharina Beyer
Village: Rohleder
Witnesses: Peter Billinger, Peter Kuhn, Joseph Riedel

Photo: 94-2
Line: 4
Date: 29 Jan 1862
Groom: Krug    Peter
   Age: 20
   Marital status: S
   Village: Herzog
Bride: Knoll    Anna Katharina
   Age: 17
   Marital status: S
   Village: Herzog
Groom's parents: Johannes Krug & Katharina Beyer
Bride's parents: Johannes Knoll & Elisabeth Jäckel
Village: Rohleder
Witnesses: Leonhard Kuhn, Michael Dreiling, Michael Schönberger

Photo: 112-1
Line: 5
Date: 4 Feb 1865
Groom: Knoll    Johannes
   Age: 38
   Marital status: W
   Village: Herzog
Bride: Kimmel    Margaretha
   Age: 37
   Marital status: W
   Village: Friedental
Groom's parents: Johannes Knoll & Elisabeth Jäckel
Bride's parents: Andreas Kimmel & Theresia Wilgert
Village: Mariental
Witnesses: Peter Weltz, Andreas Braun, Nikolaus Braun

Photo: 91-2
Line: 36
Date: 11 Nov 1869
Groom: Geier    Gottfried
   Age: 20
   Marital status: S
   Village: Graf
Bride: Knoll    Margaretha
   Age: 18
   Marital status: S
   Village: Herzog
Groom's parents: Anton Geier & Elisabeth Wasinger
Bride's parents: Johannes Knoll & Elisabeth Jäckel
Village: Graf
Witnesses: Johannes Bach, Johannes Robert, Joseph Hepp

Photo: 91-1
Line: 35
Date: 15 Nov 1870
Groom: Knoll    Johannes
   Age: 62
   Marital status: W
Bride: Schuller    Elisabeth
   Age: 62
   Marital status: W
   Village: Mariental
Groom's parents: Franz Knoll & Elisabeth Hochweiß
Bride's parents: Daniel Herrmann & Katharina Weber
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Joseph Linenberger, Johannes Götz

Photo: 115-2
Line: 6
Date: 13 Nov 1873
Groom: Beyer    Peter
   Age: 25
   Marital status: S
   Village: Herzog
Bride: Knoll    Anna Katharina
   Age: 23
   Marital status: W
   Village: Herzog
Groom's parents: Peter Beyer & Margaretha There
Bride's parents: Johannes Knoll & Elisabeth Jäckel
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Andreas Schmidtberger, Johannes Götz, Joseph Rome

Source: Boyd, Darryl and Dreiling, Trecil (comp.), Rohleder Parish Marriage Records 1858 to 1880, https://volgaparishes.com/rohleder_parish/rohleder_marriages_1858-1880_alpha.htm, 2022.

Images of marriage records are shown below as thumbnails. Click on each thumbnail to view a larger version of the record in another tab.

Marriage record from Victoria, Ellis, Kansas

Source: Copy of marriage record from Victoria, Ellis, Kansas for Martin Goetz and Anna Catharina Knoll n. Hergert, posted by trecil, Ancestry, 2021.

Burial records from St. Peter, Graham, Kansas

Source: Copy of burial records from St. Peter, Graham, Kansas for Joannes Peter Knoll and Catharina (Krug) Knoll, posted by trecil, Ancestry, 2019.

Herzog Census, 12 Dec 1834

Name:    Johannes Knoll
Birth:    1806        Herzog (Susly), Russia

Spouse:    Elisabeth ?
Birth:    1809

Children
1    M    Johannes Knoll
Birth:    1827

2    M    Johann-Adam Knoll
Birth:    1832

3    M    Michael Knoll
Birth:    1833

4    F    Teresa Knoll
Birth:    1828

5    F    Elisabeth Knoll
Birth:    1830

Source: Leus, Pavel M. (Trans.), Rupp, Kevin D. (Comp.), and Leiker, Anthony (Comp.), Revision List (Census) of the Colony of Herzog, Russia (Susly): A Census of the Village in 1834, Hays, KS, 2002.

Herzog Census, 30 Jul 1850

Name:    Johannes Knoll
Birth:    1806
Father:    Franz Knoll (1763-1827)
Mother:    Elisabeth (1768- )

Spouse:    Elisabeth
Birth:    1808

Children
1    M    Johannes Knoll
Birth:    1827        Herzog (Susly), Russia
Spouse:    Sabina ?

2    F    Elisabeth Knoll
Birth:    1830        Herzog (Susly), Russia

3    M    Johann Adam Knoll
Birth:    1832        Herzog (Susly), Russia

4    M    Michael Knoll
Birth:    1833        Herzog (Susly), Russia
Death:    1844        Herzog (Susly), Russia

5    M    Franz Knoll
Birth:    1837        Herzog (Susly), Russia

6    M    Johann Peter Knoll
Birth:    1841        Herzog (Susly), Russia

7    F    Katharine Knoll
Birth:    1846        Herzog (Susly), Russia

Name:    Johannes Knoll
Birth:    1827        Herzog (Susly), Russia
Father:    Johannes Knoll (1806- )
Mother:    Elisabeth ? (1809- )

Spouse:    Sabina ?
Birth:    1829

Name:    Adam Pfeiffer
Birth:    1800        Herzog (Susly), Russia

Spouse:    Katharine ?
Birth:    1807

Children
...
2    M    Michael Pfeiffer
Birth:    1828        Herzog (Susly), Russia
Spouse:    Teresa ?
...
7    F    Katharine Pfeiffer
Birth:    1846        Herzog (Susly), Russia

Source: Leus, Pavel M. (trans.), Rupp, Kevin D. (comp.), Herzog, Russia (Susly): A census of the Village in 1850, December 12, 1850, Hays, KS: Kevin D. Rupp, 2002.

Census, 4 Nov 1857

Census, 4 Nov 1857

Household number: 34 (38)

                                                                                               Age in 1850        Age in 1857            Notes

Adam Pfeifer                               head                               50                        57                             "Peifer"

Katharina Bilinger                      spouse                                                          50

Johannes                                      son                                  24                        31

Margaretha There                    daughter-in-law                                            30

Michael                                         grandson                         3                         30

Johann Peter                              grandson                           2                         † 1851

Johannes                                     grandson                                                      6

Magdalena                                granddaughter                                             4

Anna Maria                                granddaughter                                              3

Elisabetha                                   granddaughter                                           1/2

Michael                                        son                                    22                        29

Theresia Knoll                              daughter-in-law                                           28

Johannes                                    grandson                            1                          8

Anna Katharina                       daughter                                                         11

Andreas                                       son                                      2                        † 1851

Household number: 95 (115)

                                                                                                 Age in 1850        Age in 1857            Notes

Valentin Hergert                        head                                                                28                            1852 from Household #113

Elisabetha Knoll                          spouse                                                             27

Johannes                                      son                                                                   4

Katharina Margaretha           daughter                                                           1/2

Household number: 98 (119)

                                                                                               Age in 1850        Age in 1857            Notes

Johannes Knoll                            head                                44                        51                             

Elisabetha Eckel                          spouse                                                         48                             "Geckel"

Johannes                                     son                                    23 1/2                  31

Sabina Schönberger                  daughter-in-law                                          28

Johann Adam                            grandson                                                        7

Johannes                                    grandson                                                        4

Johann Adam                            son                                    18                         25

Katharina Pfeifer                        daughter-in-law                                           25                              "Peifer"

Andreas                                      grandson                                                        1

Franz                                            son                                    13                        20

Anna Katharina Hergert            daughter-in-law                                          19

Johann Peter                              son                                      9                        16

Katharina                                    daughter                            4                        11

Anna Katharina                          daughter                                                       7


Source: Pflug, Waldemar (trans.), 1857 Census of Herzog (Susly), Russia, translated from FHL 2373592, microfilmed from the original records in the state archives of Samara province.

Images of immigration records are shown below as thumbnails. Click on each thumbnail to view a larger version of the record in another tab.

Passenger List for the Mosel, sailing from Bremen to New York, arriving 29 Jul 1876

Source: Year: 1876; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: M237, 1820-1897; Microfilm Roll: Roll 405; Line: 9; List Number: 704, Ancestry.com. New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

Passenger List for the Wieland, sailing from Hamburg to New York, arriving 26 Aug 1893

Source: Year: 1893; Arrival: New York, New York, USA; Microfilm Serial: M237, 1820-1897; Line: 1; Page Number: 7; Ship or Roll Number: Wieland; Ancestry.com. New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

Passenger List for the Gellert, sailing from Hamburg to New York, departing 27 Aug 1893

Source: Staatsarchiv Hamburg; Hamburg, Deutschland; Hamburger Passagierlisten; Volume: 373-7 I, VIII A 1 Band 085; Page: 978; Microfilm No.: K_1750; Month: Direkt Band 085 (1 Jul 1893 - 31 Aug 1893); Staatsarchiv Hamburg. Hamburg Passenger Lists, 1850-1934 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2008.

Passenger List for the Gellert, sailing from Hamburg to New York, arriving 8 Sep 1893

Source: Year: 1893; Arrival: New York, New York, USA; Microfilm Serial: M237, 1820-1897; Line: 1; Ship or Roll Number: Gellert; Ancestry.com. New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

U.S. and Canada Passenger and Immigration Lists Index

Name:  Adam Knoll
Arrival Year:                                    1876
Arrival Place:                                   Kansas
Source Publication Code:           4497
Primary Immigrant:                        Knoll, Adam
Annotation:        Lists of immigrants from places in Russia to America (Baltimore then to Kansas), 1875-1878, pp. 493-502. Reprinted as a separate pamphlet (1910?, 40p.). The 1876 arrivals are also listed in no. 4019, Knoll. See also no. 1682, Dreiling.
Source Bibliography:       LAING, REV. FRANCIS B. "German-Russian Settlements in Ellis County, Kansas." In Collections of the Kansas State Historical Society, 1909-1910, vol. 11. Topeka, Kansas: State Printing Office, 1910, pp. 489-528.
Page:                                                 497

Name:               Theresia Pfeiffer
Birth Year:        abt 1827
Arrival Year:    1876
Arrival Place:   New York, New York
Age:                   49
Source Publication Code:    2973
Primary Immigrant:    Pfeiffer, Theresia
Annotation:    Passengers originally from Russia, 1875-1876, 1889-1900. Many were Mennonites from the Volga area. Compilers along with Haynes of some of the lists were Louise Glantz England and Delores Iggulden. See note on Clues in no. 2972.
Source Bibliography:    HAYNES, EMMA SCHWABENLAND. "Passenger Lists." In Clues, 1980, pt. 1, pp. 77-85.
Page:    78

Source: Ancestry.com. U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2010. Original data: Filby, P. William, ed. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s. Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2012.

Copies of census records are shown below as thumbnails. Click on each thumbnail to view a larger version of the record in another tab.

1880

Herzog Township (Hartsook), Ellis, Kansas

Source: Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

1900

Herzog, Ellis, Kansas

Bryant, Graham, Kansas

Source: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.

Copies of census records are shown below as thumbnails. Click on each thumbnail to view a larger version of the record in another tab.

1885

Herzog, Ellis, Kansas

1895

Victoria, Ellis, Kansas

Herzog, Ellis, Kansas

1905

Bryant, Graham, Kansas

Source: Ancestry.com. Kansas, U.S., State Census Collection, 1855-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com.

Images of the newspaper articles are shown below as thumbnails. Click on each of the thumbnails to view a larger version of the articles in another tab.

Source: Ellis County News (Hays, Kansas) Friday, 17 Dec 1909, page 4.

Images of the prayer cards are shown below as thumbnails. Click on each of the thumbnails to view a larger version of the cards in another tab.

Source: Images of the prayer cards of Michael Pfeifer and Theresia Pfeifer, posted by Robert Cockerill, Ancestry, 2013.

Images of the death certificates are shown below as thumbnails. Click on each of the thumbnails to view a larger version of the certificates in another tab.

Kansas Death Certificates

Source: Photocopies of death certificates from the files of Darryl W. Boyd.

Source: Photocopy of death certificate of Catherine Goetz, posted by kedpam, Ancestry, 2013.

Saint Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Ellis, Kansas

Saint Anthony Cemetery, Graham County, Kansas