Johann Adam Pfeifer and Justina Catharina Billinger

Citing this biography: Boyd, Michelle, "Johann Adam Pfeifer and Justina Catharina Billinger," article, Olive and Eliza, last accessed [current date]."

Johann Adam Pfeifer was born in 1800 in Russia and was of Herzog, Samara, Russia. He was probably the son of Heinrich Pfeifer and Anna Maria Schwab.

Adam married Justina Catharina Billinger. Catharina was born 27 September 1805 in Herzog, Samara, Russia to Valentin Billinger and Maria Eva Bauer. She was baptized 28 September 1805.

Adam and Catharina’s children are:

1 Maria Eva Pfeifer, born in 1821, probably in Pfeifer, Saratov, Russia, married Balthasar Rome 14 Nov 1839 in Herzog, Samara, Russia.

Husband: Balthasar Rome, b. abt. 1820 to Nicolaus Rome and Catharina There.

Children: Johannes Rome (d. young), Johannes Rome, Barbara Rome (d. young), Michael Rome, Joseph Rome, Catherina Rome, Balthasar Rome (d. young), and Anna Maria Rome.

2 Anna Maria Pfeifer, born in 1823, probably in Pfeifer, Saratov, Russia, died 13 Jun 1837 in Herzog, Samara, Russia of an accident.

3 Johannes Pfeifer, born in 1826, probably in Pfeifer, Saratov, Russia, married Anna Margaretha There 16 Nov 1843 in Herzog, Samara, Russia, arrived with his wife and children in New York City aboard the Leipzig (departed from Bremen, Germany) on 12 Sep 1878, a farmer in 1878, a farmer living in Big Creek, Ellis, Kansas in 1880, died 11 Mar 1881 in Victoria, Ellis, Kansas, buried 12 Mar 1881 at St. Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Ellis, Kansas.

Wife: Anna Margaretha There, b. abt. 1826 in Herzog, Samara, Russia to Andreas There and Elisabetha Scheck, d. 16 Jun 1903 in Herzog, Ellis, Russia, bur. 17 Jun 1903 at St. Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Ellis, Russia.

Children: Michael Pfeifer, Margaretha Pfeifer (d. young), Johannes Peter Pfeifer (d. young), Johannes Pfeifer, Maria Magdalena Pfeifer, Maria Margaretha Pfeifer, Anna Maria Pfeifer, Johannes Adam Pfeifer (d. young), Elisabetha Pfeifer, Adam Pfeifer, Margaret Pfeifer (m. -- Rupp), Catherine (m. -- Graf), Barbara Pfeifer (m. -- Schamber), Andreas Pfeifer. and Johannes Pfeifer.

4 Michael Pfeifer, born 9 Aug 1828 in Herzog, Samara, Russia, baptized 12 Aug 1828, married Theresa Knoll 28 Jan 1846 in Herzog, Samara, Russia, arrived at Castle Garden in New York City aboard the Mosel from Bremen, Germany 29 Jul 1876, a farmer in Herzog, Ellis, Kansas in 1880 and 1885, living in Herzog, Ellis, Kansas in 1900, a retired farmer at the time of his death, died 7 Aug 1912 in Victoria, Ellis, Kansas, buried 8 Aug 1912 at Saint Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Ellis, Kansas. His death certificate states that "No physician treated him" and "He was emaciated and had been failing the last year," dying of senile debility.

Wife: Theresa Knoll, born Nov 1827 in Herzog, Samara, Russia to Gregorius Johannes Knoll and Elisabetha Jaeckel, sister of Johannes Adam Knoll below, died 23 Nov 1901, buried at Saint Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Ellis, Kansas.

Children: Michael Pfeifer (likely d. young), Johannes Pfeifer (m. Susanna --), Anna Barbara Pfeifer (d. young), Andreas Pfeifer (d. young), Catherina Margaretha Pfeifer, Andreas Pfeifer, Barbara Pfeifer, Michael Pfeifer (m. Margaret --?), Anna Cath. Pfeifer, Johann Adam Pfeifer, and Pauline Pfeifer.

5 Maria Magdalena Pfeifer, born 25 Sep 1830 in Herzog, Samara, Russia, baptized 28 Sep 1830, married Johannes Windholz 11 Jan 1847 in Herzog, Samara, Russia, arrived with her husband and children in New York City aboard the Leipzig (departed from Bremen, Germany) on 12 Sep 1878, lived in Walker, Ellis, Kansas in 1880 and 1885, lived as a widow in her son Adam's household in Herzog, Ellis, Kansas in 1900, lived in or next to her son Adam's household in Herzog, Ellis, Kansas in 1905, lived in the household of Katy Windholz (perhaps her daughter-in-law?) in Herzog, Ellis, Kansas in 1915, died in 1918, buried at St. Anns Cemetery, Walker, Ellis, Kansas.

Husband: Johannes Windholz, b. (1?) Apr 1827 in Herzog, Samara, Russia to Andreas Windholz and Anna Schmidtberger, a farmer in 1878, a farmer in Walker, Ellis, Kansas in 1880 and 1885, d. 4 Jul 1890, bur. St. Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Ellis, Kansas.
.

Children: Johannes Windholz (d. young), Margaretha Windholz, Maria Anna Windholz, Andreas Windholz, Johannes Windholz, and Anna Maria Windholz, Margaretha Windholz, Magdalena Windholz, Barbary Windholz, Martin Windholz, Adam Windholz (m. Katharina --), Catharina Windholz, and Elisabeth Windholz.

6 Catherina Pfeifer, born 24 Nov 1832 in Herzog, Samara, Russia, baptized 25 Nov 1832, married Johann Adam Knoll 28 Oct 1852 in Herzog, Samara, Russia, arrived with her husband and children at Castle Garden in New York City aboard the Mosel (departed from Bremen, Germany) on 29 Jul 1876, they arrived by train at Herzog, Ellis, Kansas 3 Aug 1876, moved to St. Peter, Graham, Kansas with her husband and their sons and their families in the summer of 1897, died 31 Mar 1914 in St. Peter, Graham, Kansas, buried 2 Apr 1914 at St. Anthony Cemetery, Graham county, Kansas.

Husband: Johann Adam Knoll, b. 21 Oct 1832 in Herzog, Samara, Russia to Gregorius Johannes Knoll and Elisabetha Jaeckel, bp. 22 Oct 1832. on , filed a homestead application for a farm northwest of Victoria, Ellis, Kansas 16 August 1876, worked on the railroad in addition to farming his homestead, naturalized as a citizen of the United States on 10 Mar 1883, patented his homestead in his name on 20 Nov 1883, died 14 Nov 1901, bur. at St. Anthony Cemetery, Graham county, Kansas

7 Barbara Pfeifer, born 22 Feb 1836 in Herzog, Samara, Russia, baptized 23 Feb 1836, married Michael Weigel 17 Nov 1853 in Herzog, Samara, Russia, said to have died in 1869 in Russia.

Husband: Michael Weigel, b. 1832 in Herzog, Samara, Russia to Valentin Weigel and Catharina Haff, bp. 25 Sep 1832 in Herzog, Samara, Russia, m. 2) Catharina --, arrived with his second wife and children at Castle Garden in New York City aboard the Mosel (departed from Bremen, Germany) on 29 Jul 1876, a farmer in 1876, living in Walker, Ellis, Kansas in 1880, d. 1885, bur. St. Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Ellis, Kansas.

Children: Johannes Weigel, Peter Adam Weigel, probably Michel Weigle, probably Valentin Weigel, and probably Barbara Weigel. The inclusion of Valentin and Barbara as probable children of Barbara is based on the assumption that Barbara's death year in die Herzoger is accurate. If it is, then it follows that the children listed on the passenger list over the age of seven would have been Barbara's. Likewise, if the date is accurate, then Michel, the son in the 1880 census is likely Barbara's.

8 Elisabetha Pfeifer, born 28 Aug 1838 to Herzog, Samara, Russia, baptized 28 Aug 1838, died 18 Feb 1839 in Herzog, Samara, Russia of consumption.

9 Anna Barbara Pfeifer, born 15 Feb 1840 in Herzog, Samara, Russia, baptized 16 Feb 1840.

10 Anna Maria Pfeifer, born in 1841 (although her marriage record indicates that she was born about 1838) in Herzog, Samara, Russia, married Balthasar Kuhn 19 Nov 1856 in Herzog, Samara, Russia.

Husband: Balthasar Kuhn, born 30 Mar 1837 in Herzog, Samara, Russia to Caspar Kuhn and Catharina Rome, baptized 31 Mar 1837.

13 Johann Georg Pfeifer, born about 1841, died 23 Nov 1846 in Herzog, Samara, Russia of convulsion.
Note that there was a word after the number in the age column in Johann Georg's death record. Both the record translator and I were confused about what the word was - it appears, at first glance, to be something like "Ann." However, the other records for those who died age 1 and over don't have this after their age. In addition, Adam and Catharina had a Georg, born only 6 days before Johann Georg's death. So the possibility exists that the word should read "dies" instead and that Georg and Johann Georg were the same child.

11 Peter Pfeifer, born 30 Jan 1843 in Herzog, Samara, Russia, baptized 31 Jan 1843, died 12 Apr 1843 in Herzog, Samara, Russia.

12 Anna Catharina Pfeifer, born 23 May 1844 in Herzog, Saratov, Russia, baptized 23 May 1844, married Johannes Braun 13 Nov 1862 in Rohleder, Samara, Russia, arrived with her husband and children in New York City aboard the Elbe (departed from Bremen, Germany) on 10 Mar 1892, lived in Victoria, Ellis, Kansas in 1900, died 19 Apr 1919 in Victoria, Ellis, Kansas, buried at St. Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Ellis, Kansas.

Husband: Johannes Braun, b. 25 Nov 1843 in Herzog, Samara, Russia to Andreas Braun and Anna Maria Windholz, a farmer in 1892, a farmer in Victoria, Ellis, Kansas in 1900, naturalized as a citizen of the United States 17 Jun 1909, d. 27 Aug 1928 in Victoria, Ellis, Kansas, bur. St. Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Ellis, Kansas.

Children: Joseph Braun (m. Barbara --), Barbara Braun, Joseph J. Braun, Willibald Braun (m. 1) Anna Maria Wasinger and 2) Anna Barbara Knoll), Nicholas Braun, Katharina Braun, and Pauline Braun.

13 Georg Pfeifer, born 19 Nov 1846 in Herzog, Samara, Russia, baptized 20 Nov 1846. Note that Georg may or may not be the same as Johann Georg above.

14 Andreas Pfeifer, born 4 Sep 1849 in Herzog, Samara, Russia, baptized 6 Sep 1849, died 9 Nov 1850 in Herzog, Samara, Russia of "cough."


Summary of Sources

  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. Information posted by user lanniemike, Ancestry, citing Windholz, Frank J., die Herzoger, originally published 1979.
  5. Boyd, Darryl and Dreiling, Trecil (comp.), Rohleder Parish Records 1801 to 1857, https://volgaparishes.com/rohleder_page.html, 2022.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. Year: 1878; Arrival: New York, New York, USA; Microfilm Serial: M237, 1820-1897; Line: 1; List Number: 974, 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.
  12. Year: 1892; Arrival: New York, New York, USA; Microfilm Serial: M237, 1820-1897; Line: 1; Page Number: 12, 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. 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.
  14. Naturalization Index for the Western District of Missouri, compiled ca. 1930 - ca. 1986, documenting the period ca. 1848 - ca. 1986. ARC: 572253; Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; The National Archives at Kansas City. Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. Ancestry.com. Kansas, U.S., State Census Collection, 1855-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com.
  18. Images of the prayer cards of Michael Pfeifer and Theresia Pfeifer (posted by Robert Cockerill, Ancestry, 2013) and Anna Katharina Braun and Johannes Braun (MMW, findagrave.com).
  19. Photocopies of the death certificates of Kathrine (Pfeifer) Knoll and Mike Pfifer from the files of Darryl W. Boyd.
  20. Images of memorials to Johann and Anna Margareth Pfeifer (including copies of their death records in the St. Fidelis Cemetery record office, Victoria, Ellis, Kansas, posted by JEMAHEH0 (Johann's memorial), Ancestry, 2012, and David Baumgartner (Anna Margareth's memorial), Ancestry, 2017.
  21. Grave markers of Michael Pfeifer, Theresia Pfeifer, and John Windholtz and gravestones of Johannes and Anna K. Brown and Michael Weigel, Saint Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Ellis, Kansas.
  22. Grave marker of Magdalene Windholz, Saint Anns Cemetery, Walker, Ellis, Kansas.
  23. Gravestone of Katrin and Adam Knoll, Saint Anthony Cemetery, Graham County, Kansas.


Photos

Click each thumbnail below to open a full-size version of the image in a new tab.

Photos of Johannes Adam and Anna Margaretha (There) Pfeifer
Johannes and Anna
Margaretha (There)
Pfeifer
Photo of Johannes Adam and Anna Margaretha (There) Pfeifer and two of their children
Johannes and Anna
Margaretha (There)
Pfeifer with their
children, Barbara
and Andreas
Photo of Johannes Adam and Anna Margaretha (There) Pfeifer and two of their children, labeled
Johannes Pfeifer
family, labeled
Photo of the S.S. Leipzig
S.S. Leipzig, the ship
that brought
Johannes and Anna
Margaretha (There)
Pfeifer family to
America
Photo of some of the children of Johannes Adam and Anna Margaretha (There) Pfeifer
Several of the
children of
Johannes and Anna
Margaretha (There)
Pfeifer
Photo of Johannes and Maria Magdalena (Pfeifer) Windholz
Johannes and
Maria Magdalena
(Pfeifer) Windholz
Photo of Michael and Theresa (Knoll) Pfeifer
Michael and
Theresa (Knoll)
Pfeifer
Photos of Michael and Theresia (Knoll) Pfeifer and Pauline Knoll
Michael and
Theresa (Knoll)
Pfeifer and daughter
Pauline
Photocopy of page with photos of Michael and Theresia (Knoll) Pfeifer
Michael and Theresa
(Knoll) Pfeifer
Photo of Catherine (Pfeifer), John A., and Adam Knoll
Catherine (Pfeifer),
John A., and Adam
Knoll
Photo of Adam Knoll
Adam Knoll
Photo of Catherine (Pfeifer) Knoll
Catherine (Pfeifer)
Knoll
Photo of the Johannes and Anna Katharina (Pfeifer) Braun and son
Johannes and
Anna Katharina
(Pfeifer) Braun and
unidentified son
Photo of the family of Johannes and Anna Katharina (Pfeifer) Braun
Johannes and
Anna Katharina
(Pfeifer) Braun
family
Front row, from left
to right): Johannes,
Katharina, Anna
Katharina, &
Pauline
Back row:  Joseph
J., Willibald, &
Nicholas

Source Materials

Click on each category below to expand and see the copies of sources used to create the biography above (copyrighted and other restricted items are listed in the summary of sources above but not included below). Click again to close.

Information posted by user lanniemike, Ancestry:

Imm. to US in 1876 on SS Mosel.
Michael's first wife, Barbara Pfeifer, had died in 1869 in Russia and Michael then married Catherine in 1870.
Catherine married Johannes Wittman in 1886 after Michael Weigel died.
Source: Die Herzoger



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

Photo: 33-1
Line: 44
Birth date: 27 Sep 1805
Baptism date: 28 Sep 1805
Child: Justina Catharina
Father: Billinger    Valentin
Mother: Bauer    Maria Eva
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Peter Becker & Maria Catharina Becker

Photo: 455-1
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

Photo: 475-1
Line: 90
Birth date: 25 Sep 1830
Baptism date: 28 Sep 1830
Child: Maria Magdalena
Father: Pfeifer    Johnn Adam
Mother: Billinger    Catharina
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Johannes Kinderknecht & Maria Magdalena Mair

Photo: 494-2
Line: 71
Baptism date: 25 Sep 1832
Child: Michael
Father: Weigel    Valentin
Mother: Haff    Catharina
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Michael Braun & Magdalena Tera

Photo: 495-2
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

Photo: 496-2
Line: 90
Birth date: 24 Nov 1832
Baptism date: 25 Nov 1832
Child: Catharina
Father: Pfeifer    Johnn Adam
Mother: Billinger    Catharina
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Peter Riedel & Catharina Weigel

Photo: 177-1
Line: 22
Birth date: 22 Feb 1836
Baptism date: 23 Feb 1836
Child: Barbara
Father: Pfeifer     Johnn Adam
Mother: Billinger    Catharina
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Adam Rome? & Barbara Billinger

Photo: 173-1
Line: 37
Birth date: 30 Mar 1837
Baptism date: 31 Mar 1837
Child: Balthasar
Father: Kuhn    Caspar
Mother: Rome    Catharina
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Balthasar Rome & Rosalia Hoffman

Photo: 192-2
Line: 73
Birth date: 28 Aug 1838
Baptism date: 28 Aug 1838
Child: Elisabetha
Father: Pfeifer    Johnn Adam
Mother: Billinger    Catharina
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Georg Brungardt & Elisabeth Billinger

Photo: 123-2
Line: 16
Birth date: 15 Feb 1840
Baptism date: 16 Feb 1840
Child: Anna Barbara
Father: Pfeifer    Johnn
Mother: Billinger    Catharina
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Johannes There & Barbara Schefer

Photo: 145-2
Line: 9
Birth date: 30 Jan 1843
Baptism date: 31 Jan 1843
Child: Peter
Father: Pfeifer    Johnn
Mother: Billinger    Catharina
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Peter Schoenberger & Anna Maria Brungardt

Photo: 193-2
Line: 43
Birth date: 23 May 1844
Baptism date: 23 May 1844
Child: Anna Catharina
Father: Pfeifer    Johnn Adam
Mother: Billinger    Catharina
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Andreas There & Catharina Rome

Photo: 208-1
Line: 158
Birth date: 19 Nov 1846
Baptism date: 20 Nov 1846
Child: Georg
Father: Pfeifer    Johnn Adam
Mother: Billinger    Catharina
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Georg Graf & Catharina Riedel

Photo: 284-1
Line: 92
Birth date: 4 Sep 1849
Baptism date: 6 Sep 1849
Child: Andreas
Father: Pfeifer    Johnn Adam
Mother: Billinger    Catharina
Village: Herzog
Witnesses: Andreas Weigel & Elisabeth Knoll


Photo   Line  Birth date        Baptism date    Child              Father                      Mother                         Village    Witnesses

134-1    123   5 Dec 1840     6 Dec 1840        Johannes      Balthasar Rome     Maria Eva Pfeifer        Herzog    Johannes Pfeifer & Catharina Kuhn

139-2    118   18 Dec 1842   20 Dec 1842      Johannes      Balthasar Rome     Maria Eva Pfeifer        Herzog    Johannes Rome & Elisabeth Billinger

204-1    113   1 Nov 1845     1 Nov 1845        Barbara         Balthasar Rome     Maria Eva Pfeifer        Herzog    Georg Meier & Barbara Rome

177-2    58     2 Jun 1847      2 Jun 1847        Michael          Balthasar Rome     Maria Eva Pfeifer        Herzog    Michael Pfeifer & Barbara Billinger

287-1   109    20 Sep 1849    21 Sep 1849    Joseph             Balthasar Rome     Maria Eva Pfeifer        Herzog    Joseph Rome & Katharina Ortmann

128-1    62     18 May 1852   19 May 1852   Catherina        Balthasar Rome     Maria Eva Pfeifer        Herzog    Matthäus Schäfer & Magdalena (wife of Johannes) Windholz

400-2    73      6 Jul 1854       9 Jul 1854        Balthasar         Balthasar Rome     Maria EvaPfeifer         Herzog    Balthasar Kuhn &  Anna Maria Pfeifer

374-1    52      22 Apr 1857    24 Apr 1857    Anna Maria     Balthasar Rome     Eva Pfeifer                  Herzog    Johannes Götz, Katharina (wife of Jakob) Döhringer

Photo   Line  Birth date        Baptism date    Child                           Father                       Mother                                 Village    Witnesses

206-1    138   18 Oct 1846    20 Oct 1846     Michael                       Johannes Pfeifer     Anna Margaretha There    Herzog    Michael Pfeifer & Catharina There

203-2    102   17 Jun 1848    18 Jun 1848      Margaretha                Johannes Pfeifer     Anna Margaretha There    Herzog    Balthasar Rome & Margaret There

282-2    84     15 Aug 1849   16 Aug 1849    Johannes                     Johannes Pfeifer     Anna Margaretha There    Herzog    Peter Beyer & Barbara Billinger

123-2    26     6 Mar 1852      7 Mar 1852     Johannes                      Johannes Pfeifer     Anna Margaretha There    Herzog    Joseph Meier & Magdalena There

364-1    80     17 Jul 1853      19 Jul 1853      Maria Magdalena      Johannes Pfeifer      Anna Margaretha There   Herzog    Kaspar Denning & Magdalena Meier

408-2    149    10 Nov 1854   12 Nov 1854    Maria Margaretha     Johannes Pfeifer      Anna Margaretha There   Herzog    Joseph Mermis & Dorothea (wife of Johannes Peter) Riedel

355-1    69      4 Jun 1856       5 Jun 1856    Johannes Adam          Johannes Pfeifer      Anna Margaretha There   Herzog    Johannes Braun, Elisabeth There

374-2    55      5 May 1857     5 May 1857    Elisabetha                    Johannes Pfeifer      Margaretha There             Herzog    Peter Billinger, Theresia (wife of Michael) Pfeifer

Photo   Line  Birth date        Baptism date    Child                                  Father                    Mother                Village    Witnesses

273-1    27     12 Apr 1849    13 Apr 1849       Michael                             Michael Pfeifer     Theresia Knoll     Herzog    Johannes Pfeifer & Elisabeth Knoll

365-1    87     12 Aug 1853   15 Aug 1853      Anna Barbara                  Michael Pfeifer     Theresia Knoll     Herzog    Balthasar Rome & Anna Maria (wife of Laurentius) Windholz

377-1    105    9 Jul 1855       10 Jul 1855        Andreas                            Michael Pfeifer     Theresia Knoll     Herzog    Franz Knoll, Anna Maria Pfeifer

388-1    197    20 Dec 1857    20 Dec 1857    Catherina Margaretha   Michael Pfeifer     Theresia Knoll     Herzog    Andreas There, Katharina (wife of Kaspar) Kuhn

Photo   Line  Birth date        Baptism date   Child                Father                          Mother                         Village    Witnesses

213-1    177   12 Nov 1848   14 Nov 1848     Johannes        Johannes Windholz    Magdalena Pfeifer     Herzog    Johannes Pfeifer & Margaret Windholz

311-1    3       9 Jan 1850      11 Jan 1850     Margaretha    Johannes Windholz    Magdalena Pfeifer     Herzog    Laurentius Windholz & Maria There

137-1    136    4 Oct 1852     5 Oct 1852       Andreas          Johannes Windholz    Magdalena Pfeifer     Herzog    Andreas Windholz & Margaretha (wife of Johannes) Kuhn

372-1    55      31 Mar 1855    1 Apr 1855      Johannes        Johannes Windholz    Magdalena Pfeifer     Herzog    Johannes Schmidtberger, Maria Eva (wife of Balthasar) Rome

383-1    141    1 Oct 1857     1 Oct 1857       Anna Maria    Johannes Windholz    Magdalena Pfeifer     Herzog    Laurentius Windholz, Anna Katharina Pfeifer

Photo   Line  Birth date         Baptism date   Child                            Father                               Mother                      Village    Witnesses

411-2    174    2 Dec 1854     3 Dec 1854       Elisabetha                   Johannes Adam Knoll    Catherina Pfeifer     Herzog    Michael Pfeifer & Elisabeth (wife of Peter) Schönberger

363-1    150    17 Oct 1856    18 Oct 1856     Johannes Andreas     Johannes Adam Knoll    Catherina Pfeifer     Herzog    Andreas Brungardt, Anna Maria Billinger

Photo   Line  Birth date        Baptism date    Child               Father                     Mother                 Village    Witnesses

370-2    39      27 Feb 1855    27 Feb 1855   Johannes         Michael Weigel     Barbara Pfeifer    Herzog    Balthasar Rome, Barbara (wife of Andreas) Weigel

376-1    73      15 Jun 1857    16 Jun 1857    Peter Adam     Michael Weigel     Barbara Pfeifer    Herzog    Johannes Adam Knoll, Katharina (wife of Johannes) Weigel


Marriages

Photo: 52-1
Line: 13
Date: 14 Nov 1839
Groom: Rome    Balthasar
    Age: 19
    Marital Status: S
Bride: Pfeifer    Maria Eva
    Age: 18
    Marital Status: S
    Village: Herzog
Groom's parents: Nicolaus Rome & Catharina There
Bride's parents: Adam Pfeifer & Catharina Billinger
Where married: Herzog
Witness: Peter Kuhn

Photo: 54-2
Line: 27
Date: 16 Nov 1843
Groom: Pfeifer    Johannes
    Age: 18
    Marital Status: S
    Village: Herzog
Bride: There    Margaretha
    Age: 17
    Marital Status: S
    Village: Herzog
Groom's parents: Adam Pfeifer & Catharina Billinger
Bride's parents: Andreas There & Elisabetha Scheck
Where married: Herzog
Witness: Johannes Goetz

Photo: 57-2
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

Photo: 65-1
Line: 29
Date: 11 Jan 1847
Groom: Windholz    Johannes
    Age: 20
    Marital Status: S
    Village: Herzog
Bride: Pfeifer    Magdalena
    Age: 18
    Marital Status: S
    Village: Herzog
Groom's parents: Andreas Windholz & Anna Schmidtberger
Bride's parents: Adam Pfeifer & Catharina Haff
Where married: Herzog
Witness: Peter Goetz

Photo: 47-2
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

Photo: 129-1
Line: 27
Date: 17 Nov 1853
Groom: Weigel    Michael
    Age: 20
    Marital Status: S
    Village: Herzog
Bride: Pfeifer    Barbara
    Age: 18
    Marital Status: S
    Village: Herzog
Groom's parents: Valentin Weigel & Katharina Haff
Bride's parents: Adam Pfeifer & Katharina Billinger
Where married: Herzog
Witness: Johannes Sander

Photo: 115-1
Line: 15
Date: 19 Nov 1856
Groom: Kuhn    Balthasar
    Age: 20
    Marital Status: S
    Village: Herzog
Bride: Pfeifer    Anna Maria
    Age: 18
    Marital Status: S
    Village: Herzog
Groom's parents: Kaspar Kuhn & Katharina Rome
Bride's parents: Adam Pfeifer & Katharina Billinger
Where married: Herzog
Witness: Michael Schönberger


Deaths

Photo: 48-2
Line: 36
Date: 13 Jun 1837
Age: 14
Name of decedent: Pfeifer    Anna Maria
Village: Herzog
Cause: accident

Photo: 47-2
Line: 28
Date: 18 Feb 1839
Age: 20 wk
Name of decedent: Pfeifer    Elisabetha
Village: Herzog
Cause: consumption

Photo: 66-1
Line: 24
Date: 12 Apr 1843
Age: 2 mo
Name of decedent: Pfeifer    Peter
Village: Herzog
Parents: Adam Pfeifer & Catharina Billinger

Photo: 73-2
Line: 55
Date: 23 Nov 1846
Age: 5
Name of decedent: Pfeifer    Johann Georg
Village: Herzog
Cause: convulsion
Parents: Adam Pfeifer & Catharina Billinger

Photo: 118-1
Line: 86
Date: 9 Nov 1850
Age: 1
Name of decedent: Pfeifer    Andreas
Village: Herzog
Cause: cough
Parents: Adam Pfeifer & Catharina Billinger


Photo    Line    Date                Age        Name of decedent            Village    Cause           Parents

131        46       7 Aug 1841      9 mo      Rome    Johannes               Herzog    convulsion    Balthasar Rome & Maria Pfeier

70-1       15       11 Feb 1846     15 wk    Rome    Barbara                  Herzog                          Balthasar Rome & Eva Pfeifer

117-1     133     19 Dec 1848    1            Windholz    Johannes          Herzog                          Johannes Windholz & Magdalena Pfeifer

117-2     82       2 Nov 1850      1            Pfeifer    Johann Peter         Herzog    cough          Johannes Pfeifer & Margaretha There

118-2     91       27 Nov 1850    2            Pfeifer    Margaretha           Herzog    fever             Johannes Pfeifer & Margaretha There

183-2     78       30 Aug 1854    1            Pfeifer    Barbara                  Herzog    measles        Michael Pfeifer and Theresia Knoll

110-1     42       25 Jun 1855     6 mo     Knoll    Elisabetha                 Herzog    fever             Adam Knoll and Katharina Pfeifer

115-1     31       6 Jul 1856        1 mo     Pfeifer    Johannes Adam    Herzog    fever             Johannes Pfeifer and Margaretha There

114-2     19       8 Apr 1856      1            Rome    Balthasar                 Herzog    fever             Balthasar Rome and Eva Pfeifer

141-2     108     9 Dec 1857     1            Knoll    Johannes Andreas   Herzog    fever             Johannes Adam Knoll and Katharina Pfeifer

137-1     30       14 Mar 1857   1             Pfeifer    Andreas                  Herzog    fever             Michael Pfeifer and Theresia Knoll


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: 104-2
Line: 44
Date: 13 Nov 1862
Groom: Braun    Johannes
   Age: 19
   Marital status: S
   Village: Herzog
Bride: Pfeifer    Katharina
   Age: 19
   Marital status: S
   Village: Herzog
Groom's parents: Andreas Braun & Anna Maria Windholz
Bride's parents: Adam Pfeifer & Katharina Billinger
Village: Rohleder
Witnesses: Anton Mermis, Christian Rohleder, Michael Schönberger


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.


Herzog Census, 12 Dec 1834

Name:  Pfeiffer
Other spouses:   Katharine –
Spouse:   ?

Children:
Adam Pfeiffer        Male
Birth:   1800
Spouse: Katharine


Name:    Adam Pfeiffer
Birth:    1800
Father:    Pfeifer
Mother:    ?

Spouse:    Katharine
Birth:    1806

Children
1    M    Johannes Pfeiffer
Birth:    1826

2    M    Michael Pfeiffer
Birth:    1828

3    F    Maria Eva Pfeiffer
Birth:    1821

4    F    Anna Maria Pfeiffer
Birth:    1823

5    F    Magdalena Pfeiffer
Birth:    1830

6    F    Katharine Pfeiffer
Birth:    1832


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

Spouse:    Katharine ?
Birth:    1807

Children
1    M    Johannes Pfeiffer
Birth:    1826        Herzog (Susly), Russia
Spouse:    Margaret ?

2    M    Michael Pfeiffer
Birth:    1828        Herzog (Susly), Russia
Spouse:    Teresa ?

3    M    Andreas Pfeiffer
Note: No age was given for this child in the 1850 census.

4    F    Katharine Pfeiffer
Birth:    1833        Herzog (Susly), Russia

5    F    Barbara Pfeiffer
Birth:    1836        Herzog (Susly), Russia

6    F    Anna Maria Pfeiffer
Birth:    1841        Herzog (Susly), Russia

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


Name:    Johannes Pfeiffer
Birth:    1826        Herzog (Susly), Russia
Father:    Adam Pfeiffer (1800- )
Mother:    Katharine ? (1807- )

Spouse:    Margaret ?
Birth:    1827

Children
1    M    Michael Pfeiffer
Birth:    1847        Herzog (Susly), Russia

2    F     Margaret Pfeiffer
Birth:    1849        Herzog (Susly), Russia

3    M    Johann Peter Pfeiffer
Note: No age was given for this child in the 1850 census.


Name:    Michael Pfeiffer
Birth:    1828        Herzog (Susly), Russia
Father:    Adam Pfeiffer (1800- )
Mother:    Katharine ? (1807- )

Spouse:    Teresa ?
Birth:    1829

Children
1    M    Johannes Pfeiffer
Birth:    1849        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

Household number: 9 (9)
                                                                                          Age in 1850        Age in 1857            Notes
Andreas Weigel                       head                              29                         36                            "Weichel"
Katharina Haaf [?]                  mother                                                        53
Barbara There                          spouse                                                        36
Ignatius                                     son                                 5                           12
Andreas                                   son                                  1                           8
Josef                                         son                                                              5
Barbara                                    daughter                                                    1
Johannes                                 brother                            27                        34
Katharina Brungardt               sister-in-law                                                 29
Valentin                                    nephew                          2m                      7
Barbara                                    niece                                                          6
Elisabetha                                niece                                                          1
Adam                                       brother                            20                       27
Elisabetha Brungardt              sister-in-law                                                24
Balthasar                                  nephew                                                     6
Margaretha                             niece                                                          5
Elisabetha                                niece                                                          3
Magdalena                             niece                                                          1m
Michael                                    brother                            18                       25
Barbara Pfeifer                        sister-in-law                                                 21                              "Neufer"
Johannes                                 nephew                                                      3
Peter                                         nephew                                                      1/4
Peter                                         brother                            12                        19
Valentin                                    brother                             9                         16
Katharina                                 aunt                                                             54                             original: "nice"


Household number: 34 (38)
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: 49 (55)
Andreas Windholz                      head                              53                          60
Johannes                                    son                                  22                          29
Magdalena Pfeifer                    daughter-in-law                                          26
Maria Anna                                granddaughter                                           8
Andreas                                      grandson                                                     5
Johannes                                    grandson                                                     3
Anna Maria                                granddaughter                                           1m
Andreas                                      son                                   13                         20
Gertrude Kuhn                           daughter-in-law                                          23
Lorenz                                          son                                   10                        17


Household number: 83 (98)
Nikolaus Rome                            head                                58                        65
Balthasar                                     son                                    30                        37
Eva Pfeifer                                  daughter-in-law                                           36
Johannes                                   grandson                           7                          14
Michael                                      grandson                           3                          10
Josef                                           grandson                           1/2                       7
Katharina                                   granddaughter                                             1
Anna Maria                                granddaughter                                            1/2
Johannes                                    son                                                                25                          1856 to Household #99
Johannes                                    grandson                                                     5                              "
Kasper                                         grandson                                                     1                              "


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

Passengers' list, including the Adam and Catharina Knoll family
Passengers' list,
including the Adam
and Catharina Knoll
family
Passengers' list, including the Michael and Theresia Pfeifer family
Passengers' list,
including the
Michael and Theresia
Pfeifer family
Passengers' list, including the Michael Weigel family
Passengers' list,
including the
Michael Weigel
family

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 Leipzig, sailing from Bremen to New York, arriving 12 Sep 1878

Passengers' list, including the Johs. and Magdalena Windholz family
Passengers' list,
including the Johs.
and Magdalena
Windholz family
Passengers' list, including the Johs. and Anna Peifer family
Passengers' list,
including the Johs.
and Anna Peifer
family

Source: Year: 1878; Arrival: New York, New York, USA; Microfilm Serial: M237, 1820-1897; Line: 1; List Number: 974, 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 Elbe, sailing from Bremen to New York, arriving 10 Mar 1892

Passengers' list, including the John and Anna Pfeifer family
Passengers' list,
including the John
and Anna Braun
family

Source: Year: 1892; Arrival: New York, New York, USA; Microfilm Serial: M237, 1820-1897; Line: 1; Page Number: 12, 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:    Michael Pfeifer Senior
Arrival Year:    1876
Arrival Place:    Kansas
Primary Immigrant:    Pfeifer, Michael, Sr
Source Publication Code:    4497
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.


Name:    Michael Weigel
Arrival Year:    1876
Arrival Place:    New York, New York
Primary Immigrant:    Weigel, Michael
Family Members:    Wife Katharina; Child Michael; Child Barbara; Child Joseph; Child Katharina; Child Peter Andreas; Child Valentine; Child Johannes; Child Peter
Source Publication Code:    1682
Annotation:    Includes names of earliest arrivals from Liebenthal, Catherine, Herzog, Munjor, Pfeifer, and Schoenchen in the 1870s, with dates of arrival and places of settlement. See also no. 4497, Laing; and no. 4019, Knoll.
Source Bibliography:    DREILING, NORBERT R. Official Centennial History of the Volga-German Settlements in Ellis and Rush Counties in Kansas 1876-1976. Hays, KS: Volga-German Centennial Association, 1976, pp. 52-79.


Name:    Johannes Pfeifer
Arrival Year:    1877
Arrival Place:    Kansas
Primary Immigrant:    Pfeifer, Johannes
Family Members:    Wife Anna Margaretha; Child Elizabetha; Child Adam; Child Margaretha; Child Katharina; Child Barbara; Child Andreas
Source Publication Code:    1677
Annotation:    Port and date of arrival or, when not provided, date and place of settlement.
Source Bibliography:    DREILING, B.M. Golden Jubilee of the German-Russian Settlements of Ellis and Rush Counties, Kansas. Hays, KS: Ellis County News, 1926. 128p.


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.


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

Naturalization Index for the Western District of Missouri

Naturalization index card for Johannes Braun
Johannes Braun

Source: Naturalization Index for the Western District of Missouri, compiled ca. 1930 - ca. 1986, documenting the period ca. 1848 - ca. 1986. ARC: 572253; Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; The National Archives at Kansas City. Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A.


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

Adam Knoll family in 1880
Household: Adam Knoll;
Year: 1880;
Census Place: Hartsook,
Ellis, Kansas;
Roll: 381;
Page: 433C;
Enumeration District: 089;
Description: Herzog and
Catherine Townships
Adam Knoll and Michael Pfeifer families in 1880, continued
Households: Adam
Knoll, continued;
Michael Pfeifer;
Year: 1880;
Census Place: Hartsook,
Ellis, Kansas;
Roll: 381;
Page: 433D;
Enumeration District: 089

Big Creek, Ellis, Kansas

John Pfeifer family in 1880
Household: John Pfeifer;
Year: 1880;
Census Place: Big Creek,
Ellis, Kansas;
Roll: 381;
Page: 448B;
Enumeration District: 090

Walker, Ellis, Kansas

John Weinhaulse family in 1880
Household: John Weinhaulse;
Year: 1880;
Census Place: Walker,
Ellis, Kansas;
Roll: 381;
Page: 419D;
Enumeration District: 088
Michael Weigle family in 1880
Household: Michael Weigle;
Year: 1880;
Census Place: Walker,
Ellis, Kansas;
Roll: 381;
Page: 421D;
Enumeration District: 088
Michael Weigle family in 1880, continued
Household: Michael
Weigle, continued

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

Mickle Peifer family in 1900
Household: Mickle Peifer;
Year: 1900;
Census Place: Hertzog,
Ellis, Kansas;
Roll: 480;
Page: 2;
Enumeration District: 0020;
FHL microfilm: 1240480
Adam Windhole family in 1900
Household: Adam Windhole;
Year: 1900;
Census Place: Hertzog,
Ellis, Kansas;
Roll: 480;
Page: 7;
Enumeration District: 0020;
FHL microfilm: 1240480

Victoria, Ellis, Kansas

John Braun family in 1900
Household: John Braun;
Year: 1900;
Census Place: Victoria,
Ellis, Kansas;
Page: 4;
Enumeration District: 0019;
FHL microfilm: 1240479

Bryant, Graham, Kansas

John P. and Adam Knoll families in 1900
Household: Adam Knoll;
Year: 1900;
Census Place: Bryant,
Graham, Kansas;
Page: 6;
Enumeration District: 0036;
FHL microfilm: 1240481

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

Michael Pfeiffer family in 1885
Household: Michael Pfeiffer;
Kansas State Historical Society;
Topeka, Kansas;
1885 Kansas Territory Census;
Roll: KS1885_44;
Line: 1

Walker, Ellis, Kansas

John Windholz family in 1885
Household: John Windholz;
Kansas State Historical Society;
Topeka, Kansas;
1885 Kansas Territory Census;
Roll: KS1885_44;
Line: 1
John Windholz family in 1885, continued
Household: John
Windholz, continued

1895

Victoria, Ellis, Kansas

Adam Knoll family in 1895
Households: Adam Knoll,
John Knoll;
Kansas State Historical
Society; Topeka, Kansas;
1895 Kansas Territory
Census;
Roll: v115_46;
Line: 1

1905

Herzog, Ellis, Kansas

Magdalena Windholz in 1895
Households: Magdalena
Windholz;
Kansas State Historical Society;
Topeka, Kansas;
1905 Kansas Territory Census;
Roll: ks1905_50;
Line: 1
Magdalena Windholz in 1895, continued
Households: Magdalena
Windholz, continued

1915

Herzog, Ellis, Kansas

Katy Windholz family in 1895
Households: Katy Windholz;
Kansas State Historical Society;
Topeka, Kansas;
Roll: ks1915_83;
Line: 1
Katy Windholz family in 1895, continued
Households: Katy
Windholz, continued
Katy Windholz family in 1895, continued
Households: Katy
Windholz, continued
Katy Windholz family in 1895, continued
Households: Katy
Windholz, continued

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


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.

Prayer cards for Michael and Theresia Pfeifer
Michael and
Theresia Pfeifer
Prayer card for Anna Katharina Braun
Anna Katharina
Braun
Prayer card for Johannes Braun
Johannes Braun

Source: Images of the prayer cards of Michael Pfeifer and Theresia Pfeifer (posted by Robert Cockerill, Ancestry, 2013) and Anna Katharina Braun and Johannes Braun (MMW, findagrave.com).


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

Death certificate of Kathrine (Pfeifer) Knoll
Kathrine (Pfeifer)
Knoll
Death certificate of Mike Pfifer
Mike Pfifer

Source: Photocopies of the death certificates of Kathrine (Pfeifer) Knoll and Mike Pfifer from the files of Darryl W. Boyd.


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

Photo of the gates of St. Fidelis Cemetery and a copy of the record of the burial of Johann Pfeifer
Johann Pfeifer
Photo of the gates of St. Fidelis Cemetery and a copy of the record of the burial of Anna Margareth Pfeifer
Anna Margareth
Pfeifer

Source: Images of memorials to Johann and Anna Margareth Pfeifer (including copies of their death records in the St. Fidelis Cemetery record office, Victoria, Ellis, Kansas, posted by JEMAHEH0 (Johann's memorial), Ancestry, 2012, and David Baumgartner (Anna Margareth's memorial), Ancestry, 2017.


Saint Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Ellis, Kansas

Iron cross grave marker of Michael Pfeifer
Michael Pfeifer
Photo credit:
Anonymous
(#47021719),
findagrave.com
Closeup of plaque on grave marker of Michael Pfeifer
Michael Pfeifer
(close-up)
Photo credit:
Anonymous
(#47021719),
findagrave.com
Iron cross grave marker of Theresia Pfeifer
Theresia Pfeifer
Photo credit:
Anonymous
(#47021719),
findagrave.com
Closeup of plaque on grave marker of Theresia Pfeifer
Theresia Pfeifer
(close-up)
Photo credit:
Anonymous
(#47021719),
findagrave.com
Iron cross grave marker of John Windholtz
John Windholtz
Photo credit: trecil,
Ancestry
Closeup of top of cross on grave marker of John Windholz
John Windholtz
(close-up)
Photo credit: trecil,
findagrave.com
Closeup of left side of cross on grave marker of John Windholz
John Windholtz
(close-up)
Photo credit: trecil,
findagrave.com
Closeup of right side of cross on grave marker of John Windholz
John Windholtz
(close-up)
Photo credit: trecil,
findagrave.com
Gravestone of Johannes and Anna K. Brown
Johannes Brown;
Anna K. Brown
Photo credit:
bjphlieger,
findagrave.com

See Michael Weigel's gravestone on Findagrave (photo by Contributor of memorials).


Saint Anns Cemetery, Walker, Ellis, Kansas

Iron cross grave marker of Madgalene Windholz
Magdalene Windholz
Photo credit: Zoey
(#47638851),
findagrave.com
Closeup of grave marker of Magdalene Windholz
Magdalene Windholz
(close-up)
Photo credit: Zoey
(#47638851),
findagrave.com

Saint Anthony Cemetery, Graham County, Kansas

Gravestone of Katrin and Adam Knoll
Katrin and Adam
Knoll
Photo credit: trecil,
findagrave.com


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Author: Michelle A. Boyd
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Last updated 23 June 2022