#29 Challenging.
The most challenging search for ancestors has been associated with the family lines that were Volga Germans which immigrated to the United States. The family lines went to Russia at the invitation of Catherine the Great, many arriving in 1767-77. Complicating searches is that the name of the villages for Germans in Russia have been re-named by Russia. Obviously obtaining records from Russia is a challenge and they may be slim to no records available.
Complicating the research in the family lines that I am researching (Gabel and Grosskopf) are the lack of memorbilia. And lack of family stories. Why the lack of family stories? Many of the Germans from Russia were shunned/persecuted because they were Germans. Although they considered themselves Germans,others considered them not Germans but Russians. And then there was World War I and the elimination of German spoke in churches, churches and public places. The immigrants tried to integrate quickly into society, and thus eliminated their German traditions and customs. Many tried to hide the fact that they were Germans from Russia or even Germans. Many families maintained their favorite “family recipes” linking them to their German heritage.
There are national societies of Germans from Russia that have some records, buying records from Russia when available, and offering them for sale. There is continual efforts made by many to identify and create maps of the villages. There are a few memories written by the Volga Germans to help with research. There are even re-created maps of the villages indicating where homes were located. The village coordinators have been helpful, and through one village coordinator, and census records for the village; the family descent has been established since 1767 when they left Germany.
One of the family lines, I research, knew that they came from Frank, Russia. Through the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, I learned that Mabel Grosskopf Gabel was born in Frank Chutor, Russia. Which is a different area than Frank, Russia; but close. Passenger records were found listing the family, but interesting there was a small name change in one person. Maria Barbara was later known as Mabel. Yet her family never knew her real name. They arrived in Philadelphia in 16 April 1911, sailing on the ship, SS Friesland. The ship left Liverpool on 5 April, 1911. But how did they get from Frank, Russia to Liverpool. The family story is that they left Odessa for America. Odessa, where??? And how did they get to Yellowstone County, Montana from Philadelphia?
Researching the Gabel family has been a challenge because of limited information. I found the family on a census in 1910, in Jefferson County, Nebraska. When I first discovered the census (Ancestry), I felt it was the family but there was different names for the twin sons, as they were known by different names later in life. Thankfully a court case in 1920’s cleared up the name confusion. Otto’s original name was Adolph and Tom’s birth name was Ferdinand. Tom admitted on a witness stand his original name!
As farmers and as renters of farm land, the families I research moved frequently, probably for economic reasons. Why they moved is never known, but probably in an effort to find more ground, cheaper rent and ability to grow better crops. Thus not many records although children were born at home and occasionally births were officially recorded.
Naturalization records would be an excellent source of information. Unfortunately one man was denied citizenship due to not being able to read or write English. He and his wife both died in 1930, before another attempt was made. His sons did apply & receive citizenship, but interestingly on their paperwork they stated the correct date of arrival, the correct ship, but they all came into a different port!
It is doubtful if one individual ever became a citizen. He states in the census of 1910, 1920 and 1930 that he immigrated in 1901, he was German and born in Russia and was an alien. But in the 1940 census he states he was born in Nebraska! In fact his obituary states he was born in Nebraska as the writer (probably a daughter) had been told he was born in Nebraska! Another daughter told me that family history/records burnt in a fire. Asking about a fire has never turned up any information. I suspect the fire was in a garbage can burning any traces of their past.
And so the search continues. Perhaps German records will yield information, but they are written in German. Perhaps I will learn to read German, as genealogy is a continual learning hobby; one is just never sure what will be next!
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