SPRING, 1891, ANTON AND ANNA KINDERKNECHT LEAVE RUSSIA FOR THE UNITED STATES

Kinderknecht Family Reunion, August 31, 2014 in Ellis Kansas

Here is an excerpt from "Unsere Familie, Einst und Jetzt, Kinderknechts", 1982, by Eileen Kinderknecht Doherty. Descendants of Jacob and Otilia Kinderknecht will gather in Ellis, on August 31, to celebrate the family's emigration and settling in Kansas.

     "In the Spring of 1891, Anton and Ann decided to leave Mariental, Russia, for the United States. One of the primary factors leading to this decision was the probability that Nick would be signed up as a recruit in the Russian army in 1893. Under the Reform of January 1, 1874, the Russian government required universal military service from all male citizens in the country. en aged 20 served a term of six years, after which they were registered as reserves for nine years and remained assigned to the militia until age forty.

     "Preparation for the trip to the United States included distribution of personal belongings, finding someone to manage the four mill, and sale of equipment and other items. Belongings which could be carried

Left, Mariental, Russia, 1875. Kinderknechts were probably in this picture.

were brought along and the rest was given to friends and relatives. Jacob (Eileen's grandfather) was responsible for the coffee pot and Catherine was responsible for the goose-down pillows according to family memories.

     "To leave Russia, Anton and his family began by boarding a boat at Mariental on the Karmann River which flows into the Volga River. Once across the Volga

Left, Nick Kinderknecht, age 17. Picture taken in Mariental.

River, they had to walk across the Russian Steppes to the Russia-Poland border. Travel was done in a very secretive and discreet manner because, as Jacob reported, "One word and we would have been shipped to Siberia."
     "Since many of the Russian citizens were migrating to other countries on foot, the government had positioned guards to patrol the border. Some of the guards, however, could be persuaded to allow the emigrants to cross the border.
     "Upon locating a Russian guard who spoke German and was willing to work with Anton, the family waited in the forest until the guard came on duty in the evening.
     "After paying the guard approximately $5 per person for a total of $45 (US$) the guard and his sons assisted the family across a small river near the border. The small children were carried by the guard's sons and the adults walked. Although the river was  not very deep, ten year old Jacob remembered the water as being waist high on himself.
     "Once in Poland, the family was free. However, an item was forgotten (it is not known today what it was) and seemingly, it was significant enough that Nick was sent back across the river to retrieve it. In order to enter Poland for a second time, it was necessary for him to wait until the same guard who had helped the
family earlier was on patrol and pay him the fee. It seems Anna became very worried that Nick would never be allowed to cross the river again, as  it took several days for him to return. But Nick made it and the trip continued.
     "Now the family was ready to cross Poland. This was done by purchasing tickets and boarding the train for Hamburg, Germany.

Left, Anton and Anna Gerber Kinderknecht

     "On November 27, 1891, the family set sail on the ship Bismark from Hamburg, arriving in New York City December 8, 1891. It is reported that life was very difficult as people were seasick, homesick, and in some cases, hungry. For the children, the new diet consisting of white wheat bread was quite different from the black rye bread they were accustomed to in Russia.
     "The family arrived in New York without any money. Through the assistance of an immigration program sponsored by the Catholic Church, Anton sent a telegram to Nicholas and Barbara Hansen for money. When the money arrived, the family once again boarded the train to join their relatives in St. Marys, Kansas." 

     After paying off their debt to the Hansens, the Kinderknecht family eventually homesteaded in Ellis County and we now credit them with a vast family of  descendants.
                                                                                                                   Eileen Kinderknecht Doherty