Snippets: German/Russian Day Camp

Jacob and Katherina’s wedding picture.
They were married in 1857 in Kassel, Russia.

The Germans from Russia Heritage Society of Kaylor, SD is hosting its second annual day camp for kids grade K-8^th on Tuesday, July 25, 2017, beginning at 9:30 a.m.

“German Russians are very proud of their unique heritage,” says Vi Ranney, a member of the Heritage Society. “We want our children to learn about this to keep our German-Russian heritage alive.”

The event will show children the hard life for those who came to the Dakota Territory from Russia in the 1870’s. Participants will experience homemade ice cream, snapping beans/peeling potatoes for green bean soup, husking sweet corn, churning butter, and baking kuchen in an Old Russian bake oven. Other projects: canning peaches, making pickles, washing clothes on a scrub board and attending an “old-fashioned” country school.

The participants will learn the history of German-Russians.

In Russia, Catherine the Great issued a manifesto in 1763, inviting foreigners to settle in her country. She being of German lineage knew the Germans were wonderful farmers. Her decree marked the beginning of the history of Russian-Germans.

“We, Catherine the second, Empress and Autocrat of all the Russians at Moscow, Kiev, Vladimir… We permit all foreigners to come into Our Empire, in order to settle in all the governments, just as each one may desire.”

Many Germans migrated to the beautiful black soil in South Russia, enjoying religious freedoms, tax, and military exemptions. They were allowed their own schools, churches, land, and money.

That changed when Russian Czars took leadership in the early 1870’s. They reversed Catherine’s manifesto, repressing the German-Russians. They were drafted into the military for seven years. Many didn’t return.

The German-Russians turned their attention to America and sent scouts.

The United States 1862 Homestead Act provided that any adult citizen, or intended citizen, who had never borne arms against the U.S. Government could claim 160 acres of surveyed government land.

George Fredrick Winkler, Great, Great Grandfather of Vi Ranney, was among the first group of immigrants. Also included were George’s son and daughter-in-law, Jacob and Katherina. They traveled by ship from Hamburg to New York City, then by train to Yankton.

Under the Homestead Act, they settled northwest of Yankton. At which time George W. Black was Sheriff, Lewis and Clark had not yet explored the area, and Yankton was the first capital of the Dakota Territory.

Other German-Russians migrated to Menno, Trip, Parkston, Scotland, and Kaylor.

Gary Jerke is President of the Sodak Stamm Germans from Russia, Randy Schoenfish, Treasurer, Rev James Mueller, Secretary, Vi Ranney, Travel Coordinator, Donna Zeeb, Rev Dan Flyer, Mike and Deb Mehrer fill in the remaining board positions.

The event will take place on the ground of the Power Show on the north edge of Menno. A limit of 50 kids will be accepted. (Registration is required.) There is no cost, but donations are appreciated and help defray costs. To register, call Donna Zeeb at 387-5577. Also, if parents would like to help, please contact Donna.

Article I wrote for the Press & Dakotan

Randy Tramp

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