Headline: From Schoolmaster Oelenberger
Walter Chutor, Russia, 3 May
To: Johannes Doell
Lincoln, Neb.
My dear friend:
Pursuant to your desire, and others, to hear from me more often, I wish today to stand in your service. I especially want to point out the great love that those of our people in America have shown us.
In my last report to you, friend Doell, I gave a detailed report about the distribution of the general clothing shipment among individuals but the distribution of food products was not mentioned; I think however that our friends would also like to hear about this. I must stress the fact that this assistance arrived at exactly the right time, otherwise our people here would have starved to death. Our Chutor and Franker Chutor had to divide this lot. I know the aid group very well because I worked with them in my villages. I can describe everything (that happened) there in detail. The aid came, as I have said, at the right time and in much greater amount than we expected. After the poorest of our village had been supplied, the gifts were distributed as widely as possible among the populace based upon the number of souls.
The representatives of the American Relief Administration, Repp, Volz and Pastor Wagner, strove to carry out their mission fairly, without favoring any individual. If they displeased some people among those who received goods, then those were the wages that such workers receive. I came to know Pastor Wagner in his work in that several times I have been with him and I have to credit him for his desire to help the poor and distressed.
It was different with the work of the National Lutheran Council which I will only cover in general and will not name names. The aid workers probably came at the urging of Pastors Behning and Seib who went to Saratow. These representatives did not coordinate with the Schoolmasters. They did what the Pastors told them to do. The Pastors were each given a packet of 3 Pud of products and the Schoolmasters nothing. Assistance was denied the Schoolmasters because the Pastors stated that the Schoolmasters were being supported by the villages. It is dishonorable for the Pastors of our church to say such untruths and equally dishonorable for the National Lutheran Council to believe such lies. The Schoolmaster works more than the Pastor and receives 5 or 6 times less in salary. Our Pastors understand this very well and presented a pious facade to the people in order to have things their own way. Our Pastors received much Flour, Eggs and Bacon from packets sent to the villages in their Parish. The Pastors took the time to pursue these things but the Schoolmasters remained at home. Thus our Pastors enriched and fed themselves better than even the most well-off people could.
The law governing our church came into being in the year 1832 and made our Germans on the Volga, and in all of Russia, serfs to the Pastors. I will write more particularly about the law later. In Moscow our religious leaders sat and prescribed for themselves --- sometimes completely unnatural things. Now our Pastors are grinding and chaffing and trying to get us under their control again, from which we, thanks to the Revolution, have become free. But they will not succeed, even though the representatives of the National Lutheran Council have promised them assistance for this purpose. We do not know which we should be more astonished at: our Pastors, who intentionally say untruths and call?bad good, or the representatives of the National Lutheran Council. If the latter had known that our Pastors were unprofessional and their hypocrisy had become obvious to them in their speeches from Moscow, they would not have promised them assistance. They would have been justified in turning their backs to them.
I forgot to mention that the Schoolmasters did receive 1 and a half Pud of products from Pastor Wagner and Mr. Repp. Apparently Schoolmasters have stomachs that are only half as large as Pastors. Is it the same in America?
In January of this year Schoolmaster Benner and I drove to the Wiesensenseite of the Volga, each looking to buy a home. We crossed the Volga near Kukkus and stayed in Laub with Philipp Sommer. From there we traveled to Rosenheim (a Mennonite village), Rosenfeld and Mariental and Katharinenstadt. From there we traveled through the villages along the Volga to the last German village -- Schaffhausen. From there we traveled homeward through the same villages to Warenburg, Seelmann, Tscherbowa to Neu-Kolonie. From there we drove through Grimm to home, but we bought nothing. Perhaps after sowing time we will make another trip and buy something then. We saw and heard much. Poverty is still widespread but much has been done by the government and much hunger has been quieted. I must say that through government intervention the people can now buy farm machinery and clothing at near their former prices. There is great hope and confidence in the future arising among the people and some who had lost all courage have found new courage to go on with life.
I have received the following money:
From Christian Weber $25. I delivered it all immediately. I am to say to you "Heartfelt thanks" from the recipients. In particular, Conrad Hamburg is thankful. The aid came to him at the right time in his impoverishment. He asks that you not forget him and that he is in great need.
Christian Amendt $25, all delivered.
Jakob Weber $50. The money was handed out according to your letter.
Adam Weber $50, still do not have the money.
Mr. Sallet wrote on July 7, 1923 under number 288,579, wherein he mentions receiving $50 and that he has sent off the money. The Cunard Ship line wrote on Aug. 6, 1923 that they had sent the money to me at the Commerce Bank in Riga. I have as yet not received the money. Mr. Sallet, would you be so kind and help me get this money.
Adam Weber and Wendel Wind(?) $10. The money is in Saratow and I have received notice to pick it up.
Adam Weber to Heinrich Geist $25. Geist has received the money and shared it as you directed; he thanks you for the gift and sends his greetings.
This is to inform our friends of those who died in the last 3 years; I omit the children:
Heinr. Dorn, 64 years, 2 months, 22 days; Katharina Marg. Link, nee Butherus, wife of Georg, 45 years; Kath. Elis. Giess, nee Hamburg, wife of jacob, 61 years; Kath. Doell, wife of Jac. Dahmer, 53 years; Anna Kath. Schoessler, nee Amendt, wife of Jacob, 82 years; Anna Kath. Hamburg, nee Reiswig, wife of Wendel, 73 years; Elis. Hill, nee Amendt, 63 years; Jacob son of Jacob Amendt, 31 years; Kath. Butherus, nee Kissler, second wife of Johannes, 43 years; Amalie Doell, nee Michael, wife of Heinrich, 38 years; Elis. Walter, nee Boeckel, wife of Georg 67 years; Kath. Hill, nee Hamburg, wife of Johannes, 66 years; Kath. Doell, daughter of Helfrich, 17 years; Heinrich Geist, 86 years; Wilhelm Geist son of Jacob, 22 years; Jacob Braun son of Adam, 23 years.
Died in 1922:
Jacob Geist 56 years; Maria Margr. Dietz, nee Hill, wife of Heinrich Jacob, 61 years; Jacob Morlang 75 years; Georg son of Conrad Hamburg (Windmuellers) 34 years; Jakob Maier 65 years; Conrad Hamburger (Windmuellers) 60 years; Anna Margr. Hamburg, nee Fries (Windmuellers) 31 years; --- Most of the elderly died during 1922; it was a year of famine and typhus.
In 1923 the death rate was favorable and this year, 1924, even more favorable. Only Johannes the unmarried son of Christian Benner age 19, has died so far.
There were 72 children born in 1921, 1922 59, but in 1923 102. For the first 4 months of this years, already 30 children have been born. If one compares the death rate to the birth rate one notices that it is increasing; that is, the people have something to chew on.
Jacob Weber received a letter that said he had been sent some money. Jacob? Rat, son of Philipp, heartfelt thanks from me and Johannes Hill for the gift. The Russian was not written correctly and it was too late for you to learn it. What little Jacob does not learn, Hans will never learn (you can't teach an old dog new tricks).
For the information of Mr. Karl Schmidt, Ritzville, Washington: I, your sister-in-law, sister Anna Maria Goettmann, formerly Stroh, nee Hartung, have been?directed to write that you ?are to send your inheritance from your parents in the amount of $240; to me, in accordance with their wishes. Helfrich Doell received $50 from his son. Whoever wishes to send support here, it is best done by sending money. It is not advisable to send goods because the duty on them cannot be paid by the people.
My neighbor Jacob Hill was very sick during the winter: he had the worst case of "Rose" (Scarlet Fever?) and nobody thought he would ever rise again, nevertheless he is perfectly healthy. For some time now I have not received any mail from my brother-in-law Conrad Bauer. I would have already written to him if I knew his address: this slacker, not to say lazy bones, is to write to me.
Last Sunday, April 27th, I held church services at Franker Chutor and after the service buried the wife of Conrad Bernhardt (Weidemanns Grosser). Text: Revelations 21, 5. Sung at the home were: "Christus der is mein Leben;" on the way to the graveyard: "Ich wille streben," and "Hin nach oben moecht ich streben;" at the grave site: "Wo findet die Seele die Heimat der Ruh," verse 1, and "Lasst mich gehen." The funeral party was so large that the home could not accommodate all of them. Her ailment was Apoplexy. Also laid low by Apoplexy is Heinrich Sitmann (Horst), and his recovery is doubtful.
Konrad Eckhardt and wife and Heinrich Bernhardt, son of Jacob (Hannkonrad), are traveling to America. The latter had already sold his Oil Mill to Heinrich, son of Conrad Loebsack. Heinrich Loebsack , an Ox farmer, lives in Franker Chutor. He paid for the Oil Mill with 3 pairs of Oxen. Johannes Loebsack and wife (nee Klein) are big and fat; looking at them on can see that they do not treat their bodies in a step-motherly fashion. 15 men from our Chutor and 19 men from Frank have leased some land. On the 5th of this month in Atkarsk the contract will be signed. The land lies between Talovka and Gross Lurly and was formerly owned by a Tolmatschew, who gave it to a monastery.
Yesterday evening we had a good rain. The spring began a bit cold but is now warmer, even as it begins raining again. The landowners have great hope and it is pleasing to see them go courageously to work; this is also true of those who lease land. Many have already taken their fertilizer out to the fields. It is 9 o'clock in the evening and it is raining heavily. Affectionate greetings to all my friends and acquaintances,
Johannes Oelenberger
PS: Dear friend Johannes Doell:
In the future I will report more often. Received your postcard. You wanted me to write about my brother-in-law Konrad Bauer but I still haven't heard from him. Please write us in detail. In Wladikina in late winter a man was bitten by a mad wolf. The animal had gone into the stables and bitten 2 cows when the man came and was also bitten. Man and cows went mad.
The lessees have received a favorable lease price. Since then we now have a fixed monetary value and the livestock and fruit prices have completely changed. At the Ballande Market it is the general opinion that prices will become more normal. About the lease affair I will report details later.
With greetings, your
J. Olenberger
-------------------------------
Note: Walter Chutor is located near Norka and conditions in 1924 would have been similar.
To: Johannes Doell
Lincoln, Neb.
My dear friend:
Pursuant to your desire, and others, to hear from me more often, I wish today to stand in your service. I especially want to point out the great love that those of our people in America have shown us.
In my last report to you, friend Doell, I gave a detailed report about the distribution of the general clothing shipment among individuals but the distribution of food products was not mentioned; I think however that our friends would also like to hear about this. I must stress the fact that this assistance arrived at exactly the right time, otherwise our people here would have starved to death. Our Chutor and Franker Chutor had to divide this lot. I know the aid group very well because I worked with them in my villages. I can describe everything (that happened) there in detail. The aid came, as I have said, at the right time and in much greater amount than we expected. After the poorest of our village had been supplied, the gifts were distributed as widely as possible among the populace based upon the number of souls.
The representatives of the American Relief Administration, Repp, Volz and Pastor Wagner, strove to carry out their mission fairly, without favoring any individual. If they displeased some people among those who received goods, then those were the wages that such workers receive. I came to know Pastor Wagner in his work in that several times I have been with him and I have to credit him for his desire to help the poor and distressed.
It was different with the work of the National Lutheran Council which I will only cover in general and will not name names. The aid workers probably came at the urging of Pastors Behning and Seib who went to Saratow. These representatives did not coordinate with the Schoolmasters. They did what the Pastors told them to do. The Pastors were each given a packet of 3 Pud of products and the Schoolmasters nothing. Assistance was denied the Schoolmasters because the Pastors stated that the Schoolmasters were being supported by the villages. It is dishonorable for the Pastors of our church to say such untruths and equally dishonorable for the National Lutheran Council to believe such lies. The Schoolmaster works more than the Pastor and receives 5 or 6 times less in salary. Our Pastors understand this very well and presented a pious facade to the people in order to have things their own way. Our Pastors received much Flour, Eggs and Bacon from packets sent to the villages in their Parish. The Pastors took the time to pursue these things but the Schoolmasters remained at home. Thus our Pastors enriched and fed themselves better than even the most well-off people could.
The law governing our church came into being in the year 1832 and made our Germans on the Volga, and in all of Russia, serfs to the Pastors. I will write more particularly about the law later. In Moscow our religious leaders sat and prescribed for themselves --- sometimes completely unnatural things. Now our Pastors are grinding and chaffing and trying to get us under their control again, from which we, thanks to the Revolution, have become free. But they will not succeed, even though the representatives of the National Lutheran Council have promised them assistance for this purpose. We do not know which we should be more astonished at: our Pastors, who intentionally say untruths and call?bad good, or the representatives of the National Lutheran Council. If the latter had known that our Pastors were unprofessional and their hypocrisy had become obvious to them in their speeches from Moscow, they would not have promised them assistance. They would have been justified in turning their backs to them.
I forgot to mention that the Schoolmasters did receive 1 and a half Pud of products from Pastor Wagner and Mr. Repp. Apparently Schoolmasters have stomachs that are only half as large as Pastors. Is it the same in America?
In January of this year Schoolmaster Benner and I drove to the Wiesensenseite of the Volga, each looking to buy a home. We crossed the Volga near Kukkus and stayed in Laub with Philipp Sommer. From there we traveled to Rosenheim (a Mennonite village), Rosenfeld and Mariental and Katharinenstadt. From there we traveled through the villages along the Volga to the last German village -- Schaffhausen. From there we traveled homeward through the same villages to Warenburg, Seelmann, Tscherbowa to Neu-Kolonie. From there we drove through Grimm to home, but we bought nothing. Perhaps after sowing time we will make another trip and buy something then. We saw and heard much. Poverty is still widespread but much has been done by the government and much hunger has been quieted. I must say that through government intervention the people can now buy farm machinery and clothing at near their former prices. There is great hope and confidence in the future arising among the people and some who had lost all courage have found new courage to go on with life.
I have received the following money:
From Christian Weber $25. I delivered it all immediately. I am to say to you "Heartfelt thanks" from the recipients. In particular, Conrad Hamburg is thankful. The aid came to him at the right time in his impoverishment. He asks that you not forget him and that he is in great need.
Christian Amendt $25, all delivered.
Jakob Weber $50. The money was handed out according to your letter.
Adam Weber $50, still do not have the money.
Mr. Sallet wrote on July 7, 1923 under number 288,579, wherein he mentions receiving $50 and that he has sent off the money. The Cunard Ship line wrote on Aug. 6, 1923 that they had sent the money to me at the Commerce Bank in Riga. I have as yet not received the money. Mr. Sallet, would you be so kind and help me get this money.
Adam Weber and Wendel Wind(?) $10. The money is in Saratow and I have received notice to pick it up.
Adam Weber to Heinrich Geist $25. Geist has received the money and shared it as you directed; he thanks you for the gift and sends his greetings.
This is to inform our friends of those who died in the last 3 years; I omit the children:
Heinr. Dorn, 64 years, 2 months, 22 days; Katharina Marg. Link, nee Butherus, wife of Georg, 45 years; Kath. Elis. Giess, nee Hamburg, wife of jacob, 61 years; Kath. Doell, wife of Jac. Dahmer, 53 years; Anna Kath. Schoessler, nee Amendt, wife of Jacob, 82 years; Anna Kath. Hamburg, nee Reiswig, wife of Wendel, 73 years; Elis. Hill, nee Amendt, 63 years; Jacob son of Jacob Amendt, 31 years; Kath. Butherus, nee Kissler, second wife of Johannes, 43 years; Amalie Doell, nee Michael, wife of Heinrich, 38 years; Elis. Walter, nee Boeckel, wife of Georg 67 years; Kath. Hill, nee Hamburg, wife of Johannes, 66 years; Kath. Doell, daughter of Helfrich, 17 years; Heinrich Geist, 86 years; Wilhelm Geist son of Jacob, 22 years; Jacob Braun son of Adam, 23 years.
Died in 1922:
Jacob Geist 56 years; Maria Margr. Dietz, nee Hill, wife of Heinrich Jacob, 61 years; Jacob Morlang 75 years; Georg son of Conrad Hamburg (Windmuellers) 34 years; Jakob Maier 65 years; Conrad Hamburger (Windmuellers) 60 years; Anna Margr. Hamburg, nee Fries (Windmuellers) 31 years; --- Most of the elderly died during 1922; it was a year of famine and typhus.
In 1923 the death rate was favorable and this year, 1924, even more favorable. Only Johannes the unmarried son of Christian Benner age 19, has died so far.
There were 72 children born in 1921, 1922 59, but in 1923 102. For the first 4 months of this years, already 30 children have been born. If one compares the death rate to the birth rate one notices that it is increasing; that is, the people have something to chew on.
Jacob Weber received a letter that said he had been sent some money. Jacob? Rat, son of Philipp, heartfelt thanks from me and Johannes Hill for the gift. The Russian was not written correctly and it was too late for you to learn it. What little Jacob does not learn, Hans will never learn (you can't teach an old dog new tricks).
For the information of Mr. Karl Schmidt, Ritzville, Washington: I, your sister-in-law, sister Anna Maria Goettmann, formerly Stroh, nee Hartung, have been?directed to write that you ?are to send your inheritance from your parents in the amount of $240; to me, in accordance with their wishes. Helfrich Doell received $50 from his son. Whoever wishes to send support here, it is best done by sending money. It is not advisable to send goods because the duty on them cannot be paid by the people.
My neighbor Jacob Hill was very sick during the winter: he had the worst case of "Rose" (Scarlet Fever?) and nobody thought he would ever rise again, nevertheless he is perfectly healthy. For some time now I have not received any mail from my brother-in-law Conrad Bauer. I would have already written to him if I knew his address: this slacker, not to say lazy bones, is to write to me.
Last Sunday, April 27th, I held church services at Franker Chutor and after the service buried the wife of Conrad Bernhardt (Weidemanns Grosser). Text: Revelations 21, 5. Sung at the home were: "Christus der is mein Leben;" on the way to the graveyard: "Ich wille streben," and "Hin nach oben moecht ich streben;" at the grave site: "Wo findet die Seele die Heimat der Ruh," verse 1, and "Lasst mich gehen." The funeral party was so large that the home could not accommodate all of them. Her ailment was Apoplexy. Also laid low by Apoplexy is Heinrich Sitmann (Horst), and his recovery is doubtful.
Konrad Eckhardt and wife and Heinrich Bernhardt, son of Jacob (Hannkonrad), are traveling to America. The latter had already sold his Oil Mill to Heinrich, son of Conrad Loebsack. Heinrich Loebsack , an Ox farmer, lives in Franker Chutor. He paid for the Oil Mill with 3 pairs of Oxen. Johannes Loebsack and wife (nee Klein) are big and fat; looking at them on can see that they do not treat their bodies in a step-motherly fashion. 15 men from our Chutor and 19 men from Frank have leased some land. On the 5th of this month in Atkarsk the contract will be signed. The land lies between Talovka and Gross Lurly and was formerly owned by a Tolmatschew, who gave it to a monastery.
Yesterday evening we had a good rain. The spring began a bit cold but is now warmer, even as it begins raining again. The landowners have great hope and it is pleasing to see them go courageously to work; this is also true of those who lease land. Many have already taken their fertilizer out to the fields. It is 9 o'clock in the evening and it is raining heavily. Affectionate greetings to all my friends and acquaintances,
Johannes Oelenberger
PS: Dear friend Johannes Doell:
In the future I will report more often. Received your postcard. You wanted me to write about my brother-in-law Konrad Bauer but I still haven't heard from him. Please write us in detail. In Wladikina in late winter a man was bitten by a mad wolf. The animal had gone into the stables and bitten 2 cows when the man came and was also bitten. Man and cows went mad.
The lessees have received a favorable lease price. Since then we now have a fixed monetary value and the livestock and fruit prices have completely changed. At the Ballande Market it is the general opinion that prices will become more normal. About the lease affair I will report details later.
With greetings, your
J. Olenberger
-------------------------------
Note: Walter Chutor is located near Norka and conditions in 1924 would have been similar.
Sources
Die Welt-Post, June 5, 1924, page 2.
This translation provided courtesy of Hugh Lichtenwald.
This translation provided courtesy of Hugh Lichtenwald.
Last updated March 7, 2016