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People > Personal Histories > ​​​Johannes and Elisabeth Müller

Johannes and Elisabeth Müller

Johannes Müller (Miller) was born on November 26, 1864 in Norka, Russia, the son of Johannes Müller (born 1836) and Anna Maria Schleicher (born 1836).

Johannes married Elisabeth Jost (Yost) on February 25, 1886 in Norka. Elisabeth was born on August 24, 1865, the daughter of Heinrich Jost (b. 1839) and Elisabeth Fink (b. 1841). 

Johannes and Elisabeth became parents to at least eight children:
​
  1. Anna Elisabeth, born August 22, 1886
  2. Margaretha, born September 17, 1891 - died October 24, 1891
  3. Elisabeth Marie (known as Elisabeth), born September 1, 1892
  4. Georg Conrad (known as Conrad or George), born January 17, 1895
  5. Johann Conrad (known as Johann, Johannes or John), born August 25, 1897
  6. Johann Ludwig, born December 16, 1898 - died August 5, 1899
  7. Anna Catharina, born February 16, 1901 - died June 7, 1902
  8. Heinrich, born August 28, 1904 - died March 13, 1905

​The family patriarch, Johannes, died on November 12, 1904, leaving Elisabeth a widow with four children. Her youngest son, Heinrich died a few months later in March 1905. The other two boys were far too young to take over the household and Elisabeth did not get along well with her brothers-in-law, Ludwig and Adam. Two of Johannes' younger brothers had migrated to Canada, Peter in 1899 and Johann Georg about 1905.

It was decided that Elisabeth and her three children (Elisabeth Marie, Georg Conrad, and Johann Conrad) would also go to Canada. Her brother-in-law, Johannes Müller (born in 1882), made a decision to join Elisabeth and her children on the journey.
Miller family in Norka circa 1905
The Müller Family circa 1905 in Norka, Russia. Back row from left to right: 1. Elisabeth Müller (born Jost) labeled as "Mutter"; 2. Elisabeth Kniss (born Müller); 3. Johannes Jost, cousin of Elisabeth Kniss (2), came to Canada in 1924; 4. Elisabeth Jost (born Fink), mother of Elisabeth Müller (born Jost) labeled (1); 5. Probably Katie Jost, sister of Johannes Jost (3), she never migrated to Canada. Front row seated from left to right: John Müller, brother of (2) Elisabeth Kniss (born Müller); Georg Müller, brother of (2) Elisabeth Kniss (born Müller). Source: Robert Frederking.
The Müller's likely left their home in Norka in May 1908 and traveled by horse-drawn wagon to Saratov where they would board a steam powered train that would transport them to the Baltic seaport of Libau (now Liepāja, Latvia). A Russian passport listing all five family members was issued there on June 7, 1908. Obtaining a passport in Saratov was relatively expensive and time consuming. Many people chose to travel without a passport to Libau where one could be obtained quickly for less cost from travel agents doing business there. From Libau, the family sailed to Hull on the east coast of England. From there, they took an immigrant train west to Liverpool.
Passport for Johannes Miller and his sister-in-law, Elisabeth, and her children: Elisabeth, Konrad and Johannes. Courtesy of Robert Frederking.
Passport for Johannes Miller, his sister-in-law Elisabeth, and her children: Elisabeth, Konrad and Johannes. Courtesy of Robert Frederking.
Elisabeth had vivid memories of how dirty and black things looked as they traversed England from Hull to Liverpool aboard an immigrant train. The coal soot seemed to cling to everything. 

In Liverpool, it was discovered that Georg Conrad had an eye infection (probably 
Trachoma). He was not allowed aboard the ship bound for Canada and was forced to return to Norka with his uncle, Johannes. Elisabeth later recalled that Johannes was happy to return to Norka because he missed his sweetheart, Christina Schneider. Johannes married Christina after his return and they came to Canada in February 1909, along with young Georg Conrad whose eye infection had cleared.

On July 3, 1908, the family departed Liverpool aboard the steamship Victorian which arrived in Quebec, Canada on July 10th.
Picture
A Cassier's Magazine illustration of the steamship "Victorian" which sailed for the Allan Line from 1905-1917. Source: Wikipedia.
After her arrival in Canada, Elisabeth traveled by train to Stony Plain, Alberta where she married a widower, Johann Ludwig Jost (an older second cousin, once removed). Johann Ludwig's wife, Anna Maria Albrecht, died in 1897. Elisabeth and Ludwig moved to Vegreville, Alberta in 1919 and he died there in 1925. She was known to her family and circle of friends as Mutter Yost or Grandmother Yost.

Elisabeth's oldest daughter, Anna Elisabeth, was married in Norka and came to Canada in 1925.


Elisabeth's children grew and prospered in Canada. Her daughter, Elisabeth Marie, worked as a maid for one of her Miller uncles and for other German families in the area. She had ambition and felt that she wasn't learning new things from her relatives and countrymen. Elisabeth Marie then set out to find a job working for a family where she could learn the English language and Canadian social customs. These were the skills that were necessary to progress in the New World. Elisabeth Marie married Ludwig Adam Knies (Kniss) in 1910 and they had five children.

George (Georg Conrad) married Annie Giebelhaus and John (Johann Conrad) married Mary Viola Witmer.


One of Elisabeth's descendants recalls that she rarely saw a doctor and was known for her special skills as a folk healer.
I have vivid memories of Mudder, as I spent summers from 1951 to 1956 with Grandma and Grandpa, and by extension Mudder as well. Amongst many “folk” talents she was skilled at reflexive massage, and cured me of “dropped foot” syndrome the summer of 1954!”

As to Mudder’s massage skills, it was a technique passed on to her during her years in Russia. It would probably be called myofascial release in today’s jargon. After overeating at one of our many holiday gatherings, Mudder would have us lie on the floor and would then “crack” your spine in the lower thoracic area to relieve the discomfort. Not sure if it did any good, but sure was fun! She also understood pressure points, sort of like acupuncture with no needles.
Elisabeth died on August 8, 1955 at her son John's home in Stony Plain at the age of 89. Her life was filled with difficulties, but she faced them all with courage and made it possible for her descendants to live better lives and become successful members of society. That is a great gift.

Sources

Robert Frederking, great-grandson of Elisabeth Müller (née Jost).

Norka database

Ancestry.com

Wikipedia.com

Photograph of Ludwig and Elizabeth Yost. University of Calgary (Glenbow Archives). Accessed 10 Nov 2021.
If you have additional information or questions about this family, please Contact Us.
Last updated December 10, 2021.
Copyright © 2002-2023 Steven H. Schreiber
  • Home
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  • History
    • Timeline
    • Origins of the Colonists
    • Catherine's Manifesto 1763
    • Why go to Russia?
    • Recruitment 1766
    • Planning 1764-1766
    • Marriages Prior To Emigration 1766
    • Voyage to Russia 1766 >
      • Ship Transport 1766
    • Journey 1766-1767
    • Founding of Norka 1767
    • Early Years 1767-1769
    • Norka 1769
    • Pallas Report 1773
    • Pugachev Raid 1774
    • Norka 1775
    • Norka 1798
    • Norka 1811
    • Napoleons Soldiers
    • Norka 1834
    • Daughter Colonies 1850s >
      • Neu-Norka
      • Oberdorf
      • Brunnental
      • Rosenfeld (am Jeruslan)
      • Neu Hussenbach (Gaschon)
    • Privileges Lost 1871-1874
    • Immigration 1875-1924 >
      • To the United States >
        • Colorado
        • Ft Collins Colorado
        • Globeville Colorado
        • Mason City, Iowa
        • Culbertson, Nebraska
        • Lincoln, Nebraska
        • Sutton, Nebraska
        • Burlington, Oklahoma
        • Weatherford, Oklahoma
        • Canby, Oregon
        • Portland, Oregon
      • To Canada >
        • Duffield, Alberta
        • Ponoka, Alberta
        • Spruce Grove, Alberta
        • Stony Plain, Alberta
        • Vegreville, Alberta
        • Arcola, Saskatchewan
      • To Germany
      • To South America
    • Famine 1891-1892
    • Norka 1898
    • War & Turnoil 1904-1906
    • World War 1914-1918
    • Revolution & War 1917-1922
    • Soviet Rule 1918-1941
    • Famine 1921-1924
    • Famine 1932-1933
    • The Great Terror 1936-1938
    • Deportation 1941
    • Repression 1941-1956
    • Cultural Loss 1957-2006
    • A Culture in Peril
    • Recent Times
  • Traditions
    • Food and Drink
    • Clothing
    • Holidays >
      • New Year
      • Fastnacht
      • Lent
      • Easter
      • Ascension Day
      • Pentecost
      • Founder's Day
      • Harvest Festival
      • Jahrmarkt
      • Christmas
      • Anniversaries & Birthdays
    • Crafts
    • Games
    • Folk Medicine
    • Superstitions
    • Nicknames
    • Folk Music
    • Church Music
    • Prayers
    • Baptism
    • Confirmation
    • Communion
    • Weddings
    • Funerals and Burials
  • Religion
    • Planning and History >
      • Norka Reformed Church 1767-1864
      • 1909 Norka Parish Report
    • Pastors >
      • Johann Heinrich Fuchs
      • Johann Georg Herwig
      • Johannes Baptista Cattaneo
      • Lukas Cattaneo
      • Emanuel Grunauer
      • Friedrich Börner
      • Christian Gottlieb Hegele
      • Christoph H Bonwetsch
      • Gottlieb N Bonwetsch
      • Wilhelm Staerkel
      • Woldemar Sibbul
      • David Weigum
      • Friedrich Alexander Wacker
      • Emil Pfeiffer
    • Church Practices >
      • Parochial Certificates
    • Church Buildings
    • Church Organs
    • Bell Tower
    • Brethren Movement
  • Resources
    • Family Research
    • Research Resources >
      • Arrival Records 1766
      • Descendant Charts
      • German EWZ Records
      • Soviet Gulag Records
    • Maps
    • Glossary
    • Bibliography
    • Periodicals >
      • Die Welt-Post Letters
    • Related Links