Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of Michael Albrecht

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Descendants of Michael Albrecht

Generation No. 1

1. MICHAEL¹ ALBRECHT was born Bet. 1690 - 1737, and died Bet. 1739 - 1780.

Notes for MICHAEL ALBRECHT:
SWISS VOLHYNIAN MENNONITE

People from all over the world have come to America to escape religious persecution and to gain freedom
to worship according to the dictates of "conscience". Among these groups were the Mennonites who formerly had
moved from place to place before finding a permanent home in America. The Mennonites are descendants of
Anabaptists which grew out of the Reformation in Switzerland in 1525 They received their name from Menne
Simons, a Dutch Catholic Priest who in 1536 renounced his religion and became a leader and organizer of the
remant Anabaptist groups. The Mennonites look upon the Bible as a sole guide for Christian faith, particularly
the Sermon on the mount in the New Testament. They believe that a congregation should consist of a "believers
group" that is those who have committed themselves to God as revealed in Jeasus Christ, Lord and Savior and
insist that baptism should be a rite adrninistered only upon confession of faith. They believed that the New
Testament suggested that men should love each other including one's enemies and thus forbade them from going
to war or swearing oaths. They were persecuted and frequently banished for their Christian faith, even though they
were skilled farmers. Persecution drove the Swiss (Volhynian) Mennonites to Palatinate in Germany and south-
eastern France from whence they traveled to Volhynia, a region of the Ukraine from whence they migrated to the
United States in 1874 settling in the Moundridge, Kansas community with a sister settlement at Freeman, South
Dakota. They are called Swiss because they originated in Switzerland and Volhynian because they lived in
Volhynia and it became the point from which they migrated to the United States. These terms are used to
distinguish them from other Mennonite groups , some of which came in the same year. The ancestral development
of the Swiss (Volhynian) is along Two routes, both of which culminate in the Russian province of Volhynia. One
route between Switzerland and Volhynia was via the Palatinate (1670-1786), Galicia (1784-1796), the Hutterite
colony(1796-1797), and Michalin (I797-1801). The Krehbiel, Miller, Schrag, Zerger, and other families were
traced along this route. The second route between Switzerland and Volhynia is via Montbeliard (I1670-1791) and
Urszulin-Michaeldorf (I795-1837). The Albrecht, Flickinger, Gering, Graber, Kaufman, and Stucky families were
traced along this route. Individuals and Individual families from this group can be traced back to 1791 when they
left Montbeliard. The Montbeliard party merged with the Galician party in Volhynia. Because the Ancestors of
the present folk in Kansas and South Dakota became a distinct entity, a common social-economic-religious-culture
emerged which was carried from the steppes of Russia to the prairies of Kansas and South Dakota.
These years were hard but they gave promise of ultimate land ownership and a better future. The Swiss Mennonites
had retained their spiritual priorities throughout their moves from one land to another and one culture to another
and when the Czar introduced his program of Russianization and militarization these peace-loving people felt that
their Christian values were threatened beyond repair. After numerous frustrating efforts to secure proper
assurances that the privileges granted them would be continued they concluded that migration to America was the
only practical alternative. So they sold their homes and farms and equipment and moved. They traveled by train
to Hamburg, Germany and by ship to Eastern England and by train to Liverpool, whence they took the ship "'The
City of Richmond" and crossed the Atlantic Ocean arriving in New York City Aug.31, 1874. They decided in New
York to go to Kansas and by Mid-Oct. found themselves in a settlement in Turkey and Mound Townships in
McPherson Co. and adjacent areas in Harvey Co. According to the original register of the Hoffnungsfeld Gemeinde
Church near Moundridge, Kansas. there were 62 heads of families on the "City of Richmond". These people came
from the Ukraine or Polish Russia as well as other immigrants before them. The Kotosufka Congregation departed
from Russia on Aug. 6, I874 on the "SS City of Richmond" with the leaders Elder Jacob Stucky and Jacob Goering
and arrived in the port of New York on Aug. 31, 1874. When they left their villages they were driven by their
neighbors and friends to the nearest train station and they traveled by train to Hamburg, Germany, by boat to
England, and by train to Liverpool. They crossed the Atlantic on the "SS City of Richmond". They went from New
York via train with stops at Topeka and Peabody. The last stretch of train travel was by the Atchinson, Topeka,
and Santa Fe Railroad. While camped at Peabody a search party was sent to look for available land which was
found in Southern McPherson and Northern Harvey Counties. Most of the group was then moved to Halstead via
train from whence they traveled by Oxcart, Horse and Wagon, and on foot to the site of their destination west of
the present day Moundridge, Kansas.

The Mennonites were poor some would say that they were peasants. To emigrate they needed money and
the necessary legal documents. Securing passports was difficult since the information needed was not always
readily available and included such things as; The name, age and address of each person; The date of entry into
Russia and why; The religion; The privileges enjoyed; and the reason for leaving Russia and why. The petition
to secure the necessary passports also required the number and names of all who wanted to emigrate. The
committee for the Kotosuika group to secure these legal documents consisted of Jacob Wedel Andreas Goering
and Julius Fozz (A Lutheran who could speak the Russian language fluently and who was acquainted with the
legal procedures). The petition with all the necessary information was sent to St. Petersburg, (currently known as
Leningrad) and in the Spring of 1874 the passports came which allowed them to leave Russia. These passports
cost each family approximately $50.00. Besides a passport each person had to have a ticket which cost about
$80.00 per person. Children from ages 1-15 went for one-half rate and infants under one year old were free. These
rates covered passage by steerage which provided few amenities, if any. In some sources we were told that passage
was secured for :$35.00 to $40.00. Many of the poorer families did not have the money to pay for these tickets.
So many of the Swiss Mennonites as well as other Mennonites, came to the United States on money advanced by
the American Mennonites largely through the Board of Guardians. Some of the Swiss Mennonites received loans
which paid for their journey, but were expected to repay the debt either by labor upon arrival in the United States,
as many did, or otherwise. The Swiss Mennonites came on the Inman Line because the Board of Guardians had
been able to arrange for cheaper rates with this company.
The diet of the early settlers was limited. Perishable and out of season fruits and vegetables as we know them today
were unknown. Only vegetables that stand well over the winter such as potatoes, onions, cabbage, carrots, beets
and dried fruits were available. To add flavor and variety to these foods, herbs and spices were used. Gardens had
their beds of dill, parsley, summer savory, chives etc. as well as vegetables. (Swiss Russian Mennonite Families befor 1874 "James W. Krehbiel")

- remained in the Palatinate & did not go to East Galicia Krjw

Children of MICHAEL ALBRECHT are:

2.	i.		Christian² Albrecht, b. Abt. 1769; d. March 14, 1793, or 1794 Einsidel,East Galacia, Poland or Albsheim on the Eiss, Lower Palatinate.
3.	ii.		Elizabeth Albrecht, b. Bet. 1740 - 1749, Hermersbergerhof; d. Bet. 1793 - 1835.

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