SHORT NOTES ABOUT THE LIFE AND CONDITIONS OF JOHANN ADAM KUCH  
TAKEN FROM HIS ORIGINAL DIARY NO. 13, WRITTEN IN 1864                

I, the above named, was B0rn in the year 1798, on the 23rd of November.  My place of  (died 17 December 1876) ***
birth was in the market portion of Entringen in the upper district of Herrenberg, in the Kingdom of Wurtenberg. My parents were Johann Adam Kuch; citizen, tailor and shop owner. My mother was Elizabetha Barbara nee Gohring. Soon after my birth, I was taken to Holy Baptism and admitted to the covenant of God. The Schuldheiss (sponsors) were Johann Adam Heck and Miss Eva Rosina, later Mrs. Steimle. From my childhood on, I had to be under the care of the local doctor, and until my sixth year had all the childhood illnesses. My life was spared in one of these illness by three doctors, and so I was not given any more medicine. For this reason, the words of the Lord Jesus apply when he said: "What seems to be impossible for man, is possible for God." Luke 18:27.
From the sixth year of my life, my parents kept me in school and church services, in which I studied hard, but was a mischievous boy. But my father, who was a hot temper, seldom let me go unpunished. His sternness, my mother's care and her good warnings kept me within limits.
In the year 1812, on the First Sunday in Lent, I was confirmed and received the Holy Supper (communion). My teachers, not only the school teacher, Imanuel Gulden, but the pastor M. Posoert gave me good teaching, gave me warnings on my way to life's journey, and gave me instruction in the true word of God. The Lord repaid them in blessed eternity. I, the only living child of my parents, in this confirmation year, had to go through the sad fate that my parents separated and were formally divorced. This caused me much grief, suffering and sorrow, and for this reason, the pastor, during confirmation at the benediction, gave me the following motto: "Deny yourself, take your cross and follow Jesus." This was often of much help to me during this time.
After the close of the school years, I learned the tailor trade from my father. After apprenticeship was over, I went to the Catholic city of Rotenberg on Neker River and for a time furthered my trade with the masters. After this I returned and worked first for myself and then in part for my father. Part of the time 1 stayed with my mother which caused me much grief. In the winter of 1817, (at the age of 19)*** starvation had become so serious in Wurtenberg, that an immigration to Russia took place for which I had a great desire and about which both parents had knowledge. My father had no great objection, but my mother did not want to give her permission to this because she regarded me to be her only support in her old age. But. at last, after much urging by other people, she gave her consent. And, accordingly, I took the journey with immigrants from my locality on June 2, 1817, provided with some money, clothes, food and with scissors, needles and thimble. I left as poor young tailor. The journey was very difficult. The 56 day quarantine caused us to stop under the open sky near the Ischmalische vestung (___fort ?), and daily 8, 10 or up to 12 people among us died. During the first part of October in 1817, I arrived in the colony of Gluktal (and met) my mother's brother, Georg Gorhring who had settled there as early as 1804. I stayed with him for three years as an unmarried man and worked at my profession. But in the hay and fruit harvest, I helped him occasionally for room and board. However, I served for six months in an official position in that district at which the district clerk and Oberschuiz (Mayor) Weisz kept me busy with copying at his desk. By this in my thirtieth year, I was able to be provided with the position of public clerk, which with my large number of children, served me well and provided us with a source of support. For this reason, I sing "So you guide blissfully Lord, your own, yes blissfully, and in a most wondrous way" etc. Songbook no. 36.
In the course of the year 1820, I was ready to leave Russia and return to my homeland. Since I needed a pass, the secretary at this time, Kirschner, said to me: "Adam, you will get no pass because we can use you here in Russia." And so it was. He took my money from me , but did not present my plea to the higher authorities and for this I did not receive a pass. But a comrade of mine who was already married, received a pass.  He traveled to our homeland and a year later returned with his mother and also mine. With the money she brought with her, I was able already in 1821, to build my own home.
With the encouragement of several good friends, I was married late in 1820 to my present and still living wife, Maria Anna Dorodea nee Kalmbach, to whom I have been married for 44 years. She was Born on the journey to Russia in the Bavarian Krenz-Maute Engelhardt district on July 25, 1804 and was baptized in the Catholic Church. In her early childhood, her father, Georg Kalmbach, a shoemaker from Wurtemburg, died. Her mother Veronika nee Wekerlin, came from Schuffhausen in Switzerland, her subsequent guardian or stepfather was Michael Dieter. In this marriage, there were Born 19 children to my wife, of which only nine are still living: eight sons and one daughter. These nine children are as follows:
1. JOHANN CHRISTOPH KUCH, born on November 19, 1823
2. JOHANN ADAM KUCH, born on December 28, 1824 - (died 20 December 1905 in Brienne, Bessarabia)***
3. EVA DORODEA KUCH, born on September 1, 1826 - (died June 4, 1889) (married Karl Ludwig Adolff)***
4. MICHAEL KUCH, born on July 7, 1830 - (died 1887)***
5. CHRISTIAN KUCH, born on December 24,1834
6. GEORG A. KUCH, born on May 11, 1839 - (died August 23, 1922 in Krem ND, Georg A. Kuch was our grandfather, i.e., of Hulda, George, Walter, Adelia, etc.)***
7. HEINRICH KUCH, born on July 24, 1841 - (died 30 October 1931 in Eichendorf, Bessarabia)***
8. KARL KUCH, born on November 15, 1842 - (died August 22, 1922 in Cashmere, WA)***
9. JOHANNES KUCH, Born on May 29, 1848 

From the First year of my marriage, I fed my children with the help of God. This family grew steadily from year to year. In part, I fed them by means of my profession (tailor), in part, with farming, and in part with business in butter, eggs, etc. The business was frequently very difficult so that 1 often wished it would be easier for me to earn my bread, for I became unhealthy because of severe winters, by overheating, and by catching colds, all of which pressed me very much now at my age. In 1829, in the month of September, the Lord awakened me from my sinful sleep, by a severe thunderbolt, which in Gluckthal killed three person in one room. After this, the business became more difficult for I saw the that words of the preacher were true, as he spoke: "Just as the nail on the wall, so do the sins stick between the buyer and the seller." In the latter part of 1829,1 was elected by the pastor. Reverend Dell, and the congregation as Church Trustee. Because I struggled so much against this, an older member said to me: "Accept this, it is better for you than to sell liquor." Upon this word, I accepted the position and remained trustee until 1833. In late 1834, the local village clerk became sick and after the course of three weeks, he died. Immediately I was forced to accept this position. And, as in 1834 praise of God: "I never had any lack of bread." Also, I was relieved of my unpleasant and difficult business and could usually earn my bread in a warm room. See, so does the Lord lead! But not always does he lead his own on smooth ways, but many times permits them to come to slippery and rough ways to prove whether they will remain faithful to his teachings. This I had to experience also. But at all times He helped us through.
Now began a new period of my life. In the winter from 1835 to 1836, I twice received the call to emigrate to Bessarabia in the colony Brienne. Although I did not have my own field in Glukthal and already stood with six heads ahead of me in the inspection (stood sixth in line); and also had to endure other unpleasant things: my family and I were united to accept the call. On the First of May, 1836, I left the colony of Glukthal with my wife, six children, and my old mother. It has remained in my thoughts that both of my parents passed away this year. My father died at the age of 63 in his and my birthplace, Entringen, in January and my mother died here in Brienne in December at the age of 75 1/2 years. Yes, I give thought to the time when I will meet this fate. Now I have become almost a field man (agriculturist) in this new community, but not for long because in November, 1836, I was notified that I was to accept the position of the town clerk at home. Between times we had to suffer a great misfortune. Hardly had we been in our purchased house for six weeks when a severe storm with rain occurred in June and the large, but poorly built house collapsed about midnight. It did not injure my mother, but the oldest son was injured a little in the arm, the second son in the back and the third son above the ankle of the right foot. Evidently and apparently the protective hand of God was with us in this case. Hallelujah!! It was necessary now to build a new house, but the people who settled here from Glukthal stood by me faithfully here, but the old colonists mostly mocked and laughed. Through this building work, I went somewhat into debt. Unobserved, the following year, two horses were stolen which once more brought me into difficulty. But the Lord again helped me through. Praise be his mercy!
Soon after I stepped into my new service and was again elected as trustee of the church, there occurred many great and new fights among the old colonists. The police as well as the church school were in bad conditions. The colony Brienne, on this account, had such a poor reputation that no ordinary person dared to stay there overnight or travel through unless necessary. The children received poor training in school and the prayer house on Sunday was visited only by a few. On the contrary, whiskey was served on Sundays as well as feast days with the people of both sexes closely together and surrounded, who were partially or entirely drunk, and who entertained themselves with lusty or dirty stories and crazy foolishness until late in the night; in which prominent persons and teachers took part. The few well minded people who were here had to "lay the hand over the mouth" because they had to fear the so-called cossack whip. But enough of this. Fight followed fight until the colony came to orderly behavior and a better reputation resulted. Much of this was due to the employment of better teachers and to the pastors. Many things could still be remarked here in regard to the foregoing which has taken place in my stay of 28 years in Bessarabia; things in general as well as marriage conditions. Because in my previous books, I described in such windy fashion many things, I will announce in a few words that the previous happenings, through horror and shame, through good and bad news, passed through falling and standing. Therefore, I have to thank the mercy of God and my Savior that they have until now not regarded me as unworthy and have brought me through with their wise guidance. Therefore may my soul and what is in me praise the Lord and His holy name. Praise the Lord my soul and forget not all the good He has done for me. (In the course of 66 years.)
As a conclusion, I still wish to add the spiritual condition of the seven children who are married up to now, and also to add other information regarding this.
( NOTE: Those marked *** have no record of when they died. Some notations were also added when the diary was translated)(and updated by Dennis W. Maas Feb.2004)***
I. JOHANN CHRISTOPH KUCH, was married on January 25, 1845, to Christina Geier, who died of cholera in 1848. soon after her death, he married Carolina Pietz. His dowry amounted to 80 silver rubles. On February 18, his second wife, Carolina, nee Pietz died at the age of 40 years. My grandchildren out of the first and second marriages are as follows:
1. MARIA CATHARINA KUCH, born - (abt 1846 to the first marriage)***
2. JOHANN ADAM KUCH, born - (abt 1852 to the second marriage)***
3. JOHANN CHRISTOPH KUCH, born on December 7, 1853 * * *
4. AUGUST KUCH, born on February 25, 1857***
5. CHRISTINA KUCH, born on October 22, 1861***
6. JACOBINA KUCH, born on December 26, 1863 * * *
7. ROSHINA KUCH, born on March 3,1866 * * *
On January 28, 1865, my first grandchild, Maria Catherina Kuch, Johann Christoph Kuch's daughter from the first marriage, married Karl Waltz, son of the deceased Johann Waltz. Her dowry was stated in public court to be _____. Great grandchildren, grandchildren and children of this marriage were:
1. ROSHINA WALTZ, born on October 8, 1865 * * *
2. CATHARINA WALTZ, born on October 7, 1866
3. GEORG WALTZ, born on January 29, 1869
4. JOHANN WALTZ, born on July 16, 1871
On June 29, 1869, my son (Johann) Christoph was married to his third wife, Regina, widowed Baier and nee Vetter. The text of the marriage service was Ephesians 5;22-23. On February 1, 1872, my oldest son, Christoph's oldest son, Johann Adam Kuch married Carolina Schock from old Arizs. The text for the marriage service was Psalm 128. Great grandchildren from this marriage was :
1. CHRISTINA KUCH, born on April 28, 1874 * * *
II. JOHANN ADAM KUCH, was married on March 2, 1850, to Catherina Mattheis. His dowry with the first branch of children amounted to 80 silver rubles. Grandchildren from this marriage are the following;
1. CHRISTIAN KUCH, born on July 5, 1851
2. ROSHINA KUCH, born on December 13, 1853 - (died 1937 in Hoffnunstal, Bessarabia)***
3. CATHARINA KUCH, born on December 4, 1855 * * *
4. JOHANN ADAM KUCH, born on May 3, 1857 - (died 6 April 1940 in Brienne, Bessarabia)***
5. JACOB KUCH, born on July 23. 1859 * * *
6. MARIA DORODEA KUCH, born on October 10, 1861
7. CHRISTINA KUCH, born on November 6, 1863
8. HEINRICH KUCH, born on December 3, 1865 * * *
9. DANIEL KUCH, born on December 16,1867 * * * 
10. JOHANNES KUCH, born on November 8, 1870 * * * (NOTE: Heinrich and Johannes died within Two hours of each other.)
III. EVA DORODEA KUCH, was married on January 25, 1845, to Carl Ludwig Adolff. Her dowry with the brothers was fixed at 80 silver rubles. The grandchildren from this marriage are the following:
1. CHRISTINA ADOLFF, born on ____ __1848 * * *
2. WILHELM ADOLFF, born on ( 13 April 1848)(died 1848) * * *
3. VERONIKA ADOLFF, born on March 3, 1849 - - (died July 13, 1874 in Brienne, Bessarabia)
4. CARL ADOLFF, born on February 3, 1851
5. CHRISTIAN ADOLFF, born on December 21, 1853
6. DANIEL ADOLFF, born on December 21, 1855
7. ADAM ADOLFF, born on September 27, 1857 * * *
8. LUDWIG ADOLFF, born on January 17, 1859 - (died 19 December 1940 in Newberg, OR)***
10. EVA ADOLFF, born on June 7, 1863 * * *
11. HEINRICH ADOLFF, born on April 21, 1865 * * *
12. GOTTLIEB ADOLFF, born on December 24, 1866       (NOTE: Christina and Wilhelm both died from Cholera in 1848).
(On June 4, 1889, mother Eva died. Father Carl Adolff was Born on September 20, and died on September 24, 1889.)***
On December 27, 1868, my second grandchild, namely, daughter Eva's daughter, whose name was Veronika Adolff, married the single Johann Zink. Veronika died on July 13, 1874. The text of the funeral sermon was taken from the Gospel of St. John, chapter 21, verses 15-17, where it reads: "Simon, of John, do you love me?" Great grandchildren of this marriage are:
1. JOHANN ZINK, born on September 24, 1869
2. CHRISTINA ZINK, born on June 24, 1871 * * *
3. GOTTLIEB ZINK, born on October 31, 1872
On November 9, 1872, my third grandson, Carl Adolff,(b.3 Feb 1851) was married to Christina, nee _?from Hoffungsthal. There is no record of any grandchildren.
(NOTE: While researching the records, we found that Elizabeth Barbara Adolff, was married to Henry Richter. We have no date of this marriage or any information on him. Great grandchildren of this marriage are:)***	
1. JENNIE RICHTER, born on ___ ___
2. VERONA RICHTER, born on ______
3. EDWARD RICHTER, born on (17 October 1880)(died 6 Dec 1984 in Krem, ND)***
4. EVA RICHTER, born on ___ ___
5. MARTHA RICHTER, born on ______
(On July 19,1919, she married John Miller and moved to Odessa, Washington. She may have lived there prior to her second marriage. John brought, with him, the five youngest children from his first marriage when he moved from North Dakota.)***
IV. MICHAEL KUCH, was married on May 8, 1852, to Catharina Blum from Alexanderhilf. His dowry was the same as the others - - 80 silver rubles. Grandchildren from this marriage are:
  1. CATHARINA KUCH, born on October 23, 1853 * * *
   2. CHRISTIAN KUCH, born on June 3. 1855 (died 25 September 1934 in Portland, OR)***
3. CAROLINA KUCH, born on June 24, 1857
4. CHRISTOPH KUCH, born on September 26, 1859
5. CATHARINA KUCH, born on February 12, 1862 * * *
6. MARIA DORODEA KUCH, Born on May 21 J 864 * * * 
7. FRIEDR1CH KUCH, born on July 3, 1866
8. ELISABETHA KUCH, born on May 5. 1872 * * *
On July 11, 1872 Michael Kuch's wife Catharina nee Blum died at the age of 45 years. On March 3, 1874, Michael Kuch was married to his third ? wife Johanna Schmidt nee Markguard, who had three children by her previous marriage. The text for this second marriage came from the Proverbs of Solomon 16:9. From this marriage came:
1. CHRISTINA KUCH, born on January 4, 1875
V. CHRISTIAN KUCH, was married on February 21, 1857, to Wilhelmina Karijus. His dowry was the same as the others - - 80 silver rubles. Grandchildren from this marriage are:
1. EVA KUCH, born on January 16, 1858
2. CHRISTINA ELIZABETH KUCH, born on November 16, 1859
3. CHRISTIAN KUCH, born on February 6, 1862
4. ROHSINA KUCH, born on July 4,1864 * * *
5. SALOMO KUCH, born on July 16, 1866
6. BENJAMIN KUCH, born on February 5, 1869- (died bef 1872) * * *
7. JACOB KUCH, born on June 7, 1870
8. BENJAMIN KUCH. born and died in March 1873  * **
9. MARIA KUCH, born ___
VI. GEORG A. KUCH, was married November 12, 1859, to Elizabetha Bahnmuller. His dowry was same as the others - - 80 silver rubles. Grandchildren from this marriage are:
1. GEORG KUCH, born on September 11, 1860 - (died October 4, 1949 in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada)***
2. CATHARINA KUCH, born on November 26, 1861 - (died in Russia)
3. ELIZABETHA KUCH, born on October 31, 1862 - (died in Russia)
4. ROSHINA KUCH, born on December 15, 1863 - (died in Russia)
5. CHRISTINA KUCH, born on December 7, 1864 - (died April 24, 1953 in Hazen, ND) (Mrs. John Schimke) (Mrs. Fred Adolf)***
6. THERESA KUCH. born on January 19, 1867 - (died April 12, 1955 in Golden Valley, ND) (Mrs. Daniel Radke)***
  7. ELISABETHA KUCH. born on July 27, 1868 - (died August 4, 1918 in Krem, ND) (Mrs. John Miller)***
   8. DOROTHEA KUCH, born on March 15, 1870 - (died January 17, 1960 in Long Beach, CA) (Mrs. Henry Sagehom)***
   9. JACOB KUCH, born on March 26, 1872 - (died July 4, 1904 in Hannover, ND)***
 10. PHILIPPINA KUCH, born on November 12, 1873 - (died January 26, 1967 in Long Beach, CA)***
 11. KARL KUCH, born on October 20, 1875 - (died in Russia)
 12. MARIA KUCH, born on (June 12, 1877) - (died August 28, 1965 in Granum, Alberta, Canada) (Mrs. Emanule Lang)***
 13. KARL KUCH, born on (April 11, 1879) - (died August 7, 1960 in Hazen, ND)***
 14. BENJAMIN KUCH, born on (December 20, 1880 - died in Russia)
(On September 18, 1918, mother Elisabetha died. Father, Georg A. Kuch died August 23, 1922.)***
VII. HEINRICH KUCH, was married on November 14, 1863, to Augustina Adolff, Wilhehm Adolff's daughter. His dowry was also 80 silver rubles. The text from the marriage sermon was John 21:7. Grandchildren from this marriage are:
1. GEORG KUCH, born on March 22, 1865 * * *
2. CATHARINA KUCH, born on February 3, 1867(died bef 1870) * * * 
3 JOHANNES KUCH, born on March 16, 1868
4. CATHARINA KUCH, born on September 4, 1870
5. EUGINA KUCH, born October 19, 1872  **
6. CHRISTIAN KUCH, born on April 22, 1874
7. GOTTLIEB KUCH, born on July 28, 1876
VIII. KARL KUCH, was married on April 11, 1865, to Terehsia Maria Minderlen. His dowry from his parents was 80 silver rubles. The scripture words for this marriage were: "Fill us soon with your mercy, so that we will glorify you and be happy all of our life." Psalm 90: 14. Grandchildren from this marriage are:
1. LIDIA KUCH, born on December 16, 1867 - (died bef 1872) * * *
2. CHRISTIAN KUCH, born on November 13, 1869 - (died 5 January 1948 in Cashmere, WA)***
3. LIDIA KUCH, born on July 23, 1872 * * *
4. NATHANEAL KUCH, born on July 24, 1874 - (died bef 1884)* * *
5. MARIA KATHARINA KUCH, born on July 6, 1876 * ** 
6. PAULINA KUCH , born on  18, 1878 * * *
7. EDWARD KUCH, born on January 14, 1882
8. NATHANEAL KUCH, born on March 12, 1884 - (died 24 February 1923 in Cashmere, WA)***
9. SELMA KUCH, born on January ?, 1886
(Father Karl Kuch died August 22, 1922. One day before his brother Georg. There is no record when Terehsia died.)***

IX. JOHANNES KUCH, was married on November 13, 1869. to Caroline Hesz from Huffungsthal. His dowry was the same as the other children - - 80 silver rubles. The text of the marriage was St. John 13:34,35. "A new command I give you," etc. Grandchildren from this marriage are:
1. ROSHINA DORODEA KUCH, born on September 4, 1870
2. PAULINE KUCH, born on July ? , 1872
3. JOHANNES KUCH, born on July 10, 1874 * * *
NOTE
At the time of this last written part, my two still unmarried sons, Karl and Johannes, will receive the dowry in the same amount as all my other children, so that after my death, all of my children will not have to undertake the slightest division with reference to their marriage property, and should not or must not be permitted to make any reproof or rebuke to one another, according to the validity (or strength) of my will as stipulated in the preceding twelfth book.
 
                                The next section of this history are the family stories about Georg A. Kuch and his family. This is not part of the Diary:***
                       (This translated from German and updated version of the Diary #13 has been incorporated and included in the Family Tree Maker Program of
   Dennis W. Maas 
  of Riverside, CA, USA, February 2004)*
Georg A. & Elizabeth (Bahnmuller) Kuch

Georg A. Kuch was born on May 11, 1839, in Brienne, Bessarabia, South Russia. He was the son of Johann Adam and Maria Ann Doradea, nee Kalmbach Kuch.
Elizabetha Bahnmuller was Born on March 12, 1839, in Brienne, Bessarabia, South Russia. Her parents are Michael Bahnmuller (born 1 May 1811 in Plieningen, Wurttemberg, Germany) and Rosina Geist (b. 4 June 1815).                                    

Georg A. and Elizabetha were married in 12 November 1859.  In 1886, they immigrated to the United States with their six unmarried children. Three children were married in Russia and also came to America.  In March 1886, they arrived in Scotland, South Dakota. They stayed there one month before continuing their journey Northward. This was the Dakota Territory and unsurveyed. They stopped again for a month in Bowdle, South Dakota, before finally making the trip to Mercer County (Dakota Territory) by ox team and covered wagons.