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MATHIES GENEALOGY

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REMEMBERANCES OUT OF RUSSIA

FROM JOHANN J MATHIES, VINELAND, ONTARIO, 1965

[Johann - brother of A. J. Mathies]

 [Interviewed by Annie Krause]

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[INTRODUCTION]

When one looks back 75 years, at the age of 5, our small village of Schöenbrunn, with its six farmyards, was then just emerging. Schöenfeld was only a few miles away, where our Wollost and Church also stood. Schöenfield was central to the Mennonites who surrounded it in a circle from 60 to 70 miles (west). Everything had been accomplished in a very short while. Much have our fathers laboured from hard work.

The school across the road from us was built in 1891. The Schöenbrunner had their own brick kin. Our barn then still, covered with straw, had been torn down and replaced with a new brick one. At that time I was 3 yrs. old, but it is still clear in my mind.

The added garden and planted woods across the road grew along with us as though they had always been there. In the spring when all the snow melted it gave a lot of water, so then the Schoenbrunners had to make a straw-walk for the school-children, and so it was everywhere. At the end of the village we had a blacksmith shop and a shepherd’s house. Both families had free rent as well as range for their cattle. They were paid for their work by the Schoenbrunner.

We also had a lovely pond with a variety of fish. All the Schoenbrunner owned one fishnet together which was pulled with a horse. In this manner many fish were caught and divided by having them in the pond in a huge box that allowed the water to flow through freely. Everyone had their own private section from which they could help themselves.

The shepherd who herded our animals was Russian. Near his house was a huge corral where the horses, young and old, not needed were held overnight. The next day they would be put out to pasture.

The shepherd Waziel, who belonged to the Greek Catholic church, had a huge family. Out of 24 born only 17 remained alive, all lovely healthy children. They all talked German, having learned it from the Schoenbrunner even though they never attended our schools. The eldest daughter was named Anuljka, then came Jaschka, Peter, Maschka, Artjamka, Wanjka, [-?], Wasiel, Kostjausiv - Have forgotten the last names.

The Schoenbrunn’s land was on both sides of the main road. Westward, bordered the beautiful Kowalicha and eastern-ward was Schoenfield with its water-rich Terse. To this place our cattle were herded and grazed. At noon they were driven to the shepherd’s house for a drink. The Terse was joined with the Woltsch and again with the beautiful Dnjepr - River.

In the winter, on the way to our dear Grandparents, the D. A. Mathies’s, we’d be covered with a fur blanket, while driving along the border road over the Terse, always arriving safe and happy. Then our dear Aunt Gretki, the sister of our mother, had her hands full. It’s a good thing our Grandfather had concern. There was enough room for all f his grandchildren. At that time our people kept many oxen and sheep. So also Grandfather.

We would walk through the oxen-barn; in the middle of the path and the length of the barn. On both sides of the food-cribs, the oxen with their long horns were eating hay and shaking their heads. This would put us boys in a different mood. We thought our Grandfather must be rich.

Father Abraham also had many herds, calves and sheep.

If we wanted to see Grandfather weren’t allowed to storm right in like it is in this country, rather we had to remove our hats nicely, and walk in graciously. In later years, it gave him great joy, when in the fall he was able to drive his grandchildren to Berdjansk at Meer or to Jekaterinoslaw to the Exhibition Fair. Here Grandfather had a good Russian friend who lived in a huge beautiful house, with his only daughter. This rich Russian had at one time worked in his Grandfathers brick-kilns. Now it made him happy to have us all at his table. We had a lot of fun with him. I think us ten and the daughter must have some time in between gotten some more food out of the larder because we were hungry.

Our Grandparents on Mother’s side lived in the Molotschna-Kolonie in the village of Alexanderkrone. They were J. Baergs. This stretch we often drove, of 90 werst [miles?] west to the south several times a year with three horses hitched to a Droschtji [coach or covered wagon?]. It was always a day’s ride on a government road, 30 feet wide or more wide. Such roads were to be found in the whole area. They crossed through the whole Ukraine from one [government?] district to another. Such a road we also had at Schoenbrunn. On both sides of the road were large mounds of dirt, markers for the winter snowstorm in order that we could find the right way to go.

In clear view of our village, about a mile away was a kurgan [monument?] an especially high mound. This was the grave of a Fuiersten [leader?] from olden days. If you were to stand on such a hill, you could see far around. On such a land there grew a lot of grass on which in earlier years many cattle and sheep grazed. Sometimes a well with a stone statue of a Babuschka, a Russian Grandmother could be seen standing close-by.

In driving along it gave many tracks so the better ones were used, no matter whether they went right or left. We drove through small as well as big Russian villages; Berestjan, Burjakow, Preofraschenko and the City of Orechow. Here we ate at a Jews - Wolfowitsch - the horses were left at an Auffartshof [drive-in-yard?] and we went on to the market. We later returned to Wolfowitsch who owned a large restaurant where you got anything that was desired. Ten proceeded further through Kopanic, Blumental and Kurtkulak till we reached the city of Tokmak where we again fed our horses.

Here also an Auffahrtshof [drive-in-yard?], which belonged to a Jew named Garabzow. Nearby stood a guesthouse and a Laden [store?] as well. After, we continued on further over Treberweide, Kleefeld, until Alexanderkrone where we gladly handed over the reins to be free people again. Our Grandfather Bärg (Johann) had a nice wool-business, and also enough rooms for his grandchildren.

When I was 7 years old, I broke my leg. Then did Grandfather Baerg truly care for me. For over a year, he carried me around, and always drove me to a bone doctor D. Wiebe at Lichtfelde.

When the mulberries were ripe or other fruit, he always brought me some. These are such good childhood memories.

Our church was in Schoenfeld. On Sundays we drove there. Roundabout were the holdings of the Mennonites such as at Brasel, also Chonukowa, then onto Station Graitschur, further to Blumenkeim, Gnieden, Kronberg, Eichental and back to Roppow. Towards the northwest by 50 werst [miles?] was our Kreisstadt Alexandrowsk, to-day called Saporoschje, by the Dnjepr - River. Nearby lay Schoenwiese, which consisted of the many lovely villages of the Old Kolonie. Again at Schoenfeld, 25 werst southerly, lay Blumenfeld and northerly, about 40 werst, Krutojarowka, Zuruechkehrend, then Hochfeld, Tiegenhof and Krukow. Roundabout and in-between were estates and villages of the various Kolonisten such as Lutheraner, Katholiken, Russian, while along the rivers, Bulgarian and Greeks. All of these places had become their homeland.

At weddings it was custom, before the ceremony, that all unmarried ledigen [guests?] of the bride in a room at her house, were given a floral spring to be pinned on their left shoulder. Man has been made for marriage but must decide at one time or another whether or not to wed.

Almost everyone, on his [chutor?] in the garden had a beautiful place which contained a cemetery. So also did we at Schoenbrunn. Behind our garden was an area consisting of 8 fields. Two of them were for strangers. On the graves were grave-stones and crosses. Evergreens, green hedges, and hardy green grass, flowers, and many trees beautified the cemetery. Here, as the dead were carried to their graves, songs of when we meet again would be sung. Often after church on a Sunday afternoon, in the summer, the youth would gather here. We were not loud. Accompanied by a guitar we sang such songs as "When I ask the Wanderer," or Trusted Homeland my Dearest [Usrvz?]. Also was the bird-world in southern Russia, the Ukraine lovely. There were storks, cuckoos, meadowlark [Hutudut?], nightingale, swallows, and egrets, especially along the rivers and seas. It was a piece of paradise. Now our dear God wants to give us people something still better. That which no mans eye has seen nor brain perceived. This God will give to them who love and believe on his Son Jesus Christ.

Everyone on the Schoenfelder settlement had a reges [living?]. When we went shopping, we’d drive through a small Russian village of Litowka, then over the bridge that went over the river Terse, coming to Brasel or Russian village where they all had their own "Wollost." At the end of the village was the store of Ger. Peters where we shopped often. We’d continue on to our Grandparents, D. A. Mathies, passing by the homes of Jak Heidebrächt and Kor. Neufelds. After visiting with our grandparents, we drove on through Schoenfeld to see a former teacher Ger. Peters who now owned a store and machine shop. Here more purchases were made. Then back over the bridge Terse and home for dinner. Altogether it was 10 werst [miles?].

At the end of our village at Schoenbrunn lived Deacon Jak. Warkentin who had married for the second time. When they celebrated a birthday, half of Schoenfeld got together for the occasion, their man was prone to say: "From both sides married children and a grand mother, that makes it worthwhile." The raisin-bread and zwieback with the nice coffee was also very satisfying.

When you think back on the Schoenfelder weddings - The barns all beautifully decorated, where so much singing was done, like Z.B. "Hab oft im Kriese der Lieben": Have often in the Circle of Love, in the pleasant grass rested, ----- and, sang me the song , ---- and everything, yes everything was once again good.

On Sundays, we drove to the church, with well-cared for horses, hardly able to hold on to the reins. During winter, at the churchyard, we covered and tied them to the "wollem." It made us boys right proud. I have often wondered if we left Onkel Mirau owing something.

Upon entering the church us boys went to sit right at the top, as did some of the older boys, but on the other side, since the more mature segregated themselves. Then the "vorsaenger" started us all off by leading in singing a choral. The preacher would stand up on the podium and say "Take off your shoes, because the place you stand upon is holy", and it would seem a holy place to me.

The high school was built where teacher Herman Rempel lived. He was from the village of Mariental, Molotschna. He began a choir with his pupils and they sang lustily. He was also a soul winner, visiting the sick, including our beloved Uncle J Bärg. In the war of 1915 he served on the West-front for the A.R.A.O. of the Red Cross, where he died.

The head of the Red Cross Medic’s got together with the Personal of Command and decided to take a lesson from Herman Rempels life by following in his footsteps.

It was after my schooling that our teacher Joh. Unruh left Schoenbrunn and moved over land and sea to America. He was replaced by Cor. Reimer. Later Joh. Unruh returned and resumed teaching in Orechow at a smaller school.

A group of Schoenfelder, including our father, had purchased some land in Siberia, at Omsk which was bordered by the river Irtysch. When my father drove down for the second time, I was 18 years of age and went along, as did our neighbour Kor. Enns who later died here in Vineland. On September 1908, we drove across Davlekanow and stopped off at J. Wallen (His first was mother’s sister, born Baerg). At Omsk, we’d visited with relatives such as Klassens and Baergs, who lived 40 werste from them. The taxi driver had 2 horses, one of which always wanted to run at a gallop. We would then continue by train to Tatarskaya and Laguaka to visit the Borns and Huebners, father’s relatives. We had the honour to ride with them the at the train station [gerade?]. I recall four young ladies accompanying us.

The land in Siberia was sold, in order to purchase David Cornies Hostelle, place in New York. D. Cornies then left with everything to go to Semipalatinsk. I then got acquainted with New York, Russia. But Father also sold this place, and bought a large piece of land in Woronesch, not far from Arkadaker Ansiedlung (Settlement) house of the Wiens and Klassens. Here the Verwalter [?] was a Heinrichs, his wife formerly a Pankratz from Terek. Her brother David was my Service brother at Asow.

After a few years, my brother Abram and I went on business to Orechow and to the market, where we had often been with our dear parents. Here we met our former teacher J. Unruh. He had just bought a lovely piece of Halvah, and invited us into the school. We accepted, with thanks. We always had respect for him and honoured him still. The halvah was shared together in a friendly atmosphere.

Later, in 1924, migrating via Lichtenaucer railway station, we again ran into J. Unruh. At that time I introduced him to my wife and children. But I must back up to 1911. In the fall of that year at Losungthere was conscription [mustering?] for the City Service in Culajpol, Government Jekaterinaslow. I was found healthy and had to go into the Forstei service. It was the asower Forstei. On the 1st of March, 1912 we had to report We were three healthy youngsters from the Schoenfelder Wollost. J. J. Heidebrecht, A. J. Dueck, and I, J. J. Mathies.

We left from our train station at Gaitschur and passed by Pologi to Rossowka. From here it was still another 30 werst by wagon. Arrived safely. We were greeted by our good un-acquainted comrades, and immediately separated from each other. There were about 60 recruits altogether, some from Siberia, Orenburg, Samara, Terek, Kilm, Altkolonie, Molotschna, Memrick or wherever. Everyone was provided with straw-sacks, and rope for our beds. Upon sewing together our straw-sacks, we discovered some had too much and other too little straw. The needle would get too hot making it necessary to put it in cold water to cool. So we got to know each other and made some very good friends. I was in No. 1 Wing which was called "Chicken-house" There were 13 men, 6 of which were recruits. Every morning we would make the coffee for ourselves and the older men.

The boiled water taken from the kitchen. The forestwork was about 4 werst away, a 20 minute walk, then back for lunch. Every one had a huge appetite by then. The married ones were J. Warkentin and G. Schroeder. There was also a Baun [school?] that stood 1/2 a werst from the Kaserne. I had the luck to work there and also to learn a lot.

Nickolai Spenst from Memrick was our leader, as well as a good guitarist. He lived what he professed, and was a blessing to many. Our Starschif [foreman?] Henry Wiens was from Steinbach, Molotschna and has since died. Always faithful in his work, and we could say about him - "You have buried a good man." The last two years Ger. Wiens (brother of Hein Wiens of Winnipeg) was our leader at the Baum [school?]. In command the second year were J. Dueck and P Harms [Gefreite?]. In my 3rd last year at Asow, I had the honour to work with Okonom Ber. Fast as boss. After this I left for Mariupol to shop for things to take for kommando.

In the summer of 1914. Ökonom Ber left the Forstei and moved back to their home at Tereck. Uncle Fast was a good soul. I had the honour of going along with his family to Mariupol, where they boarded the train. They were loving and generous towards us. Later on Uncle Fast and others were attacked by a robber-band and found dead, as were Ökonom and G. Klassen from Dawlekanowo.