Kulm Diamond Jubilee
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Transcribed by Missionary Allen E. Konrad, P.O. Box 2544, New Germany 3620, South Africa. E-mail address: <[email protected]> [November 2001] KULM DIAMOND JUBILEE KULM, NORTH DAKOTA JUNE 26 & 27, 1967 SUPPLEMENT TO 1957 JUBILEE BOOK Dedication. This book supplement to the 65th Kulm Anniversary book, is dedicated to those who remained, and those who came, to live and die on North Dakota soil. To those, both in town and on the farms that resisted the temptation to migrate during the many times when adversity, both economic and natural, make other pastures shine with green brilliance and promise. And, to those that joined them here at Kulm and in North Dakota to pick up the thread of history where others left off. And, to those who have moved to other parts of the world, but remain with us in heart. This humble effort is done on their behalf. Forward. Planners for this Kulm 75th Anniversary found themselves in a rather unique position of planning a major historical observance just a few months less than ten years since a similar occasion. In most of the general committee men's minds, the 65th Jubilee still held vivid memories, and in some there was anticipation caused by their absence ten years ago. In the minds of all was the enthusiasm this great occasion generated. The feeling of those that started plans for this Anniversary observance was that it should be as great an occasion as possible, and joined by others, have worked toward that end. The Jubilee committee felt that a publication of some sort was desirable for this observance, but that the work and expense of an entirely new history more or less duplicating the 1957 book was unjustified. In the absence of other efforts, this writer offered the publication of a supplement to the 1957 Jubilee book, not to duplicate but to bring up to date, and offer a different approach to Kulm's 75 years of history. With the assistance of the staff of the newspaper, and many other helpers and contributors, the following information was compiled from back copies of The Kulm Messenger, Alumni Ass'n. files, school files, and from the hundreds of family albums and memories of residents, city and farm alike. Many contributed pictures, and many new pictures were taken. Many were taken directly from the files of the newspaper. The book depends on financing only from itself without sponsorship, and is completely a local product, including printing and binding. We hope that the product meets with your approval and many hours of enjoyment will be received during its reading. --John E. Peters, Publisher --The Kulm Messenger WHY KULM? In a great country where the names of cities and towns often time are duplicated dozens of times over the 50 States, we find ourselves living in and near a city with a rather unique name, unduplicated in the United States, but with many counterparts in the world. Kulm is a blending of old and new. Its roots are in Europe and Asia Minor, yet several nationalities blended to make Kulm what it is today. The early settlers came here from various places for free land, freedom of worship, to get out from under the heavy hand of the governments from which they came, for pure wanderlust, and to take part in a new land. When the Northern Pacific Railroad was given a land grant to push a railroad from the twin cities to the Pacific Coast, the recruiters pushed throughout Europe to entice farm people and businessmen to come to the Midwestern and western United Stated to settle, to build towns and commerce and thereby create business for the railroad. To this day, real estate transfers and deeds make reference to the Northern Pacific Railroad in a wide belt across the northern tier of States. The lure of free land brought many nationalities to the Dakotas, among them the Swedish and German peoples that make up the predominant part of the community. There are many other national origins represented, also, but these make up the majority. The Swedish immigrants settled to the north of the city in what is now Swede Township in the 1880s and have the honor of the first postoffice in the region. At that time the Northern Pacific was building into LaMoure County through LaMoure and mail would be brought by horse or ox-driven vehicle from LaMoure. As the NP progressed to Edgeley mail was brought in from there. The North Dakota Historical Society has record of the post office at Newburg, on the Eric Bjur farm, with Bjur postmaster, being established in May of 1888. It contined in service until 1892 when the postoffice at Kulm was established. The Robert Lundgren farm now occupies the hilltop where Newburg Postoffice stood. Everyone passing the location can see the farm on the north side of high 13 about a half mile east of 4-mile corner (4 miles north of Kulm). [picture: RAFTING CATTLE TO SUMMER PASTURE in Sweden about 1896 or 7. Cattle and family are carried on the raft with two boats pulling, taken in Omsele province. From the left are Helmer Johnson, herder, Hugo Ogren about 7 ½ years, his mother Maria and father Eric. In the boat is Mrs. Teckla Davidson and Fannie Gran.] In the 1957 Jubilee Book the story of how the city was named for Kulm, South Russia, and Kulm, Germany is told. This only whets the appetite for more knowledge on the subject of why these people moved from Germany to Russia and then to Dakota, and why the name of Kulm. Kulm is not too unusual a name outside our United States. In the course of research on the matter it was found there are Kulm, Germany; Kulm in East Prussia near the river Vistual (on some maps spelled Chulm, the Polish version); Kulm, Switzerland; and Kulm, Austria. There is also a Kulm Island in the Arctic Sea. It is very difficult to find maps that show Kulm in the area near the Black Sea where German ancestors farmed and worked, or Bessarabia as the area was known. An old map carries the town name of Kulmscaia, probably a Russianization of the name after the Germans left. [picture: IN THE DAKOTAS the first homes were made of clay brick or adobe. This is the second clay house built by Christ Flegel and John Sperling in 1899. That's Christ and John heading for town in the wagon.] Kulm, in Bavaria, the part of Germany where our town name came from was the location of a battle in 1813 on the 29th and 30th of August, when the French Army was defeated by the Russian, Austrian and Prussian armies. It is a town of approximately 11,665. The migrations leading to the naming of Kulm, South Russia, and subsequent migration to Dakota, occurred in two great waves of Germans from the home country. The first was the Volga colonies, made up of 1000 professional people desired by the Russian government and the balance drifters, dreamers and indigent bankrupts that Germany would allow to leave. The German government heavily restricting movement to the Volga colonies. Russia's second call for settlers was for the Black Sea Colonies in the area between the Dnieper and Prut rivers. They settled in what was then known as the colonies of Groszliebental, Johannestal, Friedenstal, Sarata, Kulm and many others in the great migrations from 1804 to 1817. This area was known as Bessarabia, and now is listed on maps as Moldavia, or Modavian SSR. This area was ceded to Russia at the peace treaty of Jassy in 1792 by Turkey, and included all territory from Astrakhan to the river Dneiper. The Taters in the area refused to bow to Russian authority so the Germans were brought into the region as Tater-tamers. These German peoples were hand-picked farmers, greatly desired by the Russians to settle the region. Their reasons for leaving Germany were many, including the promise of free land, freedom from military service, better living conditions and other concessions. They were promised tax exemption for ten years, cash grants to be repaid in 20 years, and equal treatment with native Russians. Each family received thirty Deszjatine of land. The promise was of a better life than in the years of wars, drought and depression in Germany. Historians report that the Germans were deceived from the minute they set foot on Russian soil. They found conditions very hard, no trees, no fuel, and the Germans weren't allowed to teach, so the second generation of settlers grew up illiterate and in virtual slavery. Debts piled up to the crown. It was very hard. But these people made progress, and named one of their towns Kulm, taught at home and made such progress in education that the Russian government made them teach Russian in 1880. They also made financial progress and the native population looked on the German colonies with jealousy. In 1848 Alexander II, Czar, made a general overhaul of Russian laws, and the Germans found themselves subject to universal military service. All other promises the Russians had made to the colonists were long – past broken, but they withstood the setbacks and prospered. This last change broke the spirit of the colonists and they began migrating to other countries, particularly the United States. Those who stayed behind were sent to Siberia as traitors, put in camps, disowned, jailed and generally forsaken. The Germans who had settled one of the richest grain growing areas in Russia, and secured it against the Turks, were displaced.