History of Fredonia ND Diamond Jubilee 1904-1979
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Transcribed by Missionary Allen E. Konrad, P.O. Box 2544, New Germany 3620, South Africa. E-mail address: <[email protected]> [August, 2002] [This book contains both the Golden Jubilee and the Diamond Jubilee Histories under one cover.] FREDONIA, NORTH DAKOTA 1904 TO 1979 Forward and Acknowledgement Greetings. On this special day of Fredonia's 75th birthday, the people of this community join in reflecting on the courage it took for those who declared before kings and queens, governments and sovereignties their dedication to find a new way of life, to be free from persecution and the yoke of oppression which was laid upon them and their families for the benefit of the governments they were persuaded to serve. We reflect on the fortitude and courage it took to leave friends and relatives and to pioneer the wide-open spaces of the unbroken Dakota prairies. We pay homage to those who have built this region up to the place it now holds in history. To the present generation we convey our pride in our community's accomplishments and hope that the aspirations of our forefathers has given them a heritage and desire to build new horizons with the same ambition that the pioneers demonstrated. This book is the story of Fredonia and its community. Its growth and development from the time of its origin to its present state in 1979 are told here. It relates the arrival of the early settlers who were mostly of European ancestry of various ethnic backgrounds. In spite of suffering and untold hardship, disaster and reversals, they stayed, remaining because they had determination, and dedication to a cause; the establishment of new homes in a new land. This history speaks of adjustments to a new environment, progress, famine, plenty and tragedies, and of backbreaking toil, sweat and heartache of the pioneers, sharing in common the necessities of life. This book is not the complete story of the Fredonia community. There are many omissions and unanswered questions, but we hope that its pages will instill an increased appreciation of our heritage through added knowledge of the people who developed their farms from virgin soil and established a town and community and that it will leave its imprint on future generations and the decisions they make. We take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to each who has contributed information, stories and pictures to the publication of this book. Special thanks are extended to Clyde and Albert Holman for documenting and detailing the first 50 years of history of the Golden Jubilee Book. To Alvina Burkle, Debbie Holmstrom, Loretta Schultz, and Verna Dittus thanks for their many hours of typing in preparing the manuscript for the publisher. To the businessmen and friends who have contributed financially by advertising and good wishes, and especially to those from neighboring towns and communities we extend our thanks. Mention should also be made of the Advertising Committee. The money they raised made possible the publication of this book. Thanks to the Finance Committee for the soliciting of the advertisements and the sponsoring of different projects to raise funds for the Diamond Jubilee celebration and to the History Committee for gathering biographies and photographs from individuals, businesses, and organizations for this book. Thanks also to Jeff Weispfenning for his find work in photography. We wish to recognize Les Strand, editor of The Kulm Messenger, for his aid, guidance and generous advice given to the committee during the many months of work on this book and also Paul Janke, general chairman of the Jubilee Committee, for his excellent leadership and fine spirit of cooperation in directing and advising his committees on preparations for the Diamond Jubilee celebration. To all other officers and committee members who gave generously of their time, talent and efforts making the success of this venture possible, we extend sincere thanks and deepest appreciation for what you have done. As you scan, read the pages of this book and be ever mindful: "Say, this is my book; our book; I helped write it." The committee members are no professionals and make no guarantees, so bear with us. If errors and omissions are noticed kindly accept it as being unintentional; we sincerely apologize. May God's blessings be with us on this jubilant day. JUBILEE HISTORY BOOK COMMITTEE Raymond Burkle Chairman JUBILEE BOOK COMMITTEE [picture: The Fredonia Jubilee Book Editing Committee: Debbie Holmstrom and daughter, Becky, Raymond Burkle, chairman, Loretta Schultz and daughter, Patty, Verna Dittus and Alvina Burkle.] Many hours of hard work have been contributed by the listed committee members towards the completion of the Diamond Jubilee Book. COMMITTEE MEMBERS [picture: EXECUTIVE FREDONIA JUBILEE COMMITTEE. Loretta Schultz, secretary; Paul Janke, president; Ralph Schultz, vice president; Ardella Buchholz, treasurer.] [picture: BOOK COMMITTEE. Verna Dittus, Bill Nitschke, Raymond Burkle, chairman, Alvina Burkle, Loretta Schultz, Debbie Holmstrom, Florence Radke, Mavis Weisphenning, Gladys Wittmeyer, Lucille Munsch, Arlene Rudolph, Ella Kleingartner. Not pictured: Esther Harr, Morris J. Holman.] [picture: ADVERTISING COMMITTEE. Bernice Hahne, Frances Janke, Chairman.] [picture: PARADE COMMITTEE. Raymond Schlecht, chairman, Florence Schlecht, Rodney Buchholz, Stanley Meidinger, Darwin Rudolph.] [picture: DANCE AND ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE. Loren Krueger, Willy Hahne, Howard Schultz, chairman, Lorenze Lautt, Henry Jonas.] [picture: GAMES AND SPORTS COMMITTEE. Arvin Janke, chairman, Archie Hoffman, Walter Kleingartner, Willy Hahne.] [picture: JUBILEE QUEEN COMMITTEE. Leona Janke, Kahty Fick, Linda Schultz, Joan Hehr.] [picture: ANTIQUE COMMITTEE. Arnold Lautt, Fred Geiszler, Larry Ruff.] [picture: DRESS COMMITTEE. Sharon Ruff, chairman, Roxanne Krueger, Lorraine Geiszler, Ida Wolf.] [picture: BEARD COMMITTEE. Harvey Fiechtner, Ervin Wolf, chairman, Rodney Buchholz.] [picture: PROGRAM COMMITTEE. Raymond Schlecht, Ralph Schultz, Arvin Janke, John Fick, chairman.] [picture: FOOD AND CONCESSIONS COMMITTEE. Betty hahne, Luella Wolf, chairman. Not pictured: Katie Haag.] OUR MAYOR ROLAND JANKE [picture] In grateful recognition for his loyal and dedicated service to city government. Alderman 1963-1978. Mayor 1978-Ensuing term. ANCESTRY In order to obtain a clearer picture and a better understanding of why many of the early settlers of the Fredonia community left Europe and settled in this part of our state and country, one must reach back into the culture, tradition and history of these people and their respective lands. Many of the early pioneers came from an area known as Bessarabia, South Russia; others came from Finland, Sweden, Norway, Germany and other countries. Since the Fredonia community is predominantly of German ancestry, we will focus our attention on why they left their native land and migrated to South Russia and subsequently to the United States. First, we must distinguish between two groups: the urban German element and the predominantly rural, agricultural population. The former was composed extensively of the higher classes (craftsmen, merchants, engineers, officers) who did not relinquish their citizenship and stayed in Russia for a required time or were partially naturalized and learned to speak the Russian language. The latter was a much larger group that emerged by the invitation and the organized agreement of settlement planned and directed by the Russian czars between 1763 and 1824. These people had an agricultural background and were predominantly rural with craftsmen in the cities and villages. The first group to leave their native Germany and migrate to South Russia was known as the Volga Colonies which was made up of thousands of professional citizens desired by the Russian government plus drifters, dreamers, aged, bankrupt and socially displaced people that the German government would permit to depart from the country. Otherwise, the government imposed severe limitations on the migration movement in the colonies. These colonies were needed to build towns and to establish a genuine state, an army, and a modern administration in territories that the Turkish government had handed over to the Russians at the peace treaty of Jassy in 1792, including all areas from Astrakhan to the river Dnieper. The Taters (land lords) in the area declined to submit to Russian authority so the Germans were brought into the region as Tater-tamers. Suebi (Schwaben) people (protestants) from the south and southwest part of Germany engaged in disagreements with their government and church leaders when King Frederick I intended to unite all protestants by forcefully introducing a new hymn book and a less conservative book of worship. For reasons of their own, they resented and opposed both books. They organized protests against the church and state. This often resulted in refusing to cooperate with demands of the authority. Persecutions and arrests followed. During this time, dire political events were shaping up. Napoleon had conquered Wuerttemberg (Schwabenland) and needed more soldiers for his Pan- European conquest. The separatistic lay movement began to stress what the New Testament said about the end of the world. And as Napoleon's armies swept over the lands and because of the predicted coming of the Millennium in the year 1836, the people were strengthened in their belief that the era of Anti-Christ had indeed arrived. The Manifesto (declaration of the Russian government), in conjunction with the unpleasant