Building and Leaving Borosenko: the Diary of Abraham F

Building and Leaving Borosenko: The Diary of Abraham F. Reimer 1 January 1870 – 10 April 1874

Translated by Steve Fast Revised 12 November 2018 i

Introduction As the new year of 1870 dawned across southern Russia, Borosenko Colony was a bustling collection of Mennonite villages that were springing up from the broad steppe. Families were improving their homes and planting gardens, and farmers were building new barns and breaking farmland. Borosenko had only existed for about five years, but it held great promise for its settlers. Nearly all of the settlers in Borosenko Colony came from Molotschna Colony, where two thirds of the families had no farm but instead worked as impoverished laborers for fellow Mennonites. The Mennonite church leaders colluded with the colony administrators to keep young families off of new farms and to rent the resulting vacant land to themselves. However, the Kleine Gemeinde (KG), a breakaway group of Mennonites in Molotschna Colony was different. Its leaders had initially Figure 1 Europe in 1870, showing the location of loaned money to young families to buy farms; but Mennonite settlements in Russia. by 1860, the available land in the Molotschna Colony was running out. The KG tried to solve the problem by renting land and forming the Markusland Colony 70 miles (110km) north of Molotschna in 1863.1 For various reasons, the KG abandoned Markusland in about 1865, and acquired 16,500 acres (6500 ha) of land from a nobleman named Borosenko.2 The new Borosenko Colony was located 90 miles (150 km) northwest of Molotschna. New KG families from Molotschna continued joining the colony until late 1872 and buying and renting more land. The colony grew and became the center of KG life. The second motivation for forming Borosenko was to develop an independent base for KG life. The Kleine Gemeinde had been derisively nicknamed the “Small Congregation” by the majority Mennonite church when they separated from it in 1812. Although they were eventually accepted on more or less equal terms, the Grosse Gemeinde controlled the colony administration. The KG attended different worship services and held more strictly to original Anabaptist beliefs, so there was ongoing tension between the two groups. Forming a new settlement at Borosenko enabled them to bring their mass of members together in one area, although a KG congregation also continued in Molotschna. The Kleine Gemeinde had separated from the main Mennonite church in Russia in 1812 over a number of issues but most importantly whether Mennonites should participate in enforcing civil and criminal punishments against fellow Mennonites. Abraham’s father, Klaas E. Reimer, had been a leader of the breakaway group and was its elder until he died in 1837, when Abraham was 29 years

Front cover: Market square in Nikopol’ at the beginning of the 20th century, where Abraham Reimer sold grain and bought many curiosities. Source: ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Никополь_(Днепропетровская_область). 1 D. Plett, “Markuslandt, Andreasfeld,” Preservings (Steinbach, Manitoba) 17 (December 2000): 91. 2 Rudy P. Friesen, Building on the Past: Mennonite Architecture, Landscape, and Settlements in Russia/Ukraine (Winnipeg: Raduga, 2004): 441. ii

old. At first the KG was ostracized from general Mennonite life, but gradually and with Johann Cornies’ (1789-1848) help, it gained recognition from fellow Mennonites and the Russian government. Several traits set the KG apart from the rest of the Mennonites in south Russia: they refused to detain or criminally punish fellow Mennonites who had broken the law, they strictly excommunicated fellow believers (and often family members) who had sinned but refused to repent, their ministers did not take advantage of their exemption from road and other work details, they valued the early Dutch Anabaptist leaders and writings, and they made sure that their young families had farm land. The KG also had an unfortunate tendency to split. In the 1860s, there had been a severe split over church discipline issues. Even though these issues were healed, two congregations of KG developed in Borosenko, one based at Heubuden and the other called the Blumenhof congregation (later meeting in a new school/church building at Grünfeld).3 The Abraham Reimers were members of the

Figure 2 Map of modern-day southern Ukraine (then southern Russia) showing the key places mentioned in the diary. Source: Google Maps with author’s modifications.

3 Harold S. Bender, “Kleine Gemeinde,” Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online, accessed 14 October 2018, online at https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Kleine_gemeinde, although written from a perspective hostile to the KG. iii

latter. There were also KG in Crimea, led by Elder Jacob Wiebe (1836-1921). Probably due to distance, the Crimea group gradually separated and in 1869 organized the Krimmer Mennonite Brethren. But the KMB and the KG kept close relations at least until 1874, when the KG emigrated to Manitoba and Nebraska. The KMB emigrated separately to Marion County, Kansas, in 1874. The Diarist As Abraham F. Reimer (1808-1892) sat down to record his thoughts on that first, cold and cloudy Thursday of 1870, he noted things that would become themes throughout his diary – the worship service in Rosenfeld to dedicate the new year to God, the weather, a cow calving on his farm, and his daughter preparing to give birth to a child. He was 61 years old and about to retire from his farming and turn it over to his sons. He had been born in 1808 in the village of Tiege, Molotschna, to Klaas E. Reimer (1770-1837) and Helena von Riesen (1787-1846). His father Klaas had been one of the founders of the KG in 1812, and was its leading elder until he died in 1837.4 Abraham married Elisabeth Rempel (1814-1893) in 1835 in the village of Lichtfelde at her parents’ home, when he was 27 and she was 20.5 Although they then lived in the village of Rosenort, he Figure 3 First page of the Abraham F. Reimer diary. probably did not own a farm there as he is not on the voters lists compiled between 1847 and 1862.6 He was supported financially by the KG congregation from 1847-1858.7 So he was surely glad for the chance to move to Borosenko in the mid-1860s to buy a farm.

4 Entries for Abraham Reimer #3945, Klaas E. Reimer #3944, Helena von Riesen #3596, Genealogical Registry and Database of Mennonite Ancestry, CD-ROM version 6 (Fresno: California Mennonite Historical Society). 5 Entry for Elisabeth Rempel #3955, GRanDMA. 6 Glenn H. Penner, “Molotschna Colony Voter Lists: 1847, 1850, 1857 and 1862,” Russian Mennonite Genealogical Resources, accessed 14 October 2018, online at http://mennonitegenealogy.com/russia/Molotschna_1847_to_1862_Voters.pdf. 7 Delbert F. Plett, Saints and Sinners: The Kleine Gemeinde in Imperial Russia, 1812 to 1875 (Steinbach: Crossway Publications, 1999) 248. iv

Figure 4 Ancestry chart of Abraham Reimer. The Jacob Wiebe and Elisabeth Walde lines extend back for generations that are not shown. Family By 1870, Abraham and Elisabeth Reimer had been married for 34 years and had eight children, all of whom had survived to adulthood. And those children had blessed them with eighteen grandchildren. Sixteen grandchildren were added during the period of the diary. His sister Helena, a daughter-in-law Elisabeth (Friesen) Reimer, and three grandchildren died during the period covered by the diary. Seven of his children also lived in Borosenko Colony, so he enjoyed a large and close-knit family. During the period covered by the diary, Abraham and Elisabeth Reimer lived in the village of Steinbach, Borosenko Colony. Their oldest son Klaas (32 years old at the beginning of the diary, 1837-1906) and his wife Katharina Willms lived in the same village with six children ranging in age from 2 to 11 years. Klaas was a blacksmith and would become a business leader of the Steinbach village in Manitoba. Their daughter Helena (31 years old, b. 1839) had married Heinrich Hildebrandt and lived in Molotschna Colony with their one daughter. Son Abraham (28 years old, 1841-1891) was married to his second wife Maria Reimer and lived in the village of Blumenhof, about 7 miles (12km) southeast, with their six children. Daughter Elisabeth (26 years old, 1843-1918) was married to Peter Toews and lived in Rosenfeld, about 6 miles (9km) east, with their four children. Son Peter (24 years old, 1845-1915) had just married Elisabeth Friesen and had no children yet. They also lived in Steinbach. Son Johann (21 years old, 1848-1918) had married Anna Warkentin seven months before and also lived in Rosenfeld and had no children yet. Daughter Katharina (19 years old, 1850-1912) had married Abraham Friesen. They lived in Rosenfeld and had one son, but they would move to Steinbach in 1872. Finally, daughter Margaretha (17 years old, 1852-1920) had married Abraham Penner five months before. They lived in Rosenfeld and had no children yet. v

Figure 5 Map of Borosenko Colony. Source: Friesen 440. The translator does not believe that Grünfeld is correctly located. The KG Blumenhof congregation built a school and church building in Grünfeld, so it would have been centrally located and not 15 miles north of the rest of the colony. The Blumenhof’ congregation had met in Rosenfeld and Steinbach before building the new meeting place, so Grünfeld must have been located between the two of them.

Abraham was close to his younger brother Klaas F. Reimer (1812-1874). Klaas F. was a successful farmer, in contrast to Abraham, and lived in Tiege, Molotschna, until the spring of 1871, when he moved to Blumenhof, Borosenko, where he established a farm. They visited each other frequently. vi

Klaas became sick in December 1873, and decided not to emigrate. He died in Russia in October 1874. Farming Mennonite villages in Russia consisted of a central lane with a couple dozen identical farmyards arranged neatly on both sides of the lane. The house-barns were built on a similar pattern and faced the street. The farm land was distributed around the village. Since the farmyards were close together, there was little privacy in a village. But neighbors were close at hand for visiting, fellowship, and help when needed.

In 19th century Russia, the Mennonite ideal was to be a farmer – even those who had other trades were still primarily farmers. And those who did not own farms aspired to own one. Farming was seen as the most spiritual profession because a farmer had to trust God to provide rain and sun, in the proper amounts and at the proper times, for a crop. Planting was an act of faith, and harvesting was the main way to receive a blessing from God. Work and faith were linked in the most direct way possible.

Figure 6 Reaping with a cradle scythe. The main crop the Mennonites planted was spring wheat. They planted wheat in March or April, as soon as morning temperatures crept Figure 7 Threshing. A horse pulling a threshing stone is visible in above freezing. They also planted rye, oats, and the background. millet in spring and barley in late fall. The harvest would start in June and continue until August. The grain was reaped with a cradle scythe, tied into sheaves, and stacked in shocks to dry to the proper moisture. Once the grain was ready, it was threshed with a threshing stone pulled by a horse or an ox. After that it was winnowed with a winnowing fork to separate the chaff from the grain, although the Borosenko Mennonites were just starting to use a fanning mill to clean it in the 1870s. Finally, it was bagged and ready for use. Unlike their Ukrainian peasant neighbors who practiced subsistence agriculture, Mennonites participated in the cash economy. They hauled grain to market, mainly to Nikopol’ but also to other towns, to sell for cash. Grain that they would use on their own farm was stored in the loft over the house or taken to the village windmill to be ground into flour. It was November before the last grain was hauled into the attic – harvest was a laborious process. Mennonites worked very hard to get their harvest underway before their Ukrainian neighbors so that they could sell grain in the Nikopol’ market while the price was still high. This meant plowing and sowing in early spring while it was only a degree or two above freezing to get the grain growing vii

as soon as possible. And reaping, threshing, and winnowing as fast as possible once the crops were ready. Mennonites respected hard work. They also hired Ukrainian laborers (they called them

Russians) to work in their fields for cash, especially during harvest, so that they could finish quickly. Planting gardens and flowers was also important to Mennonites. They grew all the vegetables that they would eat throughout the year. In summer they canned, pickled, and salted as much as possible to have fruits and vegetables to eat in winter. Melons, both cantaloupes and especially watermelons, were favorite Mennonite crops; but Abraham Reimer also mentions planting bushels of seed potatoes and picking cucumbers and green beans. Hog butchering in late fall was an important event. Once temperatures dropped below freezing, extended families and friends would gather to butcher several hogs. It was a lot of work to skin and cut up the hogs, render the lard and cracklings, and salt and can the meat. But butchering provided them with pork to eat throughout the year and lard to cook with. And it was a wonderful social event as well. Major Events in the Diary Three major events occur during the period of the diary, which covers 1 January 1870 – 10 April 1874. One was the smallpox epidemic of April – July 1873, which caused much suffering and claimed many lives. Mennonites had vaccinated for smallpox in the early 1800s in Russia, so it is not clear why there should have been an epidemic. Second, in 1871, the Russian government revoked the Mennonite Privilegium that guaranteed Mennonite exemption from military service, among many other privileges. This was part of the series of social reforms that Emperor Aleksandr II (1818-1881, reigned 1855-1881) carried out in the wake of the humiliating defeat in the Crimean War (1853-1856). Mennonites made several attempts to negotiate with the Emperor and senior officials, but these were all unsuccessful. Ultimately, in early 1873, the Mennonites appointed twelve delegates to go to North America to determine if it was a suitable destination for emigration and to select possible land. The two KG delegates were Cornelius Toews (1836-1908) from the Blumenhof congregation and David Klassen (1813-1900) from the Heubuden congregation. Finally, the preparation for emigration occupied the last months of 1873 and beginning of 1874. The KG sold farms, barns, and houses that they had been building and improving since moving to Borosenko only nine years before. They auctioned their livestock and personal possessions, often at a great loss, in order to stay true to their faith. They collected money to defray the expenses of the delegates’ travel and to help poorer members emigrate. And they squeezed into the remaining homes, barns, and schools as the buyers took possession of their farms while they awaited the passports that would allow them to emigrate. The church had decided that all members must emigrate as their spiritual duty, and virtually all did so. About one thousand members emigrated to Manitoba and several hundred to Nebraska. They departed in about June 1874, and arrived in North America in July and August. Reimer also mentions a couple interesting international events. The first was a massive solar storm that resulted in a stunning aurora borealis on 13-14 October 1870 (old style), which was recorded around the world.8 Second, in February 1872, his brother Klaas told him of a huge outbreak of fires

8 Space Weather Newspaper Archives, Solar Storms.org, accessed 14 October 2018, online http://www.solarstorms.org/SRefStorms.html viii

that had occurred in the United States on 8 October 1871, which included the Great Chicago Fire, the Great Michigan Fire, and the Great Peshtigo Fire, and which resulted in the deaths of 1500-2000 people. Both of these events remind us that the Mennonites were connected to world events, even on the Russian steppe. How To Read a Diary A diary can seem like a mass of unimportant details. But a diary can be a pleasure to read if the reader imagines himself in the writer’s place. Trying to understand what the writer did and felt can make it come alive. It can also be helpful to pick a few questions to keep in mind as one reads the diary. For example, “What was Abraham Reimer’s relationship to God and the church?” “Who were his closest friends?” “What did he enjoy doing in his spare time?” “To which family members was he closest?” “What skills did he possess?” The potential questions are endless. It is also instructive to pay attention to what Reimer thinks is important. For instance, he carefully records temperatures, wind, clouds, and precipitation daily. Most people living in the early twenty- first century are not so attuned to the weather. But Reimer was a farmer to whom the weather mattered greatly. Also, he records the details of sicknesses and trips to nearby towns, which might not seem so important today. On the other hand, he records nothing about Russian or even local politics or international affairs, all topics that would surely feature prominently in a modern diary. What other themes does he write about that a contemporary diarist would ignore or vice versa? The Writing Process This diary appears to be his first one, or at least the first one after a long break. The book is a blank, unlined copybook with signatures stitched together and not a pre-printed diary, so one would not expect him to begin on the first day of the year if he were continuing from a previous volume. The diary begins on 1 January 1870, which makes one suspect that diary keeping is a new project for him. He also improves the format of his entries, particularly the temperature readings, over the first several months until he eventually arrives at a standard format, which makes one think that this was probably the beginning of his diary keeping. Finally, it becomes clear that he has retired from farming during the winter of 1869-1870 because he and his wife had their auction on 30 June 1870. Retirement would be a natural point to begin keeping a diary. Reimer must have kept notes for several days at a time and then copied them neatly into his diary. Once in a while he writes something on the wrong date, crosses it out, and writes it on a different date. He also notes once in a while that something would continue until a future date. Finally, he often records temperatures and weather observations from other villages – it seems unlikely that he would have known these the same day that they occurred. So he must have jotted them down as learned of them and recorded them on the proper day. Translation Notes Most of the manuscript is fairly easy to read. However, Abraham Reimer allowed an equal amount of space for each day, so sometimes he crams two or three lines into the space of one, abbreviates words, or leaves out words to fit everything in. These sentences can be very difficult to read. The first thirteen pages are also water damaged, which makes parts of them difficult to read. Reimer also uses quite a bit of humor in his diary, and I fear that my knowledge of German is too limited to understand and translate all the humor. ix

While the original is written in High German, Reimer mixes in some Low German and even a few Russian words. Words in [brackets] are additional words that I added that are implied by the context. Words in italics are in the German original and used when I am not sure of the meaning, when the original has multiple meanings, or for obsolete measurements. Whole sentences in italics are written in italics in the original, and I am not sure why. Words in bold were written in blue ink in the original. Most measurements are obsolete Russian units of measure that were used in the Russian Empire but abolished in 1925 when the Soviet Union adopted the metric system. A few obsolete German units of measure are also used. I have explained the unit of measure in a footnote the first time it appears in the text with US and metric equivalents. In subsequent occurrences, I put the US equivalent in brackets in the text. Dates in the diary use the old-style or Julian calendar, except for the few events that occurred in the West. Until 1918, Russia used the Julian calendar, so during the period of the diary, dates are twelve days behind their Gregorian, or new-style, equivalents used in the West. For example, 1 January in the diary would fall on the same day as 13 January in the West. I have identified as many of the cities and villages as I could with footnotes in the text. However, I have not been able to identify a number of Russian villages. When Reimer writes “here” in the diary, he refers to his home village of Steinbach. Steinbach was founded in 1865 on the Buzuluk River and had perhaps a couple dozen Mennonite families. It was the first village in Borosenko and consisted of families originally from Molotschna. It was destroyed by heavy fighting during the German army’s retreat through the area in World War II and no longer exists. Married women are called by their husband’s name because it was an honor to be married. For example, in the diary Reimer almost always calls his daughter Katharina “Mrs. Abraham Friesen,” (die Abr: Friesche). Unmarried boys and girls are called by their father’s name, regardless of their age. So Abraham Reimer’s nephew Heinrich is usually called “Klaas Reimer’s Heinrich.” Some men are called “old” or “young” to distinguish them from another man with the same name. This does not mean that they were literally old or young, just older or younger than the other man. As was Mennonite custom, Reimer divided the day into morning, forenoon, noon, afternoon, late afternoon, evening, and night. When he writes the German word Vesper, I have translated it as either “late afternoon” or “faspa,” depending on the context. Faspa was a cold supper that Mennonites traditionally ate in the late afternoon or early evening, especially on Sundays or holidays and during harvest. Reimer used the Réaumur temperature scale for his daily temperature measurements. It was developed by the Frenchman René Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur (1683-1757) in 1730. On that scale water freezes at zero degrees and boils at eighty degrees. It was commonly used in Russia into the early 20th century and by older Mennonites in North America into the middle of the 20th century. I have put Reimer’s Réaumur temperature recordings in the text and the Fahrenheit equivalent in brackets. x

Reimer often abbreviates surnames, so then it is difficult to tell if only the husband or both husband and wife are doing something. For example, when he writes “Abr: Penn:,” does that mean Abraham Penner or Abraham Penners? I have written the plural when it was obvious the wife was included, but otherwise I have left it up to the reader to guess. Lists of all the personal names and vital events occurring in the diary are included in appendices as an aid to genealogical research. Numbers after names in the footnotes refer to the Grandma database of Mennonite genealogy (www.grandmaonline.org). I benefited greatly from a rough draft translation by Reverend Ben Hoeppner, Winnipeg, Manitoba; but all errors are my own. Many thanks are due to Royden Loewen, Steinbach, professor at University of Winnipeg, for supplying the rough draft translation and pointing me to the location of the original in the Mennonite Heritage Archives in Winnipeg. Conrad Stoesz, MHA Archivist and his team kindly provided scans of the diary for translation. Thanks to Conrad and to Glenn Penner for their comments on the introduction. Dedicated to the glory of God and in gratitude for generations of ancestors who have faithfully followed him and passed on a great spiritual legacy. Translated by Steve Fast, Hillsboro, Kansas, 2 November 2018, revised 12 November 2018. Abraham Reimer is the translator’s great-great-great-uncle. Comments and corrections are welcome at [email protected]. Source: Abraham F. Reimer #3945 (1808-1892) diary, Steinbach, Borosenko Colony, South Russia, 1870-1874, Mennonite Heritage Archives, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Kleine Gemeinde collection, vol. 5907, item 4. 1

Abraham F. Reimer Diary New Year January 1870, [Page 1] 1. Thur. The worship service was in Rosenfeld. Cloudy, 0 degrees [32°F.]. A cow calved. Had one calf. In the morning Mrs. Abraham Friesen1 was gotten from Rosenfeld to Klaas Reimers2 place. Brought the children here. 2. Fri. The old Mrs. Abraham Friesen was gotten again in the morning. Toward noon they got my wife3 from Toews4 to Klaas Reimers. At 4:30 a son, Johann,5 was born. My wife has fever. 3. Sat. Cloudy, wind, −1 degree [30°F.], snowed some. Mrs. Abraham Friesen came home. Dietrich6 has not been boarding here since the old year and for the 5 days of Christmas. 4. Sun. We were at Klaas Reimers to have shoes repaired [?]. Cloudy, −3 degrees [25° F.], evening east wind. My wife had pain ______. 5. Mon. Still cloudy, day +6 degrees [46° F.]. My wife has fever. The children Abraham Friesens7 came for the night. 6. Tues. Epiphany. Service was here.8 Day +1 degree [34° F.]. Jacob Toews9 of Blumenhof were in the service. Abraham Friesens were here. [?] 7. Wed. Today gathered at our Peter Reimers10 for a singing festival. The old Penners11[?] were there. Partly cloudy, morning it was −2 to −3 degrees [25-28° F.], day _____.

1 Helena Siemens #3759 (1812-1888), wife of Abraham Johann Friesen #3751 (1807-1891), who was his cousin and a minister in the Kleine Gemeinde. 2 His oldest son Klaas Reimer #3956 (1837-1906) and wife Katharina Willms #3957 (1836-1875). 3 Elisabeth Rempel #3955 (1814-1893). 4 Peter Toews #3964 (1839-1882) and their daughter Elisabeth Reimer #3963 (1843-1918). 5 Johann W. Reimer #6518 (1870-1941). 6 Dietrich Friesen #4030 (1849-1901) was a first cousin once removed to Abraham Reimer and became a schoolteacher in Rosenfeld. As we will see later in the diary, he was staying with the Reimers so that he could court a girl in Annafeld and soon joined the Kleine Gemeinde. 7 Abraham Friesen #3767 (1848-1916) and his daughter Katharina R. Reimer #3768 (1850-1912). 8 Epiphany, the celebration of the wise men coming to baby Jesus, marks the end of the traditional Christmas season and was an important observance for Mennonites, including a worship service. 9 Jacob Cornelius Toews #5567 (1805-1873) and Anna Wiebe #5749 (1801-1881). His son Jacob Toews #5754 (1836-1920) had a child born in Neuanlage, and he was a generation younger than the diarist, so this Jacob Toews was most likely his father. 10 His son Peter Reimer #3771 (1845-1915) and Elisabeth Friesen #3770 (1849-1873). 11 Peter Penner #3970 (1816-1884) and his third wife Elisabeth Harder #410404 (1833-1870). 2

8. Thur. Somewhat muddy. Jacob Barkman1 came here from Waldheim, Molotschna, to Peter Friesens2 and brought Johann Reimers3 their 165 rubles of capital. 9. Fri. Our children the young Penners4 came for the night. Had some sunshine, mild, some wind, −5 degrees [21° F.], snowed some. All the people and ______. 10. Sat. We first heard that Johann Reimers got their money. Jacob Barkman was brought here and said that the money came from Molotschna, and Jacob Toews of Blumenhof were here for night. 11. Sun. Abraham Reimers5 came here from Blumenhof. It was −5 degrees [21° F.], with snow during the night. Four Jews were here for the night. 12. Mon. Johann went to Nikopol’6 with some wheat and barley for the teacher. It was clear and mild. Had sleigh road. ______. 13. Tues. Johann came back from Nikopol’ with 7.50 rubles. Wheat was worth 7.15 rubles and barley was worth 3 rubles 30 kopecks, oats were worth 3 rubles. Was 3 rubles ______. 14. Wed. –7 degrees [16° F.], clear, wind. Jacob Barkman went home today. My wife is sick with fever. Johann brought 6 chetvertei7 [about 1360 pounds] of flour from Nikopol’. 15. Thurs. Early –7 degrees [16° F.], day –1 degree [30° F.]. Two Jews were here for the night. It was cold and clear. 16. Fri. Morning −____ degrees [__° F.], 8 o’clock in the evening –8 degrees [14° F.] quite a bit of frost. ______. January 1870, Page 2 17. Sat. Morning –16 degrees [−4° F.], evening –13 degrees [3° F.], completely calm, no wind. My wife had fever. 18. Sun. The service was in Rosenfeld. Morning –15 degrees [−2° F.]. No one from the village was in the service. Mrs. Peter Friesen8 died in Tiege at 11:30 at night. 19. Mon. Early –18 degrees [−8° F.], noon –11 degrees [7° F.], evening –16 degrees [−4° F.], very calm, clear. Abraham Reimer of Blumenhof was here and also Abraham Friesen of Rosenfeld. Johann brought the carpenter’s bench into the corner room. 20. Tues. –17 degrees [−6° F.]. My wife again had a high fever, longer and more severe.

1 Jacob Jacob Barkman #6424 (1794-1875). 2 Peter Friesen #3674 (1838-1900) and Elisabeth Barkman #3675 (1841-1917). 3 Son Johann Reimer #3966 (1848-1918) and Anna Warkentin #3099 (1844-1880). 4 Abraham Penner #3970 (1847-1918) and daughter Margaretha R. Reimer #3969 (1852-1920). 5 Son Abraham Reimer #3852 (1841-1891) and his second wife Maria Reimer #3851 (1847-1916). 6 Nikopol’ was the nearest town to Borosenko Colony, In 1865, it had a population of 7600. It was located about 25 miles southeast of Steinbach on the Dnepr’ River. It was the main town where the Mennonites sold their grain and bought manufactured goods. 7 A chetvert’ was a Russian unit of dry volume that contained about 5.96 US bushels, 210 liters, or 55.5 gallons. 8 His sister Helena Reimer #3706 (1817-1870). 3

21. Wed. Early −20½ degrees [−14° F.]. Johann made on the kav[?] Noon −15 degrees [−2° F.], evening −17 degrees [−6° F.] 22. Thur. Morning –21 degrees [−15° F.], noon–15½ degrees [−3° F.], evening –18 degrees [−8° F.], fairly calm, clear. Dietrich got his bedstead from Peter Reimers. 23. Fri. Morning –22 degrees [−18° F.], noon –18 degrees [−8° F.], evening –21 degrees [−15° F.]. Mrs. Peter Friesen was buried in Tiege. My wife has fever but less. The Russian has slept 2 nights in the room. 24. Sat. Morning –23 degrees [−20° F.], noon windy, −18 [−8° F.], evening –21 degrees [−15° F.]. In Nikolaithal it is reported to have been –25 degrees [−24° F.] 25. Sun. Morning –21 degrees [−15° F.], noon –15 degrees [−2° F.]. Had no service. But it is fairly clear, north wind. At this time we expect money from Penner1 of Ebenfeld. 26. Mon. Morning –19 degrees [−11° F.], noon −15 [−2° F.], evening –20 degrees [−13° F.]. In the morning we had six large sun dogs also with 4 small sun dogs and a ring over half the horizon.2 27. Tues. Morning –25 degrees [−24° F.],3 noon –14 degrees [0° F.], evening −22 degrees [−18° F.]. The younger Penners of Rosenfeld were here and also at the Toewses. The Russian came again. 28. Wed. Early −25½ degrees [−25° F.], noon –14 degrees [0° F.], clear, very calm, evening –21 degrees [−15° F.]. Our Klaas Reimer prepared 1 ______and oven ______.[?] 29. Thur. Morning –19 degrees [−11° F.], windy, partly cloudy, day –8 degrees [14° F.], evening –11 degrees [7° F.]. Later my wife had fever at 7 o’clock in the evening for a little while. 30. Fri. −8 degrees [14° F.], clear, strong east wind, cloudy. On the land ______, day −2 degrees [28° F.]. Heinrich Brandt4, the teacher, and Johann went to get oats for Klaas Reimer and Peter Reimer. 31. Sat. Morning −7 degrees [16° F.], strong wind blowing with snow until noon, day −4 degrees [23° F.]. They returned from Nikopol’. Johann brought the funeral letter from Mrs. Peter Friesen. [February 1870], Page 3 February has 28 days.

1 Not identified. 2 Sun dogs, technically called parhelia, are visible whenever there are ice crystals in the atmosphere that refract sunlight. They are more often visible when the sun is low, the temperature is cold, and the air is dry. In good conditions, which must have prevailed that day, one can see several arcs or brightenings in the sky caused by various refractions and reflections within the ice crystals. Reimer must have seen an amazing display of parhelia as well as half of the parhelic circle, which on occasion can extend all the way around the horizon at the level of the sun. 3 The official record low temperature for Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, the nearest large city, is -29° C. [-20° F.]. So clearly several days of temperatures this low were extraordinary. 4 Heinrich Brandt #5931 (1838-1909). 4

1. Sun. Peter Friesen1 of Tiege was here. The service was here. There were 3 others here in the service. No song leader was present. It was −11 degrees [7° F.], cloudy, completely calm. My wife has fever. 2. Mon. Morning −15 degrees [−2° F.], cloudy, windy. Mrs. Abraham Reimer2 of Blumenhof was here. Sold 100 desiatin3 [269 acres] of land to the people of Heubuden and Blumenhof. 3. Tues. Morning −7 degrees [16° F.], day −5 degrees [21° F.], somewhat cloudy, windy. Peter Friesen again looking up. He was very sick three days. 4. Wed. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day 0 degrees [32° F.], cloudy, windy. Four traveling school teachers from four villages came as guests for faspa. Mrs. Johann Reimer4 went to Rosenfeld. 5. Thur. Morning −7 degrees [16° F.], cloudy. In the evening Schlichting's son came from Einlage[?]. He stayed here for the night. He had many books to sell. Klaas Reimer and Dietrich bought books. 6. Fri. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day mild, cloudy. In the afternoon the Jacob Friesens5 of Molotschna came and stayed overnight. In the afternoon the man with the books left. 7. Sat. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], noon +2 degrees [36° F.]. For dinner we all were at Klaas Brandts6 and for supper at Toews.7 In the evening and during the night my wife had fever. 8. Sun. Friesens were here for the night. Rain during the night. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.]. Rain in the morning. At noon they left. Abraham Friesens and Penners were here. 9. Mon. Morning clear, 0 degrees [32° F.], day +2 degrees [36° F.], very foggy, calm, windy, rainy. The water in the Buzuluk River8 rose some. Peter Thiessen[?] the [sic]. 10. Tues. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], rainy, windy, very foggy. In the evening a stray cat drowned in our well. My wife had fever. 11. Wed. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day up to +8 degrees [50° F.], much wind, much rain. In the evening it also rained. 12. Thur. Morning −4½ degrees [22° F.], day 0 degrees [32° F.], much wind, cold, cloudy. Prepared to go to Nikopol’. A cat drowned in our well.

1 The husband of his late sister, Peter Friesen #317211 (1815-1892). 2 His daughter-in-law Maria (Reimer) Reimer #3851 (1847-1916). 3 A desiatina is an obsolete Russian unit of land measurement equal to 2.69 acres or 1.06 ha. 4 His daughter-in-law Anna (Warkentin) Reimer #3099 (1844-1880). 5 Jacob Friesen #3992 (1822-1875) and Katharina Schierling #4029 (1820-1909). Their son Dietrich was staying with Abraham Reimers and courting a girl in a nearby village. 6 Klaas Brandt #5937 (1845-1901) and Margaretha Friesen #3897 (1838-1933). 7 This was his birthday, so they went to his daughter Elisabeth (Reimer) Toews for supper. 8 The Buzuluk River ran through Steinbach. 5

13. Fri. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day over +4 degrees [41° F.]. My wife has fever. A little sunshine. Going to Nikopol’ was cancelled. High fever, longer and more severe. My wife went to Toews. 14. Sat. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day nearly +6 degrees [46° F.], clear, calm. Yesterday my wife was at T______. The school teacher[?] came ______and stayed. Our Mrs. Toews was here. 15. Sun. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.]. Johann and the rest went to the service in Rosenfeld. Noon +6 degrees [46° F.], clear. ______. February [1870], Page 4 15. Today until 18 February had ______for dinner we had geese ______. We were all at Toewses' visiting. 16. Mon. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], noon +6 degrees [46° F.]. The children Abraham Friesens from Rosenfeld were here. Cloudy, windy. My wife has fever. 17. Tues. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], clear, wind. Again hired a Russian until Easter for 7 rubles in all. Son–in–law Abraham Friesen helped at Klaas Reimer's smithy. 18. Wed. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], clear, windy. In the morning a milk cow had a female calf. Day about +8 degrees [50° F.]. The cattle were let out [?, ausget]. 19. Thur. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.]. My wife had fever an hour sooner than usually at 5:30 in the evening. Very windy. 20. Fri. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +7½ [49° F.]. A German doctor was here. He gave tablets for 1 ruble 50 kopecks for my wife. The children of Rosenfeld were here also. 21. Sat. morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], rained often nearly all day, cloudy, rainy. Dietrich went home in the afternoon. 22. Sun. −1 degree [30° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.]. Mrs. Abraham Reimer of Blumenhof was here. Son–in–law Abraham Friesen of Rosenfeld bought a heifer from us for 2 rubles. My wife again has fever since 5 o’clock in the evening. 23. Mon. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.]. Peter Friesen plowed and planted potatoes. There was still some frost in the soil. Dietrich came home with his father. Our Reimers went to Rosenfeld to do some mangling.1 24. Tues. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +7½ degrees [49° F.]. Rain almost all day. Johann rode to Blumenort and bought a plow chain for 2 rubles. Did not do any plowing. South wind for 2 days.

1 A mangle was a large device with rollers that used a carriage loaded with heavy stones to press flat things (instead of pressing them with heat). 6

25. Wed. Morning −1½ degrees [29° F.], noon +2[?] degrees [36° F.], then 0 degrees [32° F.], heavy snow. Jacob Friesen1 from Nikolaithal went home in the morning. Evening −3½ degrees [24° F.]. 26. Thur. Morning −4½ degrees [22° F.], day 0 degrees [32° F.], evening –3½ degrees [24° F.]. Snowing almost all day, so one could go by sleigh. Peter Toews and Klaas Brandt went to Nikopol’. 27. Fri. Morning –5 degrees [21° F.]. The Toewses and Brandts came home at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. Brother–in–law Abraham Friesen was smithing at Peter Reimer’s for 2 days, in all 3 days [sic]. 28. Sat. Morning −5 degrees [21° F.], day 0 degrees [32° F.]. My wife had fever since 5 o’clock in the evening. In Heubuden on the 18th and 19th, some began to plow and to sow wheat. By the 23rd the old Harms2 had sowed 20 morgens3 [28 acres]. March 1870, Page 5 1. Sun. Morning –3 degrees [25° F.], day +2 degrees [36° F.]. The service was here. Johann Friesens4 were here on the sleigh. North wind, cloudy. All our children were here ______. 2. Mon. Morning –1 degree [30° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.]. Johann Friesens of Rosenfeld were here. Cloudy, windy, rainy. Some here are plowing, meadow. On 28 February made butter for the first time.5 3. Tues. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], rain almost all day, north wind. My wife had fever sooner than usually. She laid down at 5 o’clock in the evening and ______. 4. Wed. Morning –2 degrees [28° F.], day –1 degree [30° F.], strong north wind, afternoon snowed heavily. Night strong wind, snow, and hail. 5. Thur. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day 0 degrees [32° F.]. Our Johann Reimers went to Gru nfeld to Johann Toewses.6 My wife and I went to Toewses of here. 6. Fri. Morning −1½ degrees [29° F.], day 0 degrees [32° F.]. This week it is always cloudy. A Jewish doctor was here and also Heinrich Friesen7 of Rosenfeld and our Peter Friesen. 7. Sat. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day cloudy, mostly calm. The doctor was here again and gave my wife some drops for her fever, but she had fever during the night.

1 Jacob L. Friesen #3643 (1837-1901) and Elisabeth Friesen #3644 (1840-1880). 2 Not identified. 3 A morgen was a German land measure, which the Mennonites used in Poland and Prussia and continued to use to some extent in Russia. It was equal to 1.38 acres or 0.56 hectares. 4 Johann Friesen #2608 (1808-1872) and his third wife Elizabeth Klassen #3774 (1837-1871). 5 Many farmers dry off, or stop milking, their cows in winter; so the Reimers had probably been without butter for a couple months. He would have enjoyed the taste of fresh, homemade butter again. 6 Johann Toews #3761 (1826-1895) and his second wife Anna Warkentin #5618 (1830-1900). 7 Probably Heinrich Friesen #3672 (1836-1900) and Helena Friesen #3640 (1835-1911). 7

8. Sun. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], day 0 degrees [32° F.]. Had many guests from Ru ckenau. Brother-in-law Martin Barkman1 was here with the Abraham Reimers2 from Heubuden and the children from Rosenfeld. 9. Mon. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], snowed in the forenoon, day 0 degrees [32° F.]. My wife got her fever sooner at 4:30. She lay down at 5. She was freezing. Were at Peter Toewses. The Jewish doctor gave some medicine. 10. Tues. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], day 0 degrees [32° F.], cloudy, north wind with snow at noon. Klaas Reimer and Peter Reimer went to Gru nfeld to Johann Toewses for Dietrich. 11. Wed. Morning −2½ degrees [26° F.], cloudy, cold north wind, day +2 degrees [28° F.], evening snow and rain. Our sorrel mare started to foal. Had a brown _____ foaled. I bought my wife glasses from a Jew. 12. Thur. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], very cloudy. Johann planted the meadow, as did many in the village. Johann helped surveying land. My wife has fever. She was at Toewses. 13. Fri. It was 0 degrees [32° F.], day +1½ degrees [35° F.], some snow and rainy, cloudy. Planted oats.[?] Heinrich Brandt sowed oats on his farmyard. Two were seeding wheat. I had ______. 14. Sat. It was 0 degrees [32° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.], snow, sun, cold north wind. All our children of Rosenfeld were here visiting. Plowed in the afternoon. In the evening it was still very difficult. 15. Sun. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], a little rain, cloudy, windy. The service was in Rosenfeld. Johann Reimers, Brandts, and Klaas Reimers were there. My wife had fever at 11. 16. Mon. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.]. Abraham Reimers of Blumenfeld,3 were here. Rainy, cloudy, muddy. We plowed the farmyard, the meadow, and the ______March [1870], Page 6 17. Tues. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.]. The people plowed here. Cloudy. Many are planting rye. 18. Wed. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], later +4 [41° F.]. Seeded wheat. Mrs. Klaas Reimer ran away into the fields.4 She was 5 verst5 [3 miles] away when she was found. 19. Thur. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +3½ degrees [40° F.], cloudy, cold wind. Here almost everyone was plowing and seeding wheat.

1 Martin Barkman #3982 (1821-1894). 2 His nephew Abraham Reimer #3721 and Anna Eidse #3722 (1843-1922). 3 Possibly Abraham R. Reimer #513459 (1850-1930) and Aganetha Graewe #95066 (1850-1930). 4 There are some indications in the diary that his son Klaas Reimer and his wife Katharina Willms had a tense relationship. 5 A versta is an old Russian measurement of distance, equal to 0.66 miles or 1.1 km. 8

20. Fri. Morning it was +2 degrees [36° F.], cold north wind, at noon and all day +6 degrees [46° F.]. Mrs. Cornelius Friesen1 was here visiting. My wife was a little better. 21. Sat. Morning +½ degree [33° F.], day +6½ degrees [47° F.]. My wife had fever, lay down at 4:30, and vomited badly at 11 o’clock. 22. Sun. Morning –1 degree [30° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.]. We have seeded 12 morgens [17 acres] of wheat and total 15 morgens [21 acres]. The service was at Siemens.2 Peter Reimers, Johann Reimers, and Penner attended. 23. Mon. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.]. Elder Wiebe3 and the younger Cornelius Enns4 from Crimea were here and at Siemens in the service. Cold, snowing during the late afternoon. 24. Tues. Morning nice −1½ degrees [29° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], strong north wind during the evening with some rain. He5 had gone home and stayed 2 days with his parents. In the evening he returned. 25. Wed. Morning −1 degree [30° F.]. In the morning it snowed a lot and everything was white, day +5½ degrees [44° F.]. In the forenoon Peter came here with Dietrich. They had spent the night in Rosenfeld. He had gone to Rosenfeld on Monday. 26. Thur. Morning −3½ degrees [24° F.], day +6½ degrees [47° F.], strong north wind, cold. Some finished seeding their wheat. 27. Fri. Morning −1½ degrees [29° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.].Boldly [an zu kühnen] started to sow some barley here. Some seeded barley and oats. My wife had fever. 28. Sat. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +11½ degrees [58° F.], cloudy, north wind. Gerhard Rempels6 of Mariawohl in Molotschna visited us in the afternoon for Dietrich. Wheat is planted. 29. Sun. Our Mrs. Johann Reimer began digging in the garden and planting vegetables on 27 March. The service was here, and all the children were here. Peter Friesen from Tiege was here too.

1 His wife’s cousin Maria Rempel #5474 (1819-1897). 2 Gerhard T. Siemens #6463 (1834-1908) and his second wife Anna Plett #6467 (1848-1873). 3 Jacob Wiebe #13273 (1836-1921) was the elder of a Kleine Gemeinde group in the Crimea. It started organically as a group of Mennonites seeking a deeper spiritual life, and in 1867 they asked to join the KG. In 1869, the members were rebaptized as a symbol of their conversion and became the Krimmer Mennonite Brethren (KMB). The KMB and KG continued close and friendly relations and probably did not see themselves as separate groups initially. But gradually they drifted apart, likely due to distance. The two groups emigrated to separate areas in North America, the KG to Manitoba and Jefferson County, Nebr., and the KMB to Marion County, Kans. 4 Corneiius Enns #193559 (1832-1879). 5 Probably Dietrich Friesen #4030 because he was staying at their house while he courted a girl in a nearby village. 6 His wife’s brother Gerhard Rempel #5849 (1816-1888) and Elisabeth Friesen #3673 (1840-1922). 9

30. Mon. Morning −3½ degrees [24° F.] but clear, calm. Johann seeded barley. During the day it was +6[?] degrees [46° F.]. Janzen1 of here did all his plowing and sowing. Fairly calm. 31. Tues. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +5½ [44° F.], cloudy, cold north wind. Peter Reimer also has finished his sowing. Johann has finished sowing his barley. April 1870, Page 7 1. Wed. Morning −1½ degrees [29° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], some north wind. We finished sowing, plowing, and harrowing. 2. Thur. Morning −4½ degrees [22° F.], day +8½ degrees [51° F.]. Planted 5 merok2 [180 pounds] of potatoes on the farmyard. Plowed the meadow for melons. Planted grain and melons. 3. Fri. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day +7½ degrees [49° F.], a little cloudy with very variable wind. At 1 o’clock it was very still and then again very windy. Johann has nearly finished planting trees in his orchard [garten].3 4. Sat. Morning −2½ degrees [26° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], very cloudy, rained some toward evening, north wind. Johann took 3 chetverti [18 bushels] barley to the settlers ______. 5. Sun. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.]. The service was in Rosenfeld. The children were also there. My [wife] had fever. On 3 April, Martin Barkmans moved from Ru ckenau to Friedensfeld. 6. Mon. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +11 degrees [57° F.], rained all around, cloudy. Dietrich sowed 1 morgen [1.4 acres] of wheat and 1 desiatina [2.7 acres] of barley. Johann was here. He and others went with wheat to Nikopol’. 4 7. Tues. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +11 degrees [57° F.], had more rain. Klaas Reimer, Toews, and Peter Reimer took wheat to Nikopol’. The wheat sold for 7 rubles 20 kopecks and in Heubuden for 9 rubles 20 kopecks. 8. Wed. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], cloudy, north wind, a little rain. Johann and Klaas Reimer and Toews came back from Nikopol’. Sold 4 chetverti [24 bushels] of wheat. 9. Thur. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], cloudy, strong wind. We slaughtered one hog at Toewses'. Had a good 3 inches [of fat]. Tipped the scale at 6.5 pudov [230 pounds].5 The cost was 20 [rubles?].

1 Cornelius Janzen #6468 (1848-1873). 2 A merka was an archaic Russian unit of weight equal to one pud, or 36.1 pounds or 16.3 kg. Also, a unit of volume equal to 6.9 gallons or 26.2 liters. It is not clear which is meant here. 3 His son Johann had married the previous June, so he was probably just establishing his homestead and farm. 4 The Mennonites were sufficiently wealthy that they could store wheat that they had harvested in summer and sell it in spring when the prices were higher. In contrast, their Ukrainian neighbors were mostly subsistence peasants who consumed most or all of what they harvested. 5 The pud is an obsolete Russian unit of weight equal to 36.1 pounds or 16.3 kg. 10

10. Fri. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], clear. Service here.1 I caught something bad on the evening of the 9th. My wife had some fever. My wife caught the fever. 11. Sat. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], clear. My wife had fever, but later at 5:30 in the evening, she [walked?] in the lane. Dietrich went home. 12. Sun. Easter. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.]. The service was in Rosenfeld. The children were there. My wife and I visited Heinrich Brandts. Peter Harmses2 were there also. In the evening Klaas Reimer3 came from Tiege and was here for the night. The brown mare foaled. ______. 13. Easter Monday. Morning it was 0 degrees [32° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.]. Service was here. Visitors from Marienthal, Molotschna, and from Ru ckenau were visiting here in the service. They were brought here for dinner and faspa. Grain has started to sprout. 14. Tues. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +17½ degrees [71° F.]. After faspa I went with brother Klaas Reimer to Gru nfeld and Blumenhof. We spent the night with Abraham Reimer. When I came home, my wife had fever. 15. Wed. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +17 degrees [70° F.]. Had a look at the grain. Most of it has sprouted. On 12 April we trimmed the horses’ hooves.4 April [1870], Page 8 16. Thur. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], +18 degrees [72° F.]. The swallows returned, the frogs started to croak, and the stork returned at the beginning of April. 17. Fri. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +18½ degrees [74° F.]. My wife had fever badly at 4:30. Strong south wind. Rain at places. 18. Sat. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.]. Strong south wind. We got fleas out of the bed. Cloudy. Siemens has planted melons and beans. Finished plowing the last meadow. 19. Sun. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.]. The children, Abraham Friesens and Penners of Rosenfeld, were here. Cloudy, rained in the evening and during the night. In the morning there was still water standing. Klaas Reimer planted melons on 15 April. 20. Mon. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day only +14 degrees [64° F.], nearly calm. Jacob Friesen of Nikolaithal came here in the forenoon. I went with him to Friedensfeld and stayed overnight at the Barkmans. The men were not at home. The old Jacob Bullers5 of Alexanderwohl were here.

1 Good Friday service. 2 Peter Johann Harms #5267 (1806-1870) and his second wife Cornelia Warkentin #5555 (1822-1892). 3 Brother Klaas F. Reimer #3719 (1812-1874) and his second wife Maria Bartel #308088 (1843-1921). 4 The date seems unlikely because 12 April was Easter Sunday. 5 Probably Jacob Buller #32903 (1827-1901) and Maria Schmidt #32968 (1832-1881). 11

21. Tues. [We] were at the new settlers Peter Friesens and Martin Barkmans1 and came to our home. Then it was +20 degrees [77° F.], clear, a little wind. They [Jacob Bullers] went home in the afternoon. The melons are starting to sprout. ______. 22. Wed. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], late afternoon +22 degrees [82° F.]. Cornelius Friesens of Annafeld were guests here. Made a cross beam [Kreuzbein]. Had trouble again with the running beam [Schlierebeine]. 23. Thur. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.]. Johann and Klaas Reimer took wheat to Nikopol for son-in-law Abraham Friesen. There the wheat brought 8 rubles 50 kopecks. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here. My wife had fever at 5:30. 24. Fri. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.]. The old Heinrich Reimers2 from Molotschna were here. Jacob Barkman3 from Friedensfeld, the orphan guardian [Waisenmann],4 was here. Went with Dietrich to Nikolaithal on dividing [the estate]. Johann Reimer came home with wood for himself. 25. Sat. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], partly cloudy, calm. Dietrich came home in the evening. On 23–24 April Peter Rempel’s son Heinrich5 stayed here overnight. 26. Sun. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.]. The service was in Rosenfeld. I had bad feet, so that I had difficulty walking. My wife had fever. 27. Mon. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.]. Dietrich rode home in the afternoon. On 22 – 23 April our sow farrowed. Had 6 [piglets]. 28. Tues. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.]. Our son Abraham Reimer with in–law Gerhard Willems6 from Crimea came here with a barrel of wine7 at noon. It rained some, and there were thunderstorms during the night and all day. 29. Wed. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.]. Brother–in–law Willems stayed here overnight. My wife had fever, although not so much as usually. The Abraham

1 Probably Martin Barkman #3982 (1821-1894) and his sister Margaretha Reimer #3948 (1819-1874). 2 Heinrich Aron Reimer #5913 (1791-1884) and second wife Helena Loewen #46041 (1806-1879). 3 Jacob Barkman #6788 (1824-1875) and second wife Katharina Thiessen #6789 (1829-1889). 4 The Waisenamt, the orphan’s office, was a Mennonite institution in each colony that originally functioned as a guardian for orphans in the distribution of estates. It came to oversee the distribution of all estates. Jacob Barkman was apparently one of the managers of the orphan’s office, and he likely came to the Reimers on business related to settling the estate of his late sister, Helena (Reimer) Friesen. 5 Heinrich Rempel #5871 (1855-1926). 6 His wife’s brother-in-law Gerhard Willems #5884 (1820-1900). 7 Crimea is a grape-growing region of Russia. 12

Dycks1 of Annafeld and the Dirk Isaacs2 of Rosenfeld were here. On Tuesday our Penners of Rosenfeld were here too. 30. Thur. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.]. Brother–in–law Willems was here again for the night. On Tuesday the nobleman Martin Janke3 was here also. Brother-in-law Willems went to Annafeld. May 1870, Page 9 1. Fri. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.]. On Thursday I was visiting in Rosenfeld at our children Toewses in their new house for the first time. Brother-in-law Willems spent the night with us. 2. Sat. Morning +8 degrees [50° F], day +20 degrees [77° F.]. Friday forenoon Dietrich came to the house. We washed during the week and today, Saturday, did the mangling in Ebenfeld. Klaas Reimer with Martin Klassen4 went with ____. 3. Sun. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], at 10 o’clock in the forenoon +21 degrees [79° F.], noon +18 degrees [72° F.]. Service was at Siemens here. Dietrich was accepted into the church here as he has spent 8 weeks with us [mit zu Thun habe]. His parents were here too, and also the children Abraham Reimers from Blumenhof and the younger and older Abraham Friesens5 from Rosenfeld. 4. Mon. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], some thunderstorms all these days and it rained all around here, windy. We were at Cornelius Friesens6 in Annafeld to attend Dietrich's engagement. For the night the parents were at our place. 5. Tues. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.]. Jacob Friesens7 left early for their home. Klaas Reimers and Martin Klassen, in all 6 people, spent the night here. Nice weather. Fished. The cuckoo has been here for 8 days.8 My wife had fever. 6. Wed. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], afternoon cloudy, rained. Dietrich planted melons and beans. He walked over to us and the neighbors. In places the melons and beans are coming up very well.

1 Abraham Dueck #5858 (1841-1899) and Elisabeth Rempel #5857 (1842-1901). He was an elder of the Kleine Gemeinde. Abraham Reimer’s wife Elisabeth Rempel was the aunt of Abraham Dueck’s wife Elisabeth Rempel. 2 Dietrich Isaac #63976 (ABT 1819-1879) and Anna Penner #56106 (b. ABT 1819). 3 Martin Janke is not found in the Grandma database, so he likely was not a Mennonite. In fact, his was a common surname among the Volga Germans. 4 Probably Martin Klassen #5605 (1822-1882) and Margaretha Toews #5751 (1829-1913). 5 The older were Abraham Friesen #3751 and Helena Siemens #3759. The younger were the older Friesens’ son Abraham S. Friesen #3767 and the Reimers’ daughter Katharina R. Reimer #3768. 6 Cornelius Friesen #5465 (1810-1893) and Maria Rempel #5474 (1819-1897). Their daughter Katharina Friesen #4031 (1850-1895) got engaged to Dietrich Friesen. 7 Jacob Friesen #3992 (1822-1875) and Katharina Schierling #4029 (1820-1909) were the parents of the groom. He was Abraham Reimer’s cousin. 8 The appearance of the cuckoo was one of the first signs of spring in Europe. 13

7. Thurs. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], cold wind. The bridal couple went to Nikolaithal. Our Johann Reimers took them to Nikopol1 with 4 chetverti [24 bushels] of wheat. Got 30 rubles. There they bought a cap, 2 funta2 [2 pounds] coffee, and 1 quart3 [2 fifths] of brandy. 8. Fri. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.]. My wife had fever. She herself did not ______. The bridal couple and the old Friesens were here. Dietrich got his bedstead and bedding.4 9. Sat. Early morning +12 degrees [59° F.], by 8 it was +16 degrees [68° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.]. Our Peter [Reimers] of Rosenfeld were here. Did some fishing. All our children helped us here. All our children are here, and from Rosenfeld at ______. 10. Sun. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], strong south wind. Service was here, also here at Peter Friesens. Service was also here. [sic] Klaas Reimers’ son Peter5 of Tiege and the young Heidebrechts6 of Blumenhof were here visiting. 11. Mon. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], strong southwest wind. My [wife] had fever from 4:30 to 9:00. It was a little less than usually, but she vomited again. I helped Cornelius Friesen with the 4 ______.7 12. Mon. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], rained in the morning, day +21 degrees [79° F.], calm. I was at Cornelius Friesens in Annafeld to attend Dietrich's wedding. 13. Wed. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +17 degrees [70° F.], a little wind. Jacob Friesens of Nikolaithal were here. We had the mason here to make a b[ake?] oven and a rickstand [?, heurt] again _____. 14. Thurs. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +17 degrees [70° F.], very windy. I was at Peter Harms. Went to Ebenfeld. My wife and Johann went to Rosenfeld. She had fever at 5 o’clock. Everything is ready in the kitchen. After all to the smithy the crosspiece[?] ______.

1 The Johann Reimers were the chaperones to ensure that nothing immoral would happen on the bridal couple’s trip to Nikopol’. Most likely they are buying things for the wedding celebration or their new home. 2 A funt is an obsolete Russian unit of weight equal to 0.90 pounds or 0.41 kg. 3 A quart is an obsolete Russian unit of volume of alcohol equal to 1 fifth, 0.8 US quarts, or 757 mL. 4 It was traditional for the bridal couple to make the rounds to visit relatives and friends between the announcement of the engagement and the wedding. 5 His nephew Peter Reimer #3724 (1843-1878). 6 Peter Heidebrecht #284526 (1847-1915) and Katharina Reimer #3725 (1845-1929). Katharina was Abraham Reimer’s niece and brother to Peter Reimer. 7 Cornelius Friesen was father of the groom, so he would have needed to tidy the house and yard for the wedding. 14

15. Fri. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.]. It has rained since Thursday night. The pantry floor is ready over ______. Gave instructions to wash floors in the rooms.1 Klaas Reimer and Abraham Reimer left at 4 o’clock. 16. Sat. Morning cold, +6 degrees [46° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.]. They [Klaas Reimer and Abraham Reimer] came at 10 o’clock in the forenoon. It was 7 verst [5 miles] beyond Konstantius Folcke[?]. Toews took millet to Nikopol’. [May 1870, Page 10] 17. Sun. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], forenoon +15 degrees [66° F.], afternoon +14 [64° F.] and +13 degrees [61° F.]. Johann, Heinrich Brandt, and Peter Reimer took wheat to Nikopol’. Wheat brought 8 rubles 30-40 kopecks. It was the annual market. My wife again had fever at 2:30, but it was half as bad as usual. Abraham Reimer was here for Saturday night, and our Penner children were here until 9:30 for three hours. 18. Mon. Toward morning –1 degree [30° F.], at sunrise +1½ degrees [35° F.], day +17 degrees [70° F.]. During the night beans and melons were frozen. During the day it was cold with a strong wind. 19. Tues. Morning and at sunrise +4 degrees [41° F.], day +17 degrees [70° F.]. Rain on Sunday night with lightning in the northwest at Hochstadt and thunder, fairly calm. The sheep were shorn here. 20. Wed. Early morning –½ degree [31° F.], at sunrise +1 degree [34° F.]. Finished spreading out the manure. Day +16 degrees [68° F.]. Very still air, very nice. Toward evening cloudy. My wife had fever from 7 o’clock to 9:30. Had a look at the grain. I was in Annafeld. Brother–in–law Martin Barkman was here.2 21. Thur. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.]. Service was in Rosenfeld. My wife and I were there and had dinner with Johann Friesens. 22. Fri. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.]. Johann stopped building at Heinrich Brandts. He fell and was badly bruised. 23. Sat. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.]. Penner took us to Rosenfeld. I stayed there overnight. My wife had fever but somewhat worse. 25. Sun. [should be 24th] Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +20 degrees [77°F.]. My wife and I attended the service in Rosenfeld. We had dinner and faspa at Abraham Friesens. 25. Mon. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.]. I went with our Toewses to Blumenhof. In the afternoon went to Abraham Reimers. North wind, several days nearly always north wind.

1 They are doing spring cleaning, which was an important spring tradition. The entire house was cleaned from top to bottom to make it fresh and clean to coincide with the new life of spring. It was especially important because during winter the soot from the fires accumulated everywhere in the house. 2 Martin Barkman #3982 (1821-1894) was married to Reimer’s sister Margaretha Reimer #3948 (1819-1874). 15

26. Tues. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +22 degrees [82°]. Abraham Reimers from Blumenhof were visiting at Peter Reimers. My wife had fever here at Penners in Rosenfeld. 27. Wed. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.] in the forenoon, at 10 o’clock +22 degrees [82° F.], afternoon +20 to +21 degrees [77°-79° F.] until 6 o’clock in the evening. There was a little wind from the north. Klaas Reimer and Johann [Reimer] began building a house.1 28. Thur. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.]. Here started making a haystack [heuh geerdtet setz]. West wind. Planted beans again in the front garden. Some planted melons. 29. Fri. Early morning +14 degrees [64° F.], at 8 o’clock +20 degrees [77° F.], day +24 degrees [86° F], south wind. There were sun dogs. Somewhat cloudy. 30. Sat. Early morning +16 degrees [68° F.], by 7 o’clock +20 degrees [77° F.], forenoon +25 degrees [88° F.], at 8 o’clock in the evening +20 degrees [77° F.]. South wind, often strong, much dust. My wife had bad fever. She was very hot and talked deliriously. 31. Sun. Pentecost. Early morning +16 degrees [68° F.], day often +25 degrees [88° F.], some villages +26 degrees [90° F.], evening here [page folded] degrees. The service was here. Rained in the evening in many places and rained heavily here during the night. ______. Lightning struck in Felsenbach at 11 o’clock during the night. June 1870, Page 11 1. Mon. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.]. Service was in Rosenfeld. Some rain during the day. Rained nearly everywhere. The bridal couple______in Gru nfeld. North wind, cloudy. My wife had fever. 2. Tues. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day almost +16 degrees [68° F.], a little rain. Klaas Reimer and Johan Reimer came here, altogether 7 people. 3. Wed. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day almost +16 degrees [68° F.], forenoon clear, afternoon cloudy, some rain, north wind. Son-in-law Abraham Friesen of Rosenfeld sold a cow for 30 rubles. 4. Thur. Morning +9 degrees [52° F.], day almost +17 degrees [70° F.]. My wife had her fever to some extent from 6 to 9 o’clock in the evening. Johann Friesen's 3 wagons2 went to Molotschna. 5. Fri. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +17 degrees [70° F.], strong north wind, cloudy. My wife had to cough very much. Klaas Reimer had a very serious toothache Thursday morning at 3 o’clock and came over here. 6. Sat. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.]. Some rain in the morning, cloudy nearly all day. Lightning struck here and there in six places.

1 See 22 May 1870. Johann had stopped building Heinrich Brandts’ house because he got hurt, so they have probably started working again. 2 Mennonites in Russia were known for the excellent wagons that they built, In fact, the Russians hired many of them to haul supplies and evacuate wounded during the Crimean War because of the quality of their wagons. 16

7. Sun. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], nearly always cloudy, fairly calm. The young Penners were here. Rained in many places. I had a look at the grain. I was in Neukirch1 from Sunday night to Monday. ______. 8. Mon. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], at 7 o’clock +16 degrees [68° F.]. Rain in the forenoon, which wet the dust. Day +18 degrees [72° F.]. Rain in the afternoon wet the dust. In the afternoon I went to Rosenfeld. 9. Tues. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.]. Rain in various places. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here. Mrs. Friesen2 of Annafeld went to Blumenfeld to the Loewens[?] for the courier. 10. Wed. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], rained all around. My wife was in Rosenfeld. ______my wife had fever. I was at our Friesens. I was at ___ the wind mill ___. 11. Thur. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], a little rain in the morning. In the forenoon I went home. In the evening I went along with Loewen to Rosenfeld. Siemens3 in Annafeld ______his house and barn. 12. Fri. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], rained much. I had faspa with Johann Friesens. On the 12th they came home from Molotschna. 13. Sat. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.]. It rained three times from morning to evening. It was completely cloudy most of the day. My wife had fever. I came home at 10 o’clock in the evening. 14. Sun. At 6:30 in the morning +20 degrees [77° F.], day +26 degrees [90° F.]. Service was here. Johann Friesens, our Abraham Friesens of Rosenfeld, and Abraham Reimers of Rosenfeld were present. 15. Mon. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.]. Cloudy in the afternoon. Our Margaretha4 was here. I took her to Rosenfeld ______. June 1870, Page 12 16. Tues. At 8 o’clock in the morning +22 degrees [82° F.], forenoon clear, afternoon cloudy. The old Mrs. Friesen5 spent a night at Mrs. Peter Reimers. My wife had fever and was very cold.

1 Many of the Kleine Gemeinde who lived in Borosenko Colony were from Neukirch in Molotschna Colony and still had friends and relatives there. 2 Maria Rempel #5474 (1819-1897). 3 Gerhard Klaas Siemens #6461 (1805-1877) and Gertrude Thiessen #6462 (1808-1889). 4 Daughter Margaretha R. Reimer #3969 (1852-1920). 5 Helena Siemens #3759 was spending time with her daughter Elisabeth Friesen #3770. 17

17. Wed. Day +24 degrees [86° F.], a little wind all day. I was at Peter Barkman's1 mill in Rosenfeld again. The old Mrs. Friesen was at Peter Reimers the other night. 18. Thur. Morning +20 degrees [77° F.], day +25 degrees [88° F.], afternoon partly cloudy, rained some at places. I came home from Rosenfeld. In the afternoon I was at Dycks in Annafeld. Nearly calm. At 1 o’clock in the afternoon on the 17th, Peter Reimer was here and gave us some sweet liqueur. 19. Fri. Morning +16 degrees [68° F.], day almost +22 degrees [82° F.], rained at some places, nearly calm. My wife had a high fever again. She was a little cold, but she talked deliriously very much and longer than usual. 20. Sat. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day up to +18 degrees [72° F.], partly cloudy, some west wind. On the night of the 17th-18th, my wife was at Mrs. Peter Friesen from 3 o’clock to 5 o’clock in the morning. 21. Sun. At 8 o’clock in the morning, +20 degrees [77° F.], day +24 degrees [86° F.]. The Johann Reimers and we were in Blumenhof visiting at Mrs. Abraham Reimer's. Had some rain in places. Our children, Abraham Friesens, Abraham Penners, Toewses, and Peter Reimers visited us. 22. Mon. Morning +16 degrees [68° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.]. Strong wind, partly cloudy, rain in some places. My wife had severe fever. She had to be at Peter Friesen from 3 o’clock to 6 o’clock in the morning ______. 23. Tues. Morning +16 degrees [68° F.], day nearly +20 degrees [77° F.], morning mostly clear, calm, afternoon rain at places. I had a look at my, or our, grain fields, and they are very green. 24. Wed. Morning +18 degrees [72° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], no wind. I helped Siemens here with his sheep barn. After faspa until evening went fishing and had fried fish. Katharina and Magaretha2 from Rosenfeld were here. 25. Thur. At 6 o’clock in the morning +20 degrees [77° F.], day +27 degrees [93° F.], at 8 o’clock in the evening +22 degrees [82° F.], light southwest wind, afternoon very cloudy. A heavy rain in the afternoon. 26. Fri. Morning +20 degrees [77° F.], day almost +24 degrees [86° F.], calm, clear. We helped [sollen] Peter Harms' build water drainage [bering waser] around his dwelling and barn. Abraham Reimer of Blumenhof was here. 27. Sat. Morning +17 degrees [70° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], completely clear. We bought 6 funtov [5 pounds] of beef for 5 kopecks per funt. On 12 June we bought 5 pudy [180 pounds] of wheat flour in Nikopol’ for 8 rubles.

1 Peter Barkman #5759 (1826-1917). His son Johann T. Barkman was a flour mill worker per Grandma. The other possible Peter Barkman #7084 was living in Crimea. Owning a mill in Russia was usually a very profitable venture. 2 His daughters Katharina R. Reimer and Margaretha R. Reimer. 18

28. Sun. Morning +16 degrees [68° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.]. The service was in Rosenfeld. Peter Reimers also went there. Since 18 June she has gotten up every day. On Friday the old Peter Harms was here for visiting. My wife had fever from 7 o'clock. 29. Mon. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.]. Johann Reimer and Peter Reimer went to Nikopol’ with wheat and oats. They arrived home at 2 o’clock at night. 30. Tues. Morning +20 degrees [77° F.], day over +26 degrees [90° F.]. We had our auction.1 The children bought all the crops. Calm towards evening, cloudy. July [1870], Page 13 1. Wed. Morning +22 degrees [82° F.], day +28 degrees [95° F.]. In the creek the water was +21 degrees [79° F.]. My wife had fever and had to lie down again at 6 o’clock. 2. Thur. At 6 o’clock in the morning +20 degrees [77° F.], at 8 o’clock +24 degrees [86° F.], day +29 degrees [97° F.], at 6 o’clock in the evening +26 degrees [90° F.]. The young Abraham Friesens of Rosenfeld were here. 3. Fri. At 6 o’clock in the morning +22 degrees [82° F.], 8 o’clock +26 degrees [90° F.], day +30 degrees [100° F.], 8 o’clock in the evening still +24 degrees [86° F.]. My wife bathed herself 2 days in a row in the creek. For one day she was so _____ and of good cheer as she had not been for many weeks ______. 4. Sat. At 6 o’clock +20 degrees [77° F.], day nearly +29 degrees [97° F.], forenoon bright, later heavy rain nearby from the southeast and southwest and thunderstorms. My wife was sick all day. She went to lie down at 4 o’clock. Then she had fever and had to vomit. It lasted until 5:30. 5. Sun. At 6 o’clock +16 degrees [68° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], strong north wind. Peter Barkmans’ [house?] in Rosenfeld burned down around 4 o’clock late afternoon. The children from Rosenfeld were here, but my wife was sick all day, and she felt poorly at 4 o’clock. At 5:30 she lay ______bed. 6. Mon. Early morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.]. My wife was sick all day. In the evening she had fever. Last week they cut all kinds of grain here. My wife was at Toewses for a while and was still sick. 7. Tues. Morning +16 degrees [68° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], partly cloudy. My wife was sick and lay down in the afternoon. At 4 o’clock she had fever. It was so severe as it usually is in winter. She had it nearly 7 hours. She has slept little for 3 nights. 8. Wed. Morning +17 degrees [70° F.], day nearly +23 degrees [84° F.]. Calm and clear. Martin Barkmans of the Friedensfeld settlers visited us. My wife was sick in bed nearly all day. After 5 o’clock the fever was very severe. Johann cut rye, barley, and ______today. 9. Thurs. Morning +18 degrees [72° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.]. It rained all around nearby and from Nikolaithal to here with thunderstorms. The rain moistened the dust. My wife is somewhat better but also has some fever.

1 Apparently Abraham Reimer had retired from farming and was selling his farmland and crops. 19

10. Fri. Morning +16 degrees [68° F.], day +24 degrees [86° F.], rained all around and nearby, very cloudy here, a little wind. Lots of wheat is being cut here. My wife was up for an hour without fever. 11. Sat. Morning +18 degrees [72° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], cloudy, rained nearly everywhere. Here the dust is half-wet. Calm. My wife up nearly all day. Some have finished cutting wheat. 12. Sun. Morning +16 degrees [68° F.], forenoon nearly +22 degrees [82° F.], from noon to evening +15 degrees [66° F.]. Rain during the night. Dust is wet. Such heavy rain in the afternoon that a plow furrow[?] a _____ and from the lane. My wife was up all day. The water was standing until Monday. Thunderstorms. The service was here. 13. Mon. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +17 to +18 degrees [70-72° F.], often variable. On Sunday our brother–in–law Peter Friesen1 of Neu-Marienthal was here. Again rained here. Toews came from Nikopol’, wheat brought 10 [rubles]. 14. Tues. At 7 o’clock in the morning +15 degrees [66° F.], earlier +14 degrees [64° F.], day nearly +20 degrees [77° F.], rained again. In Blumenhof on Monday and Tuesday rained so much that a lot of water is standing everywhere. Our Penners of Rosenfeld visited us. Still reaping wheat here. 15. Wed. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +19 degrees [75° F.]. Abraham Reimer of Blumenhof was here to get his fanning mill2 [Putsmühl] from Peter Reimer. Rained so much that water is standing in the lane until Thursday.3 16. Thur. Early morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day about +20 degrees [77° F.]. Raining somewhat, at places heavily. Johann has reaped all his wheat. In Heubuden some have nearly all ______. July 1870, Page 14 17. Fri. Morning +16 degrees [68° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], mild, bright. The water was not warm. Helped Klassen4 haul barley in the afternoon. Peter Harms had his fever for the last time. 18. Sat. Morning +18 degrees [72° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.]. Little wind this week and very still weather. People were cutting grain this week. Johann cut barley. I saw him [Peter Harms] for the last time in life.5

1 Peter Friesen #317211. 2 A fanning mill was a mechanical device used to separate grain from chaff. Previously, farmers had winnowed grain by throwing it in the air so that the wind could blow the lighter chaff away while the heavier grain fell to the ground. Not only was this a laborious process but also it depended on having enough wind. A fanning mill had a crank that one turned to power a fan that blew the chaff away. 3 This is an example where he notes future events in his diary. It is likely that he kept notes and then wrote neat entries in his diary. 4 Probably Jacob Klassen #6390 (1832-1898). 5 What a wonderful affirmation of eternal life. He saw him for the last time in this life but not for the last time. 20

19. Sun. At 6 o’clock in the morning +20 degrees [77° F.], 7 o’clock +23 degrees [82° F.], day +26 degrees [90° F.], 8 o’clock in the evening +20 degrees [77° F.]. At 12:30 early in the morning, Peter Harms died after days of fever. He was 65 years old. 20. Mon. Morning +18 degrees [72° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.]. Sunday Johann and Toews bought 25 geese from Scharlach1 for 35 kopecks each. We also got 5. Rained heavily with lightning in the late evening all around. Johann is hauling a lot of barley, some millet, and also wheat. 21. Tues. Morning +16 degrees [68° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.]. My wife had to help dress Peter Harms. He was buried at noon. In the afternoon my wife and I went to the funeral. Very early morning rained so much that water was standing until the next day. His funeral was 2 ______. 22. Wed. Morning +18 degrees [72° F.], day +24 degrees [86° F.], morning strong east wind. I went to Rosenfeld. I was at our Friesens and Penners. They have finished with barley. In Annafeld still cutting wheat. 23. Thur. Morning +20 degrees [77° F.], day +24 degrees [86° F.]. I walked some in the afternoon. I was at [does not say where]. Their three children are sick. The oldest one started getting up. Roofed 2 houses. 24. Fri. Morning +20 degrees [77° F.], day +25 degrees [88° F.]. Janzen2 and Peter Reimer hauled grain home. They finished harvesting. Rained some. 25. Sat. Morning +20 degrees [77° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.]. Was mild. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here visiting. Fairly calm. The water was nicely warm. 26. Sun. Morning +20 degrees [77° F.], day +24 degrees [86° F.]. Johann Reimers and we went to the service in Rosenfeld in the ladder wagon.3 I went with Abraham Reimer to Blumenhof and then to Nikopol’. 27. Mon. Morning +18 degrees [72° F.], day +24 degrees [86° F.]. I was in Nikopol’ for the annual market. I also went to the pharmacy. Have had ripe watermelons and muskmelons for eleven days. Rained in many places, including in Rosenfeld. And have had cucumbers for more than three weeks. 28. Tues. Morning +20 degrees [77° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], up to +24 degrees [86° F.]. Johann Reimers and others here have finished harvesting grain crops. He also has hauled his rye. I was at the younger Heidebrecht in Blumenhof. 29. Wed. Morning +18 degrees [72° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], cloudy. I went home with Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof. The grain harvest was in full swing.

1 This is probably the village of Sholokhove, which is 9 miles (15km) south of Steinbach. It was a village of newly-freed serfs with a population of about 3000 in 1859. 2 Probably Cornelius Janzen #6468 (1848-1873). 3 A ladder wagon was a hay wagon used by Mennonites in Russia. Its sides looked like horizontal ladders. 21

30. Thur. Morning +20 degrees [77° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], bright, mild. The people here have nearly finished harvesting crops. Mrs. Toews1 here has had a high fever almost all day. 31. Fri. Morning at 7 o’clock, +20 degrees [77° F.], by noon +24 degrees [86° F.], afternoon +22 to +23 degrees [82-84° F.], very nice all day, bright, very cloudy in the evening. Johann Reimer has threshed more than half of his wheat, and Klaas Reimer his rye. Abraham Friesens were here ____. August 1870, Page 15 1. Sat. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day nearly +17 degrees [70° F], heavy rain almost all day. During the day Mrs. Toews had such high fever that it seemed she would die. Klassens' child died before noon.2 2. Sun. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], rainy during the night and morning, cold wind, cloudy. The Toews of here cut a nearly ripe watermelon. Some have been eating them for 8 days already. Johann Reimers and we were visiting in Rosenfeld. 3. Mon. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.]. I was at Klassens3 of here for the funeral. A boy had died who was nearly 16 weeks old. Heavy rain here but calm. Mrs. Toews has high fever. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were visiting. 4. Tues. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day nearly +16 degrees [68° F.], fairly calm weather, clear, bright, rain towards evening. On 3 August, the Prussian people moved here from Harms. Our Penners and my wife took them to Rosenfeld. 5. Wed. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.], calm, frequently cloudy, rain at places, bright in the east. Hauling the wheat did not go well. Mrs. Toews had fever again the other day but not so badly. 6. Thur. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], calm weather, often clear, rained in some places, a lot nearby. Johann Reimers, Peter Reimer, and I visited the Penners in Rosenfeld. He piled his wheat and barley on the drying floor. He got 18 chetverti [110 bushels]. 7. Fri Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], calm, frequently cloudy, rainy. Mrs. Toews did not have fever. Toews brought their cook Lisbeth4 to Rosenfeld. 8. Sat. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], strong wind but mostly clear. Harms ground 1 chetvert’ [6 bushels] of barley for us. Also Johann Reimer and Toews took 4 chetverti [24 bushels] to Nikopol’. They got 8 rubles 50 kopecks. [Went on] 4 August and returned 5 August and brought a chiming clock for 5 rubles.5

1 His daughter Elisabeth Reimer. 2 Abraham Klassen #100575 (1870-1870), son of Jacob Klassen and Katherina Janzen. 3 Jacob Klassen #6390 (1832-1898) and Katherina Janzen #6389 (1838-1890). 4 Not identified. 5 Mennonites had traditionally been clock makers for centuries, so it is surprising that he bought a clock commercially. Although it is possible that he bought a clock from a Mennonite clock maker in Nikopol’. 22

9. Sun. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.]. The service was here. Our Penners were not here in the service. Afternoon +16 degrees [68°F.], late afternoon only +14 degrees [64° F.]. My wife was along too. But she went again to Penners and Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof. 10. Mon. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], evening calm, warm. Johann Reimer took a cow along to milk because of its evil wickedness.1 Our renters were all sick.2 11. Tues. Morning +7 degrees [48° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], calm. At 7:30 a son3 came to the Johann Reimers of here. It was a rather unusual thing because she was completely alone.4 He arrived in their room. Klaas Reimer brought my wife home at 8:30. 12. Wed. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], calm, cloudy with rain in quite a lot of places. Johann Reimer has finished hauling his wheat. 13, Thur. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +19 degrees [75° F.]. My wife was taken from the older Penners5 of Rosenfeld to our Penners at 6 o’clock in the morning. At 6:30 in the evening, she gave birth to a daughter.6 For at least 1 hour, her labor was hard, but for the first 2 hours, it was still weak. It started at 12:30 in the morning. 14. Fri. Early morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.]. At 6:30 in the morning I went with the young Heinrich7 of Blumenhof to Rosenfeld. She was so very sick that she could hardly speak. In the evening she was somewhat better, but she hardly ate anything either. 15. Sat. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], day +19 degrees [75° F.], clear, south wind. Johann carried wheat into the loft. He has 25 chetvertei [150 bushels] from 23 morgens [32 acres]. Friday at 1 o'clock a son8 was born to Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof.

1 One of his milk cows must have been wild, so his son took it along to tame it. 2 Abraham Reimer appears to have just retired over the winter, about the same time he started the diary, so he has rented his land out to landless Mennonites to farm. 3 His grandson Abraham Reimer #13727 (1870-1870). This was his 21st grandchild (at age 62) and the 4th one named Abraham. 4 It is possible for women successfully to give birth completely alone if labor happens suddenly. Today there are instructions online, and emergency phone operators are trained to give instructions to women who find themselves in such a situation. But normally at this time a midwife, or at least one experienced older woman such as a mother, would have been present to assist. This was Anna Warkentin’s first birth, so it would have been most disconcerting for her to be alone. 5 Peter Penner #5491 (1816-1884) and Elisabeth Harder #410404 (1833-1870). They were parents of his son-in- law Abraham Penner. 6 Elisabeth Penner #6412 (1870-1944). 7 Probably Heinrich Reimer #3848 (1845-1900). 8 Peter R. Reimer #6171 (1870-1946), his 23rd grandchild and the 3rd to be born in five days. 23

16. Sun. Early morning +16 degrees [68° F.], at o’clock1 +18 degrees [72° F.], day +24 degrees [86° F.]. My wife was at Abraham Reimers in Blumenhof. She was very weak and sick. I was also there some. August [1870], Page 16 17. Mon. Morning +18 degrees [72° F.], day nearly +20 degrees [77° F.], very strong wind, cloudy, mostly south wind, rained. Today my wife came home from Rosenfeld. I was sick with fever due to turning the fanning mill, so I lay down until at least noon. 18. Tues. Morning +16 degrees [68° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], still strong wind. I was here at Klassens.2 He was somewhat sick, for 3 days very sick. Our Mrs. Penner from Rosenfeld was very sick in the forenoon ______. 19. Wed. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], day +19 degrees [75° F.], some wind, rained in the evening. Johann Reimers went with my wife to Penners in Rosenfeld. She was a little better. But she had much pain _____ in her chest. 20. Thurs. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], mild. I was at Klaas Friesens3 in Annafeld. Cornelius Friesens of Annafeld and the school teacher4 of here went to Molotschna. 21. Fri. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.]. Johann Reimers' child Abraham took very sick in the morning, and he lies near death. 22. Sat. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.]. Went on Friday to Rosenfeld. Johann Reimer took the Penners home in the evening and stayed at the Penners for night. 23. Sun. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.]. Johann Reimer and the others worked all week with sable-tails [Schwanszobel]. Reimers' child is a little better. 24. Mon. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.]. Peter Reimer and I went to Rosenfeld to our Penners, and from there I went with them went to Blumenhof to Abraham Reimers.5 25. Tues. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.]. Abraham Reimer has had fever now for the 5th day and had fever for the time. But the fever was highest on Monday. Klaas Reimer and my wife also was visiting there on Tuesday. Abraham the son of Johann Reimers died at 5:30 in the evening. 26. Wed. Morning +7 degrees [48° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.]. The child was buried. He was sick 5 days. He was 14 days and 20 hours old. He had an internal ailment and also coughing.

1 No time given. 2 Jacob Klassen #6390 (1832-1898) and Katharina Janzen #6389 (1838-1890). 3 Klaas Friesen #5473 (1838-1922) and Maria Defehr #5487 (1842-1916). 4 Not identified. 5 He is busy seeing his three new grandchildren and helping the new parents. 24

27. Thur. It was cold in the morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.]. Peter Reimer brought my wife to Rosenfeld in the afternoon. Mrs. Penner1 was still sick all the time. She got up for the first time and was up in her room for a little while. 28. Fri. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], very calm, mostly clear. Abraham Reimer is a little better each day. He went with me to Rosenfeld to Mrs. Penner. I stayed the night. 29. Sat. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], clear, calm. I was at our children for faspa. From there I came home in the evening. Johann Reimer finished haying on Friday. He got 11 wagonloads. 30. Sun. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.]. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof and our Friesens of Rosenfeld were here visiting. Also Penner brought my wife home from Rosenfeld in the forenoon. 31. Mon. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.]. Mrs. Harms2 was a little better, and our Mrs. Penner was much better, so she worked nearly all day. September 1870, Page 17 1. Tues. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], rained during the night. I went to Rosenfeld to our Penners. Had a cold wind. We did some laundry. Mrs. Penner got such a severe, strange fever that she is lying near death. 2. Wed. In the early morning, there was hoarfrost and 0 degrees [32° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.]. Finished the washing and dried the linens. Johann Reimer finished ______and got 11 wagonloads. 3. Thur. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], still a little wind, cold. Johann Reimer and my wife went to Rosenfeld to mangle the laundry. Johann Reimer got 9½ chetverti [57 bushels] of barley and 8½ chetverti [51 bushels] of oats and ______. 4. Fri. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], cloudy, windy. Elder Wiebe from Crimea and Cornelius Enns were staying here in these villages. 5. Sat. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.], cloudy, cold west wind. I went to Rosenfeld again. It rained some there during the night. Mrs. Penner still has fever and has had it for 5 days. 6. Sun. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], cloudy, cold north wind. The service was here. I came home at 9:30 in the morning with our Abraham Friesens of Rosenfeld, and in the evening I went again to the Penners of here. 7. Mon. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], west wind, cloudy, very cold. I came home in the evening. Mrs. Penner is walking again. She forced herself to get up and was in the room. She was very weak.

1 His daughter Margaretha R. Reimer #3969. 2 Probably Cornelia (Warkentin) Harms #5555 (1822-1892). 25

8. Tues. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], north wind. I went with Johann Reimers to visit the Abraham Reimers in Blumenhof. Had rain. We also got a sheep from him. 9. Wed. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], at places –1 degree [30° F.]. Peter Reimer came back from Nikopol’. Before that I spent the night there. Wheat was 7 rubles 10 kopecks. 10. Thur. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.], rained during the night, very cold. Our Toews went to Nikopol’ with wheat. We plucked the geese.1 11. Fri. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], rained in the east nearly all day. In the afternoon there were severe thunderstorms to the south. Jacob Friesens of Nikolaithal and brother–in–law Martin [Barkman] were here. 12. Sat. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +11 degrees [57° F.], cold north wind. Toews of here went to Blumenhof to get the covered wagon. Also Friday were in ______in Nikolaithal 1 farmyard. 13. Sun. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.]. Mrs. Siemens2 of here died today at 10:30. She was 42 years, 10 months old. She had been very sick for 4½ days. Our Penners of Rosenfeld were here. 14. Mon. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], very cloudy, northeast wind. Our Toews of here left at 7:30 in the morning for Blumenfeld3 to Dr. Loewen. 15. Tues. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], heavy rain all forenoon, cloudy calm. Mrs. Siemens was buried. September 1870, Page 18 16. Wed. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], cloudy, nearly calm, warm. We were here at Siemens for breakfast for the burial. 17. Thur. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.]. Auctioned 5 horses, young and old. All the children were here. ______started and to Mrs. Harms ______a little. 18. Fri Morning hoarfrost, 0 degrees [32° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], clear, mild, calm. Our Mrs. Penner of Rosenfeld was a little sick. She had a little fever again. Old Mrs. Abraham Friesen was sick. 19. Sat. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], froze a little, day +12 degrees [59° F.], windy. Klaas Reimers of Tiege, Molotschna, came here and to Blumenhof. 20. Sun. Morning −½ degree [31° F.]. Service was in Rosenfeld. Johann Reimers, my wife, and I went. Our Mrs. Penner was sick again. She was not in the service. Mrs. Klaas Brandt was very ______.

1 Goose down made excellent feather beds, comforts, and pillows. 2 Must be the wife of a son of Gerhard Klaas Siemens #6461 and Gertrude Thiessen #6462. No other Siemens were in the Kleine Gemeinde. 3 Probably in Sagradovka colony. 26

21. Mon. Morning −1½ degrees [29° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], mild, sunny. My brother Klaas Reimer and his wife were here visiting us from 10 o’clock until 5 o’clock in the evening. 22. Tues. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], very cloudy, foggy, rainy. Johann Reimer and his renter made bricks for 2 stoves. Hauled oats here. 23. Wed. Morning a little before sunrise −4 degrees [23° F.], a little frost on the windows in the room, day +12 degrees [59° F.], mild, sunshine, calm. In the evening I went with Johann Reimer to Rosenfeld to our Penners. She is much better. She can eat. In the evening I went along with Johann Reimer. Harmses1 moved into their new house in Schlit[?]. 24. Thur. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +11 degrees [57° F.]. I put a new cord into our clock. Was at Harmses in their new house. I was at Peter Reimers for night. He came back from Nikopol’. He got 7 rubles for the wheat, the best was 7 rubles 40 kopecks. 25. Fri. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.]. I was a little sick ______the left ______. Completely calm, mild. But it is so dry that we cannot plow. 26. Sat. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], south wind. Friesens[?] came home from Molotschna. They were on the road for 14 days. Bought 20 funtov [18 pounds] of apples from Jacob Regiers2 as they are the best. Heinrich Friesen and the old Friesen’s son Johann3 went to Yekaterinoslav.4 At 3 o’clock in the afternoon, Isaac Harder5 died. 27. Sun. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.]. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here and brought a letter from Blumenfeld from the doctor that they should be there within 8 days on 5 October have from ______.6 All our children of Rosenfeld were here, as they should be. 28. Mon. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.]. These days very cloudy and rainy. Strong south wind. At Toewses cabbage was cut and brought in. It was 5 big carts. Isaak Harder was buried. He was 75. 29. Tues. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], rained nearly all day. On Saturday Klaas Reimer, Peter Reimer, and Johann Reimer all hauled wheat to Nikopol’ and traveled home Sunday from noon to evening.

1 Not identified. 2 Jacob Regehr #5640 (1832-1906) and Anna Toews (1832-1893). 3 Johann S. Friesen #3772 (1852-1920). 4 The city of Yekaterinoslav, now Dnipro or Dnepropetrovsk in Ukraine, was the administrative center of Yekaterinoslavskaia Guberniia (Province) where Borosenko Colony was located, and had a population of 111,000 in 1887. It was located about 65 miles northeast of Steinbach. It was the nearest large city and the twelfth largest in the Russian Empire. 5 Isaac Isaac Harder #6409 (ABT 1795-1870). 6 See the entry for 5 October. 27

30. Wed. Morning +7 degrees [48° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], rained ______until noon, mild. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here, and our Abraham Friesens of Rosenfeld were also here. October [1870], Page 19 1. Thur. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], mild. Johann Reimer sowed 3 morgens [4 acres] of rye. Many people here have sowed rye. Some sowed 14 days ago or 4 weeks or 6 weeks ago. The first sowed rye 2 months ago, and [their fields] have been green for 3 weeks already. The old Isaac Harder died in Rosenfeld on Saturday, the 26th. 2. Fri. Morning −½ degree [31° F.], day +7½ degrees [49° F.], north wind, cloudy. Johann Reimer finished sowing rye. Afternoon rained in many places. In the evening south wind, cold, cloudy. 3. Sat. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +11 degrees [57° F.]. Rained during the night until 9 o’clock in the morning. Rained heavily. Mrs. Peter Harms1 had an auction. She sold their windmill and house. David Thiessen2 paid 10 1270 rubles, in all 1800 rubles.3 4. Sun. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], cloudy. The service was here. Our renters were also in the service.4 Johann Friesens, all our children of Rosenfeld, and Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here as guests. 5. Mon. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +7 degrees [48° F.], cloudy, rained often. Our Reimers left at 9 o’clock in the morning for Blumenfeld to see the doctor. They went with Johann Friesens' covered wagon and took Toewses home. They took 50 rubles along. I also gave 5 rubles.5 6. Tues. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], cloudy, windy. David Thiessen began milling grain. I went with the old Siemens to Rosenfeld to our Penners. But first he was in Annafeld at Martin Klassens for 3 days. 7. Wed. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], cloudy, cold north wind. Late afternoon Johann Reimers went to Blumenfeld to Dr. Loewen. Heinrich Brandts of here slaughtered hogs here. My wife helped. 8. Thur. Morning −1½ degrees [29° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.], cloudy, cold north wind. I chopped some wood for ______. In the evening I was at Johann Friesens. Our Penners came home in the evening.

1 Cornelia Warkentin #5555 (1822-1892). 2 David F. Thiessen #6487 (1834-1906) and Aganetha Gerbrandt #6488 (1833-1912). 3 This probably means that David Thiessen bought the house and mill for 1270 rubles and that the total auction proceeds were 1800 rubles. 4 It was illegal for Orthodox Russian subjects, such as local Ukrainians, to join the Mennonites, but there were a fair number of cases where locals did join the Mennonites, or more commonly, were influenced by their faith. But the Mennonite Brethren were much more active in evangelizing among Russian subjects. 5 They took 50 rubles along for the doctor’s fee and Abraham F. Reimer helped his son with 5 rubles. 28

9. Fri. Morning −½ degree [31° F.], day +3½ degrees [40° F.], cloudy, cold east wind. I came home at noon with Penner. I had been there 3 days and 3 nights. Thiessens moved into Harms' house. 10. Sat. Morning +1½ degrees [35° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], cloudy, cold. The young[?] Peter Rempels came from Paulsheim, Molotschna, at 9 o’clock and stayed until 5 o’clock in the evening. Our Peter Toewses and Johann Reimers came home. 11. Sun. Morning +½ degree [33° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.]. The service was in Rosenfeld. None of us were there. The Johann Thiessens1 of Molotschna were also in the service. 12. Mon. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +11 degrees [57° F.], cloudy, rained often. Our Toewses came home from the doctor in Blumenfeld on the 10th at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. She is very weak and should ______for 3 weeks. 13. Tues. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], rained heavily until noon, afternoon sunshine. We slaughtered 2 hogs. They had 3½ inches of fat and 8 pails of lard. For the 2nd evening from the west to the northeast, there were red strands of light in the northwest; and they varied.2 14. Wed. Morning +6½ degrees [47° F.], day +11 degrees [47° F.], rained until noon, cloudy everywhere. In the evening again it was somewhat red in the north. The 2nd night it lasted almost through the whole night. 15. Thur. Morning +7 degrees [48° F.], day +11 degrees [57° F.], bright nearly all day, mild, calm. Some were still sowing rye. My wife had to do all the baking and cooking at our place for Klaas Reimers’ hog butchering. 16. Fri. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], rained until noon, cloudy everywhere. We slaughtered 4 hogs at Klaas Reimers. Got 13 pails of lard. October 1870, Page 20 17. Sat. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +9 degrees [52° F.], very cloudy nearly all day. The old Mrs. Abraham Friesen from Rosenfeld is still sick. She lay in bed all week. 18. Sun. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], very foggy, but sunshine late afternoon. Service was in Rosenfeld, but no one from this village was there. We were at the children. 19. Mon. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], rained nearly all day, very cloudy. My cousin Martin Friesen3 came from Crimea to Rosenfeld and also Mr. Berg,4 the teacher from Crimea.

1 Not identified. 2 This is the aurora borealis. Because the magnetic north pole is located in Canada, it is much rarer to see the aurorae in Russia than in North America. This strong solar storm was recorded in the New York Times on 24- 25 October 1870 (new style date) and was noted as being unusual for the brilliant crimson streamers (aurorae are usually green, although any color is possible). 3 Martin Friesen #317355 (1823-ABT 1880) was a first cousin to Abraham F. Reimer. Their mothers were siblings. 4 Peter Berg #6341 (1817-1901). 29

20. Tues. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], late evening +8 degrees [50° F.], some rain during the day. Slaughtered 6 hogs at Abraham Reimers in Blumenhof. 21. Wed. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], cloudy, late evening +6 degrees [46° F.], also at night cloudy, +6 degrees [46° F.]. Klaas Reimers' servant and cook left. 22. Thur. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +9 degrees [52° F.], still cloudy. I was at Harmses. They are nearly healthy and doing well at least. My wife began to sew for Dietrich Friesens. 23. Fri. Morning nice +6 degrees [46° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], night +6 degrees [46° F.], cloudy nearly all the time. My wife was taken at 6:30 in the morning to our Friesens in Rosenfeld. At 9:30 during the day they had a baby boy. Klaas is his name.1 24. Sat. Morning +7 degrees [48° F.], day +11 degrees [57° F.], partly clear. I was completely well all week. In two days Mrs. Friesen was up and around and coming around fairly well except for the evening when she got so very sick that she could hardly breast feed.2 Then I went with our Reimers ______. 25. Sun. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.]. My wife and I stayed overnight with them [Abraham Friesens]. Then she was not too bad. Then my wife went home with Peter Reimers towards evening. Saturday evening I was at the old Abraham Friesen. Here I spoke with my cousin Martin Friesen from Crimea. 26. Mon. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], cloudy, rainy, completely muddy. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were at our place. They brought my wife to Rosenfeld. Klaas Reimer of Rosenfeld came to Rosenfeld with the new maid to our Friesens and took my wife home. 27. Tues. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], rainy, cloudy. Our Peter Reimer attended the annual market. He sold wheat for 8 rubles 20 kopecks. Mrs. Abraham Friesen is well. Monday ______that she said she expected to be able to get up during the recent days. But in the evening she was so sick that she was near death. During the night I went to get the old Mrs. Friesen. She herself came.[?] 28. Wed. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +9 degrees [52° F.]. I was at our Friesens. She was sicker. I also had a little fever. The people of Gru nfeld strengthened [befestigt] their elder Peter Toews3 of Blumenhof.

1 Klaas R. Friesen #6527 (1870-1942). 2 In the era before antiseptic practices were understood, on average 6% of all childbirths ended in the death of the mother from puerperal fever; so the family was very concerned how a mother’s health was improving after the birth. Given the high number of children a woman bore on average, the odds added up over time. 3 Peter P. Toews #5580 (1841-1922) was ordained as a minister in 1868 and as an elder on 10 October 1870. He was a leader of the Rosenfeld/Blumenhof group of the Kleine Gemeinde, to which the Abraham Friesens belonged as well. It appears that the KG members from the village of Gru nfeld have gathered to commission or encourage Peter Toews in his new role as elder. He would lead the larger group of KG to settle in Manitoba in 1874 and maintained a valuable genealogical register. 30

29. Thur. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +11 degrees [57° F.], partly clear, mild. I came home with Peter. I had spent 5 days and 5 nights with Abraham Friesens. The road was good.1 Here at Toewses they slaughtered 2 yearling bulls.2 The Busuluk is rising a lot.3 30. Fri. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], clear, sunshine. Slaughtered 3 hogs here at Peter Reimers. They had a good 2½ inches of fat on average. My brother Klaas Reimer of Tiege again improved. He was very sick for one week. 31. Sat. Morning 8 degrees [50° F.], day 13 degrees [61° F.]. Our Penner came from Rosenfeld at 12 o’clock to take my wife to our Friesens in Rosenfeld. It seemed very likely she would die. From 8 o’clock to 10 o’clock Friday evening her feet and hands were completely cold. Nor could she speak. Page 21 I went with Peter Reimer to Rosenfeld. She got a little better. I went home with him. November [1870] 1. Sun. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.]. The service was here. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof and Penners of Rosenfeld were here too. The Toewses were at the service. My wife spent the night at Rosenfeld and before that she was somewhat better. I went with Johann Friesens to Rosenfeld. 2. Mon. Morning there was some hoarfrost, 0 degrees [32° F.], day +9 degrees [52° F.]. I went home with Peter Reimer. Sunday evening there was a lot of lightning in the west. _____ cloudy. 3. Tues. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.]. Our Mrs. Friesen is improved. Johann Friesen went to Molotschna to get trees.4 Cloudy in the afternoon, heavy rain. 4. Wed. At 4 o’clock in the morning, +4 degrees [41° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.]. At 5 o’clock in the morning, we went to Rosenfeld to our Penners to slaughter 2 hogs. Windy. Then I went home with Johann Reimer and my wife. 5. Thur. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], mild. My hand and finger was very nasty and painful, and at 2 o’clock at night I examined it and applied [medicine]. A Jewish doctor came and gave two kinds of drops, which greatly eased [the pain]. At 10 o’clock in the evening, Peter came here. 6. Fri. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.]. Yesterday at 10 o’clock in the evening our Reimers went with the Penners to Rosenfeld. In the morning o’clock [sic], we went with Klaas Reimer to Rosenfeld to our Friesens. We were worried at first. We

1 Russia is notorious for its sticky mud in fall that made roads impassable, so it was noteworthy to have good roads this time of year. 2 Yearling bulls that will not be used for breeding are the most commonly slaughtered because they cannot produce milk and or calves. Usually several families would gather for butchering – those who helped would get some of the meat. 3 The Busuluk River (now Bazavluk) ran past the Reimers’ village of Steinbach. He had to cross this river to get to the Abraham Friesens in Rosenfeld, something that would have been dangerous when the river was flooding. 4 Mennonites, especially in Molotoschna Colony under Johann Cornies direction, planted millions of trees. 31

were there with all our children. At night she lay near death, and her hands and feet were cold, but she got better. 7. Sat. Morning 7 degrees [48° F.], day 11 degrees [57° F.]. She was somewhat better and it was bearable. We went there again with our children. She was somewhat better. My wife was [sic]. My wife went again to Rosenfeld in the afternoon. Very nice all day. This week Toews planted just 4 morgens [6 acres] of rye. What he planted Tuesday has sprouted in the last days and is growing well.[?] 8. Sun. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], clear, sunshine, calm. We went there again with our Reimer children. She is much better. In the afternoon and at faspa time she was feeling lively and cheerful. She is speaking. She wanted apples and other things and defecated. But in the evening it was very ______. 9. Mon. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +14½ degrees [65° F.], clear, calm, but the breeze was from the north. Mrs. Friesen was so sick during the early night that she seemed would die. She could not speak. Our Mrs. Reimer took my wife over there. Then she improved, although she had high fever. 10. Tues. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], clear, very calm. She was somewhat better, but she did not eat and hardly drank. She had high fever and was thirsty. She could not swallow much and could hardly speak. A Pindel Jew from Crimea was here. We sent a letter with him to Willems1 in Crimea. 11. Wed. Morning nearly +8 degrees [50° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], mostly cloudy, calm. Johann Reimers slaughtered 2 hogs. They had 2½ inches of fat and 4 pails of lard, but no one from here from this village was there. She is somewhat better. I was in Annafeld at Cornelius Friesen during the evening. In the evening she was better but could not eat. 12. Thur. Morning +7 degrees [48° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], very cloudy, foggy. My wife lay in bed for 2 days. Since Wednesday she has had such a pain in her finger, hand, and arm, and up to her shoulder. It was red and swollen and burning hot. Abraham Penners of Rosenfeld were here. She is a little better again. 13. Fri. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], very foggy, north wind. Johann Reimers spent the night in Rosenfeld.2 They came home at 10:30 in the morning. She improved. She had slept and eaten a little. My wife's hand also had improved. ______. 14. Sat. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day 7 degrees [48° F.], clear, calm. Toewses of Rosenfeld spent the night at our Friesens. She has improved a lot. She slept nearly the whole night and ate and drank more and talked. My wife is also better.[?] 15. Sun. Early −½ degree [31° F.], 9 o’clock −2 degrees [28° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], clear, sunshine. Johann Reimers and I were in the service in Neukirch. On 10 November, the

1 Gerhard Willems #5884 (1820-1900) and his wife’s sister Katharina Rempel #5852 (1823-1875). 2 The Johann Reimers were sitting with his sister Katharina (Reimer) Friesen because they feared she was dying. Traditionally family and friends came to sit with a seriously sick person to give the immediate family members a break and to spend some last time with the dying person. 32

old Gerhard Rempels of Mariawohl, Molotschna Colony, were here at Peter Friesens. We ______. November 1870, Page 22 16. Mon. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +2 degrees [36° F.], cloudy, very foggy. My wife began to sew. Set up the stove in the summer room.1 Our Mrs. Friesen was somewhat better. We washed the floor. 17. Tues. Morning and day +2 degrees [36° F.]. Mrs. Johann Reimer and I stayed overnight in Rosenfeld. At our Friesens we slaughtered 2 hogs, which had 2¾ inches of fat which produced 6 pails of lard. 18. Wed. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +3 degrees [39° F.], very cloudy, cold, snowed at many nearby places. In Annafeld it snowed very much. At Peter Reimers it is still snowing. During the night it rained a lot. But here in the village, it did not snow. 19. Thur. Morning more than −3 degrees [25° F.]. The windows in the parlor2 were covered in frost. Day 0 degrees [32° F.], cloudy, west wind, snow in many places. My wife, the Toewses, and I went to Rosenfeld. Mrs. Friesen is improving somewhat every day for the 7th day now. 20. Fri. Morning −4 degrees [23° F.], day −1 degree [30° F.]. Windows again were covered [in frost]. Cloudy with strong east wind. [Day] −1 degree [30° F.], evening –5 degrees [21° F.], until noon much frost. I spent the night at Friesens, as she was sick at night. In the afternoon she had much pain. She probably had milk fever.3 21. Sat. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day +1 degree [34° F.], fairly bright, southeast wind. Mrs. Friesen was again better. She sleeps well and is eating and drinking better. My wife's finger was bad again. 22. Sun. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.], very cloudy. Heavy rain from 11 o’clock until evening. She greatly improved. With help she walked from the bed to the bench in the parlor. I spent 3 nights there. Johann Reimer and I went [home]. There was no service. 23. Mon. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day +3 degrees [39° F.], cloudy. My wife's finger is very swollen. She was getting better. On Sunday Abraham Reimer of Blumenhof was here. 24. Tues. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day −2 degrees [28° F.], sunshine, calm, mild. In the evening it began to snow. At night it snowed heavily. Siemens from here went to Nikopol’ with wheat. He got 7 or 7 rubles 50 kopecks for a chetvert’. He brought us ______.

1 Mennonites had a traditional plan for the house that they adopted in Poland centuries ago, used in Russia, and took to North America for early days. Most of the rooms were built around a large stove that heated them. But the one exception was the summer room, which did not abut the stove. The boys slept in this room - since it got no direct heat from the stove, the Reimers have moved a stove into this room for winter. 2 In the traditional Mennonite house plan, the parlor, or grote Stow, was the parents’ room and the room where guests were received. 3 Milk fever is mastitis, an infection of the milk ducts in the breast that occurs most often in the first three months after giving birth. Katharina (Reimer) Friesen had given birth about a month before to a son. 33

25. Wed. Early morning −4 degrees [23° F.], 8 o’clock −5 degrees [21° F.], day −3 degrees [25° F.]. The sleigh road is beginning to form.1 Heinrich Friesen and our Abraham Friesen of Rosenfeld came here by sleigh. 26. Thur. Morning −5 degrees [21° F.], day −2 degrees [28° F.], evening –1 degree [30° F.], late evening −5 degrees [21° F.]. Jacob Dycks2 of Gnadenthal, Molotschna, were here from 9:45 until 5:30 in the evening. 27. Fri. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day −1 degree [30° F.], very foggy at 8 o’clock in the evening _____. Johann Reimer and my wife went to Rosenfeld to our Friesens to mangle laundry. Mrs. Friesen is getting up some. My wife got very sick during the evening. She shivered a lot. 28. Sat. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +4 degrees [39° F.]. Her hand hurt very much until night. The weather changed sharply Friday evening. Very slick, icy. It rained from o’clock [sic] in the evening until 11 o’clock at night. 29. Sun. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +2½ degrees [38° F.]. Saturday it rained. Had the service here. It was muddy. None of the children of Rosenfeld were here, but Johann Friesens were here at noon. Klaas Brandt was in the service here. 30. Mon. Morning −1½ degrees [29° F.], day the same, completely cloudy, calm. Our Reimers slaughtered 8 geese. Our Penners of Rosenfeld were here. We also slaughtered 4 geese here. December 1870, Page 23 1. Tues. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], day −2 degrees [28° F.], cloudy, mostly calm, snowed some. We cut up our 4 geese. Our Mrs. Abraham Friesen of Rosenfeld is getting better and better. For the last 2 days she has been getting up more and more. 2. Wed. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day mostly cloudy, calm. I went with Peter Toews to our Penners in Rosenfeld. She was very sick. She was in bed all day. The Busuluk River was flowing over the dam. Our cow calved a bull calf. 3. Thur. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day −2½ degrees [26° F.], cloudy. In the evening had freezing rain through half the night. Heinrich Brandt went to the Old Colony3 to get potatoes. 4. Fri. Morning −4 degrees [23° F.], cloudy, day −3 degrees [25° F.], later −5 degrees [21° F.], northeast wind. A young hushof[?] from Nikopol’ spent the night here with his patterns. 5. Sat. Morning −4 degrees [23° F.], day −1½ degrees [29° F.], cloudy, calm. On Wednesday our Abraham Friesen of Rosenfeld went with 3 wagons beyond Scharlach to make purchases.

1 The mud in southern Russia is notoriously deep and sticky in fall, which made travel difficult. When the mud froze and was covered with snow, travel by sleigh became much easier than wagon travel in the mud had been. 2 Jacob Dueck #5856 (1839-1893) and Maria Rempel #5855 (1840-1917). 3 Khortitsa was colloquially called the Old Colony because it was the first Mennonite colony in Russia, settled in 1789. It was located about 50 miles east of Steinbach. 34

6. Sun. Morning −4 degrees [23° F.], day −2 degrees [28° F.], cloudy, calm. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were at Toewses and lay in the ______. Penners of Rosenfeld stayed with us. 7. Mon. Morning −2½ degrees [26° F.], day −2½ degrees [26° F.], cloudy, calm. Our Reimers went to Rosenfeld to our Abraham Friesens. The ice in the creek was strong enough to support a horse. 8. Tues. Morning −12 degrees [5° F.], day −11 to −12 degrees [5-7° F.], snowed during the night. Had the best sleigh road. North wind. We slaughtered 2 hogs at Toewses. They had 2½ inches of fat and 4½ pails of lard. 9. Wed. Morning −12 degrees [5° F.], day −10 degrees [10° F.], evening −13 degrees [3° F.], north wind. Mrs. Cornelius Goossen1 died at 3 o’clock in the morning. She was 26 years old and was sick for 7 days with puerperal fever. 10. Thur. Morning −14 degrees [0° F.], day −12 degrees [5° F.], evening −10 degrees [10° F.]. Johann Reimer, Peter Reimer, and Toews went to Scharlach and stayed overnight. Johann Reimer has gone 3 times. The Toewses' milk cow had a ______calf ______. 11. Fri. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], cloudy, southwest wind, day +2 degrees [34° F.], rained, some mud, freezing rain at night. Attended the funeral of Goosen in Annafeld. 12. Sat. Morning −11 degrees [7° F.], still, clear, day −7 degrees [16° F.]. Our Abraham Friesens of Rosenfeld were here visiting. Jacob Friesen of Nikolaithal were also at Toews in the evening. He also was here for breakfast. Heavy rain. 13. Sun. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.]. Heavy rain in the morning. Service in Rosenfeld. Klaas Friesens and our children were at [Abraham] Friesens. But no one was there from Steinbach. Snowed heavily during the day. Evening −2 degrees [28° F.]. 14. Mon. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day +1 degree [4° F.]. In the evening I was at the school teacher. Jacob Friesens of Nikolaithal were there too. 15. Tues. Morning −4 degrees [23° F.], cloudy, calm, day +2 degrees [36° F.] Our Abraham Friesens of Rosenfeld were at Toewses. He had his horses shod. We were at Toewses. My wife was sick.[?] 16. Wed. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.], sunshine, calm, evening +3 to +4 degrees [39-41° F.]. Got some water into our cellar.2 In the evening a cellar wall caved in.[?] The water was 180 linii [18 inches]3 deep.[?]

1 Katharina Friesen #5423 (1844-1870). 2 Mennonite homes traditionally had a root cellar in which they stored root vegetables, apples, crocks of salted meat and sauerkraut, and other food. It would have been a real mess and perhaps a significant loss of winter provisions to get water in the cellar.

3 A liniia is an obsolete Russian measurement equal to 1/10 inch. 35

December 1870, Page 24 17. Thur. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day +2 degrees [36° F.]. The creeks started to flow. It is said that Dnepr1 is as high as in spring. 18. Fri. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day nearly +2 degrees [36° F.], some sunshine, evening +1 degree [34° F.]. Rained for the half of the night. Water ran into the cellar from 11 o’clock until 4 at night. Water was 2 steps deep. 19. Sat. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day −3 degrees [25° F.], cloudy, north wind. The Busuluk rose so high that only our bushes stuck out. Evening −5 degrees [21° F.]. 20. Sun. Morning −8 degrees [14° F.], day −6 degrees [18° F.], calm, somewhat clear. Our Mrs. Abraham Penner had pain in both breasts. It is now improving. 21. Mon. Morning −11 degrees [7° F.], day −7 degrees [16° F.]. Abraham Friesen and Abraham Penner were here for a little while. The old Mrs. Penner has been very sick for 11 days. 22. Tues. Morning −10 degrees [10° F.], day −8 degrees [14° F.], cloudy, calm. I wrote my brother Klaas Reimer of Tiege. I took it in the evening to Martin Klassens in Annafeld.2 23. Wed. Morning −8 degrees [14° F.], [day] −7 degrees [16° F.], partly cloudy, some north wind. I was at Toewses. He was very sick. He sat near the stove. Johann Reimer is fairly well again. 24. Thur. Morning −9 degrees [12° F.]. Toews lay down here all day. He had a headache and a very bad cold. The old Mrs. Peter Penner3 of Rosenfeld died at 10 o’clock in the morning. She was sick 17 days, very sick for 13 days. She was 37 years and some. 25. Fri. Morning −12 degrees [5° F.], day −10 degrees [10° F.]. The service was here.4 All our children were here, as were also Heinrich Friesens of Rosenfeld. Abraham Friesens and Abraham Penners were here overnight. Mrs. Penner has severe pain in her breast. 26. Sat. Morning −11 degrees [7° F.], day −8 degrees [14° F.]. Johann Reimers went to Rosenfeld to attend the service. Many attended. In the evening Abraham Friesens and Abraham Penners went home. 27. Sun. Morning −10 degrees [10° F.], day the same, late evening −14 degrees [0° F.]. We had no visitors. I was somewhat sick in the evening. I could not walk during the night. 28. Mon. Morning −15 degrees [−2° F.], in places −17 degrees [−6° F.], day −11 degrees [7° F.]. Our Johann Reimer also went to attend the funeral5 in Rosenfeld. I was sick all day.

1 The Dnepr River was about 25 miles south of Steinbach; and the local river, the Busuluk, flowed into it. Probably the warm spell had melted the snow and ice, so it was flooding badly. 2 He likely knew that Martin Klaasen would be going to Molotschna soon, so he took advantage of the opportunity to send a letter to his brother. 3 Elisabeth (Harder) Penner #410404 (1833-1870). Even though she was only 37 years old, she was called the old Mrs. Penner to distinguish her from her stepson Peter Penner’s wife Helena (Penner) Penner #6802 (1840-1908), who was 30 years old at the time. “Old” was a term of respect at that time and not derogatory as it is now. 4 Mennonites held a worship service on Christmas Day and on the 26th. 5 The funeral of Elisabeth (Harder) Penner. 36

29. Tues. Morning −14 degrees [0° F.], day −8 degrees [14° F.], clear. Thiessen and Cornelius Toewses1 of Gru nfeld went to Tiege, Molotschna Colony. 30. Wed. Morning −15 degrees [−2° F.], day −8 degrees [14° F.], some north wind. For the first time the windows in the door to the great room got almost completely frosted. 31. Thur. Morning −8 degrees [14° F.], day −5 degrees [21° F.], some northeast wind, partly sunny. I was well again. But Mrs. Toews was sick. Her throat was aching. Her Katharina2 was sick 3 days. January 1871, Page 25 1. Fri. Morning −5 degrees [21° F.], day −2 degrees [28° F.]. The service was here.3 Cloudy. Only our Friesens of Rosenfeld were here. 2. Sat. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], cloudy. Elder Abraham Friesen4 and my brother–in–law, Peter Friesen, of Neu-Marienthal were at Johann Friesens of Rosenfeld. 3. Sun. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], day −1½ degrees [29° F.], cloudy. Service in Rosenfeld. Johann Reimers, Heinrich Brandts, and our Penners were here. 4. Mon. Morning −8 degrees [14° F.], day −5 degrees [21° F.], cloudy, calm. My brother-in-law Peter Friesen and his wife5 of Neu-Marienthal, the old Isaacs6 of Rosenfeld, and the Abraham Reimers7 of [Neu-]Anlage. 5. Tues. Morning −5 degrees [21° F.], day −2 degrees [28° F.], cloudy, windy. Gerhard Rempels8 of Rosenfeld and Peter Rempels9 were here visiting. 6. Wed. Morning −6 degrees [18° F.], day −2 degrees [28° F.]. The service10 was here. Johann Friesens and our children visited here. Those who went to Molotschna came home. 7. Thur. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day 0 degrees [32° F.], cloudy, southeast wind. Johann Reimer had his cow at Siemens,11 and it had a bull calf during the night.

1 Cornelius Toews #5578 (1836-1908) and Anna Bartel #5655 (1838-1918). Cornelius Toews was a Kleine Gemeinde minister and would be a delegate to search for land in North America in 1873. 2 His four-year-old granddaughter Katharina Toews #6481 (1866-1938). 3 Mennonites started the new year with a service on the first day of the year to dedicate the coming year to God. 4 Abraham Friesen #3638 (1831-1917) and Anna Dueck #3639 (1833-1904). He was the elder of the Heubuden group of the Kleine Gemeinde, which moved to Jansen, Nebr. 5 Elisabeth Fast #18810 (1819-1883). 6 Dietrich Isaac #63976 and Anna Penner #56106. 7 His nephew Abraham Reimer #3721 and Anna Eidse #3722. 8 Probably his wife’s brother Gerhard Rempel #5849 and his cousin once-removed Elisabeth Friesen #3673. 9 Probably his wife’s brother Peter Rempel #5847 and his cousin once-removed Elisabeth Friesen #3673. 10 The service was to celebrate Epiphany, marking when the wise men came to worship Jesus. 11 Johann was breeding his cow to Gerhard T. Siemens’ bull. 37

8. Fri. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day +2 degrees [36° F.], partly cloudy, south wind, evening and night +3 degrees [39° F.]. During the night the water came into the cellar one step deep. Klaas Reimer and Peter Friesen went to Annafeld[?]. 9. Sat. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], south wind, very cloudy towards evening. Heavy rain during the evening and night. From 2:30 until 5 o’clock in the morning, we heard very loud cracks from the ice in the creek. The water has risen so high where we live, and the ice is rumbling [Tosten] and is lying on the other bank [auf jenseit uhr liegen blieb]. 10. Sun. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.]. There was no service. Forenoon some sunshine, but it rained often from noon until evening. The creek covered the pasture with ice1 and chunks of wood and bushes. The bushes were under water. 11. Mon. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day 1 degree [34° F.]. The water was still high. Klaas Reimer and Peter Friesen came home. They said they stayed dry [mit Troch über] crossing the creek. 12. Tues. Morning −4 degrees [23° F.], day 0 degrees [32° F.]. Martin Klassen of Annafeld had to cross the creek with a canoe [Kripe, lit. manger]. 13. Wed. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day −1 degree [30° F.], cloudy, south wind towards evening, night snowed. My wife was very cold _____ the legs and through the ______. 14. Thurs. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day −1½ degrees [29° F.], calm, cloudy. Johann Reimers' 4–year-old cow calved for the first time and had a heifer. At 4 o’clock in the evening the old Siemens' Elisabeth2 died. She was 24. 15. Fri. Morning −6 degrees [18° F.], day −2 degrees [28° F.], partly clear, calm. I looked at the creek and the ice. People are crossing the creek at Sawitzki,3 There was no good water.[?] 16. Sat. Morning −10½ degrees [8° F.], day −6 degrees [18° F.], clear, strong northeast wind. There is a path through the ice by the creek. Heinrich Brandt and Peter Friesen crossed[?] the ice. January [1871], Page 26 17. Sun. Morning −12 degrees [5° F.], day −7 degrees [16° F.], clear, northeast wind. Peter Friesen's load in a wagon, which had stayed on the road for 10 days beyond the creek, was brought across the creek. Abraham Penner came here and spent the night. The service was in Rosenfeld. No one from here was there. The Siemens’ Elisabeth was buried.

1 Mennonite villages had a common pasture area; and when the creek overflowed its banks and then subsided, it left the broken river ice behind on the common pasture area. 2 Elisabeth Siemens #1006648 (ABT 1847- 1871). 3 Not identified, but apparently a landowner who sold or leased land to Mennonites. 38

18. Mon. Morning −10 degrees [10° F.], day −9 degrees [12° F.], clear, north wind. A new edition of the song book has been sent off to Odessa1 for printing. Our Penners from Rosenfeld went home in the forenoon. She was very depressed again. Our Friesens’ cow kicked the bucket [krepiert]. 19. Tues. Morning −13 degrees [3° F.], day −10 degrees [10° F.], clear, north wind. In many places it is possible to cross the Busuluk River. In the morning it was ______. 20. Wed. Morning −8 degrees [14° F.], day −4 degrees [23° F.], partly cloudy, snowed. On 17 January for the first time, Johann Reimer sold a mare for 40 rubles. 21. Thur. Morning −12 degrees [5° F.], day −6 degrees [18° F.], clear, calm. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof visited here, as did also Abraham Friesens of Rosenfeld. Abraham Reimer brought a where here. 22. Fri. Morning −15½ degrees [−3° F.], day −10 degrees [10° F.], clear, calm. Johann Reimer and Peter Reimer went by wagon to Nikopol. Wheat brought 10 rubles. Abraham Penners were here visiting. Oats[?] brought 3 rubles 60 kopecks. ___ 23 ____. 23. Sat. Morning −14 degrees [0° F.], day −9 degrees [12° F.], calm, clear. Peter Reimer and Johann Reimer came back from Nikopol in the evening. 24. Sun. Morning −12 degrees [5° F.], day −8 degrees [14° F.]. Our Abraham Penners of Rosenfeld visited us. They also wanted to go Peter Reimers. Mrs. Penner is still always depressed and very ______. Abraham Reimer’s wagon ______and ______came back from ______. During the night snowed heavily with north wind. 25. Mon. Morning −10 degrees [10° F.]. In many places there is lots of snow. Day −9 degrees [12° F.]. Can travel by sleigh. 26. Tues. Morning −14 degrees [0° F.], day −12 degrees [5° F.], strong east wind, very stormy. Goossen of Annafeld got engaged. A Jewish shoemaker was here and did some sewing. He was here 2 days and 2 night and made shoes. 27. Wed. Morning −14 degrees [0° F.], day −13 degrees [3° F.], day southeast wind, very stormy. Near the pig sty snowdrifts were 3 feet deep. 28. Thur. Morning −15 degrees [−2° F.], day −14 degrees [0° F.], again north wind, strong during the night with much blowing snow from night until noon. The old Peter Penner2 of Rosenfeld had his engagement. 29. Fri. Morning −20 degrees [−13° F.], day −14 degrees [0° F.], forenoon sunshine, calm. The window of the great room door was completely frosted. All the wells here are frozen. Afternoon cloudy, evening some snow.

1 Odessa was a port on the Black Sea about 185 miles southwest of Steinbach. It was Russia’s only major warm- water port, and its culture and architecture were heavily influenced by French and Italian cultures. In 1873, it had a population of 194,000; and in 1897 it was the fourth largest city in the Russian Empire. The Guardians Committee that oversaw the foreign settlers in Russia was located here, and many Germans had settled in the area around the city, so it became a German cultural center. Mennonites had printed several books here already. 2 Peter Penner #5491 got engaged to his fourth wife Elisabeth Friesen #5477 (1841-1881). 39

30. Sat. Morning −10 degrees [10° F.], day −3 degrees [25° F.], nearly calm, cloudy, snowed. Many snow drifts piled as high as the shoulders. Johann Reimer made a trap door. 31. Sun. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], day −1 degree [30° F.], cloudy, calm. The children of Rosenfeld were here for the night. My wife, Johann Reimer, and Klaas Reimer[?] were sick during the night. The service was here, but no one from Blumenhof came. February 1871, Page 27 1. Mon. Morning −4 degrees [23° F.], day −4 degrees [23° F.], cloudy, strong north wind. Peter Reimer and Johann Reimer went to Rosenfeld to our Penners. Every night she [Mrs. Penner] is depressed and worried and weak. Johann Reimer brought oat straw from Peter Reimer to his house. 2. Tues. Morning −14 degrees [0° F.], day −11 degrees [7° F.], mostly calm. Clear all day, but before night it snowed heavily. Need to travel. 3. Wed. Morning −19 degrees [−11° F.], day −14 degrees [0° F.]. The door window in the room did not freeze. It was clear and still. Peter Reimer went to Rosenfeld to Heinrich Friesens. 4. Thur. Morning −22 degrees [−18° F.], many places −23 degrees [−20° F.]. In Blumenhof nearly −25 degrees [−24° F.]. Here day −15 degrees [−2° F.], evening −19 degrees [−11° F.], clear, calm. Brought the calves into the corner room. Klaas Brandts visited here. 5. Fri. Morning −16 degrees [−4° F.], day −8 degrees [14° F.], partly cloudy. Snowed some in the evening. Evening –10 degrees [10° F.]. 6. Sat. Morning −7 degrees [16° F.], day +1 degree [34° F.], cloudy in the afternoon and evening. Snowed during the night. Our children of Rosenfeld were here at Toewses. Also Abraham Reimer of Blumenhof was here. 7. Sun. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], day +2 degrees [36° F.], cloudy. Snowed in the evening. Johann Reimers and Klaas Reimers went to Abraham Reimers in Blumenhof to visit. 8. Mon. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day 0 degrees [32° F.], cloudy, west wind, snow. Door ______somewhat. Our Abraham Penners of Rosenfeld were here. The old Penner of Rosenfeld is now married. Also Cornelius Goossen of Annafeld. 9. Tues. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.], clear, nearly calm, mild. Much melting. The birds began to sing. Our Abraham Friesens of Rosenfeld were here. Took the calves from the house to the barn. 10. Wed. Morning −9 degrees [12° F.], day +3 degrees [25° F.], cloudy, calm, snowed heavily. On the return trip from Kharkov1 some 40 men and 40 horses are said to have frozen to death, and 7 Russian workers are said to have frozen to death on the road near Yekaterinoslav. 11. Thur. Morning −5 degrees [21° F.], day 0 degrees [32° F.], partly cloudy, calm. The wheat sold for 10 rubles 50 kopecks. Toews of here went with 2 chetverti [12 bushels] of wheat to Nikopol and sold it for 10 rubles 50 kopecks. A day earlier wheat sold for 11 rubles.

1 Kharkov was a city 175 miles northeast of Steinbach. In 1861, it had a population of 50,000; and in 1897, it was the eighth largest city in the Russian Empire. It was a major center of industry and culture. 40

12. Fri. Early morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day +2 degrees [36° F.], mostly cloudy, snowing. Johann Reimers and Mrs. Toews went to Rosenfeld to our children Abraham Friesens and the Ungers.1 Also Klaas Brandts took a trip from the 10th to the 11th to Heubuden. 13. Sat. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +3 degrees [39° F.], cloudy, wind mostly from the west, rained. Thawed in the afternoon. Klaas Reimer’s cow calved. 14. Sun. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], very cloudy, day +3 degrees [39° F.], strong northwest wind. Much thawing. The creek has a lot of water, so that no one could go through it. We had ______with the Heubudners2 and with our children in Rosenfeld. February [1871], Page 28 15. Mon. Morning −4 degrees [23° F.], at sunrise −3 degrees [25° F.]. Weather changed during the day. Was +2 degrees [36° F.], mostly cloudy, calm. In the morning Abraham Friesens of Rosenfeld were here. 16. Tues. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.], very cloudy, some rain with a south wind. Peter Reimer sold his barn and cottage location [Kat städe] to Siemens with half his farm. On Monday it was sealed [lasten] and signed. 17. Wed. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], forenoon +3 degrees [39° F.], rained often during the night. The water rose very high – to its highest in the early morning. They had to scoop water out of the semlin.3 The herdsman moved into the village.4 Afternoon snowed often, −6½ degrees [17° F.]. 18. Thur. Morning −8 degrees [14° F.], day −1 degree [30° F.]. We visited at Toewses. Water and much ice flowed in the creek. 19. Fri. Morning −5 degrees [21° F.], day +1 degree [34° F.], very cloudy, calm. Martin Klassen, Peter Reimer, and Johann Reimer went fishing at Annafeld, but they did not catch any fish. Johann Reimers visited Cornelius Friesens in Annafeld. They went in the ______. 20. Sat. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day +1½ degrees [35° F.], a little sunshine, very cloudy, very calm all day. Johann Reimer rode to Rosenfeld through the creek at Sawitzki’s, and the water was up to the horse’s belly. And Penner of Rosenfeld was here. 21. Sun. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], day +1 degree [34° F.], nearly calm, partly clear. There was a brotherhood meeting5 in Rosenfeld about Johann Friesen, Heinrich Friesen, and

1 David Unger #6589 (1830-1906) and Maria Warkentin #6590 (1825-1885). 2 Perhaps his brother Klaas F. Reimer and some of his children who lived in Heubuden. 3 A semlin was a half-dugout, sod house. 4 The herdsman, usually a hired Russian or Ukrainian, lived in a sod hut at the end of the village. Apparently it flooded, so they had to get the water out of his house and move him and his family into the village. 5 The highest governing body of Mennonite congregations was the meeting of all male members. There were two Kleine Gemeinde congregations, one that met in Rosenfeld and Steinbach and another that met in Heubuden. Members who were accused of sin had to appear before the brotherhood meeting. There were several possible outcomes – the brotherhood meeting might reprove or excommunicate the member or the member might explain the situation satisfactorily or confess the sin. If he confessed, he was accepted back as a member. Because of the tightness of relationships within the congregation, it was more common for an erring member to confess his sin and to be restored than to be excommunicated permanently. 41

Peter Brandt drinking wine on a trip.1 Also Abraham Friesen and Dirk Isaac in Heubuden.2 Our children of Rosenfeld were here visiting. 22. Mon. Early morning −1 degree [30° F.], at 8 o’clock −2 degrees [28° F.], day +1 degree [34° F.], north wind, mostly clear. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here visiting. 23. Tues. Morning −2½ degrees [26° F.], day +1 degree [34° F.], very cloudy, west wind. We and our Johann Reimers washed laundry. 24. Wed. Morning −5 degrees [21° F.], day −1 degree [30° F.], cloudy. Our Abraham Friesens of Rosenfeld were here and negotiated to buy our Peter Reimer’s farm. 25. Thur. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day +1 degree [34° F.], late evening +1 degrees [34° F.]. Our Abraham Friesens of Rosenfeld were here and bought Peter Reimers' barn and half of the farm for 2000 rubles, and [Peter Reimer bought] Abraham Friesens’ farm for 3000 [rubles].[?] 26. Fri. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], day +1½ degrees [35° F.], cloudy, mostly calm, east wind. Our Penners were here. I had some fever. 27. Sat. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +2 degrees [36° F.], very cloudy, completely calm. Our Johann Reimers and my wife went to Blumenhof to Abraham Reimers. 28. Sun. Morning −½ degree [31° F.], day +1½ degrees [35° F.], partly cloudy. The service was here. Only a few people present. Of our children only Abraham Friesens of Rosenfeld were here. But Heinrich Friesens of Rosenfeld caused us loss [uns Schaden machte] by joining the Heubudeners.3 March 1871, Page 29 1. Mon. Morning −2½ degrees [26° F.], day +1 degree [34° F.], partly clear, icy, icy cold northeast wind. My wife, Johann Reimers, and I visited Abraham Dycks in Annafeld. She was sick. Our Penners of Rosenfeld visited Peter Reimers. 2. Tues. Morning −½ degree [31° F.], day 0 degrees [32° F.], nearly completely cloudy, mostly calm, icy north wind. Martin Warkentins4 and Mrs. Ratzlaff5 of Heubuden were here for dinner. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here too. He had trouble with the wagon.

1 Kleine Gemeinde members and Mennonites in general were not teetotalers. Drinking privately or in small social groups was acceptable, but drinking in public was frowned upon, and drunkenness was forbidden. 2 There are too many Friesens to be sure who the wayward members were, but the most likely candidates are two brothers Abraham Friesen #3669 (1833-1903) and Heinrich Friesen #3672 (1836-1900), their cousin Peter Brandt #4081 (1848-1930), Abraham Friesen’s father-in-law Dietrich Isaac #63976 (ABT 1819-1879), and Johann T. Friesen #3826 (1849-1909). 3 There had been a bad split among the KG in the late 1860s with each group excommunicating the other’s leaders. One group met in Rosenfeld/Steinbach and the other in Heubuden. By 1870, the split had been healed, but the two groups continued to meet separately. Clearly not all was forgotten, as comments such as this one demonstrate. But there were marriages between the two groups, and people moved between the two colonies in North America. 4 Martin Warkentin (1824-1891) and Anna Dueck #4341 (1827-1892). 5 Widow Anna Harms #322467 (1808-1874), mother of Anna Dueck, Mrs. Martin Warkentin. 42

3. Wed. Morning −3½ degrees [24° F.], day −1 degree [30° F.], partly clear, cold northeast wind. The water in the creek has risen by 1½ feet since Monday. 4. Thur. Morning −2½ degrees [26° F.], day +½ degree [33° F.], cloudy, cold. We visited the Toewses. Our Abraham Friesens and our Penners were also at Toews. Friesen said that he cancelled his deal.1 5. Fri. Morning −1½ degrees [29° F.], day +2 degrees [36° F.], cloudy, southeast wind. Snowed almost all day. In the evening the ground was almost completely white, night +1 degree [34° F.]. 6. Sat. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], almost completely clear, calm. On Friday the school exams took place. There were 3 teachers but only 10 children. 7. Sun. Morning −½ degree [31° F.], day +3½ degrees [40° F.], clear, mostly calm. No service. The creek has risen 1 arshin [28 inches].2 The water has remained high for 8 days. There was a lot of ice in our pastures and those of our Friesens and our Penners. 8. Mon. Morning −1½ degrees [29° F.], day +3½ degrees [40° F.]. [Water] was falling a little. In the morning there was a lot of ice in the pastures. East wind during the day. Since Sunday my wife has had fever once for two days and another time for 18 hours[?]. 9. Tues. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.], day clear, east wind. Surveyed 5 desiatin [13 acres] of land on each farm. Our 16 plots [Stück] are from each farm ______. 10. Wed. Morning −½ degree [31° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], cloudy, some east wind. On 3 March, the cows were taken to pasture to the bulls.3 11. Thur. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day +3 degrees [39° F.], partly clear, north wind. Peter Penner, Unger, and Martin Klassen of Annafeld were going over the creek and fell into the Busuluk. 12. Fri. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +4½ degrees [42° F.], north wind, evening cold. Klassen and Peter Friesen of here each sowed 1 morgen [1.4 acres] of wheat and plowed. 13. Sat. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day +5½ degrees [44° F.], completely clear, nearly calm. At Sawitzki one could go through fairly well until the unteilg[?]. 14. Sun. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day +7 degrees [48° F.], clear, cold north wind. The service was at David Klassens4 in Heubuden. We had a service together with the Heubudners. Johann Friesen taught. The children of Rosenfeld were here.

1 See 25 February 1871. 2 The arshin is an obsolete Russian unit of measure equal to 28 inches or 71 cm, 3 The cows were being bred with the bulls. 4 David Klassen #6718 (1813-1900) and Aganetha Brandt #6719 (1816-1904). The KG had no church building at this point, so they met in the barns of members. David Klassen must have had one of the largest barns of all the KG members since the joint group could fit in his barn. 43

15. Mon. Morning +½ degree [33° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], afternoon cloudy, cold east wind. My wife went along with Heinrich Brandt to our Friesens in Rosenfeld. Johann Reimer and Toews each got 2 loads of hay from Biletinck[?]. 16. Tues. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.]. Heavy snow during the night. Heavy snow in the morning until noon, rained in the evening. On 11 March our cow had a bull calf. Klaas Friesen1 died on 8 March at 6 o’clock and was buried on 10 March. He was 53 years old. March [1871], Page 30 17. Wed. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], afternoon cloudy, south wind, nearly calm. Here they began to seed and plow. Mrs. Johann Friesen2 died in Rosenfeld at 6 o’clock in the morning. 18. Thur. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.]. A good deal of snow during the night, such a deep snow that people could go by sleigh until noon. Cloudy, rained in the evening. The landowners did not plow. Our Penners were here, and our Friesens came for faspa here and stayed overnight. 19. Fri. Morning +½ degree [33° F.], day +2 degrees [36° F.], mostly cloudy, north wind. Afternoon plowed a little, cold. Mrs. Johann Friesen was buried in Rosenfeld. She was 33 years, 9 months old. She was sick for 6 weeks but only seriously sick for 8 hours. 20. Sat. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], mostly cloudy but clear during the day, nearly calm, south wind. Much plowing was done. Very cloudy in the evening. Digging in the gardens in some places here. 21. Sun. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +7 degrees [48° F.]. Our Abraham Friesens and our Penners of Rosenfeld are here, and Johann [Reimers] of Rosenfeld were in Heubuden. It was discussed that we would always have a joint[?] service. 22. Mon. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +9 degrees [52° F.]. The stork has returned. Here much plowing and seeding was done. There is already very little frost in the earth. 23. Tues. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day up to +8 degrees [50° F.]. The earth is slightly frozen. Day +10 degrees [54° F.]. Klaas Reimer brought his clock here for cleaning. 24. Wed. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], cold north wind, day +7 degrees [48° F.], cold north wind. I cleaned Reimers' clock. We washed the floor and ceiling, and in the ______. 25. Thur. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.]. I finished cleaning the clock. Johann Friesen reported that in the future we will hold the service together with the Heubudners. There still is frost everywhere in the earth.

1 His first cousin and widower Klaas Friesen #1756 (1818-1871). 2 Elisabeth Klassen #3774 (1837-1871). 44

26. Fri. Good Friday. Morning degrees,1 day +10 degrees [54° F.], at 6 o’clock in the evening still 10 degrees [54° F.]. We had the joint service at the old Isaacs'2 place in Rosenfeld. The Heubudner Abraham Friesen preached. We were at our Friesens and our Penners. 27. Sat. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], afternoon clear, nearly calm. Yesterday Johann [Reimer] took ill at our Friesens with a high fever. Today Saturday he was very sick and lay in bed nearly all day. 28. Sun. Easter. Morning −½ degree [31° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], clear, mostly calm. The service was at Johann Friesens in Rosenfeld. Toews and I were there. There was a brotherhood meeting there. A good half of those from Heubuden were in the service and in the brotherhood meeting. 29. Mon. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], clear, calm. No service, but there was a service in Heubuden. None of ours were there. The joint services again seems to have had it because in the brotherhood meeting the majority did not vote for it. All the children were here. 30. Tues. Morning −½ degree [31° F.], day +14½ degrees [65° F.], some east wind. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here yesterday visiting. I also went with our Mrs. Reimer to Felsenbach for coffee and wine and also garlic [Schischke] for Johann Reimer. 31. Wed. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], very cloudy, rained in many places and also rained some here with some thunderstorms. The frogs began to croak on Monday[?]. Johann Reimer has improved slightly since Saturday, but he is still poor and very weak. April 1871, Page 31 1. Thur. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], cloudy and cold. Much plowing done. Our Johann Reimer has a sharp pain in his side and diarrhea very badly. He is fairly weak. 2. Fri. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.]. Johann Reimer got sicker again. He has to cough so much that he is sicker and weaker. Peter Reimer spent the night with him. 3. Sat. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +7 degrees [48° F.], rained from morning to noon, calm, very cloudy all day. Almost no plowing in the afternoon. Very cold north wind. Johann Reimer is sicker and weaker. Klaas Reimer and Penner spent the night. 4. Sun. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], clear. No service. But the children of Rosenfeld were here. Johann Reimer improved, but toward evening and during the night he was much weaker. Toews stayed with him for the night. 5. Mon. Morning −1½ degrees [29° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], late afternoon +8 degrees [50° F.], cold southeast wind, clear. Until 8 o’clock in the morning, Johann Reimer was so

1 Abraham Reimer marked Good Friday and Easter with blue ink. No morning temperature given. 2 Dietrich Isaac #63976 (ABT 1819-1879) and Anna Penner #56106 (b. ABT 1819). 45

sick for 3 hours that he was very close to death. During the day he was a little better but still very sick. Our Penners of Rosenfeld were here for night. 6. Tues. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], toward evening +8 degrees [50° F.], cloudy, rained in the evening. Johann Reimer was much better, but he can only urinate weakly. 7. Wed. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +7 degrees [48° F.]. Rained during the night and rained heavily from morning until noon. They plowed a little. Afternoon cloudy, cold north wind. Johann Reimer can urinate. Plowed in the afternoon. 8. Thur. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], evening +8 degrees [50° F.], south wind, cold. On 1 April, Johann Reimer’s cow calved a heifer. The swallows have been here since 28 March, also snakes. We saw swallows here also. Abraham Reimer was plowing here. 9. Fri. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], evening +10 degrees [54° F.], southwest wind, clear. I was in Annafeld at Martin Klassens. Got some wheat and seeded and also corn. Johann Reimer is improving on the whole and is somewhat better and also is urinating. 10. Sat. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], rained a little, day clear, calm, south wind, +16 degrees [68° F.]. Saturday noon 8 o’clock1 +12 degrees [59° F.]. Klassen2 of here finished plowing and sowing on the 8th, Janzen3 on the 9th, and Peter Reimer and Klaas Brandt have finished plowing and sowing. 11. Sun. Early morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], late evening +10 degrees [54° F.], rained late afternoon with heavy thunderstorm. Rainbow stood in the west. The service was here. The Rosenfeld children were here. Abraham Reimers were at Toewses. 12. Mon. Morning +7 degrees [48° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.], cloudy all around but clear here, completely calm. On the 9th and 10th, Johann Reimer plowed and sowed. Today Johann Reimer sowed. Jacob Barkmans of Molotschna came to Peter Friesens. 13. Tues. Early morning +8 degrees [50° F.], at 8 o’clock +12 degrees [59° F.], then +18 degrees [72° F.], evening still 12 +degrees [59° F.]. In Rosenfeld +19 degrees [75° F.]. Still had wheat to plant, finished plowing. Calm, clear. Everyone is plowing. 14. Wed. Morning +9 degrees [52° F.], by noon +13 degrees [61° F.], late afternoon +15 degrees [66° F.], cloudy, calm. Heavy rain during the night. Old Jacob Barkman of Rosenfeld was here yesterday. Today I was at Peter Friesens of here, as were Mrs. Jacob Barkman4 of Waldheim and her daughter.

1 Probably 8 o’clock in the evening. 2 Jacob Klassen #6390. 3 Cornelius Janzen #6468. 4 Elisabeth (Braun) Barkman #5721 (b. ABT 1822). 46

15. Thur. Early morning +9 degrees [52° F.], later +13 degrees [61° F.]. Rained often during the night, cloudy, a little south wind. Plowed a lot for 8 days. I brought 2 animals here. We and Johann Reimer set out potatoes and plowed and finished planting everything. April [1871], Page 32 16. Fri. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], often cloudy, rained a little. Set out potatoes at the house and completely finished harrowing.1 Toews finished plowing and sowing. 17. Sat. Morning +7 degrees [48° F.], day +13 degrees [61° F.], nearly calm, west wind. Toews finished harrowing. On the night of the 15th, the horses were tended to because the stallions were left in the herd. The stallions and ______were gelded.2 Planted beans and melons. 18. Sun. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], calm. Elder Wiebe3 and Cornelius Enns of Crimea were here visiting and stayed for 8 days. Nearly all the grain is green. 19. Mon. Morning +7 degrees [48° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.], often cloudy, completely calm, light south wind. I was at Cornelius Friesens in Annafeld. Johann Reimer was outside in the garden hoeing[?]. Peter Reimer spent Friday and Saturday in Nikopol’. 20. Tues. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], clear, calm. We planted melons on the prairie ½ morgen [0.7 acres] tract. I was in the fields. Many finished planting millet and melons. I also went with Klaas Reimer to Must[?] to plant and harrow. 21. Wed. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.]. Toews finished planting potatoes. Johann Reimer planted millet and harrowed. People finished [planting] melons and millet. Peter Reimers moved to their farm. Siemens went to Molotschna. The calves died. 22. Thurs. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.], rained here, some thunderstorms. Klaas Reimer and Heinrich Brandt went to Nikopol’. The wheat was 10 rubles 25 kopecks. The potatoes were 8 rubles per chetvert’ [6 bushels]. 23. Fri. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], cloudy, some wind, cold. Our Mrs. Penner was here in the forenoon. I plowed the old depression. Klaas Reimer and Brandt came home from Nikopol’. 24. Sat. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +13 degrees [61° F.]. Rained heavily on our fields. Peter Reimers moved their things to their farm on the 19th. Johann Reimer sold a cow for 34 rubles.

1 They plowed the garden and then harrowed it to break up the clods to make a good seedbed. 2 Young stallions were gelded if they were not intended to be bred – only the best stallions are bred to pass on the best genes. Also, geldings are easier to handle as work horses than stallions and even mares. 3 Jacob A. Wiebe #13273 (1836-1921) was elder of a KG group in Crimea. This group eventually left the KG and became the Krimmer Mennonite Brethren and continued to be led by Jacob Wiebe. 47

25. Sun. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], cloudy, rained. Rained heavily nearly everywhere. Service in Rosenfeld. Johann Reimer was outside all day. Was at Klaas Reimers on the 24th. 26. Mon. Morning +7 degrees [48° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.]. Rained some here, rained heavily nearly everywhere at _____. Very bright rainbow. Toews finished planting potatoes. Johann Reimer went with him to the fields. He is nearly well. He was sick[?] for 4 weeks. 27. Tues. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], toward morning +1 degree [34° F.]. There was a little frost on the ground. Day +12 degrees [59° F.]. Our Abraham Friesens and Abraham Penners of Rosenfeld were here. We went with them to Rosenfeld. 28. Wed. A little frost towards morning. At sunrise +2 degrees [36° F.], day +11 degrees [57° F.], cloudy, cold wind. My wife and I were at Johann Friesens. The brothers–in–law helped Peter Reimer tear down his barn. On Monday the cuckoo returned. 29. Thur. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], morning rainy and cold wind, day +8 degrees [50° F.]. I was at Klaas Friesens for a little while. I went with them to Steinbach. There Peter's barn was raised on his farmyard. It was cold with a cold wind. 30. Fri. A little frost early in the morning. Day +10 degrees [54° F.], very cold and rainy. Mrs. Martin Barkman1 has been very sick for 14 days. On 3 May in Rosenfeld and many places in the fields cut[?] hay. May 1871, Page 33 1. Sat. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], cloudy, cold wind. Heavy rain and much hail, violet thunderstorms. Several in Blumenhof were struck. Brother Klaas Reimer was here and in Rosenfeld. 2. Sun. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], cold wind. The service was here. Only a few were here. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here. Then we went to Heubuden with Johann Friesen. 3. Mon. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +11 degrees [57° F.], cloudy, cold. Klaas Reimer rolled the fields some at several places. Johann Reimer and others were began spreading manure. 4. Tues. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], partly cloudy, calm, afternoon mild. Towards evening I went to Rosenfeld and stayed overnight there. 5. Wed. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], cloudy, calm. I came home at noon. Heavy rain in the afternoon. Johann Reimers went to the annual market. 6. Thur. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], mild. Service in Rosenfeld. Johann Reimers came home in the afternoon. They spent the night in Blumenhof. They brought things to sew from Johann Friesen of Rosenfeld.2

1 His sister Margaretha Reimer #3948. 2 His wife Elisabeth was a seamstress. 48

7. Fri. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.]. Johann Reimers and Toewses went to Abraham Reimer in Blumenhof. They want to rent[?] his covered wagon to go to Molotschna. 8. Sat. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +13 degrees [61° F.], rained heavily during the night and in the morning. Our Abraham Friesens of Rosenfeld were here. An Oreischer[?] was here with his goods. Siemens came home on the 5th.1 9. Sun. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], clear, mild. Johann Reimers and Toewses went to Rosenfeld at 8:30 in the morning. Johann Friesen and Toewses went to Molotschna. Johann Reimers went to Neuanlage. Penner was at our place. 10. Mon. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], clear, calm. Late afternoon +13 degrees [61° F.], cold wind, rain. Klaas Reimer and my wife went to Rosenfeld to the Penners. 11. Tues. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], until noon clear, nearly calm. Rained in the afternoon here, all around, and toward Hochstadt. Water is running and there were some thunderstorms. Klaas Reimer and I went to Marienthal to Martin Barkman and arrived at 10:45. Reimer brought 7 Kul[?] of flour from Friedensfeld. 12. Wed. Morning +7 degrees [48° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], clear, calm, rained in places. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here. We did some fishing with them after faspa but got little. 13. Thur. Morning +9 degrees [52° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], fairly clear, mild. Johann Reimers went to Friedensfeld and got 3 Kul[?] of wheat flour from the Goossens.2 Also they were at Martin Barkmans in Marienthal. 14. Fri. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +19½ degrees [76° F.], clear, nearly calm. At some places it was +20 degrees [77° F.], evening +14 degrees [64° F.]. Lightning in the evening. My wife made a cupful of ointment for my foot. 15. Sat. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], completely cloudy nearly all day with a cool north wind, day +17 degrees [70° F.]. In many places are cutting much hay or Medel[?]. Several from Molotschna were at Siemens here in Steinbach this week. 16. Sun. Pentecost. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.]. Abraham and Johann Friesen came to the house from Molotschna at 8:30 in the morning. The service was here. My wife, Johann Reimers, Klaas Brandts, and Klaas Reimers were at Siemens in the service. The children were here. May [1871], Page 34 17. Mon. Pentecost. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +17 degrees [70° F.], calm, clear. The service was in Rosenfeld. Johann Reimers and my wife were there. I was 7 days and 7 nights at Toewses. Heinrich Friesen was accepted into the Gru nfeld congregation.

1 He left for Molotschna on 21 April. 2 Not identified. 49

18. Tues. At sunrise a little frost, so the beans, potatoes and melons froze a little here and at places around. Day +16½ degrees [69° F.]. Rained heavily here and in many places in the afternoon. Peter Reimers and Toews are going to Blumenhof and ______to Rosenfeld. 19. Wed. Morning cloudy, very foggy, +8 degrees [50° F.], day +18½ degrees [74° F.], clear, afternoon strong south wind. Rained in places with thunderstorms. Late afternoon +19 degrees [75° F.]. My wife went to the Dycks in Annafeld. 20. Thur. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], rained during the night with thunderstorms, day +17 degrees [70° F.]. Yesterday Johann Reimer came home from Nikopol’. He brought 1 load of wood. He was on the road for 2 days. 21. Fri. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.]. Toews and I went to Rosenfeld to our Penners. I stayed overnight. Yesterday the old Rempels1 from Molotschna came. Today in the fields to Blumenhof in the evening. Had __ 18 ____ 3 days ___. 22. Sat. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], afternoon +20 degrees [77° F.], calm, clear, evening +18 degrees [72° F.] I went to Pelz[?] to the house. My wife went to Dycks in Annafeld. I was also there a little. Peter Reimers went with us also. 23. Sun. Early morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], late afternoon +20 degrees [77° F.], evening +16 degrees [68° F.], southeast wind. The old Rempels were here overnight. The children of Rosenfeld were here. The melons are growing. 24. Mon. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], morning cloudy, day +21 degrees [79° F.], very cloudy, Late afternoon rained, water was standing at places, storm from the east. Evening +13 degrees [61° F.], calm, cloudy, mild. On Saturday lined the cellar [Kelt] with stones. On Monday oiled [verschmiert] the cellar and dwelling house.2 25. Tues. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], clear, nearly calm. Mrs. Abraham Dyck went to Annafeld late afternoon. The old Peter Rempels3 were there also. 26. Wed. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], day +19 degrees [75° F.], clear, calm. Abraham Reimer of Blumenhof took us to Blumenhof for faspa. Then she was sick. 27. Thur. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], clear. I visited brother Klaas Reimer for night. Very mild. The younger Johann Friesen4 of Rudnerweide was there. 28. Fri. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], east wind. Rained in Blumenhof. Toewses were in Blumenhof at Abraham Reimers. We went home with them.

1 Gerhard Rempel #5849 and Elisabeth Friesen #3673. 2 Earlier in winter their cellar had flooded and stones had fallen down. See 16 December 1871. 3 His wife’s brother Peter Rempel #5847 (1814-1872) and Elisabeth Reimer #5853 (1815-1879). Mrs. Abraham Dyck (Elisabeth Rempel #5857) was their daughter. 4 Not identified. 50

29. Sat. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.]. Rained here and many other places. Johann Friesen1 and Peter Friesen2 of Molotschna and the old Abraham Friesen3 of Rosenfeld were visiting here for faspa. 30. Sun. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.]. We were in Rosenfeld at Johann Friesens in the service. Peter Friesen of Molotschna preached in the morning and afternoon.4 We were at our Penners. 31. Mon. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.]. Peter Friesen of Molotschna and I spent the night at Abraham Friesen in Rosenfeld. Peter Friesen went home at 6 o’clock in the morning, and Abraham Friesen and Abraham Penner went to Molotschna[?]. June 1871, Page 35 1. Tues. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], rained here ______many places. I went and came home at noon. I spent 2 nights at Abraham [Friesen]. 2. Wed. Early morning +10 degrees [54° F.], afternoon and late afternoon +19½ degrees [76° F.], very cloudy, calm, and rained nearly everywhere. Abraham Reimer of Blumenhof were here visiting. 3. Thur. Morning +9 degrees [52° F.], day +19 degrees [75° F.]. Rained here ______with heavy thunderstorms, rained nearly all day and severe thunderstorms in places with hail. Johann Reimer left early for Nikopol’. Toews and Klaas Reimer left yesterday and came back with lumber today. 4. Fri. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], clear, cool wind, evening +10 degrees [54° F.]. Jacob Barkmans of Waldheim came here to Peter Friesens. Klaas Reimer brought 3 funta [3 pounds] coffee and 2 funta [2 pounds] sugar from Nikopol’. 5. Sat. Early morning +3 degrees [39° F.], some places +1 degree [34° F.], some frost, day +18 degrees [72° F.], clear, nearly calm. Abraham Friesens and Mrs. Penner of Rosenfeld were here. 6. Sun. Early morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], clear, calm. Johann Reimer went with the long wagon to Scharlach. He brought a servant. We were at Toewses.[?] The Barkmans of Waldheim came.[?] 7. Mon. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], 8 o’clock in the evening +18 degrees [72° F.], clear, calm. The first rye has been blooming for 14 [days], and the barley shoots are appearing now as is the rye and the shoots of wheat.

1 Probably Johann Friesen #2608 (1808-1872). 2 Peter Friesen #3753 (1812-1885), a minister of the Pordenau congregation in Molotschna. 3 Abraham Friesen #3751 (1807-1891). There were a number of Kleine Gemeinde people from Molotschna visiting Borosenko Colony. 4 At important services, someone would preach in the morning, the congregation would eat together, and then someone would preach in the afternoon. 51

8. Tues. At 7 o’clock in the morning +20 degrees [77° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], partly cloudy, south wind. The whole village decided that it would be appropriate [geburt] to make a dike [bering] around the smithy. 9. Wed. Morning +18 degrees [72° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], rained in places and some here. I looked at the grain on the flat land in the forenoon. The old Barkmans of R[u ckenau?] were here for faspa. I also went to Peter Friesens after faspa. The young[?] were ______. 10. Thur. Morning +17 degrees [70° F.], forenoon +23 degrees [84° F.], late afternoon +20 degrees [77° F.], but at noon +17 degrees [70° F.]. Cloudy nearly everywhere, calm, heavy rain here at noon. Heavy thunderstorms nearly all evening. The Barkmans of Waldheim went home. 11. Fri. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +24 degrees [86° F.], late evening +14 degrees [64° F.], nearly calm, afternoon cloudy. Late afternoon had such heavy rain here and more places as we have not had in 6 or 8[?] years. Yes, for half an hour we had such a storm. For 1 hour in the evening much water [was running] in the lane and ______. It rained nearly everywhere. There were 6 inches of water in our cellar. Were 80 ______flow ______. 12. Sat. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], mostly clear, north wind. Rained in the evening rain, heavy lightning in the southeast, thunderstorms half the night. Johann Reimer, my wife, and Toewses were in Rosenfeld for visiting. They came back late. They went crossed [the river] at Sawitzki’s. 13. Sun. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +18½ degrees [74° F.], mostly clear in forenoon, a little rain, north wind. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof and the children of Rosenfeld were here. Martin Barkman was at Toewses overnight. 14. Mon. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], at 8 o’clock +20 degrees [77° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], north wind. At 8 o’clock in the evening +20 degrees [77° F.], clear. Rained late afternoon, rained in some places. 15. Tues. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], calm, cloudy, rained in places. There should have been a service here on Sunday, but there was not. Were at Heinrich Brandts for some sweet spirits. On Sunday at 7 o’clock in the morning. Johann Friesen1 went to Molotschna for eight days and was engaged on the 12th. June [1871], Page 36 16. Wed. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.]. Had a look at the grain. The first grain has blossomed. The rye is at the half-grain stage [das halbe korn]. The barley is starting to get the first good shoots [die Gerst fing die Erste gut an zu reisen]. Peter Reimer was in Nikopol’. I made a rocking cradle. Calm and mild. In Muntau and in Tiege in Molotschna in 4 farmyards, one was struck [with lightning?].[?]

1 Johann Friesen #2608 (1808-1872) was engaged to his fourth wife Anna Isaak #2606 (1807-1873), the widow of Johann Wiebe. The dates of travel and the duration of his trip do not add up. 52

17. Thur. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +19 degrees [75° F.], calm, partly cloudy. I went to Rosenfeld and stayed overnight at our Friesens. Johann Friesen of Rosenfeld married a widow of 64 years, a Mrs. Wiebe, in Muntau[?] in Molotschna. The wedding was on the 15th, and they came home on the 17th. 18. Fri. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.]. It rained so hard on the 17th that the ditches were full. There was heavy rain here and nearly everywhere around also had thunderstorms. It rained on Friday, also a little here. I was here at Penners, and then I went home. 19. Sat. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], north wind, mostly cloudy, rained. My brother Klaas Reimer came from Blumenhof and was here for a little while in the afternoon. We went to have a look at the grain with Cornelius Toews from Gru nfeld. 20. Sun. Early morning +14 degrees [64° F.], at 8 o’clock in the morning +20 degrees [77° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], late afternoon +20 degrees [77° F.], later +14 degrees [64° F.]. The service was here. Johann Friesens were here ______. All children, except Penners, were here. 21. Mon. Morning +17 degrees [70° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], partly cloudy, windy ______. Peter Friesen of here began cutting barley. It was fully half ripe. In Blumenhof rye and barley are being cut. 22. Tues. Early morning +16 degrees [68° F.], at 7:30 +22 degrees [82° F.], day +26½ degrees [92° F.], 8 o’clock in the evening +20 degrees [77° F.], nearly calm. Rained with thunderstorms here. In Blumenhof and many other places they had the most rain of any time this year. 23. Wed. Morning +18 degrees [72° F.], day +25 degrees [88° F.], evening +18 degrees [72° F.], some southeast wind. Heavy rain in Blumenhof again. We were in Rosenfeld at our Penners on the dike [bering] around his house and barn. 24. Thur. Morning +19 degrees [75° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], clear, calm. Abraham Reimers came here visiting with Jacob Wienses1 of Bainitzke[?] in the forenoon. We were at Klaas Reimers today in his smithy. Monday he started shoeing horses.2 25. Fri. Morning +20 degrees [77° F.], day +24 degrees [86° F.]. We looked at the grain. In the afternoon we went to Annafeld to Abraham Dycks. His barley was ripe. Planted cucumbers. 26. Sat. Morning +18 degrees [72° F.], day +24 degrees [86° F.], clear, calm. Jacob[?] Wienses were here 2 nights. Then we went with them and Johann Reimer to Rosenfeld to our Friesens for dinner. We were at Penners.

1 Not identified. 2 Part of a blacksmith’s business was shoeing horses. In the wild horses generally walk on hard, dry soil, which produces tough hooves. Domesticated horses spend much of their time on soft soil and in moist conditions such as stables, which causes their hoofs to become softer. As a result, they need the protection of horseshoes to keep their hooves healthy. A blacksmith would shape a horseshoe, called a “hot shoe,” in his forge to the particular shape of horse’s hoof and then nail it to the insensitive part of the hoof. 53

27. Sun. Morning +20 degrees [77° F.], day +26 degrees [90° F.], clear, calm. I was at our Penners for night and came home after faspa. Klaas Reimers were here. Klaas Reimer and later his wife were at Toews visiting and for faspa. ______. 28. Mon. Morning +17 degrees [70° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], partly cloudy. Rained in places and some thunderstorms, north wind. Today Klaas Reimer [cut] rye. Toews and Johann Reimer [cut] barley. Johann Reimer, Heinrich Brandt, and Peter Reimer went to Nikopol’ on Sunday. Mrs. Peter Loewen1 died. She was nearly 34 years old. 29. Tues. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], evening +14 degrees [64° F.], some strong north wind, afternoon cloudy. In the evening rained in places. Johann Reimer had his rye cut. Our Abraham Friesens of Rosenfeld were here. Mrs. Loewen was buried in Hochstadt. 30. Wed. Early morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], almost always cloudy, rained, mild, nearly calm, north wind. Here have cut nearly all the rye and barley.2 For more than 8 days we have had green beans and for almost 14 days Sch______. July 1871, Page 37 1. Thur. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], east wind, mostly clear. Johann Reimer began cutting most of his barley and prepared the threshing floor. Wheat is starting to ripen. Klassen3 of here was cutting oats, but they are still green. 2. Fri. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +24 degrees [86° F.], late afternoon +20 degrees [77° F.], later still +14 degrees [64° F.], partly cloudy, east wind, nearly calm. Wheat is close to cutting. _____ really beginning to ripen. Peter Friesen started to cut barley. And today cut oats, they are ripe. 3. Sat. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], at 8 o’clock in the morning, +23 degrees [84° F.], day +25 degrees [88° F.], morning clear, afternoon very cloudy. A little east breeze, evening calm, at 5 o’clock still +25 degrees [88° F.]. Klaas Reimer cut his rye by evening, and began to cut barley. Johann Reimer’s barley is ripe. 4. Sun. Early morning +16 degrees [68° F.], at 9 o’clock +25 degrees [88° F.], day +26½ degrees [92° F.], 8 o’clock in the evening it was still +20 degrees [77° F.], calm, clear. Our Penner of here with Mrs. Friesen went to Nikopol’. The service[?] should be here. Johann Friesen has been sick for 8 days. 5. Mon. Morning +18 degrees [72° F.], day +26½ degrees [92° F.], late evening +15 degrees [66° F.]. Rained heavily at noon everywhere around here at 3 places, also thunderstorms.

1 Katharina Devehr #6547 (1838-1871). 2 Grain crops were cut with a scythe or a grain cradle and then tied into sheaves. The sheaves were stacked upright into a conical form called a shock, which allowed them to dry, and protected them from rodents until the harvesters could thresh them. Next the grain was collected at a threshing floor, where a threshing stone was drawn over the grain stalks to remove the grain from the heads. The threshing stone was an ancient tool used by many groups, but since Mennonites used it exclusively in North America (instead of the threshing flail), it came to be seen as a symbol of Mennonites. Next the grain had to be winnowed, to separate the chaff from the grain. Finally, the clean grain was bagged and either stored for the farmer’s own use or sold for cash. 3 Jacob Klassen #6390. 54

In Rosenfeld good ______and here also and cool west wind. On Saturday Johann Reimer cut all his rye and wheat. 6. Tues. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], clear, calm, some northwest wind. Johann Reimer has cut his barley and some wheat and oats. Here they are starting to bring wheat to the house. In the forenoon I was at the old Barkmans.1 Late afternoon I was at Johann Friesens 2 nights and 2 days in Rosenfeld. He was still sick. I came home. 7. Wed. At 7 o’clock in the morning +17 degrees [70° F.], day nearly +25 degrees [88° F.], at 8 o’clock in the evening +20 degrees [77° F.], clear, calm, _____. The majority are cutting wheat here. And some here have finished[?] some barley. Johann Reimer has measured over 8 chetvertei [48 bushels] barley. Johann Reimer and he brought fresh barley to the mill. 8. Thur. Morning +21 degrees [79° F.], day +26 degrees [90° F.], clear, calm, late afternoon partly cloudy, rained some at places, late evening +20 degrees [77° F.]. The water was +21 degrees [79° F.]. Es war gut zu Boden.[?] They are cutting a lot of wheat and oats. Toews is in Nikopol’, and Abraham Friesen is in Nikopol’. 9. Fri. At 6 o’clock in the morning +20 degrees [77° F.], noon +27 degrees [93° F.], afternoon cloudy, strong south wind. And rained here some and nearly and nearly everywhere from west to east.[?] Rained heavily in the evening, west wind, cool. Afternoon +18 degrees [72° F.], evening +20 degrees [77° F.]. Cut a lot of wheat. Some had up to 15 Russian workers who cost up to 3 rubles. 10. Sat. At 5 o’clock in the morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], north wind, clear, afternoon cloudy. I looked at the grain in fields and brought faspa to the reapers. These days I also repaired the well with a new crossbeam. Evening +15 degrees [66° F.]. Was warm for 8 days. ______. 11. Sun. Early morning +10 degrees [54° F.], at 8 o’clock +20 degrees [77° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], late evening +14 degrees [64° F.], clear, nearly calm. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here, and Abraham Friesens of Rosenfeld were here. Nearly all went to the village for reapers, who cost 2-3 rubles. July 1871, Page 38 12. Mon. Morning +18 degrees [72° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], late evening +18 degrees [72° F.], completely clear, nearly calm, a little north breeze. Started cutting wheat on the 8th. Johann Reimer has cut all the wheat. The Russian and the Prussian were sick. In the evening I went to Rosenfeld to Penners. 13. Tues. Early morning +20 degrees [77° F.], day +25 degrees [88° F.], completely clear, nearly calm, a little east breeze. A lot of wheat here and nearly everywhere and oats are being cut, but in Heubuden since the 10th they cut all their 2.[?] There are ripe beans. On the 12th, Mrs. Penner fell into the cellar and hurt herself badly. 14. Wed. Early morning +20 degrees [77° F.], day +26 degrees [90° F.], clear, late afternoon cloudy, nearly calm, south wind. A few have won the harvest. The reapers cost 2 rubles

1 Probably Martin Barkman #3982. 55

30 kopecks, the binders 1 rubles 25 kopecks. I was at Johann Friesens, and he was a little better. Wheat is being cut at all places. 15. Thur. Morning +18 degrees [72° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], mostly clear, southeast wind. I was at the old Barkmans, and they cooked green beans. In Blumenhof some have ______. Abraham Reimer was at Johann Friesens who is a little sick. Mrs. Penner is a little better. 16. Fri. Morning +20 degrees [77° F.], day +24 degrees [86° F.], clear, nearly calm, a little north breeze. A few in Rosenfeld have won the harvest. Here most of them fought in the evening. Went to Rosenfeld, some have a lot of wheat. A shepherd boy stole my knife. The wheat sells for 6 rubles. 17. Sat. Morning +18 degrees [72° F.], day +25 degrees [88° F.], clear, nearly calm. I came home from Rosenfeld, where I had been 5 days and nights at our Penners. Penners have won the harvest. So also our Friesens in Rosenfeld and nearly everyone here. Also Johann Reimers on Saturday. On Friday several here had gone ______. 18. Sun. Morning +20 degrees [77° F.], day +26 degrees [90° F.], clear, calm. Abraham Penners and Abraham Friesens of Rosenfeld were here at 7 o’clock in the morning. Also Klaas Reimers of Blumenhof were here.1 Klaas Reimer came home with Peter Friesen from Nikopol’. Peter Friesen2 of here sold 10 chetvertei [60 bushels] of fresh wheat in Nikopol’ for 7 rubles. 19. Mon. At 8 o’clock in the morning +24 degrees [86° F.], day +28 degrees [95° F.], at 8 o’clock in the evening still +24 degrees [86° F.], clear and calm. After faspa Johann Reimer started hauling wheat. They hauled until 8:30 in the evening and put it into shocks. It was very healthy. They hauled nearly all the grain. But in Annafeld they cut 12 desiatin [32 acres] of wheat, rye, barley, and oats. 20. Tues. Early morning +22 degrees [82° F.], day over +28 degrees [95° F.], late afternoon +26 degrees [90° F.], much later +24 degrees [86° F.], nearly clear, east wind. At 7:30 in the morning a daughter Elisabeth3 arrived at Johann Reimers. It was again an easy [birth]. One load remained at the house. He hauled 10 loads of wheat to the house. 21. Wed. Morning +20 degrees [77° F.], day +27 degrees [93° F.], rained in the afternoon and wet the dust, strong north wind. Rained in many places around. Tuesday I went with the Toews to Blumenhof to Abraham Reimers, who has been a little sick for three days and had pox on his foot, but he is much better. Wednesday started to haul wheat. Strong north wind.

1 The previous day, 17 July, had been his wife’s 54th birthday, so several of the children gathered to celebrate on Sunday. 2 Peter Friesen #3674 (1838-1900). 3 Elisabeth Reimer #6493 (1871-1874). 56

July 1871, Page 39 22. Thur. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], very cloudy, very strong north wind. Here two mills were milling. It was a great Russian holiday, but we did not observe it. Tuesday was not a holiday, but many Russians observed the holiday.1 23. Fri. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], clear, nearly calm. I helped Peter Reimer make a fanning mill.2 Johann Reimer hauled wheat sheaves to the house. He had 32 loads. In Annafeld and Ebenfeld they (and Russians in many places) still are cutting wheat. 24. Sat. Early morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], clear, nearly calm. Here most are hauling more grain to the house. Johann Reimer has finished hauling his rye and oats to the house. Martin Klassen of Annafeld is still cutting barley. A few are hauling wheat. 25. Sun. Early morning +16 degrees [68° F.], at 8 o’clock +20 degrees [77° F.], day +24 degrees [86 ° F.], at 8 o’clock in the evening +20 degrees [77° F.], clear, nearly calm, northeast wind. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here. Discussed going to Crimea.[?] Abraham Friesens and Mrs. Penner of Rosenfeld came here on the ladder wagon. Also the Dycks of Annafeld[?].3 26. Mon. Early morning +18 degrees [72° F.], day +27 degrees [93° F.], at 7 o’clock in the evening +25 degrees [88° F.], partly cloudy, foggy in the morning, sunny, east wind. On Sunday the wheat was priced at 6 rubles 50 kopecks and oats at 4 rubles. I repaired the well completely. Johann Friesen is very sick. Jsaak Plett4 was buried. He was 27 years old. He lived in Friedensfeld, [buried?] in Rosenfeld. 27. Tues. Early morning +20 degrees [77° F.], at 8 o’clock in the morning +24 degrees [86° F.], day +28 degrees [95° F.] and late evening +22 degrees [82° F.]. Johann Reimer cleaned out the well. There were 50 pails of mud and creatures.5 My wife’s health has been improving for a week. She was lying down for nearly half a day. Do not have one cartload, neglected.[?]

1 Reimer is annoyed at the Russians’ holiday because it came at the height of the harvest season, Mennonites worked hard every day except Sunday during harvest, but the Russian farm workers would be unavailable due to a day of feasting and heavy drinking and then recovery time. Mennonites typically were more prosperous than their Russian neighbors, so they hired many of them to work alongside them in the harvest. The holiday was Elijah’s Day (Il’in Den’), which occurred on 20 July. It was considered the start of the harvest season for Russians. Because the prophet Elijah had prayed to God and stopped the rain in Israel for 3 years and then prayed and it rained again, Russian peasants prayed to Elijah to give them rain or dry weather, depending on the needs of the crops. Reimer would have been appalled at praying to a man. 2 A fanning mill separated the grain from the chaff. From ancient times the threshed grain was cleaned by throwing up in the air so that the wind would blow away the lighter chaff and the heavier grain would fall back into the winnowing pan. However, a hand-cranked fanning mill used screens and a fan, which created an artificial “wind” to make this process much easier. 3 Probably Abraham Dueck #5858, and Elisabeth Rempel #5857, his wife’s niece 4 Isaac Plett #5936 (1844-1871). GM says that he died of typhus. 5 In February 1870, two cats had drowned in their well. 57

28. Wed. Morning +22 degrees [82° F.], day +27 degrees [93° F.], strong east wind for 2 days, hot wind. Partly cloudy late afternoon. Klaas Reimer of here is so sick that he hardly could go out for two days. Johann Reimer finished hauling oats. These days I looked after the beans, which are nearly ripe. 29, Thur. Morning +21 degrees [79° F.], day +27 degrees [93° F.], often +25 degrees [88° F.]. Increasing clouds during the day. Much lightning in the south during the evening. Frogs were hopping in the evening. East wind. Klaas Reimer had severe fever for over 3 hours until noon. After noon he could almost stand. During the day he stole some sleep. 30. Fri. Morning +22 degrees [82° F.], day +26 degrees [90° F.], late afternoon +25 degrees [88° F.], evening +24 degrees [86° F.], day nearly clear, a little wind. Johann Reimer and Heinrich Brandt came from Nikopol’ after 2 nights. Johann Reimer sold 6 chetvertei of oats [36 bushels] for 3 rubles 75 kopecks per chetvert’. Along with coffee, he brought raisins funt ______20 kopecks ______. 31. Sat. At 7 o’clock in the morning +18 degrees [72° F.], day +27 degrees [93° F.], nearly clear, nearly calm. Abraham Reimer of Blumenhof came here. On Friday Klaas Reimer had a little fever, but Saturday he had a high fever but somewhat ______. He is battling very much for life and vomiting ____. ______. August [1871], Page 40 1. Sun. Early morning +20 degrees [77° F.], at 8 o’clock +24 degrees [86° F.], day +26 degrees [90° F.], at 8 o’clock in the evening still +24 [86° F.], clear, calm. Had no visitors here. Klaas Reimer was a little sick but was up half of the time. Johann Reimer got his Russian laborer. 2. Mon. Morning +23 degrees [84° F.], day +27 degrees [93° F.], calm, clear. Klaas Reimer has a little fever, but was up most of the time. Mrs. Abraham Penner of Rosenfeld was here. She also was here for faspa. And got the threshing stone.1 3. Tues. At 8 o’clock in the morning +24 degrees [86° F.], day +28 degrees [95° F.], nearly calm, fairly cloudy. Klaas Reimer was here for a little while. He could haul a little grain. The school teacher was sick. 4. Wed. Early morning +20 degrees [77° F.], day +28 degrees [95° F.], evening +23 degrees [84° F.], nearly calm, afternoon cloudy. I went with Klaas Reimer for dinner to Rosenfeld to our Friesens. I was there for the night. He was hauling his oats home, and he hauled all of them. We threshed them. 5. Thur. At 7 o’clock in the morning +23 degrees [84° F.], day +28 degrees [95° F.]. In Rosenfeld it is +30 degrees [100° F.]. Evening +22 degrees [82° F.]. At places heavy rain, thunderstorms, some west wind. I had dinner at Johann Friesens, who is still always sick. He must sit while sleeping. Rosenfeld had a little rain.

1 A threshing stone was a long cylinder with seven large ridges on it that was pulled by a horse or ox over the grain stalks on a threshing floor. It was more efficient than the flail or the hooves of an animal. Even though it was an ancient invention, Mennonites used it so consistently that it became associated with them, especially once they emigrated to North America. 58

6. Fri. Early morning +16 degrees [68° F.], day +24 degrees [86° F.], nearly clear, calm, late afternoon +22 degrees [82° F.], at 8 o’clock in the evening +20 degrees [77° F.]. Brother Klaas Reimer was here yesterday. But I came home early evening from Rosenfeld from Abraham Penners. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof, Abraham Friesens, and Penners of Rosenfeld were also here. 7. Sat. Early morning +13 degrees [61° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], clear, some north wind. There was fire in Hochstadt at one farmyard and from the farmyard to the grain. Toewses were here yesterday. Johann Reimer, Heinrich Brandt, and Peter Reimer went to Nikopol’ with wheat. It sold for 8 rubles 25 kopecks. I picked all our beans. 8. Sun. Early morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], late afternoon +20 degrees [77° F.], later +16 degrees [68° F.], clear, some east wind. We went to Blumenhof to Abraham Reimers. Johann Reimer wanted to go to Heubuden to the Gru nfeld service.1 Brother Klaas Reimer was there too. 9. Mon Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], clear, nearly calm. People here hauled much wheat out. Last week they cut nearly all the millet. The watermelons have been ripe for 2 weeks. 10. Tues. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], at 8 o’clock in the morning +20 degrees [77° F.], day +24 degrees [86° F.], evening +20 degrees [77° F.], nearly clear, northeast wind. Klaas Reimer is still somewhat sick. On Saturday started to haul out wheat. Granddaughter Elisabeth2 took very sick. 11. Wed. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], afternoon partly cloudy, north wind. Klaas Reimer brought our granddaughter Elisabeth to our house. She is still always sick. August 1871, Page 41 12, Thur. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], clear, some clouds, north wind. Toews and Peter Reimer took wheat to Nikopol’. A chetvert’ [6 bushels] sold for from 8 rubles 20 kopecks to 8 rubles 50 kopecks. 13. Fri Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], at 8 o’clock +20 degrees [77° F.], day +24 degrees [86° F.], at 4 o’clock still +24 degrees [86° F.], late evening +16 degrees [68° F.]. Clear, nearly calm, some north wind. They built a stall in Nikopol’.3 14. Sat. Morning +18 degrees [72° F.], day +25 degrees [88° F.], clear, nearly calm, west wind. Earlier at 1:30 I went with Klaas Reimer to Nikopol’ to the annual fair. We got there about 7 o’clock in the evening. I was at the annual fair for two days. Toews, Peter Reimer, and Johann Reimer went also but with wheat. It sold for 8 rubles 40 kopecks. 15. Sun. Early morning +20 degrees [77° F.], at 8 o’clock +24 degrees [86° F.], day +28 degrees [95° F.], evening +20 degrees [77° F.], clear, calm. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here. Nearly all our kin were at the annual fair. There were nearly all kinds of fruit. There

1 The service has shifted from Rosenfeld/Steinbach to Gru nfeld. 2 His 13-year-old granddaughter Elisabeth W. Reimer #5789 (1858-1886). 3 They built a stall to sell their wheat at the annual fair in Nikopol’. 59

were ripe white grapes. From the area for 5 ______. We were on the road by late afternoon and got home at 10:30 in the evening. 16. Mon. Morning +7 degrees [48° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.], cloudy, north wind, evening +8 degrees [50° F.]. It was so cold that I had [to put on] more [clothes] for work. Johann Reimer hauled a lot of barley, as did other people. Some were cutting wheat. Had sweet spirits at Siemens. 17. Tues. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], at 8 o’clock in the morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day nearly +18 degrees [72° F.], north wind, cloudy. Johann Reimers and we went to our Abraham Friesens in Rosenfeld. They were winnowing their oats. On Saturday in Nikopol’, they gave our Abraham Penners 50 rubles as earnest money. 18. Wed. At 5 o’clock in the morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +17 degrees [70° F.], strong north wind. Cloudy and some rain in the afternoon that half-wet the dust. Rained in many places ______. In the morning and evening I wore stockings and long underwear, as did other people. Strong north wind. 19. Thur. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +17 degrees [43° F.], north wind, cloudy. Rained in the afternoon and half-wet the dust. In other places they had more rain. Johann Reimer is still hauling barley to Rosenfeld. Our Abraham Friesens began hauling out barley and wheat. 20. Fri. Early morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], north wind, cloudy. I went to Abraham Friesens in Rosenfeld. In the afternoon I visited Johann Friesens. He was better, but in the morning they said he had been near death. For faspa I was at our Penners. Johann Reimer cleaned wheat. I came home in the evening. 21. Sat. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], clear, some north wind. Klaas Reimer and Toews came back from Nikopol’. For wheat they got 8 rubles 40 kopecks up to [8 rubles] 50 kopecks. Johann Reimer cleaned wheat. They say some places had −1 degree [30° F.] this week. Yesterday Abraham Reimer of Blumenhof was here. 22. Sun. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.] and until late afternoon, evening +14 degrees [64° F.], clear, nearly calm. Johann Reimers and Heinrich Brandts attended the service in Gru nfeld. I had my start of the week to be faithful.1 My wife has sewed a vest. August [1871], Page 42 23. Mon Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +22½ degrees [83° F.], fairly calm, cloudy. Johann Reimer cleaned all his wheat and stored it upstairs, total 58 chetvertei [350 bushels]. The accurate amount [sollgenau] is 60 chetvertei [360 bushels]. The pile was a good 40 paces [around?] at the beginning. Abraham Friesens and Penners were here Sunday[?]. 24. Tues. Early morning +14 degrees [64° F.], at 8 o’clock +20 degrees [77° F.], day +24 degrees [86° F.], evening +20 degrees [77° F.], cloudy, afternoon rained some, half-wet the dust. At some places rained heavily, west wind, some thunderstorms late afternoon. Johann

1 It appears that he has quit attending the worship services and is having his personal service to start the week. 60

Reimer took 6 chetvertei [36 bushels] of wheat to Nikopol’. It sold for 8 rubles 70 kopecks up to 9 rubles.1 25. Wed. Early morning +16 degrees [68° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], evening +18 degrees [72° F.], cloudy, rained some here, strong thunderstorms and heavy lightning. Rained heavily all around here. Johann Reimer came home at noon, and Peter Reimer came home yesterday. I ______to the ____ from it gave ____. Johann Reimer brought 1 foot of ______. 26. Thur. At 8 o’clock in the morning +20 degrees [77° F.], at noon nearly +25 degrees [88° F.], clear in the afternoon. West wind, cloudy, rained heavily with heavy thunderstorms all around, after faspa rained heavily here, and there was standing water. The old Abraham Friesens of Heubuden were here for a little while. 27. Fri. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], cloudy, west wind. Rained very much all around, here a little, some thunderstorms. Late afternoon +16 degrees [68° F.], at 10 o’clock +10 degrees [54° F.], calm, clear. Johann is building a shed. Toews made a gable from metal. Johann Reimer’s foal croaked. 28. Sat. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.], cloudy, west wind. Rained some here with a lot of hail. In Konstantius Johann Reimer bought 3 geese for us, 10 for himself, and 15 geese for the Makhliny.2 Cost per goose 40 kopecks. Johann Reimer worked some on the shed. 29. Sun. Early morning +6 degrees [46° F.], at 8 o’clock +10 degrees [54° F.], day +16 degrees [64° F.],north wind, very cloudy, evening +10 degrees [54° F.]. We went with Johann Reimer to Rosenfeld. I went to Abraham Penners. My wife and our children, Klaas Reimer, Peter Reimer, and Johann Reimer, went to the service in Gru nfeld at the old Friesens.3 In the afternoon and for faspa, I was at Johann Friesens. There was a brotherhood meeting at the old Friesens. The school teacher[?] is ______. 30. Mon. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.], cloudy, west wind, rained some. Johann Reimer and Peter Reimer went to Nikopol’ with wheat. It sold for 9 rubles 20 kopecks. Heavy rain. Both daughters of Abraham Friesens4 and Penners visited here. 31. Tues. Early morning +10 degrees [54° F.], at 8 o’clock +12 degrees [59° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], west wind, cloudy, rained some. Johann Reimer returned home at 1:30 in the afternoon. He brought 2 pounds of candles, 2 pound of rice, and over 2 pounds of grapes. Mrs. Makhlina’s guests left.

1 They are holding some of their wheat off the market until they can get higher prices for it. 2 The Makhliny were the shepherds for the village and probably Ukrainians.. 3 Not sure which Friesen this is. 4 Probably Helena Friesen #3640 (1835-1911) and Elisabeth Friesen #3770 (1849-1873). 61

September 1871, Page 43 1. Wed. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.], cloudy, cold northwest wind. Rained during the night until noon. Rained often. Rained on many people’s grain.1 Eight days ago Johann Reimer bought 1 horse from Makhlin for 50 rubles. 2. Thur. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +13 degrees [61° F.], cloudy, rainy, heavy rain here, very cold. I dressed in winter clothes and socks, as did many others. Cold north wind. Began to wash the grain. Built a lot on the shed. 3. Fri. Early morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], clear, north wind. We went with Johann Reimers Abraham Reimers in Blumenhof.2 Toewses were there also. We got home around 7 o’clock. Strong north wind and cold during the night. It had still been warm until evening. 4. Sat. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], cloudy, northwest wind, cold. In many places as well as here the furnaces were lit. Dug many potatoes and carrots. Heinrich Brandt has finished his shed.3 5. Sun. Early morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], rained during the night, in the morning, and until noon. Rained nearly all around. Mild in the afternoon. All the children of Rosenfeld came here. It was very muddy. 6. Mon. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], partly clear, cloudy, nearly clear. Johann Reimer had the reeds cut.4 He began to roof the shed. I borrowed Heinrich Brandt's compass and made the ______. 7. Tues. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], nearly clear, west wind. More places were covered here.5 Here in the village some barley was hauled in, but a lot is still in the field and at the house. Much grain and straw has been spoiled.6 8. Wed. Morning +7 degrees [48° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.], morning clear, afternoon cloudy, nearly calm, some west wind. Many people went visiting. The old Abraham Friesens of Rosenfeld were at Peter Reimers. 9. Thur. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +13 degrees [61° F.]. There was good hoarfrost on the ground. Day cloudy, nearly calm. Martin Barkmans of Neu-Marienthal7 were here visiting, as were Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof.

1 Many people had grain that needs to be threshed or winnowed, and it rained on it, which could cause it to mold. 2 In the fall season, most of the urgent field work was done, so they could go visiting to friends and relatives. Soon the notorious south Russian fall mud would make travel difficult until the ground froze solid. 3 Mennonites settled Borosenko Colony in about 1867, so most people were still building and improving their farms. 4 Probably these are reeds for the thatch roof on the shed. Thatch is an effective and inexpensive roofing material that lasts for centuries, but it is vulnerable to fire. Later, Mennonites replaced the thatch roofs with clay tiles. 5 Perhaps thatched or tiled. 6 By the wet, cool weather. 7 Are Friedensfeld and Neu-Marienthal the same village? 62

10. Fri. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], partly cloudy, south wind. Johann Reimer has nearly finished bringing his wheat and straw into the drying shed. The roof is on the shed and gable is erected. This week dug all our potatoes. Got 3 chetverti [18 bushels] in all. 11. Sat. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], rained from early until noon nearly everywhere, south wind, day +15 degrees [61° F.]. Afternoon still sunny, mild. Hauled in some barley again and still winnowed grain. September 1871, Page 44 12. Sun. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], at 5:30 +14 degrees [64° F.], at 10 o’clock in the evening still +10 degrees [54° F.], clear, calm. We went with Johann Reimers to Blumenhof for the Gru nfelder service.1 The articles of faith were presented.2 Klaas Reimers, Peter Reimers, and we were at Ab[raham Reimers?].3 13. Mon. Early morning +11 degrees [57° F.], day +17 degrees [70° F.], cloudy, rained in the forenoon, south wind. In the late afternoon, Abraham Dycks were here. They brought gray dresses and clothes to sew.4 On Sunday Abraham Penners of Rosenfeld were here and at Toewses. 14. Tues. Early morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], at 6 o’clock +16 degrees [68° F.], late evening still +12° degrees [59° F.], nearly clear, calm. Abraham Penners and Mrs. Abraham Friesen of Rosenfeld were here for dinner and also Johann Reimer and all the children. To Nikopol’ with wheat. It sold for 9 rubles 40 kopecks. 15. Wed. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], until 8 o’clock +7 degrees [48° F.], day +5 to +6 degrees [43-46° F.]. Cloudy, rained from morning until noon, nearly all around, north wind. All people have been planting rye for 14 days. At places the rye has sprouted. 16. Thur. Morning +7 degrees [48° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.], south wind, nearly clear. In Rosenfeld and Annafeld many planted rye. Johann Friesen is much better. On Monday he went to Marienthal. 17. Fri. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], rained with thunderstorms and lightning in many places. Hauled some barley to the house[?] and winnowed. In the

1 There were two groups of KG in Borosenko colony. The Abraham Reimers were members of the Rosenfeld/Steinbach congregation, and there was also a Heubuden congregation. The two groups had arisen in the late 1860s due to a split for reasons that are no longer clear. The two groups had reconciled by 1870, but they remained separate organizationally. In the summer of 1871, the two congregations tried to unite as one congregation that met at Gru nfeld. It seems that it took Abraham Reimer longer to reconcile himself to joining the united Gru nfeld congregation because he did not attend any service for a while after his wife and children started. But now he also has started to attend the Gru nfeld group. Unfortunately, the unity would not last, and the two original congregations separated again, although still maintaining friendly relations. 2 Each Mennonite congregation had its own articles of faith that were discussed and approved by the brotherhood meeting of all male members. The leaders of the united group are now explaining the articles of the united congregation. The articles of faith would need to be presented so that everyone would know what the expectations were of each one. 3 Abraham Reimers lived in Blumenhof, so it is likely that that is where the family members gathered after the service. 4 Abraham Reimer’s wife Elisabeth was a seamstress. 63

afternoon fairly mild. Klaas Reimer and many others had to go to the ______. These days appointed to the Crimea for ______. 18. Sat. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.], still south wind, cloudy, rained in the morning. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here visiting at Toewses. We were there too. Our Abraham Friesens were visiting also at Toewses. From each village[?] people together requested new district offices [gebiets ämter] or volosti.1 19. Sun. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], clear, mild, some south wind, [day] +16 degrees [68° F.], evening +14 degrees [64° F.], late +10 degrees [54° F.], clear, south wind. I went with Klaas Reimer, Toews, and Johann Reimer in the service in Gru nfeld and to the brotherhood meeting. The people voted for the articles [of faith].[?]2 20. Mon. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +17 degrees [70° F.], during the night until after noon it rained heavily, south wind. Some were hauling barley and winnowing grain. Johann Toewses and Cornelius Toewses of Gru nfeld were visiting here. 21. Tues. Early morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day over +16 degrees [68° F.], mild, clear with a few clouds, southwest wind. People again hauled grain. I went with Johann Reimers and Peter Reimers to our Friesens in Rosenfeld. Both Reimers and I were at Johann Friesens and talked about the Gru nfeld congregation with him. September 1871, Page 45 22. Wed. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], heavy dew during the night, clouds, clear in the east, west wind, day +17 degrees [70° F.], evening +12 degrees [59° F.]. Late evening more times[?]. Makhliny and others went to Yekaterinoslav for the papers. 23. Thur. Early morning +5 degrees [43° F.], cloudy, during the night rained heavily, day +13 degrees [61° F.], north wind. Klaas Reimer and Peter Reimer came back from Nikopol’. Very muddy. The wheat sold for 9 rubles 50 kopecks to 60 kopecks. 24. Fri. Early morning −5 degrees [21° F.], heavy hoarfrost, day +4 degrees [41° F.], much hoarfrost, north wind, nearly everywhere cloudy. Rained in the east and also snowed, heavily in some places. Some were still hauling grain. Johann Reimer hauled nearly all the millet and barley home. Klaas Reimer of Blumenhof came home from Odessa and was gone 14 days. 25. Sat. Early morning +3 degrees [39° F.], north wind, mostly cloudy during the day, day +6½ degrees [47° F.]. I went with Johann Reimer to Blumenhof, where I stayed overnight. In the evening I came back from Klaas Reimers.

1 As new settlers in the area, there were probably not local government offices, so the Mennonites seem to be requested to have new local government established, similar to what Molotschna colony had. Volosti were the lowest level of Russian government. 2 The previous Sunday the articles of faith had been presented to the congregation. These were the doctrines and rules of behavior that would govern the congregation. There was surely vigorous discussion of the articles as Mennonites took seriously the document that would govern their lives. At the brotherhood meeting, all male members participated and approved the articles. 64

26. Sun. Morning +4 degrees [+41° F.], day over +6 degrees [+46° F.], cloudy, cold, some north wind. We were here at Siemens in the service.1 I came with Abraham Reimer from Blumenhof, where I was overnight. Then we were with the children in the service. Johann Warkentin2 of Hochfeld was accepted. 27. Mon. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], calm, clear, some south wind, mild. Klaas Reimer, Peter Reimer, and Johann Reimer went to Nikopol’ with wheat. It sold for up to 9 rubles 55 kopecks. Makhlin hauled out a lot of wheat. 28. Tues. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day from +10 to +11 degrees [54-57° F.], completely clear until afternoon, calm, very mild, toward evening cloudy. Klaas Reimer and Peter Reimer came home at 9:30 in the evening. Johann Reimer came home for faspa. 29. Wed. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.]. Cloudy, nearly calm. Gerhard Rempels were here from Rosenfeld for dinner and faspa. Klaas Reimer, Peter Reimer, and Johann Reimer went to Nikopol’ with wheat. It sold for 9 rubles 20 to 30 kopecks. I sharpened the new scissors.3 30. Thur. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], hoarfrost, day +6 degrees [46° F.], cloudy, some north wind. At places snowed. I went to Rosenfeld to our Abraham Friesens and stayed overnight. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here for a little. October [1871], Page 46 1. Fri. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.], cloudy, a little sunshine, cold. I was at Abraham Penners for dinner, and I stayed overnight. Our Penner and Friesen had gone to Nikopol’ with wheat. Our children came home from Nikopol’. 2. Sat. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], frost again on the windows, day +5 degrees [43° F.]. Frost again on the windows. Some north wind, cloudy, cold. I got home for faspa. I was at Johann Friesen in Rosenfeld. He has lain in bed for 8 days. He was better and strong ______. 3. Sun. Morning −½ degree [31° F.], [day] +6 degrees [46° F.], north wind, cloudy. All the children of Steinbach and Rosenfeld and I went to Heubuden to the service at Toewses. We spoke with the elders. Attended the brotherhood meeting after the service. It was again put to the brothers. 4. Mon. Morning −2½ degrees [38° F.], day cloudy, some north wind. Makhlin and the teacher came back from Nikopol’. The wheat sold for up to 9 rubles 20 kopecks. Makhlin received for his somewhat wet wheat 7 rubles. Most here finished ______barley ______, and our Abraham Friesen planted barley ______. 5. Tues. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], clear, nearly calm, day +6 degrees [46° F.], it was very nice. Hauled much grain here and in other villages. Several of our acquaintances went to Molotschna, and some came here from there.

1 The service was back in Steinbach, and there was no joint Gru nfeld service. 2 Probably Johann Warkentin #6359 (1817-1886), but possibly his son Johann Warkentin #5359 (1845-1908), although GM says the son lived in Blumenhof. 3 His son Klaas probably made the scissors in his smithy, and Abraham sharpened them. 65

6. Wed. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], hoarfrost, Makhlin and Gernser1 again went to Yekaterinoslav to get our papers. Day +7 degrees [48° F.], some clouds, nearly calm. Peter Reimer took wheat to Nikopol’, and Johann took lots of barley there. 7. Thur. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], clear, often some north wind, day +8 degrees [50° F.]. Mrs. Peter Penner2 and Mrs. Friesen3 came here in the afternoon for faspa. Abraham Friesen came back from his trip. Johann Reimer bought a horse or mare from Abraham Friesen for 70 rubles. Makhlin and Gernser came home ______. They found the papers for 100, and used everything they brought.[?] 8. Fri. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], cloudy, north breeze. Johann Reimer finished with barley. This week all types of grain are still being hauled. The Annafelders are still hauling grain, and the Ebenfelders still have much grain to haul. Wheat is bringing up to 9 rubles 60 kopecks in Nikopol’. 9. Sat. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], cloudy, north wind. I went to Rosenfeld in the afternoon. In the evening I was there at Johann Friesens. I was at our Penners for night. Penner has taken his barley into the attic. He got 31 chetvert’ [190 bushels]. Klaas Reimer and Johann Reimer are sowing[?] barley[?]. 10. Sun. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.], cloudy forenoon, rained, cold north wind, cloudy[?] all day. Guests from Molotschna, Johann Koops4 of Marienthal, also Peter Rempels and Gerhard Rempels. They came to Blumenhof on Saturday evening for the service and brotherhood meeting. 11. Mon. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], clear, cold northeast wind. Before that Peter Rempels were at Klaas Brandts. We were there also for faspa. Mrs. Johann Friesen went along with Ungers, also of Rosenfeld, to the Molotschna Colony. October 1871, Page 47 12. Tues. Morning +1½ degrees [29° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], clear, north wind. Peter Rempels of Molotschna were here visiting for dinner and faspa. Johann Reimer went with Cornelius Janzen to the justice of the peace in Seitzhof[?]. 13. Wed. Morning −2½ degrees [26° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], clear, some clouds, northeast wind. Gerhard Rempels of Mariawohl came here at 9:30 in the morning with the young Rempels of Rosenfeld. They had dinner here, and at 1:30 we all went to Peter Friesens for faspa. Johann Reimer butchered at Thiessens.5 14. Thur. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], clouds, day +8 degrees [50° F.], north wind. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof, came here in the afternoon. My wife visited Mrs. Thiessen, who

1 Not identified. Probably not a Mennonite. 2 Elisabeth Friesen #5477, his wife’s first cousin once removed. 3 Probably Katharina Friesen #4031 (1850-1895) as they were sisters and both lived in Rosenfeld. 4 Johann Koop #6628 (1831-1897) and Katharina Barkman #6629 (1832-1923). 5 Johann probably would not normally have helped butcher at the Thiessens since they do not appear to relatives or close friends, but since Mrs. Thiessen was very sick (see the 14th), members of the congregation gathered to help with their butchering. 66

was sick. Johann Reimer cleaned barley and millet. Tuesday he had hauled everything in. Abraham Friesen was here in the evening. My wife should go to Thiessens in the evening, who is at the point of death. My wife cannot go because she is also sick. She was so weak that ______. 15. Fri. Morning nearly −2 degrees [28° F.], clear, north wind, day +10 degrees [54° F.]. Johann Reimer brought barley upstairs. From 5 desiatin [15 acres] had 53 chetverti [320 bushels], and from 1 morgen [1.4 acres] here, 3 chetverti [18 bushels]. Pletts1 from Kleefeld, Molotschna, came. They had arrived on Saturday and are visiting around here. 16. Sat. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], clouds, northeast wind, [day] +7 degrees [48° F.]. Johann Reimer started to haul rye. Peter Reimer started to haul barley. Went with Reimers to Rosenfeld to Penners. The windows in the small room2 are frozen shut. I was at Johann Friesens. 17. Sun. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], cloudy, cold north wind, day +6 degrees [46° F.], cloudy, north wind. I went with Johann Reimer, Toews, and Klaas Reimer to Gru nfeld to attend the service. Brotherhood meeting took place dealing with Johann Toews3 in Gru nfeld. A bridal couple, the Heinrich Wiebes,4 was also there. 18. Mon. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], cloudy, east wind. Peter Reimer and Gerhard Rempels came home on Friday. Pletts went home. Johann Reimer plucked their 15 geese. Brother Klaas Reimer was here for faspa. 19. Tues. Early morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +9½ degrees [53° F.], very cloudy, east wind. At 10 o’clock in the evening again +8 degrees [50° F.]. Johann hauled a lot of rye. The people here, the Annafelders, the Ebenfelders, and the Rosenfelders still are hauling grain to the house. In the evening Abraham Penners of Rosenfeld were here. 20. Wed. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +9 degrees [52° F.], early scattered clouds, day very cloudy, east wind, nearly calm. At 11 o’clock in the evening still +7 degrees [48° F.]. Johann Reimer hauled his rye. Our Toews hauled and planted barley. Ours [family] canceled butchering hogs at Abraham Reimers in Blumenhof.5 21. Thur. Early morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +9½ degrees [53° F.], morning very foggy, very cloudy, calm. Afternoon some sunshine and north wind. Johann Reimer plowed and

1 Cornelius Plett #6668 (1820-1900) and Sarah Loewen #6669 (1822-1903). 2 The small room was the warmest room in the house – where the baby would have stayed and where the women worked during the day. 3 Probably a matter relating to Johann F. Toews #5615 (1853-1915). If this identification is correct, his father was Johann Toews #3761, the elder of the Orloff-Halbstadt Grosse Gemeinde congregation in Molotschna and who was sympathetic to the KG. The younger Toews joined the KG, so this may have been a discussion of whether to accept the 18-year-old young man as a member. 4 Heinrich F. Wiebe #5780 (1851-1876) and Anna Toews #5779 (1853-1935). 5 It was too warm to butcher – they would have wanted temperatures close to freezing or below so that the meat would cool quickly. 67

sowed ½ desiatini [1.3 acres] of rye. He cleaned some rye.1 The old Pletts went ____ home to Molotschna. Rained some, later partly clear, north wind, +5 degrees [43° F.] October 1871, Page 48 22. Fri. Early morning +4 degrees [41° F.], cloudy, calm, day over +6 degrees [46° F.], cloudy, calm. I was at Dycks2 in Annafeld. Surveyed the 40[?] desiatin [110 acres] at Sawitzki’s that Johann Reimer has rented. This week we cut the meadow [geoschen]. Yesterday Johann Reimer carried 27 chetvertei [160 bushels] to the attic.3 From 2 desiatiny he got 18 chetvertei [110 bushels]. 23. Sat. Morning +1½ degrees [35° F.], rained heavily during the night until noon, rained often during the day, very cloudy, calm. Klaas Reimer prepared the smithy, the living room, and the cellar. At 9:30 in the evening, Siemens of here and Johann Reimer went to Kherson.4 Klaas Reimer went with them to Nikopol’. All day +4 degrees [41° F.]. 24. Sun. Early morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +2 degrees [36° F.], very cloudy, nearly calm, north breeze. Later at 10 o’clock it was –½ degree [31° F.]. We went with Peter Reimers to Rosenfeld to attend the service. Two sons and four daughters were baptized. The bridal couple got married. Heinrich Wiebe, Jacob Friesen5 of Nikolaithal, and Johann Toews6 were accepted into the church. 25. Mon. Early morning +3 degrees [39° F.], [day] +½ degree [33° F.], nearly clear, cold north wind. Later −1 degree [31° F.]. On Sunday our Friesens were here for dinner and faspa. In the evening our Penners were here. Klaas Reimer came home at 12 o’clock at night on Sunday. 26. Tues. Early morning −6 degrees [18° F.], day 0 degrees [32° F.], clear, north wind. Peter Reimer went to the annual market in Nikopol’. Peter Friesens came home Monday evening. Klassen7 of here came home around 12 o’clock at night. 27. Wed. Early morning −7 degrees [16° F.], day +1½ degrees [35° F.], southeast wind. The creeks is completely frozen in places. Here and other places for two nights we had –8 degrees [14° F.], so children could walk on the ice. Johann Reimer and Siemens came back from Kherson at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. 28. Thur. Early morning +1½ degrees [35° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], cloudy, cold southeast wind. Johann Reimer and I slaughtered 3 hogs at Abraham Reimers in Blumenhof. The

1 He cleaned the rye to have good seed to plant. 2 Abraham Dueck #5858 and Elisabeth Rempel #5857. 3 Lit., “carried 27 desiatin to the attic,” but I think he means volume of grain not area of land. 4 Kherson was a medium-sized city located on the Dnepr River about 110 miles southwest of Steinbach. In 1885, it had a population of about 65,000. Since they left in the evening and since Klaas Reimer stayed in Nikopol’, they must have traveled to Nikopol’ for night. 5 Probably Jacob L. Friesen #3643 (1837-1901). 6 Probably Johann F. Toews #5615 (1853-1874), although perhaps not since GM says he was baptized 18 March 1873. 7 Jacob Klassen #6390. 68

best one had 4 inches of fat and the others 3½ inches. They got 11 pails of lard.1 At 8:30[?] in the evening, a son Cornelius2 came to Klaas Reimer. 29. Fri. Early morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], cloudy, south wind, late afternoon +10 degrees [54° F.], later +8 degrees [50° F.]. My brother Klaas Reimer came here from Heubuden. Both our sons will build a barn. 30. Sat. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +12 to +13 degrees [59-61° F.]. Cloudy, south wind. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here, and towards evening Abraham Friesens were also here. He has finished hauling his wheat. Klaas Reimer finished his wheat on Thursday. 31. Sun. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], cloudy, south wind. I went with Johann Reimers to Heubuden to attend the service. Brotherhood meeting took place. Those of us from Steinbach were introduced. Still talked about Cornelius Friesen of Annafeld and Dietrich Friesen and his wife. Were at Klaas Reimer in Heubuden for dinner and faspa. November 1871, Page 49 1. Mon. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +11 degrees [57° F.], day clear, calm, mild. I was at Abraham Reimers in Blumenhof overnight and for breakfast at the old Heinrich Reimers.3 Butchered hogs. The old Johann Toews4 and I were there for dinner. Then I went to Rosenfeld to our Friesens. I was at Johann Friesens for faspa. At 6 o’clock in the evening, I came home. 2. Tues. Early morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +6½ degrees [47° F.], cloudy, calm. Johann Reimers slaughtered 2 hogs, one 4 inches and the other a good 3 inches of fat. They yielded 7 pails of lard. Elder Peter Toews of Blumenhof was here. He spoke of the church. All of our children of Rosenfeld were here for faspa. Were at Toews after faspa. They butchered a hog. Sick wind ______. 3. Wed. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +5½ degrees [44° F.], cloudy, southeast wind. Our Penners were here yesterday instead of Abraham Friesens. In the evening an express but still late courier from the schulz [district official] who at 10 o’clock the messengers in Nikolaihof [und das abends war Schnel noch Spät Schultz bot das sie aler ur 10 bottin Nikolaih].[?] 4. Thur. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +9 degrees [52° F.], cloudy, nearly calm. All the landowners of the village had to go to Nikolaihof [Nikolaidorf?] in Molotschna to speak

1 Ideally they would have wanted nighttime temperatures below freezing to cool the meat more quickly, but they were probably out of meat, so they butchered anyway. The thickness of the fat layer on the hogs and the amount of lard that they got was always an important topic of discussion. 2 Cornelius W. Reimer #6519 (1871-1955). 3 Heinrich Reimer #3845 (1818-1876) and his third wife Margaretha Warkentin #5943 (1841-1913). 4 Johann Cornelius Toews #5562 (1793-1873) and Maria Plett #5572 (1811-1895). He was one of the first young men to join the Kleine Gemeinde church in 1814, and his son Johann Toews was elder of the Ohrloff- Halbstadt Grosse Gemeinde congregation. 69

to the justice of peace and to be registered in the Russian census of voters.1 We were still exempted from the cost of building a jail.2 5. Fri. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day nearly +12 degrees [59° F.], cloudy, nearly calm, south wind. We slaughtered hogs. The biggest had 4½ inches of fat and the piglet 2½ inches. Got sick toward noon yesterday. The biggest gave 6½ pails of lard. Butchered one by noon and both of the others by evening. One of those had 3½ inches of fat and the other 3 inches. They yielded 8 pails of lard. 6. Sat. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +9 degrees [52° F.], cloudy, south wind. At Klaas Reimers we slaughtered 3 hogs, one had 4 inches and the other had 3 inches of fat. They produced 8 pails of lard. The landowners returned home on the 5th at 10:30 in the morning. On 1 November, the old Penner in Rosenfeld is still sowing rye on the way. 7. Sun. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], clear, calm. Johann Reimers and we went to Blumenhof to attend the service. It was at Abraham Reimers. We stayed there for dinner. Had brotherhood meeting. Those who spoke at Gru nfeld the other Sunday were accepted into the church.3 8. Mon. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], very cloudy, foggy, calm. I had stayed overnight. We slaughtered 2 hogs at Penners in Rosenfeld. One had 3 inches and the other 2 inches of fat. In all got 4½ pails of lard. I was also at Johann Friesens. He was a little better. 9. Tues. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], cloudy. A German doctor from Germany was here overnight. The Makhliny slaughtered 2 hogs. One had 2½ inches of fat and gave 3 pails of lard. Heinrich Friesen in Rosenfeld sowed rye. 10. Wed. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], cloudy. Johann Reimer and Klaas Reimer went to Nikopol’ with wheat. The wheat sold for 8 rubles 40 to 50 kopecks. The Makhliny washed out Johann Reimer’s barn.

1 Apparently the residents of Borosenko colony who still owned land in Molotschna colony had to go to Nikolaidorf in Molotschna to be registered and to vote in an election. Under the Russian system of administration for foreign colonies, only landowners could vote. This census would not have concerned many Borosenko residents because most of them had left Molotschna because they did not own land. However, the outcome of the vote would have concerned them greatly because apparently most or all of them were still legally registered in Molotschna and would have to abide by the outcome of the vote. 2 Apparently the subject of the vote was to pay for the cost of building a jail. Before immigrating to Russia, Mennonites had believed that the only punishment that the church should impose on fellow Mennonites was that they should be called before the congregation to explain, repent, or be excommunicated. But in Russia the Mennonite local administration was responsible for imposing civil and criminal penalties on its residents, which violated their beliefs. Most Mennonites were willing to go along with this, but one of the issues over which the Kleine Gemeinde split with the rest of the Mennonites was over arresting fellow Mennonites and turning them over to the Russian courts. Eventually, the KG was exempted from having to participate in arresting and punishing fellow Mennonites. Now the landowners of Molotschna Colony were voting on whether to build and pay for a jail, but the Kleine Gemeinde continued to be exempted from paying taxes for this. 3 To join the church, a person had to give his testimony and express his willingness to abide by the church’s rules. This normally occurred at baptism, but it could also happen if a person had been baptized earlier and was transferring his membership. Then the brotherhood would vote on whether to accept that person as a member. 70

11. Thur. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +7 degrees [48° F.], very cloudy, rained, southeast wind. It has been cloudy for 8 days and nights. November [1871], Page 50 12. Fri. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], cloudy, rained some, nearly calm. We slaughtered 2 hogs at Peter Reimers. The best had 3 inches fat and 5 pails of lard. Then we helped Johann Reimer, Klaas Reimer, and the old Abraham Friesens of Rosenfeld. Finished building our stove in 2 days. 13. Sat. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], cloudy, some rain, west wind. On the 4th Thiessen1 of here went to Molotschna. Peter Loewen’s son Isaac2 came to be measured [zum malen] and ordered clothes to be made for himself. 14. Sun. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], very cloudy, east wind. Rained in the morning nearly until noon. Cloudy all around, cold. Johann Reimer and Heinrich Brandt rode to Gru nfeld.3 Peter Reimers and Klaas Reimers went to Gru nfeld to attend the service. Abraham Reimers, Klaas Reimers, and Peter Reimers were there. Mrs. Peter Reimer suffered a stroke in both arms, side, and leg.4 15. Mon. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +7 degrees [48° F.], cloudy, rainy, east wind. Examined Mrs. Peter Reimer, but we are still guessing. We discussed what would help her a little. Eventually rest came to her. Mrs. David Thiessen5 has pox on her hand. 16. Tues. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], southeast wind, rained some. Peter Reimer went to Gru nhof6 to get the doctor and medicine. On the return trip the axle broke. Siemens patched the axle with a ring _____ wagon.[?] 17. Wed. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +7 degrees [48° F.], cloudy, rained, some southeast wind. Johann Reimer and I slaughtered 3 hogs at Abraham Friesens in Rosenfeld. The best had 3½ inches of fat and 9 pails of lard. My wife was a little sick. 18. Thur. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], partly cloudy, nearly calm. Johann Reimers helped Siemens slaughter 4 hogs. Two had over 4 inches of fat and produced 12 pails of lard. Mrs. Peter Reimer is somewhat better.

1 David F. Thiessen #6487 and Aganetha Gerbrandt #6488. 2 Isaac E. Loewen #3869 (1850-1925). He was a single man who would get married in less than a year, so he probably wanted some nice clothes for courting. Abraham Reimer’s wife Elisabeth was a talented seamstress. 3 November in south Russia is a very muddy season, so these two men probably rode on horseback to the service, while the other families went by wagon or carriage. 4 Mrs. Peter Reimer (Elisabeth Friesen) suffered a severe stroke at age 22 and never completely recovered from it. She would die less than two years later. While stroke in young people is rare, it is often linked with hearts defects. 5 Aganetha Gerbrandt #6488 (1833-1912). 6 Probably Gru nhof Khutor (Estate), which was some distance to the east. Mennonite estates in Russia were usually founded by a group of related families, sometimes wealthy, who bought land privately. Since they were usually more progressive and wealthy, they often had their own services such as schools and doctors. 71

19. Fri. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day nearly +10 degrees [54° F.], very mild, south breeze, sunshine in the afternoon. In the afternoon I went to Rosenfeld to our Friesens. I stayed overnight. Rained late evening and during the night. Friesen washed out his barn. 20. Sat. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], southeast wind, day +4 degrees [41° F.]. I was at our Penners overnight. Rained often in the afternoon. He installed a mirror door in the great room. Very heavy rain during the night, very heavy wind. 21. Sun. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], very cloudy early, very cold west wind, day +1 degree [34° F.]. Schellenberg1 took me home. The service was at Siemens. Johann Reimers, Heinrich Brandts, and we were accepted into the Gru nfeld congregation. November 1871, Page 51 22. Mon. Morning −5 degrees [21° F.], clear, mild, calm, day −1 degree [30° F.]. We hauled Klaas Reimer’s smithy here in Johann Reimer’s wagon. We brought the big and necessary things here today. Our Penners of Rosenfeld were here at Johann Reimers. 23. Tues. Early morning −1½ degrees [29° F.], very cloudy, day +2 degrees [36° F.], rained often in the afternoon, windy, muddy. The cattle from the Annafeld cowbarn [kuhter] were brought to the house. We accompanied the Makhliny as a hearty escort for the winter because they had mixed lime with us for one year [da haben wir Machlinsker die stark geleit den wint: zufuhren in denn wen sie gekalkt hat bis um ein Jahr].2 24. Wed. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], very cloudy, southeast wind. Klaas Reimer brought his last wheat upstairs. From 28 desiatin [75 acres] he brought in [gebaut] 141 chetvert’ [842 bushels]. Johann Reimer has bought a cradle from our Friesens of Rosenfeld for 4 rubles 50 kopecks. 25. Thur. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], very cloudy, rained, day +6 degrees [46° F.], very muddy. Peter Reimer again went for the doctor in Gru nhof. She has still been improving all the time. The medicine has helped a lot. He came home late in the evening.3 26. Fri. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], south wind, partly clear, day +8 degrees [50° F.]. We helped Johann Reimer all day. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here for dinner. The teachers gathered together in Blumenhof. The Thiessens came home last Saturday from Molotschna. They were gone 15 days. 27. Sat. Morning here −9½ degrees [11° F.], clear, completely calm, day −4 degrees [23° F.], day completely clear, calm.4 Morning −1 degree [30° F.], strong northwest wind, snowed heavily from evening until noon. Nearly 1½ inches of snow. Sleigh road started to form.

1 Probably Gerhard Schellenberg #6328 (1827-1908). 2 This is a bit hard to understand, but it seems that the Makhlin family, the village shepherds, have worked closely with the Reimers for a year, so they gave them a warm sendoff as they moved to winter quarters in their home village. “Mixing lime” perhaps refers to the Mennonite Reimers and the Ukrainian Makhliny working and socializing together despite being of different nationalities. 3 See 14 November 1871ff, when Mrs. Peter Reimer suffered a stroke. 4 This sentence is stricken out in the original. It is likely that Abraham Reimer initially wrote notes and then copied them neatly into his diary book since part of this information is recorded for the next day. 72

Day +1 degree [34° F.], very cloudy, strong wind. In the door to the room the latch in the other ______. 28. Sun. Morning very cold, −9½ degrees [11° F.], completely clear. In some places villages had −10 degrees [10° F.]. The service was in Heubuden. Our Toewses were accepted into the Gru nfeld congregation. Our Friesens of Rosenfeld were here, also Abraham Dycks of Annafeld. 29. Mon. Morning −8 degrees [14° F.], north wind, clear, day −3 degrees [25° F.], evening partly cloudy, clear, north wind, some clouds in the evening. Our Abraham Friesens of Rosenfeld were visiting at Toewses. We were there in the afternoon also. The ice was strong enough for heavy people to go over. 30. Tues. Morning −10 degrees [10° F.], north wind, partly clear, north wind. Abraham [Reimer] of Blumenhof brought us a full load of bricks, about ⅙ fadem1 [20 cubic feet]. Klaas Reimer hauled in a lot of oats. Day nearly −6 degrees [18° F.]. Today Heinrich Brandt’s daughter2 died at 22 weeks. December [1871], Page 52 1. Wed. Morning −8 degrees [14° F.], a little south northwest wind, cloudy, mild. Klaas [Reimer] hauled his oats into the barn, and is finished with them. Our Toews also hauled oats in. 2. Thur. Morning −8 degrees [14° F.], day −5 degrees [21° F.], very cloudy, calm. Klaas Reimer hauled rye in. My wife’s heel started to hurt. She hit it with the door. 3. Fri. Morning −6 degrees [18° F.], day −4 degrees [23° F.], very calm, completely cloudy. Klaas Reimer took 6 chetvertei [36 bushels] of oats to Nikopol’. It sold for 3 rubles 50 kopecks and wheat for 8 rubles 40 kopecks. Our Penners of Rosenfeld were here. A cow in the barn kicked me hard and the worst ______. 4. Sat. Morning −5 degrees [21° F.], day −3 degrees [25° F.], very cloudy, calm. There was a major brotherhood meeting in Blumenhof regarding the Lord’s Supper and many ______things. It lasted from noon until evening. Klaas Reimer returned from Nikopol’. He brought us 10 funtov [9 pounds] of candles, 6 funtov [5 pounds] of coffee, and 1 quart [2 fifths] of brandy. 5. Sun. Morning −4 degrees [23° F.], very cloudy in the forenoon, snowed, very calm, mild. We attended the burial at Heinrich Brandts. In the forenoon my wife had to dress the [deceased] child. My wife had a good deal of pain in her heel. 6. Mon. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day 0 degrees [32° F.], nearly calm. They were hauling in rye and oats here. Klaas Reimer went to Martin Janke and bought 1 fadem [4.4 cubic yards] of sheep manure. Our Friesens of Rosenfeld were here.

1 A fadem was the volume of a cord of wood. The Prussian fadem was 3.34 m3 or 118 cubic feet. 2 _____ Brandt #1382158 (1871-1871). 73

7. Tues. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], snowed a lot. Piled up a lot of grain that they hauled in. Day +2 degrees [36° F.], west wind. Our children got us the fadem of manure from Martin Janke. It was 6 good wagonloads in all. My wife is limping. 8. Wed. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], day +½ degree [33° F.], cloudy, west wind. Thiessen’s windmill began to grind flour. For 5 days he had not been milling. It was nearly always calm. My wife was somewhat sick and could hardly sleep because of pain. Walking hurt her very much. 9. Thur. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day +3 degrees [39° F.], some south wind. Abraham Sawatzky1 was here in the afternoon for a while. My wife had so much pain that she could barely walk in the morning. 20. Fri. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.], evening 0 degrees [32° F.], south wind, often cloudy. In the morning my wife again got up and worked, but she had to go back to bed and could only lie down. 22. Sat. Morning again −5 degrees [21° F.], day −1 degree [30° F.], nearly clear, south wind. Started to snow in the evening, late evening −8 degrees [14° F.]. My wife was mostly in bed because of her foot. Her pain in her heel was so intense that she could not remain silent at all times. December 1871, Page 53 12. Sun. Morning −12 degrees [5° F.], in many places −14 degrees [0° F.], day nearly −6 degrees [18° F.]. Snowed during the night and morning. Cloudy during the day. Some southeast wind, nearly calm. My wife was a little better. Her paw [braute] was not so severe. Communion in Gru nfeld. From here there were only our Toewses. Mrs. Thiessen was so sick again that she writhed for 3 hours in the great room. 13. Mon. Morning here −13 degrees [3° F.], some places −15 degrees [−2° F.], nearly −18 degrees [−9° F.], nearly clear, north wind, day –8 degrees [14° F.], partly cloudy. Our daughters2 of Rosenfeld came, and their husbands3 came in the evening. Our Friesens laid a floor in the great room.4 Klaas Reimer hauled in a lot of rye. 14. Tues. Morning −13 degrees [3° F.], often clear, calm, day −3 degrees [25° F.]. In Blumenhof −15 degrees [−2° F.]. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here. For the last 3 days [my wife] was a little better. For 4 days she had ______- 2 days with linseed oil5 and 2 days with green cheese.6

1 Abraham Cornelius Sawatzky #3785 (1807-1882). 2 Daughters Katharina and Margaretha. 3 Abraham Friesen and Abraham Penner. 4 When they built their house, it probably had dirt floors, but now they have laid a wooden floor in the great room. 5 Topical application of linseed oil relieves pain and inflammation. 6 Green cheese is fresh, unaged cheese, not moldy cheese. 74

15. Wed. Morning −11 degrees [7° F.], day −3 degrees [25° F.], cloudy, calm. Have had a sleigh road since Sunday. Toewses went by sleigh to Gru nfeld. The young Peter Isaacs1 of Marienthal were here visiting and for dinner. My wife applied salve to her foot. 16. Thur. Morning −7 degrees [16° F.], day −1½ degrees [29° F.], cloudy, calm. She [my wife] can sit in bed and does a little sewing, but the whole night was still terrible. Twice I had to dress her foot with figs. It was much better. 17. Fri. Morning −4 degrees [23° F.], day −½ degree [31° F.], cloudy, calm. Klaas Reimer took a load of oats and Johann Reimer took a load of wheat for him to Nikopol’. Toews also took oats to Nikopol’. Wheat sold for 9 rubles 20 kopecks and oats for 3 rubles 40 kopecks. 18. Sat. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day +1 degree [34° F.], cloudy, calm, some blowing snow. A Janzen and Heinrich Kasdorf2 of Gruschhofche Marienthal were here for dinner. Mrs. Thiessen is starting to get up. 19. Sun. Early morning −4 degrees [23° F.], day −2 degrees [28° F.], cloudy, nearly calm. I went with Klaas Reimer to the Lord’s Supper in Rosenfeld. Everyone from here went, except that my wife and Mrs. Thiessen were not there. 20. Mon. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day −1 degree [30° F.], cloudy, nearly calm. Yesterday we were at Penners for dinner. Our Friesens were here. Mrs. Toews of here was sick from Sunday to Monday night and stayed here. Johann Reimer got Mrs. Abraham Friesen of Rosenfeld for night. My wife got up for an hour. 21. Tues. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], day +2 degrees [36° F.], cloudy, west wind. Thiessen began to mill. He had not milled for more than 8 days. My wife began to get up some and sat up, and with the aid of a chair she walked to the chest. December 1871, Page 54 22. Wed. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day up to +1½ degrees [35° F.], cloudy, west wind. The old Abraham Friesen was at Peter Reimers and here for faspa and visiting. Peter Reimer has finished Johann Friesen's mangle. 23. Thur. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day +1 degree [34° F.], cloudy, nearly calm. Abraham [Reimer] of Blumenhof was here for a while. My wife began to walk and to put weight on her foot, but she still has severe pain in her foot. 24. Fri. Morning −½ degree [31° F.], day +2 degrees [36° F.], southwest wind. My wife is starting to walk a little better. A piece of wood struck me in the shin while I was splitting it.

1 Peter Isaac #49934 (1842-1917) and Helena Friesen #3711 (1845-1893). 2 Neither are identified. 75

25. Sat. Morning −5 degrees [21° F.], day −3 degrees [25° F.], cloudy, southeast wind. The service was in Heubuden.1 Elder Toews2 was introduced. Ministers [election] will take place this winter.3 26. Sun. Morning −4 degrees [23° F.], day +2 degrees [36° F.], cloudy, cold southeast wind. Peter Reimer, Klaas Reimers, and I attended the service in Blumenhof.4 We were at Abraham Reimers for dinner. Abraham Penners were at our house for Saturday night. 27. Mon. Morning −2½ degrees [26° F.], cloudy, day 0 degrees [32° F.], nearly calm. Our Abraham Friesens of Rosenfeld were here overnight. My brother Klaas Reimer and Peter and Heinrich5 were here for dinner as well as the younger Jacob Friesens6 of Heubuden and the Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof. 28. Tues. Morning −½ degree [31° F.], cloudy, day +4 degrees [41° F.], nearly calm. Mrs. Makhlina was sick during the night from Saturday to Sunday. She had a son Peter. Monday morning there was no milk, so we had a cheese. Abraham [Friesens or Penners] of Rosenfeld came to the house for breakfast. 29. Wed. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], some south wind. Thiessen did some milling, but the mill has stood still for more than 8 days.7 Heinrich Friesens were at Peter Reimers. Elder Toews is in Blumenhof. These days we are sick with cough and illnesses [fluchen]. 30. Thur. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], clear, during the day yesterday and today +7 to +8 degrees [48-50° F.], evening still +6 degrees [46 F.]. My wife walked much better. She sews and works a lot in the front yard. She is nearly always up. 31. Fri. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], cloudy, east wind, day +2 degrees [36° F.], cloudy, a little wind. Mrs. Toews was here visiting yesterday afternoon. Mrs. Thiessen has been completely well for a few days and went visiting.

1 Mennonites always had a service on Christmas Day. 2 Peter Toews #5580 (1841-1922) was elected elder of the KG in 1870 and played a key role in unifying the factions that had developed in the 1860s. But in Manitoba in 1882, he led a large faction of the KG to join the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite (Holdeman). 3 Mennonite churches traditionally had three levels of leadership. The senior person was an elder, with several ministers as the second level and several deacons as the third level. These men were elected for life by the male members in a brotherhood meeting. After serious prayer the men would write the name of a man for each position that was open, and the man with the most votes would be asked to serve. He could decline if he felt himself not called to the task. On occasion leaders would resign, but this was rare. Leaders were not paid 4 Mennonites always had a service on the day after Christmas. 5 His nephews Peter Reimer #3724 (1843-1878) and Heinrich F. Reimer #317342 (1856-1923). 6 7 With grain having just been threshed and hauled in, the villagers would certainly have been impatient to have flour ground. They were probably short of flour, which they would need every day for baking bread, cakes, cookies, and pies. But David Thiessen’s wife Elisabeth had been sick a lot, so they could hardly expect him to operate his mill when he had to take care of her and their seven children ranging in age from 2 to 17. 76

New Year January 1872, Page 55 1. Sat. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +3 degrees [39° F.]. Cloudy. Mrs. Toews was here from the 31st last until 1 January. She stayed until Jan. 2. A son Peter1 was born at midnight. My wife and I were at Johann Reimers and also in the service. 2. Sun. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day +2 degrees [36° F.], cloudy, north wind. Snowed in the afternoon. My wife and I were at Toewses. She was brought here by sleigh and then taken home, from black earth [auf Schwarze Erd] because she could barely walk. 3. Mon. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day −1 degree [30° F.], cloudy, nearly calm. My wife again had great pain in her foot. During the whole night it was so bad that she had to apply linseed oil again. 4. Tues. Morning −4 degrees [23° F.], day +2 degrees [36° F.], partly clear. Yesterday our Friesens were at Toewses. Klaas Reimers got a maid. Her name is Katarina. It cost 100 rubles. 5. Wed. Morning −10 degrees [10° F.], calm, some south wind, clear, evening −4 degrees [23° F.]. During the night it was often clear and then again cloudy. 6. Thur. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], very cloudy. The service was in Heubuden.2 East wind. Johann Friesen was again weaker and began to have a fever. 7. Fri. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], day +2 degrees [36° F.], cloudy, nearly calm. Mrs. Toews is gradually improving. 8. Sat. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +3 degrees [39° F.], nearly always cloudy, some southeast wind. We have been treating her [my wife’s] foot for 6 days with linseed oil. During the night she lay ______much. 9. Sun. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.], cloudy, southeast wind. The service was in Blumenhof. The elder was again in the service, but he has been sick for 3 weeks. Mrs. Abraham Friesen of Rosenfeld gave birth to a son3 at 7 o’clock in the morning. She had a hard labor for 2 hours. 10. Mon. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], cloudy, very foggy, nearly calm. Our Abraham Friesens of Rosenfeld have been here visiting since 6 January. My wife has been treated with white earth and fresh milk4 for 1½ days. Our Mrs. Abraham Friesen of Rosenfeld is very lethargic. 11. Tues. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], cloudy, foggy, south wind. Started treating my wife again by applying fresh cheese and washing and applying to the sick person ______[ud das ums als sehr war in sein]. Abraham Penners of

1 Peter R. Toews #6483 (1872-1953). 2 The service was for Epiphany. 3 Peter R. Friesen #6528 (1872-1933). 4 Medicinal clays have been used since antiquity for relieving pain and treating infection. They were commonly applied externally by mixing with a warm liquid and forming a poultice, which is probably why fresh milk was added to the treatment. 77

Rosenfeld have been visiting here since the 6th and at Toewses. It was very crowded [druckig]. January 1872, Page 56 12. Wed. Morning +1½ degrees [35° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], cloudy, south wind. The shepherd Makhlin's son Peter died. He was 2 weeks and 3 days. He was sick for 3 days. 13. Thu. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], south wind, partly clear. Mrs. Toews gradually improves. She can walk some in the room. Toews has hired a Russian maid for 40 rubles. Since Friday she could sit by the stove for an hour and eat and sleep. 14. Fri. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.], cloudy, afternoon clear, southeast wind. In the evening it began to freeze. Klaas Reimer shod 6 horses in the afternoon. Mrs. Klaas Reimer went out with only her underclothes and without a head covering. 15. Sat. Morning −7 degrees [16° F.], day −3 degrees [25° F.], clear, northeast wind. Peter Reimer and Heinrich Brandt went with wheat to Nikopol’. It sold for 9 rubles and oats for 3 rubles 20 to 50 kopecks. 16. Sun. Morning −6 degrees [18° F.], day −2 degrees [28° F.], partly clear, east wind. The service was in Gru nfeld. Peter Reimer and Heinrich Brandt came back to Gru nfeld at noon. Berg from the Crimea preached. There was a brotherhood meeting. 17. Mon. Morning −5 degrees [21° F.], day −1 degree [30° F.], partly cloudy, nearly calm. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here in the afternoon, as were our Abraham Penners of Rosenfeld. Klaas Reimer piled up a lot of rye in the barn. 18. Tues. Morning −4 degrees [23° F.], day −2 degrees [28° F.], nearly calm, partly clear. Peter Friesen, Klaas Reimer, and Siemens went with wheat to Nikopol’ with wheat. It sold for 9 rubles. The old Franz Wienses1 of Rosenfeld were here. My wife's foot is getting ______. 19. Wed. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day −1 degree [30° F.], clear, nearly calm. They came back from Nikopol’. In the evening the service was at Martin Klassens in Annafeld. Berg from Crimea preached. I and most of the people of here were in the service. 20. Thur. Morning −7 degrees [16° F.], clear, calm. A Friesen from Crimea shared something from Willems2 here in the morning. Klaas Reimer brought us 1 bottle [Glas] of Schlagwasser,3 1 quart4 [2 fifths] of brandy, and 1 quart [1.6 US quarts] of vinegar. Our Abraham Friesen bought a half farm here and a barn from Peter Reimer for 2060 [rubles].

1 Franz Daniel Wiens #6396 (1802-1881) and Elisabeth Neumann #6397 (1814-1896). 2 Probably Gerhard Willems #5884 (1820-1900) and Katharina Rempel #5852 (1823-1875), his wife’s sister. People often sent messages or letters when someone traveled. 3 Schlagwasser has long been a popular Mennonite medicinal treatment. A modern version of it is manufactured by Abe Doerksen in Paraguay and widely distributed among Mennonites in both North and South America. It contains 99% alcohol along with oil of lavender, peppermint, cloves, cinnamon, lemon, and rosemary. 4 A quart is an obsolete German and Russian measure of spirit volume equal to two fifths of spirits, 0.8 US quarts, or 757 mL. 78

21. Fri. Morning −10 degrees [10° F.], day −2 degrees [28° F.], morning clear, calm, evening windy, cloudy. Klaas Reimer finished threshing his rye and hauling it upstairs, about 9½ chetvertei [57 bushels]. Total 40 chetvertei 3 eighths1 [248 bushels]. Our Abraham Friesens of Rosenfeld have sold their farm for 3000 rubles to the younger Heinrich Wiebes2 in Rosenfeld[?]. January [1872], Page 57 22. Sat. Morning −13 degrees [3° F.], day −5 degrees [21° F.], cloudy, windy. Mrs. Cornelius Janzen3 has been sick. At 10 o’clock in the morning, she gave birth to a daughter.4 Mrs. Heinrich Wiens5 was gotten Thursday evening. She was in heavy labor for 1 hour. 23. Sun. Morning −10 degrees [10° F.], day −4 degrees [23° F.], partly clear, calm. In Rosenfeld there was an election for ministers. Deacon Berg6 in Hochfeld, Abraham Loewen,7 and Deacon Jacob Kroeker8 in Heubuden were elected. In the evening nearly the entire sky was colored red and pale yellow. 24. Mon. Morning −7 degrees [16° F.], day −3 degrees [25° F.], cloudy, nearly always calm. Toews began to thresh rye here from the seventh part [Sibente maß]. Mrs. Toews is getting a little better. She is up half the time. 25. Tues. Morning −6 degrees [18° F.], day −2 degrees [28° F.], partly clear, nearly calm. My wife's foot varies a lot. In the morning when she gets up, it hurts badly. At noon and in the evening very much and for up to 2 hours when she goes to bed. 26. Wed. Morning −8 degrees [14° F.], day −5 degrees [21° F.], mostly clear, some southeast wind. On the 24th my wife took 5 needle treatments on the lower leg, but it did not help her because the sticking of the needles started to hurt.9 27. Thur. Freezing. Morning −14 degrees [0° F.], day −6 degrees [18° F.], clear, nearly calm. Abraham Reimers were here in Steinbach at Peter Reimers for dinner and visiting at

1 A chetvert’ was divided into 2 os’miny. Reimer is translating the Russian term os’mina, which literally means “eighth.” It was equal to 3.0 bushels or 105 liters. 2 They had just gotten married in October 1871, so the Wiebes would need a farm to set up their independent household. 3 Aganetha Klassen #6465 (1848-1890). 4 Aganetha Janzen #6469 (1872-1874). 5 Not identified. 6 Not identified. 7 Abraham Loewen #6572 (1833-1886). 8 Jacob Kroeker #6726 (1836-1913). He became elder of the Manitoba KG after Elder Peter Toews and a large portion of the group joined the Holdemans. Kroeker took charge after that disaster and stabilized the group. 9 Knowledge of acupuncture was brought to Europe in the 1600s by the surgeon-general of the Dutch East India Company. However, its use became widespread in the early 1800s, and it was a fashionable treatment during the first half of the 1800s. It has only enjoyed a revival in modern times after the Communist takeover of China in 1949 when the Communist Party began advocating for the use of traditional Chinese medicine. 79

our place for faspa. They talked with Toewses about buying their farm for 2000 rubles.1 28. Fri. Early morning −16 degrees [−4° F.], day −6 degrees [18° F.], completely clear, completely calm. Yesterday Toews hauled his rye into the attic. It was more than 5 chetvertei [30 bushels]. Yesterday the Russians started to thresh wheat.2 29. Sat. Morning −11 degrees [7° F.], day −5 degrees [21° F.], clear, calm. My wife started to have severe pain and a burning sensation, but the old wound is somewhat [better?]. Johann Friesen of Rosenfeld is getting worse and weaker. 30. Sun. Morning −10 degrees [10° F.], day −4 degrees [23° F.], clear, nearly calm. The service was in Heubuden, but the people from Heubuden had their service at Klassens here in Steinbach. Mrs. Toews of here is gradually improving. She is nearly well. 31. Mon. Morning −11 degrees [7° F.], day −5 degrees [21° F.], partly cloudy, some east wind. Abraham Reimer of Blumenhof was here. He is negotiating a lot with Toews about the farm. They agreed on 2000 rub for the farm and on an exchange with Johann Reimer. February 1872, Page 58 1. Tues. Morning −10 degrees [10° F.], day −6 degrees [18° F.], nearly always cloudy, north wind. Toewses are still threshing a lot of wheat. She slowly gets better. She started to feel badly 14 days ago. 2. Wed. Morning −12 degrees [5° F.], day −7 degrees [16° F.], completely cloudy all day, north wind. Our Abraham Friesens of Rosenfeld were here visiting for dinner and faspa. They left at 9:30. 3. Thur. Morning −15 degrees [−2° F.], day −8 degrees [14° F.], cloudy, north wind. The old David Klassen of Heubuden was here for an hour. Johann, the son of the old Abraham Friesens of Rosenfeld, was put out [ausgegeben]. He committed a grave sexual offense with Helena Siemens.3 4. Fri. Early morning −20 degrees [−13° F.], at sunrise −19 degrees [−11° F.], day −12 degrees [5° F.], clear, completely calm, late evening –18 degrees [−8° F.]. Klaas Reimer and Peter Friesen bought a village stallion from Blumenhof for 150 rubles. 5. Sat. Morning −21 degrees [−15° F.], completely clear, calm, day −11 degrees [7° F.], late evening −18 degrees [−8° F.]. In Blumenhof –25 degrees [−24° F.]. Mrs. Toews eyes are getting worse. They were threshing wheat at Toews.

1 Both the husband and wife were present when they discussed farm sales and purchases because each owned half of all property. 2 The Mennonites surely thought the Russians appallingly lazy – they had finished threshing wheat over a month ago, and the Russians were just starting. 3 Johann S. Friesen #3772 (1852-1920) and Helena Siemens #3773 (b. 1843) had premarital sex. She was working as a maid for the Friesens at the time. To make matters worse, they were cousins; and he got her pregnant. David Klassen was a leading member of the Heubuden congregation, so he was likely in Steinbach as part of a group of leaders to deliver the bad news to Helena’s parents. Mennonites absolutely forbade premarital and extramarital sex, so Johann Friesen was banned from the Heubuden congregation. Helena Siemens was a member of the Blumenhof congregation that Abraham Reimer attended, so now that congregation would have to deal with her. 80

6. Sun. Morning −18 degrees [−8° F.], day −10 degrees [10° F.], clear, north wind. The service was in Blumenhof. A brotherhood meeting took place. The old Siemens' daughter Helena was discharged from the church. The old ______asked for admission to our church. 7. Mon. Morning −18 degrees [−8° F.], some northeast wind, day −9 degrees [12° F.]. For 3 of the last 5 days[?], my wife has had such pain, twisting, and cramps in her legs, to put it mildly, so that she can hardly lie still. A Hungarian was here with books. 8. Tues. Morning −16 degrees [−4° F.], day −6 degrees [18° F.], clear, northeast wind. On the 3rd Peter Reimer and our Abraham Friesen of Rosenfeld went to Nikopol’ and bought lumber for a house, barn, and treadmill, 32 wagonloads in all. They came with the last load. 9. Wed. Morning −16 degrees [−4° F.], day −7 degrees [16° F.], clear, northeast wind. Since the 7th Toews has been bringing his wheat here and brought 11 chetvertei [66 bushels]. Mrs. Toews has gotten better and has begun to sew. 10. Thur. Morning −15 degrees [−2° F.], day −7 degrees [16° F.], clear, northeast wind. My wife's foot is a little better, and her health is better, and she is happier. She has slept better for 2 days and nights, but it is barely so [als erst fast nicht so]. February [1872], Page 59 11. Fri. Morning −16 degrees [−4° F.], nearly calm, clear, day −6 degrees [18° F.]. Peter Reimer is working on his wall and floor in the great room. 12. Sat. Morning −15 degrees [−2° F.], calm, often light north [breeze], day −5 degrees [21° F.]. My wife's foot is somewhat better. For 4 days she slept peacefully at night. She ______. 13. Sun. Early morning −16 degrees [−4° F.], day −6 degrees [18° F.], afternoon partly cloudy. The service was at Siemens here. Peter Toews preached. Our Mrs. Toews was in the service for the first time. My wife wanted to go to church, but she could not because her foot hurt badly. The very old Heinrich Reimers1 [were there]. 14. Mon. Morning −6 degrees [18° F.], day −1 degree [30° F.], southeast wind. Snowed during the night. Snowing during the day, cloudy, 1 inch of snow. Mrs. Martin Barkman came here in the wagon and to Reimers for night in the cutter.2 Yesterday there were many guests here for faspa: the old Heinrich Reimers3 of Blumenhof, our Abraham Reimers, the orphan guardian Johann Barkman,4 and our Penners of Rosenfeld. 15. Tues. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], day +2 degrees [36° F.], cloudy, south wind. Rained almost all day. My brother Klaas Reimer of Heubuden was here for dinner with 5

1 Heinrich Aron Reimer #5913 (1791-1884) and Helena Loewen #46041 (1806-1879). He was 80 years old at the time and one of the few KG members who could remember West Prussia, since he had immigrated to Russia in 1803 at age 12. 2 A cutter is a small, light sleigh, usually for two people. 3 Heinrich Reimer #3845 and Margaretha Warkentin #3758. He was the son of Heinrich Aron Reimer. 4 Johann Barkmann #317873 (1827-1879). Each colony had an Orphans Office (Waisenamt) with a committee of guardians to protect the interests of orphans and minors in inheritance matters. 81

children.1 He described a shocking thing [wunder] that in autumn in America a very great pack [meu] of fires and livestock died from the fire’s heat, the tops [oben] of the trees, houses, in the water ______houses ______.2 16. Wed. Morning −5 degrees [21° F.], day 0 degrees [32° F.], partly cloudy, southwest wind. Had a sleeping bench made, and they brought it to us on Sunday. It cost us 11 rubles, and left a rest bench for 3 rubles.[?] Our Toewses were here for faspa the first time after her sickness. Toews bought a horse from Ebenfeld for 70 rubles on Monday. 17 Thur. Morning −11 degrees [7° F.], day −1 degree [30° F.], partly clear, north wind. Thiessen, Klaas Reimer, Heinrich Brandt, and Johann Reimer went to Janzen about his plan to lease 300 desiatin [800 acres] for 2 rubles 80 kopecks per desiatina [2.7 acres]. They offered 2 rubles 70 kopecks. 18 Fri. Morning −½ degree [31° F.], cloudy, southwest wind, day +2 degrees [36° F.], evening −2 degrees [28° F.]. It is said that the great city of Tiflis3 in Asia Minor suffered an earthquake. It was nearly completely destroyed. 19. Sat. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], cloudy, rained and snowed, south wind from morning until late afternoon, day +2½ degrees [38° F.]. This week and last week our Abraham Friesen brought us several loads of straw. Water from the creek is 1 foot below the levee. The middle dyke is full.[?] February 1872, Page 60 20. Sun. Morning −4 degrees [23° F.], cloudy, very cold north wind, day −2 degrees [28° F.], cloudy, very cold, north wind. The service was in Rosenfeld. There was also a service in Friedensfeld. During the last 6 days my wife's leg has been improving and getting healthier. 21. Mon. Morning −5 degrees [21° F.], day −1 degree [30° F.], cloudy, some north wind. Our Penners of Rosenfeld were here for faspa, as also our Toewses. Klaas Reimer went with 4 others to Sawitzki to lease land for 2 rubles 80 kopecks. 22. Tues. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], day +2 degrees [36° F.], cloudy, nearly calm. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here. He made a deal with Heinrich Brandt who offered 2000 rubles for his farm. Our Abraham Friesens moved here to Steinbach.

1 Klaas Reimer had five unmarried children at this time, Peter (age 27), Jacob (17), Heinrich (15), Margaretha (13), and Johann (12). 2 On 8 October 1871, a great outbreak of fires occurred in the upper Midwest in the United States. The most famous of these is the Great Chicago Fire, in which 200-300 people perished. This fire is popularly attributed to Mrs. O’Leary’s cow kicking over a lantern, but the actual cause was never established. On the same day, the Great Michigan Fire killed about 500 people and burned 2.5 million acres of forest and towns. Finally, the worst fire in US history, the Great Peshtigo Fire in Wisconsin, burned 1.2 million acres of forest and towns and killed 1500-2000 people. The Michigan and Wisconsin fires were probably caused when a massive storm struck unexpectedly and whipped many small fires that had been set to clear forest into giant conflagrations. This incident shows that the Mennonites of south Russia were connected to the rest of the world. 3 This appears to be Tiflis, modern Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. I can find no mention online of such an earthquake in 1872, although the city is located in a seismically active zone. 82

23. Wed. Morning −½ degree [31° F.], day +1½ degrees [35° F.], very cloudy, calm. The Toewses and I helped our Friesens move the last things from Rosenfeld. Took 3 loads. Franz Kroekers1 of Kleefeld moved here to Siemens. Lemkes2 of the new settlers moved to Johann Reimers. 24. Thur. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +1 degree [34° F.], always cloudy, some south wind. Klaas Reimer went with the others to Sawitzki and brought him the contract for the land and signed it with ______350 Rubles. 25. Fri. Morning −½ degree [31° F.], day +1½ degrees [35° F.], completely cloudy, calm. Thiessen wants to sell his mill and house. He is negotiating with someone in Rosenfeld. Thiessen wants 1500 in all. Have fed[?] our cow nearly all of the grain. 26. Sat. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +1½ degrees [35° F.], very cloudy, calm. Our road to the Old Colony was moved. The new villages are about 30 verst [20 miles]. Our Abraham [Friesen] built a new pig barn. It cost 17 rubles, and with the pen [Hack] it cost 18 rubles total.3 27. Sun. Morning −½ degree [31° F.], cloudy, day +2 degrees [36° F.]. The service was in Heubuden. A big brotherhood meeting took place. Helena Siemens of Annafeld, was re-accepted.4 28. Mon. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], rained in the morning, very cloudy, south wind. The new school teacher, Fast,5 was brought here yesterday. The Busuluk River had 1½ times more water. In the evening the school teacher came over. 29. Tues. Morning +½ degree [33° F.], very cloudy, rained often, calm, south breeze. Very much water, 3 feet higher, it came halfway to the smithy. Franz Kroeker is at home here. He came from Heubuden on Sunday. He went to Crimea. The water flowed over the bank of the creek in Annafeld yesterday. Heinrich Friesen cut both our ______out. March 1872, Page 61 1. Wed. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day again +4 degrees [41° F.], south wind, very cloudy, rained a lot. Fast began to teach.

1 Franz Kroeker #6474 (1827-1905) and Margaretha Plett #6475 (1842-1920). She was a sister to Anna Plett #6467, who was Gerhard Siemens’ wife. 2 Not identified. 3 Abraham Friesen had bought a farm in Steinbach on 20 January 1872, from his brother-in-law Peter Reimer; so he was building a pig barn. 4 When a member was banned for refusing to repent of a sin, it was quite common for him to repent soon after and be readmitted to the church. The person surely knew that what he was doing was wrong and that he would suffer God’s judgment for his actions. Moreover, all his relatives and friends were probably members of the congregation, so stubbornly refusing to admit his sin would result in being cut off from most relationships. Out of concern for his soul, family members would put considerable pressure on a person to appear before the congregation and confess his sin. 5 Cornelius Fast #6506 (1840-1927) and Helena Born #6508 (ABT 1838-1873). 83

2. Thur. Morning −½ degree [31° F.], some east wind, very cloudy, rained a lot. My wife made a fleece coat [Pelz]. My wife went to Peter Reimers and Friesens for the first time [since she got sick]. 3. Fri. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], very calm until noon, very cloudy, afternoon clear, sunshine. At 6 o’clock in the evening, it was still +6 degrees [46° F.]. In the morning the creek flooded a lot. It was 3 feet higher than before. 4. Sat. Morning 1½ degrees [35° F.], day cloudy, southeast wind, +7½ degrees [49° F.], cloudy, south wind. At 6:30 in the morning, the water crested. It was 1 arshin [2.3 feet] higher than before. The creek was full of floating ice. The water was 10 steps from the smithy. 5. Sun. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.], cold south wind, cloudy, clear in the evening. The service was in Blumenhof. But no one of here went because no one could cross the creek. The Janzens of here got their child1 from Heubuden on Saturday. She was away for 4 weeks. 6. Mon. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], cloudy, calm. Janzen, the school teacher, came here and returned Klaas Brandt's wagon. The Fasts, the school teacher, were visiting us on Sunday. 7. Tues. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], nearly all day +6 degrees [46° F.], clear, scattered clouds. Makhliny and Lemkes moved away from Johann Reimers. Mrs. Harms2 moved into the summer room. Klaas [Reimer] got a cow from Rosenfeld. He went through the creek at Sawitzki’s – it was 3½ arshiny [8.2 feet] deep. 8. Wed. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.], very cloudy, rained often, strong east wind. Thiessen sold his house to Buller3 of Rosenfeld for 1325 rubles. Teacher Janzen was here overnight. Tuesday Peter Friesen [planted] 1 morgen [1.4 acres] of wheat. Klaas [Reimer] and [Abraham] Friesen harrowed and today wheat. 9. Thur. Morning +½ degree [33° F.], rained nearly the whole night and rained nearly all day, very cloudy, east wind, day +4 degrees [41° F.]. Rain almost through the night and day. Our Abraham Penners of Rosenfeld were here visiting. The Old Colony got our teacher Janzen with 2 wagons of things at 9:30 in the morning. 10. Fri. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], afternoon rainy, wind, mild, clear during the day, rained again in the afternoon. Peter Friesen sowed wheat on Tuesday and Wednesday. He sowed 6 morgens [8 acres] of wheat and sowed 2 chetverti [12 bushels] potatoes.

1 Cornelius Janzen #6468 and Aganetha Klassen #6465 and their daughter Aganetha #6469. Aganetha Klassen’s parents David Klassen and Aganetha Brandt lived at Heubuden. Mother Aganetha was sick when her daughter was born in January, so they probably took the baby to her grandparents to care for her and to find a wet nurse. 2 Not identified. 3 Peter Buller #6532 (1836-1902) and Susanna Wiens #33037 (1842-1919), 84

11. Sat. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +7 degrees [48° F.], clear, south wind. Johann Reimer and Brandt sowed potatoes, and Klassen sowed has 5 morgens [7 acres] of rye and 6 desiatin [16 acres] of wheat. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here. March 1872, Page 62 12. Sun. Morning −½ degree [31° F.], cloudy, morning calm, a little snow. The service was in Gru nfeld. There was a brotherhood meeting about Martin Klassen’s debt.1 Also they wanted a church building or house.2 13. Mon. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], cloudy, cold south wind. Peter Reimer, Abraham Friesen, Johann Reimer, and many others began to plow and to sow. Day +5 degrees [43° F.]. Bullers moved from Rosenfeld and ______to Klaas Brandts here. 14. Tues. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], cloudy, strong southeast wind. Much plowing was done. In 2 days Johann Reimer planted 5 morgens [7 acres] of barley. Toews began this afternoon. He bought himself a ______horse. 15. Wed. Morning +1 degree [32° F.], somewhat rainy, strong east wind, day +5 degrees [43° F.]. Klaas Reimer began plowing. Planted potatoes in the forenoon and afternoon. On the 13th and 14th, Johann Reimer planted 5 morgens [7 acres] of barley to the house ____ and they more.[?] 16. Thur. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], some clouds, southeast wind, day +7 degrees [48° F.]. Recently very many have seeded barley. In 1 week up to the 10th, 3 fillies were foaled at Klaas Reimer’s. 17. Fri. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], clear, south wind. Dug 5 places in the gardens and planted vegetables. 18. Sat. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +10½ degrees [56° F.], clear, south wind. Since 9 March all people here have seen the stork. My wife and I saw the stork on 16 March. On the 8th I very ______. 19. Sun. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], clear, calm. The service was in Rosenfeld. My wife and I were there once again too. We were at our Penners for dinner and faspa. Brotherhood meeting took place about Martin Klassen’s debts. 20. Mon. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +13 degrees [61° F.], fairly clear, east wind. Buller began to mill. Nearly everyone here is digging and planting vegetables in the gardens. 21. Tues. Morning −½ degree [31° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], clear, cloudy after noon, rained some. Sunday after faspa I was at Johann Friesen. He is suffering a lot, and the gangrene [Brand] is strangely ______. He talked a lot. 22. Wed. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], completely cloudy, rained often, nearly calm. The frogs are croaking and also the hoppers [Hupe]. Much later in the evening still +8 degrees [50° F.]. Rained often later during the night.

1 It was a matter of church discipline if a person was unable to pay his debts. 2 The KG traditionally met in the larger barns of their members, although other Mennonites had met in specially constructed church buildings for a century or more already. 85

March [1872], Page 63 23. Thur. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], cloudy, rainy. Some here have all their wheat in the ground. Cold east wind. 24. Fri. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], some southeast wind. Cloudy in the forenoon, clear in the afternoon with some clouds. Much lightning in the northwest during the late evening. Some thunderstorms. 25. Sat. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], some clouds, northeast wind. Some here have their wheat in the ground and have planted their vegetables and flowers. 26. Sun. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], clear, cold northeast wind, day +8 degrees [50° F.]. The service was in Heubuden. Hardly anyone from Steinbach was there. Our Penners of Rosenfeld were here. Unrau1 from Marles[?] was here at Klaas Reimers for night and he moved to Ku______. 27. Mon. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.]. A big Russian dog was here. It was killed at the school. Our cow at the Makhliny calved on 11 March. It was a heifer. 28. Tues. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], some cold wind, day +10 degrees [54° F.]. Jacob Friesen’s ______from Nikolaithal has been here since last night. Our Friesens spent the night in Rosenfeld and came home late today. They nearly had a misfortune while going through the creek. 29. Wed. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], cloudy, often north wind. Cornelius [Janzen] finished his plowing yesterday and started sowing,2 and today Klassen also started. Mrs. Cornelius Janzen went to Heubuden for the first time after giving birth.3 30. Thurs. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], northeast wind, scattered clouds, day +13 degrees [61° F.]. There are cockchafers.4 People are seeing the swallows on the steppe. Peter Reimer finished plowing and has had 2 foals. 31. Fri. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], scattered clouds, northeast wind. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here. Also he had more of them [cockchafers?] before Saturday [da hate er und ihre mehr al vorge Sonabend]. He finished plowing. Yesterday nearly everyone finished plowing and sowing. In Kutschebe many started plowing this week.

1 Not identified. 2 Even though Cornelius Janzen had moved to Khortitsa to teach school, he must have still owned land in Steinbach that he farmed. 3 Aganetha Klassen was sick when she gave birth in January and was unable to care for their daughter, so the baby was taken to her parents David Klassens to care for her, who lived in Heubuden. Then she had moved to Khortitsa with her husband for him to take up his teaching job. Now when he returned to farm his land, she was able to go to Heubuden to see her parents for the first time since the birth. 4 The cockchafer, also called the May bug or doodle bug, is a European beetle and was a serious pest in the past. It appeared every few years in mass flights when beetles emerged from the soil and would destroy many crops. In the era before pesticides were available, the only defense against it was to collect and kill the adult beetles, which was only moderately successful in protecting crops. 86

April 1872, Page 64 1. Sat. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +14½ degrees [65° F.], some clouds, south wind. Peter Reimer and Johann Reimer have finished plowing. The 4 have finished plowing and sowing.1 We have planted barley here. 2. Sun. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.] and in more places, clear, nearly calm. The service was in Blumenhof. Our children and I were there. We were all at Abraham Reimers for dinner and faspa. Abraham Loewen preached the first time. 3. Mon. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], partly cloudy, day +12 degrees [59° F.], cold east wind. Our Abraham Friesen finished plowing and sowing. Most of the grain has sprouted, and the first grain sprouted about 10 to 11 days ago. 4. Tues. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], south wind, often cloudy, rained some. The old Goertzen2 from Fu rstenwerder, Molotschna, came. In the evening they were at Klaas Reimers. 5. Wed. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], clear, day +15 degrees [66° F.]. Klaas Reimer and Toews completed their plowing and sowing. We were at Klaas Reimers for dinner. Goertzen was at our place for faspa. 6. Thur. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], clear, nearly calm, day +15 degrees [66° F.]. I went with Goertzen and Klaas Reimer to Sawitzki. We saw about 30 snakes on the stones on the creek bank. Klaas Reimer and Toews still planted potatoes and melons. The Russians have been planting melons for 3 days. 7. Fri. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], often cloudy, calm, some dust[?], rain. At 6 o’clock in the morning Goertzen went home. Klaas Reimer went with ______to Nikopol’ with 10 scheffel3 [15 bushels] of wheat. It brought up to 9 rubles. Goertzen was here for 2 days. 8. Sat. Morning +7 degrees [48° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], calm, clear. Klaas Reimer returned from Nikopol’ at faspa. Again preparing to make over the Busuluk. [Klaas] Reimer brought hardwood and iron wire[?]. 9. Sun. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day here +20 degrees [77° F.], in places +22 degrees [82° F.], nearly calm. Klaas Reimers and I with nearly all the children in Blumenhof in the service were here in the service at Siemens. Abraham Loewen preached for the second time. 10. Mon. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.]. Klaas Reimer built a fence with ______posts and iron wire. Toews with a Russian hauled wheat _____ for Klassen of here to Nikopol’.

1 Probably his three sons Klaas, Johann, and Peter and son-in-law Abraham Friesen who lived in Steinbach. 2 Jacob Goertzen #275120 (1815-1888) and Maria Willms #275123 (1835-1904). 3 The scheffel was the German bushel. It had many regional variants in size, but assuming that Reimer used the Danzig scheffel, it was 1.46 US bushels or 51.4 liters. 87

April 1872, Page 65 11. Tues. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], clear, calm, in Rosenfeld +25 degrees [88° F.] and in Blumenhof +27 degrees [93° F.]. Abraham Dycks of Annafeld and their grandparents, the old Heinrich Reimers of Blumenhof went to Molotschna to visit. 12. Wed. Morning +7 degrees [48° F.]. I went fishing, but got nothing at all. +20 degrees [77° F.], calm. We planted beans. Johann Reimers came back from Nikopol’. For 1 ruble they brought us 3 lot1 [1.5 ounces] of silk which would otherwise still be 2 rubles. 13. Thur. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], calm, rained at quite a lot of places in the afternoon and some here. Klaas Reimer, Abraham Friesen, and the 4 of them went with Sawitzki to check their leased land. Yesterday they crossed over at Scharlag. It was below the levee. 14. Fri. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], cloudy, some south wind. I went with my wife and Klaas Reimer to Rosenfeld to the service.2 We were at our Penners for dinner and faspa. I was also at Johann Friesen. He is suffering but less. Also Peter Friesen from Molotschna [was there]. 15. Sat. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +13 degrees [61° F.], cloudy, nearly calm, rained in many places, rained from noon so much that water was standing on the lane.3 It was somewhat ______. On the 13th they finished building a bridge over the river so that it can be crossed. 16. Sun. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], partly cloudy, calm. The service was in Heubuden. Some from our Crimea people were there. Our cousin, Peter Friesen of Rudnerweide, Molotschna, was there. 17. Mon. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], forenoon very mild, calm. Afternoon cold north wind and rained, some sunshine. The children and I were in Blumenhof in the service.4 Were at Abraham Reimers for dinner. 18. Tues. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], often cloudy, very cold north wind. It is going in a circle twice – a heat wave and wearing winter clothes. Peter Friesen’s children, the Waldes5 of Rudnerweide, were here at Peter Reimers for faspa and also at Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof. 19. Wed. Morning −2½ degrees [26° F.], in Rosenfeld −5 degrees [21° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], mostly clear, cold north wind, snowed in places. The Rudnerweide Friesens were at Johann Friesens in Rosenfeld. He preached yesterday. Yesterday afternoon Johann Reimers went to Molotschna.

1 The lot is an obsolete German measurement equal to 0.5 ounces or 14 grams. 2 Good Friday. 3 Mennonite villages in Russia were arranged with two rows of farmsteads along a central lane. Usually the village ran parallel to a creek or river for easy access to water. 4 Easter Monday. 5 Dietrich Walde #54631 (1839-1898) and Katharina Friesen #54632 (1840-1915). 88

20. Thur. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +13 degrees [61° F.], clear, northwest wind, somewhat cold. I planted beans. Yesterday nearly all the vegetables were frozen and also flowers, blossoms on trees, and barley; but the willows were fine. They have been trimming horses’ hooves for 14 days. At night watched the water ______. April 1872, Page 66 21. Fri. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], partly cloudy, calm. Peter Reimer returned from Nikopol’ yesterday. Abraham Friesen was away and came back late Wednesday. Yesterday started ______. 22. Sat. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day here +21 degrees [79° F.], some places +25 degrees [88° F.]. I ______sowing beans. Abraham Friesen, Klaas Reimer, and the school teacher [Fast] started building a boat of 18 feet length [bod]. 23. Sun. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], nearly calm, cloudy, rained in the afternoon and wet the dust, thunderstorms. Rained heavily in some places. The service was in Gru nfeld. Our Penners of Rosenfeld were here. 24. Mon. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], clear, east wind, day +19 degrees [75° F.]. The young Johann Toewses1 of Kleefeld, Molotschna, were here visiting our Toewses. They came Saturday, and Sunday they were at our place. 25. Tues. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], southeast wind. The 3 children finished making the boat at Abraham Friesens. In the morning Johann Toewses went to Kutschebe and our [Toewses] went with them. 26. Wed. Morning +7 degrees [48° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], south wind, clear. The children went with Sawitzki to look over [the land]. Yesterday and today they finished by ______afternoon ______. 27. Thur. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], southeast wind, clear. On Monday Barkman and Unraus with wife, children, and things moved to Kutschebe. They stayed overnight at Klaas Reimers. 28. Fri. Early morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], late afternoon +18 degrees [72° F.], later +14 degrees [64° F.], a few clouds. On Tuesday went to Molotschna. Tuesday Johann Reimers and Dycks of Annafeld came home. 29. Sat. Morning +7 degrees [48° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], often cloudy, rained in the afternoon in places, some south wind, some thunderstorms here. The rain half moistened the dust. Unraus were here at Klaas Reimers. 30. Sun. Early morning +10 degrees [54° F.], at 8 o’clock +18 degrees [72° F.], day +26 degrees [90° F.], nearly calm, clear, at sunset +16 degrees [68° F.]. My wife and I went with Klaas Reimers to the service in Rosenfeld. We were at our Penners for dinner and faspa.

1 Johann Toews #236913 (1846-1910) and Aganetha Janzen #236738 (1849-1921). He was a brother of Peter Toews. 89

May 1872, Page 67 1. Mon. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +25 degrees [88° F.], forenoon clear, calm. Afternoon such strong wind for half an hour that the strawstack was partly demolished. The chimney here was partly demolished. 2. Tues. Early morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +26 degrees [90° F.], partly clear. Yesterday rained some. They worked on the chimney and torn down a wall. I painted the sleeping bench. 3. Wed. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +25 degrees [88° F.], partly cloudy, often west wind. We painted the sleeping bench and the windows ______, and the Russian built the wall. Abraham Dycks of Annafeld came here after faspa. 4. Thur. At 8 o’clock in the morning +18 degrees [72° F.], day +26 degrees [90° F.], in places +28 degrees [95° F.], in Blumenhof +30 degrees [100° F.]. Peter Reimer hauled 1 load with a team [zug:] from the aforementioned Blumenhof. We were at Abraham Reimers for dinner and faspa. In the afternoon they went to Heubuden to Klaas Reimers about the land, barn, and ______. 5. Fri. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], rained in some places, often strong wind. Thunderstorms in many places. Yesterday we finished painting and oiling and washing. Today gave instructions to lay the floor in the great room and all the other rooms. 6. Sat. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +25 degrees [88° F.], afternoon cloudy and rained, mild, some water is standing on the lane. Yesterday Abraham Reimer took me home. The day before yesterday Abraham Penners were here. Today Klaas Reimer had the big Jatrina[?] at their place for the 4th time. The other day Sieber[?]. 7. Sun. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], very calm, day +22 degrees [82° F.], late afternoon +20 degrees [77° F.], later +18 degrees [72° F.], nearly clear. Heavy thunderstorms during the night and lightning nearly all night. The service was in Heubuden. From our children no one was there. A Jewish doctor was here in the village overnight. 8. Mon. At 8 o’clock in the morning +20 degrees [77° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], nearly calm, clear. The Jewish doctor gave Peter Reimer and Klaas Reimer medicine for 6½ rubles. At 6:30 in the morning, our Penners of Rosenfeld had a daughter.1 The older Penners2 took my wife there. 9. Tues. Early morning +16 degrees [68° F.], day +28 degrees [95° F.], late afternoon +26 degrees [90° F.]. Abraham Friesens and Heinrich Friesens were here in the afternoon. Sheared 18 sheep. I went with Abraham Friesens and Peter Reimers to Penners in Rosenfeld. 10. Wed. At 8 o’clock in the morning, +22 degrees [82° F.], day +29 degrees [97° F.], rained some here, rained heavily in many places. These days nearly always calm. Mrs. Abraham

1 Margaretha Penner #6413 (1872-1874). 2 Peter Penner #5491 and Elisabeth Friesen #5477, paternal grandparents. 90

Friesen of here was very sick for 3 hours in the evening and all of yesterday. Martin Barkmans of Marienfeld were here yesterday. May 1872, Page 68 11. Thur. At 8 o’clock in the morning, +24 degrees [86° F.], day +28 degrees [95° F.], often cloudy, rained some. Mrs. Abraham Penner began to get up a little. She is very weak. She can sleep and eat a little. 12. Fri. Early morning +16 degrees [68° F.], at 8 o’clock in the morning, +22 degrees [82° F.], day +28 degrees [95° F.], late afternoon +26 degrees [90° F.], late evening +20 degrees [77° F.]. We were at Abraham Penners in Rosenfeld. She is very weak, and the baby is ______. 13. Sat. Morning +22 degrees [82° F.], day +27 degrees [93° F.]. Yesterday and today rained in some places, calm. At noon the water was +23 degrees [84° F.], and yesterday evening +20 degrees [77° F.]. Late afternoon mild for ______. 14. Sun. Early morning +16 degrees [68° F.], day +28 degrees [95° F.], rained in some places. Klaas Reimer and I were in Blumenhof in the service. There was a large brotherhood meeting that lasted until 3:30. The young people were introduced – there were 16 of them.1 Johann Friesen preached eloquently about the church. 15. Mon. Morning +18 degrees [72° F.], day +27 degrees [93° F.]. I went with Peter Friesen to Rosenfeld. Mrs. Penner is much better. She could get up and walks back and forth. Their Margaretha was very peaceful and slept often throughout the night. 16. Tues. Early morning +16 degrees [68° F.], day +26 degrees [90° F.] in Rosenfeld, here +24 degrees [86° F.]. I stayed overnight at Penners. Rained during the night, forenoon mild, rained. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof was there also. Today my wife was there with our Toewses. 17. Wed. Morning cool +12 degrees [59° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.]. I stayed overnight at Penners. Yesterday I was at Johann Friesens. He is still suffering in his old age. I was at the school teacher [Fast] today. I came home at noon. 18. Thur. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], afternoon +18 degrees [72° F.], cloudy, rained, in the afternoon mild. Some water is flowing all around and nearly everywhere. On Tuesday Mrs. Abraham Penner was weaker and poorer, so she lies around. 19. Fri. Early morning +12 degrees [59° F.], at 8 o’clock [no temperature given], day +20 degrees [77° F.], late evening +16 degrees [68° F.]. Rained enough in the afternoon to wet the dust. Cloudy often, calm nearly everywhere. On Wednesday Gerhard Rempels2 and Dirk Isaacs of Rosenfeld were here. Today Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof[?] were here.

1 It was customary for Mennonites to baptize on Pentecost, which would be in two weeks. The baptismal candidates were introduced to a combined brotherhood meeting of men and women. Each candidate would share his testimony and be subjected to questioning by the members and declare his desire to follow Jesus, to follow the lifestyle required by the church, and to join the church. Then the brotherhood would vote on each candidate. 2 Gerhard Gerhard Rempel #3677 (1843-1879) and Katharina Friesen #3676 (1846-1903). 91

20. Sat. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], partly cloudy, cool, nearly calm. Yesterday at 5:30 in the morning, they went with their Ancke1 to Yekaterinoslav. Took a load of wheat for Franz Kroeker and for himself. 21. Sun. Early morning +12 degrees [59° F.], at o’clock [no time given] +16 degrees [68° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], late evening +14 degrees [64° F.]. Rained in the afternoon, mild nearly all the time. The service was here. The old Abraham Friesen of Rosenfeld was not in the service because he has renounced the congregation’s way, and his young children are unable to convince him ______.2 May 1872, Page 69 22. Mon. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], clear, east wind. Gathered 2 scheffel [3 bushels] of barley at Blumenhof. The Russians started the walls of Abraham Friesen’s house. At Peter Reimers they cold laid bricks [kalt gemauert]. Brother [Klaas] Reimer was here. 23. Tues. Early morning +12 degrees [59° F.], at 5:30 in the morning only +8½ degrees [51° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], east wind. Went along with [brother] Klaas Reimer to Heubuden. Built a barn by the embankment [die behringen]. Toews came home to here from Yekaterinoslav. Friesens came home to here from N[ikopol’?]. 24. Wed. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], day +19 degrees [75° F.], strong east wind, after faspa many clouds. Abraham [Reimer or Friesen?] painted the whole day on Buller's windmill. Johann Reimers went to Nikopol’ to the annual market. 25. Thur. Morning +18 degrees [72° F.], nearly calm, cloudy, afternoon rained in places. The service was in Rosenfeld still at the old Abraham Friesens.3 But no one from the old [Abraham Friesens] was in the service. We were at our Penners for dinner and faspa. She was very sick and mostly had to lay down. 26. Fri. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.] ______, day +24 degrees [86° F.], afternoon cloudy, calm. The parents of Toewses from Kleefeld, the Worms,4 came yesterday at noon to the Toewses. The young Cornelius Toewses5 were here also visiting for faspa. 27. Sat. Morning +17 degrees [70° F.], day +25 degrees [88° F.], clouds, nearly calm. I went with Cornelius Toews to Rosenfeld for dinner. They went to Einlage. I was at our

1 Based on the entry on 23 May 1872, this must be Peter and Elisabeth Toews who are going to Yekaterinoslav. Probably with their daughter Anna R. Toews #6480 (1863-1902). 2 On 3 February 1872, Abraham Reimer reported that Abraham Friesen’s son Johann had been banned from the congregation for premarital sex with the family’s maid and his cousin Helena Siemens. His leaving the church was probably connected to this matter. 3 Ascension Day. The service rotated among villages on a more or less regular basis. The congregation met in a large barn of one of its members in the village. There was probably no one else in the village who had a large barn that was clean enough for the service on short notice, so the congregation met in Abraham Friesen’s barn, even though he had just left the church the week before. No doubt a very awkward service. 4 Peter Toews’ mother, Elisabeth (Penner) Toews #236891 (1818-1905) had remarried to Jacob Worms #236917 (ABT 1814-1890) after her first husband died. 5 Cornelius Toews #236909 (1840-1919) and Sarah Neufeld #95352 (1842-1932). He was a brother to Abraham Reimer’s son-in-law Peter Toews. 92

Penners. They had been very sick until Wednesday. Yesterday nearly finished a room and in ______still sicker all of today and suffered a lot. 28. Sun. Morning +18 degrees [72° F.], day +24 degrees [86° F.], calm, some clouds. Thunderstorms in some places from noon until evening. The service was in Heubuden as well as a brotherhood meeting regarding the old Abraham Friesen and his attitude, the school building and ______was in Rosenfeld. 29. Mon. Morning +18 degrees [72° F.], day +25 degrees [88° F.], calm, rained in some places. I went with Klaas Reimer to Konstantius to the annual market, but it was not yet the right date. Mrs. Penner has completely changed. She is very sick. Often in the last 3 days and often in the last 2 days very sick.[?] 30. Tues. Early morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +26 degrees [90° F.], south wind, clouds. Today is the right day for the annual market in Konstantius. Rained at places. Dr. Fu thaf of Nikopol’ was at Johann Friesens in Rosenfeld. 31. Wed. Morning +18 degrees [72° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], some south wind. Johann Friesen died in Rosenfeld at 6:30 in the morning. He was 64 years old in total. He was very sick during the night. He was sick for 11 months. June 1872, Page 70 1. Thur. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], rained during the night. Thunderstorms in Rosenfeld and also a little here in the morning. In Rosenfeld in the forenoon, a lot of water was running. I went with Mrs. Johann Reimer to Rosenfeld yesterday. My wife came home yesterday. The service and brotherhood meeting were in Heubuden. 2. Fri. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.]. Rained heavily in the forenoon, and water is running in the lane. In Rosenfeld rained heavily in the forenoon, and water is running. Johann Friesen was buried in Rosenfeld. I attended the funeral. It was a big funeral. 3. Sat. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], day +19 degrees [75° F.], sunshine. Yesterday the old Peter Rempels and the young Peter Rempels of Paulsheim, Molotschna, were here visiting. I came home today in the evening. I had been at Penners for 3 days and 3 nights and my wife 4 days from Sunday. 4. Sun. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], late afternoon +16 degrees [68° F.], late +12 degrees [59° F.], clouds. The service was in Blumenhof. We did not go. We had many visitors. The old Gerhard Rempels of Molotschna; the young Rempels of Paulsheim; Heinrich Friesens, Abraham Friesens, and the old Abraham Friesens all of Rosenfeld. In all 7 ______. In all 22 visitors ______. 5. Mon. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], clouds. We were all in the service Gru nfeld.1 There was a brotherhood meeting about the old Abraham Friesen of

1 Pentecost Monday. 93

Rosenfeld and about building a school or church in Blumenhof. Gerhard Warkentin1 helped. We were visiting in Blumenhof at Abraham Reimers for dinner. 6. Tues. Early morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], late afternoon rained, later +12 degrees [59° F.], cloudy, rained in places, north wind, cold. Pulled on some warm things. The young Peter Friesens2 of Mariafeld and many guests were here, the young Abraham Reimers3 of Einlage and the young Heidebrechts4 of Blumenhof were at Abraham Friesens for faspa. 7. Wed. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], cloudy, west wind, late afternoon rained nearly until evening. We went with Peter Friesens and the young Peter Rempels of Paulsheim to Rosenfeld to our Penners. Yesterday and today she was suffering again. After breakfast she was so weak that it seemed she might not make it. She lies near the end. The old Gerhard Rempels, the old Peter Rempels, and the young Peter [Rempels] came to the house. 8. Thur. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], very cloudy in the forenoon, south wind in the afternoon, rained nearly all around, calm. Raised a barn and shed at Peter Reimers. All the Rempels left for home from Nikopol’. In 1 week they were in 5 villages. 9. Fri. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], cloudy, much northwest wind in the afternoon. Rained here and in many places, cold. I came home on Wednesday at 7:30 from Rosenfeld. Rained enough to wet nearly all the dust. Today my wife came home from Rosenfeld at 8:30. 10. Sat. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], very cloudy, calm, rained in some places. In the forenoon we put up the rafters for Abraham Friesens’ house. In the afternoon here put up the entire building at Franz Kroekers, in all 23 rafters [?, Spa]. June 1872, Page 71 11. Sun. Early morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], clear, calm. The service was in Rosenfeld at the old Abraham Friesens again, but they were not in the service. Peter Toews, elder from Molotschna, was here. From our family only Peter Reimers and Abraham Friesens were there. 12. Mon. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.]. At 6 o’clock in the morning, I went with Abraham Friesen to Nikolaithal to get the millstone from Johann Friesen there. At 7:30 in the evening, we came home. His Dietrich came with the mill hoist [?, Aufzu.].

1 Gerhard Warkentin #6110 (1848-1900) and Anna T. Enns #5740 (1852-1874). 2 Not identified. 3 Not identified. 4 Peter Heidebrecht #284526 and Katharina Reimer #3725. 94

13. Tues. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], often cloudy, strong north wind. In the evening they went to Franz Kroeker1 to Pokrawki[?] for the deposit of 3500 rubles for the house. Brought some ______barn brought. 14. Wed. Early morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], nearly clear, some southwest wind. Cooked green beans and peas. We also cooked sorrel. Franz Kroeker the house ______. 15. Thur. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], some clouds, northwest wind. In the forenoon I walked to Rosenfeld to Penners. Mrs. Penner is completely well. Mrs. Peter Harms is somewhat better. She is talking and starting to get up and staying Johann Reimers. 16. Fri. Early morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.]. Early morning rained in Rosenfeld. Very cloudy during the day. My wife came here with Mrs. Johann Reimer and went back home in the evening. 17. Sat. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.]. Rained some during the night. I walked home in the forenoon while it was raining lightly and got wet. Rained heavily here in the afternoon, and water was running in the lane. 18. Sun. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], nearly clear. The service was in Heubuden. No one from this village was there. Elder [Peter] Toews and Minister Abraham Klassen2 of Prangenau were here. 19. Mon. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], day +19 degrees [75° F.], some clouds, rained heavily in places and here. During the night some northeast wind, and during the day strong northeast wind. Peter Reimer and others went to Nikopol’ and got up to 10 rubles for wheat. Abraham [Penner?] started to paint the walls of the mill. 20. Tues. Early morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], often clear, southeast wind. On 16 June Peter Reimer sowed millet on the steppe, and some harrowed. 21. Wed. Morning +9 degrees [52° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], some south wind, very clear. Service was here at Siemens. Nearly all were there and some others. Abraham Klassen of Prangenau, Molotschna, preached. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here and brother Klaas Reimer of Heubuden. June 1872, Page 72 22. Thur. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], day +19 degrees [75° F.]. Klaas Reimer, Toews, and many others hauled 1 load each of stones to Blumenhof for the school. Abraham Klassen went home to Prangenau, and the old Penners went to Molotschna. 23. Fri. Morning +16 degrees [68° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], nearly calm, clear. In the forenoon I walked to our Penners. On Wednesday they had very ______very large ______to the house she is in ______.

1 Probably Franz Kroeker #6474. See 23 February 1872 when Franz Kroeker moved to Borosenko and 10 June 1872 when they helped build his house, 2 Abraham Klaassen #6891 (1828-1906) and Helena Martens #6892 (1833-1894). 95

24. Sat. Morning +17 degrees [70° F.], day in Rosenfeld +27 degrees [93° F.], here +25 [88° F.]. Mrs. Penner every day is slowly getting better. At night she is in bed, and she often walks in the front yard. We were at Toewses for faspa. Only Penner went home. 25. Sun. Morning +16 degrees [68° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], nearly calm, rained most of the time. We were in Blumenhof in the service. My wife and I were at Abraham Reimers for dinner and faspa. [Elder Peter] Toews preached ______, and there was a brotherhood meeting in the afternoon. Rained in the morning nearly the whole trip. 26. Mon. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], day +19 degrees [75° F.], clouds. We made butter for nearly half a day. The Makhliny moved to Johann Reimers. Jacob Klassen and Peter Friesen of here sowed barley on 15 June. 27. Tues. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], clouds. We went with Klaas Reimer to Rosenfeld to the Johann Friesens for the auction. We were visiting at our Penners. In the afternoon I went to the auction, but my wife went home with Klaas Reimers. 28. Wed. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], clouds, some north wind. I was at the auction sale in the forenoon. I passed [gereichs] on buying. I was also with Klaas Reimer of Heubuden at Abraham Penners for dinner. In the evening I went home. 29. Thurs. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], clouds, some northwest wind. Klassen[?] and Peter Friesen began cutting wheat on Wednesday. Klaas Reimer hauled 2 loads, 8 chetvertei [48 bushels], of wheat. He got 9 rubles. 30. Fri. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.]. Many here are cutting a lot of wheat. I went out to the field and looked at the grain. I reserved 1 chetvert’ [6 bushels] of barley from Buller.1 I got ½ quart [1 fifth] of spirits from Siemens for 42 kopecks. Clouds. July [1872], Page 73 1. Sat. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.]. Klaas Reimer and Abraham Friesen came home at 6:30 in the morning from Nikopol’ and each brought 1 load of _____. Klassen of here has 30 desiatin [81 acres] of wheat that are mostly green. 2. Sun. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +24 degrees [86° F.], clouds, calm nearly everywhere. The service was here at Siemens. Preached about the articles.2 The young people were discussed. Our Penners of Rosenfeld were here in the service and at our house for dinner and faspa. 3. Mon. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.]. Peter Reimer started working hard to roof the barn and shed with fresh reeds which have begun to go to seed.3 Johann

1 Buller owned the mill in Steinbach, and the Reimers probably needed barley flour but did have any grain ready from harvest to grind. 2 The articles were the beliefs and standards of behavior to which members subscribed when they joined the congregation. 3 Initially the Mennonites roofed their houses and barns with thatch, which is a roofing material that can last for centuries, as long as fresh layer of thatch is added periodically. The main drawback to thatch is the ease with which it catches fire from chimney sparks, so eventually they would replace it with more expensive clay tiles. 96

Friesen roofed in Nikolaithal and also the Loewens. Abraham Friesen also roofed the house and ______this week with fresh reeds. 4. Tues. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +24 degrees [86° F.], still north wind. I was at Toews. He started to cut wheat, as did many others the week before. ______in harvest last week 50 kopecks and this week many here. 5. Wed. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +25 degrees [88° F.], south wind, afternoon cloudy, rained heavily nearby towards evening and some here during the night. Sawitzki came with his wife and 3 accompanying [?, mitle] children and from Bielschink[?] his two adults children [grosse leut], 7 in all, they hauled the _____. 6. Thur. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], day +27 degrees [93° F.]. In Annafeld, Rosenfeld, Blumenhof, and Heubuden began [reaping] barley and wheat yesterday and today even more. Brother Klaas Reimer of Heubuden was here for faspa. He was sad and complained about the ways of his wife. He denounced [absagt] the church. 7. Fri. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +26 degrees [90° F.], late afternoon +24 degrees [86° F.], late evening +20 degrees [77° F.], south wind. Goertzen1[?] permitted Johann Reimer to apply 6 needles to his throat for his headache. But it did not help much. Klaas and Peter Friesen have brought home nearly all their barley and wheat. 8. Sat. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], north wind, late afternoon very cloudy, during the night nearly completely cloudy. Everyone in the village has harvested his wheat. Klaas and Peter Friesen have nearly finished hauling their grain to the house. Sawitzki came with his wife at 6 o’clock in the evening for faspa and cooked on a stone at the creek, food and drink, and stayed until 10:30 in the evening. 9. Sun. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], late afternoon +16 degrees [68° F.], late +14 degrees [64° F.]. My wife and I went with Peter Reimers to Rosenfeld to the service in the school for the first time. Goossen2 preached. We were at Penners for dinner and faspa. We were also at the younger Dietrich Isaacs3 a little later. Rained in the evening, and we were wet nearly whole way home. 10. Mon. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], clouds, from yesterday until noon today north and northeast wind that was so strong until evening that we could hardly haul grain or walk. Have had cucumbers for 2 weeks and for 8 days watermelons, cantaloupes, apples, and pears in Nikopol’ were being sold [zum handel gewessen]. Saturday evening I got a dog [Schinken] from Johann Reimer. July 1872, Page 74 11. Tues. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.]. These days here and in other villages, ripe watermelons are being eaten. Yes for 8 days all have been eating them. In the morning I went to Rosenfeld, and my brother4 of Heubuden was here for faspa.

1 Not identified. 2 Gerhard Goossen #5339 (1836-1872) and Anna Klassen #5347 (1839-1927). 3 Diedrich P. Isaac #5862 (1846-1927) and Katharina Rempel #5861 (1847-1890). 4 Klaas F. Reimer #3719. 97

12. Wed. Early morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], northwest wind, cloudy, rained at places. We slaughtered a hog at Klaas Reimers in the afternoon. It had very good fat of 4 inches at the thickest and 3½ inches on average. Got 5 buckets of lard.1 Yesterday Peter Friesen’s goose finished brooding.2 13. Thur. Early morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], very cloudy, rained at places, west wind. The other villages around were reaping the best wheat and barley. The reapers3 cost 1 ruble to 1 ruble 30 kopecks. Toewses slaughtered a female yearling calf. 14. Fri. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], partly clear, nearly calm. I brought green beans and carrots from our Penners of Rosenfeld to cook. They were up to 1½ inches thick. I also helped our Penners mangle at the old Penners. 15. Sat. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], clear, west wind. All the people here have finished reaping grain. Some have hauled everything to the house. Some have raked out [schuren aus] a lot of barley. Other villages are really reaping wheat, barley, and oats. 16. Sun. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], forenoon until late afternoon clear, cloudy, rained in places, cold northwest wind. I went with Klaas Reimer to the service in Heubuden. There was a brotherhood meeting until evening about the youth. The letter to St. Petersburg was read aloud.4 In the new school only the windows remain to be mortared. 17. Mon. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], cloudy, cold west wind, evening +15 degrees [66° F.]. On Sunday I was at Klaas Reimer in Heubuden for dinner and faspa. My wife was taken to our Penners in Rosenfeld. She again has been lying down sick for 3 days. In the evening she came home. 18. Tues. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], clouds, nearly calm. The old Klaas Reimer of Heubuden was here for faspa. He bought ½ pud [18 pounds] of lard from us. On Sunday the 9th, his congregation came and gave him 4 ______. He is again at ______. 19. Wed. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], mostly clear, afternoon cloudy, rained in some places. We went with our Abraham Friesens of here to Marienthal to Martin Barkmans. We left

1 They must have really needed meat or lard to butcher a hog when it was so warm. They would not have been able to cool the meat but would have had to salt or can it right away. 2 A goose lays 5 to 9 eggs and then broods on the nest for 28-35 days until all the eggs hatch. 3 Ukrainian or Russian seasonal laborers. 4 This is the first direct reference in the diary to Mennonite efforts to deal with the newly-decreed conscription requirements of the Russian government, although it is likely that many of the previous sermons and brotherhood meetings concerned this topic. In 1870, the Russian government had decreed that it would revoke all the exemptions from conscription that numerous elements of Russian society, including the Mennonites, enjoyed. In 1871, a delegation went to St. Petersburg to negotiate with the Russian emperor; but they were largely unsuccessful. In 1872, a second delegation went to St. Petersburg, so perhaps this is a reference to the second delegation and the letter that it would carry. Since the decree would not go into effect until 1880, the Mennonites had time to decide how they would respond. 98

at 8 o’clock in the morning and got there at 11:30 for faspa. We were at the old Peter Friesens. 20. Thur. Early morning +14 degrees [64° F.], at 8 o’clock +18 degrees [72° F.], day up to +26 degrees [90° F.], calm, clear, evening rain at some places. In the afternoon I went with Toews to Rosenfeld. I stayed overnight. He went to Nikopol’. July [1872], Page 75 21. Fri. Early morning +16 degrees [68° F.], day +26 degrees [90° F.], late afternoon +24 degrees [86° F.]. Our Penners took us home, as I stayed there for the night. She is a little better most of the time [sie das meist auf], but late in the evening she was so sick that she was near death. 22. Sat. Early morning +18 degrees [72° F.], day +28 degrees [95° F.] and even higher, west wind. Mrs. Makhlina plucked all 12 of our ducks. She also picked our beans in the evening. They were nearly all ripe. We have had ripe beans for 8 days. But other places have had ripe beans for over 14 days. On Wednesday they had ripe watermelons in Marienthal. 23. Sun. At 6 o’clock in the morning +20 degrees [77° F.], at 8 o’clock +24 degrees [86° F.], day +29 degrees [97° F.], late evening still +22 degrees [82° F.]. In other places it was +34 degrees [108° F.]. We have clear and calm. We were in Blumenhof at the service. There was a brotherhood meeting in Blumenhof. The youth were instructed to understand from the front bench [auf die erste bank]. I was at Klaas Reimer[?, or Friesen]. 24. Mon. At 7 o’clock in the morning +23 degrees [84° F.], day +28 degrees [95° F.], clouds, strong south wind. Lightning nearly everywhere during the night. Saturday evening fresh water came. Rained yesterday, and there are over 21 inches in the yard.1 [The creek is] completely full [up to] the bridge [die brück wol ganz vol], and at this end flows over the dam. Yesterday Peter Reimer’s pig croaked. 25. Tues. Morning +20 degrees [77° F.], day +26 degrees [90° F.]. In the afternoon my wife Mrs. Toews and I went to Rosenfeld to Abraham Penners. She is sick. On the 18th of this month, Abraham Friesens of here moved into the summer room2 of their new house. 26. Wed. Morning +18 degrees [72° F.], day +26 degrees [90° F.]. Mrs. Penner was very sick during the night. Half the night we must on her she can a little [?, müsten wir auf könt: wenig so gen]. During the day it was a little more bearable but nearly all the time she is in bed. Here the last wheat is all ripe. 27. Thur. Morning +17 degrees [70° F.], day +26 degrees [90° F.]. From 7 o’clock in the evening until 4:30 this morning, Mrs. Penner was so sick that she and I did not sleep at all. She lay near her end. Then it became a little more bearable, and I went home at noon. 28. Fri. Early morning +16 degrees [68° F.], at o’clock [no hour given] +22 degrees [82° F.], day often +26 degrees [90° F.]. Rained from 6 o’clock until 7, and from noon until evening,

1 Perhaps the water was over 21 inches deep at some point on the farmstead. 2 The summer room was the only room of the house that did not directly touch the central stove in the traditional Mennonite house design, so it did not have direct heat. The parents slept in it during the summer because it was coolest, and the boys slept in it during the winter. 99

many times heavily. Late afternoon +20 degrees [77° F.]. Reimer took wheat to Nikopol’. Rained and he got completely soaked. Water was flowing on the road, and many sacks of wheat were damaged. 29. Sat. Morning +21 degrees [79° F.], day +28 degrees [95° F.], windy, clear. Toewses were at Penners in Rosenfeld overnight. She hardly ____ slept at night. She has not slept for 3 nights and is often agitated[?, wechrelet]. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here. 30. Sun. Early morning +20 degrees [77° F.], at 8 o’clock +24 degrees [86° F.], day up to +29 degrees [97° F.], night +20 [77° F.]. Johann Reimers spent the night at Penners in Rosenfeld. She slept a little during the night, but she was very weak from 8 o’clock in the morning until 1 o’clock in the afternoon. She is so weak to ___ not ______that she cannot talk ______we were there. 31. Mon. Morning +23 degrees [84° F.], day +28 to +29 degrees [95-97° F.], very hot. In some places +32 degrees [104° F.], strong east wind. On Monday my wife was here from 11 o’clock in the evening until 2 o’clock in the morning. Jacob Klassen of here made a fuss with sweet liquor because a daughter was born.1 I went to Rosenfeld in the evening. August 1872, Page 76 1. Tues. Morning +20 degrees [77° F.], day +26 degrees [90° F.], calm, cloudy, rained at places. I spent the night at Penners in Rosenfeld. She was worst from 8 o’clock in the evening until 1 o’clock at night. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof and Isaac Warkentin2 for half ____ night were there. Also my wife with Toewses of here were there and Peter Isaac and Peter Friesen of Molotschna. 2. Wed. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +23 to +25 degrees [84-88° F.], nearly calm, cloudy, rain. Yesterday a widow, Mrs. Cornelius Thiessen,3 from the Old Colony, Village No. 2,4 a midwife, was at our Penners. She placed 3 needles ______, and it made her ______better. Gave her drops for pain. We came home with Toewses at night. 3. Thur. Morning +17 degrees [70° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], clouds. My wife went along with Abraham Friesen to Rosenfeld to Penners and placed 4 needles ______. It was in the cheek ______. Klaas Reimer began to prepare to build his house and [move out?] of a semlin.5 4. Fri. Early morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], late afternoon +16 degrees [68° F.], late +14 degrees [64° F.], clouds. Afternoon rained often and heavily, and water was flowing in the lane in Rosenfeld. This year there has not been stronger. In

1 Sara J. Classen #100576 (1872-1874), daughter of Jacob Classen and Katherina Janzen. 2 Isaac Warkentin #5298 (1845-1929) was a well-known and respected doctor. 3 Not identified. 4 Early villages in Russia were initially numbered in the order that they were founded and only later given names. The villages often informally continued to be referred to by their numbers. Village no. 2 is probably Rosenthal. 5 A semlin was a sod house that Mennonites often built as a first home in a new settlement. 100

Blumenhof have not had such for years. From 9 ______in not many yards[?] water flowed. Much grain was flooded. But many _____ nearly none.[?] 5. Sat. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], cold, partly clear. Our Peter Reimer has [harvested] all his grain and brought it out [to the yard]. Peter Friesen has nearly finished it. In Annafeld and other villages the last wheat ______. 6. Sun. Morning +16 degrees [68° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], forenoon clouds, afternoon rained in many places. Here it rained and hailed a lot. Water was flowing. We were in Rosenfeld at the service. The young people recited aloud from the first[?]. There was a brotherhood meeting about the school. We were with the Heubuden Reimers.1 7. Mon. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], nearly calm, clouds. Were in Blumenhof. The new school is well done [richte] and solid [verlas].2 Some from here were there. Our Mrs. Penner is a little better. On the 6th for dinner and faspa and for faspa yesterday, we were at the Reimers of Heubuden. 8. Tues. Early morning +16 degrees [68° F.], noon +22 degrees [82° F.], late afternoon +24 degrees [86° F.], late evening +20 degrees [77° F.], clouds, nearly calm. Three of our children took 6 wagonloads from here to Pok______[?] to Pfau[?] for the school in Blumenhof. In all 20 loads or 6000 items. 9. Wed. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.]. On 23 July, Cornelius Janzens of here joined the Heubuden congregation. Communion there was on 30 July. In 2 months we have bought 2 chetverti [12 bushels] of barley. 10. Thur. Morning +16 degrees [68° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], clear, nearly calm. Klaas Reimer brought Sawitzki his ninth of sales and from leather [seine neun mit absatzt und auf ledern]. I bought 1 chetvert’ [6 bushels] of barley or groats from Buller of which 1 scheffel [1.5 bushels] but there are still 3 [al auf sind noch 3]. 11. Fri. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], clear, cool north wind. Rained some in the evening. Johann Reimer brought all his wheat into the attic, which he harvested from 16 desiatin [43 acres] that he sowed. From these desiatiny he got in all 21 chetvert’ [130 bushels], and from 6 desiatin [16 acres] of barley, 12 14 chetvertei [84 bushels] of barley and from 2 desiatiny [5 acres] of oats, 10 chetvertei [60 bushels]. August [1872], Page 77 12. Sat. Early morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.], north wind, clear. On 28 July, Loewen3 in Rosenfeld sowed rye, and it is sprouting. For 8 days they have been planting rye and are still doing it [geht auf]. 13. Sun. Early morning +4 degrees [41° F.], then +8 degrees [50° F.], +14 degrees [64° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], evening +14 degrees [64° F.], clear, nearly calm. In the forenoon we were in Rosenfeld with Peter Reimers at Abraham Penners. Their school teacher was

1 Abraham Reimer #3721 and Anna Eidse #3722 and his father (and the diarist Abraham F. Reimer’s brother) Klaas F. Reimer #3719. 2 It must have been quite a change to go from worshiping in barns to worshiping in the new school. 3 Not identified. 101

there. She was worse. In Heubuden 12 young people were baptized, 7 sons and 5 daughter. 14. Mon. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +17 degrees [70° F.], clouds, north wind. My wife went with Abraham Reimers to Rosenfeld and brought some medicine for her, but she is not better, but it is always changing. At 6:30 in the morning, Klaas Reimer went to the annual market in Nikopol’. 15. Tues. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], clear, some east wind. I went with Peter Friesen to Nikopol’ to the annual market with grain. Friesen had 5 chetvertei [30 bushels] and Peter had 8 chetvertei [48 bushels]. The wheat brought 10 rubles, and the oats up to 4 rubles per chetvert’ [6 bushels]. I bought a door plate [Schild] for 65 kopecks, and 1 glass of kvass1 for 15 kopecks. We came home at 9:30. 16. Wed. Morning +7 degrees [48° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], clear, calm. My wife went with Peter Rempel of Rosenfeld to our Penners. In the forenoon she was in ______very variable. Yesterday she was up somewhat in the great room. Klaas Reimer brought his wheat in, 8 chetvertei [48 bushels]. 17. Thur. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], some clouds, calm. Johann Reimer went to the Old Colony and brought the midwife Mrs. Cornelius Thiessen to our Penners. She examined her and gave her different medicine. She should take 4 drops once a day. 18. Fri. Early morning +24 degrees [86° F.],2 clouds, calm. Gerhard Goossen of Gru nfeld has been very sick for 8 days. Jacob Wiebe3 in Annafeld is sick some days. Klaas Reimer worked with wheat. 19. Sat. Day +25 degrees [88° F.], yesterday +24 degrees [86° F.] during the day, today clouds, nearly calm. I went with Jacob Klassen to Rosenfeld to Mrs. Penner. It was the old way with her. Klaas Reimer brought his wheat up into the attic. He had 41½ chetvert’ [248 bushels] from 25 desiatin [67 acres] but only 20 desiatin [54 acres] ______. 20. Sun. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], light east wind, clouds, evening cloudy. We were in the service in Blumenhof. There was a short brotherhood meeting about traveling to St. Petersburg. For dinner and faspa we were at Abraham Reimers. She is still in very good health.4 Abraham Reimers were here yesterday, Saturday, for dinner and faspa. 21. Mon. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], southeast wind, clouds, evening very cloudy, rained in places. Getting cloudy with rain. At Johann Reimers I

1 Written Teit, perhaps he meant Teig, which means dough or paste. It might be kvass, which is made from fermented rye bread and a traditional Slavic drink that Abraham Reimer probably would not have been able to try in the Mennonite colonies. 2 This temperature seems improbable for early morning, but no daytime temperature is given. 3 Jacob Wiebe #6604 (1829-1901) and Anna Isaac #2673 (1832-1896). 4 He was concerned about his daughter-in-law’s health because she was about to give birth. 102

bought 10 ambers [a type of melon?] and melons at a cost ____ 40 kopecks. In Gru nfeld an 18-year-old man, Cornelius Wiebe,1 died during the night. He was very sick for 9 days. August [1872, Page] 78 22. Tues. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], clear, light east wind. At 1 o’clock during the night in Blumenhof, made sweet liquor at Abraham Reimers. Their son Johann2 came. She was very sick the first day. She was sicker and had such high fever for 3 hours that it is said ______. 23. Wed. Johann Reimer was here after going to the funeral in Gru nfeld yesterday. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], clear, nearly calm. I went with Peter Reimer to Blumenhof in the afternoon and brought my wife home in the evening. Yesterday she went with Peter Friesen to Rosenfeld at 8:30 in the morning and spent the night. She was also somewhat sick. 24. Thur. Morning +21 +8 degrees [50° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], clear, nearly calm. All day yesterday a strong, cold northeast wind. Inserted 15 needles on the back of my wife’s neck because she had such pain all around her head that she was crying. She was weak for two nights. Yesterday she slept. Today she was _____ calm from ______. Abraham Reimer was sick for 5 hours. 25. Fri. Early morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +24 degrees [86° F.], clear, calm. In the morning Klaas Reimer took 2 wagonloads, 9 chetvertei [54 bushels], of wheat to Nikopol’. It brought him 10 rubles 30 kopecks to 50 kopecks and up to 10 rubles 60 kopecks. He came home at 7 o’clock in the evening and brought 2 loads of planks [Schwarten] for the semlin and paint ______for the house for ______. 26. Sat. Early morning +5 degrees [43° F.], clear, calm. Toews hauled in wheat and rye on Thursday. The old Abraham Friesens' son Johann married Helena in Annafeld at Siemens, but the old [Abraham Friesens] of Rosenfeld were not there. 27. Sun. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], clear, nearly calm. The service was at Siemens here. Peter Toews taught. There was a brotherhood meeting and the Lord’s Supper. Some came from St. Petersburg. The old Schellenbergs,3 who went to St. Petersburg, were in Rosenfeld for dinner. 28. Mon. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], nearly clear. At the Abraham Reimers they are nearly well again, so no relatives have to stay there. The young Abraham Friesens of Blumenhof went to Molotschna to Abraham Klassens of the ______. 29. Tues. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], clear, afternoon windy. I went with Siemens4 and Kroeker5 to Konstantius to the annual market. We were on the road for 5 hours. Day +20 degrees [77° F.]. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here for dinner and faspa.

1 Cornelius Wiebe #6613 (1854-1872). 2 Johann R. Reimer #6697 (1872-1902). 3 Perhaps Gerhard Schellenberg #6328 and Elisabeth Warkentin #6338. 4 Gerhard T. Siemens #6463. 5 Franz Kroeker #6474. 103

30. Wed. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], clouds, calm. Peter Friesen and I had Buller crush 7 metzen1 [6 gallons] of barley groats. All week we had a vicious dog with rabies, so we had hardly any rest for 3 days and 2 nights. 31. Thur. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], very cloudy, strong northwest wind. Our Penners of Rosenfeld were visiting here for dinner and faspa. ______spring buggy [ganz dichte feder wagen] and his wife came ______here also. [Penners?] have not gone anywhere for nearly 8 weeks. September 1872, Page 79 1. Fri. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], clouds, very strong northwest wind that cracked the roof and much thatch was blown off. Gerhard Goossen died in Gru nfeld. He was 37 years, 3 weeks old. He had been very seriously sick. 2. Sat. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.], cloudy, north wind. Yesterday after dinner Abraham Friesen went to Nikopol’ with 12 chetvertei [72 bushels] of wheat. The wheat sold for 9 rubles 90 kopecks to 10 rubles 20 kopecks. Gerhard Goossen was buried in Gru nfeld. Abraham Friesen came home in the evening. 3. Sun. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +14 degrees [46° F.], cloudy, north wind, cold. Klaas Reimer and I went to Rosenfeld to the service. Toews taught. There was a brotherhood meeting and the Lord’s Supper, but some were not completely prepared.2 [Some?] came from St. Petersburg. We were also at Penners. 4. Mon. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +13 degrees [61° F.], cloudy, north wind. For 17 days, and on Friday, 18 August[?], at the older Johann Warkentin in Hochfeld much burned up - 25 chetvertei [150 bushels] of wheat, chaff and grain, still in ______much straw and 3 large haystacks and ______6000 rubles. 5. Tues. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], clear, nearly calm. At 9:30 I went to Rosenfeld and brought Mrs. Penner at noon. On Friday we also had to send a letter to St. Petersburg. On Sunday again there was a brotherhood meeting in Rosenfeld for the whole congregation. 6. Wed. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.] here, in Blumenhof −1 degree [30° F.] and had frost everywhere, and all the melons froze, day +15 degrees [66° F.], clear, calm. I stayed at Penners overnight. I came here with them. She either sits on 2 chairs or lies in bed. 7. Thur. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], clear, south wind. The knavish shepherd stole the weather glass3 near the five huts. Johann Rempel4 died in Rosenort

1 A metze is an obsolete German unit of dry measurement equal to 3.63 US quarts or 3.44 liters. 2 Some members of the congregation were not spiritually prepared to participate in the Lord’s Supper because of unresolved conflicts with other members or because they were not in a right relationship with God. 3 A weather glass was an early barometer. It was a sealed, pear-shaped glass vessel with a thin spout filled with colored water. The water in the spout rose when the barometric pressure increased and vice versa. It did not indicate the quantitative barometric pressure. 4 Johann Rempel #1072960 (ABT 1815-1872). 104

and was buried on Monday. He was 57 years old. He was sick for over half a year. He died while lying on the bench. 8. Fri. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], some clouds, calm. The young Jacob Friesens1 of Heubuden were here visiting. Toews of here took wheat to Nikopol’. It sold for 10 rubles 20 to 40 kopecks. Abraham Klassen of Prangenau came here to Blumenhof. 9. Sat. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], clear, calm. We went to Blumenhof so that we and the Heubudners could write another letter to send to St. Petersburg. There was a speaker there, and he came for faspa. Mrs. Penner of Rosenfeld is very sick now and nearly all the night before. I was in Heubuden for night. 10. Sun. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], very foggy, day cloudy, west wind, +24 degrees [86° F.]. Was in Blumenhof. For the first time, the service was in the new school. Over 200 people were there. Quite a few families were there from _____ Molotschna. Three preachers, Loewen, Klassen, and Toews, taught until evening.2 September 1872, Page 80 11. Mon. Morning +7 degrees [48° F.], clouds, calm, day +18 degrees [72° F.]. I was at Abraham [Reimer] in Blumenhof overnight. In the morning I went home in the big wagon with Abraham Reimer. He brought 6 chetvertei [36 bushels] of ______here. My wife went with Johann Reimer to Rosenfeld. 12. Tues. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], clear, calm. Yesterday at 3 o’clock in the afternoon, Peter Toews departed from Blumenhof with Abraham Friesen of Heubuden and Abraham Klassen for St. Petersburg.3 Martin Barkman of Marienthal was here today. 13. Wed. Morning +7 degrees [48° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], southeast wind. Toews came back from Nikopol’. He sold 5 chetvertei [30 bushels] of wheat for 10 rubles. The harness shop [?, Horniss] of old Johann Warkentin in Hochfeld burned down again. It nearly all burned. He suffered the loss of over 3400 rubles, in all over 5000 rubles.4 14. Thur. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], south wind, clouds. On the 3rd and 4th, some lit their stoves, and we ourselves on the 5th and 6th lit our stove. Hauled 3 wagons here and also to other villages. The burned place ______to three David Loewen5 his house in Hochfeld ______.

1 Jacob S. Friesen #4032 (1850-1921) and Margaretha T. Giesbrecht #4033 (1852-1936). 2 The dedication of their new school and meeting building for the congregation must have been quite an event with three preachers speaking until evening and other Kleine Gemeinde members coming from Molotschna. 3 This KG delegation went to St. Petersburg to see Emperor Alexander II regarding the revocation of the Mennonites’ privileges, including the right not to be drafted into the Russian military; but they were not able to see him. Toews was elder of the Rosenfeld/Blumenhof group, Friesen elder of the Heubuden group, and Klassen a minister in the KG Molotschna group. 4 See 4 September 1872. 5 David Loewen #5967 (1836-1915) and Anna Reimer #5925 (1835-1901). 105

15. Fri. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], south wind, morning cloudy, afternoon very cloudy, rained often. Klaas Reimer went to Pokrowsky[?] with 2 wagons for roof tiles for his house. Peter Isaac of Rosenfeld was here. Late evening and during the night rained heavily with lightning and thunderstorms. 16. Sat. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], partly cloudy, nearly calm. Rained yesterday so much that today there is still water standing in the lane. On 1 Sept ______on the road to Nikopol’ ______burned ______nearly none. 17. Sun. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], clouds. The service was in Blumenhof in the new school. Our Siemens of here were there. Kaspers1 of Muntau came here to Klassens for faspa and were here for night. 18. Mon. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +19 degrees [75° F.], clear, calm. The Kaspers of Muntau were visiting here from 8 o’clock to 11 o’clock in the morning. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here. Eight days ago a letter came from America from ______. 19. Tues. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], clear, nearly calm. I went with Peter Reimer to Rosenfeld. I was at Penners. She was not too well. She stayed in bed. I was at the old Barkman ______. I was also at Toews there. She was half healthy. Was healthy and often walking. Jacob Regier of Gru nfeld there is also healthy. 20. Wed. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +17 degrees [70° F.], clear, calm. Since Monday Klaas Reimer of here laid a new floor in a room.2 Today he laid planks [Rissen] on the floor until evening. We were in the front room [vorhaus] today. Friesen3 of Crimea was here for a little while today. Peter Rempels came here to Annafeld from Paulsheim to the Dycks. September [1872], Page 81 21. Thur. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.]. In the afternoon we were at Abraham Dycks in Annafeld. Peter Rempels were there also with their Heinrich and their stepdaughter.4 Mrs. Peter Friesen gave birth to a daughter.5 My wife was there. 22. Fri. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], clear, calm. In the morning I went to Rosenfeld to Abraham Penners. She could hardly endure it. In the evening Johann Reimer, Toews, Heinrich Brandt, and 3 others took 6 wagons to Molotschna.

1 Probably Heinrich Kasper #61855 (b. 1821). 2 The Mennonites had dirt floors in their houses after they built them in a new colony, but as time and money allowed, they laid wooden floors. 3 Not identified. 4 Not sure who the stepdaughter is as neither Peter Rempel nor his wife Elisabeth Reimer appear to have been married previously. 5 Elisabeth Friesen #6542 (b. 1872). 106

23. Sat. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], clear, calm, west wind. Buller[?] the second time ______the mill. Buller was very sick for 2 days. Yesterday Johann Reimer and Toews brought 6 loads total from Molotschna to the Kroekers’1 house. 24. Sun. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], clear, nearly calm. The service was again in Blumenhof in the school. Berg from Crimea preached. All the children were there, but we were not. The letter from St. Petersburg was read aloud. 25. Mon. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.]. On the 21st we bought 2 piglets for 1 ruble each. They were [farrowed] on Easter. Yesterday my wife was at Penners in Rosenfeld. 26. Tues. They began to sow rye. The annual market was held in Scharlach. Klaas Reimer and Johann Reimer were there. Many workers were available at cut-rate wages. +16 degrees [68° F.], clear. 27. Wed. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], clear, windy. Land here again was surveyed and divided.2 Buller of here is healthier again than he has been often before. We bought 6 pudov3 [220 pounds] of groats from Regier[?] ______from the ______. 28. Thur. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day partly cloudy, windy, +7 degrees [48° F.]. This week land was surveyed for 3 or 4 days. There was a cold wind. Russians came to the house yesterday from Yekaterinoslav. 29. Fri. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], clear, nearly calm, +12 degrees [59° F.]. Peter Rempels of Molotschna are here at Heinrich Brandts and want come to Toewses. We were at Toewses. I bought 11 chetvertei [66 bushels] of syrup4 here. 30. Sat. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day cloudy, calm, +13 degrees [61° F.]. I went to Rosenfeld to our Penners. Mrs. Makhlin did the laundry for 3 days. In the evening he took us home. Johann Friesens5 of Nikolaithal were here. In the village very ______. October 1872, Page 82 1. Sun. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day clouds, calm, +16 degrees [68° F.]. We were in the service in the school in Blumenhof. As one it was decided the minister should be gotten from Yekaterinoslav on Wednesday. We went to Rosenfeld to Penners for dinner. 2. Mon. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day clear, nearly calm, +12 degrees [59° F.]. I went with Klaas Reimer to Gru nfeld to Mrs. Gerhard Goossen's6 auction. The old Peter Penner of Rosenfeld went to Yekaterinoslav to get the 8[?] ministers.

1 Franz Kroeker #6476. See 23 February, 10 June, 13 June, all in 1872 for other entries about the Kroekers moving from Molotschna to Borosenko. 2 Probably they were surveying additional fields to be broken since this was still a relatively new village. 3 The pud was a Russian measure of weight equal to 36.1 pounds. 4 Perhaps sorghum, from which syrup can be made; or it can be used as animal feed. 5 Not identified. 6 Anna Klassen #5347. Her husband had died on 1 September 1872, so she was selling the farm. 107

3. Tues. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], clear, nearly calm. Klaas Reimer and I got 40 sheep from Gru nfeld from old Mrs. Goossen. They cost 4 rubles 85 kopecks to 4 rubles 95 kopecks. Including 45 lambs. I borrowed a book from Mrs. Goossen. We bought 1½ fadem [6.6 cubic yards] of sheep manure. 4. Wed. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], evening cloudy, calm, day +12 degrees [59° F.]. Klaas Reimer took 1 load of wheat to Nikopol’. It sold for 9 rubles 60 kopecks. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were visiting here at Abraham Friesens. Gave 1 _____ of potatoes. 5. Thur. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], a little frost, day clear, calm. The ministers came home to Blumenhof from St. Petersburg at 1 o’clock in the afternoon.1 Klaas Reimer came home at 8 o’clock in the evening with a load of lumber. He had 4 loads of lumber from the old bridge. He paid 20 rubles for our ½ puda [18 pounds] of salt[?]. 6. Fri. Morning +½ degree [33° F.], clear, north wind, +10 degrees [54° F.]. Yesterday our [Klaas] Reimer brought us ½ puda [18 pounds] of salt, 10 funtov [9 pounds] of candles, 5 funtov [5 pounds] of plums, 5 funtov [5 pounds] of raisins, and 4 funta [4 pounds] of coffee. The old Cornelsen2 of Lichtenau came. 7. Sat. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day +11 degrees [57° F.], clear, east wind. I went to Rosenfeld to Abraham Penners. She was very weak yesterday evening. Today some of the same medicine was applied once in the great room. I stayed overnight. 8. Sun. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.] in places, day +12 degrees [59° F.], clear, calm. From Rosenfeld I went with the Schellenbergs to the service in Blumenhof. Toews taught. The letter from St. Petersburg was read aloud and discussed again and discussed that the trip for 24 days cost 168 rubles. 9. Mon. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], clear, calm, day +12 degrees [59° F.]. Toews began to sow rye, and others are also sowing rye. My brother Klaas Reimers of Heubuden were here in afternoon for visiting. 10. Tues. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day clear, nearly calm. Klaas Reimer slaughtered his bulls, which were 2 years old. They cost him 14 rubles. It is said that on 27 September, that is 14 days ago, it snowed in some places and some here also. 11. Wed. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], mild, clear, calm, +15 degrees [66° F.]. At 10 o’clock in the morning, Klaas Reimer together with Peter Loewen went with Sawitzky to Yekaterinoslav. At Klaas Reimer’s they are oiling and this week throughout the village oiling the roof. October 1872, Page 83 12. Thur. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.], cloudy, some rain in the afternoon, clear, calm, very mild. There was a brotherhood meeting in the school in

1 See 12 September 1872. 2 Gerhard S. Kornelsen #5532 (1816-1894). He was coming to marry Cornelia Warkentin, the widow of Peter Harms. 108

Blumenhof about Elder Toews and Abraham Friesen traveling to Crimea to speak with the Tsar’.1 13. Fri. Early morning +6 degrees [46° F.], +16 degrees [68° F.], in some places up to +20 degrees [77° F.], forenoon cloudy, afternoon clear, calm, very mild. Yesterday Johann Reimers went to Nikopol’ and came home yesterday and brought us 1 bed, 6 funtov [5 pounds] of apples, and ______. 14. Sat. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], cloudy all day, windy. In the evening southwest [wind], very cloudy. There were thunderstorms. We heard [sic] lightning until late evening. Today Toews finished sowing rye. He sowed 6 desiatin [16 acres]. Today the two ministers are going to Crimea for consolation [Trost]. 15. Sun. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], cloudy, cold, northwest wind. The service was in the school in Blumenhof. In Friedensfeld Peter Penner and a Tilmon2 at the ______baptized in the river. He kept the cork for me from the shoemaker from Rosenfeld for 8 days.[?] 16. Mon. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], nearly calm, completely cloudy, rained nearly all day, and water is flowing both on the lane and in the garden and in the villages around here. Rained nicely. Klaas Reimer and Peter Loewen came home from Yekaterinoslav in the evening. 17. Tues. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], cloudy. Klaas Reimer brought 1 pair of shoes for 1 ruble 35 kopecks for my wife and a barrel of syrup of 12 pudov [430 pounds] for me from Yekaterinoslav. Also, 1 gardening book, in all 6 books, and 3 atlases and also maps, in all about 50 items. 18. Wed. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], cloudy, east wind. At Johann [Reimers’] we slaughtered 2 hogs, which had 3½ [inches] of fat and 8 pails of lard. From the 6th until Friday, we were washing the floor in the great room and painting [geweicht] the great room. The chest and the bedstead were exchanged. 19. Thur. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +7 degrees [48° F.], east wind. At Peter Reimers we butchered 2 hogs, which had 3½ and 3 inches of fat and produced 7 pails of lard. I went with Abraham Penner to Rosenfeld and stayed there 2 nights. 20. Fri. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], north wind, nearly clear. At Toewses they slaughtered 2 hogs. One had 4 inches and the other 3½ inches of fat, and they yielded 7 pails of lard. Yesterday she was so much better that she is up most of the time. At 8:15 in the morning, Penner went to Nikopol’. 21. Sat. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], some frost, day +8 degrees [50° F.], clear, nearly calm. Our Penner returned home at 2:30 in the afternoon. He brought a load of furniture wood

1 See 12 September 1872. Since the KG leaders were unsuccessful in speaking to the Emperor in St. Petersburg, they decided to travel to Crimea, where he was vacationing, to see him. Although the ruler of Russia was formally an emperor, he was commonly called a tsar’, which derives from the Latin word caesares, or caesar. 2 Not identified. 109

[Tischlholtz] and many things for butchering and a butcher knife for me. In the evening I went home. October 1872, Page 84 22. Sun. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], some clouds, nearly calm. Peter Reimer, Abraham Friesen, and Peter Toewses went to the service in Blumenhof. This week Klassen and Klaas Reimer are sowing rye. 23. Mon. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +7 degrees [48° F.], morning foggy, cloudy. Johann Reimers slaughtered 3 hogs. In Rosenfeld they are still sowing rye. Abraham Friesen put the floor in the corner room. 24. Tues. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], morning very foggy, cloudy all day, calm. At Peter Reimers we slaughtered 2 hogs, one of which had 3 inches and the other 2½ inches of fat and yielded 5 pails of lard. 25. Wed. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], morning very foggy, nearly calm. At our Penners in Rosenfeld we slaughtered 2 hogs, one of which had 3 inches and the other 2½ inches of fat. For Mrs. Penner it is bearable, and she is up for half of the time. Both elders came from Crimea at 11 o’clock in the evening.1 26. Thur. Morning −2½ degrees [26° F.], morning very foggy, cloudy, nearly calm, day +7 degrees [48° F.]. Yesterday the Makhliny moved from Johann Reimers to Gru nfeld. Johann Reimer laid the floor in the great room and moved into it.2 27. Fri. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], very foggy, afternoon clear, calm, day +6 degrees [46° F.]. We slaughtered 3 hogs at Abraham Friesens of here. Two had a good 3½ inches and the third 3 inches of fat, and they yielded 10 pails of lard. Peter Reimer went to Nikopol’ with wheat. 28. Sat. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], foggy, some north wind. Buller began to mill again. Peter Reimer came home from Nikopol’. The wheat sold for 9 rubles 60 kopecks to 10 rubles. He brought me a winter cap that cost 1 ruble. 29. Sun. Morning [no temperature given] degrees, morning foggy, day cloudy, nearly calm. We went with Johann Reimer to the service in Blumenhof. From the Heubuden congregation Jacob Friesens, Abraham, and from Martin Barkmans3 were present, and from Rosenfeld Franz Wiens. We again had the Lord’s Supper. 30. Mon. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], foggy, afternoon cloudy, nearly calm. The old Klaas Reimer from Heubuden was here visiting for faspa. Klaas Reimer built a wagon shed [Wagen Schur].

1 See 12 October 1872. They again were unable to see the emperor but only met with the governor-general. 2 Based on the fact that they were constantly making improvements to their houses, it seems that they still intended to stay in Russia and not to emigrate. 3 The list of persons present is garbled. 110

31. Tues. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], foggy, day +6 degrees [46° F.], day nearly clear. We slaughtered 4 hogs. The best had 3½ inches of fat, and the worst a good 2½ inches, and they yielded a good 9 pails of lard. November [1872], Page 85 1. Wed. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], very foggy, east wind, day cloudy, +5 degrees [43° F.]. We butchered 5 ducks with the hogs. On Sunday there was a small mishap with Klaas Reimers’ Abraham,1 who drank dirty [water] and got sick and vomited a lot. 2. Thur. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], cloudy, northeast wind, day +3 degrees [39° F.] but cold wind. We prepared for slaughtering for ______at Toewses. By the calendar it was appointed to go to Molotschna, but he did not go.[?] 3. Fri. Morning +½ degree [33° F.], cloudy, day some north wind, nearly clear, +4 degrees [41° F.]. We slaughtered 2 hogs, and all the children helped except Mrs. Penner did not. Both the hogs had 3½ inches of fat and yielded a good 7 pails of lard. 4. Sat. Morning here had much frost on all the windows and froze in Blumenhof, at our place −5 degrees [21° F.], completely clear, some north wind. At Peter Friesens they slaughtered 2 hogs with 3 inches of fat. 5. Sun. Morning −5 to −5½ degrees [20-21° F.] here and other places, clear, northeast wind. Yesterday and today during the day it was 0 degrees [32° F.]. Nearly all children went to the service in Blumenhof. There was a large brotherhood meeting again about Jacob Friesens’ Abraham,2 our Barkmans, and Franz Wiens, but they did not come due to anger. 6. Mon. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], cloudy, east wind, day +1 degree [34° F.]. Yesterday afternoon Toews, Goertzen, and Anna went to Molotschna. They had trouble and stayed in Nikopol’ for night. In the afternoon I went to Rosenfeld. 7. Tues. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], very cloudy, east wind, day +4 degrees [41° F.]. Yesterday forenoon Klaas Reimer went to Nikopol’ with wheat. Today he came home at 7 o’clock in the evening. He brought us 2 wheat flour [sic] which cost total 3 rubles 80 kopecks. Johann Reimer went to Nikopol’ in the morning. 8. Wed. Morning in Heubuden +4½ degrees [42° F.], day +7 degrees [48° F.]. Yesterday I came home from Rosenfeld at 5:30 in the evening. It rained in the forenoon. Mrs. Bartel3 died at 5:30 in the evening on the 6th. She was sick for 24 hours, very sick. The funeral is today. Klaas Reimer of Heubuden was here. 9. Thur. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], nearly calm, cloudy. The day before yesterday in the afternoon, the little Jacob Friesens of Heubuden were visiting here. The old Abraham Friesens in Rosenfeld slaughtered 2 hogs.

1 Abraham W. Reimer #6516 (1860-1930). 2 Abraham T. H. Friesen #3828 (1854-1908). 3 Gertrude Warkentin #60938 (1832-1872), wife of Heinrich Bartel #327924. 111

10. Fri. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], completely cloudy all day, nearly calm, day +4 degrees [41° F.]. Klaas Reimers of Heubuden slaughtered 4 hogs. Two German servants put [gewohnen] 2 manure carts in the creek during the night. November 1872, Page 86 12[11]. 1 Sat. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], whole day cloudy, nearly calm. Gernser came and gave me 1 ruble 13 kopecks, and he was here for a little while. Dealt with the land here until 11:30 in the evening. 12. Sun. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], cloudy, cold east wind. Service was again in Blumenhof. There was a short brotherhood meeting about building a volost’ office,2 and it was discussed positively. 13. Mon. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], foggy, nearly calm, Klaas Reimer went to Hochfeld and Rosenfeld and got about 50 ______trees. They cost 3 kopecks each. Day +5 degrees [43° F.]. 14. Tues. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], clouds, calm. Klaas Reimer of Heubuden came for dinner and faspa. He left some blacksmith equipment that he brought for the neighbors [zu nähe]. 15. Wed. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +7 degrees [48° F.], cloudy, nearly calm. An 18- or 19-year-old Prussian, a Michael Block,3 was hired by Klaas Reimer for 80 rubles per year. Our Abraham Penner took my wife along to his place in Rosenfeld. 16. Thur. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +7 degrees [48° F.], partly cloudy. My wife stayed overnight in Rosenfeld. Penner brought my wife home at 4:30 in the evening. 17. Fri. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], nearly calm evening, at sunset +8 degrees [50° F.]. Much sunshine and very mild. 18. Sat. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], cloudy, calm, afternoon some clouds. Abraham Reimer of Blumenhof was here. From Tuesday to Friday this week, it was discussed that a volost’ office should be built in Nikolaithal on the ______in the Old Colony. 19. Sun. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], frost, clouds, day +6 degrees [46° F.] We went with Abraham Friesens to Blumenhof to the service. We were at Abraham Reimers for dinner and faspa. Jacob Barkmans of Waldheim and the young Peter Rempels were at Peter Friesens4 of here yesterday afternoon.

1 This day is incorrectly marked the 12th and should be the 11th. 2 In the Russian Empire, several peasant villages formed an administrative unit called a volost’. Mennonite colonists had had a separate administrative structure; but in 1870, the Russian government abolished the Mennonites’ special status and formed their villages into volosti. For example, the Mennonite Molotschna Okrug was divided into the Halbstadt and Gnadenthal Volosti. The Mennonites in Borosenko colony had purchased land privately, so they were not part of a Mennonite Okrug. Here they discussed forming a volost’. 3 Not identified, spelled “Michael Blak” in original. 4 Peter Friesen’s wife Elisabeth Barkman #3675 was Jacob Barkman’s #6424 granddaughter. 112

20. Mon. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +7 degrees [48° F.], nearly calm, clouds. On Sunday Jacob Barkman was at our place for a little while. Mrs. Bartel’s auction was held in Gru nfeld.1 Klaas Brandt of here’s son Heinrich2 died. He was over 2 years. He was very sick 14 days. He died of a swollen throat. November 1[872], Page 87 21. Tues. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], cloudy, southeast wind. Klaas Brandt’s other son, Cornelius,3 11 years old died in the morning. He was sick for 3 days. In the afternoon I went to our Penners in Rosenfeld. 22. Wed. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], clouds, southeast wind. I was at Abraham Penners for [sic]. She was again suffering. She is up half the time. She was very weak all day yesterday. I came home at 5:30 in the evening. 23. Thur. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], clouds, nearly calm. We were at Klaas Brandts for the funeral. They buried 2 children in 1 coffin. Two children are still very sick, and two are somewhat sick. [The deceased] were sick for 3 days and 6 days. 24. Fri. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], very foggy. I was in Blumenhof at the brotherhood meeting. The big Jacob Friesens' son Abraham4 was expelled. I was at Abraham Reimers for dinner. +10 degrees [54°], cloudy, calm. Toews came here from Molotschna at 12 o’clock at night. 25. Sat. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], cloudy, nearly calm. Toews had been away 19 days. He had been sick there for over 3 days. Loaded 7 chetvertei [42 bushels] of barley and a chetvert’ [6 bushels] of potatoes pulled by 3 horses. Jacob was [sic]. 26. Sun. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], cloudy, afternoon some clouds, calm. The service was here at Siemens. The old Jacob Friesen of Nikolaithal was here for the night. My wife was at our children for 1 week. Abraham Reimers were at Toewses. 27. Mon. Morning +2½ degrees [38° F.], day +7 degrees [48° F.] At Klaas Brandts the children were sick during the night. There was a thunderstorm during the night. The wind shifted from southeast to north, much lightning from 12 o’clock until 2 o’clock. Rained for 3 hours, often very heavy. Water flowed in the lane. 28. Tues. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], cloudy, day +6 degrees [46° F.]. In the afternoon I was at Klaas Brandts. For faspa I was at the Abraham Friesens of the Heubuden congregation. The elder was there for faspa. Their [Klaas Brandts’] Margaretha5 is very sick.

1 Because Gertrude (Warkentin) Bartel had died on 6 November, an auction of her estate was held. 2 Heinrich Brandt #860448 (1870-1872). 3 Cornelius Harms #50343 (1862-1872), son of the late Isaac Harms and Margaretha Friesen and stepson of Klaas Brandt. 4 Abraham T. H. Friesen #3828. 5 Margaretha Harms #50344 (1865-1873), Klaas Brandt’s stepdaughter. 113

29. Wed. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], cloudy, day +7 degrees [48° F.], nearly calm. Klaas Brandt got my wife in the afternoon. Their Margaretha died at 3 o’clock. Some plowed ______here. 30. Thur. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], some wind. Rained during the night and heavily and often during the day until 11 o’clock. Jacob Friesen’s child1 died in Annafeld. She was 5 weeks old. December 1872, Page 88 1. Fri. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], cloudy, south wind, day +10 degrees [54° F.] At 9:30 in the evening, my wife went with Thiessen to Sawitzki and spent the whole night there. 2. Sat. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +7 degrees [48° F.], cloudy, windy. We were at Klaas Brandts for the funeral of Margaretha. She was 8 years old. Their [son] Klaas2 is sick. 3. Sun. Morning [no temperature given] degrees, very foggy, day +6 degrees [46° F.], nearly calm. We went with Peter Reimers to the service in Blumenhof. There was a brotherhood meeting. The old Wiens of Rosenfeld held forth [hielt an] very much, and Jacob Friesens' Abraham held forth [hielt an].3 My wife went to Rosenfeld to Abraham Penners for dinner, and I went for faspa. 4. Mon. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], foggy, day +6½ degrees [47° F.], cloudy. I stayed at Abraham Penners for the night. He took me home at 1:30 in the afternoon. Klaas Reimer, Abraham Friesen, and Peter Reimer took 2 loads of wheat for Klaas Penner4 to Nikopol’. The wheat brought 10 rubles 50 to 60 kopecks per chetvert’ [6 bushels]. 5. Tues. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day in places +6 degrees [46° F.], very cloudy, nearly calm, rained in the evening. The children came home around 10:30 in the evening. Klaas Reimer brought us 1 weather glass5 and 1 ______calendar from Nikopol’. And for himself 1 ______. And also ______raisins and acquired for the fire ______. 6. Wed. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], northeast wind, clouds, day 0 degrees [32° F.], in places −3 degrees [25° F.], late evening the ice would hold anyone. Klaas Brandts' son Klaas got much sicker. My wife has been somewhat sick for 5 days and can hardly get up. 7. Thur. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], in places −5 degrees [21° F.], day here −1 degree [30° F.], in places −3 degrees [25° F.], clear, northwest wind. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were at Johann Reimers of here for dinner and here for faspa. Mrs. Abraham Dyck of Annafeld got sick in the evening. 8. Fri. Morning −8 degrees [14° F.], day −4 degrees [23° F.], clear, north wind. Snowed yesterday night. Mrs. Abraham Dyck of Annafeld is very sick. She hardly gets up.

1 Not identified. 2 Klaas Brandt #860447 (1868-1872). 3 See entries for 5 and 24 November 1872. 4 Not identified. 5 This was probably to replace the weather glass that was stolen on 7 September 1872. 114

9. Sat. Morning −11 degrees [7° F.] here, in Blumenhof down to −15 degrees [−2° F.], day −5 degrees [21° F.] here, clear, north wind. The creek is frozen so hard that the horse and sleigh can cross it. 10. Sun. Morning −10 degrees [10° F.], clear, some north wind, in places −15 degrees [−2° F.], day −6 degrees [18° F.] here. Only the men went from here to the service in Blumenhof. There was a brotherhood meeting about unity until ______. 11. Mon. Morning −11 degrees [7° F.], in places −15 degrees [−2° F.], day −7 degrees [16° F.] here, clear, some north wind. We bought our Postleinbaum[?]1 from Abraham Friesen of here, and it was brought here. He wants 1 pud [36 pounds] of the best wheat flour. Klaas Brandts' son Klaas died at 7 o’clock in the morning. He was 4 years 8 months old. He was sick for 26 days. December [1872], Page 89 12. Tues. Morning −10 degrees [10° F.], cloudy, nearly calm, day −4 degrees [23° F.]. The Postbaum was at our place last night, but half the leaves and some branches were frozen. I was at Abraham Dycks in Annafeld. She is very sick. 13. Wed. Morning −8 degrees [14° F.], cloudy, nearly calm, day −3 degrees [25° F.]. We were at Klaas Brandts, and again there was a funeral. My wife was there all day and dressed their Klaas. In the afternoon our cow calved and had a bull calf. 14. Thur. Morning −9 degrees [12° F.], foggy, day −5 degrees [21° F.], often north wind. My wife went to Abraham Dycks in Annafeld. She has been very sick for 3 days, and many times she lay near death. 15. Fri. Morning −10 degrees [10° F.], day −2 degrees [28° F.], very foggy, nearly calm. I was at Abraham Dycks in Annafeld. She was very sick in the forenoon but better in the afternoon. Isaac Warkentin of Hochfeld was here. He warmed my wife's head [machte Kopf Heiss]. 16. Sat. Morning −8 degrees [14° F.], day −3 degrees [25° F.], cloudy, calm. I was at Abraham Dycks in Annafeld. She was a little better. Abraham Penners came here at 4 o’clock in the evening and stayed at Abraham Friesens overnight. In the evening she again was weak and lay [in bed] in the evening. 17. Sun. Morning −6 degrees [18° F.], day −2 degrees [28° F.], cloudy, nearly calm. Penners went home at 4 o’clock in the evening. They had a cloth-covered wagon in which they ride [wo sie in lag]. No one from this village attended the service in Blumenhof, but Heinrich Brandts were in the service in Friedensfeld. Friday night Martin Klassen came from Crimea and brought a letter from the young ______. 18. Mon. Morning −7 degrees [16° F.], day −3 degrees [25° F.], cloudy, nearly calm. Yesterday we weighed ourselves at Abraham Friesens. I weighed 3 puda 38 funtov [143 pounds], my wife 5 pudov 6 funtov [186 pounds], Klaas Reimer 5 pudov 16 funtov [195 pounds], Peter Reimer 4 puda 14 funtov [157 pounds], Johann Reimer 4 puda 28 funtov [170 pounds], Abraham Friesen 4 puda 21 funt [163 pounds], Abraham Penner 4 puda 13 funtov [156

1 I wonder if this was a palm tree. Palm trees grow naturally in subtropical Crimea. 115

pounds], Toews 4 puda 4 funta [148 pounds], his wife 4 puda 20 funtov [163 pounds], Katharina 4 puda 1 funt [145 pounds], Margaretha 3 puda 20 funtov [126 pounds], Anna1 3 puda 24 funtov [130 pounds], Elisabeth 3 puda 15 funtov [122 pounds].2 19. Tues. Morning −6 degrees [18° F.], day −2 degrees [28° F.], scattered clouds, sunshine, nearly calm. My wife was somewhat sick and had pain. She is weak, but she can sew. Several days she has been sewing on a fur coat. Mrs. Toews got somewhat sick from washing [so vom waschen]. December 1872, Page 90 20. Wed. Morning −6 degrees [18° F.], day −2 degrees [28° F.], calm, very foggy. I was at Abraham Dycks in Annafeld, and she is getting somewhat better all the time, situation was improving, but she still has to lie ______in bed. 21. Thur. Morning −5 degrees [21° F.], day −3 degrees [25° F.], cloudy, nearly calm. This week for the first time I made a decent cane [stück simlich stöcke gemacht]. 22. Fri. Morning −4 degrees [23° F.], day −2 degrees [28° F.], clouds, mild, nearly calm. From here Klaas Reimer, Peter Reimer, Abraham Friesen, Johann Reimer, and Toews took wheat for Penners to Ebenfeld. The wheat brought 10 rubles 60 to 80 kopecks. 23. Sat. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day +1 degree [30° F.], cloudy, foggy, some west wind. They came home at 7 o’clock in the evening. They brought us 2½ puda [90 pounds] of the best wheat flour from Nikopol’. It cost 1 ruble 90 kopecks per pud, in all 4 rubles 65 kopecks. 24. Sun. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day +2 degrees [36° F.], cloudy, calm. Few from here were in the service in Blumenhof. Yesterday for the first time we made butter toffee [buterten], about a funt [14 ounces].3 The confection costs 1 ruble to buy. 25. Mon. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +1½ degrees [35° F.], cloudy, nearly calm. We went with Klaas Reimers to the service in Blumenhof. Yesterday there was a brotherhood meeting. Jacob Friesen’s son Abraham was accepted today, and the old Wiens of Rosenfeld were accepted.4 26. Tues. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.], cloudy, calm. I went along to the service at Peter Toews in Rosenfeld. We were at our Penners for dinner and faspa. Yesterday we were at Abraham Reimers in Blumenhof. 27. Wed. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], snowed 1 inch during the night, day +4½ degrees [42° F.], cloudy, calm. There was a brotherhood meeting in Blumenhof regarding young Peter Harms5 being discovered in adultery with a house maid.

1 Anna Warkentin #3099, Johann Reimer’s wife. 2 Elisabeth Friesen #3770, Peter Reimer’s wife. The only adult family members who did not participate in all the fun were son Abraham Reimer and his wife, probably because they lived in Blumenhof, and son Klaas Reimer’s wife Katharina Willms. 3 This would have been a special treat for Christmas. 4 See 5 and 24 November and 3 December 1872. They had been expelled for some sin. 5 Probably Peter Harms #3904 (1849-1925). 116

28. Thurs. Morning +2½ degrees [38° F.], day +3½ degrees [40° F.], calm, cloudy. Rained and is muddy. Yesterday my wife was in Rosenfeld. She went with Peter Friesens. 29. Fri. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.], cloudy, calm. In the afternoon I was at Abraham Dycks again for faspa. She is gradually getting better. 30. Sat. Morning +1½ degrees [35° F.], day +3 degrees [39° F.], all day cloudy, fairly calm. Julius Barkman1 and his brother–in–law Peter Fast2 of Ru ckenau in Molotschna came to Friedensfeld. 31. Sun. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], cloudy, calm, day +4 degrees [41° F.]. We went with Johann Reimers to Annafeld to Abraham Dycks. She can sit up some. New Year January 1873, Page 91 1. Mon. Morning +1½ degrees [35° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], cloudy, some southwest wind. We went with Peter Reimers to Blumenhof to the service. The young Peter Harms was re-accepted yesterday. There was a brotherhood meeting and the Lord’s Supper. We were at the old Heinrich Reimers for dinner and faspa. 2. Tues. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], calm, cloudy. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here visiting. My brother Klaas Reimer of Heubuden was here. He brought his son Heinrich to learn blacksmithing for a month. If it goes well, it will be until spring. 3. Wed. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], clouds, some west wind. Yesterday our old Klaas Reimer gave us 2 rubles. He still owes a balance of 1 ruble. Heinrich Friesen of Rosenfeld was here. He has 2 printed letters, and the 1871 law issued in St. Petersburg.3 4. Thur. Morning +4½ degrees [42° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], cloudy. Rained some yesterday. Much southeast wind during the night, which blew a shingle [Pfau] down from the smithy. Rained a little. We have made butter toffee [gebuterit] twice, today 6 funtov [5 pounds]. 5. Fri. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], clouds, day +6 degrees [46° F.], southwest wind. The Makhliny moved from Gru nfeld. Nearly the entire village helped them haul 11 wagonloads here. They bought the shepherd's hut for 15 rubles. 6. Sat. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], southeast wind, clouds. On the 4th, Klaas Reimer by himself and Peter Reimer went to Blumenhof to the service. There was a brotherhood meeting about the Lord’s Supper and that it would be observed once a week. 7. Sun. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.], clouds, southeast wind. We went with Abraham Friesens to the service in Blumenhof. There was a brotherhood

1 Julius Barkman #7081 (1835-1897). 2 Peter Fast #2613 (1831-1916), married to Julius Barkman’s sister Aganetha. 3 The Mennonites’ Privilegium, issued by Emperor Paul in 1801, which guaranteed them freedom from military conscription, administrative autonomy, and the right to use German in their education, among other things, was revoked by a decree in 1871. 117

meeting again about the Lord’s Supper and that it should be held on the first Thursday. We were at Abraham Reimers for dinner. 8. Mon. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +7 degrees [48° F.], cloudy, southeast wind. My wife helped sew a fur coat for Toews for a day and a half. I was at Abraham Friesens for dinner. Until evening I helped sharpen things with a whetstone. January 1873, Page 92 9. Tues. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], cloudy, nearly calm, day +6 degrees [46° F.]. My wife went with Mrs. Abraham Friesen to Rosenfeld to our Penners. She was often a little better. I was at Toewses, and my wife was at Lemkes from 12 o’clock at night until 1 o’clock. They had a daughter.1 10. Wed. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], cloudy, foggy, south wind, day +8 degrees [50° F.]. There was such a strong south wind during the night that some roof tiles [Pfauen] were blown down from the smithy. My wife was very sick with swelling and pain. Mrs. Lemke is suffering a lot. 11. Thur. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], in the forenoon +1 degree [34° F.], early morning rained heavily. Snowed from 8:30 until noon with strong southwest wind. We went with Abraham Friesens in a covered wagon to Blumenhof for the Lord’s Supper. We were at the young Heidebrechts for dinner. 12. Fri. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], clouds, day +4 degrees [41° F.], south wind. Yesterday the Busuluk River thawed as far as Lemkes. Klaas Reimers of Heubuden were visiting here from 2 o’clock to 5 o’clock in the afternoon for faspa. 13. Sat. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], clouds, some sunshine, southeast wind. The Busuluk thawed completely up to our place. Johann Reimer's Russian servant left. Peter Toews went to Rosenfeld. Her Russian maid has finished her term. 14. Sun. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], cloudy, some southeast wind. The Lord’s Supper took place in Blumenhof. Minister Fasts,2 Heinrich Brandts, Johann Reimers, and Peter Toewses were here. On Friday old Jacob Toews got very sick. 15. Mon Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +1 degree [34° F.], cloudy. The Lord’s Supper was held in Rosenfeld at our Abraham Penners for her sake.3 In all there were only 10 men and 6 women. No one from here went. 16. Tues. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], clouds, day 0 degrees [32° F.]. Held another Lord’s Supper at Johann Koops in Neuanlage due to his sickness. Our Penners were here for faspa. They wanted to take me along.

1 Not identified. 2 Not identified. 3 Mrs. Abraham Penner had been sick for months, so the congregation held a special communion at the Penners’ house so that she could participate. 118

January [1873], Page 93 17. Wed. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], clouds, east wind. The ice is strong enough to hold anything. Abraham Reimers were here for dinner and for faspa. Day −1 degree [30° F.]. Klaas Reimer hired anew [the worker] for a month. 18. Thur. Morning −7 degrees [16° F.], day −3 degrees [25° F.], clouds, northeast wind. The old Jacob Toews1 died in Blumenhof in the afternoon. He was over 67 years old. 19. Fri. Morning −8 degrees [14° F.], clear, east wind, day −2 degrees [28° F.]. The ice is strong again. Franz Kroeker and Peter Loewen of Sawitzki2 went to the Molotschna on Monday. 20. Sat. Morning −8 degrees [14° F.], day −12 degrees [5° F.], clouds, east wind. There was an election for minister in Blumenhof. The old Peter Kroeker3 of Heubuden, the deacon,4 was elected minister with 75 votes; the old Jacob Barkman5 of Friedensfeld as minister with 64 votes; and Heinrich Wiebe6 of Rosenfeld as deacon with 19 votes. The old Peter Toews7 had 18 votes. 21. Sun. Morning −6 degrees [18° F.], day −2 degrees [28° F.], clouds, southeast wind. Only a few from here were in the service in Blumenhof. Elder Peter Toews of Blumenhof, Minister Loewen of Hochfeld, and old David Klassen of Heubuden went to a meeting in Pordenau, Molotschna about emigrating to America.8 22. Mon. Morning −8 degrees [14° F.], day −1 degree [30° F.], clear, southeast wind. The old Johann Warkentin and the young Isaac Warkentin were visiting here for faspa. Toews of here and Heinrich Brandt left at 8 o’clock to Yekaterinoslav to buy flour.9 Peter Enns,10 who moved in fall from Berdiansk to Kutschebe, were here in the evening. 23. Tues. Morning −6 degrees [18° F.], day −2 degrees [28° F.], clouds, nearly calm. Peter Enns went from here to Rosenfeld. He was here from Sunday, 2 days and 2 nights. In the evening Klaas Brandts were here visiting.

1 Jacob Cornelius Toews #5567. 2 Some families have probably rented a tract of land from Sawitzki and formed a small village there. 3 Peter Kroeker #6713 (1840-1915) and Margaretha Braun #6714 (1841-1919). 4 It was common for a man who served well as a deacon to be elected minister, and for a respected minister to be elected elder. 5 There are too many Jacob Barkmans, and I cannot differentiate them. 6 Heinrich F. Wiebe #5780. 7 Peter Toews #5752 (1831-1922) and Aganetha Barkman #5778 (1828-1899). 8 Although they have been discussing for many months what to do in response to the new Russian law on conscription, this is the first explicit mention of emigration to America. 9 Normally they would get flour at the local mill, but earlier Buller’s mill was not operating regularly due to illness. 10 Not identified. 119

January 1873, Page 94 24. Wed. Morning −7 degrees [16° F.], clouds, nearly calm, day −1½ degrees [29° F.]. Peter Friesen of here went with Klaas Brandt to Blumenfeld to Doctor Loewen because of tapeworms. 25. Thur. Morning −5 degrees1 [21° F.], clear, nearly calm, day −1 degree [30° F.]. Klaas Reimer took 6 chetvertei [36 bushels] of wheat to Ebenfeld. Abraham Penner and Abraham Friesen of here took 10 chetvertei [60 bushels] of wheat to Nikopol’ at 8 o'clock in the morning. Wheat sold for 10 rubles 80 kopecks and rye for 7 rubles. 26. Fri. Morning −4 degrees [23° F.], clouds, some east wind, day 0 degrees [32° F.]. Franz Kroeker of here and Peter Loewen of Sawitzki returned from Molotschna. I was at Toewses of here. Klaas Reimer and Abraham Friesen came back from Nikopol’ at 5 o’clock in the evening. Our Toews and Heinrich Brandt returned from Yekaterinoslav. 27. Sat. Morning −2½ degrees [26° F.], day +1 degree [34° F.], cloudy, some sunshine, nearly calm. The old small Jacob Friesen of Heubuden was here yesterday for a little while. The old Klaas Reimer of Heubuden was here for faspa. I had fever in my feet in the afternoon. The old David Klassen came back from Molotschna late afternoon. 28. Sun. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], clouds, nearly calm, day +½ degree [33° F.]. There was no service. Abraham Reimers of here were at Abraham Friesens. We were also there. On Thursday the old Jacob Barkman of Rosenfeld was taken to Peter Friesens of here. 29. Mon. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], partly cloudy, day +1 degree [34° F.], east wind. The small, old Jacob Friesen had a big auction sale in Heubuden of the livestock, _____ house, and tools [gerälth]. The livestock and sheep were ______. 30. Tues. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], forenoon cloudy, cold, east wind, day +2 degrees [36° F.], afternoon clear. We went with our Friesens to Rosenfeld to Abraham Penners. She is a little better. She was up most of the time. 31. Wed. Morning +1½ degrees [35° F.], rained half the night, rained heavily in the morning, completely cloudy, southeast wind, day +3 degrees [39° F.], rained until evening. Rain mixed with snow in the evening. Ended with heavy snow during the night. February [1873], Page 95 1. Thur. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], snowed heavily until late afternoon. Snow was 5 inches deep with drifts 3 feet deep. Somewhat stormy in the evening with north wind. Elder Toews and Abraham Loewen came home from Molotschna. Peter Friesen came home from Dr. Loewen in Blumenfeld. 2. Fri. Morning −4 degrees [23° F.], clear, nearly calm. There was a good sleigh road. Day −2 degrees [28° F.]. Our [Abraham] Friesen of here, Klaas [Friesen] of Annafeld, and Dietrich Isaac of Rosenfeld checked our chimney. Yesterday Klaas Reimer made a bell [kling] for the great room door. 3. Sat. Morning −7 degrees [16° F.], clear, nearly calm, day −5 degrees [21° F.]. Many people went on sleighs. Our Abraham Penner of Rosenfeld was here and brought us 2 Jäng[?]

1 The text says +5 degrees, but this seems unlikely. 120

plow hubs [Pflugnabels] and a pair of socks that they had knitted. Peter Dyck,1 the school teacher of Blumenhof[?], was here for a little while. 4. Sun. Morning −10 degrees [10° F.], nearly calm, clouds, day −6 degrees [18° F.] The children without their wives were in the service in Blumenhof. There was a big brotherhood meeting. Cornelius Toews of Gru nthal was elected as an agent along with David Klassen of Heubuden to go to America to evaluate it. It would cost 1500 rubles. It was discussed with old Johann Warkentin about funds [Lohn] from the district office. It lasted until 5:30 in the evening. 5. Mon. Early morning −14 degrees [0° F.], most of the time −18 to −20 degrees [−8° F. to −13° F.], clear, calm, day −8 degrees [14° F.], late evening −4 degrees [23° F.], night calm, clouds. In the afternoon I was at Peter Friesens. Peter Barkman took the old Jacob Barkman to Rosenfeld again. 6. Tues. Morning −14 degrees [0° F.]. Yesterday it was so cold that today it was actually 2-3 degrees warmer. But it is calm and clear. I was at Peter Toewses of here in the afternoon, but he had gone to Ebenfeld. 7. Wed. Morning here −16 degrees [−4° F.], day −13 degrees [3° F.], clear, calm. The old ______grandfather Heinrich Reimer of Blumenhof, Abraham Dyck of Annafeld, and Heinrich and Klaas Brandt of here were visiting here. Klaas Reimer of here sold his sleigh. ______99 _____. February 1873, Page 96 8. Thur. Morning −12 degrees [5° F.], day −5 degrees [21° F.], clouds. I was a little sick and had some foot fever. Our Abraham Penner of Rosenfeld was here for faspa. 9. Fri. Early morning 0 degrees [32° F.], clouds, day +4 degrees [41° F.], nearly calm. After faspa there was a strong north wind and such heavy hail that one could not see another house. Late evening again clear. 10. Sat. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], calm, partly cloudy. There was a brotherhood meeting in Blumenhof about collecting the money, and they settled on each baptized soul paying 6 rubles. Mrs. Abraham [Penner] of Rosenfeld is still sick for some time from getting cold [erkält:] and fear [Schreck]. 11. Sun. Morning −½ degree [31° F.], east wind, day +4 degrees [41° F.], very cloudy. My wife went with Peter Reimers to the service in Blumenhof. Minister Jacob Barkman of Friedensfeld preached for the first time. My wife went with Peter Reimers to Rosenfeld to Abraham Penners for dinner. She had improved and is often up, but my wife is sick. 12. Mon. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], rained heavily during the night, strong south wind, day +3 degrees [39° F.]. Rained until afternoon, and water flowed in the late afternoon. The garden is full [of water]. My wife was still a little sick. Since yesterday Mrs. Peter Reimer was very sick with a stroke. 13. Tues. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.]. The creek rose so high that the bridge is completely under water, and people had to cross at Sawitzki. Here the _____ on the footbridge were

1 Peter Dueck #3819 (1837-1931) and Margaretha Friesen #3818 (1840-1900). 121

under [water]. The sleigh road had completely gone on Saturday[?]. Day +4 degrees [41° F.], clouds, calm. 14. Wed. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +3 degrees [39° F.], mostly clear, nearly calm. Teacher Fast of here’s son Isaac1 died. He was 2 years, 2 months old. He died at 3 o’clock in the morning and was sick for 3 days. Cornelius Janzen went to Heubuden on Tuesday morning. February [1873], Page 97 15. Thur. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day +3½ degrees [40° F.], mostly clear, some south wind. David Klassen of Heubuden and Cornelius Toews of Gru nfeld left from Blumenhof2 for America at 2 o’clock in the afternoon. It was a sorrowful departure. 16. Fri. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], south wind, clouds, day +4 degrees [41° F.] The young Mrs. Plett3 had an auction in Neuanlage. The farmyard was leased. The livestock and household goods sold for 1000 rubles. 17. Sat. Early morning −1 degree [30° F.], day clouds, afternoon sunshine, nearly calm, day +3 degrees [39° F.]. We were at Toewses of here for faspa on Thursday. Abraham Reimer of Blumenhof was here for dinner and faspa. They had an accident in the yard on the way home. Teacher [Fasts] had a funeral, and the whole village was there. 18. Sun. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day clouds, nearly calm, +2 degrees [36° F.]. Nearly all the children from here went to the service in Blumenhof. Johann Reimers got stuck on the dam, and the others had to help them to get back, so no one from here was in the service. The new minister Jacob Barkman preached in Friedensfeld. Yesterday for the first time mature cattle went out [to pasture?]. 19. Mon. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], partly cloudy, nearly calm, day +3 degrees [39° F.]. The old and middle-aged Heinrich Reimers4 of Blumenhof and Klaas and Heinrich Brandts were here for faspa. They also brought Mrs. Plett from Neuanlage. She has moved to Franz Kroekers of here. 20. Tues. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], partly cloudy, east wind, day +4 degrees [41° F.]. In the forenoon my wife was at Toewses. She caught a cold there yesterday, so she was sick in the evening. There was an auction of livestock and household goods at the old Abraham Friesens in Rosenfeld. It brought over 500 rubles. 21. Wed. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +2½ degrees [38° F.], cloudy, often nearly calm. Peter Reimer and Abraham Friesen bought sheep at the auction. They drove them ______into the field. David Klassen and Cornelius Toews of Gru nfeld came home from their America trip because they had gone only to Molotschna.

1 Isaac Fast #1394015 (ABT 1871-1873). 2 There must have been a joint service of both KG congregations at Blumenhof to bid farewell to their delegates and to send them off with God’s protection. This would have been the longest and most uncertain trip that anyone in the colony had ever taken. 3 Maria Brandt #5935 (1843-1927), widow of Isaac Plett #5936 (1844-1871). 4 Heinrich Reimer #3845 (1818-1876) and Margaretha Warkentin #5943 (1841-1913). 122

February 1873, Page 98 22. Thur. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +3 degrees [39° F.], clouds, east wind. Yesterday I was at Toewses of here. Abraham Dycks of Annafeld were there also for faspa. My wife was very sick yesterday. This afternoon she mostly lay in bed because she had a very high fever and severe headaches. 23. Fri. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day cloudy, forenoon calm, afternoon cold east wind. I was up all day, although I was ill. In the afternoon Mrs. Abraham Friesen, Toews, and I went to the Abraham Penners in Rosenfeld. She is better. She was up all day and worked some in the house. 24. Sat. Morning −½ degree [31° F.], cloudy, nearly calm, day +1½ degrees [° F.]. My brother Klaas Reimer was here with his son Jacob.1 Reimer was at Jacob Klassens for dinner and here for faspa. My wife a high fever since breakfast, and she lay in bed all day. 25. Sun. Morning +½ degree [33° F.], partly cloudy, day +2 degrees [36° F.], southeast wind. My wife had no [fever?] but was still sick, so she hardly could be up. There was a brotherhood meeting in Blumenhof about the America trip, and congregation discussed the young people. 26. Mon. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +1 degrees [34° F.], nearly calm, snowed all day. In the evening south wind and snowed over 1½ [inches]. For the third time, my wife had high fever. She laid down all day and was weak ______. She babbled some. In Heubuden and Blumenhof they seeded wheat on the 23rd and 24th. 27. Tues. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.], clear, calm. A little bit of a sleigh road. Our Abraham Penners of Rosenfeld were here for dinner faspa. He tipped over the covered wagon nearby on the other side of the dam. 28. Wed. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +3 degrees [39° F.], clouds, nearly calm. On the steppe there was still something of a sleigh road. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here at Toewses for dinner and for faspa at our place. Cornelius Janzen of here has been sick for 5 days. He does not have ______. The old Peter2 of Neuanlage died Monday at 9 o’clock. He was sick only 2 days. March [1873], Page 99 1. Thur. Morning +1 degrees [34° F.], day +7 degrees [48° F.], clouds, nearly calm. Still had some snow on the fields. The Abraham Dycks were here for faspa. Dietrich Isaac went on the sleigh to Abraham Friesens for faspa. Two from Huttersthal3 should come to Heubuden to discuss going to America. 2. Fri. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], nearly calm, clear, very mild. Our Friesens and Bullers went to Nikopol’ on Tuesday and Wednesday. Wheat still brought 11

1 Jacob F. Reimer #317338 (1854-1937). 2 Peter Thiessen #3656 (1808-1873) and Margaretha Friesen #3630 (1810-1876). 3 Probably the two Hutterite delegates to America, minister Paul Tschetter #1241 (1842-1919) and his uncle Lorenz Tschetter #823 (1819-1878), who traveled to America together with the KG delegates David Klassen and Cornelius Toews. 123

rubles and in Odessa up to 16 rubles. Yesterday it was discussed that the 3 from Jantz would keep their land until Peter Friesen ______. 3. Sat. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +11 degrees [57° F.], clouds, some southeast wind. There was a betrothal at Franz Kroekers of their maid, Helena the daughter of the old Abraham Rempel,1 and Cornelius Plett.2 Yesterday old Peter Thiessen of Neuanlage was buried. He was 65 years and was married 42 years. 4. Sun. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], clouds, nearly calm, day +8 degrees [50° F.]. The young people stood up.3 There was a short brotherhood meeting about the young people and some about the American trip. Jacob Friesens' son Abraham was removed from the congregation. Johann Toewses of Grünfeld were here. 5. Mon. Morning +2½ degrees [38° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], cloudy, nearly calm. Peter Toewses planted potatoes and plowed near the creek. Heinrich Brandt of here also planted potatoes. Jacob Klassen sowed spring rye4 and harrowed it. 6. Tues. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], clear, nearly calm, day +10 degrees [54° F.]. There was a big auction at the Peter Thiessens in Neuanlage. Nearly everything was bought. There were school exams here. Cornelius Friesen of Annafeld and Dietrich Friesen were here. 7. Wed. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], clouds, nearly calm. Today everyone harrowed and most sowed wheat. Cornelius Janzen of here took very sick, but he is still mostly up. He sat _____ up first on a chair and then on the bench or in bed. 8. Thur. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], clouds, south wind. Nearly all have started to sow and to plow. Klaas Reimer began to plow and to sow barley. Johann Reimer and Heinrich Brandt also planted barley. Cornelius Janzen was very sick and died at 5:30 in the evening. He drank much water and did not remove his trousers all day and sat near the stove on a chair. March 1873, Page 100 9. Fri. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], cloudy, rained all night, rained heavily during the morning and until noon, cloudy all day. Afternoon hardly any plowing was done. South wind. 10. Sat. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], cloudy, snowed some. Very little plowing. Teacher Fast made the coffin for Cornelius Janzen in the school. Peter Reimer helped him. 11. Sun. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], clouds, day −½ degree [° F.], cold northeast wind. My wife dressed Cornelius Janzen in the forenoon. In the afternoon we were at Jacob

1 Abraham Bernhard Rempel #6444 (1798-1878) and his late wife Maria Hamm #5445 (b. ABT 1795). 2 Cornelius L. Plett #3727 (1846-1935) and Helena Rempel #6445 (1843-1913). 3 The baptismal candidates were introduced to the congregation and stood before them, gave their testimonies, and answered questions about their faith. Then the brotherhood would meet and discuss whether to accept the candidates as members. 4 Most rye is planted in fall and overwinters. Spring rye is generally less productive than winter rye. 124

Klassens for the funeral.1 He was 25 years, 1 month old. Only Peter Toews attended the service in Blumenhof. 12. Mon. Morning −4 degrees [23° F.], nearly everything is frozen, day 0 degrees [32° F.], clouds. No one at all plowed in the forenoon because the grounds was frozen. In the afternoon was the first plowing. Abraham Friesen and Peter Reimer began plowing today. On the 11th, the young people sat on the front bench.2 13. Tues. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], day +2 degrees [36° F.] In the forenoon some ______, but in the forenoon many plowed. Abraham Friesen built a big grain drill3 for Martin Janzen4 last week. Peter Friesen of here has [sowed] grain on 28 desiatin [75 acres] of land, and in Heubuden they [sowed?] barley. 14. Wed. Morning −1 degrees [30° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], clear, nearly calm. Most people did much plowing, and people planted all types of grain. In the afternoon I was at the old Cornelius Friesens and at Klaas Friesens in Annafeld. Klaas Friesen has been very sick for 5 days. On early Friday at 2 o’clock, Heinrich Brandt came here to get my wife. 15. Thur. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], clouds, east wind, clouds. Today I got 1 pud [36 pounds] of groats and helped carry them. On Friday at 2:30 in the morning, Johann Reimer went to Rosenfeld to Mrs. Franz Wiens. It was very dark, so he got lost and tipped into the ditch near Annafeld. March [1873], Page 101 16. Fri. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], partly cloudy, northeast wind. Teacher Fast helped Peter Reimer with the plowing. Mrs. Lemke of here has lain in bed with a swelling for 8 weeks. 17. Sat. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +11 degrees [57° F.], very cloudy, north wind. The stork came back last Monday, the 12th. Here and everywhere much plowing and seeding is being done. 18. Sun. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], clouds, nearly calm. My wife had to go to Heinrich Brandts at 4:30 in the morning. A daughter5 came at 6 o’clock in

1 Jacob Klassen’s wife Katharina Janzen #6389 was Cornelius Janzen’s sister, and Jacob Klassen was a cousin once removed of Cornelius’ wife Aganetha Klassen. 2 Probably sitting on the front bench at the worship service indicated that these young people had been accepted for baptism. 3 Jethro Tull built the first grain drill in England in 1701, but the first practical grain drill was built by Moses and Samuel Pennock of Pennsylvania. By the 1860s and 1870s, grain drills were coming into widespread use. By the end of the 19th century, Mennonites became large manufacturers of agricultural equipment in the Russian Empire. 4 Not identified. 5 _____ Brandt #743442 (1873-1873). 125

the morning. My wife was very weak and sick.1 I wanted to go along to Blumenhof, but I had tend to the sheep and lambs2. 19. Mon. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], north wind, day +8 degrees [50° F.], clouds. Yesterday the young people were baptized in Blumenhof. There were 5 daughters and 3 sons. From here only Gerhard Siemens were in the service.3 20. Tues. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], clouds, nearly calm. Cornelius Toews was here visiting and for faspa, because he was in the field plowing and haying. Abraham Reimer of Blumenhof has finished plowing and sowing. 21. Wed. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], partly cloudy, some east wind. The old Franz Wiens of Rosenfeld was here for dinner. He had walked from the house. In Heubuden and Blumenhof some have finished plowing and sowing. 22. Thur. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +9 degrees [52° F.], clouds, forenoon some rain. The old Mr. Wiens of Rosenfeld was here in the afternoon until faspa. He had been at Bullers overnight. A Russian was fishing here in a large barge, and he brought out half the village at one time, and he fished for half an hour. 23. Fri. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], clouds, calm. I was in Annafeld at Klaas Friesens. He was nearly well. He wanted to come here. I was still doing a lot of plowing in the forenoon. She [my wife] has set out everything in the garden except the beans. March 1873, Page 102 24. Sat. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], clouds, nearly calm, day +11 degrees [57° F.]. Many are still plowing here, and plowing is going very well this week. Abraham Reimer of Blumenhof was here visiting and brought Martyrs Mirror4 to Klaas Reimer. The Martyrs Mirror books and calendars were all shipped from America. 25. Sun. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day here +12 degrees [59° F.], in places up to +16 degrees [68° F.], a few clouds, nearly calm. Peter Reimers and Abraham Friesens went to the service. For the 3rd time we could not go along to Blumenhof. Our Abraham Penners were here visiting for dinner and faspa. In the evening I went with them.

1 His wife Elisabeth was a midwife, so she was responsible for delivering many of the babies in the area. At the time it was not known that unsterile conditions, particularly those of the doctor or midwife, were responsible for the vast majority of the cases of postpartum infection. Elisabeth Reimer likely believed that she was just doing her duty by assisting birthing mothers regardless of how she herself felt. In the 1840s, a Vienna doctor, Ignaz Semmelweiss, realized that unsterile conditions spread postpartum infection. But it was only in the early 20th century that this knowledge became widespread and that steps were commonly taken in developed countries so that women could give birth in sterile conditions., 2 The peak of the lambing season is in spring, although ewes may give birth at any time of the year. He must have seen that one or more ewes were about to give birth, so he needed to stay home to assist in any difficult births and to help any weak lambs start to nurse. The baptismal service that Sunday would have been a special time, and children of his relatives and friends were surely being baptized. 3 Gerhard Siemens was in the service because his sister Sara #6464 was being baptized. 4 Martyrs Mirror was the second most important Anabaptist book, after the Bible. It was compiled by Tieleman Jansz van Braght, a Dutch elder, in 1660, and contained the stories of the martyrdom of hundreds of Christians who practiced adult baptism and non-resistance. Most Mennonites had read the book. 126

26. Mon. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], clouds, day +13 degrees [66° F.]. I was at Abraham Penners overnight. In the evening he took me home. Jacob Barkman came from Waldheim, Molotschna, with his son–in–law Martin1 and son Jacob. 27. Tues. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], nearly calm, clear. In Rosenfeld our Penners and others have finished plowing, and in Heubuden many have finished plowing and sowing. 28. Wed. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], rained some during the night and in the morning, rained often until noon, south wind, cloudy, evening party clear. Got 2 sacks of chaff from Klassen. Mrs. Janzen and Klassen finish plowing and sowing. Day +11 degrees [57° F.]. Mrs. Janzen wants to move away. 29. Fri. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], clouds, rained some, strong southeast wind that tore up straw [stacks], so I had to cover them. Peter Friesen, Peter Reimer, both Brandts,2 and Johann Reimer finished plowing and sowing. Klaas Reimer and our [family members] planted melons this week, also Toews. 30. Fri. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day up to +14 degrees [64° F.], southeast wind, clouds. Someone from Molotschna came with vinegar and aprons. I bought 1 quart [1.6 US quarts] of vinegar and 1 apron. On Saturday my wife was at Klaas Brandts from 8:30 until 2 o’clock at night. But it passed, and is healthy. I was in Annafeld at the old Siemens for dinner. 31. Sat. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.], clouds, nearly calm. Here nearly all have finished plowing. I saw the swallows yesterday. Some saw the swallows 8 days ago. Jacob Regiers were here in the afternoon. April [1873], Page 103 1. Sun. Early morning +6 degrees [46° F.], at 8 o’clock +10 degrees [54° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], clear, nearly calm. I went with Peter Reimers to the service. The new minister preached the other time in Blumenhof. There was a brotherhood meeting about Cornelius Friesen and Klaas Friesen of Annafeld. 2. Mon. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.]. I had dinner yesterday at Abraham Reimers, and for faspa I went with Peter Reimer to Rosenfeld. I came home at 7 o’clock. 3. Tues. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], very cloudy, south wind. Yesterday evening the frogs began to croak. Klaas Reimer and Abraham Friesen completely finished their sowing and plowing. Cornelius Loewens3 of Gru nfeld visited here a little bit.

1 Not identified. 2 Klaas Brandt and Heinrich Brandt. 3 Cornelius Loewen #6563 (1827-1893) and Helena Bartel #6564 (1833-1876). 127

4. Wed. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], southeast wind, rained often yesterday, still raining some today, clouds, day +8 degrees [50° F.]. I cleaned our chiming clock and hung it on the wall in the evening. 5. Thur. Morning here −3 degrees [25° F.], day +7 degrees [48° F.], clouds, east wind. I took the chiming clock off the wall again, and I myself did a little repair to it. Quite a few visitors from Molotschna have come. Also, Gerhard Rempel of Mariawohl. 6. Fri. Early morning −4 degrees [23° F.], had frost nearly everywhere, frost on the windows, many places −5 degrees [21° F.], all the barley is frozen, day +10 degrees [54° F.], northeast wind, clouds. The service1 was here at Franz Kroekers. It should have been at Siemens, but the maid Elisabeth has smallpox. Barkman taught. 7. Sat. Morning −2½ degrees [26° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], clouds. Abraham Reimers were at Toewses for dinner and faspa. We were also visiting there. Had no visitors on Friday. I completely repaired the chiming clock so that the movement would work properly [zu greifen]. Isaac Friesen2 of Bainitzke was here for dinner and faspa, as were the old Isaac Harms3 of Heubuden. 8. Sun. Easter. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], clouds, afternoon rained, toward evening rained. We went with Klaas Reimer to the service in Blumenhof. Abraham Loewen taught. We were at Abraham Reimers for dinner. For faspa we went to Klaas Reimers in Heubuden. Yesterday the young Gerhard Warkentins of Fischau were [here]. April 1873, Page 104 9. Mon. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.], clouds, nearly calm. We went with Klaas Reimer to Rosenfeld to Abraham Penners, and Klaas Reimer went from there to Blumenhof to the service. Yesterday Isaac Friesens were in Blumenhof in the service. Mrs. Cornelius Janzen moved to Heubuden on 4 April.4 10. Tues. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], clouds. I stayed overnight at Penners, and my wife went home yesterday with Klaas Reimers. Yesterday afternoon Mrs. Penner was so sick that she lay near death. Yesterday evening again she was sick for 3 hours but is a little [better?]. I was with Klaas Reimer in Neuanlage at the ______. 11. Wed. Morning +7 degrees [48° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.], clouds, nearly calm. The old Gerhard Rempels of Mariawohl, Molotschna, were here for dinner. We were with Gerhard Rempels at Peter Friesens of here for faspa. On Sunday Jacob Dycks of Molotschna were here. 12. Thur. Morning +8 +5 degrees [43° F.], day +9 degrees [52° F.], somewhat cold, northeast wind, clouds. For Mrs. Penner it was somewhat bearable but was nearly always in bed

1 Good Friday service. 2 Not identified. 3 Isaac Johann Harms #3890 (1811-1891) and Anna Sawatzky #3859 (1809-1877). 4 Her parents were David and Aganetha Klassen, who lived in Heubuden; and she had a fourteen-month old daughter to care for. Moreover, her father was preparing to leave as a delegate to scout land in America, so her mother would surely appreciate having a daughter and granddaughter around the house in his absence. 128

but also up. Abraham Friesens were there. On Sunday Mrs. Penner will be sent to Molotschna because her illness ______. 13. Fri. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], cloudy, cold north wind. Toews of here and Lemke will go on Wednesday to Nikopol’. They sold all the wheat and returned on Thursday, 5 April. The wheat sold there for 10 rubles 60 to 80 kopecks. It had been 11 rubles 40 to 50 kopecks 4 weeks ago. Lemke brought us 3 puda [110 pounds] of meat[?]. 14. Sat. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +11 degrees [57° F.], clouds, some east wind. Yesterday Klaas Reimer took 5½ chetvertei [33 bushels] of wheat to Nikopol’, and Johann Reimer took 2½ chetverti [15 bushels]. It sold for a very good 12 rubles and rye [Korn] for 7 rubles per chetvert’. They came home at 7 o’clock in the evening. Abraham Reimer of Blumenhof and 7 others went to Nikopol’ and from there to Odessa, and 2 accompanied them. 15. Sun. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], cloudy, some east wind. At 6 o’clock in the morning, I went with Klaas Reimer to Rosenfeld to Abraham Penners. At 8 o’clock in the morning, they left to Molotschna to Mrs. Barkman1 [Barche] in Alexanderwohl. There she hopes to be cured. My wife is there overnight because she went there yesterday with Peter Toews. I went home with their Abraham2 in the forenoon. April [1873], Page 105 16. Mon. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], rained often and most of the afternoon, completely cloudy. Mrs. Abraham Reimer was here for dinner and faspa and went home and wanted me to go along and stay there for a couple days, but it was muddy in the evening and there was only 1 horse Reimer has paid out his servant and Russian.[?]3 17. Tues. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], clouds, nearly calm. On Sunday the Abraham Dycks and Fasts were here for faspa. Today our cousin Peter Friesen4 and two of the youngest married children were here. They stayed overnight at the Abraham Friesens.5 The old Johann Friesens6 were here visiting and for dinner. The old Abraham Friesens7 of Rosenfeld were here yesterday. 18. Wed. Morning +1 degrees [34° F.], but there was hoarfrost during the night, day +8 degrees [50° F.], clouds. The bridal couple, the old Gerhard Rempels’ son Johann8 of

1 Not identified. 2 Not identified. 3 Parts of this entry are covered by a folded page corner. 4 His cousin Peter Friesen #3753. 5 Abraham Friesen #3767 was Abraham Reimer’s son-in-law and a nephew to Peter Friesen. 6 Johann Friesen #2608 was a brother to Peter Friesen. 7 Abraham Johann Friesen #3751, another brother to Peter Friesen. 8 Johann Rempel #3808 (1853-1904), his wife’s nephew. 129

Mariawohl with his bride,1 the daughter of Mrs. Klaas Friesen2 of Marienthal, and Gerhard Rempels3 of Rosenfeld were here for dinner and faspa. Cornelius Toews and David Klassen have left for America.4 19. Thur. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +11 degrees [57° F.], cloudy, rained often, south wind. The big Katrina5 was very sick during the night and until noon. Here much grain has been sprouted [?, gewaltzte]. My wife is still making me a set of a blue jacket and vest [Curuns] for Good Friday. 20. Fri. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], very cloudy, rained some and often, south wind often and westerly wind. I was at Makhliny for faspa. I went to Abraham Dycks in Annafeld and in the evening to the Toews. The old Gerhard Rempels were here for the last 8 days and have gone home. 21. Sat. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +11 degrees [57° F.], clouds, west wind. Yesterday Toewses had 2 pairs of visitors, his Worms6 brothers, for dinner. They are moving to Kutschebe. My wife is making him a grayish vest [Curuß] and still has 5 more to make for others. 22. Sun. Early morning +6 degrees [46° F.], at 8 o’clock +10 degrees [54° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], clouds. We went with Johann Reimers to the service in Blumenhof. Jacob Barkman of Friedensfeld taught. A Penner and a Regier from the more distant villages of Molotschna were there also. 23. Mon. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], nearly calm, clouds, day +15 degrees [66° F.]. Yesterday there was a brotherhood meeting in Blumenhof. The big Jacob Friesen’s son Abraham was accepted. We were in Blumenhof for dinner and faspa and others for Saturday dinner from ______.[?] Abraham Reimer came home. April 1873, Page 106 24. Tues. Morning +7 degrees [48° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], in places +20 degrees [77° F.], nearly calm. Brother Klaas Reimer was here with his son Jacob and at our Friesens for dinner and faspa. Mrs. Siemens7 of here died yesterday of smallpox at 3:30. She was 25 years less 2½ hours.

1 Helena Friesen #3807 (1854-1932). 2 Margaretha Braun #3802 (1817-1873). Her husband, the late Klaas Friesen #1756, was Abraham Reimer’s cousin. 3 His wife’s brother Gerhard Rempel #5849 (1816-1888). His wife’s nephew was marrying his cousin-once- removed. It was customary for Mennonite bridal couples to go around and visit all the relatives in the days before the wedding. 4 The two KG delegates have left to evaluate the possibilities of moving to North America to escape the new Russian laws on conscription and education in the Russian language. In all the Mennonites sent 12 delegates, modeled on the twelve spies that Moses sent to spy out the Promised Land, 5 Not identified. 6 Not identified. 7 Anna Plett #6467. 130

25. Wed. Morning +9 degrees [52° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], clouds, some south wind. On Sunday the old Abraham Friesens of Rosenfeld moved here to Peter Reimers because Mrs. Peter Reimer has been sick since last week. She has difficulty walking and sleeping. Mrs. Siemens of here was buried. My wife dressed her. It was a big funeral, but from this village only the neighbor women were there. 26. Thur. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], clouds, southeast wind. At 9 o’clock in the evening yesterday, our Abraham Penners and Klaas Reimer came to Rosenfeld, and Klaas Reimer came back home at 11 o’clock in the evening. They were away for 11 days. Our Mrs. Penner was at Mrs. Barkman who examined her 5 times.1 27. Fri. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], in places +24 degrees [86° F.], yesterday +25 degrees [88° F.] in places, some south wind, clouds, afternoon cloudy, after faspa heavy rain, thunderstorms in places and much lightning in many places and all night. Yesterday Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here for dinner and faspa. We went with Klaas Reimer to Rosenfeld after faspa and stayed there overnight. Mrs. Peter Reimer has been sick this week. 28. Sat. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], south wind, cloudy, from late afternoon until evening rained heavily here. Rained very heavily in the southwest and northeast. Lots of thunderstorms and heavy lightning. Lightning in places and rained all night. I walked home at midnight, at 12:30, to the house. For Mrs. Peter Reimer it was very bearable, and she could walk again. 29. Sun. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], cloudy, south wind, afternoon rained heavily. Last Friday and Saturday the cuckoo cooed. My wife had to go to Peter Reimers at 5 o’clock in the morning. A daughter2 came at 5:30 but died at noon because she was 6 weeks early. 30. Mon. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], southwest wind, clouds, cool breeze. The child was buried at Peter Reimers in the afternoon. Mrs. Peter Reimer was completely ______. She walked to the barn and in the house. She could eat and drink. We, our [children], and Klaas Reimers came for the funeral. May 1873, Page 107 1. Tues. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], southwest wind, day +16 degrees [68° F.]. Yesterday rained very heavily here and on our fields. We have not had more rain this year than this. Very heavy thunderstorms, especially beyond Scharlach up to Gruschfeld[?]. From morning to noon very many field mice were struck dead. 2. Wed. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +17 degrees [70° F.], west wind, clouds. Mrs. Fast,3 the school teacher's wife, died at 8:30 in the evening from smallpox. She was sick for 12 days and some days so sick that she could hardly speak aloud or eat. She was 35 years, 3 weeks old.

1 On 15 April, Klaas Reimer took the Abraham Penners to Molotschna for treatment by Mrs. Barkman. 2 Maria F. Reimer #251946 (1873-1873). 3 Helena Born #6508 (ABT 1838-1873). 131

3. Thur. Morning +9 degrees [52° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.], south wind, rained some. From last Saturday until Wednesday, Peter Friesen of here and Thiessen were in Molotschna. Our Abraham Friesens left for Molotschna on Sunday at noon. Peter Reimer made the coffin for Mrs. Fast. Yesterday our Abraham Penners were here in the afternoon and for faspa. 4. Fri. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], southwest wind, clouds. Mrs. Fast of here was buried at 10:30 in the forenoon. Her body was laid in the grave with hardly any clothes because of the awful odor. The funeral was in the afternoon. Abraham Reimers were at Johann Reimers' for dinner and faspa because Johann Reimer has smallpox. He was breaking out[?] for 3 days. But now he is sitting up some. 5. Sat. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], clouds, nearly calm, day +18 degrees [72° F.]. Makhlin of here has had smallpox for 11 days, but yesterday he began to improve. He had many pox. Abraham Penner of Rosenfeld was there. I should continue until the week that he returns from Yekaterinoslav. 6. Sun. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], nearly clear, nearly calm. We went with Klaas Reimers to the service in Blumenhof. There was a brotherhood meeting about borrowing money and serving as a surety. We were at Abraham Reimers for dinner. Had high fever. Yesterday Cornelius Toews and Klassen wrote from Hamburg that tomorrow 25 April they will set sail on the ocean for America.1 7. Mon. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], clouds, nearly calm. The old Penner2 took me to our Penners in Rosenfeld. In the morning he went with their team to Yekaterinoslav. Martin Barkmans of Mariafeld were here. Klaas Reimer took me home for dinner, and Barkman took me back to Rosenfeld. 8. Tues. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], clouds. There were many guests at Penners. The deputies wrote that they had left Odessa on 17 April and had reached the Austrian border on the 18th, where they stayed until the 20th. They were in Prussia at ______on the night of the 21st. On the 22nd they were in Berlin for the night. From the 23rd to the 25th, they were in Hamburg for night. May 1873, Page 108 9. Wed. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], clouds, cold east wind, day +18 degrees [72° F.]. After faspa at 5 o’clock, I was at the old Abraham Rempels. Yesterday Abraham Friesens of here came home at 11 o’clock from Molotschna. They had been away for 10 days. Klaas Reimer and Peter Toews also came home. 10. Thur. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], clouds, nearly calm, day +17 degrees [70° F.]. I was at Peter Toewses. The old Barkman was there also. My wife is sick and has been lying down since the forenoon because she cut her foot deeply last night on the bedstead. Toewses were here at Penners.

1 In fact they did not sail until 9 May. They sailed with the two Hutterite delegates, Paul and Lorence Tschetter. 2 Peter Penner #5491. 132

11. Fri. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], a little east wind, clouds. Johann Reimer came to Penners at 8:30 in the morning and took me home. My wife had been lying in bed since noon yesterday and is very sick. She has much pain because of her injured foot. Penner and the others came home from Yekaterinoslav at 2 o’clock in the afternoon. 12. Sat. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], cloudy, rained often in the morning and until noon. Water is flowing. She has applied linseed oil for 2 days. In the morning I took care of everything. She is again lying down very much because she cannot walk at all. Klaas Reimer’s son Peter of Heubuden was here for a little while and for dinner. 13. Sun. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], clouds, very calm. Peter Reimers both went to the service in Blumenhof. But both were not well. Our Penners of Rosenfeld were here visiting in the afternoon. At last she started to.[?] 14. Mon. Morning +9 degrees [52° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], clouds, nearly calm. Yesterday Klaas Reimer’s son Cornelius got sick with smallpox. Today late afternoon Klaas’ [daughter] Katrina1 got sick with smallpox. Smallpox erupted on Heinrich Brandt’s daughter Maria2. In the evening the young Quirings3 of Kleefeld, Molotschna, came to Peter Toewses. 15. Tues. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], partly cloudy. Klaas Brandt, our Abraham Friesen, and Peter Friesen went to Nikopol’ in the afternoon. Klaas Reimer, Toews, Peter Reimer, and Johann Reimer each sold a cow for 30 rubles to 43 rubles. There are more people in the village [visiting] from Crimea. May [1873], Page 109 16. Wed. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], nearly calm, clear. Mrs. Toews of here got sick at 3 [o’clock at] night. In the morning our [children] and Peter Friesen left from Nikopol’ for Kherson. Smallpox erupted on Klaas Reimers' Katrina. Mrs. Heinrich Brandt is sick with smallpox. 17. Thur. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], clear, nearly calm. Ascension Day. Some went to the annual market in Nikopol’. Johann Reimer wanted to go to the annual market, but he went to the service in Blumenhof on a distressing matter. The old Klaas Reimer was here from Heubuden. 18. Fri. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], southeast wind. Johann Reimer and the others still went to the annual market, as did several others. Yesterday the young Quiring was here with Toewses visiting. This forenoon they went home. Yesterday they went to Odessa and came back today as far as Kherson.

1 Katharina W. Reimer #5765 (1866-1940). 2 Maria Brandt #324623 (1863-1901). 3 Johann Quiring #111656 (1842-1917) and Anna Toews #236911 (1843-1926). Anna was a sister to Peter Toews. 133

19. Sat. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], clouds. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here visiting. The elders and Franz Kroeker came home from Crimea late afternoon. They were traveling for 13 days. 20. Sun. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], cloudy, south wind, rained at noon and settled the dust. At Klaas Reimers 3 children are sick. Cornelius and Katrina had many pox. Katrina was delirious for 3 nights. At Klaas Brandts a son1 was born at 6:30 in the evening. Abraham Penner of Rosenfeld was here. 21. Mon. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], clouds. The old Abraham Friesen of here went with several from Rosenfeld to Yekaterinoslav in the morning. The eyes of Klaas Reimer’s Cornelius and Katrina narrowed from swelling. Mrs. Heinrich Brandt was very sick from smallpox. Maria and Heinrich2 had many pox. The very old Heinrich Reimers of Blumenhof came for the night. 22. Tues. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], clear, day +24 degrees [86° F.], nearly calm. Yesterday there was ______the annual market in Constantius. The eyes of Klaas Reimer’s Katrina closed completely. Peter Toews of here has had high fever 3 times this week. 23. Wed. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], partly cloudy, day +25 degrees [88° F.] The smallpox of Heinrich Brandts' children were the worst. Maria's eyes were nearly closed. Mrs. Brandt could hardly speak. Mrs. Peter Reimer is well again. Monday she seemed to be dying. May 1873, Page 110 24. Thur. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +25 degrees [88° F.], clouds, northwest wind. Abraham Reimers and Peter Wiebes3 of Blumenhof were here visiting. Klaas Reimer’s Katrina has been blind for 3 days because of smallpox. The smallpox of both of Heinrich Brandts' children were at their high point. 25. Fri. Morning +16 degrees [68° F.], day +26 degrees [90° F.], nearly calm, clear. The old Abraham Friesens of here came home from Yekaterinoslav late afternoon. ______of here returned yesterday from Molotschna. Mrs. Heinrich Brandt cannot hear at all because of smallpox. 26. Sat. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], day +25 degrees [88° F.], cloudy, southwest wind. Mrs. Heinrich Brandt has typhoid4 and a high fever. People were there all night - the old Heinrich Reimers of Blumenhof for 2 nights, the middle-aged for 1 night, and others from the village. The old and middle-aged [Heinrich Reimers] were here for a little while. 27. Sun. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], south wind, cloudy. Only a few from here were in the service in Blumenhof because of the smallpox. Johann Reimers were both put out because of old mistakes. Klaas Reimers’ Katrina Reimer is much better. She is staying up some, but Mrs. Heinrich Brandt is quite a bit worse.

1 Klaas Brandt #6498 (b. 1873). 2 Heinrich W. Brandt #6503 (1867-1942). 3 Peter Wiebe #5822 (1835-1902) and Elisabeth Toews #5755 (1838-1912). 4 This probably was not actual typhoid fever but severe symptoms of smallpox. 134

28. Mon. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], cloudy, south wind. Our Thiessens [Friesens?] of here were in Rosenfeld at our Penners at the service. Yesterday our Penners were in Blumenhof at the service. They had not been able to go away for 9 days because of sickness. Klaas Reimer’s Katrina is doing better and starting to go out, and Cornelius is much better. But their Johann is severely battling the pox. 29. Tues. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], cloudy, rained good and settled the dust, nearly calm. Our Penners of Rosenfeld were here visiting, also Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here. Heinrich Brandts’ Maria and Heinrich are getting up, but with her [Mrs. Heinrich Brandt] it was otherwise every hour of the night. In the forenoon at 11 o’clock they said she was better, so we all thought it was a turn. 30. Wed. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], clear, nearly calm. The old Johann Toews1 of Blumenhof died on 15 May and was buried on Thursday, May 17, Ascension Day. He was 79 years, 8 months, old. 31. Thur. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], day +19 degrees [75° F.], clouds, nearly calm. Mrs. Heinrich Brandt died at 6:30 in the evening. She died of smallpox and was sick 15 days. For 7 days she could not speak aloud. She was 36 years, 5 months, old. Our Mrs. Friesen lies down definitely with smallpox. June 1873, Page 111 1. Fri. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], calm, clouds. Mrs. Heinrich Brandt was buried. Only a few people were present, about half, and only 2 women from the village. My wife also did not go because of her bad foot. 2. Sat. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], nearly calm, clouds. The Scharlach people ______hay this week. Abraham Reimers were here visiting after faspa. With Mrs. Friesen many pox have broken out [riss?], but they remain small and have not ruptured [?, käm nich aus]. 3. Sun. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], nearly calm, clouds, day +22 degrees [82° F.]. Klaas Reimer and I went with Johann Reimers to the service in Blumenhof. Mrs. Johann Reimer was accepted [into the congregation] without Elder Peter Toews.2 Abraham Loewen and Minister Kroeker did it. Jacob Friesen’s son Abraham married Mrs. Peter Harms’ daughter Nelke.3 4. Mon. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], clouds, calm. Sunday evening [or Saturday?] there was a heavy rain here and in Blumenhof, Scharlach, and Nikolaithal; and water was flowing everywhere. On Saturday Klaas Reimer went to Nikopol’ and made it back in 1 day in the evening and brought us 10 funtov [9 pounds] of coffee at 36 kopecks per funt. 5. Tues. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.]. Mrs. Peter Reimer is improving and was resting [?, ruger] well. Yesterday and Sunday Mrs. Abraham Friesen

1 Johann Cornelius Toews #5562. 22 See 27 May 1873 when both Johann and Anna Reimer were expelled. 3 Abraham T. H. Friesen #3828 (1854-1908) and Cornelia Harms #3829 (1853-1938). 135

was at her weakest. But yesterday she was better. Our Friesen and Johann went to Nikopol’ with wool. At 1 o’clock in the afternoon, Mrs. Abraham Friesen lay near death. 6. Wed. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], calm, partly cloudy. I went with Klaas Reimer to Constantius at 10:30 in the forenoon and from there to Nikolaithal to Jacob Friesens. They were not at home. I went to Bernhard Fast,1 who also was not at home. I also was at Peter Klassen.2 Klaas Reimer bought a wagonload of lumber for 27 rubles.3 7. Thur. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], day +25 degrees [88° F.], calm, clouds. Our Penners of Rosenfeld were here, also Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof and the old Klaas Reimer with his son Heinrich. They were all at Peter Reimers. Mrs. Peter Reimer was better for 2 days, very much better and rested. She seemed to be well. 8. Fri. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], forenoon clouds, calm, afternoon strong west wind and much dust. It broke down a gate at the windmill. Rained so much that water was standing in many places, some thunderstorms, lightning. The storm lasted about 1 hour. At noon Mrs. Peter Reimer became very weak. June 1873, Page 112 9. Sat. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], clouds, nearly calm. At 9 o’clock in the morning, I went to Peter Reimers. Mrs. Reimer was getting worse. It looked as if she could live until evening or until morning. At 9:30 in the morning her breathing became very weak and by 11 o’clock in the forenoon she died. She was 23 years, 6 months, old. Day +21 degrees [79° F.]. 10. Sun. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], at 6 o’clock in the day +22 degrees [82° F.], nearly calm. Mrs. Toews of here took ill yesterday. Today she was so very sick that she could hardly lie down or get up. A few were in the service in Blumenhof. There was a short brotherhood to consider the young Mrs. Cornelius Janzen re-joining our congregation. 11. Mon. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], clouds, nearly calm. Mrs. Peter Reimer was buried. She was in bed nearly all the time for about 4 weeks. Her last visit was at our place. The sickness was bearable. She ate and drank some all this time. She had swelling and a stroke on her left side.4 12. Tues. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +24 degrees [86° F.], clouds, rained in some places. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here yesterday. Everyone has been a little sick since Sunday. Mrs. Toews of here has been sick since Saturday. Today she is very sick. From noon until 10:30 at night she was so sick that she lay near the end. Smallpox started erupting.

1 Bernhard Peter Fast #2612 (1809-1878) and Katharina _____ #18849. 2 Probably Peter B. Klassen #6720 (1852-1930). 3 They are still building things, so they have not yet decided to emigrate. 4 Elisabeth (Friesen) Reimer suffered a severe stroke on 14 November 1871, when she was just 22 years old, and another one on 11 February 1873. She recovered, at least partially, after each one; but in April 1873, she got sick again. 136

13. Wed. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], often cloudy, rained in many places and here. Settled the dust. Yesterday 8 days ago [sic], Mrs. Makhlina gave birth to a daughter. It went quite well, and she is standing up. On the 3rd day she got up. Yesterday at noon Klaas Reimer of here went to Yekaterinoslav with his sons Abraham1 and Klaas.2 14. Thur. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], clouds, nearly calm. Abraham Reimer of Blumenhof has smallpox badly but only a few pox.3 Mrs. Toews’ pox are erupting in great numbers, and she still has many pox and is sick again. Yesterday she was not so sick. The day before yesterday night and for 4 days she could sleep but for 3 nights.[?] 15. Fri. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], calm, partly cloudy. I went with Esau4 of Rosenfeld to Abraham Penners in Rosenfeld. Many pox have erupted but they are still very small. Rained at noon here and in Rosenfeld, some west wind. Their Elisabeth took ill on Monday, and now she has many pox. Yesterday she was sick. June [1873], Page 113 16. Sat. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], cloudy, northwest wind. At 3 o’clock, Penner took [me] home. Mrs. Penner has been sick with smallpox since Tuesday, for 5 days. Elisabeth was better but changing. Klaas Reimer came home from Yekaterinoslav. 17. Sun. Early morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +22 degrees [° F.], clouds, nearly calm. Klaas Reimer and I went with Johann Reimer to Blumenhof. Jacob Barkman taught. Yesterday Heinrich [Brandt] got engaged [lit., married] to Jacob Barkman's daughter.5 I was at Abraham Reimers for dinner and faspa. Heinrich Brandt was engaged without the presence of his bride.6 18. Mon. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.]. Mrs. Toews has been getting up often for the last 2 days. Yesterday afternoon Heinrich Brandt divided his [property]. Abraham [Reimer] of Blumenhof has been getting up for 5 days. Klaas Reimer began to harvest rye and barley. In Blumenhof last week they harvested ______rye. 19. Tues. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +24 degrees [86° F.], nearly calm. Abraham Reimers went to Toewses for dinner and was at our place for faspa. Sunday letters came

1 Abraham W. Reimer #6516 (1860-1930). It must have been quite the day for both father and sons to make their first overnight trip to the big city together. 2 Klaas W. Reimer #4153 (1861-1944). 3 Smallpox started with 2-4 days of fever, muscle pain, headache, and other symptoms similar to influenza before the pox (or macules) would break out on the skin. 4 Probably Johann Esau #6442 (1832-1904) and his wife’s cousin Margaretha Rempel #6443 (1833-1907). 5 Katharina Warkentin #5933 (1850-1889). She was Jacob Barkman’s #6788 stepdaughter because her mother Katharina Thiessen #6789 remarried to Jacob Barkman. 6 The engagement was a formal announcement before the congregation of the impending marriage, usually two weeks before the wedding. Obviously, it was unusual for the bride not to be present at the engagement; but since he was not asking her to marry him, it was not essential. 137

from America from David Klassen and Cornelius Toews, 2 letters. They will still travel more than 700 vërst [500 miles]. 20. Wed. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +25 degrees [88° F.], calm, cloudy, afternoon rained in places. The deputies intend to leave for home around the middle of June.1 Peter Toewses and Peter Dyck came home yesterday from Molotschna. Yesterday Heinrich Brandt was engaged in Friedensfeld at Jacob Barkmans.2 21. Thur. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +25 degrees [88° F.], forenoon clouds, afternoon rained here and in many places, thunderstorms. Yesterday Peter Reimer sent his parents to Friesens in Heubuden to solicit for him.3 Today Peter Reimer and Johann Reimer went to Nikopol’ with wheat and got 12 rubles. 22. Fri. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], cloudy, south wind, afternoon rained so much that water was standing here. But rained heavier on both sides of us, some thunderstorms. Wilem, the Jewish shoemaker, has begun to make shoes. Yesterday the old Isaac Loewen of Heubuden died.4 23. Sat. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], often cloudy, rained everywhere, nearly calm. Peter Reimer divided to Elisabeth 425 rubles as inheritance. Their estate was worth 850 rubles.5 The old Isaac Loewen was buried in Heubuden at big Jacob Friesens.6 He was 86 less 2 weeks. He had 232 children and grandchildren of whom 145 are still living, and in the 80 ______for dinner. June 1873, Page 114 24. Sun. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], partly cloudy, calm. Yesterday Peter Toewses came home from Molotschna where they had been for over 14 days. Mrs.

1 The KG delegates actually traveled in Canada and the United States until 31 July, when they headed for home. They toured Manitoba, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Nebraska; visited Mennonites in Elkart, Ind.; and met the Minister of Agriculture in Ottawa. 2 Now the engagement was announced at the bride’s family. 3 The following is somewhat speculative, but Peter Reimer was probably sending the parents of his late wife, Abraham Johann and Helena Friesen, to his uncle, “Big” Jacob Friesen #3656, to ask for his support in the division of his and his late wife’s property. Jacob Friesen is the only Friesen that I know of who lived in Heubuden, and he was a brother to Abraham Johann Friesen. Peter Reimer and his late wife Elisabeth (Friesen) had one surviving daughter who was only two years old, so she would have had a guardian appointed to oversee her property interests in half of Peter and Elisabeth Reimer’s assets. Since Peter Reimer was a young farmer of only 27 years, he probably needed a payment plan since he would not be able to afford to purchase back half of the farm outright. He would have needed his uncle’s support as the guardian of his daughter. On 29 June, as he was preparing to marry Maria Plett, it is apparent that there was some property issue. 4 Isaak Loewen #265412 (1787-1873). He was legendary among the Mennonites for his many descendants. 5 According to Mennonite custom, the wife owned an undivided half interest in all the property of the marriage. When she died, all her blood descendants would receive an equal undivided interest in that half. Since Peter Rempel’s late wife had one child, a daughter Elisabeth, she would receive half of the estate; and it would be managed on her behalf by the Waisenamt, or Ophans’ Office. In practice, the husband would often buy back his daughter’s half of the property, and the money would be managed by the Waisenamt and loaned out at interest on the daughter’s behalf. Thus, the Waisenamt functioned as the bank for the colony. 6 “Big” Jacob Friesen #3756 (1820-1888) was married to Isaac Loewen’s oldest daughter Margaretha Loewen #3830 (1817-1883). Apparently they cared for him in his older years. 138

Cornelius Janzen has been accepted [into the congregation].1 Abraham Dycks in Annafeld were at the funeral. We were there too. A boy2 of 2 years, 3 months old was buried. 25. Mon. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.] cold, day +18 degrees [72° F.], afternoon cloudy, cold northeast wind. At 7 o’clock Abraham Penner brought [my wife?] home. Yesterday had been at our Penners for night. Mrs. Penner’s smallpox was a little better. In the afternoon I went with Klaas Reimer to the fields and saw the grain. 26. Tues. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], clouds, nearly calm. Gerhard Siemens of here went to Heubuden to marry Mrs. Cornelius Janzen. Peter Toewses' daughter3 died in Alexanderwohl, Molotschna, at 2 years of age. Mrs. Peter Toews was sick there as well. 27. Wed. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], clouds, nearly calm, some northwest wind. I went with Klaas Reimer to Abraham Penners in Rosenfeld. Klaas Reimer got his new [sic] from Peter Rempel’s smithy. [Mrs.?] Abraham Penner was a little better, and their Elisabeth4 was nearly well. Here much rye and barley are being harvested. 28. Thur. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], in places +18 degrees [72° F.], cloudy, cold north wind, forenoon rained in Rosenfeld and a little here. I went home from our Penners in the afternoon. She still has some pox everywhere. Peter Reimer went to marry Cornelius Pletts’ daughter Maria5 in Blumenhof. 29. Fri. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +24 degrees [86° F.], nearly calm, rained heavily in a few places. Early in the morning, Peter Reimer went to the old Pletts in Blumenhof to discuss the encumbrances on the property and the marriage. The young Miss Plett was at Kroekers, but everything was settled.6 30. Sat. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +25 degrees [88° F.], clouds, nearly calm. After breakfast we went along with Peter Reimer to the Cornelius Pletts in Blumenhof to his

1 After her husband died, Aganetha (Klassen) Janzen had transferred her membership to the other KG congregation, the Heubuden congregation, where her parents were members. But now she has transferred back to the Blumenhof congregation in preparation for marrying Gerhard T. Siemens. 2 I have not been able to identify the boy, but he probably was a relative of both the Abraham Reimers and Abraham Dycks. 3 _____ Toews #1384694 (ABT 1871-1873), a daughter of Elder Peter P. Toews #5580 and Anna Warkentin #5673 because they had been traveling to Molotschna for a couple weeks. 4 Elisabeth Penner #6412. 5 Maria L. Plett #3965 (1850-1934). 6 In accordance with Mennonite custom and the privileges that the Mennonites had received from the Russian emperor when they immigrated, Peter Reimer and his late wife Elisabeth had jointly owned their property. Since they had one surviving child, a daughter Elisabeth, his wife’s half-share of the property went to that daughter. Since their daughter Elisabeth was only three years old, either that share of the property would be held in trust for her by the Waisenamt, the Orphan’s Office, or Peter would need to deposit the value of that half-share with the Waisenamt. Probably he needed to clarify this property situation with the Pletts so that there would be no surprises once they married. It didn’t matter that his bride was at the neighbors because Peter needed to resolve the matter with her father anyway. 139

betrothing. More than 18 families were there. On Monday the old Isaac Loewen's books and property were sold. July [1873], Page 115 1. Sun. Early morning +16 degrees [68° F.], at 8 o’clock +22 degrees [82° F.], day +26 degrees [90° F.], at 7:30 in the evening +24 degrees [86° F.], clear, calm. We attended the service in Blumenhof. Peter Toews preached. The bridal couples Peter Reimers and Gerhard Siemens were announced. The letter from America was read. 2. Mon. Morning +18 degrees [72° F.], day +29 degrees [97° F.], evening +25 degrees [88° F.], clouds, calm, late afternoon rained some in places. On Saturday at 6 o’clock in the evening, the Lemkes’ Anna died from smallpox. For days she had been very sick. She was 26 weeks old and was buried on Sunday. Last week at Sawatzkis and at Scharlach[?] they had smallpox. 3. Tues. Early morning +20 degrees [77° F.], at 8 o’clock +25 degrees [88° F.], day +30 degrees [100° F.], evening still +24 degrees [86° F.], rained well here, which settled the dust. Also [rained] in Tetke[?] and in the fields. Rained and hailed in Constantius, and the Little Busuluk River is very high and full of water. The water was +24 to +25 degrees [86-88° F.]. 4. Wed. Morning +25 degrees [88° F.], south wind, day +28 degrees [95° F.], afternoon cloudy, rainy. Here they are harvesting much wheat and oats. Yesterday evening the bridal couple, Peter Reimers, visited here; and today the bridal couple went to Blumenhof to their Plett parents for visiting. Today in Heubuden wheat was harvested. 5. Thur. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], cloudy, cold, east wind. Today in Heubuden many have finished with their grain, and in Blumenhof Abraham Reimer harvested all his grain. He harvested all his grain in 5 days with 3 men. His son Peter1 has small pox badly since Sunday. 6. Fri. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], northwest wind, clouds. At Toewses of here 3 children have smallpox. Peter2 has just a few, and they are in the course of erupting. But Maria3 has many. From Sunday for the first 3 days she has lain down a good deal and is very fretful. Katharina4 has still more and must lie down most of the time. 7. Sat. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], north wind, clouds. I completely repaired the children's chair yesterday and today. Here most of the grain has been harvested. On Wednesday we bought 11 needles5 for 15 kopecks. My wife's finger is nearly healed. She burned it severely 14 days ago.

1 Peter R. Reimer #6171. 2 Peter R. Toews #6483. 3 Maria Toews #6482 (1869-ABT 1875). 4 Katharina Toews #6481. 5 Probably for acupuncture. 140

8. Sun. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], clouds, nearly calm. We went with Abraham the bridal couple, Peter Reimers, to the service in Blumenhof. Peter Reimer of here and Gerhard Siemens got married in the service by Peter Kroeker of Heubuden, as Peter Toewses had gone to Nikolaithal and preached there. July 1873, Page 116 or 114[/2]1 9. Mon. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], clear, nearly calm. For 14 days have eaten green beans, for 8 days new [?] potatoes, for over 8 days cucumbers, and now watermelons are almost ripe. 10. Tues. Morning +16 degrees [68° F.], day +24 degrees [86° F.], in some places +26 degrees [90° F.], clouds. All day yesterday and today rained in many places, evening rained heavily in many places and a little here. Peter Friesen finished harvesting all his wheat. In Blumenhof 1 son2 of old Heinrich Reimer died at 5 years old. He was sick for 5 weeks still with the pox. 11. Wed. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +25 degrees [88° F.], clouds, nearly calm, rained in places. Today Klaas [Reimer] of here the wheat and many others [sic]. Johann Reimers' 5–year-old mare worth 70 rubles croaked. At 5 o’clock in the evening, I went to Rosenfeld and then to the old Jacob Barkmans. 12. Thur. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +19 degrees [75° F.], cold north wind, cloudy, rained. I stayed overnight at Penners. Penner conquered cutting his wheat, as did most others. In the evening I went home with Peter Reimer.3 Here also most of the people were harvesting their grain. Klaas Reimer finished harvesting. 13. Fri. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], cloudy, strong northeast wind, afternoon rained, much water in the lane. Today Klaas Reimer harvested, and the majority finished harvesting. They harvested a lot, but some of the green wheat is over half ripe.[?] 14. Sat. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], day +19 degrees [75° F.], very cloudy. Here they have harvested nearly all [the grain]. Some of us have green [grain] remaining until this week. Some are hauling in barley. Some are hauling grain. Yesterday the old Abraham Friesens moved back to Rosenfeld. 15. Sun. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.], partly cloudy. Toewses and Klaas Reimer of here went to the service in Blumenhof. Toews taught there. It was discussed that there should be a brotherhood meeting in 14 days because it is expected that they [the deputies] will have returned home from America.

1 He messed up the pagination here. The page should have been 116, but he changed it to 114 and continued from there. 2 Could this be Jacob Reimer #5942 (1867-1870). In GM his death date is given as 6 July 1870, but if it were 1873 instead, then he could be this child. 3 Peter Reimer had been married four days before, but there were no honeymoons back then. Peter Reimer had a three-year-old daughter who needed to be cared for, meals to be prepared, a house to be cleaned, and laundry to be done. And he had wheat fields that needed to be harvested if they were to have money to live on. 141

July [1873], Page 115[/2] 16. Mon. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], nearly clear. Yesterday our Penners of Rosenfeld were here for dinner and faspa. Their 2 children1 were nearly healthy. Michel, who stole 150 rubles, has been found [gegrissen]. 17. Tues. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], clouds, Yesterday a little after noon, a big Russian dog, which was rabid, was here under the smithy’s hearth and was groaning. It was first seen at 7 o’clock in the evening. Klaas Reimer's Russian servant and our Friesen killed it with hayforks. 18. Wed. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], clouds, nearly calm. Klaas Reimer has nearly ______rye and barley. On Monday Klaas Reimer finished hauling barley. The last ones here have finished harvesting wheat, and it is well ripened. Yesterday Abraham Dycks of Annafeld’s son2 died. He was 10 months old. 19. Thur. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +25 degrees [88° F.], clouds, nearly calm. The other child Heinrich who died the day before yesterday was buried today. I was there. Late afternoon there was such a strong wind that it damaged houses. There was so much dust that one could not see 5 steps. The rain came and settled the dust well. 20. Fri. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], clouds, some east wind. Yesterday there was a storm from 6 o’clock in the evening until 7. There was wind, dust, and rain everywhere; then mild and partly sunny. After this I came home. My wife did hardly any work and caught a cold. 21. Sat. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], day +22½ degrees [83° F.], clouds. Klaas Reimer has all his barley at home. On Monday he had started hauling in barley. Peter Friesen has completely finished harvesting. In Heubuden and Blumenhof they have hauled nearly all the grain to the house, in Rosenfeld much [of it]. 22. Sun. Early morning +10 degrees [54° F.], at 6 o’clock +16 degrees [68° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], evening still +20 degrees [77° F.], clouds, nearly calm. From here Thiessens and Siemens were in the service in Blumenhof. Johann Reimers were here visiting in the afternoon. 23. Mon. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], some west wind in the morning, day nearly calm. Klaas Reimer hauled his barley in. Abraham Friesens of here took their Abraham3 to Nikopol’ because of his dim [?, schwum.] eye. Johann Reimer took Mrs. Abraham Friesen to Rosenfeld at 2 o’clock in the morning. July 1873, Page 116[/2] 24. Tues. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +24 degrees [86° F.], clouds. Became sick at 4 o’clock in the afternoon. Mrs. Abraham Friesen came here again. A son, Abraham,4 was

1 One of the children is their daughter Elisabeth, but the other child is not identified in the diary. 2 Heinrich Dueck #1383937 (1872-1873). 3 Abraham R. Friesen #6526 (1869-1923). 4 Abraham Reimer #6494 (1873-1874). 142

born at 8:30 in the evening. Everything went well. Klaas Reimer brought his barley upstairs to the loft. He had 51 chetvert’ [300 bushels] from 10 desiatin [27 acres]. 25. Wed. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +25 degrees [88° F.], nearly clear, some north wind. Mrs. Johann Reimer was more than half well. She is up half the time and can walk to the barn. Abraham Penner of Rosenfeld came here and was also at Johann Reimers. Abraham Friesen hauled his barley upstairs. He had 55 chetvertei [330 bushels] from 7½ desiatin [20 acres]. 26. Thur. Morning +17 degrees [70° F.], nearly clear, day +27 degrees [93° F.], nearly calm. The water was over +21 degrees [79° F.], which is fairly good for bathing. Late evening still +21 degrees [79° F.]. Mrs. Johann Reimer was up nearly all day. She washed diapers and made meals. She also was in the yard. Yesterday Klaas Reimer started to haul in wheat. 27. Fri. Morning +16 degrees [68° F.], day +24 degrees [86° F.], clouds, north wind. Mrs. Johann Reimer was sick yesterday. Today she is up again nearly all day although somewhat weak. Peter Toews’ daughter Katharina is still weak and lethargic. She still has many marks [Rost?] from smallpox. 28. Sat. Morning +15 degrees [66° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], clouds, northeast wind. Mrs. Johann Reimer was again nearly well. Yesterday 2 letters were received from Cornelius Toews from America and 1 letter from David Klassen. It reported that they will come home on 10 August. 29. Sun. Early morning +16 degrees [68° F.], at 8 o’clock +20 degrees [77° F.], day +26 degrees [90° F.], clear, east breeze. We went with Peter Reimers to the service. There was a brotherhood. It was discussed that there will be a collection of money on 2 Sundays for Cornelius Toews for his sacrifices on the trip.1 Yesterday the youth were ______. 30. Mon. Morning +16 degrees [68° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], clouds, northwest [wind]. Mrs. Johann Reimer again walked here and is completely healthy. She is quite well. After faspa there was such a storm and so much dust that the house nearly ______. 31. Tues. Morning +16 degrees [68° F.], clouds, day +24 degrees [86° F.]. Such strong north wind that it was almost impossible to thresh grain and to winnow it. Klaas Reimer has forged a stone spindle2 himself for Buller for the 3rd time. August [1873], Page 117 1. Wed. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +25 degrees [88° F.], clouds. Klaas Reimer hauled 38 chetvertei [230 bushels] of wheat upstairs from a pile [heufen] of wheat and chaff 35 paces. He hauled his grain home.

1 Mennonite congregations in the period had virtually no expenses, so they did not take offerings. Ministers were unpaid. Meeting buildings were usually built by donations and labor of the members. Hymnbooks were purchased by individual members. The members took turns cleaning and did maintenance themselves. Members helped those in need, so there was no need for charity through the congregation itself. Thus, it was very cheap to maintain a Mennonite congregation. 2 A stone spindle is the iron spindle which fits inside the lower, non-turning bedstone and that turns the mace and rind, which turns the upper running stone in a gristmill. 143

2. Thur. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], day +25 degrees [88° F.], nearly clear, much north wind these days. The old Abraham Friesens of Rosenfeld came home at 2 o’clock at night from the Loewens in Blumenfeld. He did not attempt to remove the eye of Abraham Friesen of here’s son Abraham. 3. Fri. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], clouds, north wind. Yesterday Klaas Reimer again started hauling wheat in. Yesterday the old Abraham Friesens were traveling for 8 days with Abraham Friesen’s son Abraham. Today Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof with their children were here for dinner and faspa. The old Abraham Friesens of Rosenfeld were here. 4. Sat. Morning +9 degrees [52° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.], north wind, nearly clear. Johann Reimer hauled in all his wheat. At 6:30 in the morning Klaas Reimer took 2 loads or 21 chetvert’ [130 bushels] to Nikopol’. The wheat brought from 11 rubles 50 to 60 kopecks. 5. Sun. Early morning +10 degrees [54° F.], clear, north wind, day +22 degrees [82° F]. Only Peter Reimers, Johann Reimers, and Siemens were in the service. Klaas Reimer came from Nikopol’ at 10:30. He brought me 1 black sheath[?] and knife for 28 kopecks. Abraham Penners of Rosenfeld were here for dinner and at Toewses for faspa. I went [sic]. 6. Mon. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], north wind, nearly clear, day +23 degrees [84° F.]. Yesterday I went with Penners for night to Rosenfeld. Today my wife also came here with Mrs. Abraham Friesen to Penners. Penner was in Nikopol’. 7. Tues. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], clouds, west wind, day here +26 degrees [90° F.], late afternoon +25 degrees [88° F.], late still +22 degrees [+82° F.]. I was at the school teacher. Since Friday she [school teacher’s wife?] has had smallpox in her face. Abraham Penner was threshing his wheat. I got home at 2:30. 8. Wed. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], north wind, day +24 degrees [86° F.]. Cornelius Toews and David Klassen came home late afternoon at 4:30. Yesterday morning they had breakfast in Nikopol’, and Sunday they were in Odessa. The entire round trip went well, and they returned home healthy. They brought a few small items along. His brother Peter Toews brought them from Nikopol’.1 August 1873, Page 118 9. Thur. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +23 degrees [84° F.], north wind. I was at Klassens and heard some news from America. Klassen has finished hauling his wheat in.2 Many here are hauling wheat in.

1 The delegate Cornelius Toews’ brother was the elder Peter P. Toews. He must have been in Nikopol’ on business when the delegates arrived and was able to bring them home. Nikopol’ was a town of perhaps 10,000 people, so the word would have spread around town quickly when two travelers arrived from America, and Peter Toews would have soon found his brother. 2 Probably his sons harvested and hauled in his wheat while he was gone. 144

10. Fri. Early morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], some southeast wind, partly cloudy, becoming rainy. Klaas Reimer has finished hauling his wheat in. Heinrich Brandt1 and Johan Reimer hauled in their wheat. 11. Sat. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], nearly clear, day +23 degrees [84° F.]. Klaas Reimer and Lemke came home from Nikopol’. Lemke sold 10 chetvertei [60 bushels] of wheat for 11 rubles 60 kopecks. Johann Reimer brought his wheat upstairs. From 20 desiatin [54 acres], he got 54 chetverti [320 bushels]. Heinrich Brandt got 58 chetvertei [350 bushels] from 20 desiatin [54 acres]. 12. Sun. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], clear, east wind. I went with Peter Reimer to Blumenhof to the service. Jacob Barkman preached. Brotherhood meeting because Cornelius Toews was present. We all placed [money] in the cash box for Cornelius Toews. He received 194 rub. Peter Toews ______the examinees on the 15th. 13, Mon. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], day +25 degrees [88° F.], clouds. Abraham Penners of Rosenfeld were here for dinner and faspa. Klaas Reimer threshed much wheat. Last week from Wednesday to Friday my wife was very sick because of her foot. Thursday she lay in bed almost all day. 14. Tues. Early morning +14 degrees [64° F.], at 8 o’clock in the morning +22 degrees [82° F.], day for 6 hours +26 degrees [90° F.], very hot. Klaas Reimer brought his wheat upstairs. He had 93 chetverti [560 bushels] from 32 desiatiny [86 acres]. Abraham Reimers were here for dinner and faspa. Last Saturday Abraham Dycks and Dietrich Isaacs of Rosenfeld were [here]. 15. Wed. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], day +21 degrees [79° F.]. Klaas Reimer with the children, Abraham Friesen, and Peter Reimer were all at the annual market. The old Abraham [Friesen] bought a 3–week-old piglet for 75 kopecks yesterday. Today we let Mrs. Lemke have it for 50 kopecks. Wheat sold for 12 rubles. 16. Thur. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], clouds, day +18 degrees [72° F.], some clouds. On 4 August Abraham Friesen brought us a kul or 5 puda [180 pounds] of wheat flour from Nikopol’ for 10 rubles. On 6 August we began to fatten our hogs with crushed grain. August [1873], Page 119 17. Fri. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], clouds, afternoon rained in places, calm. Toews brought his barley upstairs. He has 25 chetvertei [150 bushels]. I was at Peter Loewens in Sawitzki, and he has finished hauling in all this wheat. Dietrich Reimers2 of Neuendorf, Old Colony, were here visiting.

1 Lit., “Hei: Blr.,” but I could find no such person. Instead there was a Heinrich Brandt who was a friend of the Reimers. 2 Not identified, but probably a relative of Katharina Reimer #181877 since Abraham Reimer went to the Cornelius Berg to see them. 145

18. Sat. Morning +9 degrees [52° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], cloudy, nearly calm. In the morning I was at Cornelius Bergs1 in Ebenfeld, but the Reimers had already gone home. At noon Toews began to thresh wheat. Monday the village[?] fought [the harvest]. 19. Sun. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], morning [sic] +20 degrees [77° F.], nearly calm, clouds. Siemens of here was in Blumenhof in the service. Barkman of Friedensfeld taught. The old Abraham Rempels of Rosenfeld were here for faspa, Peter Barkmans of Rosenfeld were here for faspa, and Abraham Penners were here for faspa. 20. Mon. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], very cloudy, day +19 degrees [75° F.], nearly calm. Toews hauled wheat in. Klaas Reimer hauled his rye in. I was again at Peter Loewen in Sawitzki and cut some strong [kecke] kraut for my wife’s foot because she has a sharp pain in her foot. Yesterday she was not in the service because of her foot. She could not walk across the lane. 21. Tues. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], morning day +18 degrees [72° F.], rained all night and heavily during the day, always cloudy, northeast wind. Yesterday Abraham Friesen took a load of wheat to Nikopol’ and came back today late afternoon. The wheat sold for 11 rubles 70 kopecks. Last week wheat sold for 12 rubles 25 kopecks and in Odessa for 18 rubles. 22. Wed. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.], cloudy, afternoon clear. Abraham Friesen sold his roller mill2 to a colonist for 200 rubles. He bought it a year ago on 11 June in Nikopol’ from Johann Friesen and paid 250 rubles. Abraham Reimers were here visiting. 23. Thur. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +13 degrees [61° F.], clouds. Our teacher Fast3 of here left for Molotschna yesterday in a 2–wheel carriage and will be on the trip for 2 weeks. Klaas Reimer took wheat to Nikopol’ and got 11 rubles 60 kopecks. 24. Fri. Early morning +2 degrees [36° F.], rained extremely heavily, 8 o’clock +10 degrees [54° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.]. The melons did not freeze. Nearly clear, calm. The very old Heinrich Reimer of Blumenhof, Abraham Dycks of Annafeld, and Dietrich Isaacs of Rosenfeld all went to Molotschna last week. August 1873, Page 120 25. Sat. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +19 degrees [75° F.], cloudy, south wind. Klaas Reimer, Peter Reimer, Johann Reimer, and many others of here left yesterday at breakfast for Nikopol’ with wheat and came home at noon. The wheat sold for 11 rubles 60 kopecks. The old Gerhard Rempel of Mariawohl, Molotschna, and Martin Rempels4 of Margenau [were here?].

1 Possibly Cornelius Berg #181876 (1840-1892) and Katharina Reimer #181877 (1842-1909). 2 A roller mill was a small, portable mill for crushing grain between two or more rollers. See the entry for 12 June 1872. 3 Cornelius Fast #6506. 4 Martin Rempel #6446 (1823-1874) and Katharina Koop #6447 (1826-1900). 146

26. Sun. Early morning +14 degrees [64° F.], 8 o’clock +18 degrees [72° F.], day only +20 .[.degrees [77° F.], clouds, afternoon northeast wind, evening still +16 degrees [68ׄ° F There was a brotherhood meeting in Blumenhof about selling houses and departing for America. The Molotschna Rempels came to Rosenfeld on Friday. Abraham Penners were here visiting on Friday. I was in Rosenfeld today. 27. Mon. Morning +13 degrees [61° F.], day +19 degrees [75° F.], clouds. Toews hauled a lot of wheat in. Johann Reimer and Klaas Reimer are still hauling in rye. I made 2½ funta [2 pounds] of butter toffee. Klaas Reimer and others took wheat to Nikopol’. The colonists came for faspa. 28. Tues. Morning +14 degrees [64° F.], day +24 degrees [86° F.], forenoon clouds, nearly calm, afternoon partly cloudy, rained at places. Klaas [Reimer] and the others returned late afternoon. They got 11 rubles 80 to 90 kopecks for wheat. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof came here in the afternoon. The colonists came for the mill. 29. Wed. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], rained often from early morning until noon, afternoon sunshine. Klaas [Reimer] threshed rye and brought it upstairs. The old Gerhard Rempels of Mariawohl, Molotschna, were here for faspa as were the young Gerhard Rempels1 of Rosenfeld. 30. Thur. Morning +15 degrees [64° F.], rained for half the night, ______wind. Thunderstorms yesterday and today even more. On Tuesday morning the colonists got the roller mill. It was 5 loads. Today the volost’ [officials] were at Abraham Friesens to persuade and postpone or give the traveling list [?, wodenliss]. 31. Fri. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], early day +16 degrees [68° F.], clear, late afternoon very cloudy. Yesterday Cornelius Loewens, Mrs. Gerhard Goossen of Gru nfeld, and Peter Isaacs of Rosenfeld came for faspa, also the Esaus of Rosenfeld. Today my brother, Klaas Reimer of Heubuden, was here for dinner and faspa. September 1873, Page 121 1. Sat. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.]. Abraham Reimer of Blumenhof was here for faspa. Abraham Penner of Rosenfeld was here in the morning. He brought ½ quart [1 bottle] of wine. My wife was up from 7 o’clock in the morning until 7 o’clock in the evening. Since Sunday she has been sick almost all day. Until Wednesday she sewed some, but Thursday she lay in bed nearly all day. 2. Sun. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +20 degrees [77° F.]. Nearly all our children were in the service. I could not go as my wife was sick. She was very sick during the day, really in the afternoon. Abraham Penners were visiting here for dinner and faspa. The old Klaas Reimer of Heubuden brought some sweet spirits at 8 o'clock in the evening. 3. Mon. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], day +19 degrees [75° F.], clouds. My wife was very sick all day. Minister Jacob Barkmans of Friedensfeld were visiting here in the forenoon. On

1 Gerhard Gerhard Rempel #3677 and Katharina Friesen #3676. 147

Friday at 8 o’clock, the old Klaas Reimer gave us some sweet spirits. A son Cornelius1 was [born]. In the evening Penners were here. 4. Tues. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +22 degrees [82° F.], clouds, nearly calm. My wife was very sick all day, but especially severe from 4:30 in the afternoon to 7 o’clock in the evening. During the night it was so bad that it seemed that she lay near the end. She could hardly speak. All the children were here, as I allowed them all to be called. 5. Wed. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], clouds. Towards morning she slept some, but she has very great pressure in her chest. Abraham Reimers were here for the night until 4 o’clock, and Abraham Penners were here for more than half the night. The other children were here for half the night. 6. Thur. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +17 degrees [70° F.]. Johann Reimer brought rye upstairs. My wife improved a little. In the morning Peter Friesen of here went to Molotschna. Abraham came home in the evening from Molotschna. 7. Fri. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], cloudy, nearly calm. Klaas Reimer brought his rye upstairs. He had 16 chetvertei [96 bushels] from 5 desiatin [13 acres]. Peter Toews of here hauled in all his wheat. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here and brought us 1 ______of firewood. The old Cornelius Pletts of Blumenhof were here visiting, as well as the Abraham Penners of Rosenfeld. 8. Sat. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.], cloudy. Fasts returned here from Molotschna yesterday evening. He got betrothed on Thursday with the Fehrs’ Helena2 of Kronsthal. Klaas Reimer and Abraham Reimer of Blumenhof each took a load of wheat for Toews of here, in all 12 chetvertei [72 bushels], to Nikopol’. The wheat brought only 11 rubles 85 kopecks. September 1873, Page 122 9. Sun. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], some clouds. The service was in Blumenhof, and in the afternoon there was a big brotherhood meeting about the young Gerhard Harms3 who was caught in marital relations with their maid. Fast and his bride were here for faspa yesterday. 10. Mon. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], day +15 degrees [° F.], very cloudy. In the morning the colonists got the horses that they bought. They also bought 6 fillies and one yearling and from Johann Reimer 1 wagon for 70 rubles and from Siemens 2 wagons. 11. Tues. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.]. Toews winnowed a lot of wheat. Afternoon rained a lot, very cloudy all day, south wind. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here. The colonists, who wanted to buy land and houses, were here. They were from Hochstadt, and the first were from Eigengrund. 12. Wed. Morning +7 degrees [48° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], nearly calm, clouds. In the forenoon Klaas Reimer went to the old Peter Penners in Rosenfeld and in the afternoon

1 Cornelius B. Reimer #3980 (1873-1951). 2 Helena Fehr #6507 (1850-1893). 3 Gerhard Harms #6770 (1849-1911). 148

went with David Klassen to Nikopol’. Fast began to teach in the school. We and many people heated up our stoves in the morning. Abraham Penners of Rosenfeld were here. She is sick these days, but my wife is a little better every day. 13. Thur. Early morning +3 degrees [39° F.], hoarfrost during the night, morning +1 degree [34° F.], in the morning there was still frost, day +8 degrees [50° F.], very cloudy. Klaas Reimer brought his oats upstairs. He got 12 chetvertei [72 bushels] from 2 desiatiny [5 acres]. Klaas Reimer, the old Penner of Rosenfeld, and David Klassen of Heubuden went from Nikopol to Odessa. 14. Fri. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], clouds, yesterday and today northwest wind. Toews had his last wheat measured and ground. Total he got 55 chetvertei [330 bushels] from 20 desiatin [54 acres]. There was a big brotherhood meeting in Blumenhof about emigrating to America and selling land and houses. Peter Friesen came home from Molotschna. 15. Sat. Morning +7 degrees [48° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], clouds, nearly calm, partly cloudy. Cornelius Toews was at our place on Thursday after faspa for over an hour. Abraham Klassen of Molotschna came to Blumenhof, as did Johann Dycks1 from Alexanderkrone, Molotschna, and Minister Berg2 from Crimea and their 2 Cornelsens and more from Crimea and more from Molotschna. September [1873], Page 123 16. Sun. Morning +12 +8 degrees [50° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], clouds, nearly calm. I went with Peter Reimers to the service in Blumenhof. There were also people from Molotschna and the Old Colony. Berg from Crimea taught and then Abraham Klassen from Molotschna. Then Abraham Loewen married the bridal couple. 17. Mon. Morning +9 degrees [52° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.], very calm, nearly clear. The old Fehrs3 came here Saturday forenoon to Teacher Fast. They were overnight at Abraham Reimers and were in the service yesterday. Yesterday the Harms’ Katrina4 was accepted. The Fehrs went home to Kronsthal in the evening. 18. Tues. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], nearly calm. I went with Abraham Friesen to the brotherhood meeting in Blumenhof in the afternoon. Discussed selling land and houses, emigrating to America, and the letter written by Friesen5 of Crimea to the elder there. It was well-received. 19. Wed. Morning +11 degrees [57° F.], day +17 degrees [70° F.], nearly calm, clouds. There was a service in Neuanlage. Abraham Klassen of Prangenau, Molotschna, taught. Yesterday people from Crimea, Molotschna, and the Old Colony attended the brotherhood meeting. We discussed whether we could come to agreement with the

1 Johann Dyck #5929 (1833-1894) and Anna Thielmann #6896 (1843-1882). 2 Peter Berg #6341. 3 Jacob Fehr #187363 (1809-1876) and Helena Maria Fehr #183941 (1820-1898). 4 Not identified. 5 Not identified. 149

Heubuden congregation.1 The 3 returned at noon yesterday from Odessa. They were gone 6½ days.2 20. Thur. Morning +12 degrees [59° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], nearly calm, west wind, clear. We did a lot of moving [zuschickt] in the smithy. The service was here in the afternoon, and Peter Berg from Crimea preached here. At noon the smithy was nearly full.3 For faspa Mrs. Peter Toews of Blumenhof, old Mrs. Klaas Friesen,4 and our Penners were here. Yesterday Abraham Reimer and Peter Thiessen went to Yekaterinoslav.5 21. Fri. Early morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +18 degrees [72° F.], clouds, northwest wind. The Janzens6 from Kleefeld, Molotschna, came here to Toewses yesterday dinner. They were here for faspa today. Today Abraham Friesen went to Nikopol’ with oats. It brought 4 rubles and wheat 11 rubles 60 to 80 kopecks. 22. Sat. Morning +8 degrees [50° F.], morning rained some, cloudy, calm, day +15 degrees [66° F.]. Abraham Reimer of Blumenhof came home from Yekaterinoslav. Lemke and Makhlin went to Yekaterinoslav in the morning. Mrs. Klaas Friesen7 died 15 September. She was very sick for 15 days. She was 56 years old. She was buried on the 17th. Mrs. Block8 died suddenly while travelling. 23. Sun. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], rained heavily early morning and nearly all day. Only the Kroekers9 went to the service in Blumenhof. On 13 and 14 September, Lemke sold his wagon for 74 rubles and 2 horses for 65 rubles total. In the afternoon Klaas Reimer and Johann Reimer came home from Nikopol’. There wheat sold for 11 rubles 80 kopecks. September 1873, Page 12510 24. Mon. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], rained some, cloudy, day +8 degrees [50° F.], nearly calm, cold. Mrs. Gerhard Goossen of Gru nfeld auctioned her cow, pig, and all her things; and she earned 350 rubles. Peter Berg intends to go home today. Yesterday the Kleefeld Janzens Kleefeld went to Kutschebe[?].

1 The disagreement was very likely about the destination for emigration. David Klassen, one of the delegates from the Heubuden congregation, strongly favored a private purchase of land along the Scratching (now Morris) River while Cornelius Toews of the Blumenhof congregation and many of the other non-KG delegates favored the East Reserve, which was offered on good terms by the Canadian government. Others must have favored emigrating to what eventually became Jansen, Nebr., because a large group went there too. 2 See 13 September 1873. 3 The next service was in Klaas Reimer’s smithy, so they had to do a lot of cleaning and moving equipment so that everyone could fit. 4 Probably Maria Defehr #5487. 5 It’s not clear which people went to faspa and which went to Yekaterinoslav. 6 Probably either Dietrich Janzen #608960 or Peter Janzen #39711. 7 Margaretha Braun #3802 (1817-1873). Cannot be the same Mrs. Klaas Friesen as the one who visited on the 20th because the second had already been buried on the 17th. 8 Not identified. 9 Franz Kroeker #6474 and Margaretha Plett #6475. 10 Skipped page 124. 150

25. Tues. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], morning clouds, day clear, calm. Klaas Reimer slaughtered a 1½-year–old ox in the afternoon. The old Abraham Friesens of Rosenfeld helped. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here visiting in the afternoon. They brought 2 scheffels [3 bushels] of potatoes for 1 ruble. He brought them from Yekaterinoslav on Saturday. Abraham Penners of Rosenfeld were here. 26. Wed. Early morning +1 degree [34° F.], but there was freezing and ice, at sunrise +3 degrees [39° F.]. The auction in Heubuden started, but no one came. Day mild, +12 degrees [59° F.], clear, calm. In the evening Lemke and Makhlin came home from Yekaterinoslav. My wife could walk alone this week and in the front yard. 27. Thur. Early morning +1 degree [34° F.], rained during the night, day +14 degrees [64° F.], clear, calm, mild. At 5:30 in the morning Johann Reimers went to Molotschna. Martin Barkmans of Marienthal were visiting us. Peter Reimer went to Friedensfeld in the afternoon. 28. Fri. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], clear, calm, very mild. Toews of started to haul in rye. I went along with Klaas Reimer, who took 1 load of wheat to Nikopol’ in the forenoon. Peter Friesen and David Thiessen gave us ______11 rubles 90 kopecks. At places it brought 11 rubles 60, 70, and 80 kopecks. 29. Sat. Morning +5 degrees [41° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.]. We stayed overnight in Nikopol’. Grain sold for high prices - rye brought 7 rubles, barley up to 5 rubles, oats for 4 rubles, apples for 6 kopecks per funt [0.9 pounds], grapes 5 kopecks, Crimean [grapes?] 10 kopecks per funt [0.9 pounds]. We came at 5 o’clock in the evening. 30. Sun. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], clear, nearly calm. Were in Blumenhof for the service. There was a brotherhood meeting because the young Isaac Loewen1 of Heubuden mocked the maid. The young people stood [before the congregation].2 I wanted to go along, but the Reimers and Friesens did not have room. October [1873], Page 126 1. Mon. Morning +1 degrees [34° F.], hoarfrost during the night, day clear, calm, +15 degrees [66° F.]. The old Fehrs' children from the Old Colony from Kronsthal came. In the evening 2 of them were also here. 2. Tues. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], foggy, calm, day clear. The old Peter Friesens' children came from Marienthal. Abraham, Klaas, and Margaretha3 were here late in the afternoon. Today the old Isaac Harms of Heubuden are having their auction. 3. Wed. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], very foggy until noon, afternoon clear, calm. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here for dinner. In the evening Johann Reimers came home. I got 1 quart [1.6 US quarts] of vinegar from Jacob Friesens' in Annafeld. ______.

1 Probably Isaac Loewen #6391 (1845-1926). 2 Probably in preparation for baptism and church membership. 3 Probably three of Abraham Reimer’s children. 151

4. Thur. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], morning hoarfrost, foggy, day +11 degrees [57° F.], clear., calm. Thiessen and Siemens of here went to Molotschna. On Tuesday many from Neuanlage were here. Abraham Reimers and Jacob ______were here late afternoon. Mrs. Abraham Dyck was here for faspa. 5. Fri. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], clear, calm. Abraham Penners were here. Franz Neustaedter1 of Kutschebe visited Teacher Fasts in the evening. The buyers from Hochstadt were here wanting to buy the whole village. They offered 40 rubles per desiatina [2.7 acres] for land and houses. 6. Sat. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], clouds, nearly always calm. Neustaedter was here and had drops and ointments for sale. He bought Klaas Reimers' Martyrs Mirror for 8 rubles. Bernhard Rempel2 of Lichtfelde, Molotschna, but now from Kutschebe, came at 8 o’clock in the evening. 7. Sun. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], clouds, nearly calm. Bernhard Rempel and I went with Klaas Reimer to the service in Blumenhof. The articles [of faith] were taught. The young people were presented for the second and last time.3 In the afternoon Bernhard Rempel and I went with Klaas Reimer to Rosenfeld to the young Gerhard Rempels for faspa. 8. Mon. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +13 degrees [61° F.], clouds, calm. In the forenoon Bernhard Rempel went with Klaas Reimer with a load of wheat to Nikopol’, and from there that day he went home with another to Molotschna. In 8 days Abraham Friesen hauled 56 chetvertei [330 bushels] of wheat upstairs and before that stored up 56 chetvertei [330 bushels] of barley. October 1873, Page 127 9. Tues. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.]. In the forenoon I went with Jacob Klassen to the Peter Heidebrechts' auction in Blumenhof. In the evening I went with my brother Klaas Reimer to Heubuden for the night. 10. Wed. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], cloudy, rainy, calm. I stayed at Klaas Reimer’s until evening. I was at the old Abraham R Friesen. In the evening I went to Abraham Reimers for night. Klaas Reimer of here came home from Nikopol’. 11. Thur. Morning +7 degrees [48° F.], day +13 degrees [61° F.], partly cloudy, calm. Abraham Reimer brought me home in the afternoon. Klaas Reimer slaughtered his big ox. For faspa Gerhard Willems of Crimea came to Blumenhof to Abraham [Reimer]. 12. Fri. Morning +10 degrees [54° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], clear, calm. We had sweet spirits at Abraham Friesens of here. A son Johann4 was born at 8:30 in the evening. At

1 Probably Franz Neustaedter #413847 (b. 1823). 2 Bernhard Rempel #5851 (1820-1891). 3 In preparation for baptism, the articles of faith were taught to the whole congregation. And the young people who would be baptized were presented to the congregation again. 4 Johann R. Friesen #6529 (1873-1874). 152

7:30 in the evening, Mrs. Heninge came here. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof came here with the old Gerhard Willems of Crimea at 10:30 in the forenoon. 13. Sat. Morning +7 degrees [48° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], clouds, calm. They were all overnight at our place. We were all at Abraham Friesens for dinner and at Peter Reimers for faspa. They took Mrs. Heninge home in the forenoon and the old Abraham Friesens yesterday evening. 14. Sun. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], clouds, nearly calm. The Willemses were here for dinner and faspa. Only a few of [our] children of here were in the service in Blumenhof. The young people sat on the front bench for instruction. 15. Mon. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +11 degrees [57° F.], partly cloudy, nearly calm. The Gerhard Willemses and we were at Toewses for dinner and faspa and for supper at Klassens1 of here. Yesterday for about 8 days[?], Dietrich Wiebe2 of Lichtfelde died at noon. He was 66 years old. David Cornies3 of Ohrloff died at noon. He was 89 years old. 16. Tues. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], some hoarfrost, day +10 degrees [54° F.], calm, clouds. We were with Willemses at Johann Reimers for dinner and faspa. My wife had to be helped at all times. Last Friday it was the first time after her sickness that she went in the wagon to Abraham Friesens.4 Yesterday Peter Reimers slaughtered their old cow.5 October [1873], Page 128 17. Wed. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], hoarfrost during the night, day +11 degrees [57° F.], clouds, calm. Willemses and we went to Annafeld to Abraham Dycks for dinner. Mrs. Willems was very sick in the afternoon. In the evening my wife was a little sick. After faspa we went home. 18. Thur. Early morning −2 degrees [28° F.], creek froze during the night, some frost on the windows in the house, very cloudy during the day and +7 degrees [48° F.]. Late afternoon some rain and snow, northwest wind. I went with Willems to Rosenfeld to Penners and to other friends. For the night they were at Abraham Penners. Heinrich Brandt’s little daughter6 died at 7 months old. Died yesterday, burial today. 19. Fri. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], creek is frozen in places, day +10 degrees [54° F.], clouds. In the evening I came home with Willemses, Peter Reimers, and Klaas Reimers. Willemses were overnight here again. The colonists were negotiating a lot here about the land, but they offered only 34 rubles per desiatina. 20. Sat. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], some frost, day +11 degrees [57° F.], clouds, nearly calm. We were again with Willemses at Peter Reimers for dinner and at Abraham Friesens for

1 Jacob Klassen #6390 and Katharina Janzen #6389. 2 Duerk Heinrich Wiebe #46869 (ABT 1807-1873) and Katharina _____ #62657 (ABT 1796). 3 David Johann Cornies #44148 (1794-1873), brother of the famed Johann Cornies. He was actually 79 years old. 4 To see her new grandson. 5 They are slaughtering animals that they would normally not eat because they probably cannot sell them for much and want to get some use out of them. 6 _____ Brandt #743442 (1873-1873). 153

faspa. My wife has some pain in her foot. Abraham Friesen was obliged to take her home from Peter Reimers. 21. Sun. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], partly cloudy. The Willemses and I went with Reimers to the service in Blumenhof. The articles were preached. Six young people were baptized, two boys and four girls. We were at Abraham Reimers for dinner and faspa. Willemses stayed overnight there. 22. Mon. Morning +3 degrees [° F.], very foggy, day +11 degrees [57° F.], afternoon clear, calm. Peter Toews of here went to Blumenhof at 8:30 in the morning and from there to Molotschna. Willemses left Blumenhof at [no hour given] in the morning for their home in Crimea. Willemses and Toews wanted to go together to Kamenka1 and then stay overnight there. 23. Tues. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], very foggy until noon, afternoon clear, calm. On Saturday Peter Ennses2 of Kutschebe came to Klassens of here and on Sunday bought the windmill from Bullers for 575 rubles. My wife was a little [sick?] yesterday. Willemses stayed with us for 8 nights. 24. Wed. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +13 degrees [61° F.], clouds, calm. We slaughtered 2 hogs yesterday at Johann Reimers. The first had 3¼ inches of fat and the second 3 inches of fat. They yielded 5½ pails of lard. Today Abraham Penners of Rosenfeld slaughtered 1 large hog and 2 small pigs [Sturk]. The large one had 3½ inches of fat and yielded 4½ pails of lard. October 1873, Page 129 25. Thur. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.], cloudy, southeast wind. Yesterday I went there3 for dinner, and today I came home for dinner. Yesterday Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof came here to visit. Today in the morning Klaas Reimer went to Nikopol’. 26. Fri. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], clouds, calm, rainy in the forenoon. I was at Abraham Dycks. They have fever. Klaas Friesen of there was sick. Teacher Fast of here went early with his Helen to the Old Colony to the doctor because she was sick. 27. Sat. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], clouds, calm. Last Monday and Tuesday Klaas Reimer’s Russian servant brought a fadem [120 cubic feet] of sheep manure to our place. It cost 6 rubles. Klaas Reimer came home yesterday at 7 o’clock in the evening. We slaughtered 3 hogs at Abraham Friesens and 3 hogs at Peter Reimers, which had 3½ inches and 3 inches of fat. Abraham Friesens’ hogs had 3 to 4 inches of fat. 28. Sun. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +10 degrees [+54° F.], clouds, calm. Only Thiessen of here went to the service in Blumenhof because of the purchase. Yesterday 9 buyers were here; 4 were at Peter Reimers for dinner, and 5 were at Abraham Friesens for

1 A peasant village about 10 miles (16 km) southwest of Steinbach. In 1886 it had about 3800 people. 2 Not identified. 3 Probably he went to the Abraham Penners for butchering. 154

dinner and yesterday offered 35 rubles per desiatina [2.7 acres] but only for the whole village. 29. Mon. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], cloudy, rainy, west wind, day +8 degrees [50° F.]. Yesterday afternoon still more [buyers] came again – 10 colonists came, including quite a lot from Felsenbach, from other villages, and from Molotschna. There were 4 wagons [of buyers]. The buyers only wanted the whole village [and offered] 37 rubles per desiatina [2.7 acres]. They were here for faspa. The first [group] slept here and gave 300 rubles as earnest money. They were at Abraham Friesens for faspa and supper and at 10:30 they left. ______Klaas Reimer and Peter Friesen went to Kherson. 30. Tues. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], rained some, morning cold northwest wind, day +6 degrees [46° F.]. In the afternoon[?], the people from Kutschebe began to dismantle Buller's, or now Peter Enns's, windmill. At 7 o’clock in the evening, Klaas Reimer and Peter Friesen came home because the 4 and the 2 colonists were not in Kherson. In Nikopol and at ______[?] and the houses were different they paid Klassen[?] 32 rubles, Abraham Friesen 40[?] rubles, and Klaas Reimer 35 rubles. 31. Wed. Early morning −2½ degrees [26° F.], day +3 degrees [39° F.], clouds, northwest wind, snowed very early yesterday morning. Things were partly white. By evening they had taken a front wall [Brust], roof, rafters, and stones from the mill. The buyers again gave the village 300 rubles as earnest money. November [1873], Page 130 1. Thur. Morning −2½ degrees [26° F.], some frost on the windows, creek was half frozen over. The mill is nearly down to the floor, and I was there in the forenoon. The young Dirk Isaacs1 were here. Mrs. Klaas Reimer was very wicked in the evening, so she got two strokes with a switch.2 2. Fri. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.], cloudy, nearly calm. There were 3 men with 3 wagons and 6 horses who stayed at Klaas Reimers for 3 nights and 2½ days. They got Peter Enns’ windmill, and it was 13 loads total. We butchered 4 hogs at Klaas Reimers. They had 2½ to 3 inches of fat and 8 pails of lard. My wife went there only with great difficulty [al zu noth]. 3. Sat. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +3 degrees [39° F.], cloudy, somewhat rainy. Brother Klaas Reimer with his son Abraham Reimer of Heubuden are [here]. Horses, foals, and calves were sold here this week. Today the Annafeld people sold various things for 200 to 350 rubles. 4. Sun. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.], cold east wind, morning clouds. I went with Klaas Reimer, Abraham Friesen, and Buller to the service in Blumenhof. Abraham Loewen preached. He had the test sermon [?, Prüfpredigt]. We were at Abraham Reimers for dinner. Toewses came home from Molotschna. Abraham Friesen repaired the clock.

1 Dietrich P. Isaac #5862 and Katharina Rempel #5861. 2 Perhaps this was connected with the men who were staying there. 155

5. Mon. Early morning −8 degrees [14° F.], day −3 degrees [25° F.]. In Rosenfeld it was –10 degrees [+10° F.], clouds. All the windows are frosted all day. The ice can hold the school boys and adults. Abraham Penners were here for dinner and faspa. Klassen of here and David Klassen of Heubuden went to Molotschna. 6. Tues. Morning again −6 degrees [18° F.], day −4 degrees [23° F.], clouds. Gerhard Siemens of here went to Nikopol’. I requested him to bring 1 pud [36 pounds] of salt. I was at Toewses. They were a little sick from the trip and very concerned about selling their house. 7. Wed. Morning −5 degrees [21° F.], partly cloudy, some east wind, day −3 degrees [25° F.]. Slaughtered 3 hogs at Peter Friesens of here. Bargaining about the sheep. Much bargaining about the farmyards, and 2 were sold. 8. Thur. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day −1 degree [30° F.], very cloudy, southeast wind. Early today Peter Enns hauled his last 5 loads of the mill, both stones, posts, and beams [?, haus baum], and other parts to Kutschebe and afterwards to Scho nsee. I got 1 pud [36 pounds] of salt from Siemens and 1½ quarten [3 fifths] of brandy with a battle [?, Schlachten]. November 1873, Page 131 9. Fri. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.], snowed, very cloudy all day, west wind. We slaughtered 2 hogs. One had 3½ inches and the other 3¾ inches of fat. All the children helped, but Abraham Reimers and Abraham Penners came toward noon. The hogs yielded 7 pails of lard. 10. Sat. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], cloudy, still snowed some. People went on sleighs. Dietrich Isaacs went to Abraham Friesens by sleigh. Lemkes slaughtered their shoats and had an inch of fat. 11. Sun. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], clouds, northwest wind, somewhat cold. We went to the service in Blumenhof because there was a brotherhood meeting in the afternoon about 2 Lutheran families who want to join our congregation. One family wants to separate out [mend:] with us.1 12. Mon. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], rained, very cloudy. Yesterday the Jewish sheep buyer was here in the afternoon until nearly evening. He wanted to take the sheep, so today he took the first sheep and the calves. He paid 3 rubles 70 kopecks for the old sheep. 13. Tues. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], clouds, nearly calm. At Toewses we slaughtered one hog, which had 3¾ inches of fat, was very big, and yielded 4½ pails of lard. Cornelius Toewses2 of Gru nfeld were here visiting for dinner.

1 Mennonites saw themselves as being separate from the world because they did not participate in government or military while the Lutherans did participate in those worldly things. Joining the KG meant that they would also emigrate to America. 2 He was the delegate to America from the Reimers’ KG congregation. 156

14. Wed. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], clouds, day +5 degrees [43° F.]. Toewses and Kroekers slaughtered an ox together. Many have been preparing for an auction in the village. Friesen had 23 ______. 15. Thur. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], cloudy, nearly calm. I went with Klaas Reimer of here to Heubuden to Klaas Reimer. He got the smithy for his son Heinrich. The young Loewens' wife1 was buried. She was 18 years old. 16. Fri. Early morning +4 degrees [41° F.], clouds, nearly calm, day +6 degrees [46° F.]. Abraham Penners were at Johann Reimers for dinner and faspa. We were also there for faspa. My wife had to be helped to go. November [1873], Page 132 17. Sat. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +8 degrees [° F.], cloudy, rained in the afternoon until 11 o’clock in the evening. In the afternoon I went with Peter Reimer to Gru nfeld with 3 letters about the auction. On the return trip it rained heavily. 18. Sun. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], rained heavily, muddy. Only a few went to the service in Blumenhof. Toews2 had a new sermon. David Klassen of Heubuden and Klassen of here came back on Thursday evening from Molotschna. In the district office [Gebietsa:] they were given a passport to Simferopol’. 3 19. Mon. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], cloudy, rained often in the afternoon. Abraham Dycks were here for faspa in the afternoon. Mild yesterday and today. Saturday there was ice in the creek. Today a Russian found Klassen’s wagon in the creek. 20. Tues. Morning +4 degrees [43° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], cloudy, some rain. Abraham Dycks were here for faspa. Abraham Dycks have nearly given up [ungestelt] moving to America. Yesterday Abraham Friesen brought us a clock chain from Rosenfeld. 21. Wed. Morning −1½ degrees [29° F.], day +3 degrees [39° F.], clouds, southeast wind. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here for dinner and faspa, and Gerhard Rempel of Rosenfeld for dinner. For faspa the old Cornelius Pletts of Blumenhof were also here. Our Toewses are doubting about moving to America. 22. Thur. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], clouds, south wind. Much preparations are being made for an auction. Many of here have doubts about moving to America. The Gru ndfelder are nearly despondent, and they intend to plant in spring and in early fall to move to America.

1 Helena K. Sawatsky #3868 (1854-1873). 2 Probably Cornelius Toews #5578. Mennonite ministers often read old, classic sermons on a particular passage; but this time he delivered a new one. 3 Russian subjects required a passport to travel internally. Thus Mennonites required a passport from the district office to travel outside their colony. Simferopol’ was the administrative center of Tavricheskaia Guberniia (Province), in which Molotschna Colony was located. Since many of the Borosenko Mennonites were still registered in Molotschna, they would have had to travel to Simferopol’ to conduct much official business. Simferopol’ had a population of 17,000 in 1864 and was located in the Crimean peninsula about 190 miles south of Steinbach. 157

23. Fri. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], clouds, day +4 degrees [41° F.], strong south wind, partly cloudy. The old Fehrs1 of the Old Colony were in the service in Blumenhof on Sunday. They were at Toewses overnight. There they asked the elder of our congregation to come here to the Fasts.2 Monday they will be at our house. November 1873, Page 133 24. Sat. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], clouds, south wind but cold, day +5 degrees [43° F.]. Yesterday or today the buyers want to buy the entire Blumenhof village and offered 37 rubles per desiatina [2.7 acres]. In Gru nfeld Russians offered 40 rubles per desiatina [2.7 acres]. 25. Sun. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], clouds, strong east wind, day +4 degrees [41° F.], evening strong north wind, cloudy, very cold. We went with Peter Reimers to Blumenhof to the service. My wife and I were at Abraham Reimers for dinner. There was a brotherhood meeting about land and the trip for 7 years because of Johann Goossen3 of Blumenhof. 26. Mon. Morning −5 degrees [21° F.], day +1 degree [34° F.], clouds, west wind. Late yesterday evening the oldest daughter4 of Martin Klassens of Annafeld, who is 18 or 19 years old, went with 2 Russian servant boys [Knechts] to Scharlach. There is no mess [Wuste], and all her things were bundled together. Today they are intensely searching for her. 27. Tues. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], clouds, west wind, day +2 degrees [36° F.]. The village auction began today - first the horses and then cattle. Abraham Reimers came for dinner and stayed overnight. Afternoon clear, not much wind. Klassens' daughter [was found] in Scharlach in the evening. 28. Wed. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day +1 degree [30° F.], wind, clear. Cattle were sold and in the afternoon wagons, large items, our table for 44 rubles 50 kopecks, and 2 new chairs for 3 rubles. Abraham Penner of Rosenfeld was here for dinner and stayed for night. Klaas Reimers were here for dinner. 29. Thur. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], partly cloudy, some snow in places. We sold nearly everything. Northwest wind. The auction continued all day. The old Fehrs with their oldest son5 came here in the evening here to the Fasts and stayed there overnight. In all we have sold in the auction 10 rubles 80 kopecks. 30. Fri. Morning −4 degrees [23° F.], day −2 degrees [28° F.], very cloudy, strong northwest wind, snowed often. [The auction] continued until late afternoon. Nearly everything was

1 Jacob Fehr #187363 and Helena Maria Fehr #183941. 2 Peter Toews #5580 was elder of the congregation. The Fehrs’ daughter Helena had recently married Cornelius Fast, the school teacher. They wanted to join their daughter’s church and immigrate to America. 3 Not identified. 4 Probably Elisabeth Klassen #5608 (b. 1852), the second oldest daughter but the oldest unmarried daughter. 5 Probably Jacob Fehr #187365 (1837-1916). 158

old things, and nothing brought more than 100 rubles. The total auction sale brought nearly 4000 rubles. December [1873], Page 134 1. Sat. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day −1 degree [30° F.], cloudy, north wind. Fehrs went home again to the Old Colony. Peter Toewses of Blumenhof went home. 2. Sun. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], cloudy, west wind, day +4 degrees [41° F.] Cloudy with a west wind. Yesterday Klaas Reimer and Peter Friesen went with a colonist to the ______to give a bond. Siemens of here, Abraham Friesen of here, Klassen, and Buller went to Kherson. 3. Mon. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +3 degrees [39° F.], cloudy, cold southwest wind. In the forenoon Peter Reimers went to Blumenhof to their parents, but he had a headache in the evening and during the night and was sick. Martin Klassens of Annafeld have come home.1 4. Tues. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], cloudy, strong south wind, day +4 degrees [41° F.]. In the forenoon Peter Reimers went to Blumenhof to Cornelius Pletts. He had a headache. They stayed overnight. He was sick during the evening and the night. Kroeker of here was sick on Saturday. I was at Friesens of here for 2 nights. 5. Wed. Morning −1 degree [° F.], day +3 degrees [39° F.], cloudy, very strong south wind. Peter Reimers came home in the forenoon. He was so sick that he immediately went to bed because he had pain in the head and side and did not eat anything. Two shoemakers came at noon and made my wife a pair of ______shoes. 6. Thur. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], windows are frosted, day +3 degrees [39° F.], clouds. Both Jewish shoemakers were here overnight and made a pair of Sunday boots for Klaas Reimer for 7 rubles. The old Klaas Reimer of Heubuden was here with his son Abraham Reimer for faspa. I was at Peter Reimers today until tomorrow night because he was very sick. 7. Fri. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], morning [sic] +4 degrees [41° F.], clouds. Peter Friesen brought us 1 calendar from Nikopol’. On 28 November the colonists paid the village 11,000 rubles, but in total they have paid 12,000. On 4 November Johann J_____ gave us for our house 250 rubles and also the taxes to the treasury [Tres:]. 8. Sat. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +3 degrees [39° F.], partly cloudy, mild, some west wind. Here at David Thiessens his oldest daughter got engaged to the old Peter Penners’ son Cornelius of Rosenfeld.2 Abraham Penner of here was at Thiessens for the engagement at noon. The young Isaac Loewen3 got married in Heubuden on Thursday the 6th.

1 They had gone to Scharlach to search for and bring back their daughter. 2 Cornelius Penner #6419 (1854-1899) and Anganetha Dyck #6420 (1855-1890). She must be the daughter of David Thiessen’s first wife, but no such wife is listed in GM. 3 Isaac E. Loewen #3869 (1850-1925) and Katharina S. Friesen #6168 (1854-1925). 159

December 1873, Page 135 9. Sun. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.] very cloudy. Most of the people of here were in the service in Blumenhof. Kroeker gave a new sermon. Yesterday Cornelius Toewses were here for a little while. They were here at Thiessens for the engagement. It was a big engagement. 10. Mon. Day or morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +3 degrees [39° F.], clouds, south wind, snowed 1½ inches during the night from yesterday to today. Today we had many guests. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here for dinner and at Peter Reimers for faspa. The old Jacob Friesens of Nikolaithal were here for faspa and Abraham Dycks and the young Jacob Friesens of Annafeld. 11. Tues. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.], cloudy, mild, afternoon south wind. I was at Peter Reimers for the night. Sunday [Peter Reimer] was much better but yesterday was very bad and today is somewhat better. Sunday Kroeker of here was up much and also today [viel auf und heute waren].1 There was a brotherhood meeting in Blumenhof, and it was a big one about Johann Goossen. 12. Wed. Morning +2½ degrees [38° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], forenoon, foggy, west wind, afternoon mild, clouds. Again there was a brotherhood in Blumenhof from forenoon until evening only about whether Johann Goossen of Blumenhof should be expelled for being very contrary in the village and that in many things he did not [believe] Elder Toews was right.2 13. Thur. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], clouds, nearly calm. Last evening Minister Jacob Barkman was here with Johann Reimer. For night they served themselves at Peter Reimers.3 Last Wednesday our Johann Reimer got 250 rubles for his farmstead. Our Abraham Friesen paid the district treasury [Schult Tres] 23 rubles 1 month ago. On the 10th Toews of here paid the district treasury 21 rubles. 14. Fri. Early morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.], clouds, nearly calm. Now we had to pay 111 fiat rubles4 for the journey to America. On Wednesday the young Johann Friesen of Rosenfeld went his wife to Molotschna to Mrs. Berg to take the cure. Yesterday the parents5 were here at Peter Reimers and brought the small children to the Makhliny. Peter Reimer was up some.

1 Franz Kroeker #6474 apparently was sick. 2 Very likely this dispute was in reference to moving to America. 3 Peter Reimer was very sick so they had to take care of themselves. 4 Due to the inflation caused by the Russian government’s spending during the Crimean War, after 1858 the paper ruble (state credit notes) was no longer redeemable for silver or gold. These paper rubles were fiat money, or money that only had value because the government guaranteed its value. It traded at a discount to silver or gold rubles. In other words, Abraham Reimer did not have to buy more expensive silver or gold rubles to pay for the journey. To establish the value, one could compare with the 250 rubles that Johann Reimer got for his farmstead the day before – thus the tickets for the trip cost about half the price of a farmstead. Alternatively, they harvested 300-350 bushels of wheat per year, and this would have been the equivalent of 65 bushels of wheat (at 10 rubles per chetvertei). 5 Cornelius Plett #6668 and Sarah Loewen #6669, parents of Peter Reimer’s wife Maria Plett. 160

15. Sat. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day +3 degrees [39° F.], partly cloudy, south wind. Yesterday our Abraham Penners of here were visiting at Toewses. We were also there for faspa. On the 13th Buller came home at noon from Kherson with the colonists and Abraham Friesens of here and Siemens. Their trip lasted 11 days, and it was necessary to delay [und haben dar als verschieb: was nötig war]. Friesen brought my wife some worthless [Prels] shoes and only 1 old[?, leitz:] calendar. 16. Sun. Morning +½ degree [33° F.], some frost, day +4 degrees [41° F.], clouds, south wind. Nearly all of here went to Blumenhof for the service. There was a brotherhood meeting about going to Molotschna to get passports,1 about selling houses, about the journey to America and how we will depart, and about Martin Klassen’s daughter.2 Fast of here and Friesen of here applied for passports on their own. December [1873], Page 136 17. Mon. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], partly cloudy, nearly calm, day +3 degrees [39° F.]. Nearly everyone from here went to Molotschna. The first left at 5 o’clock in the morning and the last at 9 o’clock in the morning with the petition letter and passports. Only Klassen, Peter Reimer, Cornelius Fast, Siemens, and I stayed home.3 18. Tues. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], northeast wind, cloudy, day −2 degrees [28° F.]. Peter Reimer is nearly well. Sunday and yesterday he came here for a little while. We bought [cloth] from the shopkeeper for clothes for me and for her. Today at 9:30 in the forenoon, I went to Rosenfeld to Penners and came back at noon. 19. Wed. Morning in Heubuden −10 degrees [10° F.], strong northeast wind, day −6 degrees [18° F.] Strong northeast wind. Yesterday the old Klaas Reimers' children, Peter, Heinrich, and Margaretha,4 were here for dinner and went to Rosenfeld for faspa. I went with them to Heubuden for the night.5 20. Thur. Morning in Heubuden −12 degrees [5° F.], clear, strong northeast wind. The old Klaas Reimer of Heubuden has been [sick] from Thursday last week, and Sunday he was poor and nearly always lies in bed. On Monday he was a little better, and today I went with them to the young Abraham Reimers for dinner. Peter went home for faspa. 21. Fri. Morning here −10 degrees [10° F.], noon −4 degrees [23° F.], late afternoon −2 degrees [28° F.], east wind, nearly clear, late evening −6 degrees [18° F.]. On Tuesday the Gru nfelder sold their land and houses to Russians for 40 rubles per desiatina [2.7 acres].

1 The Mennonites in Borosenko were still officially registered in their home villages in Molotschna, so they would have to go there to get their passports to travel abroad. 2 See 26 November 1873 and following when Martin Klassen’s daughter ran away to Scharlach. 3 It would have been risky for all the men to leave the village to go for passports in case there was an emergency. Peter Reimer was sick, Cornelius Fast had applied separately for his passport, and Gerhard Siemens had probably gotten his passport on the trip to Kherson. 4 Margaretha F. Reimer #3736 (1858-1932). The children must have brought word that their father was sick. 5 Either he took his thermometer along with him to make the morning reading, or he checked his brother Klaas’ thermometer. 161

Today I went to Peter and Johann Friesens. The old Jacob Barkman was brought here alone. 22. Sat. Morning −5 degrees [21° F.], in places −7 degrees [16° F.], day −3 degrees [25° F.], partly cloudy. Margaretha, the daughter of Peter Loewen of Sawitzki, was engaged to Isaac, the school teacher of Gru nfeld.1 Yesterday the Rosenfelder sold their village for 36 rubles 13 kopecks per desiatina [2.7 acres]. 23. Sun. Morning −4 degrees [23° F.], clouds, day −2 degrees [28° F.]. Only a few of here were in the service in Blumenhof. Today the Steinbacher all came home between 4:30 and 5:30 in the afternoon. They all submitted the petition letter to the district office [gebitsamt] and traveled with little trouble. 24. Mon. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day −1 degree [30° F.], partly cloudy, northeast wind. Peter Friesen of here's grandfather, Jacob Barkman, went home to Rosenfeld. The 2 Jewish shoemakers sewed there for 8 days, which they and many other people needed. Yesterday Johann Goossen was expelled.2 December 1873, Page 137 25. Tues. Christmas. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], day 0 degrees [32° F.], cloudy, nearly calm, afternoon east wind. The service was in Blumenhof, and there was also a service here at Kroekers. Peter Kroeker taught. My wife and I were here [in the service]. We had dinner and faspa at Johann [Reimers]. 26. Wed. Christmas. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +1 degree [34° F.], cloudy in Rosenfeld. We attended the service. Yesterday Abraham Reimers were at Johann Reimers for dinner and faspa. Yesterday after faspa Abraham Penners of Rosenfeld came to Abraham Penners for the night. 27. Thur. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day +2 degrees [36° F.], clouds, some southeast wind. Today our cow calved a female calf. Yesterday there was a brotherhood meeting in Blumenhof. Widow Esau3 was accepted. 28. Fri. Morning −1½ degrees [29° F.], day +1 degree [34° F.], cloudy, southeast wind. On Wednesday the bridal couple Abraham Isaac of Gru nfeld and Margaretha, the daughter of Peter Loewens of Sawitski, were married in Blumenhof by Toews. 29. Sat. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day −1 degree [30° F.], cloudy. Yesterday Toews again moved from Abraham Friesens back to their former house. Toewses were here. On the 27th in the afternoon, Cornelius Fasts made a secret trip [stilweg] with Peter Loewen4 of Sawitski to Kronsthal, Old Colony. Today he was engaged there.

1 Abraham P. Isaak #2679 (1852-1938) and Margaretha E. Loewen #6172 (1855-1930). 2 See 11-12 December 1873. 3 Not identified. 4 Peter Loewen #6165 (1825-1887) got engaged to Elisabeth Defehr #6549 (1823-1908). She was an aunt to Cornelius Fast’s new wife, Helena Fehr. 162

30. Sun. Morning −4 degrees [23° F.], day −2 degrees [28° F.], clouds, cloudy. There were not many in the service in Blumenhof. The bridal couple were announced today in Blumenhof. 31. Mon. Morning −5 degrees [21° F.], day −3 degrees [25° F.], completely overcast, north wind. Lemke took our female calf to Nikolaithal. Calves here sold for 3 to 4 rubles, but Lemke could get only 80 kopecks for us, so he brought it back. New Year January 1874, Page 138 1. Tues. Morning −4 degrees [23° F.], day −2 degrees [28° F.], partly cloudy, cloudy. The service was in Blumenhof. Brotherhood meeting. Johann Goossen of Blumenhof was again accepted into the congregation. Buller of here came to our congregation for the first time. 2. Wed. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day −1 degree [30° F.], cloudy, southeast wind. Fasts came back from Kronsthal, Old Colony, in the evening the day before yesterday. Lemkes bought our female calf the day before yesterday for 1 ruble. 3. Thur. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], day 0 degrees [32° F.], cloudy, east wind. Yesterday Abraham Reimers were here visiting for dinner and faspa. They brought a big overcoat and other clothes to be mended. Peter Wiebe brought 3 old overcoats to make into overcoats for his 2 sons. Today Peter Reimer and Peter Friesen went to Nikopol’. 4. Fri. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], and the same for the whole day, much south wind, very cloudy, afternoon rained, late evening rained. During the night and also morning very strong storm and snow. Peter Reimer and Peter Friesen came home from Nikopol’ at 5 o’clock in the evening and sold 1 old ______sausage at 12 kopecks per funt [0.9 pounds] and bought 10 funtov [9 pounds] of candles, 5 funtov [5 pounds] of coffee, and 4 funta [4 pounds] of rice at 8 kopecks per funt [0.9 pounds]. 5. Sat. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +1 degree [34° F.], cloudy and calm. Klaas Reimer has built himself a 2–wheel cart1 with a good leather seat. We all gathered at Siemens for the evening. Letters came instructing us here that everyone should pay the money for orphan children to the Molotschna district office.2 6. Sun. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day +2 degrees [36° F.], cloudy, east wind. I went with Peter Reimers to the service in Blumenhof. There was a brotherhood meeting. Buller

1 Klaas Reimer had probably sold his wagon, so he built a simple two-wheel cart because he still needed to travel. 2 The Borosenko residents were selling property in which people who were not emigrating (not only orphans) owned an undivided interest. These people, usually minors, would be the heirs of a spouse who had died but who had not yet received payment for their shares. If some of these heirs were not emigrating, the emigrants would be required to send the money to the district office to be managed for these persons. These funds were managed by the Orphans’ Office in each colony. 163

asked to join and no one was against [da hielt Bul: an, und war keine gegen], as did Miller Wiebe1 and Ohlag2 both of Blumenhof and Broesky3 of Gru nfeld. 7. Mon. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +3 degrees [39° F.], cloudy, nearly calm. Yesterday the old Fehrs’4 joining our congregation was discussed. No one was against. Abraham Loewen taught. We came home at 6 o’clock yesterday. The colonists came yesterday to Peter Friesens, Abraham Friesens, and Heinrich Brandts.5 8. Tues. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.]; day +4 degrees [41° F.]; cloudy; rained often in the evening, during the night, and today. Also on Sunday the colonists moved in at Klaas Brandts. All the colonists are moving in. Today David Thiessens moved away from Klaas Brandts where they had stayed for 4 weeks. They moved back into the barn. Toews went with Klaas [Reimer] to Molotschna at 9 o’clock in the forenoon. January 1874, Page 139 9. Wed. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], cloudy, somewhat rainy. Yesterday at 8 o’clock in the morning, Abraham Dycks' young daughter died at 3 years, 7 months, 10 days of age. She was very sick for 1½ days. Today Peter Reimer built her coffin. 10. Thur. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], cloudy, northeast wind. Klaas Reimer and I walked to Annafeld to Dycks' for the funeral. My wife came with Abraham Friesens in Klaas Reimer’s 2–wheel cart to the funeral. 11. Fri. Early morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +5½ degrees [44° F.]. Yesterday and today the old Penners6 of Rosenfeld had their auction. They sold horses and cattle and many things from 3 farms. Last night at Jacob Klassens, things were stolen from the great room. He broke the chest ______and stole 5 rubles and some good articles such as headscarves. 12. Sat. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], cloudy, south wind. It is reckoned that the thief apparently was a Jew because on Thursday evening he bought chickens by candle light. He was very dishonest because he paid 15 kopecks for the chickens to find out what Klassens had. He searched the rooms and chambers for about 2 hours without light. He scattered and kicked around many things. 13. Sun. Morning +½ degree [33° F.], day +2 degrees [36° F.], very cloudy, east wind. As usual the children went to the service in Blumenhof, but Klaas Reimer did not go because he was somewhat sick all day. Toews preached. There was a short brotherhood meeting.

1 Peter Wiebe #5822 and Elisabeth Toews #5755. 2 Not identified. 3 Johann V. Broeski #6874 (1839-1912). 4 Jacob Fehr #187363 and Helena Maria Fehr #183941. 5 This probably means that the buyers moved into their farms. They would have to find another place to live until they emigrated in about June. 6 Peter Penner #5491 and Elisabeth Friesen #5477. 164

Yesterday Eidse1 of Einlage, David Klassen of Heubuden, and old Klaas Reimer with his son Jacob were here for dinner and faspa. The old Abraham Friesens of Rosenfeld were also here for faspa. 14. Mon. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +3 degrees [39° F.], west wind, cloudy, snowed often. Yesterday Abraham Penner was here for dinner and faspa. Last week a letter from Mrs. Jansen from America was left here and copied.2 Saturday 5 letters in a notebook from Johann Fast3 from America were copied. 15. Tues. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.], south wind, snowed heavily and very often. Yesterday and today there was an auction in Annafeld of cattle and other things. This evening Franz Berg4 of Zagradovka5 and his district mayor [Oberschulz] were here for faspa and at Klaas Reimers for the night. I had pain in the other foot yesterday. 16. Wed. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], day +3½ degrees [40° F.], clear, nearly calm, very mild. Yesterday the auction in Annafeld continued. In the evening Peter Reimers returned from Blumenhof. They were there for 3 days.6 It snowed at Abraham Reimers. Yesterday I was at, or stopped at, Abraham Friesens for an overcoat [bej Abr Fris zu, oder bej anhalt zu pelz]. January [1874], Page 140 17. Thur. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day −1½ degrees [29° F.], cloudy, northeast wind. Abraham Penner and Dietrich Isaac were here in the afternoon. Yesterday they went with the 2–wheel cart to Kutschebe to arrange for their auction. I went with Johann Reimers to Rosenfeld to Abraham Penners to stay there for the night. 18. Fri. Morning −4 degrees [23° F.], day −2 degrees [28° F.], cloudy, north wind, some snow. Klassen of here and Toews of here came home late afternoon yesterday from Molotschna. They were traveling for 10 days, again, because of the passports. Today the young Johann Friesens of Rosenfeld came home. They were traveling for 5 weeks and 2 days. 19. Sat. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], cloudy, snowed heavily, north wind. Snowed last night. At 9 o’clock in the morning, I went with Johann Friesen of Rosenfeld from Penners to

1 Cornelius Eidse #311910 (1840-1914). He was a recently widowed son-in-law of David Klassen. 2 Helena von Riesen #3605 (1822-1897) was the wife of Cornelius Jansen, a Mennonite who had been the Prussian consul at Berdiansk. He had been expelled in 1873 by the Russian government for advocating emigration to America and had settled in Jefferson County, Nebraska, near what later became the town of Janssen. This connection was the reason that some Kleine Gemeinde members moved to Nebraska instead of to Manitoba. She was also Abraham Reimer’s cousin. 3 Johann Peter Fast #2619 (1813-1892) and Elisabeth Isaac #2618 (1811-1878). A handful of Mennonites had emigrated independently in 1872 and 1873. Mennonites were intensely interested in information about their future home, so letters from these Mennonites were passed from person to person and copied. 4 Not identified. 5 Zagradovka was a daughter colony planted by Molotschna in 1871 for its landless families and was about 50 miles southwest of Steinbach. 6 His brother Abraham and his wife’s parents, the Cornelius Pletts, lived in Blumenhof. 165

Annafeld to the old Siemens. From there I came home at 10 o’clock. I was gone 2 nights and days. Abraham [Reimer] of Blumenhof was visiting here. Abraham Penner and [Dietrich] Isaac came home in the evening. 20. Sun. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], day −1½ degrees [29° F.], cloudy, some snow often. We have a good sleigh road. A good half of the people were in the service in Blumenhof. There was a brotherhood meeting. The widower Eidse of Neuanlage was accepted into the congregation, and the old Fehrs of Kronsthal asked again to join, and Buller of here asked again. 21. Mon. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day −3 degrees [25° F.], snowed during the night, cloudy, snowed some during the day. There was an auction in Gru nfeld of horses and cattle. Livestock was sold. The cows were still somewhat expensive, selling for 25 to 45 rubles. The old Fehrs were here for a little while in the morning and went home today. They were at Fasts for 2 nights. 22. Tues. Morning −6 degrees [18° F.], day −4 degrees [23° F.], north wind. Heavy snow storm during the night. Makhlin's sod house and hog barn were nearly covered with snow. Yesterday we bought ½ manure bricks[?] from Fast for 2 rubles and from Abraham Friesen the old ____ leather for fuel for 75 kopecks. It was twice-chopped hay.[?] 23. Wed. Morning −13 degrees [3° F.], day −5 degrees [21° F.], clear, nearly calm, mild. The auction in Gru nfeld went until today and lasted 3 days. Things were uniformly [?,eingerlei] sold cheaply. On Monday Peter Reimer sold his mare in Gru nfeld for 50 rubles. Siemens of here bought 1 sleigh there for 5 rubles and Johann Reimer 1 sleigh for 2 rubles 50 kopecks. Today the Sawitzki people were here. The leases are again being terminated.1 24. Thur. Morning −8 degrees [14° F.], day −5 degrees [21° F.], clouds, west wind. On the 18th colonists with 9 children have moved in at Peter Friesens of Steinbach. Peter Friesens have moved to Klassens. Thiessens' daughter2 died at 1 year, 1 month of age. Heavy snow all day. Snow 5 – 7 inches deep on the steppe. December January 1874, Page 141 25. Fri. Morning −10 degrees [10° F.], day before yesterday in Rosenfeld −17 degrees [−6° F.], and in Heubuden −18 degrees [−8° F.] and today −16 degrees [−4° F.], today here −6 degrees [18° F.], bright, north wind, Yesterday evening Anhalt3 had a daughter born at Friesens of here. Now they have 8 daughters. From Tuesday to Wednesday, the old Reimer of Heubuden was very sick. 26. Sat. Morning −8 degrees [14° F.], snowed, cloudy, northwest wind. Yesterday Klaas Reimer’s son Peter was here for dinner. He took their Heinrich along home. I should go

1 Sometime in 1870 or 1871, some Mennonites had leased land from a Sawitzki and established a small village there. Now that they are emigrating, they have terminated those leases. 2 _____ Thiessen, not in GM (ABT 1872-1874), daughter of David F. Thiessen #6487 and Anganetha Gerbrandt #6488. 3 Not identified. Anhalt was apparently a Lutheran colonist who bought Abraham Friesens’ farm in Steinbach. 166

along. In the afternoon I went to the funeral of David Thiessen’s child. It was held at Bullers. 27. Sun. Morning −6 degrees [18° F.], day −4 degrees [23° F.], snowing all night and day. Makhlin had to climb out of the chimney, and nearly all day they had to shovel snow. They brought their cattle into Toews' barn. I was at Toewses'. Bullers were accepted into the congregation today. 28. Mon. Morning −8 degrees [14° F.], partly cloudy, clouds, day −5 degrees [21°]. The old Klaas Reimer of Heubuden was sick and nearly died on Saturday. Today he is still very sick. Today there is a big auction in Heubuden, and it should last the whole week. 29. Tues. Morning −10 degrees [10° F.], day −4 degrees [23° F.], completely clear, very calm, mild all day. Klaas Reimer took my wife to our Penners in Rosenfeld in the 2-wheel cart. At 6 o’clock in the evening, she came home. Abraham Friesen sold his horse there for 45 rubles. As did our Peter Reimer. 30. Wed. Morning −15 degrees [−2° F.], day −8 degrees [14° F.], snowed some in Heubuden with −23 degrees [−20° F.]. Thus it was 8 degrees [18° F.] colder in Heubuden. On the 21st Peter Reimer sold a mare for 30 rubles.1 31. Thur. Morning −8 degrees [14° F.]. The auction in Rosenfeld concluded. Snowed heavily all day. Peter Thiessens went to Rosenfeld. The Marienfelder even sold 13 ______. Jan February [1874], Page 142 1. Fri. Morning −6 degrees [18° F.]. The old Penner2 was here and asked whether his son’s overcoat was ready by now. Johann Reimer, Peter Buller, and Franz Kroeker of here went to Nikopol’. 2. Sat. Morning −5 degrees [21° F.]. In the afternoon I went with Jacob Klassen to Heubuden. Klaas Reimer is much better. The daughter3 of Johann Loewen4 got engaged in Blumenhof to Cornelius Eidse of Neuanlage. 3. Sun. Morning −4 degrees [23° F.], day +2 degrees [36° F.]. In the evening two committees of the colonists, since it is proper and appropriate.[?] Is for discussion for ______due to the passports ______others, namely to go with the Lutherans to the colony office.[?] 4. Mon. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.]. Abraham Penners were here overnight. At noon a committee of the colonists came, namely Joseph Anhalt. Peter Reimers moved into the summer room. Peter Buller went to Molotschna because of passports. 5. Tues. Morning −4 degrees [23° F.], day −2 degrees [28° F.], some east wind, mild, clear. Yesterday Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were visiting here for 8 days. Today I was at

1 For reasons that are not apparent, Abraham Reimer wrote several entries in italics, which is significantly more difficult to read. 2 Probably Peter Penner #5491. 3 Helena D. Loewen #6128 (1855-1886). 4 Johann Loewen #6657 (1823-1881) and Anna Dueck #6658 (1825-1887). 167

Toewses. Two colonists came who said that in only 14 days some colonists want to move into their places. 6. Wed. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day +1 degree [34° F.], cloudy, snowed some, southeast wind. Eight days ago the old Heinrich Reimers of Blumenhof were here visiting for faspa. Yesterday the young Heinrich Reimers of Blumenhof were here for a little while. 7. Thur. Early morning +1½ degrees [35° F.], day +3 degrees [39° F.], cloudy, rained heavily during the day, strong southeast wind during the night. Yesterday Thiessens came home from their trip to Molotschna. They were gone only 3 days and were also in Nikopol’. Klaas [Reimers] began to move from their house to Bullers. February [1874], Page 143 8. Fri. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.], forenoon rained often, very cloudy, southeast wind. Peter Friesens of here moved into the school, and Klassens moved hastily to Bullers of here. There was a lot of water in the lane. The garden here was completely full. The creek was full by evening. 9. Sat. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], very cloudy, still rained some, southeast wind. During the night there was much in the creek. Peter Friesens moved with everything into the school with the Fasts. The Colonist Geber1 moved into Klassens' house, and Klassens moved into Bullers' house. 10. Sun. Morning +2½ degrees [38° F.], day +4½ degrees [42° F.], clouds, mild, east wind. Abraham Friesen bought 3 puda [108 pounds] of wheat flour from the Nikolaithalers. The cost per pud [36 pounds] was 2 rubles 10 kopecks. It should last 3 weeks. Our Peter Friesen brought 4 funta [4 pounds] of raisins, 6 funtov [5 pounds] of coffee, 3 funta [3 pounds] of sugar, and ½ funta [7 ounces] of yellow plums from Nikopol’ 14 days ago. 11. Mon. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +3 degrees [39° F.], clouds, east wind. There was much water [das waß: viel etwas], but yesterday it was the highest. The ice was flowing. The water was 9 paces from the smithy. No one of here was in the service yesterday. Abraham Friesen’s son Abraham2 has been sick for 1½ weeks. 12. Tues. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], day −1½ to −2 degrees [28-29° F.], clouds, east wind. Sunday 3 Jews with 6 horses were pulled into the creek and swam through it. Today a 1½-year-old daughter3 was buried in Annafeld. Toewes’ daughter Maria4 has been sick for 8 days. Also Abraham Friesen’s Elisabeth5 was taken across the creek with a boat.6 13. Wed. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], cloudy, strong east wind, day −1½ degrees [29° F.]. Yesterday Abraham Friesens went as far as Rosenfeld. From there they wanted to go

1 Not identified. 2 Abraham R. Friesen #6526. 3 Maria Friesen #619953 (1872-1874). 4 Maria Toews #6482. 5 Not identified. 6 She was apparently very sick and was taken to a doctor, which necessitated a risky trip across the flooded creek. See 21 February 1874. 168

home to Eigengrund. She has been very ill for 6 days and has a sore throat. Today Thiessens of here crossed the creek to go to Rosenfeld. 14. Thur. Morning −3½ degrees [24° F.], day −2½ degrees [26° F.], cloudy, strong east wind. The young Heinrich Reimers of Blumenhof were visiting Thiessens. They crossed the creek at Sawitzki. It was up to ______but yesterday the water there was nearly up to the foundation. Klaas Reimer of Heubuden with his son Peter took his wife to Toewses1 in Gru nfeld. February [1874], Page 144 15. Fri. Morning −4 degrees [23° F.], day −4 degrees [23° F.], strong cold east wind, clouds. Yesterday the ice was strong enough to hold a man. Johann Reimers and Heinrich Brandts went to Heubuden, and Kroekers went to Blumenhof. The creek was 1 foot deeper than yesterday. There was a 3–day auction in Heubuden from Tuesday to Thursday. 16. Sat. Morning −7 degrees [16° F.], day −4½ degrees [22° F.], clouds, northeast wind. Yesterday at 11 o’clock in the forenoon, Klaas Reimer and the colonist Geber went to Nikopol’ and came back at 7 o’clock in the evening today. On Monday Lemke brought the manure bricks from the smithy into the front yard and dismantled the hog pen. He also split some firewood. 17. Sun. Morning −10 degrees [10° F.], bright, day −4½ degrees [22° F.], yesterday snowed often, strong north wind, very cold. All the men went to the service in Blumenhof. Last Sunday there was a brotherhood meeting there, and today again there was a brotherhood meeting again about having a collection of money for 3 Sundays for moving to America.2 18. Mon. Morning −13 degrees [3° F.], day −11 degrees [7° F.], bright, north wind, very cold. We and other people heated the stoves 3 times during the day.3 Yesterday an agent4 from America was in Heubuden. He said much, but not all of it was true. He strongly advocated emigrating to the United States. 19. Tues. Early morning −12 degrees [5° F.], clear, day −8 degrees [14° F.], north wind. This morning Buller came home from Molotschna. Yesterday he came to Heubuden. He was away 14 days. He did not accomplish much with Jacob Friesen from Nikolaithal; however, they will begin to write petitions to the district office within 3 weeks.

1 Cornelius Toews #5578. 2 These collections were probably related to helping poorer members emigrate to America. 3 The Mennonites used a traditional central stove that heated up fire bricks and clay and radiated heat throughout the day. It must have been unusual to have to fire up the stove three times in a day. 4 US railroads had just received large tracts of land for building the transcontinental and other railroads. They wanted to sell this land to raise money to pay for the costs of building the railroads and to attract settlers to their lands who would then use their railroads to ship agricultural goods to the cities in the East and buy manufactured goods shipped in by rail from the East. Therefore, they sent agents to Europe to promote their land and to offer good deals to potential immigrants. 169

20. Wed. Morning −12 degrees [5° F.], day −7 degrees [16° F.], clouds, north wind. Peter Friesen and Peter Reimer made a straw path across the creek.1 Yesterday they took big loads of sheep manure across the ice from the water mill. Today Peter Reimer and young Heinrich Reimer2 of Blumenhof were here visiting. 21. Thur. Morning −13 degrees [3° F.], in Heubuden and Blumenhof −17 degrees [−6° F.], day here −8 degrees [14° F.], clear, north wind. Abraham Friesens' daughter Elisabeth is home again.3 Her mouth and throat were nearly completely well. Thiessen of here went to Yekaterinoslav with some colonists to commit themselves [verschrieben] about the rented land, so our leases come nearly without cost.4 February 1874, Page 145 22. Fri. Morning −10 degrees [10° F.], day −6 degrees [18° F.], clear, northwest wind. Lemke and Peter Friesen went to Nikopol’. Wheat sold there for 12 rubles 60 to 80 kopecks, and rye was priced at up to 7 rubles per chetvert’ [6 bushels]. Peter Reimers went to their parents5 at noon and will help there for 3 months. Klaas Reimers’ sons Peter and Heinrich were here for faspa and took me to Heubuden. 23. Sat. Morning −8 degrees [14° F.], day −5 degrees [43° F.], clear, northwest wind. I was in Heubuden at Klaas Reimers overnight, and for faspa I was at my son Abraham Reimer. Although he is my relative, last Sunday he [brother Klaas] sent her [his wife] to Cornelius Toews in Gru nfeld with the three youngest children.6 The Heubudener have all sold everything, except that Klaas Reimer has not, but he is also offered[?] 35 rubles [per desiatina {2.7 acres}]. 24. Sun. Morning −6 degrees [18° F.], day −2 degrees [28° F.], partly cloudy, west wind. In the morning I went to Abraham Reimers in Blumenhof for breakfast. I was in the service. Abraham Loewen preached. There was a brotherhood meeting. Cornelius Toews read aloud 2 letters during the brotherhood meeting. He wants to send them to America. I was at the old Pletts7 for dinner. 25. Mon. Morning −3 degrees [25° F.], day +1 degree [34° F.], east wind, mild. It is thawing. Abraham Reimers of Blumenhof were here visiting for dinner and faspa. Abraham Penners came here in the forenoon. She [wife Margaretha R. Reimer] remained here,

1 They put straw on the ice so that it was easier to cross without slipping. 2 Heinrich Reimer #3848 and Katharina Sawatzky #3849. 3 See 12 February 1874. 4 Presumably David Thiessen went with the colonists to discuss with the landlord(s) about the new colonists assuming the leases so that the departing KG members would not have to pay the rent for the remainder of the terms. 5 The Peter Reimers had sold their farmstead, so they had no place to live. So they moved to her parents, Cornelius Plett #6668 and Sarah Loewen #6669 to help them for three months. 6 His brother Klaas Reimer had serious trouble with his second wife Maria Bartel. He sent her with the three smallest children (Klaas B. #318279, David B. #3978, and Cornelius B. #3980) to her sister Mrs. Cornelius Toews (Anna Bartel). Abraham Reimer strongly disapproves, despite the fact that he is his brother. See 9 April 1874, when Abraham Reimer records that brother Klaas had his wife and children brought home for Easter. Also, see 14 February 1874. 7 Cornelius Plett #6668. 170

and he went home in the afternoon and then went with Isaac Loewen and Heinrich Friesen to Yekaterinoslav. 26. Tues. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.], clouds, southeast wind. Thawing very much. Yesterday Abraham Loewen was here a little while. Jacob Regiers were here for 2 hours. All were of Gru nfeld. Mrs. Abraham Penner was here for the night. For faspa we were at Friesens. 27. Wed. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], still southeast wind, clouds. Everything is thawing much. At places there are holes in [the ice on] the creeks, but one could still walk across. Mrs. Penner and I were at Peter Reimers for faspa. Their Elisabeth1 is sick. 28. Thur. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], very cloudy, southeast wind, thawing much. Lemke and our Teacher Fast with his [wife] and their 5 children went to the Old Colony to their parents on Sunday at 7 o’clock in the morning. Lemke came home on Monday evening. The Penners were here for the night again. March [1874], Page 147 146 1. Fri. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], nearly calm, day +10 degrees [54° F.], mild, clear. At 7:30 in the morning, I went with Johann Reimer and Heinrich Brandt to the ______. All men of the village, except the colonists, went because we had to sign the petitions a second time. Also all the Annafelder and the Nikolaithaler. 2. Sat. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +7 degrees [48° F.], south wind, cloudy, rainy. We came home yesterday at 6:30. Yesterday afternoon 2 Hagen children who lived at Kroekers suddenly drowned in the stream, his daughter, or his stepdaughter,2 who was 6 years old, and his son who was 3 years old.3 It happened here in the creek toward Klassens. The ice at that place still supported a man. 3. Sun. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], clouds, south wind. Half of the people of here attended the service in Blumenhof. There was a brotherhood about placing money in the treasury for the poor. Letters from America were read publicly because Cornelius Janzen has written 3 letters from America last week. Last night the Rosenfelder were here visiting. Our Penners came here in the forenoon. 4. Mon. Morning −1 degree [30° F.], day +3 degrees [39° F.], partly cloudy, mild, nearly calm. Martin Barkmans came here for dinner and faspa. They crossed the creek near the dam because yesterday nearly all the ice was gone. Abraham Reimer of Heubuden and Klaas Reimer’s Heinrich were here for dinner. The old Klaas Reimer of Heubuden is somewhat better but very weak.

1 Elisabeth F. Reimer #6523 (1870-1949). 2 Not identified. Probably Lutheran children of a colonist-buyer.

171

5. Tues. Morning 0 degrees [32° F.], cloudy, southeast wind. Yesterday forenoon Buller and Jacob Friesen of Nikolaithal went with Peter Friesen of here to Molotschna to obtain passports. Yesterday at 5:30 in the evening, Hagen's children were buried. 6. Wed. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], south wind, very cloudy. All day Monday Toews helped Klaas Reimer in the smithy. All day yesterday Abraham Friesen helped the colonists to survey their land on the steppe. Fished a lot on Tuesday and Wednesday. 7. Thur. Morning +1 degrees [34° F.], south wind, cloudy, morning somewhat rainy. Yesterday afternoon rained some and at night rained a lot and snowed. At noon today Thiessens of here went to visit in Molotschna. 8. Fri. Morning −2 degrees [28° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], very cloudy, south wind. On Sunday afternoon, 3 March, the Klaas Reimers were here visiting. He is drinking in the late afternoon, and at home she cries very much and struggles [geschunft]. March 1874, Page 147 9. Sat. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +9 degrees [52° F.], very cloudy, southeast wind. On Saturday the old Mrs. Peter Harms died. She was very sick for 11 days. On Tuesday and Thursday there were brotherhood meetings in Heubuden.1 10. Sun. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +8 degrees [50° F.], cloudy, south wind. Nearly all of here were in the service in Blumenhof. There was a brotherhood meeting. The old David Klassens with their children were in the service. Peter Enns spoke. 11. Mon. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +3 degrees [39° F.], very cloudy, south wind, rained often from the forenoon until evening. Abraham Reimers were here for dinner and at Abraham Friesens for faspa. In Heubuden some began to plow. They will plow in Blumenhof. 12. Tues. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +4 degrees [41° F.], very cloudy, rained heavily during the night, rained heavily today, south wind. Abraham Penners of Rosenfeld moved into Rempels’ shed or barn because last Friday Peter Rempels moved to Molotschna. 13. Wed. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day, very cloudy, rained often, southeast wind. The annual market took place in Konstantius. The old Klaas Reimer’s Peter and the young Abraham Reimer of Heubuden were here for dinner, and for faspa they were at Klaas Reimers. Geber and Falts went to Kherson for money. 14. Thur. Morning +2½ degrees [38° F.], day +5 degrees [43° F.], very cloudy, east wind, very muddy. Much plowing was done in the villages, and the colonists repaired the dam. Today was here for dinner and faspa [sic]. 15. Fri. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +6 degrees [46° F.], very cloudy, east wind. The colonists prepared to do a good deal of plowing.2 The old Abraham Friesens of here

1 Since the brotherhood meetings were in Heubuden and since the Blumenhof members were there, it must have been a joint meeting of both KG congregations. 2 Abraham Reimer was so attuned to agricultural events that he recorded what went on, even when it was not he or his neighbors doing the farming. He was also watching newcomers farm what had just been his land. 172

were at [the young] Abraham Friesens for dinner and at Peter Reimers for faspa. He himself was here and brought the 3 letters that Janzen had written from America and read all of them for us. 16. Sat. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +9 degrees [52° F.], very cloudy, snowed some, northeast wind. Two colonists began to plow. Johann Reimer helped Geber plow, and Toews sowed there. Since yesterday he has stopped working in the smithy. Today at 11 o’clock in the evening, the Anhalts’ small child died after being very sick for 25 hours. March [1874], Page 148 17. Sun. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.]. At 7 o’clock in the morning, it started to snow and snowed so heavily until noon that there was a sleigh road. Day +4 degrees [41° F.], east wind. I went with Klaas Reimer on his 2–wheel cart to the service in the school in Rosenfeld. Toews taught. Peter Enns of Rosenfeld was accepted. 18. Mon. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], snowed heavily from morning until afternoon, day +5 degrees [43° F.], southeast wind. Strong wind, 1½ inches of snow, like yesterday. But yesterday afternoon there was sunshine, and by evening the snow was gone. Late afternoon the Anhalts buried their daughter. She was 7 weeks old. Some plowing today. Abraham Friesen of here was very sick during the night and today. 19. Tues. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], very cloudy, rained very heavily, south wind. Only a little plowing. Abraham Friesen is somewhat better. He submitted to Schnelen[?] and a Pranck[?]. The colonists came home from Kherson and had forgotten their papers. During the night they went again as far as Nikopol’. At 9:30 in the evening, my wife was taken to Toewses. At 11 o’clock at night, a son Abraham1 was born. 20. Wed. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day 10 o’clock +9 degrees [52° F.], cloudy, southeast wind. Yesterday at 8 o’clock in the evening, Peter Friesen came home from Molotschna. He was away 16 days. He left Waldheim last Friday and walked more than half the way. A Russian took him the rest of the way. Much mud everywhere in Molotschna. 21. Thur. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], east wind, clear. The colonists are plowing a lot here. Abraham Friesen is completely well again. Was at Toewses by the river ____.[?]My wife was at Toewses again today and took care of her and the child. She was gradually getting a little better.[?] The child is peaceful. Day +9 degrees [52° F.]. 22. Fri. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], clouds. Yesterday Abraham Penners of Rosenfeld and we were at Peter Toews. Penners stayed overnight at Johann Reimers. Today they were here for dinner and faspa. Johann Reimer took Penners home after faspa with Klaas Reimer's 2–wheeled cart. Esau of Rosenfeld was also here for dinner. We had fish frequently this week. 23. Sat. Morning +1½ degrees [35° F.], day +9 degrees [52° F.], southeast wind, clouds. Towards evening David Thiessens came home from Molotschna. They had been away 17 days. This evening Abraham Dycks of Annafeld and the young Dietrich Isaacs of

1 Abraham R. Toews #6484 (1874-1966). 173

Rosenfeld came home from Molotschna. They were gone 5 weeks and 3 days. He said that in Molotschna they started plowing on Thursday, 21 March. ______the post ______2 _____ near ______in a month. March 1874, Page 149 24. Sun. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], clouds, east wind. Peter Reimers, Abraham Friesen, Klaas Reimer, Heinrich Brandt, and Johann Reimer all went to the service in Blumenhof and from there to Nikopol’ to the annual market. After the service a letter from Minister Berg of Crimea was read. 25. Mon. Morning +1½ degrees [35° F.], hoarfrost, south wind. Klaas Reimer and Abraham Friesen came home at 8 o’clock from Nikopol’. They brought us 12 different goods for 8 rubles 70 kopecks. Abraham Dycks of Annafeld were visiting here for faspa. Klassens of here received a son at 8 o’clock in the morning.1 26. Tues. Morning +½ degree [33° F.], hoarfrost, south wind, clouds. Abraham Reimers were here for dinner and for faspa. We were with Abraham Reimers at Toewses. She is getting better every day. The colonists, Geber and Falts, came home from Kherson at 10 o’clock in the forenoon. Bernhard Rempel of Lichtfelde sent a letter on Saturday. 27. Wed. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], hoarfrost, east wind. I went with Peter Friesen and Klaas Reimer in the 2–wheeled cart and horse to Heubuden. For dinner I was at the old Klaas Reimers. He was somewhat better. He was up about half the time. Mild, day +13 degrees [61° F.]. For faspa I was at the old David Klassens. 28. Thur. Morning +1½ degrees [35° F.], some hoarfrost, cloudy, afternoon rained some in some places, southeast wind, day +15 degrees [66° F.]. On Monday the cows were driven out to the fields. Today the Steinboecks2 moved to Johann Reimers. It is said buyers for the entire village were in Blumenhof last week. 29. Fri. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], clouds, south wind, often southeast wind. Rained only at noon, so the dust was half-moistened. Only Klaas Reimer, Johann Reimer, and Siemens went to Blumenhof.3 Some from Heubuden were there too, such as David Klassen and his family and Heinrich Friesen, the son of small Friesen. 30. Sat. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.], south wind, clouds. My wife has been very weak and sickly since Thursday. Mrs. Peter Toews is gradually improving. She can walk across the room and sits by the stove. 31. Sun. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], but in some places up to +20 degrees [77° F.], nearly calm, very mild. In the morning I walked to the service in Rosenfeld. My wife went with Klaas Reimers to the service in the 2–wheel cart. Abraham Loewen taught. We were all at our Penners for dinner and faspa. In the evening I walked back with Peter Friesen in 1 hour.

1 Gerhard J. Classen #318686 (1874-1958). 2 Not identified. 3 Good Friday service in Blumenhof. 174

April 1874, Page 150 1. Mon. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +11 degrees [57° F.], cloudy, afternoon rained, southeast wind. The children went to the service in Blumenhof, and also the Kroekers and Thiessens.1 Cold, rained some. It is fertile because the wheat has come up in very many places, and the Wolferleu and other flowers are blooming. In the garden much has been planted and dug. 2. Tues. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], day +14 degrees [64° F.], forenoon rained some, afternoon clouds, fairly mild. In the afternoon Klaas Reimer had his sons ______get Abraham Penner from Rosenfeld with his 2–wheel cart to visit here. They stayed at Johann Reimers overnight. Klaas Reimer got a Lutheran doctor from Felsenbach, who stayed here for faspa, to go to Constantiushof. He came home at 8:30. 3. Wed. Morning +5 degrees [43° F.], day +15 degrees [66° F.], clouds, south wind. Our Penners were here for dinner, and for faspa they and I were at Toewses. In the evening Abraham, the son of Klaas Reimers, came home in a covered wagon. The colonists here had a festival. Only yesterday the medics took 1 book until they will come back from Odessa.[?] 4. Thur. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +17 degrees [70° F.], clouds, south wind. Mrs. Toews is gradually getting better. She was up half the time. The colonists came back from Kherson last Saturday. The money was there after it was sent to Sta neh[?], and Monday the 1st the colonists got it. On 2 April the colonists here paid in all 10,000 rubles. 5. Fri. Morning +6 degrees [46° F.], day +16 degrees [68° F.], clouds, often south wind. Peter Buller of here and Jacob Friesen of Nikolaithal came home from Fu rstenland. They were gone 4 weeks and 5 days. They had been in Simferopol’ to see the governor and in Crimea at Cornelius Ennses, who should deliver the passports, but it could take 4 weeks or 2 months or maybe even longer.2 April 1874, Page 151 6. Sat. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], day +11 degrees [57° F.], clouds, west wind, cold. We were all in the school and also 4 from Annafeld. We were there together nearly until evening to certify the debt verification or cancel [Sonderungen] it. The first step, the certification, is to be done by our colony administrators [Schulzen], and the next day the next step [cancellation] by the districts [volosti].3

1 Easter Monday service. 2 Buller and Friesen traveled to Simferopol’, the administrative center of Tavricheskaia Guberniia [province], to work at getting their passports to leave Russia. Even though the KG lived in Yekaterinoslavskaia Guberniia, they were still officially registered in Molotschna Colony, which was part of Tavricheskaia Guberniia, so they had to travel there to obtain passports. Cornelius Enns was a leader of the Krimmer Mennonite Brethren, a group that had its origin in the KG. The fact that he was working on their passports shows that close relations continued between the KG and KMB, even at this date. Fu rstenland was a daughter colony of Khortitsa, located about 45 miles south of Borosenko; so it was a natural place for Buller and Friesen to stop on their journey. 3 The KG apparently had debts that they owed, perhaps owed to the government or to the landlords of their colony, which had to be taken care of before they would be able to emigrate. 175

7. Sun. Morning +2 degrees [36° F.], day +10 degrees [54° F.], west wind. Only a few were in the service in Blumenhof. Klaas Reimer and Abraham Friesen went to Nikolaihof to the district office for certifying the debt. Late afternoon snowed some and hailed. One night last week we had some thunderstorms. 8. Mon. Morning +3 degrees [39° F.], clouds, day +8 degrees [50° F.], northwest wind. Hailed so much after faspa that the ground was white. Martin Barkmans came here just for dinner and faspa, and for night they went to Abraham Friesens, but Abraham Friesens had gone with Toewses to Warnshof to Stanwai for the certification in the school. 9. Tues. Morning +4 degrees [41° F.], cloudy, south wind. In the forenoon Barkmans went to Abraham Reimers in Blumenhof. For night they went to Klaas Reimers in Heubuden. Klaas Reimer had his wife and children come home with Heinrich and Jacob from Gru nfeld for Easter, 29 March.1 Friesens came home in the afternoon. Barkmans went home for faspa. 10. Wed. Morning +1 degree [34° F.], day +12 degrees [59° F.], south wind. The frogs began to croak last week. Mrs. Abraham Reimer has been very sick from Monday to Tuesday. Since Easter my wife has also been so very sick that frequently she could not be up during the day. This week she still has a very sore throat, so we are frequently distressed.

Steve Fast Revised 12 November 2018 Hillsboro, Kansas [email protected]

1 See 23 February 1874. Persons Mentioned in Diary of Abraham F. Reimer #3945 (1808-1892)

First Hus Last Hus GM Hus First Wife Last Wife GM Wife Village Colony Diary Page Comments 1 Joseph Anhalt 141 2 Jacob Barkman 5722 Elisabeth Braun 5721 Waldheim Molotschna 31 3 Jacob Barkman 6788 Katharina Thiessen 6789 Friedensfeld 8 minister 4 Jacob Jacob Barkman 6424 Anna Loewen 126877 Waldheim Molotschna 1 5 Johann Barkman 317873 Katharina Bergmann 7123 59 6 Julius Barkman 7081 Katharina Wiens 756867 Rückenau Molotschna 90 7 Martin Barkman 3982 Margaretha Reimer 3948 Friedensfeld 5 8 Mrs. Barkman Alexanderwohl Molotschna 105 9 Peter Barkman 5759 Anna Toews 5750 Rosenfeld 12 10 Heinrich Bartel 327924 Gertrude Warkentin 60938 Borosenko 85 11 Cornelius Berg 181876 Katharina Reimer 181877 Ebenfeld 119 possibly 12 Deacon Berg Hochfeld 57 13 Franz Berg Zagradovka 139 14 Peter Berg 6341 Susanna Neumann 6327 Crimea 20 preacher from Crimea 15 Michael Block 86 from Prussia, hired by Klaas Reimer 16 Block 123 1107716 17 daughter Brandt Steinbach 100 743442 18 Heinrich Brandt 5931 Anna Warkentin 319373 Steinbach 2 19 Heinrich Brandt 5931 Katharina Warkentin 5933 Steinbach 113 2nd wife 20 Heinrich Brandt 860448 Steinbach 86 21 Heinrich W. Brandt 6503 109 22 Klaas Brandt 5937 Margaretha Friesen 3897 Steinbach 3 23 Klaas Brandt 6498 Steinbach 109 24 Klaas Brandt 860447 Steinbach 88 25 Maria Brandt 324623 Steinbach 108 26 Peter Brandt 4081 Katharina Thiessen 4080 28 27 Johann V. Broesky 6874 Grünfeld 138 probably, there is a 2nd Jacob Buller in the 1863 grain 28 Jacob Buller 32903 Maria Schmidt 32968 Alexanderwohl Molotschna 8 lists, but I couldn't identify him in GM 29 Peter Buller 6532 Anna Wiens 6533 Rosenfeld 61 second wife 30 Gerhard S. Cornelsen 5532 Cornelia Warkentin 5555 Lichtenau Molotschna 82 31 David Johann Cornies 44184 Susanna Berg 682938 Ohrloff Molotschna 127 32 Abraham Dyck 5858 Elisabeth Rempel 5857 Annafeld 8 wife's niece 1107718 33 Heinrich Dyck Annafeld 115/2 1383937 34 Jacob Dyck 5856 Maria Rempel 5855 Gnadenthal Molotschna 22 35 Johann Dyck 5929 Anna Thielmann 6896 Alexanderkrone Molotschna 122 36 Peter Dyck 3819 Margaretha Friesen 3818 Blumenhof? 95 or maybe from Heubuden 37 Cornelius Eidse 311910 Helena D. Loewen 6128 Neuanlage 139 38 Cornelius Enns 193559 Katharina Klassen 6118 Crimea 6 39 Peter Enns Kutschebe 94 earlier Berdiansk 40 Johann Esau 6442 Margaretha Rempel 6443 Rosenfeld 112 probably, but might also be Heinrich Esau #4382 41 Widow Esau 137 probably Pfalz 42 Falts 147 found earlier also 43 Bernhard Peter Fast 2612 Katharina ? 18849 Nikolaithal 111 moved to Sagradovka by 1874 44 Cornelius Fast 6506 Helena Born 6508 Steinbach 60 school teacher 45 Cornelius Fast 6506 Helena Fehr 6507 Steinbach 121 2nd wife First Hus Last Hus GM Hus First Wife Last Wife GM Wife Village Colony Diary Page Comments 1107715 46 Isaac Fast Steinbach 96 1394015 47 Johann Peter Fast 2619 Elisabeth Isaac 2618 America 139 48 Minister Fast 92 49 Peter Fast 2613 Aganetha Barkman 2614 Rückenau Molotschna 90 50 Jacob Fehr 187363 Helena Maria Fehr 183941 Kronsthal Khortitsa 123 51 Jacob Fehr 187365 Maria Wiens 187362 Khortitsa 133 Neu-Marienthal/ 52 Abraham Friesen 3638 Anna Dueck 3639 25 elder of Heubuden KG group Heuboden 53 Abraham Friesen 3669 Katharina Isaac 3671 28 54 Abraham Friesen 3751 Helena Siemens 3759 Rosenfeld 1 cousin 55 Abraham Friesen 3767 Katharina R. Reimer 3768 Rosenfeld 1 daughter, Feb 1872 moved to Steinbach 56 Abraham R. Friesen 6526 Steinbach 116/2 grandson 57 Abraham T. H. Friesen 3828 Cornelia Harms 3829 85 son of Jacob Friesen 58 Cornelius Friesen 5465 Maria Rempel 5474 Annafeld 6 she is wife's cousin 59 Dietrich Friesen 4030 Katharina Friesen 4031 Rosenfeld 1 cousin once removed 60 Elisabeth Friesen 6542 Steinbach 81 61 Elisabeth Friesen 143 62 Heinrich Friesen 3672 Helena Friesen 3640 Rosenfeld 5 63 Isaac Friesen Bainitzke? 103 64 Jacob Friesen 3756 Margaretha Loewen 3830 Heubuden 113 "big", probably earlier as well 65 Jacob Friesen 3992 Katharina Schierling 4029 Marienthal? Molotschna 3 cousin 66 Jacob L. Friesen 3643 Elisabeth Friesen 3644 Nikolaithal 4 67 Jacob S. Friesen 4032 Margaretha T. Giesbrecht 4033 Heubuden 54 the younger 68 Johann Friesen Nikolaithal 81 69 Johann Friesen 2608 Elisabeth Klassen 3774 Rosenfeld 5 3rd wife 70 Johann Friesen 2608 Anna Isaac 2606 Rosenfeld 36 4th wife 71 Johann Friesen Rudernerweide Molotschna 34 the younger 72 Johann R. Friesen 6529 Steinbach 127 grandson 73 Johann S. Friesen 3772 Helena Siemens 3773 Rosenfeld 18 74 Johann T. Friesen 3826 Anna Warkentin 3827 28 possibly 75 Klaas Friesen 1756 Margaretha Braun 3802 Marienthal Molotschna 29 76 Klaas Friesen 5473 Maria Defehr 5487 Annafeld 16 77 Klaas R. Friesen 6527 Rosenfeld 20 grandson 78 Maria Friesen 619953 Annafeld 143 79 Martin Friesen 317355 Maria Fast 3831 Molotschna 20 80 Peter Friesen 3674 Elisabeth Barkman 3675 Steinbach 1 81 Peter Friesen 3753 Regina Konrad 57307 Marienthal Molotschna 34 cousin, Rudnerweide for a while 82 Peter Friesen 317211 Helena Reimer 3706 Tiege Molotschna 2 sister 83 Peter Friesen 317211 Elisabeth Fast 18810 Neu-Marienthal Molotschna 25 84 Peter Friesen Neu-Einlage 70 the younger, village aka Mariafeld 85 Peter R. Friesen 6528 Rosenfeld 55 grandson 86 Friesen Crimea 80 87 Dr. Füthaf Nikopol' 69 88 Geber 143 89 Gernser 46 90 Jacob Goertzen 275120 Maria Willms 275123 Fürstenwerder Molotschna 64 91 Goertzen 73 I think they were in the diary earlier but I couldn't 92 Cornelius Goossen 5341 Katharina Friesen 5423 Annafeld 23 decipher the name 93 Gerhard Goossen 5339 Anna Klassen 5347 Grünfeld 73 94 Johann Goossen Blumenhof 133 95 Goossen Friedensfeld 33 96 Hagen 146 First Hus Last Hus GM Hus First Wife Last Wife GM Wife Village Colony Diary Page Comments 97 Isaac Harder 6409 Margaretha 5443 Borosenko 18 98 Cornelius Harms 50343 Steinbach 87 99 Gerhard Harms 6770 Maria Braun 6771 122 100 Isaac Harms 3890 Anna Sawatzky 3859 Heubuden 103 101 Katharina Harms Borosenko 123 102 Margaretha Harms 50344 Steinbach 87 103 Mrs. Harms 61 104 Peter Harms 3904 Anna Friesen 3905 Borosenko 90 younger 105 Peter Harms 5267 Cornelia Warkentin 5555 Steinbach? 7 miller 106 Harms Borosenko 4 "old Harms" 107 Harms Schlit 18 There seems to have been one family of Heidebrechts 108 Peter Heidebrecht 284526 Katharina Reimer 3725 Blumenhof 9 in the KG Peter Heidebrecht #45501, he was the only son who was married in 1870 109 Mrs. Heninge 127 110 Abraham P. Isaac 2679 Margaretha E. Loewen 6172 Sawitzki 136 111 Diedrich Isaac 63976 Anna Penner 56106 Rosenfeld 8 112 Diedrich P. Isaac 5862 Katharina Rempel 5861 Borosenko 73 113 Peter Isaac 49934 Helena Friesen 3711 Marienthal Molotschna 53 of Rosenfeld p. 80 114 Martin Janke 8 nobleman, not Mennonite 115 Aganetha Janzen 6469 Steinbach 57 116 Cornelius Janzen 3612 Helena von Riesen 3605 Nebraska 139 117 Cornelius Janzen 6468 Aganetha Klassen 6465 7 118 Martin Janzen Borosenko 100 Either Dietrich Janzen #608990 or Peter Janzen 119 Janzen Kleefeld Molotschna 123 #39711 120 Heinrich Kasdorf 53 121 Heinrich Kasper 61855 Muntau Molotschna 80 probably, based on 1863 grain lists 122 Abraham Klassen 6891 Helena Martens 6892 Prangenau Molotschna 71 minister 123 Abraham Klassen 100575 Steinbach 15 124 David Klassen 6718 Aganetha Brandt 6719 Heubuden 29 125 Elisabeth Klassen 5608 Annafeld 133 126 Gerhard J. Klassen 318686 Steinbach 149 127 Jacob Klassen 6390 Katharina Janzen 6389 Steinbach 14 128 Martin Klassen 5605 Margaretha Toews 5751 Annafeld 9 probably 129 Peter Klassen 6720 111 probably 130 Sara J. Klassen 100576 75 131 Johann Koop 6628 Katharina Barkman 6629 Marienthal Molotschna 46 later Neuanlage, Borosenko 132 Franz Kroeker 6474 Margaretha Plett 6475 Steinbach 60 moved from Kleefeld, Molotschna, Feb 1872 133 Jacob Kroeker 6726 Maria Klassen 6727 Heubuden 57 became elder in Canada 134 Peter Kroeker 6713 Margaretha Braun 6714 Heubuden 93 deacon, minister 135 Anna Lemke Steinbach 115 136 Lemke Steinbach 60 137 Abraham Loewen 6572 Susanna Ratzlaff 3850 Blumenhof 57 138 Cornelius Loewen 6563 Helena Bartel 6564 Grünfeld 103 139 David Loewen 5967 Anna Reimer 5925 Hochfeld 80 140 Dr. Loewen Blumenfeld 17 doctor 141 Isaac Loewen 6391 Elisabeth Janzen 6392 Heubuden? 125 142 Isaac E. Loewen 3869 Helena K. Sawatzky 3868 Steinbach Borosenko 50 1st wife 143 Isaac E. Loewen 3869 Katharina S. Friesen 6168 Steinbach 134 2nd wife 144 Isaak Loewen 265412 Margaretha Wiens 47030 Heubuden 113 145 Johann Loewen 6657 Anna Dueck 6658 Blumenhof 142 First Hus Last Hus GM Hus First Wife Last Wife GM Wife Village Colony Diary Page Comments 146 Peter Loewen 6165 Katharina Devehr 6547 Hochstadt? 36 lived at Sawitzki on p. 119 147 Peter Loewen 6165 Elisabeth Defehr 6549 Sawitzki 137 2nd wife 148 Loewen Rosenfeld 77 149 Peter Makhlin ? ? 54 son of Machlin 150 son Makhlin Steinbach 42 shepherd, probably Ukrainian+J36 151 daughter Makhlina Steinbach 112 152 Franz Neustaedter 413847 Kutschebe 126 probably 153 Ochlag Blumenhof 138 maybe Ochlag? 154 Abraham Penner 3970 Margaretha R. Reimer 3969 Rosenfeld 1 daughter 155 Cornelius Penner 6419 Anganetha Dyck 6420 Rosenfeld 134 156 Elisabeth Penner 6412 Rosenfeld 15 granddaughter 157 Klaas Penner 88 158 Margaretha Penner 6413 Rosenfeld 68 granddaughter 159 Peter Penner 5491 Elisabeth Harder 410404 Rosenfeld 1 160 Peter Penner 5491 Elisabeth Friesen 5477 Rosenfeld 26 161 Penner Ebenfeld 2 162 Cornelius Plett 6668 Sarah Loewen 6669 Kleefeld Molotschna 47 163 Cornelius L. Plett 3727 Helena Rempel 6445 Borosenko 99 2nd wife 164 Isaac Plett 5936 Maria Brandt 5935 Friedensfeld 39 also Neuanlage 165 Johann Quiring 111656 Anna Toews 236911 Kleefeld Molotschna 108 166 Heinrich Ratzlaff 4330 Anna Harms 322467 Heubuden 29 167 Jacob Regier 5640 Anna Toews 5577 Grünfeld 18 168 Abraham Reimer 3721 Anna Eidse 3722 Heuboden 5 169 Abraham Reimer 3852 Maria Reimer 3851 Blumenhof 1 son 170 Abraham Reimer 3945 Elisabeth Rempel 3955 Steinbach 1 171 Abraham Reimer 6494 Steinbach 116/2 grandson 172 Abraham Reimer 13727 Abraham Reimer Steinbach 15 grandson 173 Abraham Reimer 513459 Aganetha Graewe 95066 Blumenfeld Sagradovka 5 174 Abraham Reimer Einlage 70 the younger 175 Abraham W. Reimer 6516 Steinbach 85 grandson 176 Cornelius Reimer 6519 Steinbach 48 grandson 177 Cornelius B. Reimer 3980 Heubuden 121 nephew 178 David B. Reimer 3978 Heubuden 145 nephew 179 Dietrich Reimer Neuendorf Khortitsa 119 180 Elisabeth Reimer 6493 Steinbach 38 181 Elisabeth F. Reimer 6523 145 182 Elisabeth W. Reimer 5789 Steinbach? 40 granddaughter 183 Heinrich Reimer 3845 Margaretha Warkentin 5943 Blumenhof 49 184 Heinrich Reimer 3848 Katharina Sawatzky 3849 Blumenhof 15 younger 185 Heinrich Aron Reimer 5913 Helena Loewen 46041 Muntau? Molotschna 8 "old," moved to Blumenhof, Borosenko 186 Heinrich F. Reimer 317342 54 187 Jacob Reimer 317338 98 nephew 188 Johann Reimer 3966 Anna Warkentin 3099 Steinbach 1 son 189 Johann R. Reimer 6697 Blumenhof 78 grandson 190 Johann W. Reimer 6518 Steinbach 1 grandson 191 Katharina W. Reimer 5765 Steinbach 108 granddaughter 192 Klaas Reimer 3956 Katharina Willms 3957 Steinbach 1 son 193 Klaas F. Reimer 3719 Maria Bartel 308088 Tiege Molotschna 7 brother 194 Klaas W. Reimer 4153 Steinbach 112 grandson 195 Klaas B. Reimer 318279 Heubuden 145 nephew 196 Margaretha F. Reimer 3736 Heubuden 136 niece 197 Maria F. Reimer 251946 Steinbach 106 granddaughter 198 Peter Reimer 3724 Tiege 9 nephew, later Heubuden 199 Peter Reimer 3771 Elisabeth Friesen 3770 Rosenfeld 1 son, moved to Steinbach First Hus Last Hus GM Hus First Wife Last Wife GM Wife Village Colony Diary Page Comments 200 Peter Reimer 3771 Maria Plett 3965 Rosenfeld 115 2nd wife 201 Peter R. Reimer 6171 Blumenhof 15 grandson 202 Abraham Bernhard Rempel 6444 Maria Hamm 5445 99 203 Bernhard Rempel 5851 Lichtfelde Molotschna 126 later Kutschebe 204 Gerhard Rempel 5849 Elisabeth Friesen 3673 Mariawohl Molotschna 6 wife's brother, she is his 1st cousin once removed 205 Gerhard Gerhard Rempel 3677 Katharina Friesen 3676 Rosenfeld 68 206 Heinrich Rempel 5871 8 207 Johann Rempel 1072960 Rosenort 79 208 Johann Rempel 3808 Helena Friesen 3807 105 209 Martin Rempel 6446 Katharina Koop 6447 Margenau Molotschna 120 210 Peter Rempel 5847 Elisabeth Reimer 5853 Paulsheim Molotschna 34 211 Peter Rempel 5859 Gertrude Bergmann 126878 Paulsheim Molotschna 19 212 Abraham Sawatzky 3785 Katharina Kroeker 285853 52 213 Gerhard Schellenberg 6328 Elisabeth Warkentin 6338 51 probably 214 Elisabeth Siemens 1006648 Annafeld 25 215 Gerhard Klaas Siemens 6461 Gertrude Thiessen 6462 Steinbach 11 216 Gerhard T. Siemens 6463 Anna Plett 6467 Steinbach 6 217 Gerhard T. Siemens 6463 Aganetha Klassen 6465 Steinbach 114 218 Mrs. Siemens Steinbach 17 219 Steinboeck Steinbach 149 colonist buyers 220 David F. Thiessen 6487 Aganetha Gerbrandt 6488 Steinbach 19 miller 221 Johann Thiessen Molotschna 19 222 Mrs. Cornelius Thiessen Rosenthal? Khortitsa 76 midwife, widow 223 Peter Thiessen 3656 Margaretha Friesen 3630 Neuanlage 98 224 Thiessen Molotschna 19 225 Tilmon 83 226 Abraham R. Toews 6484 Steinbach 148 227 Anna R. Toews 6480 Steinbach 69 228 Cornelius Toews 5578 Anna Bartel 5655 Grünfeld 24 KG delegate to North America 229 Cornelius Toews 236909 Sarah Neufeld 95352 69 the younger 1107717 230 daughter Toews 114 1384694 231 Jacob Toews 5567 Anna Wiebe 5749 Blumenhof 1 232 Johann Toews 5562 Maria Plett 5572 Blumenhof 49 233 Johann Toews 236913 Aganetha Janzen 236738 Kleefeld Molotschna 66 234 Johann Toews 3761 Anna Warkentin 5618 Grünfeld 5 235 Johann F. Toews 5615 47 236 Katharina Toews 6481 24 granddaughter 237 Maria Toews 6482 115 granddaughter 238 Peter Toews 3964 Elisabeth Reimer 3963 Steinbach 1 daughter 239 Peter Toews 5752 Aganetha Barkman 5778 Borosenko 93 older 240 Peter P. Toews 5580 Anna Warkentin 5673 Blumenhof 20 elder of Rosenfeld/Manitoba KG 241 Peter R. Toews 6483 55 grandson 242 Lorenz Tschetter 823 Anna Hofer 599 Huttersthal 98 243 Paul Tschetter 1241 Maria Walter 23527 Huttersthal 98 244 David Unger 6589 Maria Warkentin 6590 Rosenfeld 27 245 Unrau 63 246 Dietrich Walde 54631 Katharina Friesen 54632 Rudernerweide Molotschna 65 247 Gerhard Warkentin 6110 Anna T. Enns 5740 Fischau Molotschna 70 248 Isaac Warkentin 5298 Katharina Penner 5299 Hochfeld 76 well-known doctor 249 Johann Warkentin 6359 Anna Loewen 6360 Hochfeld 45 probably 250 Martin Warkentin 6747 Anna Dueck 4341 Blumenhof 29 251 Cornelius Wiebe 6613 Grünfeld 76 First Hus Last Hus GM Hus First Wife Last Wife GM Wife Village Colony Diary Page Comments 252 Duerck Heinrich Wiebe 46869 Katharina Lichtfelde Molotschna 127 253 Heinrich F. Wiebe 5780 Anna Toews 5779 Rosenfeld 47 254 Jacob Wiebe 6604 Anna Isaac 2673 Annafeld 76 255 Jacob Wiebe 13273 Justina Friesen 27780 Crimea 6 256 Peter Wiebe 5822 Elisabeth Toews 5755 Blumenhof 110 miller 257 Franz Wiens 6396 Elisabeth Neumann 6397 Rosenfeld 56 258 Heinrich Wiens 57 259 Jacob Wiens Bainitzke? 36 260 Peter Wiens 3 261 Gerhard Willems 5884 Katharina Rempel Crimea 8 wife's sister 262 Jacob Worms 236917 Elisabeth Penner 236891 Kleefeld Molotschna 69 263 Wilem Borosenko 113 Jewish shoemaker

In this table I have attempted to list and to identify all the persons named or implied in the diary of Abraham F. Reimer, written 1870-1874. A few identifications may be somewhat speculative, although most are quite certain. I have named both husband and wife, even if one was not mentioned in the diary, as long as the couple was married at the time of the diary, or had been previously married to each other.

"GM" refers to the reference number in the Grandma database of Low German Mennonite genealogy. See the database at grandmaonline.org for more information on each person and to subscribe to it.

People moved between villages, so the villages named should not be taken as the definitive location that a person lived for the entire time covered by the diary. New people were also moving to Borosenko Colony until late in 1872.

Diary Page refers to the first time that the person is mentioned in the diary.

Source: Abraham F. Reimer (1808-1892) diary, Steinbach, Borosenko Colony, South Russia, 1870-1874, Mennonite Heritage Centre Archive, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Kleine Gemeinde collection, vol. 5907, item 4.

Questions or corrections regarding identifications should be directed to the e-mail below.

Steve Fast 2 November 2018 Hillsboro, Kansas Vital Events Mentioned in Diary of Abraham F. Reimer #3945 (1808-1892)

Date Event Father/Husband Mother/Bride Child Decedent Location 2 Jan 1870 Birth Klaas Reimer Katharina Willms Johann Steinbach, Borosenko 18 Jan 1870 Death Peter Friesen Helena Reimer Tiege, Molotschna 23 Jan 1870 Burial Peter Friesen Helena Reimer Tiege, Molotschna 4 May 1870 Engagement Diedrich Friesen Katharina Friesen Annafeld, Borosenko 12 May 1870 Marriage Diedrich Friesen Katharina Friesen Annafeld, Borosenko 19 July 1870 Death Peter Johann Harms Steinbach, Borosenko 21 July 1870 Burial Peter Johann Harms Steinbach, Borosenko 1 Aug 1870 Death Jacob Klassen Katharina Janzen Abraham Klassen Steinbach, Borosenko 3 Aug 1870 Burial Jacob Klassen Katharina Janzen Abraham Klassen Steinbach, Borosenko 11 Aug 1870 Birth Johann Reimer Anna Warkentin Abraham Steinbach, Borosenko 13 Aug 1870 Birth Abraham Penner Katharina Reimer Elisabeth Rosenfeld, Borosenko 15 Aug 1870 Birth Abraham Reimer Maria Reimer Peter R. Blumenhof, Borosenko 25 Aug 1870 Death Johann Reimer Anna Warkentin Abraham Reimer Steinbach, Borosenko 26 Aug 1870 Burial Johann Reimer Anna Warkentin Abraham Reimer Steinbach, Borosenko 13 Sept 1870 Death Mrs. Siemens Steinbach, Borosenko 15 Sept 1870 Burial Mrs. Siemens Steinbach, Borosenko 26 Sept 1870 Death Isaac Harder Borosenko Colony 28 Sept 1870 Burial Isaac Harder Borosenko Colony 23 Oct 1870 Birth Abraham Friesen Katharina R. Reimer Klaas R. Rosenfeld, Borosenko 9 Dec 1870 Death Cornelius Goossen Katharina Friesen Annafeld, Borosenko 11 Dec 1870 Burial Cornelius Goossen Katharina Friesen Annafeld, Borosenko 24 Dec 1870 Death Peter Penner Elisabeth Harder Rosenfeld, Borosenko 28 Dec 1870 Burial Peter Penner Elisabeth Harder Rosenfeld, Borosenko 14 Jan 1871 Death Gerhard Klaas Siemens Elisabeth Siemens Annafeld, Borosenko 17 Jan 1871 Burial Gerhard Klaas Siemens Elisabeth Siemens Annafeld, Borosenko 26 Jan 1871 Engagement Cornelius Goossen Katharina G. Barkman Annafeld, Borosenko 27 Jan 1871 Engagement Peter Penner Elisabeth Friesen South Russia 7 Feb 1871 Marriage Cornelius Goossen Katharina G. Barkman South Russia 8 Feb 1871 Marriage Peter Penner Elisabeth Friesen South Russia 8 Mar 1871 Death Klaas Friesen 10 Mar 1871 Burial Klaas Friesen 17 Mar 1871 Death Johann Friesen Elisabeth Klassen Rosenfeld, Borosenko 19 Mar 1871 Burial Johann Friesen Elisabeth Klassen Rosenfeld, Borosenko 12 Jun 1871 Engagement Johann Friesen Anna Isaac Molotschna 15 Jun 1871 Marriage Johann Friesen Anna Isaac Muntau?, Molotschna 28 Jun 1871 Death Peter Loewen Katharina Devehr Date Event Father/Husband Mother/Bride Child Decedent Location 29 Jun 1871 Burial Peter Loewen Katharina Devehr Hochstadt 20 Jul 1871 Birth Johann Reimer Anna Warkentin Elisabeth Steinbach, Borosenko 26 Jul 1871 Burial Isaac Plett Rosenfeld, Borosenko 24 Oct 1871 Marriage Heinrich Wiebe Anna Toews Rosenfeld, Borosenko 28 Oct 1871 Birth Klaas Reimer Cornelius Steinbach, Borosenko 30 Nov 1871 Death Heinrich Brandt daughter 5 Dec 1871 Burial Heinrich Brandt daughter Steinbach, Borosenko 1 Jan 1872 Birth Peter Toews Elisabeth Reimer Peter R. Steinbach, Borosenko 9 Jan 1872 Birth Abraham Friesen Katharina R. Reimer Peter R. Steinbach, Borosenko 22 Jan 1872 Birth Cornelius Janzen Aganetha Klassen Aganetha Steinbach, Borosenko 8 May 1872 Birth Abraham Penner Margaretha Reimer Margaretha Rosenfeld, Borosenko 31 May 1872 Death Johann Friesen Rosenfeld, Borosenko 2 Jun 1872 Burial Johann Friesen Rosenfeld, Borosenko July 1872 Birth Jacob Klassen Katharina Janzen Sara J. Steinbach, Borosenko 21 Aug 1872 Death Cornelius Wiebe Grünfeld, Borosenko 22 Aug 1872 Birth Abraham Reimer Maria Reimer Johann Blumenhof, Borosenko 22 Aug 1872 Burial Cornelius Wiebe Grünfeld, Borosenko 26 Aug 1872 Marriage Johann S. Friesen Helena Siemens Annafeld, Borosenko 1 Sep 1872 Death Gerhard Goossen Grünfeld, Borosenko 2 Sep 1872 Burial Gerhard Goossen Grünfeld, Borosenko 4 Sept 1872 Burial Johann Rempel Rosenort, Molotschna 21 Sept 1872 Birth Peter Friesen Elisabeth Barkman Elisabeth Steinbach, Borosenko 6 Nov 1872 Death Heinrich Bartel Gertrude Warkentin Borosenko Colony 8 Nov 1872 Burial Gertrude Warkentin Borosenko Colony 20 Nov 1872 Death Klaas Brandt Margaretha Friesen Heinrich Brandt Steinbach, Borosenko 21 Nov 1872 Death Isaac Harms Margaretha Friesen Cornelius Harms Steinbach, Borosenko 23 Nov 1872 Burial Klaas Brandt Margaretha Friesen Heinrich Brandt Steinbach, Borosenko 23 Nov 1872 Burial Isaac Harms Margaretha Friesen Cornelius Harms Steinbach, Borosenko 29 Nov 1872 Death Isaac Harms Margaretha Friesen Margaretha Harms Steinbach, Borosenko 30 Nov 1872 Death Jacob Friesen child 5 weeks Annafeld, Borosenko 2 Dec 1872 Burial Isaac Harms Margaretha Friesen Margaretha Harms Steinbach, Borosenko 11 Dec 1872 Death Klaas Brandt Margaretha Friesen Klaas Steinbach, Borosenko 13 Dec 1872 Burial Klaas Brandt Margaretha Friesen Klaas Steinbach, Borosenko 9 Jan 1873 Birth Lemke daughter Borosenko Colony 18 Jan 1873 Death Jacob Toews Blumenhof, Borosenko 14 Feb 1873 Death Cornelius Fast Helena Born Isaac Fast Steinbach, Borosenko 17 Feb 1873 Burial Cornelius Fast Helena Born Isaac Fast Steinbach, Borosenko 26 Feb 1873 Death Peter Thiessen Neuanlage, Borosenko Date Event Father/Husband Mother/Bride Child Decedent Location 3 Mar 1873 Burial Peter Thiessen Neuanlage, Borosenko 3 Mar 1873 Engagement Cornelius L. Plett Helena Rempel Steinbach, Borosenko 8 Mar 1873 Death Cornelius Janzen Steinbach, Borosenko 11 Mar 1873 Burial Cornelius Janzen Steinbach, Borosenko 18 Mar 1873 Birth Heinrich Brandt Anna Warkentin daughter Steinbach, Borosenko 23 Apr 1873 Death Gerhard T. Siemens Anna Plett Steinbach, Borosenko 25 Apr 1873 Burial Gerhard T. Siemens Anna Plett Steinbach, Borosenko 29 Apr 1873 Birth Peter Reimer Elisabeth Friesen Maria Steinbach, Borosenko 29 Apr 1873 Death Peter Reimer Elisabeth Friesen Maria Steinbach, Borosenko 30 Apr 1873 Burial Peter Reimer Elisabeth Friesen Maria Steinbach, Borosenko 2 May 1873 Death Cornelius Fast Helena Born Steinbach, Borosenko 20 May 1873 Birth Klaas Brandt Margaretha Friesen Klaas Steinbach, Borosenko 15 May 1873 Death Johann Toews Blumenhof, Borosenko 17 May 1873 Burial Johann Toews Blumenhof, Borosenko 31 May 1873 Death Heinrich Brandt Anna Warkentin Steinbach, Borosenko 1 June 1873 Burial Heinrich Brandt Anna Warkentin Steinbach, Borosenko 3 June 1873 Marriage Abraham T. H. Friesen Cornelia Harms Blumenhof, Borosenko 9 June 1873 Death Peter Reimer Elisabeth Friesen Steinbach, Borosenko 11 Jun 1873 Burial Peter Reimer Elisabeth Friesen Steinbach, Borosenko 13 Jun 1873 Birth Makhlin daughter 16 Jun 1873 Engagement Heinrich Brandt Katharina Warkentin Blumenhof, Borosenko 19 Jun 1873 Engagement Heinrich Brandt Katharina Warkentin Friedensfeld, Borosenko 21 Jun 1873 Death Isaac Loewen Heubuden, Borosenko 23 Jun 1873 Burial Isaac Loewen Heubuden, Borosenko 24 Jun 1873 Burial boy age 2yr3mo Annafeld, Borosenko June 1873 Death Peter Toews Anna Warkentin dau 2yr Alexanderwohl, Molotschna 30 June 1873 Engagement Peter Reimer Maria Plett Blumenhof, Borosenko 30 June 1873 Death Anna Lemke Steinbach, Borosenko 1 July 1873 Burial Anna Lemke Steinbach, Borosenko 1 July 1873 Engagement Gerhard T. Siemens Aganetha Klassen Blumenhof, Borosenko 1 July 1873 Engagement Peter Reimer Maria Plett Blumenhof, Borosenko 8 July 1873 Marriage Gerhard T. Siemens Aganetha Klassen Blumenhof, Borosenko 8 July 1873 Marriage Peter Reimer Maria Plett Blumenhof, Borosenko 17 July 1873 Death Abraham Dueck Elisabeth Rempel Heinrich Annafeld, Borosenko 19 July 1873 Burial Abraham Dueck Elisabeth Rempel Heinrich Annafeld, Borosenko 24 July 1873 Birth Johann Reimer Anna Warkentin Abraham Steinbach, Borosenko Aug 1873 Birth Klaas F. Reimer Maria Bartel Cornelius B. Heubuden, Borosenko 15 Sept 1873 Death Klaas Friesen Margaretha Braun Date Event Father/Husband Mother/Bride Child Decedent Location 17 Sept 1873 Burial Klaas Friesen Margaretha Braun Sept 1873 Death Block Mrs. Block Borosenko Colony 7 Oct 1873 Death David Johann Cornies Ohrloff, Molotschna 11 Oct 1873 Birth Abraham Friesen Katharina R. Reimer Johann Steinbach, Borosenko 14 Oct 1873 Death Duerck Heinrich Wiebe Lichtfelde, Molotschna 17 Oct 1873 Death Heinrich Brandt Anna Warkentin daughter Steinbach, Borosenko 18 Oct 1873 Burial Heinrich Brandt Anna Warkentin daughter Steinbach, Borosenko 15 Nov 1873 Burial Isaac E. Loewen Helena K. Sawatsky Borosenko Colony 6 Dec 1873 Marriage Isaac E. Loewen Katharina S. Friesen Heubuden, Borosenko 8 Dec 1873 Engagement Cornelius Penner Anganetha Dyck Steinbach, Borosenko 22 Dec 1873 Engagement Abraham P. Isaac Margaretha E. Loewen Sawitzki, Borosenko 26 Dec 1873 Marriage Abraham P. Isaac Margaretha E. Loewen Blumenhof, Borosenko 29 Dec 1873 Engagement Peter Loewen Elisabeth Defehr Kronsthal, Khortitsa 8 Jan 1874 Death Abraham Dyck Elisabeth Rempel dau 3yr 7mo 10da Annafeld, Borosenko 10 Jan 1874 Burial Abraham Dyck Elisabeth Rempel dau 3yr 7mo 10da Annafeld, Borosenko 24 Jan 1874 Death David F. Thiessen Aganetha Gerbrandt dau 1yr 1mo Steinbach, Borosenko 25 Jan 1874 Birth Joseph Anhalt daughter Steinbach, Borosenko 26 Jan 1874 Burial David F. Thiessen Aganetha Gerbrandt dau 1yr 1mo Steinbach, Borosenko 2 Feb 1874 Engagement Cornelius Eidse Helena D. Loewen Blumenhof, Borosenko 12 Feb 1874 Burial Klaas Friesen Maria Defehr Maria Friesen Annafeld, Borosenko 1 Mar 1874 Death Hagen dau 6yr Steinbach, Borosenko 1 Mar 1874 Death Hagen son 3yr Steinbach, Borosenko 4 Mar 1874 Burial Hagen dau 6yr Steinbach, Borosenko 4 Mar 1874 Burial Hagen son 3yr Steinbach, Borosenko 16 Mar 1874 Death Joseph Anhalt dau 7wk Steinbach, Borosenko 18 Mar 1873 Burial Joseph Anhalt dau 7wk Steinbach, Borosenko 19 Mar 1874 Birth Peter Toews Elisabeth Reimer Abraham R. Steinbach, Borosenko 25 Mar 1874 Birth Jacob Klassen Katharina Janzen Gerhard J. Steinbach, Borosenko In this table I have attempted to list all the vital events (birth, engagement, marriage, death, and burial) mentioned in the diary of Abraham F. Reimer. When possible I have given the full name of the person, even when Abraham Reimer did not. Source: Abraham F. Reimer (1808-1892) diary, Steinbach, Borosenko Colony, South Russia, 1870-1874, Mennonite Heritage Centre Archive, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Kleine Gemeinde collection, vol. 5907, item 4. Questions or corrections should be directed to the e-mail below. Steve Fast 2 November 2018 Hillsboro, Kansas [email protected] [email protected] Father/Husband Mother/Bride Child Decedent Location