Churches of the Schochenmaiers (New World, part 3b)

Today, I'm going on with making list of churches which could be attended by the Schochenmaiers.

I stress one more time as I don't know about every moving into various places around New World, the easiest way for me is to follow the "first" Schochenmaiers where they got children (birth places) and where they were registred (national and state census).


Jacob Schochenmaier (1861-1923) 

In May 1886 Jacob had immigrated to the United States through New York. He was 24 years old. Eight months later his son Jacob (1887-1975) was born in Alexander (McKenzie county, North Dakota). He was Jacob's first child (first Schochenmaier who had been born in America). 

 

I don't understand how it would have been possible because on Wikipedia you read as follows: 

Alexander is a city in McKenzie County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 223 at the 2010 census. Alexander was founded in 1905 and is named after early North Dakota politician Alexander McKenzie.

If the town had been found in 1905, how could he have born in 1887 there??? But maybe he had lived around that place))) 

I've found four churches in Alexander, ND: 

1. Alexander Church of the Nazarene

2. Highland Lutheran Church

3. Our Lady of Consolation Catholic Church

4. Trinity Lutheran Church

But there is only one photo of a church (which one???) next to the school building 




 

















In November 1893 Mary (Maria) was born. I haven't found any precise information on where she had been born. Sometimes it was noticed just "Canada"... Well, we've got nothing.  However, it sounds pretty strange ... in 1887 Jacob was born in the U.S., 6 years later his sister is to be born in Canada and then 4 years later Paul and Samual were born in the U.S. again... It means within 10 years they had relocated twice with two little children... From Alexander (ND) to Canada there are only 120 miles by car.

In 1897 Paul and Samuel, 1898 -Emanuel were born in Lynch, Nebraska. With Paul we can be sure, but there are some doupts concerning Samuel (if Paul wasn't born earlier! for example, in 1896). By the way, from Canada to Lynch (NE) they count up to 600 miles!!!

There are five churches: 

Lynch Wesleyan Church

Christ Lutheran Church

Assumption Blessed Virgin Mary Church (Catholic) 

Lynch United Methodist Church

Adventist Church 

Wesleyan Church

Lutheran Church 

In 1900 David, 1903 Charlotte and 1904 Lydia were born in Goodrich (Sheridan County, North Dakota). It's in 410 miles away from Lynch (Nebraska). About Charlotte and Lydia we cannot be absolutely sure, we just know they were born in North Dakota. Sometime for the last daughter it's noticed "Canada". According to other data, David was born in Harvey (Wells County, North Dakota). What a mess((( But it's important to point out that between Harvey and Goodrich there are about 30 miles. 

 

Harvey is a city in Wells County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 1,783 at the 2010 census. Harvey was founded in 1893 as a division point by the Soo Line Railway. According to the book published in 1981 on the 75th anniversary of the town's incorporation as a city in 1906, Harvey, ND is believed to have been named for a director of the Soo Line Railway: Col. Scott William Harvey of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

 

 

There a lots of churchs in Harvey. Below you'll find some of them whose pics are on the net: 

 

Harvey Mennonite Brethren Church, 1948

 

St. Cecelia Catholic Church

 

Bethel Church east of Harvey

 

Wesley United Methodist Church

 

First Lutheran Church

 

Victory Baptist Church

Let's switch to Goodrich:

 

 Goodrich is a city in Sheridan County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 98 at the 2010 census. Goodrich was founded in 1901.

 Have you noticed? It's the same situation as with Jacob (1887)))) David was born in 1900 in the township that would have been founded one year later. I start sugessting it's OK. 

I've found five churches therein: 

 

• Butlers Chapel United Methodist Church
   
• First Baptist Church
   
• Goodrich Adventist Church
• Peace Lutheran Church

 

and Church of God

  

After having discussed with some of the Jacob's descendants, I can conclude that most of them are Adventists. I do realize that the subject is more than just delicate but ceveral persons made suggestions that the split between Michael (1859) and Jacob (1961) had been caused by that religious reasons. The descendants of Michael are mostly reformed Protestants (among others Baptists plus several Catholics, etc.) The question is since when Jacob was converted to Adventism? I've found the Jacob's immigration certificate from year 1923 where Jacob noticed that he was Baptist. Actually, it doesn't fit very well because at that time the brothers were not in the narrow communication anymore((. So I do not rely 100 per cent upon these thoughts. 

All corrections are welcome!!! 

Pierre’s Schochenmaier to retire as city administrator after a decade

http://www.capjournal.com/news/pierre-s-schochenmaier-to-retire-as-city-administrator-after-a/article_b7a0a6d8-bc29-11e6-9685-dbacae2bfe71.html

Leon Schochenmaier, Pierre’s low-key and award-winning city administrator for the past decade, credited with a steady hand in leading the city’s flood-fighting and recovery effort in 2011, said Tuesday he will retire next summer.

At the end of of the City Commission’s weekly meeting, Schochenmaier, asked for any comments, said, “I have one item. It’s a big night for me. I’m going to announce my retirement effective June 30, 2017.”

That will make it 11 years as the city’s administrator, the right hand guy for Mayor Laurie Gill and the professional executive for the five-member Commission, which includes Gill.

He sits in the middle, on Gill's left hand, at Commission meetings, a meaningful location, as Commissioners typically turn to him for data and figures, the ins and outs and nuts and bolts of city government.

“Well, this is big news for the city of Pierre,” Mayor Gill said in response to Schochenmaier’s announcement, that’s been a quiet secret for a few months among city leaders but a surprise, none the less, to many observers.

“Leon, you have been an exceptional administrator,” Gill said, in her ninth year as mayor after several years on the commission. “My perception of what we have done is to really raise the bar of professionalism in the city. You bring to us a level of expertise because you are technically an engineer by trade, so you bring that technical expertise along with the ability to manage in a calm way.”

Commissioner Jamie Huizenga said, “We are going to miss you, You have brought a lot of wisdom , a lot of expertise and a sense of calm to get us through plenty of adventures here at City Hall.”

Blake Barringer, a new commissioner this year but a veteran engineer who spent a career in private firms doing work with and for the city and the state, added a special personal note: “It’s too bad you won’t be sticking on two and a half more years, with me in this first term. But I guess knowing and working with you for 36 years , with your original background, you taught me a lot.”

Schochenmaier is recognized statewide as an effective city leader.

A year ago, he was given the Excellence in South Dakota Municipal Government Award, the top prize handed out by the South Dakota Municipal League.

“To be the one recipient from the very impressive list of nominees we received this year is really a testament to Leon and his commitment to the city of Pierre,” Municipal League Director Yvonne Taylor said in October 2015 of Schochenmaier. “He is widely regarded throughout the state as an excellent leader and advisor to many.”

Gill told the Capital Journal last year that Schochenmaier led the city’s effort to set up the state’s first consolidated 911/emergency dispatch center that handles calls from several counties and agencies.

“During the 2011 flood, Leon worked on little to no sleep to direct department heads and coordinate with stakeholders to save property and mitigate damage,” Gill said last year when he won the state award. “He was indispensable in helping the community and its residents prepare for, sustain and recover from the flood.”

Schochenmaier, who turns 66 on Dec. 19, grew up on a farm and ranch near Bonesteel, South Dakota, a hamlet just north of Nebraska and just west of the MIssouri River.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at SDSU in Brookings and worked 31 years for the state - 13 at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and 18 years at the transportation department, before being hired as Pierre’s second city administrator.

In the summer of 2006 he was hired to replace Rod Leisinger, who had become Pierre first city administrator in 2004.

The big flood of the Missouri River in 2011 that devastated Pierre and Fort Pierre was his biggest challenge but also an accomplishment that “was very rewarding,” he said.

He did the main work and got the big bucks: his 2016 salary is $130,500, the most by a stretch of any city employee.

The stress and hours of work during the flood didn’t shorten his career at the city, in fact, the opposite, he told the Capital Journal:  “I stayed longer because of that. I wanted to make sure we got all the projects done.”
That means this fall’s repair and paving of the parking lot in Steamboat Park near the bandstand, as the last bit of flood recovery work on the city’s infrastructure, was more than symbolic.

“That was it,” he said of staying on the job was done.

Now he’s ready for his next step on life, he said in his low-key style of leadership that wasn’t about him being out front: “It’s time for new ideas.”

It’s typical of his quiet,understated way of always being prepared with the needed information or decision that Schochenmaier said he wanted to give the city plenty of lead time to hire his replacement, because “there are a lot to things to get done.”

  “I will assure you it will be a very smooth transition.”

Someone asked him if he was moving.

“No. This is home, I’m not going anywhere.”

After the meeting, commissioners bantered with Schochenmaier. Was he now going to throw his hat in the ring for the governor’s race? Commissioner JIm Mehlhaff asked with smile.

No way, Schochenmaier laughed.

But some have asked him if now he is going to run for the City Commission, he admitted.

“Yes, I’m going to run  as fast and far away from it as I can!”

GIll said she was starting on recruiting a successor for Schochenmaier “immediately,” “It’s my goal  we will have an administrator in place by the time Leon retires, or at least we will know who that will be.”

She said the recruitment process would be “an internal process,” not farmed out to a consultant, but  handled by Laurie Granlund, human resources director and directed by Gill and the Commission. .

“There is not a predetermined candidate at this  point,” she said. “There will be a comprehensive search” for a new administrator.

In  written statement released Tuesday evening, Gill said: “Our community has been very fortunate to have someone of Leon’s caliber and dedication. Under his leadership, the city has grown into a much more sophisticated, professional organization with a focus on getting the job done. He will be greatly missed.”

http://www.drgnews.com/city-administrator-schochenmaier-announces-june-retirement/

City Administrator Schochenmaier Announces June Retirement

PIERRE SD – Pierre City Administrator Leon Schochenmaier announced that he will retire next summer.

Schochenmaier, who has served as the City Administrator for more than a decade, will leave the post June 30, 2017.

“I greatly enjoy serving the people of Pierre,” said Schochenmaier.  “That made my decision to retire a difficult one, but it’s time for me to start the next chapter of my life.”

Pierre Mayor Laurie Gill praised Schochenmaier’s work as city administrator.

“Our community has been very fortunate to have someone of Leon’s caliber and dedication.  Under his leadership, the city has grown into a much more sophisticated, professional organization with a focus on getting the job done.  He will be greatly missed!”

In the coming months, the City Commission will start working to find Schochenmaier’s replacement and develop out transition plans.

Schochenmaier has served as Pierre’s City Administrator since 2006. Prior to his position with the City of Pierre, Leon worked in various engineering and leadership capacities for the State of South Dakota

Churches of the Schochenmaiers (New World, part 3a)

Today, I'd like to attempt to make a list of churches which could be attended by the Schochenmaiers.

I am afraid to make some mistakes because those of you who are still living there where the "first" Schochenmaiers had lived in the U.S. and Canada respectively can be aware of real history of your families. So, I am thankful in advance for all improving comments and explaining information.

Let's get started. As I don't know about every moving into various places around New World, the easiest way for me is to follow the "first" Schochenmaiers where they got children (birth places) and where they were registred (national and state census).


Michael Schochenmaier (1859-1937) 

In October 1887 Michael had immigrated to the United States through Maryland (Baltimore). He was 27 years old. Three months later his son Fred (1888-1950) was born in Alexandria (Hanson county, South Dakota). He was Michael's third child (after Kathy and Mina born in Russia in 1884 and 1885 respectively).

In 1879, the community was founded with the name Clarksville. Its post office was established in 1880, and the city later incorporated in 1885 as Alexandria. The city was named after Alexander Mitchell. 

As you can read, it was the very beginning of the town. It's pretty small (615 inhabitants). I didn't find any pictures of the churches except one which was abandoned:

Who knows, maybe Micheal's family attended it.

Two years later, in the summer of 1890, the second son of Michael - Jacob (1890-1971) was born in Eureka, McPherson County, South Dakota. It's bigger (about 800 people).

Eureka was laid out in 1887, and named "Eureka" a Greek exclamation meaning "I have found it!"

Seven coaches of German-Russian emigrants arrive in Eureka, SD., 1892.: 



Eureka is well-known in the Russian-German world:

The town of Eureka, South Dakota, became very important, where thousands of German-Russian immigrants arrived by train from New York City. The Agricultural Experiment Station publication at South Dakota State University states: "For 15 years, from 1887 to 1902, this `end of the track' town was the largest primary wheat market in the world, claim historians. In 1897 alone, two thirds of the world's wheat crop entering the commercial market was shipped from Eureka."

From Eureka I can post more pictures of the local churches:

1. Methodists

 Reformed

Zion Lutherans

Painting from the past of Eureka:

 Women with head-scarts, Eureka, S.D., 1937. Following an old church tradition, women sat on "their" side during the service: 




Five years after that Christina (1895-1916) was born either in Milton (Rock County) or Cassel (Marathon County) Wisconsin. Actually, I don't understand that change! From South Dakota to Wisconsin? What for?

The German Evangelical Lutheran St. Stephen's Church — The congregation was organized in 1893 and the edifice erected in 1894, and religious service was conducted by Rev. P. Karl Schmalz until the year 1910, when the congregation felt strong enough to call for a resident minister; the congregation has grown to a membership of fifty families and it is still served by Reverend Schmalz, the resident minister of the town of Wien.  

But there is a document that in 1899 the Schochenmaiers family got back to South Dakota. In 1900 they took part in the 12th Census according to which there were living in the Gregory County where there are Bonesteel and Burke.

The county was created in 1862 and organized in 1898.

I've found only four churches in Bonesteel: Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ponca Creek United Church of Christ, Zion Lutheran Church  and St. Andrew's Church (Episcopal).

Here is solely the picture of Episcopal Church:

It's a bit strange, I didn't find any other photos on the Net(((


The 13th Census states that the Michael's family had already lived in Fairfax in 1910, so to say their last residence place.

The first settlement at Fairfax was made around 1890. A post office called Fairfax has been in operation since 1892. It was named after Fairfax, Virginia, the former hometown of an early settler. The number of inhabitants is 115 (63 households, and 33 families residing in the town).

Here are some pictures from the present and past of the town:

There are actually three churches: Hope Congregational United Church of Christ, St. Anthony Catholic Church, and Trinity Lutheran Church. Online there is a Facebook community of the latter one:

Well, next time I will try to collect pictures of the Churches whereto could have gone the members of the Jacob's family.

P.S. I suggest you, my dear remote relatives from the U.S., have got much more information than me, so do not hesitate to improve and precise. I need your help!!! Thank you in advance)))

Churches of the Schochenmaiers (Part II, Russian Empire)

Today, we go back to the South of the Russian Empire where the Schochenmaiers had lived possibly from 1817 after the year without summer in 1816 when the famine forced lots of persons to leave either for Russia or for US.

According to the documents, the first Schochenmaier born in Russia was probably August Schochenmaier (1835) who had been born either in Poland or in Ukraine (it was however Russian territory). Although we suggest that his brothers Gottlieb ( about 1828-31) and Christian (about 1833) had been born in Russia as well.

What we know precisely is the fact that our ancestors had come to the colony of Beresan, namely to the village of Rohrbach in the beginning of the 1850s. Unfortunately, there are no pictures of the churches from Rohrbach. Rohrbach belonged to the Evangelical Parish (Rohrbach-Worms 1809-1933
and Worms-Johannestal 1861-1885). That's why I would like to present to you the churches around Rohrbach which were alike, I think.

Rohrbach is surounded by villages of Karlsruhe, Landau, München, Rastadt, Speyer, Sulz,Worms, Grossliebenthal, Josephstal, Liebental, Mariental.

There were two churches in Rohrbach: the Protestant (Reformed or Lutheran) one and the Mennonite one. In other villages there were some Catholics churches as well.

I am afraid the pictures of today will shock you because almost all of the churches German colonists had been deconstructed or abandoned during the Soviet aera. Are you ready for the places where God is not to be found anymore?

Let's start with Manheim where the Kirche had been built in 1850 :

http://www.grhs.org/korners/heinle/church.htm

Now let's visit the Church of the Holy Trinity in Kandel. During the Soviet Union it has been used as granary:

It looked like that then: 

it looks now like that: 

Let's move on to the church in Selz that has been used like community club:

 

The example of the reconstructed church is that in Elsass village:

How do you think what is inside?? Have a look:

The Lutheran Church in Johannestal

Most, if not all of the colonial villages established colonies in Russia were segregated by religion, either Catholic, Protestant, or Mennonite.  Johannestal was established as a Lutheran village and remained so.  Although the church was Lutheran, many of the members of the village were reformed, including some of the church pastors.  In latter years of the colony's existence, a small Baptist group met in private homes in the village.

In the 1930's many of the churches in Russia were destroyed or severely damaged by the Godless Society, sponsored by the Communist Government.  The Johannestal church fared better than some:  it's steeple was removed along with all of the religions ornamentation and altar, however the building was left standing and was used as a "Klub" or social hall for the village.  In recent years the church has been re-claimed by the Ukrainian Lutheran Church and services are held there about once per month.

We do not have any good photographs of what the church looked like before the steeple was removed.  About all that was available was the photograph in Height (top left picture below.)  Gary Schorzmann commissioned an artist to draw what the church looked like, going from the Height photo and more recent photographs.  The four graphics are superimposed on a map showing Johannestal and the neighboring villages highlighted in yellow.

Only one church is still looking perfectly - the Lutheran Church of Odessa. It's because Odessa is the city of great importance: