52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Week 9 Prompt - Leap Year

2024 

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 

Week 9 

Prompt – Leap Year 

 In my family tree I have found only 1 individual who is a leapling and two in Bill's family tree. Leaplings are those people born on February 29th. I had never contemplated the idea of a birth date that really and truly only comes around every 4 years. I wondered how Ancestry dealt with their birth ages. It is a feel good news story when a 100 year old is celebrating their 25th birthday. But it could really mess up a genealogy family tree. 

I think that just 3 out of about 4000 individuals in my family trees seems particularly low. I asked myself if the idea of a leap year was relatively new. No not really considering it was Julius Caeser who introduced it about a millennia ago. I guess it was tweaked a little during the Gregorian age. And thus far the calendar years align with the astronomical year, thank goodness. I wouldn't want to be celebrating Christmas in the middle of a summer season in the northern hemisphere. 

The individual who is a leap year baby on my side of the family tree is still living so I cannot give his name. He is my 1st cousin, 1x removed. He was born in Lloydminister, Alberta, Canada in 1968.

 Bill's living individual leapling is a second cousin born 1952 in Regina, Saskatchewan. Bill's other leapling is his 2nd cousin 2x removed who lived and died in the United States. He was: Vitalius William Blotsky 1912-1995 Birth 29 Feb 1912 *Raleigh, Grant, ND, USA Death 12 Mar 1995 *Billings, Yellowstone, MT, USA.

I did wonder if there was negative superstitions associated with the date. I could possible surmise if this was the case that the parents chose a date (Feb 28 or Mar 1) to avoid a birth date of a leapling. I am thinking that this could have happened a 100 or more years ago where babies births were registered after the birth in town at the register or church, sometimes months later. 

If I were so inclined I could do further investigation. That is I could look up all the February 28 or March 1 babies born in a leap year. But even at that it would be hard to prove if the date was switched. These are things that I think of when seemingly normal events such as leap years cross my genealogical path. 

 Wendy

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Week 8 Prompt - Heirloom

2024

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Week 8

Prompt – Heirloom

Christening Gown

 

 

 

Ida Anna Bachmann is Bill's maternal grandmother. (Bill Hoffart, then his mother, Clara Jahnke, and her mother, Ida Jahnke)She was born in Winnipeg. The Bachmann Family moved to Killaly, Saskatchewan in 1905. Ida was 8 years old. Ida Bachmann's education was to Grade 8. There was no high school in Killlaly at that time for her to enroll in. Killaly got their high school in 1924. In May 1910 Ida Bachmann took a dressmaker's course in Lemburg, Saskatchewan. Lemburg is about 28 kilometres straight west of Killaly. She lived in Lemburg while on the course. Her course ended in 10 Jul 1910.

  

I think her sister made it quite clear that she needed to be back in Killaly to help with the work load of their father's general store. This is how she became a seamstress.

Bill's mother (Clara) told me that she did custom work as a seamstress. She sewed wedding dresses and pretty much whatever was asked of her. Clara said this was Ida Bachmann's business and it kept her quite busy.

As an aside I asked Clara if her mother taught her to sew. Clara was an exceptional seamstress herself. And to my surprise she told me her mother did not teach her to sew. Ida had tried to teach Clara but Ida thought it was better, quicker and easier for her to do it herself. Clara went on to explain that she had trouble working the sewing machine tread peddle and coordination in general. Clara would do dishes as her mother sewed. Clara said she learned by “absorption” She really didn't learn to sew until after she was married and Tony bought her an electric sewing machine.

Ida Bachmann married Arthur Jahnke on 24 Jun 1917. Arthur was living in the small town of Hatton, Saskatchewan and thus the married couple lived there after the marriage. Arthur and his cousin had a general store in Hatton. I'm sure Ida Jahnke's seamstress business kept her busy in Hatton as well.

Soon Ida and Art were expecting their first child. On the 5 Apr 1919, Elsie Jahnke was born. In the time leading up to the birth, Ida worked on the christening gown for her newborn daughter to be baptized in. Clara said she had finished it by the time Elsie was born.

Ida Jahnke Holding Elsie Jahnke in The Christening Gown

 

The photograph is over 100 years old and thus not all that clear.

Ida Jahnke used a pattern however it was mostly hand sewn. The intricate embroidery work was all done by hand. The eyelets of the sleeve accommodated a ribbon – blue for boys and pink for girls. Also there was small embroidered roses, blue and pink that were attached at the top of the gown.

 

Children Who Wore This Christening Gown.

Elsie Jahnke (Ida's daughter) 1919

Herbert Jahnke (Ida's son ) 1924

Clara Jahnke (Ida's daughter) 1928

Arthur Hack ( Ida's grandson) 1941

Elmer Hack ( Ida's grandson) 1943

Dennis Jahnke (Ida's grandson) 1952

Gloria Jahnke (Ida's granddaughter) 1954

William Hoffart ( Ida's grandson 1954

Noreen Jahnke (Ida's granddaughter) 1955

Elaine Hoffart ( Ida's granddaughter) 1958

Norma Hoffart ( Ida's granddaughter ) 1963

Jill Hoffart (Ida's great-granddaughter) 1978

Miranda Churko ( Ida's great-granddaughter) 1980

Jacqueline Hoffart (Ida's great-granddaughter) 1981

Roxanna Reed (Ida's great-granddaughter) 1990 (Dedication)

Anthony Reed (Ida's great-grandson)- 1991 (Dedication)

Alexander Reed ( Ida's great-grandson) 1993 (Dedication)

Daniel Armstrong (Ida's great-grandson) 1994

Joshua Stauber (Ida's great-grandson) 1995

Christina Armstrong ( Ida's great-granddaughter) 1996

Nicole Stauber (Ida's great-granddaughter) 1998

Alanna Hoffart ( Ida's great-great granddaughter) 1998

Michael Armstrong ( Ida's great-grandson) 2000

Norma Armstrong (Nee: Hoffart) has inherited the christening gown. After 101 years the gown was retired after Michael Armstrong's baptism. It is too old and fragile. Norma has talked about having it framed in an archival frame box. I don't think she has done it yet.

The christening gown is truly a treasured piece for The Jahnke Family. It is an heirloom.

Wendy

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Week 7 Prompt - Immigration

 2024

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Week 7

Prompt – Immigration

Between 1874 and 1881, 7000 Southern Russian Mennonites immigrated to Manitoba. In Russia, Czar Alexander II took away privileges granted them 100 years before. Canada actively sought “the industrious farmer” Mennonites for the prairies. The Canadian government granted the Mennonites large tracks of Manitoba land for their use. East Reserve was east of the Red River and settled first and the West Reserve was west which became necessary in 1877 after the East Reserve was filled to capacity. Canada also granted them exemption from military service and religious freedom.

My paternal great-grandfather and great-grandmother and their children were part of this migration.

David Peters (40 years old) and Katharina Peters (Nee Mueller) (39 years old) along with 7 of their children left their home in The Chortitza Colony in Southern Russia for the port of Hamburg. On 2 Jul 1875 the family left Hamburg, Germany for Quebec City, Quebec, Canada via Liverpool. The ship arrived on 19 Jul 1875. At this point they still had another two weeks of travel from Quebec to The West Reserve. They travelled by train and boat. The last 150 miles from Moorhead, Minnesota to the Immigration Sheds in Dufferin, Manitoba was travelled by steamer up The Red River. 

 

This is a transcribed piece from the ship manifest. We see that the 7 children ranged from 6 months old to 16 years of age.

David and Katharina had two more children while living on the West Reserve. Their first born Canadian child was my grandfather, Franz Peters. He was born 29 Jul 1876. The second Canadian born child was Gertruda Peters born 7 Jun 1879.

David and Katharina Peters and family established and lived in the colony of Ebenfeld. They were counted in the Canadian Census in 1881 and 1891. David Peters was listed as a farmer living on his homestead in the Ebenfeld Colony. 

The family remained in Ebenfeld until 1898. At that time they moved onto Hague, Saskatchewan to establish a new Mennonite colony. The Peters family organized the colony of Blumenthal.

“Hague and Osler (Saskatchewan, Canada)

Hague and Osler, Saskatchewan, about 12 miles (20 km) apart and 30 miles (50 km) from Saskatoon, were settled as a whole by Old Colony Mennonites. In 1895 the first settlers from Manitoba unloaded their belongings from the railway, for there was no station or any building in the town. Only a sign with the name Hague was to be seen. The first village was Neuanlage, six miles (10 km) south of Hague, five or 10 families settling here in that year. The next villages built were Reinfeld, Hochfeld, Reinland, Blumenstein, Blumenthal, Neuhorst, Chortitza, Rosengart, Hochfeld, Osterwick, Schönwiese, Grünfeld, Grünthal. On the other side of the South Saskatchewan River is the village Edinburg. When the Mennonites from Russia came in 1923, the Old Colony Mennonites were at their height in numbers, because the majority of the children remained in the villages, the total number at Hague and Osler being about 2,000. A part of this number were Bergthaler Mennonites. Some were dissatisfied with conditions here, mainly because the German language was hard to maintain; so nearly half of the population moved to Mexico and Paraguay. The houses and land of the emigrants were then taken over by Mennonites who came from Russia in 1923 and later.

 Citing
Rempel, John G. (1956). Hague and Osler (Saskatchewan, Canada). Global Anabaptist Mennonite
Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 28 February 2018, from http://gameo.org/index.php?
title=Hague_and_Osler_(Saskatchewan,_Canada)&oldid=81582.

 

 Katharina Peters (nee; Mueller) died on 5 Mar 1913 in Hague, Saskatchewan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the 1916 Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba Census, David Peters is listed as a widower. He was living with his son-in-law, Abram Wiebe who was married to his daughter, Helena. Abram and Helena had two sons and two daughters in this census. They lived at

Township: 40; Range: 3; Meridian: 3; Principality: Warman. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 14 Apr 1919 David Peters died of Myocarditis and Arterio-Sclerosis.

David and Katharina Peters were the immigrants who brought my Peters family line to Canada. Their immigration was not so much a decision that they made by themselves. Together the Mennonite Colonies were looking for a place to live where they could practise their religion without political interference, or have to serve in the military, or Russification! Several Mennonite Scouts left to explore Manitoba (in the early 1870's) and felt that it would be suitable for their colonies to make the mass migration. 

Wendy

 

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Week 6 Prompt - Earning a Living

2024

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Week 6

Prompt – Earning a Living

My maternal grandmother was Maria Katherina Krikau. She was born 8 Jun 1903 in Warenburg, Samara Province, Volga Valley, Russia. Maria was 8 years old when her family immigrated to Canada. They left on 3 Oct 1911 from Libau and arrived in New York Ellis Island on 17 Oct 1911. The family immediately boarded a train to Rosthern, Saskatchewan. After a few years her father, Andreas Krikau decided he did not like farming and the family left. They ended up Winnipeg, Manitoba. There is a whole story in between leaving the Rosthern farm and arriving in Winnipeg which I wrote about in a previous blog. She arrived in Winnipeg in the summer of 1913 in her pre-teen years. Her parents were staying in Winnipeg only until they could raise the money for family's head tax to get across the Canada – United States border.

My sister told me that our grandmother worked while in Winnipeg. I don't know the exact years but I presume it was as a teenager. Was she working to help her parents with the cost of getting across the border? My sister was told that she worked at the “Bemis Bag Factory” making bags for beans. I googled and found that their was indeed a factory in Winnipeg called “The Bemis Brothers Bag Company”.

“Although not a visually attractive or inspiring structure, this five-storey warehouse and factory on the northeast corner of Stanley Street has the distinction of being one of the city’s earliest reinforced concrete structures, a new construction method that would allow for the construction of one of the most familiar urban landmarks – the skyscraper....The original and long-time owner/occupant of this factory/warehouse was the Bemis Brothers Bag Company, makers of canvas and cotton bags, tents, etc. The company was founded by Judson Moss Bemis in St. Louis, Missouri in 1858 with six sewing machines and contracts to produce shipping bags for several local milling companies. It was incorporated as the Bemis Brothers Bag Company in 1885 when brother Stephen joined the venture. Today, the company operates worldwide, most of its packaging and labelling used in the food industry.”

 

 

 It is interesting to me that this company existed in Winnipeg and the building that she worked in is still standing as one of the original skyscrapers of its time.

Robert and Mary Sullivan 

 

Mary Krikau married Robert W. Sullivan three years before her parents left Winnipeg for the United States. She was not quite eighteen and the marriage was not particularly popular with her family. Her brothers Andrew and Fred did serve as witnesses. Robert was a cook on the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway run between Winnipeg and Saskatoon.  Mary may have earned some money housekeeping in Winnipeg before they moved to Saskatoon.

 

 Mary's parents and most of her siblings moved on to The United States mid 1924. It was at this time that Mary and Robert Sullivan moved to Saskatoon.

The marriage of Robert and Mary Sullivan broke down in the mid-1920's. And now Mary was a single mother of one toddler living alone with no family to help her. She had to earn money to support herself and her daughter.

Mary was estranged from her husband but was pregnant again in 1927. Wallace Alvin was born in Calgary. His wife, my aunt Phyllis told me the story of why he was born in Calgary. Aunt Phyllis said to me that Mary Sullivan had Wallace in Calgary in The Salvation Maternity Hospital. She went on to say that Mary needed a job and took on a job with a rancher from Alberta. She drove the horses in and around Calgary. There is a story that Mary was alone on a runaway wagon hitched to 6 horses. My meek and mild grandmother brought the horses under control and stopped the wagon.

Several years ago we went to Waldheim to have a conversation with Esther who was Mary's Cousin's niece. She has lived in the area of Waldheim where the Krikau homestead is located. Esther had several memories of Mary visiting during the early 1930's. I brought up the story of Mary working with horses in an Alberta ranch and told her I could not believe she did that. Esther without a pause or hesitation said she could see her doing just that. She went on to say that Mary was “very daring”. Really !!!

Anyway The Salvation Army Hospital was a hospital and home for unwed mothers. Apparently Mary couldn't have the baby in the Catholic Saskatoon St. Paul's hospital, being considered unwed.

After the birth of Wallace on 5 May 1927, she would have only been able to stay there for a few weeks or possibly a month or two.

My sister Betty told me that Mary Sullivan wanted to go back to the remaining family in Winnipeg. Mary had no money when she left Calgary and cleaned houses along the way to pay her way back to Winnipeg. However she only went as far as Saskatoon where she stayed for the remainder of her life. I do not know why she stopped there.

With two small children, Mary continued to support herself as a housekeeper in the city of Saskatoon. Esther remembers how poor Mary was and they would send a care basket home with her from their family farm.

I asked Esther if there was any memories that she remembered about Mary Sullivan. She went on to tell us that she was a midwife to many of the Krikau women and apparently more than half of the babies and mothers would not be here had it not been for Mary. My sister also told me that our grandmother was a midwife to her neighbourhood in Saskatoon. I am not sure she was paid for these services. I had no idea she was a midwife.

Mary Sullivan continued to work as a housekeeper in Saskatoon after her separation from Robert Sullivan and returning from Calgary. Her client was Benjamin Franklin McLaughlin at 512 Ave K South. According to the 1930 Saskatoon Henderson Directory, Mary Sullivan roomed with Ben McLaughlin as a 'domestic'. Benjamin and Mary married 1 Apr 1932. Mary was 28 years old and Benjamin was 60 years old. Mary McLaughlin told my sister, Betty, that Benjamin McLaughlin "fell in love with her and he worshipped the ground she walked on". Mary McLaughlin also told my sister that those were the best 10 – 11 years of her life. The neighbours were less enthusiastic about their marriage calling Mary McLaughlin “a gold-digger” and that she married him for his money. Of course this was said behind her back. 

 

 Benjamin and Mary McLaughlin

Married 1 Apr 1932.

 

Benjamin McLaughlin became ill in the early 1940's. He had dementia and Mary had her hands full looking after him full time. He had a heart attack and his health steadily declined. Benjamin died 29 Jan 1945 at the age of 78.

Around the time of his death, Mary started working at The Olivier Chocolate Factory in Saskatoon. Yummy. At some point after this she began working at The Saskatoon Quaker Oats Mill. Benjamin had worked as a labourer in Quaker Oats for some time. I am sure that after his death they felt obligated to give grandma a job. She cooked lunch for the staff of 25 to 50. Most of the time she was all by herself. She made everything from scratch as you wood do in the 1930's. Grandmother McLaughlin was a wonderful cook and I am pretty sure she was very appreciated at the Quaker Oats Mill. My mother, Vivian worked at the mill for a short time along side her mother, Mary. Sometimes my older siblings would be asked to help out. Betty worked the summer between Grade 11 and Grade 12. She unpacked bowls from shipping crates from China. These bowls were added to Oatmeal Cereal boxes as an incentive to buy their brand. 

Mary McLaughlin With Unknown Person

In Quaker Oats Kitchen.

 Mary McLaughlin retired from this job in 1955 when the Saskatoon Quaker Oats Mill closed down. She thought she had it made for the rest of her life because she got a pension of $50.00 per month. She soon discovered that her life would be difficult financially. On the other side of the coin, Mary had inherited the home from Benjamin. She also inherited his cabin at Waskesiu Lake which she sold off shortly after because it was really too much bother. Further she had a border for years now which brought in some extra money.

Mary McLaughlin was my grandmother. The grandmother that I knew was a meek and mild quintessential church lady. Who was this women who drove wild horses on an Alberta ranch? No one ever talked about her life as a midwife. She had worked in two different factories in her young life to make money for herself. She struggled through an awful first marriage. She had a son out of wedlock in a city quite far from her home in Saskatoon. I always knew she was a great cook and had heard that she worked as a cook at Quaker Oats. I can't imagine cooking a full lunch for 25 to 50 staff everyday by yourself. Working as a housekeeper seemed a normal employment opportunity for the young immigrant women. And as it turns out it gave her some stability that her younger life never enjoyed.

Sandy Lutz, Mary McLaughlin, Cathy Olajos and Sue Lutz.

Nov. 1978, 40th Anniversary of Jake and Vivian Peters.

Mary McLaughlin in her favourite rocking chair. Circa 1980.

Mary McLaughlin

My Grandmother

My Quintessential Church Lady

Circa 1980.

Wendy

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Week 5 Prompt - Influencer

2024

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Week 5

Prompt – Influencer

I have only learned of this noun in the past few years. Usually it has to do with the internet and social media. I think in its most simplistic form, it is a person of some credibility and expertise who has the ability to influence another person.

This week I will blog about Catherine The Great of Russia. The influencer of the late 1700's.

Catherine became the Empress of Russia in 1762. Europe was in turmoil following The 30 Year War and The Seven Year War. Germany felt the results of the political strife from the thousands of principalities, each with their own rulers. The Catholics and Protestants were in constant conflict. Protestant Germans bore the brunt of higher taxes to help pay for the war that just ended. In addition land was not available for expanding families.

At the same time Russia was acquiring land through war. In particular the southern area of Russia which was acquired from The Ottoman Empire. Catherine saw the land along the lower Volga River as somewhat of a lawless wasteland ruled by roving bandits. She wanted to colonize this area to solidify it as her Russian Territory and have the colonies work the land for Russia's gain.

The marriage between those who had and those who did not was formed.

On 22 Jul 1763 Catherine The Great sent out her manifestos to those in Europe but in particular she wanted the German-speaking lands to be targeted. She sent her agents out into Europe to post leaflets and spread the news of the great opportunities for those wanting to move on to something better.

Empress Catherine offered up such incentives as; religious freedom, they could keep their own language, no taxes for 30 years, land at no cost, travel to the new land was paid for by the Russian Government. Also loans would be granted interest free for their dwellings, equipment for farmland and livestock. They would not be drafted into the military against their will. Education could be done in their language. And further that these privileges would extend to their children and descendants despite being Russian born.

It is little wonder that Russia saw 30,000 Germans immigrants between the years of 1763 to 1766.

Or to put it in “Influencer” language, she had 30,000 followers!

This is how my Krikau genealogy line came to be Germans from Russia.

There is a site online called The Volga German Institute of Northern Florida. It is their mission “to document the cultural manifestations of the German-speaking minority that lived along the Volga River in Russia from 1764 – 1941 and their descendants.”

Within this website is a category of surnames. I found the name “Krickau” and was fascinated in what they had written about this family – my ancestors.

“Krickau

 Spelling Variation: Krikau

Settled in Following Colonies: Warenburg

Pre-Volga Origins: Wolfenhausen, Kr. Limberg-Weiburg, Hessen

Discussion & Documentation

 "Phillip Jacob and Maria Christina Krikau had at least two children: (1) Johann Georg was born 20 October 1721 in Wolfenhausen; and (2) Maria Catharina.

Daughter Maria Catharina Krikau married Jacob Spath and settled in the Volga German Colony of Balzar. [see Spath Family].

Son Johann Georg Krickau, married Maria Kunigunda [surname unknown]. The baptisms of the following children are recorded in the parish register of Wolfenhausen: (1) Johann Wilhelm baptized 7 September 1749; (2) Maria Katharina baptized 31 October 1751; (3) Maria Magdalena baptized 27 July 1753; (4) Johann Adam baptized 7 September 1765.

Johann Georg Krickau, a farmer, his wife Kunigunda and children (Johann Wilhelm, age 16; Maria Katharina, age 14; Maria Magdalena, age 11; Anna Elizabeth, age 7 1/2 ;Johann Adam, age 1) arrived from Lubeck at the port of Oranienbaum on 4 July 1766 aboard the ship Die Neue Freiheit Von Brenen under the command of Skipper Steingrawer.

Kunigunda died after they arrived in Russia, and Johann Georg remarried to widow Maria Katharina Gilau who was on the same ship arriving at Oranienbaum with them. The combined Krickau / Gilau family settled in the Volga German Colony of Warenburg on 12 May 1767. Johann Georg Krickau and his wife Maria Katharina. Children from his first wife ( Johann Wilhelm, age 18; Maria Katharina, age 16; Maria Magdalena, age 8; Johann Adam, age 3, and step-children (Anna Maria Gilau, age 16; Johann Georg Gilau, age 13) are recorded there on the 1767 census of Warenburg in Household No. 156.

The Oranienbaum passenger list records Johann Georg Krickau came from the German region of Runkel. The 1767 census records that he came from the German village of Wolfenhausen in the region of Runkel.”

 

Andreas Krikau is my maternal great-grandfather. Me,Wendy Hoffart (Peters), my mother, Vivian Peters (Sullivan), her mother, Mary Sullivan (Krikau) and her father, Andreas Krikau.

In 1767 my ancestor, Johann Georg Krikau decided to immigrate to Russia from Wolfenhausen, Germany to Warenburg, Russia. Of course, not all of the privileges promised came to be. They arrived and were forced to settle not in any land in Russia, but the site chosen for them along the Volga River. The area was described as a sea of grass as far as the eye could see. The lumber promised never did come. There was no farm implements or even livestock. They were not allowed to be anything but farmers despite the colonists knowing so little about farming because they were artisans in Germany. They were not allowed mingle with the other colonies. The money promised came in very small amounts and not in the amounts promised. Although there is some rumours that the appointed Russian leaders in Volga helped themselves first. The colonists were poor and very homesick for what they had left behind. They couldn't leave Volga because of poverty. 1773 to 1775 the German Colonists were the target of Pugachev's Rebellion which was headed by a disgruntled ex military Russian portraying himself as The Czar attacking the colonies, killing the colonists, taking farm implements, livestock and most often burning the entire village. Essentially those that survived were left to start over again.

The hardships were unfathomable but they survived against all odds. Sadly due to Russification and compulsory military enlistment, the Germans found themselves on the move again but this time to The Americas with so many of the same privileges promised. 

Wendy

 

2024

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Week 4

Prompt – Witness to History

 Wilhelmina Bachmann (nee Fesser) is Bill's great-grandmother. His mother's, mother's, mother! Got it? Good.

Wilhelmina Fesser was born in Theodorshof, Austria on 7 Dec 1870. Wilhelmina died in Melville, Saskatchewan at the age of 98 years on 10 Apr 1969.

Wilhelmina Fesser immigrated to North America departing from Bremen, Germany and Southhampton, England and arriving at New York, United States on 20 Apr 1889. Wilhelmina was 18 and accompanied by her father. I believe I discussed before in one of my blogs that the family folklore was that she travelled alone without her father. The passenger list debunked this story.

Newspaper Article: Wilhelmina Bachmann was featured in "A District Profile ... Her's Was a First in Killaly" published in The Melville Advance on 22 Jan 1958. This article written by Paul Ballendine and he was tasked to get a history or profile on someone in this district. The local postmaster set up an interview with 87 year old Wilhelmina Bachmann saying, “She's a real pioneer of our village. She also was the first women here to get a vote in the federal election.”

This article was a complete history of her life from immigration to her 87^th year. As a genealogist it was gold.

The author went on to talk about her pre-immigration years. Something that was relatively unknown to her descendants. He writes her name as Wilmina!!!

 From New York she went on to her destination of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Two weeks after arriving she had a job as a maid to one of very few German (Austrian) families in Winnipeg. She stayed with this family for 5 years. Her memories of Winnipeg was that when she looked out from her upstairs bedroom she could see the entire city of Winnipeg. She thought it had about 10,000 people at that time.

She met her husband-to-be at church. August Bachmann and Wilhelmina married in January 1893 or 1894. They lived a further 6 years in Winnipeg. August Bachmann preferred to live outside the city so they bought a farm just east of Winnipeg and farmed for 5 years before selling the farm. It was during these years that Wilhelmina and August had 3 daughters. The last daughter was born in 30 Mar 1905. They moved to Killaly on 15 Apr 1905, just barely 2 weeks after the birth. They moved to Killaly, North-West Territories and within 4 ½ months this territory became the province of Saskatchewan.

August Bachmann went into business with Wilhelmina's brother, John Fesser. They turned the local hotel built by John Fesser into Killaly's first general store. Besides the general store, August Bachmann contracted for the first post office in Killaly. August Bachmann was postmaster in Killaly for 35 years. Besides all this he was also he was also paymaster for the local elevators. Wilhelmina worked along side of her husband through all these years. 

Wilhelmina and August Bachmann at Killaly General Store

 Wilhelmina also recalled the beginnings of the city of Melville and the beginnings of the national railway into Saskatchewan.

 In this article, Wilhelmina recalled her greatest honour as being the first women to vote in a federal election in her area. That was 1917 during WWI. The Military Voters Act was passed in August or September of 1917. Up to this time women were not “allowed” to vote. After the act was passed, voting rights for women in federal election was limited to women serving in the armed forces such as military nurses or those women who had a relative serving in the army.

 Wilhelmina Bachmann was happiest working in her garden of vegetables and flowers. Her faith was a constant in her life. She never missed Sunday church services at St. John's Lutheran Church which was a few short steps from her home. She lived in her 7 room home in Killaly until October 1963 when she moved into Melville's St. John's Lutheran Nursing home. She was predeceased by two of her daughters and her husband.

Wilhelmina Bachmann was very much a witness to history. This remarkable woman was a participant in the history of Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Wilhelmina Bachmann (nee: Fesser)

 Wendy

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Week 3 Prompt - Favourite Photograph

 

2024

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Week 3

Prompt – Favourite Picture

I have taken a hiatus for the past few years. At the time I quit, I felt that I really didn't have much more to say about family genealogy. I also said that it was taking time away from researching my ancestors. As it turns out there is always something to say about family genealogy. I also did much more research for my blogs than I have done in the past few years.

Further, Jackie is working on compiling my 3^rd genealogy book which should be published in the next little while. This prompted me to rethink doing my genealogy blogs. I will start up the blogs again with the best of intentions.

'Favourite picture' is almost an annual prompt by Amy Johnson Crow. As it turns out there is always a new photograph that becomes a favourite. Recently I have been working on updating my nieces and nephews' profiles. It is a bit trickier doing research on living individuals. However I have found that Facebook has been an invaluable resource for this. 

 Recently I was looking at my nephew's Facebook entries and photographs. I came across a photograph of my father, Jacob (Jake) Peters. It was one that I don't recall ever seeing. I almost flew by it but realized I was looking at a much younger man than I am use to associating with him. At first I thought I was looking at a photograph of my brother, Robert. 

 The top photograph on this page was an Army ID with photograph. It included his name, rank, his military number, his height and weight, the colour of his eyes and hair. It also included that he had a scar over his Lt elbow. I never knew or heard about this before. He signed it and was finger or thumb printed all be it very smudged and most likely unusable. It was issued either March or May 28, 1943. Jake Peters would have been 26 years old at this time. To me he looks so much younger. 

 The next photograph was one of Jake Peters standing alone in a field in complete army uniform. The background is bleak and very cold looking. He is neither smiling nor frowning. I am pretty sure that this was probably taken by family prior to him leaving for overseas. He looks as lonely as the background that he stands in front of. Makes me shiver!

Next to the photograph is Jake Peters' “dog tags”, or military identification. I think almost everyone knows what I mean when I say dog tags. I did not realize that the family had his real tags. They are quite worn but you can make out his last name and military number and CDN for Canadian. I have read that at times they could include their type of blood and religion (P for Protestant and R for Roman Catholic etc.).

There is something so real with his dog tags next to his photograph. I believe that I have never seen these photos. However it could be that I have forgotten. It was exciting to see photographs that I have never seen before. It gave me another glimpse into my father's life. It was a horrible time to be a young man. His identification tags, paper Identification and photographs show a man standing stoically alone and about to embark on a life he can't comprehend.

Wendy