JACOB UNRUHS NARRATIVE

Our father, Jacob Unruh, was born in 1839. His father, Peter Unruh, died when he was eleven years old. His mother then married Jacob Schmidt, a deacon of the Alexanderwohl Church.

When the Crimean War between Russia and England broke out in 1854-1855 Father was fifteen years old. The Mennonites had to enter military service which included hauling provisions for soldiers and feed for cavalry horses. His father did not entrust his horses to the Russian servants. Therefore he did send father to do the "Podwod" as they called that work.

Father often told us children of his experience in this work. He made at least fifteen trips to the battlefield. Sometimes they could soon return if they took wounded soldiers to the village to be cared for. At other times, however, they were gone much longer, one time almost a year. In winter this work was often very difficult because the weather was so severe. It was so cold that the window panes would remain frost covered all day. They had to sleep in a canvas covered wagon. These wagons were placed in the form of a circle for night camping. The horses were kept inside this circle to protect them from thieves. Every night one of them had to serve as night watchman. Each group had a foreman appointed by the village Schulte back home. This foreman demanded their unquestioned obedience.

Two or three in the group joined to prepare the meals for themselves. If one would bake doughnuts the other would have to watch that their comrades did not help themselves to them.

At times the roads were very bad so that the heavy loads would get stuck in the deep mud. Others would have to help. A certain David Block, who was extremely fond of his horses, would never offer them for help in pulling out heavy loads. As a result no one wanted to help him when he had trouble. Finally our father took pity on him, hitched his own team to the wagon and pulled his load out. Mr. Block was so grateful to our father that they remained life long friends even here in America.

They were often so near the battlefields that they could hear the roar of the cannons. One time they crossed a field a few days after a severe battle. The dead had been removed, but the empty shells indicated the rows of formations of soldiers. They could count the shells to see how many each soldier had fired before he had fallen some only a few, others more.

The general told them if they were ever within range of bomb shells the safest thing to do was to lie flat on the ground. On one occasion when they were camped near the Black Sea, the enemy ships started shooting at them. When they saw the bomb shells coming toward them it didnt take them long to hitch their teams and drive off.

One boy in one group died. They buried him by the side of the road near a tree. Whenever they passed that way again they paused at this grave.

These boys were told to smoke and also drink brandy to ward off contagious diseases. Father said this did very little good but rather caused them to form disagreeable habits. They also acquired the use of profane language from their rough companions. When they returned home they felt quite out of place with the other boys of the village. Soon they all agreed to break their undesirable habits acquired in the war. Father said war did not tend to improve mankind. Undoubtedly these experiences influenced him later to be one of the first to make up his mind to go to America. He said it was not himself he was concerned about but he had five sons who would some day be required to go to war.

Thus for the sake of their sons our parents left Russia, July 20, 1874 (Julian calendar). The whole Alexanderwohl village except two families joined with the first emigration group. Our parents boarded the ship Zimbria, an old freighter, under the leadership of Elder Jacob Buller, on August 13 or 14 (Gregorian calendar). In this group were 303 adults and 172 children from Hamburg. The second group boarded the ship Titonia four days later under the leadership of Elder Dietrich Gaeddert. This group included 203 adults and 114 children.

When the group of emigrants reached Hamburg they were lodged in large emigration home near the shore "Auswanderungsheim am Therstrand" until their ship left. During this time of waiting a daughter, Anna, was born to our parents on August 11. She is now my beloved wife who started her sea voyage at the age of three days.

The ship Zimbria was lost at sea on a voyage soon after this voyage was complete. The other ship, Titonia, almost had a tragic accident on this voyage significant to us. It caught fire but it was discovered in time to be extinguished.

Our parents were very poor when they arrived here due to an unfortunate experience shortly before leaving Russia. After their public sale, and the sale of land had been completed, they remained in their homes until their passport papers were ready but the Russians frequently broke into their houses in search of money. Therefore father took his money about two thousand rubels, to a large business firm in Berdjanzt for safe keeping. This firm in Berdjanzt declared bankruptcy and Father most of his money. This made the first years in America especially difficult.

Other hardships too made the pioneer years difficult. In 1880 Mothers health began to fail; in 1885 she suffered total blindness as a result of cataract; in 1888 she died. In the same year Father married our second mother who is still with us, as well as her two children and grandchildren.

Sickness and other hardships occurred frequently in our family but the good Lord was always present with his help. One of his grandchildren, Aganetha Unruh was killed instantly by lightning June 11, 1915 in their home at 4 oclock in the morning. On September 30, 1903, Father had a very severe attack of gallstones while he was on the way to Newton. He had to be taken to the hospital.

Father died in 1918 at the age of 79 years. At the time of his death all his children and their husbands and wives were still living. At that time he had 34 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Seven grandchildren preceded him in death. Since his death many more grandchildren and great-grandchildren have been born, so that his whole family now would total 146 members of whom 131 are living today.

The farms in Russia were sold at half price or even less. Those folks who were financially well situated loaned money to the general treasury. Out of this the less fortunate were given aid so they too could join the group.

When they arrived in New York they were greeted by friends who had emigrated about a year before. They were Brother David Goertz, Rev. Wilhelm Ewert and Cornelius Janzen. A few others from Pennsylvania also met them and offered to help them. C. B. Schmidt was especially helpful to the group as general agent for the Santa Fe Railroad. He telegraphed to stations ahead announcing the arrival of a large group of immigrants so that there would be enough hot water and bread awaiting them.

The average price of the land was five dollars per acre. However, through the courtesy of the Santa Fe railroad, which owned a great deal of the land, they were able to buy much of their land for half the price or $2.50 per acre.

Peter U. Schmidt, Goessel Ks.