PETER UNRUH

From fathers childhood days I can only relate of what the parents themselves have informed us. Father lived in a time that was entirely different from our present time and age. At that time every young man had to learn some kind of a trade and father was a weaver by trade. He had his own weaving chair and they also raised their own flax. Father made very nice linen which they used for themselves and I think they sold some of it. Here in America mother still had in her possession some very nice pieces of linen that father had woven.

The parents also told us of the war, I think it was the Crimean war. The Mennonites were not permitted to take weapons, but were compelled to do military work in as much as that they had to haul war material to the battle field and some times it took 3 or 4 weeks with team and wagon. During such a time they endured many hardships and folks at home could not be informed as to their condition or troubles.

He also was Dorfschultze for a number of years. This work required much writing and in this my oldest sister Helena assisted him very much.

When the Russian government required active military work from the Mennonites many left Russia and came to America. In Russia they had accumulated considerable wealth. They sold everything, their farms etc. at low prices and came to this country and made Kansas their future home. From Topeka this new colony sent out a group of men to explore the country of which father was one.

The first years in this country were hard and difficult for the Mennonites since conditions were altogether different and everything had to be learned anew through practice. Mistakes were made and serious problems had to be solved but God blessed them wonderfully I have heard father say that one reason why he left Russia was that small farmers and larger farmers could not agree. Even though he belonged to the larger farmers he felt that the poor people were not treated right. He always had sympathy for the poor also serving on the Church Relief Committee for their were many poor immigrants especially from Poland who had to be helped.

Now a few things of his later life especially of his old age which I remember very distinctly since the parents lived with us till the end of their life. He went through a long and severe school of affliction, becoming hard hearing early in life. Later palsy or nerve paralysis set in finally getting so bad that his body trembled all over. He endured much pain and getting little rest. I still remember that Dr. Peter Richert under whose care he was once said to him! "Yes, uncle Unruh, I wou1d be willing to crawl on my knees from Goessel to here if I could help you but I cant." This sickness required much care most of which mother did. Also Bertha (Mrs. C. D. Epp) who was then very young constantly sat at his side when he was up in his chair, presently taking him by his hands and helping him to a different sitting position or moving his feet from the foot stool to the floor and before long back the foot stool again. In between she was sewing for her dolls which interested father. He promised her a sewing machine for this which she received. My oldest sister Mrs. Richert who lived near by supported faithfully in those days especially being a blessing to him spiritually. His hands could not hold a book and I will never forget how he would often stand by the dresser reading Spurgeons booklets "All of Grace" and "For the Weary" which always lay open on his dresser. Not long before his death he related that he had dreamed angels were singing at his bedside "Schiaf em Schlaf ein du altes Kind" (Fall asleep, fall asleep you aged child).

His end was peaceful at the age of 78 years. He went home without agony.

Mrs. David J. Regier