We find in the old Prussian church record that the serial number of our great--great--grandfather, Peter Unruh, and his first wife, Mrs. Tobias Schmidt, is 504. He and all his ancestors wrote their name Unrau His grandfather, Hans Unrau was born in 1722, but no birthdate is given of the two preceding ancestors. We do not even find the given name of the first Unrau mentioned.

We further find in the Russian church record that his serial number with his second wife, Helena Harpart, and his third wife, Helena Schroeder, is 1229. It was this Peter Unruh who changed his name from Unrau to Unruh. I have used those same church serial numbers in this book with the letter A.

It is further known that his third wife, Helena Schroeder, and his son Peter Unruhs wife, Sarah Schroeder, were sisters.

The figure under letter (a) shows in what generation the person belongs; the figure under letter (b) is the serial number of. each person the figure under letter (c) is the serial number of his father or mother, and can be found somewhere under letter (b).

Our great--great--grandfather Peter Unruh had no children with his first wife, but he had five with his second wife, and seven with his third wife. Three died in infancy. Nine were married, so I have divided this book into nine family groups.

The adopted children have no surname nor serial number except those who are descendants of some Unruh family and those whose surnames are not changed to the foster parents surname.

The married husband or wife of each person in this genealogy is marked with a star. They are the husband or the wife of the person just above. An exception to this is the case of marriages of second and third cousins. These have their serial numbers and also stars. Their children then have the same serial numbers in their fathers family as well as in their mothers family.

If you want to trace a certain grandfathers or grandmothers descendants or a certain childs ancestors, find his name in the alphabetical index and trace it according to the figures thus:

Katharina Moths serial number is 24 under (b) so all her children have the number 24 under (c) and will appear on some following page where their generation is listed.

Eleanor Duerksens serial number is 2518 under (b). The serial number opposite her name under (c) is 2513. That is her mothers serial number list previously in her generation.

In the index 1. Spouses have the number of their mates with the small letter (m) 2. Adopted children have the number of the parent with the small letter (a). 3. Stepchildren have the number of the parent with the small letter(s)

With each family group listed there is also a short story of the early lives of its members, such as the experiences on the trip to America and of their pioneer life. The stories vary even though all the families were on one of the two ships, all lodged in one of the two immigrant buildings until their houses were built. Their houses were all built by one contractor according to the same blueprint except the sod or adobe houses of those who could not afford wooden houses.

The date they left Russia was July 20 according to the Julian calendar. According to our Gregorian calendar this would be twelve days later. It seems they used the Julian calendar throughout their journey and at least the first year here in America.

Upon their arrival, the immigrants found scattered homesteaders. From these they rented two or three acres of land that first spring in order to sow a little bit of wheat. Often these homesteads were two or three or even 6 miles away from their own land which they were breaking up for the following year. Then they could sow a little more, 5 to 10 acres. These homestead farms were later bought by Mennonite friends who came in later years.