SARA UNRUH (KLASSEN) KRAUSE

Sara Unruh Klassen later Mrs. Jacob Krause was born Sept. 4, 1846 in the village of Alexanderwohl, South Russia. Her parents were Peter and Helena Schroeder Unruh. She was baptized in the year 1863 by Elder Peter Wedel. In the year 1869 Oct. 1 she married Johann Klassen from Elisabethtal. Mr. Klassen died Feb. 26, 1897. In the year 1875 they emigrated to North America. On Oct. 23, 1904 she married Jacob Krause. She died on July 26, 1912.

If Mother Krause could still be with us she would be able to tell us many interesting things about the immigration from South Russia to America, and of the hardships of pioneer life, of the new established home here in McPherson Co. nine miles northeast of Moundridge, Kansas where her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren still live.

In Russia our parents lived in the village Elisabethtal on a farm. On their farm they also had a windmill designed after the type of the Holland windmills and also a treadmill. Two heavy horses were led onto a slanting platform made of heavy planks. Underneath this platform were cog-wheels which set the mill in motion. Since the horses always had to walk uphill they had to be changed every two hours. Father had drilled the horses to the extent that as soon as he knocked on the wall another pair of horses came and walked unto the platform by themselves. Mr. Johann Quiring who at present (1941) is an inmate of the Home for the Aged in Goessel, Kansas was one of the best millers who operated the mill for our parents. His wages in the last year consisted of 100 rubles and five acres of wheat together this amounted to 300 rubles. Mr. Quiring was 18 years old when he together with his parents wanted to go to North America. Mother asked him, "Do you really want to go to America to be eaten by wild people (the Indians)? She gave him the following articles to take with him on his journey: 30 rubles six shirts, three pairs of pants, one big cheese and one-half of a pork ham. Later on when our parents came to America mother asked him, well Johann didnt the wild men kill you? At that time the Indians, often made their appearance in this community.

Here in America our father Johann Klassen contracted a serious disease thru a bad cold. When after 16 years of suffering he was healed he could not thank his heavenly Father enough for his recovery. Already in Russia the death angel had taken his helpmate from his side for the third time so our mother became fathers fourth wife and accepted the care of four children two sons and two daughters who soon were able to help along on the farm.

When our parents came from Russia this region was prairie and hardly a tree could be found. Most of the roads led diagonally across the prairie. In autumn when the grass was dry a great prairie fire sometimes occurred. On the homeplace where our parents settled 3 miles southwest of Goessel, Kansas there was only one well and a small board house. Soon a sodhouse was erected which provided more room for the family which now already numbered ten persons and is the birthplace of the writer of this report. After a period of several years a large house was built 50 ft. long and 28 ft. wide. The first floor was arranged for the familys living quarters while the second floor served as a store room for wheat. A large brick stove was built in the center of the house to keep the rooms warn in winter. The bread was also baked in this oven. The stove was heated with straw. After the stove was hot and the fire had died down a four footed rack was placed in the oven over the glowing ashes. The pan of bread was placed on this rack and here it baked one hour. Later on a steel range was bought but since the salesman had failed to give any instructions how to use this range, it was made very hot and the bread was placed in the oven after the fire had died down. When the bread failed to bake properly, Mother declared that the range should be taken back to town, however, before this plan was carried out she asked advice of a neighbor lady who had experience with a steel range and she said that the fire must be kept burning while the bread was baking in the oven.

Our mother was tall of stature. She had a clear voice and loved to sing. She often sang while at work. Mother was usually in a hurry, for example one of her grandchildren who at that time was quite small, recalls how grandmother often did not touch all steps when she came down the stairs. Of her spiritual life let me give but one example: One forenoon when the horses were frightened and ran away with a farm implement, although no one was hurt and nothing was broken she accused herself that she had failed to pray for protection during their morning devotion. She attained the age of nearly 66 years. Two daughters in early infancy preceded her passing into eternity. Six sons and one daughter are still living at the time of this report--May 1941.

Als ich noch war ein Kind

Blickte mich meine Mutter an

Sie war so freundich so gelind

Schoener als ich Sic beschreiben kann.

Dann war ich ohne Suend

Ohne Fehler, ohne Sorgen

Wohl dachte sie in ihrem Sinn

Wie es heute ists night morgen.

Als ich zur Schule ging

Kannte ich noch keine Not

Ach wie ich an Mutter hing

Wenn sie schmierte mir mein Brot.

Ist es nicht lieb Muetterlein

Die stets hat ein offenes Auge

Sie musz ja wachsam sein

Ueber das was nicht will taugen.

Wenn schon in den Jugenjahren

Die Kinder zanken, streiten

Kannst du Mutter sie bewahren

Fuer die Tage spaeterer Zeiten.

Hab acht 0 Vater du

Lieb Mutterchen lieb Muetterlein

Schliesze nicht ein Auge zu

Ein junges Herz wird of t wie Stein.

Undu willst teure Mutter du

Dein Kind im Himmel sehn

Wenn einst in selger Rub

Du vor dew Herrn wirst stehn.

Lasz nicht nach in dieser Welt

Es deine Liebe zu beweisen

Dann ist es wohl um euch bestellt

Ihr gemeinschaftlich gen Himmel reisen.

Jacob J. Klassen