Cliff Wall's Remembering Our Heritage - Contents

This section contains pages 6 through 11

 

Page6

Tobias A. Unruh (1819-1875)

Tobias A. Unruh was born on May 28, 1819 in Karlswalde, Russia. He was the son of Andrew G. Unruh and Anna Koehn. At age 16 years, Tobias was baptized in the Mennonite church. He later was ordained as Elder and later as Bishop. On November 8, 1870, he married Helena Dirks and together they had 11 children, 2 of which died in infancy.

 

When the Mennonite settlement was advised that their men were going to be forced into the Russian Army, Tobias went with a delegation to St. Petersburg to check things out with the Russian authorities. Nothing was settled so the Mennonites decided it was time to relocate again in order to keep their religious beliefs.

 

Meetings were held and it was decided to end 12 delegates, one from each of the different areas to go to America to check out the feasibility of another location to settle.

 

The 12 delegates were provided with the necessary funds for the extensive travel. They boarded the ship "Frisia" in Hamburg and arrived in New York on May 28, 1873. The delegates then split up to go to various areas. Some went to Western Canada, while the others went across the mid and western. United States.

 

The delegates regrouped in August in New York. To their surprise, while waiting for the ship to take them back with their findings, on September 15, 1873 here comes Daniel and Tobias B. Unruh with their group and belongings unloading from the "SS" Hammonia.

 

On the delegates return to Russia, it was agreed that they would all follow the delegates' recommendations to leave as quickly as possible and go to the new land of freedom.

 

By this time the word had spread like wildfire that the Mennonites were all leaving. Prices for their property fell like a rock and it was very difficult to obtain much of anything for their property. Many families abandoned their homes. Tobias worked very hard to help them as best as he could.

 

The trip to America was very difficult. In the English Channel, their ship collided with another and had to be towed back to London for major repairs. Smallpox and other sickness broke out among the helpless immigrants.

 

On January 28, 1875, after spending 67 days on board the "Illinois" Tobias and family finally stepped off the ill-fated ship in Philadelphia.

 

Tobias and family traveled to South Dakota to establish a new home. Typhoid fever broke out in the area and the epidemic seized Tobias and it took its toll. Tobias passed away on July 24, 1875 only 6 months after riving in America.

 

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THE UNRUH FAMILY BACKGROUND

 

As soon as the 12 delegates who had been chosen by the Mennonites to act as scouts had left for America, the Unruhs, who were mother's people, devised a plan. Tobias B. and Daniel called a meeting of several families of the clan.

 

Fourteen families (relatives and friends) decided that they would all work towards selling off their properties quietly in order to take advantage of high prices, knowing that land leases and personal property values would drop when the delegates returned and the market would be flooded with property for sale.

 

Tobias B. (great grandfather) was in charge to obtain all passports needed. This would take expert negotiations with the authorities. Meanwhile Daniel would organize the sale of their properties and goods without drawing too much attention. Land and other property prices were very high.

 

Tobias and Daniel succeeded in their plans and together the 14 families stepped off the "SS" Hammonia in New York on August 15, 1873. Here they met the 12 delegates who were returning to Russia from their scouting trip. The delegates were very surprised to see the families, however Tobias and Daniel assured them that they would help them get settled when they would arrive with their families. Daniel and Tobias were fortunate because they arrived with considerable wealth to settle in their new homeland.

 

By the time the 12 delegates returned to Russia, word had spread like wildfire that the Mennonites were all going to leave the country by the thousands. Land leases and other property prices dropped like a rock. Thousands of families could not sell their land or household items for more than a pittance. When the Russian Czar was brought to realize that his best farmers had packed up and were actually leaving, he repented from hi decision. It was too late, the Mennonites would not trust him and were moving in droves, bag and baggage.

 

The 14 families were as follows

 

1. Daniel Unruh.                     2. Tobias A. Unruh.                3. Dietrich Neufeld.

4. Cornelius Wedel.                 5. Peter Isaac.                          6. Dietrich Loewen.

7. Cornelius Peters.                 8. Abraham Voth.                   9. David Unruh.

10. Jacob Entz.                        11. Andreas Pankratz.             12. Daniel Schroder.

13. Heinrich Flamming.          14. Aaron Peters.

 

Page9

THE WALL FAMILY BACKGROUND

 

According to legend the Wall family had its origin in one Albrecht Wallenstein, who along with some of his younger relatives, in their first surge of youth, broke away from their staid Mennonite families. They joined up with the "Cossacks" and called themselves the "Free Warriors".

 

Albrecht Wenzel Eusebius Von Wallenstein (1583-1634) born out of noble Protestant Parents in Bohemia, was expelled from the Lutheran College at Altdorf Bohemia, was later converted to the Catholic faith and served in the Hungarian Army. He entered the Service of the Emperor Ferdinand 11, and served in the Army during the 30-year war with Sweden (1618-1648).

 

He was a great leader and was rewarded with the Duchy of Friedland. He controlled a large area for the Emperor and fought in Denmark, Germany and Bohemia. But his officers were jealous of his personal fame and murdered him in his bedroom in 1634. His son Albrecht (who was also in the army) fled for his life and joined the remaining family members. They all went into exile among the Mennonites and shortened the Wallenstein name to Wall. Albrect then called himself, Albert Wall.

 

The Wall family followed a more relaxed pattern of regime than the other Mennonites. They had no specific form of dress and had a great love for music and entertainment. They were bright an adventurous from early on.

 

According to family records, one of Albert Wall's, great, great, grandsons was Peter Wall (1804-1846) who was my great grandfather. He married Elizabeth Funk (1810-1846) Peter and Elizabeth both died in 1846 and left 3 children as follows:

 

                        1. Peter Wall (1840-1884) - grandfather

                        2. Henry Wall (1843-1916)

                        3. Elizabeth Wall (1845-1922)

 

Peter Wall (1840-1884) Married Mary Buller (1843-1915)

 

Peter (1840-1884), brother Henry (1843-1916) and sister Elizabeth (1845-1922) were all born in Alexander, district of Thall (recorded as the village of Alexanderthal in Huebert¨®¨†s Molotschna Colony Atlas and elsewhere - md). Records show that both of their parents, Henry and Elizabeth, died from lung fever after baby Elizabeth was born. The 3 children were reared by their Aunts and Uncles but went on their own at an early age. Records indicate that baby Elizabeth was raised by her uncle and aunt, Gerhard and Elizabeth Wall.

 

The "Clan" which included the families of Wall, Hiebert, Isaac, Penner, Dirksen, Unruh, Neufeld, Toews, Voth, Wedel, Heinrich and other relatives all moved to the Steppes of the Ukraine together. Later Peter and Henry Wall, with their families moved to Blumenort, Russia. The Wall brothers were quite active in the community. Henry was a tailor in town. Peter, my grandfather, became the mayor and the village magistrate who administered local justice.


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Brother Henry (1843 1916) had married Anna Funk (1845-1880) and they decided to leave for America with a cousin, John Wall and wife Sarah. Cousin John was 7 years older than Henry and would help Henry and Anna with the children on the long journey. Other Wall family members were already in America. Henry, Anna and family arrived at Philadelphia on July 28, 1876.

 

Grandparents, Peter Wall and wife Mary Buller were not ready to join brother Henry and family in the migration but would plan ahead for their move when the time was right. They purchased items and property at bargain prices from the other families who were leaving. This property was later sold for a good profit.

 

In 1878 their plan was complete and they left Blumenort and started the long overland trip by train to the seaports of Western Europe. They boarded the ship "S3" Main in Bremen and arrived in New York on September 20, 1878.

 

Three Wall Children:

1. Peter Wall (1840-1884) Married Mary Buller (1843-1915)

 

Peter was born on September 23, 1840 in Alexanderthal in the Molotschna Colony and died on June 13, 1884 near Parker, South Dakota. Mary Buller was born on June 3, 1843 in Warsaw, Poland and died on January 24, 1915 at Woodworth, North Dakota.

 

According to the United States Passenger List of Mennonite Immigrants arriving in America 1872-1904 and published by the Mennonite Library and Archives in North Newton, Kansas, page 85 shows the following:

 

Aboard the ship "SS Main" from Bremen and docking in New York on September 20, 1878, were my grandparents and family.

            Peter Wall age 37                    Maria Wall age 34

            Peter Wall Jr. age 15               Susanna Wall age 11

            Frank Wall age 7                     Anna Wall age 4

            Maria (Mary) Wall age 2         Margaret Wall age 6 ms

 

The crossing had been very rough, taking 21 days to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Most of the family got very seasick except the younger ones. 

 

2. Henry Wall (1843-1916) Married Anna Funk (1843-1880)

                        2nd Marriage to Elizabeth D Unruh (1855-1919)

 

Elizabeth Unruh was the youngest daughter of Daniel Unruh (1820- 1893) and Marie Wedel (1821-1894)

 

3. Elizabeth Wall (1845-1922) Married Heinrich B. Unruh (1845-1882)

 

Sister, Elizabeth Wall (1845-1922) remained in Russia, She married Heinrich B. Unruh, the 1st child of Benjamin B. Unruh and Maria Kunkel (1882-0000). Heinrich B. Unruh was a minister, and was also a nephew of my Great, Grandfather, Tobias B. Unruh.

 

Page11

 

FERDINAND II This illustration from an engraving by Wolfgang Kilian shows Ferdinand II in state robes. He is wearing the reputed crown of Charlemagne, and the cope of the Holy Roman Empire. British Museum

 

GENERALISSIMO OF THE IMPERIAL ARMIES This portrait of Albrecht von Wallenstein (1583-1634) was painted by Van Dyck. At the outbreak of the Thirty Years' War, in 1618, he joined the emperor Ferdinand II, an in 1626 held the supreme command. Jealousy and intrigue led to his assassination in 1634. Pinakofhek, Munich

MURDER OF WALLENSTEIN AND HIS ASSOCIATES BY MERCENARIES These engravings by Matthew Merian show the scenes that took place on the night of February 25, 1634, at Eger. Left: A band of mercenaries broke into the house whither Wallenstein's sup- porters had been treacherously decoyed, and murdered them. Right: They went to the house where Wallenstein was staying and pursued him to his bedroom, where he was slain by a thrust from Captain Devereaux's partisan. The crime was generally understood to have the emperor's approval. From Winter, "Geschichte dss DreissigjShrigen Kriepes"