Jacob Ratzlaff family census information

After arriving in Marion County, the Jacob Ratzlaff family made their home at several different locations, the first of which was a dugout near a livery stable in Galva, KS.  The green Jacob Ratzlaff book identifies Jacob’s occupation as a weaver of cloth while in Russia.  The SS Polaria identifies him as a farmer on the ship’s manifest.  Jacob may have never owned his own farm in the U.S. though, as the family rented various locations.  According to U.S.A. Federal census data, the family lived in Blaine and Logan Townships in 1900 and Moore Township in 1910.  Clearly the immigration year on this form is not correct.

1900 US Census:
Name:	Jacob H Ratzlaff
Titles & Terms:
Residence:	Blaine & Logan Townships, Marion, Kansas
Birth Date:	1843
Birthplace:	Russia
Relationship to Head of Household:	Self
Spouse:	Anna Ratzlaff
Spouse's Titles & Terms:
Spouse's Birthplace:	Russia
Father:
Father's Titles & Terms:
Father's Birthplace:	Russia
Mother:
Mother's Titles & Terms:
Mother's Birthplace:	Russia
Race or Color (expanded):	White
Head-of-household Name:	Jacob H Ratzlaff
Gender:	Male
Marital Status:	Married
Years Married:	38
Estimated Marriage Year:	1862
Mother How Many Children:
Number Living Children:
Immigration Year:	1874
Enumeration District:	81
Page:	8
Sheet Letter:	B
Family Number:	132
Reference Number:	76
Film Number:	1240488
Image Number:	484
	Household	Gender	Age
	Jacob H Ratzlaff	M
Spouse	Anna Ratzlaff	F
Child	Adam Ratzlaff	M
Child	John Ratzlaff	M

Here’s a scan of a portion of the 1900 census that shows Jacob’s entry, as well as Bernard’s family:

1910 US census:
Name:	Jacob H Ratzlaff
Birthplace:	Russia
Relationship to Head of Household:	Self
Residence:	Moore, Marion, Kansas
Marital Status:	Married
Race :	White
Gender:	Male
Immigration Year:	1893
Father's Birthplace:	Russia
Mother's Birthplace:	Russia
Family Number:	35
Page Number:	3
	Household	Gender	Age
	Jacob H Ratzlaff	M	69y
Spouse	Anna Ratzlaff	F	68y
Child	John Ratzlaff	M	20y
	Charles Nachtigall	M	13y

These locations are in the extreme NE corner of the county.  The 1910 census shows that Charles (Carl) Nachtigal (Eva Ratzlaff Nachtigal’s son) was living with Jacob at the time, perhaps as a farmhand.  See map: http://www.historicmapworks.com/Map/US/47883/County+Outline+Map/Marion+County+1921/Kansas/

John Wiebe, grandson of Helena Ratzlaff Becker, has indicated to me that the Jacob Ratzlaff family lived in the extinct Marion County village of Gnadenau for a time.  See: http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/gnadegnadenau_krimmer_mennonite_brethren_church

and:

http://www.kshs.org/p/kansas-historical-quarterly-settlement-of-the-krimmer-mennonite-brethren/12990

Wiebe also has indicated to me that the family may have even occupied the house that is now the Pioneer Adobe House in Hillsboro, KS, before it was moved to its current museum location.  http://www.cardcow.com/163542/pioneer-adobe-house-museum-hillsboro/

Anna (Foth) Ratzlaff died in 1912 when the family was living near Durham, KS, and was buried in the Logan Cemetary which was associated with the Morning Star Church.  No headstone can be found today.  It's possible that no headstone existed as there was some debate within the Holdeman Church, with which the family may have been associated, in regards to whether headstones were proper or not.  The 1920 U.S.A. Federal census finds Jacob living with Helena’s family, the Beckers, in Meno, Major County, Oklahoma. 

1920 US Census:
Name:	Jacob Ratzlaff
Residence:	, Major, Oklahoma
Estimated Birth Year:	1842
Age:	78
Birthplace:	Russia Poland
Relationship to Head of Household:	Father-in-law
Gender:	Male
Race:	White
Marital Status:	Widowed
Father's Birthplace:	Russia Poland
Mother's Birthplace:	Russia Poland
Film Number:	1821472
Digital Folder Number:	4385101
Image Number:	219
Sheet Number:	2
	Household	Gender	Age
	Bernard Becker	M	38y
Child	Lena Becker	F	36y
	Oittli Becker	F	15y
	Josephine Becker	F	14y
	Alvina Becker	F	12y
	Edwin Becker	M	10y
	Roselle Becker	F	6y
	Neoma E Becker	F	4y
	Lois D Becker	F	2y
	Jacob Ratzlaff	M	78y

Here's a scan of a page from a 1905 Marion County, KS, census that shows Adam Ratzlaff at the top.  I'm not sure whose name could be directly under his since he wasn't married yet in 1905.  His age, however, is listed correctly.  Farther down the page, see Jacob, Anna, and John, as well as Helena and the Beckers; Andrew and Otillie.

This scan is from a different 1905 Marion County census.  Again, Jacob, Anna and John can be seen, as well as Andrew, Helena, and Otillie Becker

Jacob Ratzlaff family travels to USA

The Jacob Ratzlaff family left Russia in 1893 bound for the U.S.A.  Many of the Mennonites in the Karolswalde villages, including elder Tobias Unruh, had left for America in 1874.  The Mennonites from Volhynia settled mainly in Hutchinson and Turner Counties, South Dakota and Marion and Harvey Counties, Kansas (http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/volhynia_ukraine/?searchterm=volhynia).  Perhaps because the Ratzlaffs' traveling fare was donated by Bernard Jantz of Durham, KS, the family were bound for Kansas.

At this point I don’t know much about the Ratzlaffs' voyage from Volhynia to America.  There were train stations near Ostrog; at Kriwin, near Wilbowno at Badowka and Mohylany, and at Ozenin.  These locations are all north and east of Ostrog. 

In the 1890s, they probably would have crossed the border into Austria-Hungary near Brody. 

The train ran from Ozenin to Dubno to Radziwilow which was the last stop in Russia.

From Radziwilow, they would have continued on to Brody and Lemberg (L’vov). 

From there they would have been bound for the German border, at either Myslowice or Oswiecim.  In Germany, the typical immigrant route was Breslau (Wroclaw), Liegnitz, Frankfurt, Berlin, Stendal, and finally Hamburg. 

From Hamburg they sailed on the SS Polaria (SS stood for SteamShip) of the Hansa Line, Hamburg America Line, setting sail on June 10, 1893.  The ship stopped at Antwerp, Belgium, on June 14, 1893, and then progressed on to Montreal, Canada, where it arrived in port on June 27, 1893. 

From Montreal, they would have proceeded on to Chicago, where they would have boarded a train to Kansas.  They probably would have travelled via the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad.  This map from 1891 shows the Santa Fe’s stops.  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atchison,_Topeka_and_Santa_Fe_Railway)

Florence was the main Marion County stop in the 1890s.  There was a branch line that ran from Florence – Marion – Canada – Hillsboro – Lehigh – Canton – Galva – McPherson, so they would have detrained at one of these stops.  This shot shows the Florence depot in 1904.