The Story of Jacob and Maria Link - Part 1 of 9

Darlene (Dee) Byron Milbocker has put in writing the story of her grandparents, Jacob and Maria Link.  She has graciously permitted its posting on this Blog so the larger Link and Batke families can appreciate the struggle and the strength it took for these immigrant families to make a better life for all of us.  

Don Fredrick, grandson of Henry and Katherine Batke, commented on the history with the following:

“The whole story, as far as it goes, impacts us directly, our generation.  But the effect, perhaps in a lesser way is important for the generation that follows ours.    Origins mean something!  Origins mean a great deal when we realize that our ancestors had to face all of this to migrate to America and what it meant already in the early part of the last century as a result of the kind of culture developed by those already here.  Our kids need to know!!!  Their families need to hear the story that is so importantly told by both of you and now potentially will be repeated on the Batke blog even though there may be some uncertainty about who the characters are in the pictures.  Your history makes these pictures especially meaningful to you and yes, even the Batkes.  Thanks to you Dee and Bonnie.”   Nov. 2, 2010.

THE STORY OF JACOB AND MARIA

Written by Darlene Byron Milbocker

Granddaughter of Jacob and Maria

  

This is the story of Jacob and Maria Link and their escape from Russia in the year 1912, nearly one hundred years ago!  Thanks to the internet and the research done by so many of the family, the story behind the story has been discovered!  Until a short time ago, we were quite unaware, as our grandfather did not offer much about his and grandma’s experiences for his own reasons, and as a result, we did not inquire!    

And so, this story is written with a composite of information from family members who have tried to piece together their grandparent’s life story!  Timothy Link, son of Jacob Link Jr. did interview his Grandfather for a school project, which gave us our first bit of information.  His mother, Pat Link and sister Pam Link Schoonaert, all from S. Bend, Ind., at that time, gathered much information.  Bonnie Link Fago, (an enthusiastic genealogist) daughter of Raymond Link, from La Mesa, California, has searched intensely and has been very successful, as was Brenda Link, wife of Gary Link, from Vernon British Columbia, Can.  Brenda recently passed away on September 9, 2009.  She also was an enthusiastic genealogist and had contributed a great amount of information!  Gary is the grandson of Friedrich Link and Maria Elizabeth Knack and Gary’s father was Jakob  (Jacob, also known as Jack) Link.  Sharon Byron Lampros, granddaughter of Jacob and Maria, interviewed and recorded her mother Frieda Friedrika Link Byron on February 2, 1993.  I, Darlene Byron Milbocker, also daughter of Frieda Link Byron, not a part of gathering information necessarily, was graciously given information by all parties.  Our brother Frank Byron, who studies Russian history as a hobby, was also very helpful.  We three are from Allegan, Michigan.   Just recently, contact has been made with a Canadian cousin, Marvin Mutschler of Medicine Hat. Alberta.  He is the son of Anne Link, Mutschler, and grandson of Friedrich and Maria Link.  Marvin has given us some fascinating information that has been incorporated into our story!

Quite recently, contact was made with grandchildren of the Henry Batke family, and so much was shared by them!  Don Fredrick , son of Katherine Batke Fredrick gave us a wealth of information, and Elaine Engler Bush, Anna Batke Pesko, and Elaine Beaudoin  have contributed greatly.  Their information opened up many new avenues and filled in many gaps.

As you will see, generation after generation used the same names over and over, sometimes changing the spelling, making it very difficult to decide who is who.  It can be assumed that the names were repeated so often, to remember, or possibly  honor those that were never seen again. 

One day, it suddenly occurred to me that I had to put all this information, such as it was at that time, into “story form”, for the sake of my descendants.  So much has become available since, making original versions of the story obsolete.  So once again, I attempt to document their story, with the information we now have.  I have come to realize that this story may never be finished, as more information becomes available and some memories are “jogged,” making for some interesting insights into the lives of our ancestors.

FRIEDRICH AND ELIZABETH LINK

Our story begins with Friedrich Link, born 1852 in Steegan, West Prussia and Elizabeth (Hopp) Link, born in Rosengart, Russia 1854, who became the parents of our Jacob Link.  There were also Elizabeth, Friedrich, and Peter.   Friedrich and his parents may have become part of the migration of Germans to the Ukrainian Republic of Russia.  Most likely, they as others, fled their homeland to avoid the wars of the 19^th century in Germany, through Germany and across Germany, by other nations.  (It is here that we find a discrepancy in our story!  I used the information we have from Brenda Link stating that they lived in Russia, but Grandpa Link, in his statement to his Grandson, Tim, said that they lived in Germany).   This is still being unraveled.

The journey to Russia in those days was an ordeal to try the strongest, beyond the endurance of many.  But the German immigrants still came to the Black Sea region by the thousands.

Peter and Jacob Link standing;
Elizabeth and Friedrich Link sitting.
Photo courtesy: Bonnie Fago, date unknown

Friedrich and Elizabeth were married in Russia, city not known.  His father’s name was Johan.  Her father’s name was Gottfried Hopp and her mother’s maiden name was Karoline Whorms.  Nothing more is known.

Friedrich and Elizabeth Link moved to an area above the Black Sea known as Alexandrovsk, Ekaterinoslav.  The city has changed names many times.  It was Yekaterinoslav 1776-1782, re-established 1783-1797.  It was Novorossiysk from 1797-1802, Yekaterinoslav from 1802-1917.  It was Sicheslav from 1917-1918, Yekaterinoslav again from 1918-1926 and became the province of Dnepropetrovsk/Dnipropetrovsk in 1926 to present day.    It is surrounded by Mennonite communities. 

Their sister, Elizabeth Link was born Aug. 30, 1875 in Gerhartstal, Russia,   She married Peter Schultz, who was born August 14, 1875 in Chorititza.  Both Gerhartstal, and Chorititza are Mennonite communities  in Russia.

At one time, similar promises had been made to the Germans of Prussia, and a group known as the Mennonites, by Catherine II, Empress of Russia.  The Mennonites had an important role in the background of the Germans who found themselves in Russia and eventually immigrating to Canada and the United States. 

Catherine II reigned from 1762 to 1796 as Empress.  Her son Paul I, reigned in Russia  from 1796 to 1801. Nicholas I, son of Paul I, reigned from 1825 to 1855, and Nicholas II,  reigned from 1894 to 1917, as Czars.  Catherine made promises to the Germans who immigrated to Russia.   Nicholas broke them!     

Catherine the Great had been very motivated to put swampland that the royal family owned to productive and profitable use, and was informed how industrious and innovative the Mennonite farmers were.  She encouraged only Mennonites to settle the region of Russia known as Chorititza, a city near the Dnieper River.  The Royal family exploited and profited quite well in this arrangement and helped to transform the region into a “breadbasket” for Russia.  The political climate changed over time however, and allowing these “immigrants” to be important agricultural producers fell out of favor after Catherine II died.  A plan was announced that all special privileges would end by 1880.  Now they were required to give up their culture, language, and deliver their sons to the Russian army.  Because of the changes in the Czar’s policies towards the Germans living in Russia, a large wave of immigration to America began in the late 19^th century.  This included the Mennonites.  By 1912, 300,000 Germans had “immigrated from Russia to North and South America. 

The Dneiper River was an important route traveled by the Mennonite and Lutheran families in establishing the Dnepropetrovsk region, and Chorititza, nearby.  One and one half million Germans moved to Russia and were scattered about in communities above the Black Sea, the Volga, and the Dons Rivers, the Volhynien area and Crimea.  The Germans were all promised that they could:

1.         Keep their own language

2.         Churches

3          Have their own schools

4.         Never have to serve in the military.                                                 

In 1873 a delegation of 12 Mennonites explored North America, seeking large tracts of fertile land.  Canada was chosen, which promised privileges for the Mennonites, previously held in Russia, near Manitoba, Canada, such as:

l.          They could keep their own language.

2.         Freedom of worship

3.         Control of their own schools

4.         Exemption from military service

The Story of Jacob and Maria Link - Part 2 of 9

JACOB’S EARLY YEARS

When Jacob was a schoolboy in Russia, he attended school 39 hours a week for 5 1/2 days a week. He had to read and write the Russian letters, the English letters and the German letters.  Each hour the teachers changed off and taught a different grade. 

Rempel Plant, Chortitiza, Ukranine, Russia.  Photo: c 2006

At the age of 16, he worked in a machine shop in the Ukrainian Republic, which is an industrial center.  He received a certificate of high recommendation from his employer B. W. Remple in 1902, which reads that “Jacob Fredrich Link worked in my plant in the metal-worker’s department in 1902.  He did a good job”.   Signed  B.W. Rempel.  Grandpa was 16 yrs. old.  The Rempel factory developed and manufactured an improved version of the seeder plow, also manufactured cultivators, fanning mills, reapers and underground packers that were used to pack newly planted seed to encourage germination.    

Later he became a furniture maker by trade, possibly working alongside a man who would become his lifelong friend, Mr. Henry Batke, who will become a very important part of our story.

When Timothy Link, grandson of Jacob Link interviewed his grandfather for a school project, he was told that, he (Jacob) was born, lived, and worked in Russia, but left when he was a young man, because the Bolsheviks were taking over the government life in Russia”.  “Life in Russia was changing so much that it wasn’t a happy life anymore and they were no longer free!”    Marvin Mutschler’s information adds more insight into the reason that the Link families left.  He states, “the only thing I remember my mom (Anne) telling me as to why our grandparents fled the old country was that, life was intolerable there and people were starving.”

             

Russia’s defeat in the Russian – Japanese war in 1905 resulted in revolts against the Czar in many places, including Yekateranoslaw (Dnepropetrovsk)!  Tens of people were killed and hundreds wounded.  There was a wave of anti-semantic attacks.

Jacob Link, 1907

Friedrich Link c 1907

Our grandfather and his two brothers were in the Russian Army, and I am told that in the pictures that we have of them, they are wearing officer’s uniforms!  Grandpa served for three years, from the age of 21 to 24 years of age.  I have to surmise that they were part of the Russian draft, (a promise broken)!  Our grandfather was a valet to a Russian General, waiting on him and polishing his boots, at least for a time, but he must have risen in rank, since he did become an officer.  (As told to Bonnie Link Fago by her father Raymond Link.)   I am told that when you were in the Russian Army, you were in it for a long time, (possibly life), and that many officers were being assassinated, and those under the officers were being assassinated also.  Many began to desert.

Peter Link, c 1907

 “Conditions were ripe for revolution as the country was without a real government!  There was no longer a middle class, the aristocracy was ruined and without influence, and there was much corruption!  There were about 100 million people gradually becoming poorer and poorer as they bore all the burden of taxation, and were being drafted into the Army by the thousands.  The revolutionary movement had a profound impact on the Russian character.  Its creed of violence and treachery was poisoning the whole structure of society!”  Quoted from the “Russian Dagger”.

It has always been thought that Grandpa and Grandma Link left Russia for a better life, but after studying Russian history and especially the events that took place in their own area, there can be no doubt that they fled for their lives!!  And just in time, as we will see!

TIME TO FLEE

Jacob Friedrich Link, born March 5, 1886, married Maria (Mary Philips) September 4, 1911, at Alexandrwsk Church, in Ukrainian Republic, Russia.  They were married  by Pastor G. Rath.  She was born May 14, 1895.  Their marriage certificate states Jacob Link, son of the “German citizen”, Friedrich Link, and Maria Phillip, daughter of the “German citizen”,  Ferdinand Phillip, were married, both Lutheran religion!  The distinction of being a “German Citizen” was always with them!

The Story of Jacob and Maria Link - Part 4 of 9

THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

The Russian Civil War in the Ukraine was from 1914-1923.  With the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II, Russia was thrown into bloody revolution.  The Mennonite communities of the Ukraine were the scene of the most violent uprisings and bandit raids in the history of the Russian Civil War!!!  First the anarchist, (bandits) then the Bolsheviks, lay waste to their land. `By 1918, anarchy had completely destroyed the once thriving Mennonite community.

Farms, homes, personal possessions, even life itself, felt the fist of tyranny!  Plagues of diseases such as Cholera and Typhus, along with starvation took their toll.  Suffering became a way of life!

After the bandits were turned back, the Ukraine found itself under Communist rule.  Many were sustained by their faith, but the government had no use for anyone who believed in God.

It was only a short time before WWI, which started in 1914!  At that time, the hatred of everything German reached new heights.   Grandpa and Grandma’s parents and sister Elizabeth were still there!  We don’t know what might have happened to them during this time period.  Our records show that Friedrich and Elizabeth died in Russia, and that Friedrich lived to be 91 years old, and passed away in 1943 (from Brenda Link).  But there is no record of Great Grandma!   Could she have been one of the casualties??  Much of this was taken from “A family Strives for Survival During the Russian Revolution.”

THEY ARRIVE

The time level that these families arrived in Canada:  the Batkes arrived  July 28, 1912, the arrival time for the Friedrich Link family was well after August of 1912,  possibly into October of  that year,  Jacob and Maria arrived  January 27, 1913, and Peter and the Knack family arrived April 3, 1913.  They still had to travel across Canada  by train to Moose Jaw and  Swift Current.  Surely there was great rejoicing upon each family’s arrival!! 

How did Friedrich and Maria accommodate so many?  They all arrived just before, or well into a Canadian winter!!  My conclusion, (only a conclusion), is that they had help from the Mennonites!   It is known that the Batke family didn’t have a history of Mennonite religion in their background, as they were Lutheran, but they did travel with, and lived among the Mennonites in Canada, and in Russia, which was heavily populated with Mennonite families, as did the Link’s!

As more settlers came to the prairies of Saskatchewan on railways, the population grew.  Saskatchewan became a Province on September 1, 1905.  The Homestead Act permitted settlers to acquire one quarter of a square mile of land.  Immigration peaked in 1910 and in spite of initial difficulties of frontier life, distance from towns, possibly sod homes,   and backbreaking labor, a prosperous (agrarian) society was established.  (An agrarian society is one that is based on agriculture as a prime means of support.)

There were rules concerning the land!  They were required to clear 10 acres of each quarter section per year and put it under cultivation the following year. 

Mr. Henry Batke broke 23 acres of new ground in 1914, cleared 21 acres in 1915 and planted 44 acres.  The house was 16x24 with 250.00 worth of lumber.  The barn was 18x30 and a granary was 12x14. Henry Batke received a Land Patent dated March 30, 1918 indicating official ownership of a quarter section of land equaling 160 acres.

As there were no, or few trees, it can be assumed that they had to buy lumber to build a house, barn and granary, possibly from the Mennonites, who were well established by then.  That is how they know the value of their houses.  Where did they live while building their houses?

Saskatchewan Homestead Map c1915; Blue-Links; Red-Batkes

On March 28, 1913 Friedrich Link applied for Homestead Patent for a quarter section of land at the age of 39.  He states that he has lived on the land continuously from that date with his wife and seven children.  In 1913 he cleared and planted 10 acres.  1914 he cleared 15 and planted 25.  1915 he cleared 5 and planted 30 acres.  And in 1916 he cleared 45 and planted 75 acres!

Saskatchewan Homestead Layout-Click image to enlarge

In a sworn statement by Heinrich Krueger for Jacob Link in reference to the application for land patent, November 22, 1917, he states that Jacob was a farmer since 1913 and that he had lived on the land continuously, with his wife and 3 children since May of 1914.  In 1914 he cleared 15 acres and cropped 8.  In 1915 he cleared 20 acres and cropped 15.  In 1916 he cleared 35 acres and planted 35.  In 1917, he cleared nil, and planted 70 acres. 

In 1914 Grandpa had 4 cattle, in 1915, 5 cattle and 1 hog.  In 1916, he had 2 cattle, 4 horses and 2 hogs, and in 1917, he had l cow, 4 horses and 6 hogs.    He also had a 14x18 frame house valued at 200.00, and 10 acres of fencing worth 35.00, a 14x20 framed barn along with a good well valued at 50.00.  Our mother described this house as having 3 rooms, but they had to be very small rooms, or partitioned off in some other way  than actual walls.         

When clearing the land is mentioned, more than likely this did not mean clearing of big trees, as one might think.  The prairie was known as the “steppe” meaning “without trees”.  Katharine Batke Fredrick remembered that the “steppes” of Canada destroyed plows because of all the rocks.  

Think about it!  When they settled on their homestead, there was nothing there! No shelter, no water, nothing!  They had arrived with only what they could carry, one would assume!  Three of the families had small children!  But they were FREE at last!

Brothers Peter, Jacob and Friedrich Link, Canada, c1913

The Story of Jacob and Maria Link - Part 8 of 9

GRANDMA

Grandma would often hemorrhage from the nose and mouth.  The doctor came to the house, but couldn’t do much for her.  He would plug her nose, but then she would bleed from the mouth.

The doctor was especially good to the children.  He would bring them food and take them to dinners at the Whitcomb Hotel.  He told them, “you can come just as you are,” then he would take them back home!  One of these dinners was also a Christmas Party.  Mom got a doll that she felt that she was “too old for”, but she kept it anyway!

Unfortunately, Grandma did not live to enjoy their new lives and prosperity, as she had had a series of strokes, which eventually took her life.  Mom says in the interview  by daughter Sharon, that Grandma had three strokes.

Her last stroke happened on the sloped path coming down the Bluff, going home.  She fell and couldn’t walk or speak at the time!  A girl they were acquainted with found her, and she managed to find someone to get Grandma home.  Her left side was paralyzed.  She must have eventually gotten some of her speech back, because she would ask “whose hand is this, whose arm is this”?

The teacher had to tell Mom and the boys to go home, that their mother was ill.  Grandma could only look at her children: she died two days later.  Bonnie told about Uncle Ray going in and sitting with his mother, (perhaps they all took turns doing that), he was 9 years old at the time.  The children were all there when she died.  She was 34 years old.  I can only wonder what must have been going through her mind at this time, concerning her young children!

L-R: Raymond, Jacob Jr., Jacob Sr., Willie, and Fred Link, 1942

But she need not have worried!!  She would have been very proud of her children and their many accomplishments!  They became such good, loving, Christian people, dedicated to their husband, and wives and families!  All became naturalized citizens, and all four of the boys served in WWII at the same time with a willingness to give their lives for their adopted country!!

According to her obituary in the St. Joseph Herald Press of January 14, 1929:  The Trinity Lutheran Church, “the largest house of worship in the city”, was filled for the funeral, and Mr. Henry Batke was a pallbearer!  There was a prayer service held at the home at 1:30 p.m. with the funeral held at 3 o’clock.  The minister was Rev. Louis Nuechterlein. 

Besides Grandpa and the five children, she left her mother, two sisters, and two brothers, all of whom resided in Germany, according to the obituary.  Grandma was born in Pawlowka, Russia.  When she left Russia, we can be sure that she never saw her mother, or siblings again!

As far as we know, Grandpa never saw his parents or sister again after leaving Russia, and never saw his brothers who stayed in Canada again either, to the best of our knowledge!

Our mother finished the eighth grade and then stayed home to care for her four younger brothers.  This was something she had few regrets over.  Yes, she would have liked more education, but her brothers were more important!  There was a special bond between sister and brothers!  She had actually become their substitute mother!  They always called her “Sis”!   

The Batke’s had become close neighbors of the Link’s on Vine St.  Their final home was 714 Vine and of course the Link’s was 626 Vine St.  The houses were all quite close with small yards, usually fenced in.

A REVELATION!

Katherine Batke and Frieda Link, St. Joe, Early 1920s

It was only after I had started to write the Story of Jacob and Marie, and listened to Mom’s interview again, and she mentions the names of the Batke girls, who were Mary and Katherine, that these are the girls who were her friends that we used to go visit!  I always thought that they were school friends, but I now know that they were far more than that!  These girls had been through it all, from their beginnings in Canada, and for Katherine, Russia, as she was born there!

I never knew of the connection, even though I certainly had heard the name Batke many times and knew they were neighbors of Grandpa’s.  I didn’t know they knew each other in Russia, nor the story behind their friendships until I started writing this, (the first time)!   I had listened to Mom’s interview before, but just didn’t make the connection.!  It wasn’t until I started finding pictures in Mom’s old albums with the name Batke on them that it suddenly began to make sense, after all these years!!

Mary became the wife of Arthur Engler and they lived down the block by the Depot at 600 Vine St.  I only knew her as Mary Engler!  They had a daughter named Elaine, and she and I played together (I remember the game of “Jacks”), while our mothers visited!!  To get to Mary’s house, mom and I would walk on the sandy dirt path along the fenced in yards, and not far from the railroad tracks.

Katherine’s husband’s name was Herman Fredrick, having recently learned that his parents were also a Homesteading family from Canada, originally from Russia!  Herman  Fredrick came into the United States through Portal, North Dakota by train on March 8, 1922 with a birthplace indicated as Trunstahl, Canada.  A whole other story!  I knew him as Katherine’s husband Herman, and that they had a son Don who I was sure had become a Lutheran Minister.  But I do remember that Jeannie and Katherine came to visit Mom and Dad when they were building a new house near Allegan!  Our mother actually got a brand new house!  Grandpa and Uncle Fred were there too, building cupboards for the new house!  Sharon was little and Mom was expecting Frank.  This would be about 1956. 

When Mom was well into her 80’s and her health was failing, Dad was quite urgent that we go see Mary and Art Engler, so we did one Sunday afternoon!  They had moved to an  apartment, but they were still in St. Joe!  That was Mom’s and Mary’s last visit together!  I still had no clue!  Everyone must have thought I just “knew”!

One day, I got a short letter from Mary’s daughter, Elaine, asking if my mother was still alive, that her mother was asking about Mom.  I felt so bad having to tell her that Mom had passed away on December 19, 2004.

A bit of a twist in this story has taken place recently.  I came across Elaine’s address and decided to contact her, so I wrote and included a “rough copy” of our family’s  story, which is now totally obsolete!!!  She called me on the evening of July 25, 2009!  I had not spoken to her for about 60? years!  She had to tell me that her mother, Mary, had passed away also, which I was sorry to hear of.

I learned from Elaine that a child was born to the Batke family while they were in Alabama in 1922, named Anna, and she resides in St. Joe, Mi!  Our Uncle Jake was best man at Anna’s wedding!  There were three more children born to the Batke’s in St. Joseph:  Henry Batke Jr. born in 1925.  He also served in WWII.  Then there were Edwin A. Batke, and Ruth Batke for a total of nine.

Maria and Jacob Link Obituaries (1929 & 1970)

Maria Link is Taken by Death

Mrs. Maria Link, 34, mother of five children, died at noon today at her home, 622 Vine street.  She was the wife of Jacob Link, an employee of the Auto Specialties Manufacturing company.

Frieda Link, the oldest of the five children is ill. The other children are Frederick, William, Raymond and Jacob, Jr.

Besides her husband and children, Mrs. Link leaves her mother, two sisters and two brothers, all of whom reside in Germany.

Mrs. Link had been in ill health for some time, her condition becoming serious on Sunday.

She was a member of Trinity Lutheran church and services will be held from that church Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock after prayers at the home on Vine street at 1:30.  The Rev. Louis Nuechterlein will officiate.

Mr. and Mrs. Link moved to St. Joseph from Canada six years ago and had come to Canada from Russia in 1912.

Mrs. Link was born in Russia on May 19, 1894.

St. Joseph Herald Press, St. Joseph, MI, January 10, 1929, p. 4, col. 2.

Jacob Link Obituary

Jacob Link, 81, 626 Vine street, St. Joseph, died at 3 p.m. yesterday in the Shoreham Terrace nursing home.

Mr. Link was born June 5, 1888, in Russia.

His wife, the former Mary Phillips, preceded him in death in 1929.  On June 4, 1965, in St. Joseph, he was married to Clara Lee who survives.

Also surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Walter (Frieda) Byron of Allegan; four sons, Fred of Coloma, William of St. Joseph, Raymond of San Diego, Calif., and Jacob of South Bend; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Friday at 2 p.m. in the Trinity Lutheran church with the Rev. Albert Knoll, associate pastor of the church, officiating.

Burial will follow in Riverview cemetery.

Friends may call at the Kerlikowske and Starks funeral home.

The News Palladium, Benton Harbor, MI, January 15, 1970, p. 16, col. 6.

Note: Jacob and Maria Link were neighbors of the Batkes in Canada, traveled with them to Alabama and eventually to St. Joseph, Michigan where both families lived on Vine street.

Katherine Reck Batke Schmeichel Obituary, 1979

K. Schmeichel

Mrs. Katherine (Batke) Schmeichel, 89, of Route 2, Box 470, Coloma, died Sunday evening at Claremont Nursing Home, Benton Harbor.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Kerley and Starks Funeral Home, St. Joseph, where friends may call beginning at 7 p.m. today.  Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery.  Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran church of which she was a member.

Mrs. Schmeichel was born October 14, 1890, in Cortiza, Russia.  Survivors include: five daughters -- Mrs. Katherine Fredrick, Mrs. Alex (Anna) Pesko, Mrs. Robert (Ruth) Jonatzke, all of St. Joseph.  Mrs. Arthur (Mary) Engler of Coloma, Mrs. Olin [sic] (Selma) Smith of Seminole, Okla.; three sons -- William and Henry Batke, both of St. Joseph, Edwin Batke of Coloma; 20 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Mrs. Lena Kampes of Hamm, West Germany.

The Herald Palladium, Benton Harbor-St. Joseph, MI, October 29, 1979, p. 10, col. 3

Henry Batke, Oath of Residence/Allegiance, Canada, 1917

Before anyone could become a citizen of Canada, an Oath of Residence was required. The individual had to swear that "in the period of five years preceding this date, I have resided at least three months in the Dominion of Canada, with the intent to settle therein, without having been during such three months a stated resident in any foreign country, So help me God." Henry Batke swore to this on July 18, 1917. (Note in the following post, the Certificate entitling Henry Batke to Naturalization states that he has been in the country for three years.  This is confusing.)

Additionally, an "Oath of Allegiance" was required. The document reads:
"I, Henry Batke, formerly of Thortz in the Province of Jekaterinslaw, Russia, and known there by the name of Henry Batke and now residing at Lydiard, P.C. in the Province of Saskatchewan, farmer, do sincerely promise and swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King George V., as lawful Sovereign of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and of the Dominion of Canada, dependent on and belonging to said Kingdom, and that I will defend him to the utmost of my power against all traitorous conspiracies or attempts whatsoever which shall be made against His Person, Crown and Dignity, and that I will do my utmost endeavour to disclose and make known to His Majesty, His heirs or successors all treason or traitorous conspiracies and attempts which I shall know to be against Him, or any of them; and all this do swear without equivocation, mental evasion or secret reservation. So help me God."
Henry swore this oath before George Mayson, Justice of the Peace, in Chaplin, Saskatchewan on July 18, 1917.

Henry's signature appears twice on this document. Note that "Chortitza" has variant spellings depending on whether the document is in English, German or Russian. "Choritiza" and "Thortz" are the same place.  Also, "P.C." after Lydiard, stands for "Postal Code." 

The Justice of the Peace then drew up another document entitled: "Certificate that Alien is entitled to Certificate of Naturalization." That document follows in the next post.

The parents of Catharine Reck Batke

On July 14, 1937, Catharine Reck Batke filled out an application for a Social Security Number. She was living at 714 Vine Street in St. Joseph, Michigan and working at the Berrien Packing Company, also in St. Joseph. She stated her birthday as October 14, 1891 on the typed copy, however in the section which reads: "subject to later verification" the year is corrected to 1890. This later date is consistent with Catharine's other documents. She also notes she was born in Russia. The SS# provided her is: 367-12-0849.

Best of all, she lists her father as John Reck (you can see the correction from Rek to Reck) and her mother as Renata Shirk.

An email note received from Don Fredrick, grandson of Catherine Reck Batke, shared the following information on March 11, 2011 to Elaine Beaudoin:

In a note recently discovered from a visit to my grandmother Catherine Batke, wife of Henry Batke, by the Don Fredrick family before she died and while she was in the nursing home, we find that Renata Scherk, Shierk, Shirk was mentioned by her as the wife of her father John Reck.  We assumed at the time of the visit that John and Renata, according to Catherine, did not leave Germany to come to Canada or the US.  We wrote down on our note at the time that the spelling was Scherk, not Shirk.   Are you sure about the spelling of Renata "Shirk"?

Until more proof is provided, all the spellings -- Scherk, Shierk and Shirk -- should be researched.   Thanks Don for the note.

Pallanza Manifest, page 15

On page 15 of the Pallanza passenger list it shows Batkes on lines 27 - 29.
Line 27: $580(?) in cash, Batke, Johan, age 35
Line 28: Batke, Anna, age 65
Line 29: Batke, Anna, age 11
The Batkes state they can read and write; their country of birth is Russia and their race is German. Their destination is Ernfold, Saskatchewan. Johan states he was a farmer in Russia and plans to be a farmer in Canada. They say they plan to "always" stay in Canada and declare their religion as Evangelical.  They note they will be traveling inland on the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR).

Pallanza Manifest, page 16

 

Listed on page 16 of the Pallanza manifest for July 13-28, 1912 are several more of the Batke family.

Line 1: $160 in cash; Batke, Heinrich, age 34

Line 2: Batke, Catarina, age 22

Line 3: Batke, Catarina, age 2/12

Line 4: $50 in cash; Batke, Karl, age 29

Line 5: Batke, Frederika, age 24

Line 6: Batke, Anna, age 2

The information for these Batkes is the same as for those on page 15.  The adults state they can read and write and plan to stay in Canada permanently.  They declare their country of birth as Russia, race as German and their destination as Ernfold, Saskatchewan.  The male adults say they were farmers in Russia and that they plan to be farmers in Canada.  They also state their religious denomination as Evangelical.  And, they plan to travel, once they land, on the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR).

Henry Batke Visa, 1912 Image

A translation of this Imperial German Consulate document follows in the next post. Image courtesy: Don Fredrick.

Henry Batke Visa, 1912 Translation

The Imperial German Consulate

Asks hereby all civilian and military authorities that the presenter of this German Reich visa, Heinrich Badtke, a furniture maker, he, himself, in the company of his wife Katharina, born Reck, and daughter Katharina, be given permission to travel to Germany and return to Russia freely and unhindered, and if necessary, be given aid(protection).

 Charkow, the 25 June 1912 the Imperial Consul

(An unreadable signature)

Executed per law, paragraph #1136    B124

Valid for one year

Description of the Passport Holder

Age   born 7 Sept 1877

Hair   dark blond

Eyes   blue

Nose/ Mouth -- regular

Beard/ (blank)

Stature (can’t read handwriting)

Special marks: None

Religion: Evangelical Lutheran

Signature of the passport holder (the document is unsigned by Henry Batke)

(Translated March 13, 2010, by Elaine M. Beaudoin)

Chortitza, Russia

Henry Batke was born in 1877 in Chortitza, Russia per his Canadian naturalization papers.  Chortitza was a major Mennonite settlement.  Although there is no proof that the Batkes were Mennonite, they lived with the Mennonites in Russia and then later in Saskatchewan, Canada.  Henry's daughter Katherine was born in Pawlowka, Russia, which by 1943 came to be called Osterwick, and can be seen to the south west of Chortitza on this map.  In 1912, Katherine was baptized in the Lutheran Church in Russia before immigrating to Canada with her parents. Chortitza Mennonite Settlement (map) in 1943. Mennonite Encyclopedia, v. 1, p. 572.

Jacob Link and Henry Batke

Jacob Link and Henry Batke were friends from their days in Saskatchewan. They traveled to Yellow Pine, Alabama together and eventually settled in St. Joseph, Michigan. They even possibly knew each other in Russia as they were both in the woodworking/furniture making field and it is believed they lived within a few miles of each other, attending the same church, Alexandrosker Evangelisch-Lutherischen. The Links and Batkes lived down the street from each other in St. Joseph, Michigan. Jacob Link at 626 Vine Street and Henry Batke at 714 Vine Street, approximately two blocks from Lake Michigan's shore.
Photo date and place unknown.  Photo courtesy: Don Fredrick.

Katherine Reck Batke Schmeichel death certificate, 1979

Katherine Schmeichel died on October 28, 1979.  Her daughter, Katherine Fredrick was the informant on her death certificate.  Unfortunately, Mrs. Fredrick did not know the names of Katherine Reck Batke Schmeichel's parents.  However, she supplied Mrs. Schmeichel's Social Security number: 367-12-0849.

Henry Batke Declaration of Intention to become a US Citizen, 1939

Henry Batke prepared and signed Declaration of Intention paperwork to become a US Citizen on February 18, 1939. Completed citizenship papers have not been located.