Re: Obit: Harold E. Brehm, 77, b. NEB, ID, WA.
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In reply to:
Obit: Harold E. Brehm, 77, b. NEB, ID, WA.
Verlyn Shovan 6/26/02
Johannes Krannewitter and his wife Anna Elizabeta Sattler arrived in the Volga-German colony of Obermonjou, Russia on 3, August 1767, registered No. 63 on the recorded list of the first settlers. Weisbach (Germany) was designated as Johannes' place of origin. At the end of the year 1767, Johannes gave his age as 36, and Anna Elizabeta gave hers as 29. This would indicate that he had been born about 1731, and she about 1738. Johannes listed his religion as Catholic and his occupation as baker (Pleve 1998).
The Catholic settlement of Obermonjou was establisned on the east side of the Volga River--about 40 miles northeast of Saratov--by 82 families on 5 March 1767. It was named for Major Otto Friedrich de Monjou, a Frenchman who had been employed by representatives of the Russian empress Catherine the Grea tto recruit people from Germany who would settle the relatively empty expanses along the lower Volga River (Koch 1977). One of these settlers was Johannes Krannewitter from Weisbach, Germany.
German online telephone listings reveal six town s named Weisbach (Teleauskunft 1999). In order to ascertain which of these towns Johannes Krannewitter came from, the author neede to examine the historical records that might bear reference to him. The only German records that were kept and that would contain the needed genealogical information for the period in question--around 1720 to 1770--are Catholic parich records of baptisms and marriages. All of the parish and docesan archives that contain data for these towns were contacted, and the researchers there investigated the files of these there from the early to the middle 1700s. Following is a description of the search.
The Bezirk (state) of Rheinland-Pfalz is the site of two towns called Weisbach, one of which is located about 10 miles northeast of the city of Zweibrucken. Diocesan records for that place have been kept since 1738, but registers there did not contain any references to individuals or families with the name Krannewitter or with any name spelled similarly (Mitsching 1998). The other town namedd Weisbach in Rheinland-Pfalz is located near the community of Bad Ems. It was designated on the online telephone listings but was not mentioned in Catholic parish records (Stenger 1999).
There is a village called Weisbach near the town of Eppelborn in the state of Saarland. In this village, which is situated about 10 miles north of Saarland, parish records contain no references to individuals named Krannewitter of anything similar (Pfarramt Eppelborn 1998).
Three localities named Weisbach are located in the state of Bayern (Bavaria). A village called Wiesbach, which lies near the community of Ainring in Oberbayer (Upper Bavaria) had no parish records of families with the surname Krannewitter or anything similar (Pfister 1999). Another town called Weisbach, also Upper Bavaria, is located about 45 miles northeast of Munich. Researchers there would also find no parich records referring to families named Krannewitter or any similar spelling variant (Mai 1998). Diocesan researchers of the parish archives of the town just mentioned also examined the records for another village named Weisbach, which is about seven miles farther north. This village is situated in Niederbayern (Lower Bavaria) and lies just north of the line that separates Upper Bavaria from Lower Bavaria. Records for the parish includes the tiny hamlet of Weisbach, lower Bavaria, contain several references to families with surnames similar to Krannewitter living there at the time in question (Mai 1998). At least one of these families was living in the immediate area around Weisbach at the same time that Johannes Krannewitter was born (Mai 1998).
Weisbach, Lower Bavaria, is situated in the extreme northwestern part of the Landkreis (County) of Eggenfelden and lies approximately 50 miles northeast of Munich. More precisely, it is located about one-mile west-southwest of the town of Obertrennbach and lies on the line between the county of Eggenfelden and the county of Vilsbiburg. Obertrennbach and Gangkofen, a town about three miles south, are the centers of the two Catholic parishes which contain references to Krannewitter families (Mai 1998; Hall 1978).
No baptisimal record for Johannes Krannewitter, born about 1731 as notes above, was uncovered by parish researchers. Gangkofen/Obertrennbach parish registers do, however, indicate that Adam Kronawitter (sic), an itinerant dragoneer assigned to Mitterfels--a town about 40 miles to the north--and his wife Anna had a son named Michael Gronawitter (sic) (The surname was spelled differnetly in the same baptisimal entry in the parish register.) who was baptized 3 May, 1731. The godfather was Michael Gruewinckler, a farmer from the village of Wettersdorf, which is located about one mile north of Weisbach across the line in the county of Vilsbiburg (Mai 1998). Michael Gronawitter, born 1731, would have been the same age as Johannes Krannewitter, who was 36 when he settled in Obermonjou, Russia, in 1767. Based on the fact that both men were the same age, the fact theat men were from towns called Weisbach has records of families with surnames similar to Krannewitter, a hypothesis establishing a connection between these two individuals can be formulated: Perhaps the baptisimal name of Johannes Krannewitter, the Russian immigrant, was Michael; and Johannes did not use his baptisimal name in any of the civil documents recorded in Russia. These civil documents will be discussed in the next chapter.
Records from Gangkofen list other baptisms of individuals with surnames similar to Krannewitter. Almost 20 years before the baptism of Michael Gronawitter, Anna Cronawetter (sic), daughter of Matthais Cronawetter and his wife Kunigunde--residents of Holzreit--was baptized on 12 December, 1712. The godmother was Anna Aigner, wife of Christopher Aigner, a farmer from Holzreit (Mai 1998), Detailed mapes of the Gangkofen/Obertrennbach area do not show a town named Holzreit (Hall 1978).
Maria Barbara Kronewitter (sic), daughter of Adam Cronewitter (sic)-- a retired, itinerant dragoneer--and his wife Anna, was baptized 3 September 1714. The godmother was Barbara Veichtner, wife of Jakob Velchtner, resident of the town of Malling (Mai 1998). Malling is located about three-fourths of a mile west of Weisbach (Hall 1978). (Based on the similarity of names and occupation, it is presumed that Adam and Anna Cronewitter were also te parents of Michael Gronawitter-mentioned above--who was born 17 years later. Thirty-three years later, on 1 September 1747, Martin Krunerwitter (sic), son of Sebastian Krunerwitter--a vagabond--and his wife Elisabeth, was baptized. Thegodfather was Martin Wiser, a merchant from Weisbach (Mai 1998). Adding to the strength of the hypothesis formulated above is the fact that the given names Adam, Michael, and Sebastian were repeated in the generations following Johannes Krannewitter, the Volga-German settler.
The archive director of the Catholic records in the Regensburg bishoprisc, which houses the Gangkofen/Obertrennbach registers, commented that due to the paucity of records for the Krannewitter families in the Weisbach area and due to the transitory nature of these families, further research would be difficult. Archivists also checked marriage records of the Gangkofen/Obertrennbach parishes and all the records of the several neighboring parishes; they failed to uncover any more references to Krannewitter families. The archive director recommended hiring a professional genealogist to uncover any more data (Mai 1998).
Inconclusion, it is significant that Gangkofen/Obertrennbach is the only Catholic parish in Germany, so far encountered by the author, that includes both a town named Weisbach and records that refer to families with surnames that are spelling variants of Krannewitter. Regretfully, these records are isolated. As already stated, archive directors examined records in the five other German towns named Weisbach but failed to located any surnames similar to Krannewitter. Lamentable is the fact that no baptisimal, borth, or marriage records of an individual named Johannes Krannewitter were uncovered. It is hoped that further research will resolve the riddle of his place of origin. Until then, it must remain pure speculation that Weisbach, in the parish of Obertrennbach, in the counties of Eggenfelden and Vilsbiburg, Lowere Bavaria, is the place of origin of Johannes Krannewitter.
The 1798 revision list, or census, of Obermonjou, Russia, revealed the identitities of Johannes and Anna Elizabeta (Sattler) Krannewitter's children and the approximate time of Johannes' death. The 1798 census of Obermonjou will be dicussed at length in each chapter. Margareta Krannewitter, 30, was apparently the oldest child of Johannes and Anna Elisabeta, according to information reported in the 1798 census. In the census, Margareta--who had been born around 1768, probably in Obermonjou--was listed as the wife of Joseph Nurberger, 31. THey were living at the house of Wilhelm Seib, 53, and his wife Anna Maria Hartman, 68. Josef was Anna Maria's son by her first husband Valentin Nurberger. Josef Nurnberger and Margareta Krannewitter were the parents of two daughters; Margareta, four and Katherina, one and one-half (Rye 1995).
Gerhard Krannewiter, 28, born about 1770, probably in Obermonjou, was evidently the only son of Johannes Krannewitter and his wife Dorotea Wagner, 22, were residing at the house of Dorotea's parents Friedrich Wagner, 70, from Paninskaya (Schoenchen), and Barbara Dinkel, 69. Gerhard was working for his father-in-law, who was noted as being unable to work. Listed with Gerhard and Dorotea was a son, Nikolaus, three. Next door to them was the house of Johannes Neulist, 43, and his wife Anna Elisabeta Sattler, 57. (In the 1767 list of the first settlers of Obermonjou-- which will also be discussed in the next chapter--Anna Elizabeta reported that age was 29, indicated that she had been born about 1738. Therefore, when the 1798 census was enumerated, she would have been around 60. Residing with Johannes Neulist and Anna Elisabeta sattler was Katherina Krannewitter, 19, noted as Anna Elisabeta's daughter by her first husband Johannes Krannewitter. Also residing with them was Christian Minrad (Meinrad), four, an orphan from Solothurn (Wittman). Johannes Krannewitter's daughter Katheirna had been born about 1779. In the register of debts for annual payment accrued by the residents of Obermonjou--recorded 3 September 1785--the name Johannes Krannewitte was not listed (Rye 1995). This would indicate that he had died sometime between 1779 and 1785. Anna Elizabeta Sattler died after 1798.
According to later Obermonjou census data, which will be detailed in the next chapter, Gerhard Krannewitter and Dorotea Wagner had four more sons: Franz Krannewitter, born in 1800, Peter Krannewitter, born in 1802, Sebastain Krannewitter, born in 1804, and Johannes Krannewitter, born in 1812. They also had two daughters: Margaretha born 1819, and Barbara born 1821 (Pleve 1998). Many descendants of these children migrated to North and Southe America, and many stayed in Russia.
Johannes Krannawitter, b. 1731, Wiesbach, Germany, Occupation: farmer, Baker, m. c. 1766, Elisabeta Sattler, b. 1738, Germany. Johannes died c. 1782, Obermonjou, Russia. Johannes and Anna Elisabeta arrived in Obermonjou 3 August, 1767. He listed his place of origin as Weisbach, Germany and his occupation as baker. He stated that he was a Catholic. His youngest daughter Katharina was born in 1779. He was not listed in the register of Obermonjou residents compiled in 1785. This would indicated that he died sometime between 1779 and 1785. Elizabeta: When Anna elisabeta and Johannes arrived in Obermonjou in 1767, she states she was 29, indicating that she had been born abotu 1738. In the 1798 census of Obermonjou, she stated that she was 57, indicated that her year of birth had been about 1741. After Johannes died, she married Johannes Neulist. She and Johannes Neulist had not children of their own but adopted Christian Minrad (Meinrad), an orphan from Solothurn (Wittmann).
Children
Margareta Krannawitter b. 1768.
Gerhard Krannewitter, b. 1770.
Katherina Krannewitter, b. 1770, Russia. WHen the 1798 census of Obermonjou was taken Katherina was living at the house of her mother Anna Elizabeta Sattler and stepfather Johannes Neulist
Second Generation
Margareta Krannewitter, b. 1768, Obermonjou, Russia, m. Josepf Nurnberger, b. 1767, Russia, Occupation: Farmer, d. Russia. Josef: When the 1798 census of Obermonjou was taken, Josef and Margareta were living at the house of Josef's mother Anna Maria Hartman, 68, and her second husband Wilhelm Seib, 53. It was noted in the census that Josef's father was Valentin Nurnberger, deceased.
Children
Margareta Nurnberger, b. 1794, Obermonjou, Russia
Katheirna Nurnberger, b. 1797, Obermonjou
Gerhard Krannewitter, b. 1770, Obermonjou, Russia, Occupation: farmer, m. Russia, in 1794, Dorotea Wagner, b. 1776, Russia, (daughter of Friedrich Wagner and Barbara Dinkel) Gerhard died after 1850, Obermonjou, Russia. Gerhard was the only son of Johannes Krannawitter and Elizabeta Sattler. Whent he 1798 census of Obermonjou was recorded Gerhard and his wife Dorotea Wagner were residing at the house of her parents Friedrich Wagner, 70, of Paninskaya (Schoenchen), and Barbara Dinkel, 69. Next door to them was the house of (Anna) Elisabeta Sattker and her second husband Johannes Neulist, Dorotea: Doroteas was probably born in Paninskaya (Schoenchen).
Children
Nikolaus Krannewitter, b. 1795.
Franz Krannewitter, b. 1800
Peter Krannewitter, b. 1802
Sebastian Krannewitter, b. 11 Jul 1800
Johannes Kranewitter, 1812
Margaret Krannawitter, b. 10-Dec-1818
Barbara Krannewitter, b. 1821, Obermonjou, Russia. In the 1834 Obermonjou census Barbara, 13, was lsited in the hous eof her parents Gerhard and Dorotea (sic) Krannewitter.
Third Generation
NIkolaus Krannewitter, b. 1795, Obermonjou, Russia, Occupation: Farmer, m. in Obermonjou, Russia, Anna Margaret Gabel, b. Volga Colonies, Russia, d. Obermonjou, Russia, bur. Obermonjou, Russia. Nikolaus died Obermonjou, Russia. Nikolaus, oldest son of Gerhard Krannewitter and Dorotea Wagner, was listed in the 1798 Obermonjou census, Nikolar (sic) Krannewitter, 21, wa living at the house of his parents in 1816. He, his wife Margaretha (sic), Kranewitter when the 1834 Obermonjou census was taken. The 1850 census of Obermonjou noted that he had died in 1836, unmarried.
Johannes Krannawitter, b. 1822.
Franz Krannewitter, b. 1824
Anton Krannewitter, b. 1829, Obermonjou, Russia, m. in Russia, Mrs. Anton (Julianna) Krannewitter, b. 1830, Russia. In the 1834 Obermonjou census, Anton, 5, was listed with his parents Nicolaus (sic) and Margaretha (sic) Krannewitter. In the 1850 Obermonjou census, Anton, 21 was recorded with his wife, Julianna, 20. No further information is available.
Maria Elizabet Kronewitter b. 20 Jun 1833.
Franz Kranewitter, b. 1800, Obermonjou, Russia, Occupation: farmer, m. in Russia, Mrs. Franz (Margaretha) Krannewitter, b. c. 1799, Russia. Franz died 1848, Russia. In the 1816 Obermonjou census, Franz, 16, was residing with his parents Gerhard and Dorotea (sic) Krannewitter. At the time of the 1834 census, Franz was enumerated with his wife Margaretha and their children. In the 1850 census he was noted as having died in 1848.
Chidlren
Nicolaus Krannewitter, b. 1823
Johannes Krannewitter, b. 1825
Catharina Krannewitter, b. 1827, Obermonjou, Russia.
Adam Krannewitter, b. 1832.
Gerhard Krannewitter, b. 1827, Obermonjou, Russia, m. Mrs. Gerhard (Christina) Kranewitter, b. c. 1830, Russia, d. Russia. Gerhard died Obermonjou, Russia. In the 1834 Obermonjou census Gerhard, 7, was listed at the hosue of parents Sebastian Krannewiter and Catherine (Brehm). In the 1850 Obermonjou census, Gerhard, 23, was listed with his wife Christina, 21. He is referred to in a n 1878 letter from Anton Boos to his son-in-law Adam Kranewitter of Valle Maria, Argentina, Adam was Gerhard's brother.
Children
Anna Margaret Kronewitter b. 10 Aug 1856.
Rosa Kranewitter b. Valle Maria, Entre Rios, Argentina, m. in Argentina, Juan Santiago Brehm, b. Argentina, d. Argentina. Rosa doed Valle Mria, Entre Rios, Argentina, bur. Valle Mria, Entre Rios, Argentina.
Children
Amalia Florinda Brehm b. 14 Sep 1927
Venicio Brehm
Amalia Florinda Brehm, b. 14 Sept 1927, Argenitna, m. 25 April 1955, in Argentina, Carlos Wendler, b. 18 Feb 1920, Valle Maria, Argenina, (son of Clemente Wendler and Ana Dobler) Occupation: Letter carrier. Caarlos: Carlos is retired from the post office and lives in Parana, Entre Rios, Arfent ina. He has 3 granddaughters and 1 grandson
Children
Liliana Wendler, b. Argentina
Raquel Wendler, b. Argentina
Verico Brehm m. 1971, in Argentina, Lilia Carmen Kranewitter, b. 18 Aug 1946, Colonia Alvear, Argentina, (daughter of Jose Kranewittter and Angelina Lell).
Children
Sergio Brehm, b. Argentina
Gabriel Brehm, b. Argentina
Claudia Brehm, b. Argentina