THE JOURNEY BEGINS.......

1998 map of Aleksandr'ya, Ukraine.  The red star shows where Aleksandr'ya is located.  The village of Puchawa/Mariendorf, Kreis Rovno, Volhynia, Russia was located a few miles northeast of Aleksandr'ya.  Map courtesy of www.mapquest.com

It is during the massive immigrations into Russia that Ferdinand and Lenora (Mathias) Fiebelkorn started their emigration to Volhynia.  Their first son, Johann LUDWIG Fiebelkorn was born in Berlin, Germany on August 16, 1858.  Their second child, Emilie (Wottrick) Fiebelkorn was born in Poland on April 16, 1864.  Though we do not know for sure, it seems likely that they were working their way to Volhynia–stopping to work for a while on the way, saving the needed money for the journey.  By May 9, 1871 they were in Puchawa/Mariendorf, Kreis Rovno, Volhynia, for that is the day that their third child, Rudolph Fiebelkorn was born.

Ferdinand and Lenora (Mathias) Fiebelkorn lived in Puchawa/Mariendorf through most of the 1870's.  Puchawa/Mariendorf is located just a few miles northeast of Aleksandr'ya which is located northeast of Rovno.  By 1879, they had moved to Berestowiec, Kreis Rovno, Volhynia, Russia.  Their fifth child, Julius Fiebelkorn was born on March 24, 1879 in Berestowiec, Kreis Rovno, Volhynia.

Johann LUDWIG Fiebelkorn had married Mathilda Schendel and on June 24, 1888 gave birth to their first son Gottlieb.  Adolf was born on Sept. 6, 1889.  Julia was born in the next few years, and died in infancy.  Wilhelm was born on April 14, 1895.  The next year, Ludwig's sister Emilie (Amelia) married Friedrich Eduard Wottrich on Feb. 7, 1895 in Tuchin, Kreis Rovno, Volhynia.   Ludwig and Mathilda had two more children before leaving Russia:  Reinhold was born in Orovna, Wolhynien, Russia on July 13, 1897and Regina (Beyer) was born on July 26, 1899 in Wolhynien, Russia

 "Russian politics changed dramatically through the 1800's and it wasn't long before the Germans starting losing the freedoms and privileges extended to them. The Mennonites were first to leave in large numbers. They were being forced to provide military service to the Russians so in the 1870s, thousands of them moved on to both North and South America.  Persecution continued with Germans losing their right to language and property ownership so many more soon followed them.  Animosity towards the Germans peaked during World War I with most being expelled eastward to KAZAKHSTAN and SIBERIA. Some made it back to their homelands after the war. Others stayed in these new areas, hoping to establish a new life. Still others escaped eastward through China and on to Australia and the Americas. After World War II, the Germans were no longer allowed back to their homelands. They were forced to stay in the east or in some cases were expelled back to Germany. "

In his last years, Grandfather Ludwig lived with Marie's parents (Adolf and Amelia (Grams) Fiebelkorn).  Pastor Hartmann would often stay over a day or two after a Sunday service to visit with his friend Ludwig.  Marie, her husband Bill and their three children would often stay after the Sunday service to have a meal before returning home.  While preparing the meal with her mother, she would listen to the stories of the old country that Ludwig and Pastor Hartmann shared.  They were of the same age, and came from the same part of "the old country".  They knew many of the same people and spent many hours talking about the old days.  On one occasion, she heard this story.

 It seems Ludwig was in the military.  His wife Mathilda was at home raising the children and working the farm.  There was a knock on the door, and Mathilda went to answer it.  She saw a man standing there in front of her, and she almost didn't recognize him.  It was Ludwig.  His hair had turned from black to  completely white, and he looked terrible.  Though the details were not spoken of, apparently, Ludwig had seen some horrible things while in the military.  So much so, that he and his friend ran away from the army.  They escaped back "home".  Ludwig and his friend laid their plans to go back to Germany.  Once they were settled, Ludwig would send for Mathilda and the children.

 So Ludwig and his friend left Volhynia.  They made their way to Germany where they went to stay with his friends relatives.  While there Ludwig's friend wrote to Mathilda, in a way in which she would know where Ludwig was and how he was doing–without mentioning his name.  Meanwhile, the military came looking for Ludwig at his home, finding only Mathilda and the children.

 In time, Ludwig was able to send for Mathilda and the children.  They made their way to Germany.  From there they went to Amsterdam where they boarded a boat for Montreal, Quebec, Canada.  From there they took a train to Winnipeg, Manitoba, and finally came to Friedensfeld (outside of Steinbach).  Their intention was to visit with Mathilda's relatives in Steinbach and then move to Michigan where Ludwig's sisters were living.  Mathilda had other ideas, and said they were staying—and they did.

 Marie also speaks about how, while escaping the army, Ludwig and his friend had to swim the Volga River.  The Volga River is a wide river.  They decided to swim it near a bridge because it was narrower there.  It was a dark, rainy night when Ludwig and his friend swam the river.  The guard on the bridge heard splashing noises and called out, "Halt" a number of times, trying to see them in the dark.  They were able to make it across the river and to the shore.  They climbed up the banks and hid the rest of the night in the bushes.  As morning approached and there were people moving about, they continued on their journey.

Also, interesting to note is that August Fiebelkorn, son of Gustaf (of the Minnesota Fiebelkorn's), was also AWOL from the army.  He moved to the US, and his family settled in the Minnesota area.  Things were different in those days in the army than they are today.

Ludwig often talked about the "old country".  He described their land as being very beautiful.  The soil was good for growing and they had fruit trees (apples, oranges, plums, pears) as well as gardens.  Their "farms" were 1 or 2 acres in size, and it was difficult to do more than just survive on what they produced.  As children grew older, there was no land for them.  A large farm was 10 acres, and more than most families could handle.  All farming was done by hand.

Ludwig was known for grafting trees.  Apparently he took a fruit tree and grafted other fruit tree branches onto the tree, so that different fruit would grow together on one tree.   I remember my grandfather Wilhelm telling me about it when I was a teenager.  It was nice to hear Marie's stories confirming the same stories I heard about as I was growing up.

Wilhelm, son of Ludwig, often spoke of the "cousins" who moved to South America.  Two cousins moved to Argentina.  He also mentioned that one went to Australia.  See the Australia Fiebelkorn's and the Argentina Fiebelkorn's on the home page.

Fredinand and Lenora (Mathias) Fiebelkorn had two daughters: Louise (Nerenberg) and Christina (Nerenberg).  We know they were born in Russia.  They were married in Russia also.  Louise married Henry Neurenberg and Christina married John Neurenberg.  They emigrated to Berrien County, Michigan, USA.