THE KNATZ FROM THE VOLGA RIVER AREA OF RUSSIA
I was contacted by Philip Joseph Knatz whose father was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. His grandfather’s name was Gottleib and he thought he was born in Russia. From Ancestry I learned: Gottleib or as I found it spelled Gotleib, was born June 29th 1885 in Nenorba, Russia. His wife’s name is Katie or Katherine. She was born in Samara, Russia. In 1930 their kids were John( age 18) Katherine(17 ) Molly (14) , Sophia (12), Gottleib (now spelled with two “t’s” age 10) and Maria (age 7) and they were living in Sheboygan. He left Hamburg Germany on Feb 23th, 1913 and arrived in Philadelphia on March 14th. Then his wife Katherine, with childrenJohn and Katherine came over later in 1913. They emigrated through New York and came via Liverpool on the ship Mauretania. So the two older children were born in Russia too, Molly was the first child born in the US. They were also of German ancestry but I was not able to connect Gottleib to the Herman Knatz who left Kassel for St. Petersburg. Gotleib became a naturalized citizen in 1934.
From a website called “The Lower Volga Village Obit Project” I found the following entry:
KNATZ, John
b. 5 Oct 1911 – New Orbach, Russia
d. 10 May 2002 – Sheboygan, Wisconsin
From Sheboygan Press
Son of the late Gottlieb and Elizabeth Schmidt Knatz. The family moved to Sheboygan on May 14, 1913, from Russia. On July 20, 1935, he was united in marriage to Molly SEITENZAHL by the Rev. Edward Schmidt, pastor, at the parsonage of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church. Besides Molly, his loving wife of 66 years, John is survived by his five children, Carol (Gene) Otten, Thomas (Mary) Knatz, Bonnie (Jack) Schoemer, James (Joan) Knatz, and William Knatz; nine grandchildren, Beth, Brenda and Eric (Shannon) Otten, Chris (Anita) Knatz, Susan (Derek) Murphy, Barbara (Brian) Hamann, Michael Schoemer, Jeffrey (Michelle) and Bryan Knatz; nine great grandchildren; two sisters, Molly (John) Campabelo, Arizona, and Mary Hall, California. John was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters. Entombment will take place in Garden Terrace Mausoleum.
This is an excerpt from the Lower Volga Villages Project. Please see their website for additional information at
http://www.webbitt.com/volga/lower/villages.html
“Established between 1764-1766, a cluster of nine colonies populated by Germans of the Lutheran faith were established by the Russian government on the west side of the lower Volga River. Most villages were established on the Volga River or upstream on brooks which ran into the Volga. Starting in 1846, daughter colonies were established to the southwest and on the eastern or Samara side of the Volga. As a result of increased population, many residents of the colonies moved to the newly established daughter colonies. There was a great deal of travel, communication, and marriage between residents of these villages. After the Russian Revolution in 1918, all Germans who had any means had everything taken from them and were sent to Siberia. In World War II, starting September 1941, all remaining Germans were relocated. In December 1941 and January 1942, all men of 18 years and older were taken to the labor front (Trudarmee). In 1942 and 1943, all women of 18 years and older were also taken to forced labor camps. Only women with children under two, people over 50 years of age, and children were left. Families were separated and scattered throughout Russia. Many people died of cold and hunger
If knows anything about other Knatz families in Russia, please contact me.