Barton County KS Archives History - Books .....The Mennonite Colony Near Dundee 1912
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Book Title: Biographical History Of Barton County

THE MENNONITE COLONY NEAR DUNDEE

SHORTLY after the completion of the Santa Fe railway through Barton County, in
the spring of 1875, that company through its emigrant bureau extensively
advertised its lands throughout all sections where it was possible to reach
those seeking new homes, and this literature was scattered broadcast over
sections of Russia and agents were stationed in New York to meet and guide them
to this locality. By these means a large proportion of the present population of
Barton County were induced to settle and improve the lands to their present
state of productiveness, and became factors in making this county what it is
today. That these people had long been in search of a land in which to make
their homes is proven by their past history which is that in 1802 their
ancestors emigrated from Germany to Russia on an agreement with the Empress of
Russia that they were to make their own laws, and govern themselves in a limited
way for ninety-nine years; be exempt from military duty and be free in religious
observances. When their descendants left Russia for America this period would
soon expired and they left rather than submit to the laws that would soon be
forced upon them, the adoption of the Greek Catholic religion, and service in
the Russian army.

  The majority of those who settled here had lived in small communities or
villages in Russia and were weavers, lumber sawers and farmers by trade. They
had been supplied by companies stationed at a distance with the material and
work, and had depended more on this means of subsistance than on that of
agriculture. To govern such a village it had been found necessary to form
themselves in a compact body with a responsible head, and that manner of
organization was at first attempted here by the colony which settled one mile
east of the present town of Dundee. There were fifteen families in this colony,
and they entered the whole of section 16, under the homestead act, and bought
the whole of section 9 from the Santa Fe railway Company on payments covering
eleven years. Both sections were divided originally into twenty equal parts and
this gave to each family a tract of thirty-two acres on each section; or
sixty-four acres in all. On section 16 they built houses out of 4x6 lumber and
there made their homes and gardens, and on section 9 they pitched their crops.
The fifteen cottages formed a village, and near the center of this was built a
stone school house, which also served as a church building. The ruler or head
officer was called "the schultz," and for convenience he had his home near the
school building, and his residence served as a council house. Abraham Seibert
was the first pastor of this Mennonite congregation but he was not a resident of
the villege, but lived with his parents about two miles southeast of the
settlement, and now lives in Michigan. Those who made up the village are the
families of Cornelius D. Unruh, (deceased), Cornelius Thomas, (deceased), Henry
Seibert, (deceased), Christian C. Schultz, Mrs. Lizzie Rudiger, Andrew P. Unruh,
Jacob Seibert, (deceased), Benjamin Unruh, (deceased), Andrew B. Unruh, first
schultz, (deceased). Peter Unruh, Cornelius P. Unruh (deceased), Andrew A.
Seibert, living in Marion County, Mrs. Susan Unruh, (deceased), Benjamin P.
Smith and Peter H. Dirks. Henry B. Unruh also purchased his first home from this
colony, but as he was not a resident until March, 1876, is not included in the
original settlers. It will also be seen that the original intentions of the
community were never carried out as the plans were for twenty families and only
fifteen came under the agreement. The scheme was found impractical in this
country after about three of four years trial and the various members became
better acquainted with the freedom of the laws in America. As their holdings
were independent of their village agreement they finally decided to become in
fact free American citizens and one by one sold their first little homos and
bought larger and better farms in other localities and are now classed among
Barton County's most substantial and best citizens.

  At that date there were other German-Russian settlers in this same and other
localities in the county, and the Santa Fe system and other railways realized
that they were of the proper make-up to make good citizens and provided
emigration houses along their lines. There was one at nearly all depots for the
accommodation of these new arrivals and in these they settled temporarily, lived
while they provided permanent homes for their families. Where these houses were
not yet built box cars were often put to use for temporary homes, and it was in
a car on a siding in Pawnee Rock that Jacob P. Dirks, of "Mount Pleasant
Hillside Farm" was born, and in an emigrant house at Newton, Kansas, that Jacob
A. Dirks, of "North Slope Farm," first breathed the breath in free Kansas.


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