Coming to America
The first Volga Germans arrived in the United States on June 19, 1887. This group of people derived from the villages of Straub, Stahl, Bangert, Kukkus, Laub, and Jost on the eastern shore of the Volga River, the Wiesenseite, or “meadow side.”1 What brought the Volga Germans to Fresno?
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According to author Noel Frodsham:
"While many thousands of Volga-Germans had migrated to the United States before 1887, few had reached the Pacific Coast, and apparently, none had entered the San Joaquin Valley. According to Conrad Metzler, one of the original immigrants, he and a number of the prospective settlers had been in communication with an agent, Misler by name, of the Nord-Deutsche-Lloyd Steamship Company, who recommended the “fertile lands” of the then little known San Joaquin Valley.
Advertisements that fell into the hands of the Volga Germans referred to Fresno as the “Sommerland,” the land of endless summer. Other settlers mentioned articles in newspapers or brochures that spoke to them of the wonders of Fresno. On June 24, 1887, the Fresno Republican announced the arrival of the German settlers:
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On Monday, eight men and seven women [sic] immigrants from a German colony in Russia arrived at Fresno has come to secure occupation as farm laborers and, like most people from the old country, intending to secure land of their own in this country where land is yet so plentiful and so cheap. German peasants fresh from the fields of their nativity are not often seen here, and the odd dress of both men and women has attracted a good deal of attention…Bright colors predominate in the costumes…They are apparently sober and industrious people and are likely to find plenty of work.
Advertisements that fell into the hands of the Volga Germans referred to Fresno as the “Sommerland,” the land of endless summer. Other settlers mentioned articles in newspapers or brochures that spoke to them of the wonders of Fresno. On June 24, 1887, the Fresno Republican announced the arrival of the German settlers.
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On Monday, eight men and seven women [sic] immigrants from a German colony in Russia arrived at Fresno has come to secure occupation as farm laborers and, like most people from the old country, intending to secure land of their own in this country where land is yet so plentiful and so cheap. German peasants fresh from the fields of their nativity are not often seen here, and the odd dress of both men and women has attracted a good deal of attention…Bright colors predominate in the costumes…They are apparently sober and industrious people and are likely to find plenty of work.
Michael Karle Family (First Church Moderator)
FROM THE VILLAGE OF STRAUB
John Carl Kerner 1855 - 1934
Elizabeth Rudolph 1934 - 1933
and daughter Elisabeth
FROM THE VILLAGE OF STRAUB
Christian Karle 1845 - 1916
Maria Christina Wulf 1854 - 1918
FROM THE VILLAGE OF STRAUB
Michael Karle 1858 - 1917
Christina Elizabeth Andreas 1856 - 1927
​FROM THE VILLAGE OF STRAUB
Sophia Elizabeth Metzler 1842 - 1906
and children John August and Christine Margaret
FROM THE VILLAGE OF STRAUB
John Conrad Metzler 1867 - 1951
Maria Christina Rudolph 1865 - 1947
FROM THE VILLAGE OF STRAUB
John Daniel Steitz 1850 - 1902
Catherine Seifert 1856 - 1928
FROM THE VILLAGE OF STAHL AM TARLYK
John August Berg 1852 - 1915
Catherine Vollmer 1852 - 1913
and children Maria Catherine, Peter and Henry
Berg arrived a few days later delayed in New York by sick child
FROM THE VILLAGE OF STAHL AM TARLYK
Philip Nilmeier 1850 - 1927
Maria Catherine Vollmer 1853 - 1919
and children John Peter, Conrad, and Adam George, and Philip
FROM THE STEPPE
Conrad Mehling Abt. 1854 - 1934 (Front Right)
Jacob Mehling
wife and two children
