Ancestral information on Maria (Mary) Schmidt b. 30 Jun 1889 in Russia.

Question

Looking for ancestral history of my paternal grandmother, Maria (Mary) SCHMIDT b. 30 Jun 1889 in Dietel, Saratov, Russia to Heinrich Schmidt and Catharina Gritzfelt/Kritzfelt. She had 4 sisters. When she was 6-years-old, she worked in a stocking factory in Kamyshin, Russia. Maria was 14 when she immigrated to the USA with a relative, Konrad Asmus, in July 1903 to Halifax, Nova Scotia on their way to meet other relatives in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She married Jacob Reichert, Sr. on 25 Dec 1907 in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. She died on 3 Mar 1984 in Billings, Montana, USA and is buried in the Laurel City Cemetery, Montana, USA.

Answer 1

I understand your pain, i also have a line of schmidts in my line, they also came through canada but eventully they arrived in pennsylvania, my 3rd great grandfather was Henry J. schmidt, from Hamberg, Germany. it is a complete dead end, and strange enough he had a wife named Wilhiema Schmidt that was born in Tranzylvania romania, in 1887, hope you find what you are looking for.

Answer 2

http://cvgs.cu-portland.edu/settlements/mother_colonies/colony_dietel.cfm does have some sources listed that might be helpful.

There is a book "1834 Census of Dietel in the District of Saratov, Russia, Dated 6 December 1834", Dynasty Publishing, 2005 that might have information on the family.

"1850 census of Dietel in the district of Saratov, Russia, dated 8 August 1850", by Mai, Brent Alan, 1964- same.

"Origin & Ancestors Families Karle & Kaiser of the German-Russian Volga Colonies", Darrel Philip Kaiser, Lulu.com, 2006 has some references to a Schmidt family; don't know how much detail and how well sourced.