Heinrich Friedrich Schultz (1812 - 1892)

Born 20 Mar 1812 in Drogas, West Prussia, Germany

Descendants

Died 20 Sep 1892 at age 80 in Gnadenheim, Taurien, Russia

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Biography

Henry Schultz was the ninth child in the family of George Schultz and Maria Will. He died in Russia while visiting from the U.S.A. The death date is complicated by the fact that the Russians were still using the Julian calendar. (England and the American colonies switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar in 1752.) To convert Russian dates to U.S. dates in this time period, add 12 days.

Dr. Arnold C. Schultz says in "The Schultz Family", that in 1870 Czar Alexander II issued a proclamation that ended the religious toleration, freedom from taxes, and freedom from compulsory military service that had brought the Mennonites to Russia in the first place.

"The Heinrich Friedrich Schultz family, together with others, made plans to emigrate to North America. After considerable planning and preparation, which involved selling land and possessions, the Schultz family left Gnadenheim on July 18, 1874. With other emigrating Mennonites, the Schultzes traveled to Hamburg, Germany, by train. On August 12, 1874, they sailed from Hamburg on board the S.S. Cimbria, a vessel of 3,317 tons . . .There were 924 passengers on board, 24 . . .in first class, 88 in second class, and 812 in tourist class."

Heinrich and his wife traveled 2nd class; the four children who made the trip traveled tourist class. They were: Peter, 21, carpenter; Anna, 18; David, 28, cabinetmaker with his wife Susanne, 25, and two sons--Johann, 4, and Isaac, 11 months; and Jacob, 26, with his wife Anna, age 24, and son Heinrich, 4 months. The eldest son, John, came to America in 1877. Heinrich Jr. and Marguerite stayed in Russia. Justina died in infancy and Maria died at 13 in Russia.

Dr. Arnold C. Schultz adds: "Heinrich died in Russia on September 20, 1892 at 81 years of age while visiting his children still living there. The records indicate that he made three trips to Russia from Mt. Lake to see his children and relatives. A most unusual man!".

Helen Rempel Cunningham and Kate Penner Guenther agree that each of his trips to Russia was to promote and assist the emigration of Mennonites to Mt. Lake.

Heinrich is listed in the 1880 U.S. Census for Cottonwood Co. Minnesota as being 68. This would make his birth date 1812 rather than 1811. (I'm inclined to use Dr. Schultz' date. Census birthdates are often off by a year.).

Sources

• "The Schultz Family" by Dr. Arnold C. Schultz
• 1880 U.S. Census for Cottonwood Co. Minnesota
• Info from relatives Helen Rempel Cunningham and Kate Penner Guenther