Kamenka

Date: 16 Sep 1764 [unknown]
Location: 50º42' N 45º06' E
Surnames/tags: Volga_German Volga_German_project

Kamenka (Bähr), (Каменка),
a Volga German Roman Catholic colony founded on the left bank of the Ilawlja River, a tributary of the Don in the province of Saratov, on the West "Bergseite" or west "hilly side" of the Volga River, by the Government. The earliest colonists arrived on the 16th of September 1764. It was originally named Bähr after one of its early settlers. It lies 110 versts (73 miles) from the provincial capital, Saratov, and 70 versts (47 miles) from the district capital, Kamyshin.

Founded: 16th of September 1764

Location: 50º42' N 45º06' E (Russia)

Peter Simon Pallas in his travels through the Volga region in 1793 and 1794 for Catherine the Great writes, "Kamenka is one of the most flourishing and opulent among the Catholic colonies; it possesses upwards of sixty fire-places; and has, besides the brook, excellent water in wells, sunk through loam and other strata, about nine feet deep. We reposed here during the night, having suffered much inconvenience the preceding day, from the intensity of the heat, occasioned by the reflection of the sun-beams from the snow, accompanied with a keen northwest, wind, which continued during the whole of our journey from Saratov. The Volga is no more than fifteen versts distant, in a straight line from this place."

St. Mary's Catholic Church, built by the villagers of Kamenka in 1907, was the pride of the community. Reflecting the influence of neogothic architecture, the red brick house of worship included a choir loft and an organ. The church was gutted during the Stalinist era. The carved oak door and ornate railings were removed and it was converted into a warehouse and tractor garage.

Kamenka is the seat of the dean, the superior of the Catholic clergy of the Bergseite. From 1765 to 1768 Kamenka was the only Catholic parish on the Bergseite of the Volga. From 1914 till 1919 the deanery consisted of the following villages: Husaren, Vollmer, Schuck, also Degott, Rothammel, Seewald, Pfeiffer, Hildman, Leichtling, Kohler, Semonowka, and Gobel. After a reorganization in 1926 the priests of the colonies of Vollmer and Rothammel were no longer under the Kamenka, deanery.

Kamenka is also the seat of the Russian land-captain who was appointed by the Tsar. The colony was also the local government center for most of the Catholic colonies along the Ilawla river. The main highway from Saratov to Astrakhan runs through the colony.

In 1858, 40 families migrated to the province of Samara on the Wiesen-seite of the Volga River.

Between 1876 and 1879, 37 families went to the United States: In 1876, 32 families went to Brazil.

FIRST SETTLERS LIST - HEADS of FAMILIES:
- 42 founding families comprising the population of 148 colonists.

1767 Census:
population 329
AMAN -o- ASTIAN -o- AUGUSTUS -o- BACHMANN -o- BAHL -o- BARON -o- BAUER -o- BAYER -o- BECKER -o- BEHM -o- BEIDER o BENNEBERGER -o- BLATTNER -o- BLESS -o- BOCK -o- BRAUN o DARGENER -o- DEISCH -o- DIETZE -o- DIKENG -o- DERILLION -o- DREHER -o- ENGELER -o- ESS -o- ESCHLER -o- ESRENHEISER -o- FISCHER -o- FLOHR -o- GERLING -o- GETTE -o- GLASER -o- GRESCHELE -o- GRUN -o- HARTMANN -o- HEILAND -o- HERWIG -o- HETZEL -o- HOFFMANN -o- HOFSETZ -o- HOHL -o- KAUL -o- KENNER -o- KESSLER -o- KETTLER -o- KINDERMAN -o- KOCHUM -o- KUMLER -o- LEGRAND -o- LEOPOLD -o- LEX -o- LIETER -o- MAUREN -o- MEDER -o- MEIER -o- MELLINGER -o- MULLER -o- NAAB -o- NEUBAUER -o- NICKEL -o- NIEDERNHOF -o- NOVAK -o- OBERBERGER -o- PALAERI -o- RAAB -o- RADER -o- REIS -o- REKOWSKY -o- REPIN -o- RETZER -o- ROCHEL -o- ROHWEIN -o- RUMPEL -o- SCHAEFER -o- SCHIEBERT -o- SCHMIDT -o- SCHWARTZ -o- SCHWERDT -o- SCHWINDT -o- SEITZ -o- SIEBENHAAR -o- SIEGEL -o- SIMON -o- STADLER -o- STAHL -o- STREITENBERGER -o- THOME -o- TISCH -o- URBAN -o- VOGEL -o- VOGELMANN -o- VOGT -o- WALTER -o- WETZEL -o- ZEISEL -o- ZWENGER

KAMENKA Surname list 1775 CENSUS:
AMON -o- ASTIAN -o- BACHMAN -o- BAHL -o- BARON -o-BAUER -o- BECKER -o- BECKERLE -o- BEHM -o- BEIER -o- BLATNER -o -BLESS -o- BLUM -o- BOCK -o- BONENBERGER -o- BOSTELMAN -o- BAHR -o- BRAUN -o- DEILOFF -o- DERELIGION -o- DICK -o- DIETLER -o- DIETZ -o- DITLER -o- DORNGEKER -o- DREGESER -o- DREHER -o- DRIESCH -o- ENGLER -o- ESCHLER -o- FISCHBACH -o- FISCHER -o- FLER -o- FLOHR -o- FOIGT -o- GERLING -o- GETZ -o- GLASER -o- HOFSETZ -o- HOHL -o- GROESCHEL -o- GUMLER -o- HARTMAN -o- HEIN -o- HERWIG -o- HOFFMAN -o- HUMLER -o- IYAT -o- KAUL -o- KEINER -o- KELLER -o- KEP -o- KESSLER -o- KOKHUM -o- KREMMEL -o- KRIM -o- LAGRAND -o- LEOPOLD -o- LIETER -o- LUTZ -o- MAURER -o- MEIER -o- MADER -o- MELLINGER -o- MUNNICH -o- NEUBAUER -o- NIEDERHOF -o- NOVAK -o- OBERBERGER -o- POLAK -o- REBEIN -o- REGOFSKI -o- REITZ -o- ROCHEL -o- ROHWEIN -o- RUMPEL -o- SACHS -o- SCHIEBERLE -o- SCHLITTER -o- SCHMIDT -o- SCHNEIDER -o- SCHULMEISTER -o- SCHWARTZ -o- SCHWERDT -o- SCHWINDT -o- SCHAEFER -o- SEITZ -o- SIEBENHAAR -o- SIEGEL -o- SIMON -o- STADLER -o- STREITENBERG -o- STRINGER -o- TESCH -o- THOME -o- URBAN -o- VIERACH -o- VOGEL -o- VOGELMAN -o- VOIGT -o- WAHL -o- WALTER -o- WEBER -o- WEGENER -o- WEIMAN -o- WIESNER -o- ZEISEL -o- ZWENGER

KAMENKA 1798 REVISION LIST [CENSUS]:
ADAM -o- ALBRECHT -o- ALLENDORF -o- AMAN -o- ASTIAN -o- AVDOTYA -o- BACHMAN -o- BAHR -o- BAHL -o- BAMER -o- BARON -o- BAUER -o- BAYER -o- BECKELER -o- BECKER -o- BECKERLE -o- BEGLER -o- BENDER -o- BONENBERGER -o- BERTZ -o- BETTENHEISER -o- BINDER -o- B LATNER -o- BLESS -o- BOCK -o- BOHN -o- BONI -o- BOOS -o- BRAUN -o- BREIT -o- BRETZ -o- DAMM -o- DERR -o- DEILOFF -o- DEYE -o- DIESCH -o- DIETZ -o- DINGER -o- DIRIN -o- DITLER -o- DREGESER -o- DREHER -o- DRELIGION -o- DRIESCH -o- DUSCHBERGER -o- ECKLER -o- ENGLER -o- ENGNER -o- ENGRAF -o- ERL -o- ESCHLER -o- FISCHBACH -o- FISCHER -o- FISHBACH -o- FLER -o- FLOHR -o- FOGLER -o- GAMLOWSKI -o- GARMTASH -o- GLO -o- GERLING -o- GIESLER -o- GRAF -o- GRISCHELE -o- GRUNWALD -o- GUMLER -o- HARTMAN -o- HECHT -o- HELMER -o- HOFF -o- HOFFMAN -o- HOFSETZ -o- HOHL -o- HUBERT -o- KATLER -o- KAUL -o- KEINER -o- KELLER -o- KEMERER -o- KESSLER -o- KISNER -o- KLER -o- KIESER -o- KLOSTER -o- KOKHUM -o- KRAM -o- KRESS -o- KRIM -o- LANG -o- LARANER -o- LED -o- LEGRAND -o- LEOPOLD -o- LIETER -o- LOA -o- LUTZ -o- MADER -o- MAIER -o- MAUER -o- MELCHIOR -o- MELLINGER -o- MISSLER -o- MUFFERT -o- MULLER -o- MUNNICH -o- NAB -o- NEIN -o- NEU -o- NEUBAUER -o- NIEDERHOF -o- NOVAK -o- OBERBERGER -o- OLDENHAR -o- PIHL -o- POLAK -o- RATERBURGER -o- RAU -o- RAUSCH -o- REEB -o- REIN -o- REGOFSKI -o- REHBEIN -o- RESCH -o- RESER -o- RIAIN -o- ROCHEL -o- ROHLHEISER -o- ROHWEIN -o- ROTH -o- RUDOLF -o- RUHL -o- RUMPEL -o- RUPP -o- RUPRECHT -o- ROHL -o- SACHS -o- SCHAUENBERGER -o- SCHECHTEL -o- SCHIEBERT -o- SCHLERT -o- SCHLITTER -o- SCHMIDT -o- SCHNEIDER -o- SCHOLL -o- SCHRODER -o- SCHULMEISTER -o- SCHWARTZ -o- SCHWERDT -o- SCHWINDT -o- SCHAFER -o- SIEGEL -o- SIMON -o- SPIEKERMAN -o- SPOETTER -o- STADLER -o- STRAPENDER -o- STREMEL -o- THIEL -o- TIKWENS -o- TILEMAN -o- THOME -o- URBAN -o- VOGEL -o- VOGELMAN -o- VOGT -o- WAGNER -o- WALTER -o- WEIGAND -o- WEIMAN -o- WENTZEL -o- WERNER -o- WIEDEMAN -o- WIESNER -o- YERSH -o- ZABOROVSKI -o- ZEISEL -o- ZIEGLER -o- ZWENGER

KAMENKA IMMIGRANTS TO THE AMERICAS:
ANDRES -o- BAHL -o- BAHR -o- BAIER -o- BEIER -o- BEISHEIMER -o- BENDER -o- BERATZ -o- BERTUS -o- BLATNER -o- BLATTNER -o- BOHN -o- BOLLIG -o- BURGARDT -o- DIEHL -o- DIELOFF -o- DIETZ -o- DREILING -o- ECKLER -o- FRANK -o- GERHARDT -o- GERLING -o- GEISLER -o- HARTMAN -o- HEINRICH -o- HEIT -o- HOFFMANN -o- HOFSETZ -o- INGENTHRON -o- JACOB -o- JOSEPH -o- KAUL -o- KEINER -o- KOHLMAN -o- KONRADI -o- KUEHN -o- LANG -o- LEGRAND -o- LENHARDT -o- LEONHARDT -o- LEOPOLD -o- LIEDER -o- MADER -o- MATTHEW -o- MAUER -o- MAYER -o- MEIER -o- MELCHIOR -o- MILLER -o- MÖDER -o- MOEDER -o- MUNNICH -o- NAAB -o- POROBSKY -o- RAAB -o- REB -o- REEB -o- REGOVSKI -o- RESCH -o- RESER -o- ROCHEL -o- ROHWEIN -o- ROLHEISER -o- ROTH -o- RUMBACH -o- SCHÄFER -o- SCHAEFER -o- SCHAFFER -o- SCHAMBERGER -o- SCHIEBELBEIN -o- SCHIEFELBEIN -o- SCHLIETER -o- SCHLITTER -o- SCHMIDT -o- SCHNEIDER -o- SCHOENBERGER -o- SCHWERDT -o- SCHWINDT -o- SCHULMEISTER -o- SEEWALD -o- SIEBENHAAR -o- SIMON -o- SPETTER -o- SPIEKERMAN -o- SPÖTTER -o- STADLER -o- STRÄMEL -o- STRAMEL -o- STREITENBERG -o- STREMEL -o- SUPPES -o- THOME -o- URBAN -o- VOGEL -o- VOGELMAN -o- WALTER -o- WIECHERT -o- WEIGEL -o- WEIGERT -o- WEISS -o- WEIMAN -o- WIESNER -o- WISNER -o- ZWENGER

VORSTEHER [MAYORS] of the KAMENKA COLONY:
Name From Years Dukart Johann Peter Husaren 1801-1804 Kuhne Christoph Semenovka 1804-1813 Stremel Johann Adam Kamenka 1813-1816 Resch Johann Adam Kamenka 1816-1825 Kuhne Christoph Semenovka 1825-1840 Resch Joseph Kamenka 1840-1854 Resch Georg Kamenka 1854-1865 Berg Johann Kamenka 1865-1872 Mintz Philipp Goebel 1872 Kisner Ignatius Pfeifer 1872-1882 Schaefer Jakob Kamenka 1882-1888 Meyer Georg Kamenka 1888-1891 Schaefer Gabriel Kamenka 1891-1897 Schaefer Jacob Kamenka 1897-1900 Reser Johann Kamenka 1900-1906 Bayer Peter Kamenka 1906-1907 Reser Johann Kamenka 1907-

The first Vorsteher was Samuel Bayer, a woodworker from Kemberg. He came to Kamenka with his wife, Katarina, and their four children on March 1, 1767.

Kamenka colony village webpages:

https://web.archive.org/web/20000816153546/http://www.webbitt.com/volga/kamenka/
Kamenka - A Volga Colony, Rosemary Larson, village coordinator

http://cvgs.cu-portland.edu/settlements/mother_colonies/colony_kamenka.cfm
The Center for Volga German Studies at Concordia University, Rosemary Larson, village coordinator

http://lexikon.wolgadeutsche.net/search/result?query=kamenka
wolgadeutsche.net · Alexander Spack, Rußland

Kamenka settlers & residents (profiles list)

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