Katzbach ‑ 1848 Village History

K A T Z B A C H

The residents of this colony are partly descendants from those families which came in earlier years from the Kingdom of Prussia to Poland, partially descended from those families who in the years 1800‑1804 immigrated from the kingdom of Würtemburg to Poland and settled there by invitation of the princely Prussian government.

In Poland we received the report from our relatives and acquaintances from the colonies of Bessarabia that these same people had found prosperity under the high government of Russia and also at the same time let us know, that we could still take up land in the province of Bessarabia. Upon receiving this report, 28 families decided in 1821 to follow their friends and relatives to Bessarabia. With these 28 families, the founding of this colony was effected with the use of colonial ruling bodies.

The valley, through which the land stretched, was called Allagia and stretched from North to South. At the foothills of the mountains, which surrounded the valley lay the colony, built along two lines. The streets had to be built quite far apart because of the crookedness of the small stream which had no springs to feed it, but rather, flowed as a result of rain and snow melt, where each house faced the street. In the middle of the colony stood a roomy prayerhouse made of stone, 15 faden (90 feet from the church stood a schoolhouse and on the same lot, a residence for the school teacher made of stone and air dried brick. Farther down the street stood a stone storehouse for the community's grain.

The yards of the colonists are up to 60 Faden (360 feet wide, in which stand the houses which are partly made of stone and air‑dried brick. Most are built largely of stone, and there were signs of progress in the building, even though the stones were not found on land belonging to the colony, but had to be brought from other villages. For this reason many colonists have not yet brought to completion their buildings and enclosures because of there unfortunate circumstances.

Because the houses are so far apart, the colony does not look inviting to the wanderer, yet on most places and particularly where the ground lends itself to it, many beautiful orchards are seen, and above all one sees the planting of trees and woodlands.

The land lies mostly on the foothills, which affects the productivity adversely, since rain and snow water runs off too quickly. The upper regions of the land consists of sticky clay mixed with black humus. In the valley the ground is mixed with potassium nitrate which is unfavorable stuff. This is carried into the well water on the right side of the stream and makes it undrinkable. The favorable weather conditions make the land fruitful and encourages planting of grains of the known species for this area. One of the superior types of grains is the so called Arnuth (summer wheat, because this one can withstand heat and drought the best}. Fruit trees had a favorable growth as young trees, but did not hold out long. In this area they are hard to raise and die out even when they have a good start because of the dry years. Superior is the grapevine because it withstands the heat the best. For this reason the colonists have readily begun the planting of vineyards. The colony lies 112 wersts from the government city of Kischenew, 95 wersts from the county city of Akermann, and 80 wersts from the border town of Ismail. It received the name KATZBACH, no doubt from the memorial to the freeing of Europe from the despotic rule of Napoleon and the defeat of the enemy by the Russian nobles in the year 1812.

In 1821 Polish immigrants came to this area. The 28 families which came by the arrangement of the higher governing body were brought to this steppe. One year later this was increased by 8 families, which came from the colonies of Malojaroslawetz and Kulm to Katzbach. In 1825 from the Catholic colony of Kraszna which borders with Katzbach, 19 evangelical Lutheran families transferred their land to Katzbach because of religious convictions. In 1833 seven families of Polish immigrants came. In the same year a family from the Grand Duchy of Baden came, and lastly two families from the colony of Malojaroslawetz II came to settle here. With that the settlement of the colony was completed with 65 landowners. From this total only 2 families came directly from the fatherland and to be sure only from the Kingdom of Württemberg, and one came from the Grand Duchy Baden. The rest were Polish immigrants from the areas of Plotzk, Warschau (Warsaw), Posen, and Chalisch. The immigrants found here nothing but a steppe covered with tall grass of which a portion was rented by a Moldavian national named Karpp Bussa. Above anything else they had to consider the preparation of houses which would protect them and their children from storms and rain. These had to be made out of earth. The first 28 families in 1821 and the last 8 families arriving in 1833 traveled at their own expense and did not receive any aid; their supplies consisted of wagons drawn by a pair of horses, some bedding, clothing and household items. The total of the items was small. Those who came here from Malojaroslawetz and Kulm were transported here, their travel and costs of settling and building were aided by the Crown at their first settlement. However, they relinquished their government support jointly in their farm buildings to other colonists in their first settlement and had to strike out on their own. The 19 families who were settled in Kraszna brought their government aid with themselves and had to make restitution like all colonists who held such aid upon a fixed time.

There are also many difficult experiences which had either large or small influences on the community. In the year 1827 during the passage of the Russian defense troops, the colonists were quite burdened through quartering and supplying needs and lending a hand to the troops. Much more difficult was the year 1829 when the plague struck and three complete families died and their houses with all that was inside had to be burned. The colony stood for a long time under quarantine, during which all traffic was cut off which caused great hindrance and need in the village. In 1831 the colonists had much suffering through a cholera epidemic and many died. An epidemic of livestock disease struck in the years of 1828, 1834, and 1845, during which each time two‑thirds of the livestock died. Poor harvests in the years 1830, 1832, 1834, 1841, and 1847 resulted in barley getting the seed back, complete crop failures occurred in the years 1822, 1823, 1824, 1841, and 1846. Swarms of grasshoppers and also field mouse infestations did great damage in the years 1823‑1829,1836 and 1847; since 1840 beetles have appeared around blossom time and caused great damage to the fruit production. In the year 1843 a hailstorm nearly obliterated a promising harvest. In the years 1829 and 1837 earthquakes were reported, however, without misfortune and destruction.

When one looks at the present condition of the settlers, and takes into account all the conditions, one can say in all truthfulness that these people, in spite of many difficulties, are in good shape. For this they can thank God, and the protection of the high government under which the settlers were able to quietly follow their occupations, and the benefit of the most gracious Kaiser's so called 10 "free‑years," which S. Maj. our most gracious king after the completed campaign against the Pforte, and also through 3 free‑years extension of favor by command was suspended.

The 19 transported landlords from Kraszna were alleviated of a great burden from the preserved "Crown's Protection" through the grace of the government, for instead of the usual 10 years to pay back the loan they were granted a longer term of payment. A further reason for the good condition of the colony lies in the support of the vineyards and the fruit orchard planting, the pursuit of agriculture, along with the applied employment of cattle and sheep breeding, with which these (colonists) have had much success.

Still another gain must not be left unreported. The female sex is busily occupied in the winter with handiwork in wool and much expense is spared.

Finally, with gratitude to our highest government the favored promotion enjoyed by the church and school must be mentioned. In looking to the past how for many years the instruction was restricted to health‑related field, and now through the paternal care the gospel, the future of the schools in the community have clearly improved. The students now enjoy good teaching in reading, writing, and mathematics and also elevated is the religious singing. Earlier this was completely missing with but few exceptions. Parents held fast to their old German customs. Now this is the case of only a very few.

May the providence of God watch over our government and rulers with His blessed rule, that under the protection of his blessings from above we may rejoice until the end.

The above description is the writing of the mayor and the church school teacher with the signature and impression of the seal of the crown.

KATZBACH the eighth of May 1848. (seal)

Mayor, Müller

Assessor, Bürgemeister Rauser (Staufer?)

Community Clerk: Wittibschläger

Church and school teacher: Conrad Laib (author).

(Werst (verst) = 2/3 mile or 1.06 kilometers.)

Coordinated with GRHS Village Research Clearing House

Original translation: Karen Retzlaff

Publication: GRHS Heritage Review 16-4 (1986)

Scanned: Dale Lee Wahl