Teplitz - 1848 Village History

Teplitz - 1848 Village History

TOEPLITZ

THE TIME IN WHICH THE COLONY WAS ESTABLISHED.

The German evangelical Lutheran colony Toeplitz in Bessarabia was established in the year 1818 and from the beginning was inhabited by 98 families from Wuerttembrerg, specifically from the following: Schorndorf 20, Reutlingen 25, Tuebingen 19, Nagold 22 and Kirchen (Wohl Kirchheim) 12. In 1817, backed by the most high royal Russian privilege, these families came to this country together with another party of emigrants. Their intent was to go to Georgia, but in the border town of Ismail they changed their travel plan and therefore settled on the steppes assigned to them by the kind local colonial office.

LOCATION OF THE COLONY AND A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE SOIL QUALITY

The distance of this colony is 83 miles from the capital city Kishinev, 54 miles from the county seat Ackermann, 56 miles from Bendery and 60 miles from the border town Ismail, between the German colonies Fere Champenoise I (3 miles) and Brienne (4 1/2 miles). It is situated in a lovely valley of the Bessarabian steppes along the river Kugelnik, which usually dries out in the summer, and confined on the south side by a range of hills.

This colony originally was named "Twelfth Colony or N 12" until the end of 1818 at which time the high Russian government named it Toeplitz.

The condition of the soil varies greatly. The land in the valley is scattered with many, often large areas of alkali and not well suited for farming. An exception are the areas close to the river, they have sandy soil and are used for gardening. The low hilltops on the south side form a nice level field with black soil and encompass all the arable land, including the hay fields, for the whole village. On the side of the hills are quarries which are deep in the ground.

WHO OCCUPIED THE STEPPES AT THE ARRIVAL TIME OF THE IMMIGRANTS AND WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT WAS GIVEN TO THEM?

Before the arrival of the settlers the steppes were harsh and inhospitable, inhabited by a few herdsmen. The land was covered with thistles and weeds and a multitude of insects. Here and there were mounds of ashes and large burial grounds, dating back to the time of the Tartars, of which a few are still around.

At their arrival each settling family received 100 rubles in silver coins as support from the high Russian Crown.

EVENTS THAT HAPPENED SINCE THE SETTLEMENT WHICH HAD AN INFLUENCE ON THE FATE OF THE SETTLERS.

The first thing the settlers had to do after their arrival was to build a temporary hut before they could build a house. Unfortunately, the biggest crisis they ever had experienced befell the colony now.

After they had endured a difficult 24 day quarantine without shelter in rain and storm, without any comforts or even enough food, almost all of them fell ill with fever and dysentery, because they were not yet adapted to the local water and climate. In some huts there was nobody to help the other even with a drink of water. The local authorities finally felt compelled to check the habitats every morning to see who was still alive or who had died. Some days they buried 6-7 bodies. The fatalities increased so rapidly that within four months 110 souls of both genders had died.

No other epidemics occurred in this colony, except for the so-called cholera that raged in 1831 which, fortunately, claimed only seven victims.

The personal assets of all the families who came here from the kingdom of Wuerttemberg consisted of cash, beautiful clothes and diverse pewter and copper utensils. Some of them were well to do. But under these wretched circumstances with almost everyone ill, and trade and business in the area negligible, many had to parish in spite of their possessions.

In these troubled times the village lost not only many of their best farmers but also was forced to care for many orphans and work their farms until they became of age, which really held them back. They also were deprived of some advantages that other colonies had, like the lease of "hot" beverages in their free years and the lease of part of their land for several years.

Unfortunately, these years did not distinguish themselves through great abundance, instead the people had to be content with mediocre harvests, except for the years 1829, 1836 and 1844. Total failures were the years 1822, 1823, 1833, 1834 and 1839. In the years 1823, 1841 and 1843 field mice were a plague, and in 1826, 1836 and 1847 swarms of locusts, although the loss was negligible. In contrast to that the cattle pest inflicted great damage in the years 1837, 1838 and 1844 where only about half of the livestock remained.

THESE ARE THE SPECIALLY FAVORABLE CIRCUMSTANCES TO WHICH THE COMMUNITY OWES ITS WELLBEING.

Since 1830 the community has been on an uphill swing. All the farmsteads kept in trust are now occupied since the orphans became of age and got married. The community is strong and healthy.

In part the colony owes her well being to the higher authorities through whose disposition and guidance they received the following:

1) On the colony's urgent request the public relief committee allotted them a substantial piece of land on the north side of the river Kugelnik in 1832. This protected the colony from lack of water for the animals. The hillsides provided land for vineyards which prosper and are very productive. For several farmers the harvest already yielded more than 500 gallons of wine and they strive to do even better in this area.

2) Through surveying of the land the colony won the left or north bank of the Kugelnik river where they planted beautiful communal woodlands and orchards. In return they had to give up the same amount of land on the other side of the river for the settlement of the colony Denewitz. (Dennewitz?)

In 1844 the colony built a beautiful school house with great enthusiasm and is presently blessed with a well-functioning school system.

Although the older homes, small and low, were still in good condition, many farmers tore them down and instead built new, larger homes with amenities and adjacent buildings, surrounded by a wall and trees planted in the yard. These give the colony a well-to-do appearance. It is to expect that others will follow this example.

On both sides of the village, particularly on the river side, beautiful orchards were planted which, in part, are already bearing fruit. Two farmers reaped a profit of more than 100 silver rubles in one year. Between the various bends of the river the aforementioned communal orchards and woodlands are thriving, containing a great variety of fruit and forest trees.

In addition the colony benefits from the following: 1) the proximity of the already mentioned quarries providing material for homes and community buildings and 2) a spring which is leased for the irrigation of a cabbage field and results in an annual income of 28 - 30 silver rubles. The first item, i.e. the quarries, are also used by the colonies of Paris and Friedensthal free of charge.

Regarding the general well being of the colony, in 1846 they built a stone warehouse, according to the instruction and at the expense of the government. Inside are stored, to 1 January 1848, 733 bushel (123 Tscht.) of winter and summer wheat. The control of this reserve, as well as other police functions, are under the care of the town council.

By imperial royal decree of His Majesty Nicolai I, in memory and for the sake of suffered hardships during the last Turkish war, the colony of Toeplitz was exempted from paying the crown taxes for three years, 1828, 29 and 30.

The accuracy of this short historical report is certified with signatures by the Mayoral Court with participation of the school teacher. Colony Toeplitz, 1 May 1848 Mayor: Gerber Witness: Kurtz, Harter School teacher: A. Kludt (Author) Colony Clerk: Laeger (?).

as translated by: Roswita Niessner as Edited by: Ralph and Evelyn Ruff Coordinated with GRHS Village Research Clearing House Coordinated with AHSGR/GRHS Translation Committee Chairman