When Christina Lehl Schwindt* was born on July 25, 1843, in Norka, Saratov Region near the Volga River, Russia, her father, John, was 41, and her mother, Magdalena, was 28. Her mother was the second wife of her father and several years younger as well. While still living in Russia, Christina Lehl married Peter Schwindt on January 4, 1863, in Norka, Saratov region on the Volga River area, Russia. They had six children in 21 years. She died on September 14, 1918, having lived a long life of 75 years, and was buried in Cherokee, Oklahoma.
While Peter's family mostly immigrated to America, Christina's family did not. So on the day they left for America, she did not ever see her parents again,
In Russia, Peter had been a farmer, so after coming to this country he naturally took to farming. His younger brother, Nick, had come to this country earlier, about 1876. Through the influence and help of brother Nick, Peter brought his family with Christina and four girls and one son to this country in 1891. After a year in Rush County, Kansas, working for his brother Nick, Peter took part in the Cherokee Land Rush of 1893, and both he and two of the oldest daughters each acquired a homestead.
His brother Nick offered Peter some advice on how to proceed in the free-for-all rush. He told him to run his horse as hard as he could, until the horse he was riding fell dead, if necessary, in order to get as far to the south as possible where the land was best. When night overtook Peter he had not yet found a place. He met some men, but not being able to understand English, he did not trust them. He did not like their attitude and did not trust them, so he spent the entire night awake holding his horse. On the following morning he turned back north and selected a quarter section near the present town of Driftwood, Oklahoma; about four and a half miles south of Burlington, Oklahoma.
Christina died in 1918 while living in Oklahoma in their American home. She spoke very little English and was a homemaker and mother to her four little girls and one son. Her oldest daughter, Elizabeth already had children from a previous marriage in Russia, so Christina would keep the children of hers as well.
Moving her family to Oklahoma was not easy. Living arrangement was not provided as it had been in Russia and the family often said they were very homesick to return to Russia. But they decided they would stay in America and that turned into a very good decision because of the political unrest and dangers in Russia as well as the horrible dangers that would come shortly after they left in World War I. As many letters as possible was exchanged between the American part of the family and the Russian family members left behind. The lives of the Russian relatives soon became very difficult and the Germans living in Russia were not treated as they had been originally promised to their ancestors. Many starved to death or were sent to labor camps. One, son, was also left behind.
The land was poor, but it was a new start. In time he erected two large sod houses, plowed most of the land and planted two orchards. The living quarters were crude, and the first few years were difficult. But in 1900 a better house was built; a four-room box-type house was erected. Peter farmed this land until he was well over 70 years old, and raised his family. In 1913, at the age of 72, he suffered a broken hip from which he never fully recovered. He passed away about three years after Christina died. But their children survived and did well in Oklahoma becoming strong adults raising many descendants.
Rest In Peace Christina Lehl Schwindt. You were a strong woman and took good care of your family and your descendants thank you for being so brave and supporting your husband Peter Schwindt and bringing your family for a new life in America. We can only imagine traveling on the Ship Lahn and landing in New York City with five children, the youngest only 4 years old.
While Peter's family mostly immigrated to America, Christina's family did not. So on the day they left for America, she did not ever see her parents again,
In Russia, Peter had been a farmer, so after coming to this country he naturally took to farming. His younger brother, Nick, had come to this country earlier, about 1876. Through the influence and help of brother Nick, Peter brought his family with Christina and four girls and one son to this country in 1891. After a year in Rush County, Kansas, working for his brother Nick, Peter took part in the Cherokee Land Rush of 1893, and both he and two of the oldest daughters each acquired a homestead.
His brother Nick offered Peter some advice on how to proceed in the free-for-all rush. He told him to run his horse as hard as he could, until the horse he was riding fell dead, if necessary, in order to get as far to the south as possible where the land was best. When night overtook Peter he had not yet found a place. He met some men, but not being able to understand English, he did not trust them. He did not like their attitude and did not trust them, so he spent the entire night awake holding his horse. On the following morning he turned back north and selected a quarter section near the present town of Driftwood, Oklahoma; about four and a half miles south of Burlington, Oklahoma.
Christina died in 1918 while living in Oklahoma in their American home. She spoke very little English and was a homemaker and mother to her four little girls and one son. Her oldest daughter, Elizabeth already had children from a previous marriage in Russia, so Christina would keep the children of hers as well.
Moving her family to Oklahoma was not easy. Living arrangement was not provided as it had been in Russia and the family often said they were very homesick to return to Russia. But they decided they would stay in America and that turned into a very good decision because of the political unrest and dangers in Russia as well as the horrible dangers that would come shortly after they left in World War I. As many letters as possible was exchanged between the American part of the family and the Russian family members left behind. The lives of the Russian relatives soon became very difficult and the Germans living in Russia were not treated as they had been originally promised to their ancestors. Many starved to death or were sent to labor camps. One, son, was also left behind.
The land was poor, but it was a new start. In time he erected two large sod houses, plowed most of the land and planted two orchards. The living quarters were crude, and the first few years were difficult. But in 1900 a better house was built; a four-room box-type house was erected. Peter farmed this land until he was well over 70 years old, and raised his family. In 1913, at the age of 72, he suffered a broken hip from which he never fully recovered. He passed away about three years after Christina died. But their children survived and did well in Oklahoma becoming strong adults raising many descendants.
Rest In Peace Christina Lehl Schwindt. You were a strong woman and took good care of your family and your descendants thank you for being so brave and supporting your husband Peter Schwindt and bringing your family for a new life in America. We can only imagine traveling on the Ship Lahn and landing in New York City with five children, the youngest only 4 years old.
When Christina Lehl Schwindt* was born on July 25, 1843, in Norka, Saratov Region near the Volga River, Russia, her father, John, was 41, and her mother, Magdalena, was 28. Her mother was the second wife of her father and several years younger as well. While still living in Russia, Christina Lehl married Peter Schwindt on January 4, 1863, in Norka, Saratov region on the Volga River area, Russia. They had six children in 21 years. She died on September 14, 1918, having lived a long life of 75 years, and was buried in Cherokee, Oklahoma.
While Peter's family mostly immigrated to America, Christina's family did not. So on the day they left for America, she did not ever see her parents again,
In Russia, Peter had been a farmer, so after coming to this country he naturally took to farming. His younger brother, Nick, had come to this country earlier, about 1876. Through the influence and help of brother Nick, Peter brought his family with Christina and four girls and one son to this country in 1891. After a year in Rush County, Kansas, working for his brother Nick, Peter took part in the Cherokee Land Rush of 1893, and both he and two of the oldest daughters each acquired a homestead.
His brother Nick offered Peter some advice on how to proceed in the free-for-all rush. He told him to run his horse as hard as he could, until the horse he was riding fell dead, if necessary, in order to get as far to the south as possible where the land was best. When night overtook Peter he had not yet found a place. He met some men, but not being able to understand English, he did not trust them. He did not like their attitude and did not trust them, so he spent the entire night awake holding his horse. On the following morning he turned back north and selected a quarter section near the present town of Driftwood, Oklahoma; about four and a half miles south of Burlington, Oklahoma.
Christina died in 1918 while living in Oklahoma in their American home. She spoke very little English and was a homemaker and mother to her four little girls and one son. Her oldest daughter, Elizabeth already had children from a previous marriage in Russia, so Christina would keep the children of hers as well.
Moving her family to Oklahoma was not easy. Living arrangement was not provided as it had been in Russia and the family often said they were very homesick to return to Russia. But they decided they would stay in America and that turned into a very good decision because of the political unrest and dangers in Russia as well as the horrible dangers that would come shortly after they left in World War I. As many letters as possible was exchanged between the American part of the family and the Russian family members left behind. The lives of the Russian relatives soon became very difficult and the Germans living in Russia were not treated as they had been originally promised to their ancestors. Many starved to death or were sent to labor camps. One, son, was also left behind.
The land was poor, but it was a new start. In time he erected two large sod houses, plowed most of the land and planted two orchards. The living quarters were crude, and the first few years were difficult. But in 1900 a better house was built; a four-room box-type house was erected. Peter farmed this land until he was well over 70 years old, and raised his family. In 1913, at the age of 72, he suffered a broken hip from which he never fully recovered. He passed away about three years after Christina died. But their children survived and did well in Oklahoma becoming strong adults raising many descendants.
Rest In Peace Christina Lehl Schwindt. You were a strong woman and took good care of your family and your descendants thank you for being so brave and supporting your husband Peter Schwindt and bringing your family for a new life in America. We can only imagine traveling on the Ship Lahn and landing in New York City with five children, the youngest only 4 years old.
While Peter's family mostly immigrated to America, Christina's family did not. So on the day they left for America, she did not ever see her parents again,
In Russia, Peter had been a farmer, so after coming to this country he naturally took to farming. His younger brother, Nick, had come to this country earlier, about 1876. Through the influence and help of brother Nick, Peter brought his family with Christina and four girls and one son to this country in 1891. After a year in Rush County, Kansas, working for his brother Nick, Peter took part in the Cherokee Land Rush of 1893, and both he and two of the oldest daughters each acquired a homestead.
His brother Nick offered Peter some advice on how to proceed in the free-for-all rush. He told him to run his horse as hard as he could, until the horse he was riding fell dead, if necessary, in order to get as far to the south as possible where the land was best. When night overtook Peter he had not yet found a place. He met some men, but not being able to understand English, he did not trust them. He did not like their attitude and did not trust them, so he spent the entire night awake holding his horse. On the following morning he turned back north and selected a quarter section near the present town of Driftwood, Oklahoma; about four and a half miles south of Burlington, Oklahoma.
Christina died in 1918 while living in Oklahoma in their American home. She spoke very little English and was a homemaker and mother to her four little girls and one son. Her oldest daughter, Elizabeth already had children from a previous marriage in Russia, so Christina would keep the children of hers as well.
Moving her family to Oklahoma was not easy. Living arrangement was not provided as it had been in Russia and the family often said they were very homesick to return to Russia. But they decided they would stay in America and that turned into a very good decision because of the political unrest and dangers in Russia as well as the horrible dangers that would come shortly after they left in World War I. As many letters as possible was exchanged between the American part of the family and the Russian family members left behind. The lives of the Russian relatives soon became very difficult and the Germans living in Russia were not treated as they had been originally promised to their ancestors. Many starved to death or were sent to labor camps. One, son, was also left behind.
The land was poor, but it was a new start. In time he erected two large sod houses, plowed most of the land and planted two orchards. The living quarters were crude, and the first few years were difficult. But in 1900 a better house was built; a four-room box-type house was erected. Peter farmed this land until he was well over 70 years old, and raised his family. In 1913, at the age of 72, he suffered a broken hip from which he never fully recovered. He passed away about three years after Christina died. But their children survived and did well in Oklahoma becoming strong adults raising many descendants.
Rest In Peace Christina Lehl Schwindt. You were a strong woman and took good care of your family and your descendants thank you for being so brave and supporting your husband Peter Schwindt and bringing your family for a new life in America. We can only imagine traveling on the Ship Lahn and landing in New York City with five children, the youngest only 4 years old.
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I HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH.
