Reede Family History (South Dakota Branch)
Reede Family History
by Paul Reede (4115 German Village Rd. West Bend, Wi. 53095) ( e-mail: [email protected] )
Way back in 1979 I sent to many of you a Reede Family History. I have since found some new information and have finally begun to update the history . Please share this with other Reede relatives that you might know. This information can also be found on this website: reedefamilyhistory.weebly.com The earliest history from Russia was incorrect in my original history. I had assumed that a Christian Rüde was the father of George Rüde (my gr. gr. grandfather) who immigrated to Freeman S.D. . That information is incorrect. Christian was from Schwaigern, Germany, but he was not the father of George. George Rüde’s father, according to church records found in St.Petersburg Russia (that I found online at the North Dakota Germans from Russia Website), was Daniel Rüdi (note the Swiss spelling) . According to the 1816 census of Zürichtal, Crimea, Russia( where George was born) Daniel Rüdi age 4 and his brother Johannes Rüdi age 9 lived with their sisters, Maria age 25, Suzanna age 13, and Katharina age 4. The census says that they were originally from Davos, Switzerland. One can only assume that their parents died since they are not listed in the census. I will be researching this. (One document mentions a Wagner Rüdi who immigrated to Zurichtal in 1804. He could then certainly be the father of Johannes and Daniel) According to records in Dr. Karl Stumpp’s book The Emigration of Germans to Russia, the Rüdi family came from Davos, Switzerland. Davos today is Europe’s largest ski resort area. My father Roy Reede once mentioned that he had heard from his grandfather (John or Johann Reede) that the Reede family might have come from Switzerland. I also found that Johannes Rüdi (Daniel’s brother) was the father of a Daniel, born July 9, 1839. This Daniel is the ancestor of the part of the family that spells their name Riede which also immigrated to South Dakota. My grandfather Gottlob said that he knew the Riede and Reede families were related, but he did not know how they were related. Now we know that George and Daniel were cousins in Crimea. So we are related, but pretty far back.
Basic chart:
From Davos, Switzerland : Johannes and Daniel Rüdi (Brothers) Father: Wagner Rüde?
Daniel's son Georg born Oct. 29, 1834 in Zurichthal, Crimea
George's Children:
Daniel, Johann** (My Gr. Grandfather), Bernhardt, Margaretha, Heinrich, Jakob, Jacobine
Johann's **Children:
Bernhardt, John, Gottlob (My Grandfather), Henry, Solomon, Edmund, Elmer, Mini, Lena, Hannah, and Caroline
(Rüdi is the Swiss spelling. Rüde is the German spelling. The English should be, Ruede.)
II RUSSIA
Why did the Rüdi family go to Russia? Katherine the Great of Russia, of German heritage herself made the first appeals for German colonists in her manifesto of April 12, 1762. The following provisions of the Manifesto included: a) Religious freedom and toleration. b) Possesions of land forever to each eolony. c) Freedom from Taxation for 30 years. d) Loans without interest e) Exemption from compulsory military service. f) The right to-establish their own schools and churches. g) Provisions for land for each family. h) An outright gift of 300 Rubel for buildings and purchase of cattle. i) No freight charges for goods, and free tickets to families. j) Priviledge to leave Russia.
Why would Russia appeal for colonists? Well, with the downfall of the Mongolian Empire, the Russian steppes in the South and East were unprotected and needed permanent settlements to buffer nomadic invasions. In the South cultivation of arable land was needed by permanent settlers which would not only increase the population and create a bigger demand for products, but also serve as a shield against the Turks.
The first great migration of Germans came to the Volga region. Next came migrations to the Black Sea area which Russia now controled after military victories over the Turks. Thus that southern area was opened before the turn of the century by Alexander I who continued to support the manifesto instituted by Katherine. What prompted so many Germans to leave their German communities? Four basic motives are usually given. 1. Political- Especially the constant wars and military service. During the wars with France from .1792-1815 Württemberg was especially ravaged. 2. Economic- Population growth had created a great deal of poverty and need for more farmland (Raumnot or Lebensraum).3. Religious reasons. 4. Personal- Russia and Germany were on very good terms during this time. Agents sent by Russia to encourage colonization often greatly exaggerated claims. Measures to restrict the growth of population, specifically the poor, had been established. Marriage restrictions were imposed and strengthened with the aim of preventing establishment of households without an economic basis. German marriage legislation of 1828 required proof of ability and honesty.
It was in 1804 that Wagner Rüdi immigrated to Russia. As I mentioned earlier, he is probably the father of Johannes and Daniel Rüdi. The Rüdi family came in quest of land and freedom. Didn't these families care about their roots, homes, and families? Yes they did. They were people who travelled thousands of grim miles in order to keep their roots, their habits, their united families, and the kind of future they wanted for their families. They did not wait possibly for their roots to be broken. Yet they were conservatives who acted radically in order to preserve their homes in view of rising prices, the European revolutions, and cholera epedemics.
In Zurichthal, Crimea (near the Black Sea) Georg Rüde was born on Oct. 29th, 1834.
He was the son of Daniel Rüdi, as mentioned above. His wife,Jacobine Kaufmann was also born in Zurichthal. After marriage they were blessed with seven children. One son, George, was born in America. Their children's names are listed above.
Life in Zurichthal may have been fairly normal, but storm and stress arose as they felt compelled to leave Ukraine, which was part of the Russian empire at that time, cross an ocean, and come to the unknown land of America.
Why did the Germans and Swiss leave Russia? 1. General unrest-Some settlers had earlier gone to America and sent cheerful letters that they hoped would attract others. 2. Wanderlust affected others when they heard of the possibility of a better life in the lands overseas. 3. The Edict of June 4, 1871 by the Tsar of Russia proved the greatest motive for immigration. They could no longer maintain their former local autonomy, and all Germans were placed under the jurisdiction of the Tsar. The greatest jolt of all was their loss of military exemption. The regular military service required about 15 years of service with discipline bordering on brutality. This was part of a general Russification program in Ukraine where the they lived. "One land, one language (Russian), one people." Also came a demand that they change their German names by adding Russian endings. 4. Land need and land hunger. From the first initial 81,000 immigrants from Germany and Switzerland, the number rose to 1,200,000 by 1914. Land became very expensive and many could not afford the purchase of new lands.
Fortunately part of the Reede family was able to leave Russia. Some Reedes did end up staying there. A cousin of Georg Reede in Russia and his family were locked in a root cellar by the Russian government, and when they were let out they were all blind. This was reported by Barbara Riede in a letter to Daniel Riede. Barbara was last heard from in 1930 when she wrote that she and her family were starving in Russia because they were not allowed enough to eat.
III AMERICA
Two leading men instigated migration to the USA, Johann Ludwig Bette and Karl Konekempe. Bette sailed as early as 1848 with a small group that went to Cleavland, Ohio. On his revisit to Odessa, Ukraine, he agitated the cause of migration so much that the police interfered.
In 1873 one group of approximately 500 German settlers came from the area near the Black Sea to settle north of Yankton, South Dakota. The impetus for that settlement came from Bette's relatives who had followed him to America, locating in Sandusky, Ohio. From there they appointed delegates to explore the west for permanent settlements. No unanimous agreement could be reached to remain at Sutton, Nebraska, whereupon the majority continued to move into South Dakota, finally halting at Yankton, then founding Odessa, north of Yankton.
Gradually newer immigrants joined them including Georg Rüde and his family. They first travelled to Hamburg Germany, where they set sail on the ship POMERANIA. On Oct. 20, 1875 they arrived at New York. On the ship was Anna Rüde? 55, Georg Rüde 40, his wife Jacobine 38, Daniel 19, Johann 15 (my great grandfather), Bernhardt 13, Margaretha 9, Heinrich 7, Jakob 5, and Jacobine 2.
Within the span of 5 or 6 years after the founding of Odessa, other communities were founded including Freeman, S.D.. It was in or near Freeman that the Rüde family lived. At Freeman they joined St. Paul's Lutheran Church.
As railroads continued to extend their lines, other trading posts developed into villages and towns. In South Dakota, Ipswich and Eureka, were at the spur ends of the railroads and became important trading centers with midway towns at Roscoe, Bowdle, and Hosmer.
Why did the Russian Germans come to South Dakota? Dakota Territory had been left untouched by earlier pioneers as it seemed undesirerable for farm purposes. In a debate in 1850, Daniel Webster said: "What do we want with this vast worthless area, this region of savages, and wild beasts, of deserts and prairie dogs?" No one had cared to live there. Then too it was the land of the American Indian and buffalo. In 1869 a train in Kansas was stopped for 9 hours to let a herd cross the tracks and spent 3 more days passing through the herd. With the coming of the Dakota settlers those beasts were no longer roaming. The prairies, however, were still actually littered wit their dead bones. Those bones had considerable value and brought high prices in the east where the product was used a a base for commercial glue. It was a happy discovery for those homesteaders to find a lucrative source of income during their first years in Dakota territory.
When the Rüdi family first came to Freeman their name was still spelled the same. In later years however, it was often spelled Ruede or Riede. I really don't know much about the family at this tme. Bernhard had five children. He married Nathalia Nuss in 1889. Their children were: Maria, Emanuel, Bertha, Jacobine, Olga, Juliana, and William. Georg's daughter Josephine married William Knittle and Margaretha also married a Knittle according to my dad. It is interesting to note that the Knittles came on the same ship to America with the Ruede family.
Georg or George Rüdi died on December 27th, 1892 in Freeman.
His son Johann (my great grandfather) first married Wilhelmina Haar, who died during the birth of their first son Berhard. Then John married her 18 year old sister Carolina Haar. (Another Haar sister, Regina, marrried Christian Ellwein, my maternal great grandfather,)
Joahann or John Rüde's children were: Bernhardt, Johann or John, Gottlob (my grandpa), Henry, Solomon, Edmund, Elmer, Mini, Lena, Hanna, and Carolina. His children attended St. Paul's Lutheran School in Freeman. Then Johann and family migrated to the northern part of South Dakota and settled near Bowdle around 1903. It seems that only Johann Rüdi began to spellhis name "Reede" which has about the same pronunciation at Ruede.
The storm and stress of the former of the earluy years is over, Fortunately the German Russians arrived in a period of history when our agricultural economy needed the right people. After moving from Freeman, the Johann (John) Reede family farmed in the Bowdle S.D. area. When John Reede was older he lived in Bowdle, but continued to farm. He finally retired and died in 1932.
John Reede's Family
A. Bernhard: married? Children: Art (Akaska S.D.) and Eleanor.
B. John: married? Died 19? Children:
1.Victor (Zeeland, N.D.) Victor's children: Ronald, Niel, Mark, John Sheila.
2. Ferdinand, married? died? Childrren: Roger, Jane, others?
3. Irene Bollinger, Children: Rodney, others?
C. Henry: (Faith, S.D.) married? Children: Raymond, Elsie, Ralph (Dupree S.D.) Fern, Bernice
Warren (Faith, S.D.) , Gerhard killed in WWII.
D. Solomon: married? Children: Ervin (Washington), Ruby, Inez.
E. Edmund: (Oregon?) Children?
F. Elmer: (Oregon)
G. Mini
H. Lena
I. Hanna
J. Caroline
K. Gottlob
As you notice, there are many question marks. If you have any information concerning birthdates, death dates, addresses, children, etc. please let me know. We can update this website anytime.
*********************
John Reede's son Gottlob (my grandfather) was born near Freeman, S.D. on July 24, 1889. He attended St. Paul's Lutheran School there for a few years. As his father, he farmed around Bowdle, S.D. for many years. He married Lydia Kilber in February of 1913. Their children are:
1. Roy Reede, (My father), B. Dec. 3, 1913
2. Leonard, B. Jan. 28, 1915 D. April, 1, 1970
3. Lorraine, B. Feb. 13, 1917, M? Children?
4. Lilian, B.? M. Tillman Severson
5. Agnes, B. ? M. Borden Meyers Children? Carol
6. Elsie, B.? M. Marvin Miller Children: Kim, Melanie
In 19____, Gottlob moved into Bowdle and managed the Bowdle Creamery for many years. People still talk about how kind my grandpa was. In fact, it is said that many people took advantage of his kindness, and never repaid him when he managed the creamery. Gottlob Reede finally retired around 1960. His son Leonard operated the creamery for several years. Leonard never married. He served during WWII in Guadacanal, and received several medals for bravery. He died at the age of 55 on April, 1, 1970.
My grandparents then lived in the Bowdle Nursing Home for several years. My Grandmother, Lydia nee Kilber, died April 28, 1974, and Gottlob died on May 20, 1978.
My father, Roy Reede, was born on the farm near Bowdle, S.D. My dad attended the new Lutheran High School in Mobridge, S.D. from 1930-34. After high school he attended Northwestern College in Watertown, Wi. from 1934-1938, and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wi. from 1938-1941. He must have been determined to become a pastor since he rode on the top of the trains and hitchhiked for hundreds of miles during those years to get to school in Wisconsin.
After graduation in 1941, since there were no pastoral calls for his class, he received his first call to be a teacher in Northwood, Iowa, a parochial shcool of the Norwegian Lutheran Synod. After one year of teaching, he received a call to be pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Bison, S.D. While at Bison he married my mother, Hella Regina Ellwein on Jan. 17, 1945. My mother was born only a couple of miles northeast of where my father lived when he was a boy near Bowdle. Their children: (my family)
1.Marilyn, B. Jan. 18, 1946 in Lemmon (near Bison) M. June 22, 1969 to Allen Krause. Children: Philip and Melanie Kay. (Marilyn and Allen live in Oshkosh, Wi. and operate the Oshkosh Church Supply.
2. Ronald Roy, B. Oct. 16, 1947, Died: July 3, 1968 in a car accident.
3. Paul, (Myself) B. Oct. 12, 1950. M. Maribeth Wascher June 12, 1976 CH: Amy, Kayla
I also am a pastor having gone to Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. I have served as pastor in Seward, Nebr.,
Neillsville, Wi., and now in West Bend, Wi.
4. Rachel, B. July 5, 1955 M. Robert Schmidt CH. Sara, David, Aaron (Rachel lives in Benton Harbor, Mi)
My father, Roy Reede served as pastor at Bison 1942-1946. Argo Township near Brookings S.D. 1946-1953; Gary S.D. 1953-1956; Wausau, Wi. 1956-1965, Sleepy Eye, Mn. 1965-1970. He served as the Institutional Chaplin for the hospitals in Madison Wi. from 1970-1984. He died Dec. 13, 1988 in Oshkosh, Wi. where he had retired. My mother died in August 1998 in Oshkosh.
As you've seen, the Reede family is now spread across the United States and probably the world. Fortunately part of the Reede family was able to leave Russia. Some Reedes did end up staying there. A cousin of Georg Reede in Russia and his family were locked in a root cellar by the Russian government, and when they were let out they were all blind. This was reported by Barbara Riede in a letter to Daniel Riede. Barbara was last heard from in 1930 when she wrote that she and her family were starving in Russia because they were not allowed enough to eat.
Much more information will probably be found, corrected, and added to this history, especially the later history of the Reede family. If you have any birthdates, names of children, marriages, deathdates, etc, please email them to me at [email protected] . If you would like to do research yourself, much help can be found at the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 631 D. St. Lincoln Nebr. 68502. Also the North Dakota Society of Germans from Russia has much information also online.
