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Munjor, Kansas
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The community of Munjor
was one of six settlements around Ellis County, Kansas founded in 1876 by
German immigrants from southern Russia. Their German ancestors had
immigrated to the Volga area in Russia following the invitation of
Catherine the Great in 1763. Catherine had invited the German people
to southern Russia to develop the vast stepps and promised them land,
freedom from military conscription and religious freedom. A century
later, about 1870, these privileges were in danger. Because of
impending military conscription and loss of religious freedom, the
communities of German settlers along the Volga River elected a number of
men to act as scouts to inspect the prospects of life in America.
Five of these men who came
to investigate the land in Nebraska were Peter Leiker (Obermunjou), Peter
Stecklein (Zug), Anton Wasinger (Schoenchen), Nicholas Schamne (Graf), and
Jacob Ritter (Luzern). These five men left Obermunjou, Russia in
1874, landed in New York and traveled westward as far as Nebraska.
They found prospects of life in America and the farmland in Nebraska
favorable and returned to Russia with their report. Encouraged by
the accounts of these men, a group of colonists left Russia the following
year, 1875. They landed in Baltimore, Maryland, on November 23,
1875, and traveled westward as far as Topeka, Kansas. After spending
the winter in Topeka, they moved on westward to settle in Ellis County in
the spring of 1876. |
| 2010 Parish Activities February 14 Sunflower Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia Fasenacht Munjor Parish Hall – 11:30 am- 3 pm – 785-625-6638 – www.volgagerman.net Annual gathering and meeting held
prior to Ash Wednesday. Social hour, refreshments, lunch and a special
program.
March 7
St. Francis Church German Meal This is a traditional Ellis County style of German roast beef dinner that also includes stewed chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, gravy, coleslaw, rolls, dessert and drink. Raffle & Country Store. 785-625-5314 Email - st-francis-church@hotmail.com
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