Sind das die knabel alle. (Is that all of the Boys?)

In the next few posts, I will be retelling the story of my grandfather who came to America when he was 13 years old and the adventures he had getting here. The story was first published in a Mennonite periodical. I will be breaking up the story into segments and of course finish with a German Mennonite recipe.

Sind das die Knabel alle - A story of Pete and Cornelius Reimer

It is always with great interest, as one looks back upon our lives to see how the Lord has led us along our way. Looking ahead, father saw many testings and obstacles in the way for his family of 5 boys and 3 girls in Russia. This prompted him to weigh carefully the possibility of moving to the United States where three of his brothers were already living. Talking it over with his wife, they decided to have a public auction selling their farm implements, livestock and household furniture and goods and then move to America.

In the spring of 1910 father sold all of his belongings but only received a small part of the money making down payments for the trip. After all arrangements were made, a date was set to start. Two other families decided to also move to America. The date to leave All-Atta, now named Dushanbe, was set as May 22, 1910. From Alle-Atta to Tashkent they made the trip via covered wagon because no railroad was in the area. This journey took 1 week. They traveled by day and stopped at night in lodgings. The lodgings generally were a large one room affair and meant sleeping on the cold floor, bedding had to be taken along, as well as things to cook and eat. The children remember getting hungry and begging mother for something to eat. Finally she got out a large flour sack full of roasted bread she had prepared before leaving their home.

In the family were, David D, mother Anna and children, David 15, Isaac 14, Mary 13, Peter 12, Jacob 10, Anna 8, Elizabeth 6 and Cornelius 4.

After a week of a rough wagon ride, they arrived in Tashkent where they purchased a ticket and left for Bremen, Germany. This trip went well and without any complications. Arriving in Bremen they wasted no time getting tickets and passage on an ocean liner for America. While waiting for the ship to arrive, they all stayed in a large one room affair close to the docks especially built for the purpose of families to stay while waiting for their ship. In due time, they arrived in Philadelphia and from there after a number of hot days, they arrived at their destination, Galveston, Texas. Galveston was the closest port to Hillsboro, Kansas, their final destination, where father's three brothers were living. But Galveston was to be their crucial place, for here it was where trying events began to happen..........Next post will continue the story.

Scripture cake

1 1/2 C Judges 5:25 1/2 C Judges 4:19
2 C Jeremiah 6:20 2 teaspoon I Samuel 14:25
4 1/2 C I Kings 4:22 2 teaspoon Amos 4:5
2 C I Samuel 30:12 6 (whole) Jeremiah 17:11
2 C Nahum 3:12 1 pinch Leviticus 2:13
1 C Numbers 17:8

Season to taste according to II Chronicles 9:9. Follow Solomon's prescription for making the cake, Proverbs 14:23. Bake at 325 degrees for 50 minutes.

Now, if I told you what the ingredients were, it wouldn't be a challenge. Enjoy and yes, this is an old world cake.